Madam Feng and Shen Ying'er turned around in terror, only to see Shen Qing walking slowly toward them, clad in plain robes and draped in an ill-fitting fur coat. She wore a faint smile, yet her eyes were as cold as ice.
"Shen Qing?" Madam Feng looked at her in disbelief, her voice trembling. "You... how are you here? Weren't you...?"
Shen Qing smiled slightly, her tone laced with sarcasm. "Weren't I what? Madam Feng, you didn't think I died at the estate outside the city last night, did you?"
Madam Feng’s face turned deathly pale, and she glared fiercely at Nanny Li. Upon seeing Shen Qing, Nanny Li looked as if she had seen a ghost, stuttering, "E-Eldest Miss... why are you here?"
Shen Qing gave Nanny Li a meaningful look, her voice nonchalant. "If I’m not here, where else would I be?"
Nanny Li felt a chill run down her spine under Shen Qing’s gaze and quickly lowered her head, not daring to speak another word.
Seeing Shen Qing emerge, the coachman stepped forward to salute with a respectful tone: "Miss Shen, the Grand Princess specifically ordered me to come and fetch you."
Shen Qing nodded slightly, her tone calm. "Qing'er, let's go. Since the Grand Princess has extended an invitation, we must not refuse."
With that, she stepped straight into the carriage, not even sparing Madam Feng and Shen Ying'er a single glance.
The interior of the carriage was warm, suffused with a faint scent of plum blossoms that dispelled the winter chill outside. Shen Qing leaned back against the cushions and closed her eyes to rest. As the carriage rolled slowly down the main street, pedestrians on both sides turned to watch, whispering to one another.
"Is that the Grand Princess Estate's carriage? I heard they’re hosting a birthday banquet today, and all the prominent nobles in the capital are attending."
"Indeed. They say General Changning will also be present. I wonder which young lady will catch his eye."
"I wonder which noble family the lady in the carriage belongs to."
"Sent by the Grand Princess herself to fetch her—she must be someone significant. Could she be the future General’s wife?"
As the crowd talked, their curiosity about the person inside the carriage grew. Behind them, hearing the discussion outside, Madam Feng and Shen Ying'er grew increasingly livid. Shen Ying'er bit her lip, her eyes filled with jealousy and resentment. "Mother, why does that slut Shen Qing get to ride in the Grand Princess's carriage?"
Madam Feng’s face was dark. She whispered, "Ying'er, don’t be impatient. Today’s banquet is our stage. No matter how smug Shen Qing is, she’s just a wild girl without a mother’s love."
Nanny Li chimed in from the side, "The Madam is right. No matter how much the Eldest Miss struts about, she’s only relying on the Grand Princess's influence. The brilliant plan we prepared today will surely let you outshine her and trample her underfoot."
Hearing the hustle and bustle of the street, Shen Qing gently lifted a corner of the curtain. The road was packed with people and a constant stream of carriages; it was bound to become congested soon.
Shen Qing asked softly, "Driver, how much longer until we reach the Grand Princess Estate?"
"Miss, we’ll be there once we cross Changfeng Bridge ahead."
"Move! Everyone, move!"
Shen Qing frowned slightly and peered through the slit in the curtain at the eight-horse carriage that had cut across their path. It was magnificently decorated, inlaid with gold and silver thread, and exquisite bronze bells hung from the four corners of the roof, chiming crisply as the carriage swayed. The coachman, holding his whip, was arrogantly ordering the pedestrians to clear the way.
"Whose carriage is this? How could they be so brazen?" Qing'er couldn't help but ask in a low voice, her eyes full of confusion and dissatisfaction.
Shen Qing’s gaze turned cold. "Judging by this display, it’s likely from one of the capital's powerful families. Still, it’s rare to see someone act with such impunity in Shangjing City."
As she spoke, a fair hand lifted the curtain of that carriage, revealing a delicate and beautiful face. The woman’s brows were like paintings, her lips like vermilion, and she wore a luxurious purple gown that made her look even more noble. She swept a look of contempt over Shen Qing's carriage, a mocking smile curling at the corner of her lips. "Well now, whose carriage is this, daring to block my path? If you know what’s good for you, move aside! Don't delay my arrival!"
The two carriages stood locked at the bridge, neither willing to yield. The coachman of the eight-horse carriage, seeing that Shen Qing’s carriage refused to back down, barked, "Are you deaf? Move! Do you know whose carriage this is?"
"Sister, do not be impudent," a man’s voice called from inside the carriage.
"Brother, but..." Gu Wanting’s voice grew weaker; she was still afraid of her eldest brother. He was the only person who could keep her in check.
"The Prime Minister’s Estate carriage is truly grand; it’s one of a kind in the capital! Who dares to block them?" the pedestrians began to gossip.
Hearing this, Shen Qing understood. This woman was the Prime Minister's legitimate daughter, Su Wanting. No wonder she was so arrogant. Gu Wanting was known in the capital for being "willful and domineering"; relying on her father’s power, she never looked down on anyone.
Qing'er was so angry her face turned pale. She whispered, "This Su Wanting is too conceited! Miss, we cannot let her bully us!"
Shen Qing smiled slightly, a hint of coldness flashing in her eyes. "If we don't move, no one behind us can pass. It’s fine, let her go first."
Upon hearing this, the coachman, though unwilling, had no choice but to pull to the side and let Su Wanting's carriage pass. Su Wanting lifted her chin in triumph and ordered her coachman to proceed.
"At least you know your place."
Su Wanting pulled back her curtain, looking at Shen Qing's carriage with a smug, haughty expression. Upon seeing Shen Qing’s simple and elegant appearance, she smirked in further ridicule.
After Su Wanting’s carriage had gone, Qing'er couldn't help but complain, "Miss, why did you let her? We’re riding in the Grand Princess's carriage; why should we let her go first?"
Shen Qing smiled faintly, her tone carrying a deeper meaning. "What does it matter if she goes first? The Grand Princess has always despised the arrogant. Su Wanting’s behavior will only bring about her own humiliation."
Behind them, Shen Ying'er saw this and mocked, "Mother, I think this Shen Qing is just a weak and useless thing. Even in a royal carriage, she dares not stand up to the Prime Minister’s Estate. She’s lost all face!"
"Humph, she’s just a piece of trash who can't stand on a stage," Madam Feng scoffed disdainfully.
Before long, the carriage arrived at the Grand Princess Estate. Many carriages were already parked at the entrance, and guests were stepping down from their sedans, led into the estate by the maids. Right under everyone’s eyes, the carriage carrying Shen Qing entered the estate.
Su Wanting had just stepped down from her grand eight-horse carriage and was triumphantly smoothing out her skirt. When she caught sight of Shen Qing’s carriage, the smile on her face froze, replaced by pure displeasure.
Shen Qing saw another familiar figure stepping down from the eight-horse carriage—Gu Changfeng? The man who had helped her at the fortune-telling stall! She had not expected him to be the Prime Minister’s son, the brother of Gu Wanting...
"Why can my carriage not enter the estate, but this piece of junk is allowed in? Do you know that this is the carriage of the Prime Minister’s Estate!"
Su Wanting shrieked, her willow-leaf brows arched in fury, drawing the attention of everyone nearby.