Clever…
When Jiang Xuening heard these two words, even the corners of her eyes twitched.
How did Xie Wei make it sound as if she had no backbone whatsoever?
She wanted to stand up and refute him, but when she was about to speak, after carefully thinking through her words and actions today, she truly didn’t have the thick face to claim she had any backbone.
After all, if one could maintain peace, who would willingly provoke Xie Wei?
She immediately felt stifled in her heart.
Fortunately, the other party didn’t seem to have any intention of saying more to her. As his words fell, he had already passed by her side and walked directly toward the hall’s exit.
Jiang Xuening remained inside the hall, watching his retreating figure.
By this moment, the mist had mostly dissipated.
The bright skylight shone down from above, increasingly highlighting Xie Wei’s lofty bearing, as if an immortal had descended to the mortal world. Where was any trace of the bloodshed and sinister darkness she had witnessed in her previous life?
Moreover…
Why did she actually feel that when Xie Wei said those words to her just now, his mood seemed quite good?
Yet clearly when he said that line to Chen Shuyi—”If you don’t wish to learn, you may leave”—his mood had still seemed quite poor. Who knows what incident he had encountered? Otherwise, Xie Ju’an, who handled matters properly and flawlessly, wouldn’t have said such things.
Thinking of this, Jiang Xuening’s entire being felt terrible: Don’t tell her that her two bootlicking sentences had pleased Xie Wei! If it were that easy, then in her previous life when she had used every possible means without success, just how much of a failure had she been…
“Ningning, aren’t you leaving?”
A call suddenly came from outside the hall.
Jiang Xuening snapped back to her senses and turned to look, only to see Shen Zhiyi, who had gone and returned, now standing at the hall entrance and poking her head in to look at her. It seemed they had gone ahead to comfort Chen Shuyi first, and upon seeing she hadn’t followed, had turned back to find her.
She actually felt somewhat moved.
She replied: “Coming right away.”
When Shen Zhiyi waited for her to come out, she lowered her voice and said to her: “Shuyi’s family management is strict, and Lord Chen also never goes back on his word, which is why she’s like this. As for you—foolish or not—even if you really think that way in your heart, you can’t say it out loud in front of everyone.”
Jiang Xuening herself hadn’t expected she would say it out loud.
She couldn’t explain well, so could only accept the blame: “I was too rash. I’ll definitely be careful next time.”
Hearing her voice somewhat dejected, Shen Zhiyi’s heart skipped a beat, and she hurriedly tried to console her: “Hey, don’t overthink it. Shuyi is actually a very good person and doesn’t easily get angry. Even for my sake, she won’t hold it against you.”
Jiang Xuening thought to herself that this was far from certain.
But these words weren’t suitable to say to Shen Zhiyi, so she just smiled and accepted her goodwill, saying: “Having Your Highness’s concern is enough. I don’t care about the rest.”
When Shen Zhiyi heard these words, she raised her eyes and met Jiang Xuening’s gentle gaze. Those beautiful lips like flower petals still carried a faint smile. For some unknown reason, she felt her face heat and her heart race. For a moment, she actually didn’t dare look directly at this gorgeous face.
She became extremely bashful: “Ningning, wh-what are you saying!”
After speaking, she felt inexplicably embarrassed. Stamping her foot, she actually left behind a sentence “I’m returning to the palace first” and, lifting the corners of her skirt, fled in panic.
Jiang Xuening: “…”
Wait—she just wanted to cling to a powerful ally, so what exactly had Shen Zhiyi misunderstood?
Don’t, don’t, don’t, don’t panic…
Best friends, just best friend feelings!
Chen Shuyi, though not someone with an arrogant temperament, had truly never suffered such great indignation as she had today in all her years. That Teacher Xie, who was supposed to be teaching, wanted to teach them women things they absolutely shouldn’t learn—that was one thing. After all, he was the teacher, and with the Three Cardinal Guides above and the Five Constant Virtues below, as students they should respect their teachers and value their teachings, so she shouldn’t have said anything more.
But who did that Jiang Xuening think she was?
How dare she say she was “judging others by her own measure, utterly absurd”!
All the way from Fengchen Hall, Chen Shuyi simply didn’t want to look at Jiang Xuening for even a moment, fearing only that it would pollute her eyes.
However, the others all followed to comfort her.
The group returned to Yangzhi Pavilion and tried to persuade her, saying: “Everyone in the capital knows that Second Miss Jiang has a naturally willful temperament and can’t be taken seriously. It’s not at all surprising she’d say such things. Sister Chen is completely different from her inside and out. Why bother fussing with her and needlessly harming your own health?”
Of course, some people were sincerely trying to persuade her, while others were not.
You Yue was precisely one who feared the world wasn’t chaotic enough. Still holding a grudge about being humiliated in the hall earlier, she said sourly: “That’s right. Anyone with eyes can see that Her Highness the Grand Princess has her heart growing crooked, completely biased toward her. We all earnestly offered our sentiments, but with one turn of her head, Her Highness presented them all before Jiang Xuening to let her choose. I imagine that even if she does something outrageous, Her Highness will still protect her. Though Sister Chen’s family background is illustrious—who knows how much higher than hers—this is still the palace, so perhaps it’s best not to oppose her.”
Xiao Shu turned her eyes to glance at her.
However, Yao Rongrong sighed with envy: “For Second Miss Jiang to be liked by so many people, she’s quite capable.”
Chen Shuyi’s face grew increasingly gloomy.
You Yue, however, gave a mocking laugh and retorted: “Can that even be called capability? I’ve heard people say her literary learning is inadequate and her character improper. Even during this palace selection of study companions, everyone witnessed it with their own eyes—if not for Her Highness the Grand Princess’s special consideration, by what right could she sit together with us in Fengchen Hall?”
Yao Xi listened without speaking.
But Chen Shuyi suddenly looked at her and said: “When Axi went this morning, it seemed you walked together with her?”
Because of the Zhang Zhe incident before, Yao Xi actually felt that Jiang Xuening wasn’t as unbearable as others claimed. Moreover, the one who’d been tormented by her schemes was You Yue and not herself. Aside from being startled at the time, she didn’t have too many feelings about it.
She had indeed planned to get closer to Jiang Xuening.
After all, she was curious about her and Zhang Zhe.
But seeing everyone’s attitude and knowing that no one liked Jiang Xuening, she dismissed this notion, saying: “I merely had some questions to ask her.”
Chen Shuyi said: “I thought you wanted to befriend her.”
Yao Xi smiled: “As if she’s worthy?”
You Yue immediately chimed in to echo her: “Right, where is she worthy of being friends with Elder Sister Yao? First of all, the gap in family status is immeasurable. Even acknowledging her gives her face.”
Fang Miao had been sitting to the side listening for a long time. Thinking otherwise in her heart, when it came to this point, her eyes rolled and she said: “Isn’t that so? It’s only because Crown Prince Yan holds her in the palm of his hand and dotes on her like the apple of his eye that everyone has to be wary of her.”
The others hadn’t yet detected anything amiss.
You Yue still thought Fang Miao shared her views and became energized: “Who knows what’s wrong with Crown Prince Yan? Everyone knows Jiang Xuening was sent away to be raised in poverty before being brought back. She reeks of poverty and vulgarity. Her appearance is even more vulgar and seductive, without a trace of the dignified bearing of a refined young lady. One look and you can tell she’s improper. How can she be considered a ‘beauty’?”
Fang Miao’s face showed deep agreement. Nodding, she added: “Isn’t that so? Her eyebrows are just a bit more delicate, her eyes a bit larger, her nose a bit smaller, that lip shape a bit more attractive, and her skin just a bit whiter than others. Not good-looking, truly not good-looking!”
You Yue said: “Exactly, her eyebrows are just a bit more delicate, eyes a bit larger…”
As the words left her mouth and she spoke two sentences, she finally sensed something was wrong.
You Yue suddenly turned to look at Fang Miao and questioned: “Are you insulting her or praising her? What do you mean?”
Everyone’s gaze fell upon Fang Miao.
Fang Miao was startled: “Of course I’m insulting her! Wasn’t I following along with you in insulting her?”
You Yue’s chest heaved, nearly unable to catch her breath.
Chen Shuyi, however, slightly frowned and asked rather impolitely: “Which side is Miss Fang actually on?”
Fang Miao looked completely innocent and immediately cried out: “Isn’t it obvious? Of course I’m on your side! I already said, I’m someone who reads the ‘situation’!”
Her expression truly didn’t seem false.
Even Chen Shuyi couldn’t detect any flaws, and upon reconsideration, what Fang Miao said was also the truth, so she couldn’t help feeling even more frustrated.
Just at this moment, Zhou Baoying beside them had just finished eating a piece of osmanthus sweet cake. Who knows if she had heard their earlier conversation—she might have only caught half of it—but she actually raised her head and said: “Second Sister Jiang? She really is quite pretty! I’ve never seen such a beautiful older sister before.”
“…”
The entire venue fell silent. All of Yangzhi Pavilion lost its voice in an instant.
Zhou Baoying still asked in puzzlement: “What’s wrong? Don’t you all think so?”
Fang Miao nearly died trying to suppress her laughter.
From Chen Shuyi to Yao Xi to You Yue, they all looked as if they’d swallowed a live fly, their expressions beyond description.
When Jiang Xuening leisurely strolled back from outside, this was the quiet scene she witnessed. No one was speaking. Only when they heard footsteps did they turn their heads, all looking at her.
Fang Miao, sitting in the corner, quietly gave her a thumbs up.
Jiang Xuening was utterly baffled.
However, she could guess that she had offended quite a few people today, or rather, even if she hadn’t offended them, others would feel apprehensive or even jealous because of the Grand Princess’s special attention toward her.
So instead, she became composed.
Passing by the doorway, she even smiled: “Everyone continue your chat. I’m heading back to my room first.”
Chen Shuyi gave a cold laugh: “If I were Second Miss Jiang, having spoken such spineless words in front of everyone, I would probably be too ashamed to show my face. Yet I didn’t know Second Miss Jiang’s face was so thick that she could return so composedly.”
Spineless words?
Jiang Xuening thought to herself: What are you, Chen Shuyi, compared to Xie Wei? Between offending you and offending Xie Wei, naturally I’d choose the former. I’m not an idiot!
Moreover, she truly disliked Chen Shuyi’s words.
In her previous life, You Fangyin, though just one woman, could live freely and unrestrained. The reason was simply that her living environment was different from the Great Qian Dynasty. Why couldn’t women learn things? Why was it that when men used schemes it was called outstanding intelligence and brilliant strategy, but when women used schemes it became a reversal of yin and yang, improper according to ritual?
All utter nonsense.
She slightly raised her eyes. Her sharply defined jaw had beautiful lines under the skylight’s reflection. Yet in her bearing, there inexplicably appeared a kind of contempt that didn’t take others seriously at all. She merely scoffed and said: “If you have such backbone, then don’t attend Teacher Xie’s classes. No one’s bound your feet. Stop pretending to be so noble!”
Chen Shuyi abruptly stood up: “You—”
Having finished retorting, Jiang Xuening lifted her feet and walked away, too lazy to even spare her another glance. Only a faint mutter reached everyone’s ears after she left: “Her Highness the Grand Princess hasn’t even said anything, so who do you think you are…”
Everyone quietly looked at Chen Shuyi.
A “tea party” meant for gossiping about Jiang Xuening behind her back had unknowingly ended in defeat like this. Who knows who said “This afternoon we still have to accompany Her Highness the Grand Princess to pay respects to the Empress and Empress Dowager. Better return to our rooms to rest first,” and people gradually dispersed.
Only Chen Shuyi was left standing there with a face alternating between green and red, looking exactly as if someone had slapped her across the face, her entire body trembling.