Princess Changle shifted her body sideways and reached out to grab Wei Wen’s wrist. However, the thrust came too suddenly, and it still scratched her hand.

“You dare attempt to assassinate this palace?” Feeling the stinging pain spreading through her palm, Princess Changle was furious beyond measure.

Wei Wen’s rationality returned, and the color drained completely from her face.

Princess Changle pressed closer by a step: “Wei Wen, you’ve got quite the audacity—”

Wei Wen retreated in panic and turned to flee.

Ahead lay lush flowers and dense trees. She paid no mind to her exquisite yet fragile dress being caught and torn by flower branches reaching out sideways, burying her head as she ran back.

As if by running back to where the noble ladies gathered, everything that had just happened would never have occurred.

Princess Changle stood in place, her eyes fixed unblinkingly on Wei Wen’s figure as it was obscured by flowers and trees, then lowered her gaze to look at her palm.

In her palm was a wound scratched by the golden hairpin.

At the prime of youth and a pampered princess besides, that hand was like congealed fat and white jade. And because of this, the wound in her palm looked particularly shocking.

Princess Changle drew out her handkerchief and pressed it against her palm.

The pain transmitted from her palm made her long eyebrows furrow, and coldness gradually filled her eyes.

Seeing moving figures ahead, Wei Wen slowed her pace, straightened her slightly disheveled hair and dress, then walked forward.

A noble lady with sharp eyes who noticed Wei Wen approaching quietly tugged at the person beside her, saying in a low voice: “The county princess is coming over by herself.”

Quite a few people stopped their conversation and laughter to look over.

Under countless gazes filled with ambiguous meaning, Wei Wen had no intention of lingering and strode toward the exit with large steps.

A maid from the Princess’s household who had been guarding the garden hurried after her: “Where is the county princess going? This servant will show you the way.”

Wei Wen’s footsteps paused slightly as she said coldly: “I’m not feeling well. I’m leaving first.”

The maid was about to say more when Wei Wen had already walked forward with quick steps.

“A’Wen is leaving just like that?” A cool voice came from behind.

Wei Wen stopped abruptly and turned around sharply.

Princess Changle emerged from among the flowers and trees, her expression calm as she looked at her.

Wei Wen clenched her fists, her palms full of clammy sweat.

It was late autumn, and the wind blowing against her body was bone-chillingly cold, the coldness penetrating all the way into her heart.

Wei Wen forced a smile, maintaining composure in front of others to avoid losing face: “Thank you for Sixth Sister’s gracious hospitality. I’m not feeling quite well, so I’ll take my leave first.”

Under everyone’s watchful eyes, if she wanted to leave, Changle surely couldn’t forcibly detain her.

Princess Changle indeed did not stop her, merely smiling faintly: “Not at all, it’s I who failed to attend properly to my sister. Since you’re unwell, hurry back and rest.”

Wei Wen suppressed her wildly beating heart and curtsied slightly: “Farewell then.”

Watching Wei Wen leave with hurried steps, Princess Changle withdrew her cold gaze and beckoned to Luo Sheng: “A’Sheng, come join me in admiring the chrysanthemums.”

Luo Sheng walked over, with two young men following closely behind her.

Princess Changle’s eyes swept over the two, carrying a trace of authority as she asked: “Have you two kept Miss Luo properly entertained for this palace?”

The two young men hastily affirmed they had.

Princess Changle smiled at Luo Sheng: “A’Sheng, how were they?”

Luo Sheng clearly felt the two young men’s expressions tense up, so she smiled and said: “Quite good.”

“Then pick one to take home with you when you leave.”

The noble ladies listening with pricked ears: “…” The chrysanthemum viewing banquet came with gifts?

Luo Sheng decisively refused.

Princess Changle’s phoenix eyes swept across the noble ladies.

The noble ladies hastily assumed dignified and solemn expressions.

They would certainly refuse such gifts—they wouldn’t even consider them.

Princess Changle smiled: “Thank you all for waiting so long. Let’s go to the pavilion to drink wine.”

The noble ladies tugged at their handkerchiefs, feeling somewhat unbalanced inside.

They were all guests invited by Princess Changle—how could she treat them with such obvious discrimination?

As the ladies entered the pavilion, delicacies were presented one by one.

Princess Changle raised her cup, inviting the ladies to drink together.

Seeing that Princess Changle had not become angry over the young county princess’s departure, the noble ladies gradually relaxed.

However, Luo Sheng noticed something unusual about Princess Changle.

From beginning to end, Princess Changle only drank wine and never touched her chopsticks.

Luo Sheng’s gaze swept over Princess Changle’s left hand holding the wine cup, and a guess formed: Princess Changle and Wei Wen’s conversation away from others was likely unpleasant, perhaps… Princess Changle’s right hand was injured.

This discovery seemed unable to affect anything. Luo Sheng calmly drank her fruit wine.

“A’Sheng, I feel you’ve changed.” Princess Changle suddenly leaned close to Luo Sheng’s ear and said.

Luo Sheng’s brow twitched slightly.

Ever since Princess Changle had returned to the capital, she would seek her out from time to time. After many interactions, she could see this was someone who lived extraordinarily as she pleased, with unpredictable moods.

Such a person, when they favored you, everything was wonderful, but if they stopped favoring you, it would be hard to say.

Perhaps she could even become a great trouble.

Having formed this thought, Luo Sheng smiled warmly on the surface: “I haven’t changed. Why would Your Highness say such a thing?”

“You don’t like to talk or play anymore, and most importantly, before when I gave you male attendants you would happily accept them, but now you refuse with all sorts of excuses.” Princess Changle’s tone carried some dissatisfaction, her eyes rippling with unclear emotions.

Luo Sheng smiled composedly: “Haven’t my standards simply risen? I felt those two weren’t as good as Mingzhu whom Your Highness gave me before.”

Princess Changle was startled, then laughed: “So you didn’t fancy Luqi and the other one. That’s easy to fix—”

Princess Changle suddenly clapped her hands.

The noble ladies’ conversation stopped as they looked over, but soon their gazes were attracted by the commotion at the entrance.

Seven or eight young men filed in one after another, standing obediently before the ladies.

These young men were either refined or aloof, with distinctly different temperaments, but they shared one thing in common: they were good-looking.

Extremely good-looking.

Even though the ladies prided themselves on being absolutely proper noble ladies, at this moment they couldn’t help their hearts racing.

Love of beauty was, after all, human nature.

Even from a purely appreciative perspective, ahem, who wouldn’t like obedient and well-behaved beautiful young men?

As for Luo Sheng, her impression of the several young men, besides being good-looking, also detected something else: each young man vaguely bore one or two traces of resemblance to Su Yao.

Luo Sheng’s eyebrows moved slightly.

It seemed Princess Changle was determined to have Su Yao.

“A’Sheng, surely there’s one you fancy this time?” Princess Changle’s gentle voice rang out.

Luo Sheng looked at her, seeing the suspicion that flashed and vanished in those exquisite phoenix eyes.

Luo Sheng’s heart sank.

Truth be told, the person in this world who understood Miss Luo best was probably not Grand Governor Luo or Luo Chen, but Princess Changle before her.

After a moment of silence, Luo Sheng pointed: “I’ll take him.”

The selected young man stepped forward and bowed: “Lingxiao greets Miss Luo.”

Luo Sheng placed her emptied wine cup on the table and casually commanded: “Pour wine.”

The young man with a cool temperament silently stepped forward, picked up the white jade pot, and filled the cup.

Luo Sheng raised her cup toward Princess Changle: “Thank you for Your Highness’s gift.”

Having already accepted it, there was no need for coyness. She could take him back to keep Mingzhu company—it would save Mingzhu from bottling things up alone and causing trouble.

Princess Changle raised her cup to touch hers, her smile much more genuine: “Why stand on ceremony between us?”

As the chrysanthemum viewing banquet dispersed, a rumor spread rapidly: After attending the banquet, Miss Luo had brought a male attendant back with her!