The annual Spring Banquet arrived as scheduled. At the crack of dawn, the Count’s Estate was a flurry of activity. The coachman wiped down the carriages again and again, while the young maidservants swarmed around the two young ladies, fussing over their makeup and hairstyles. Count Jingwen offered his daughters repeated instructions before finally allowing them to board the carriages.
Two carriages set off one after the other toward the Princess's Estate. Madam Wen watched them disappear into the distance, touching her face, which was stiff from smiling. Leaning on Mammy Zhou, she strolled back into the courtyard, looking utterly triumphant.
Today, she simply had to wait for the good news. Once the deed was done, she would be able to suppress that third young lady for good.
What did it matter that she was a daughter of the legal wife? Once the reputations of both daughters of the legal wife were tarnished, her own Fu Jing'an would become the most esteemed young lady in the Count’s Estate. When that time came, for the sake of Fu Jing'an's future, the Count would certainly elevate her to the position of legal wife. If she could then conceive and bear a son...
Thinking of this, a smug expression appeared on Madam Wen’s face, as if everything were firmly within her grasp.
…
Outside the Princess's Estate, the streets were already packed tight with commoners eager to watch the spectacle. Everyone craned their necks and stood on tiptoe, their gazes fixed intently on the passing carriages.
This was the first place where one could make a name for oneself today.
Whose young lady was stunningly beautiful, whose young master was dashing and graceful—all would become fodder for the commoners’ tea-time chatter.
Once today had passed, through the word of mouth of these very people, one’s fame would be set.
Within the crowd, waves of discussion erupted.
"Look, that’s Minister Lu’s carriage. I hear his daughter is a national beauty. I simply must get a good look at her today!"
"Has the young master from the Marquis of Loyalty’s estate arrived? They say he is a dashing and elegant man."
As the crowd chatted away with great excitement, two magnificent carriages slowly rolled into view.
A sharp-eyed person let out a low cry: "It’s the Count’s Estate’s carriage!"
Fu Jing'an was in the first carriage. Hearing the commotion outside, she suppressed her racing heart, smoothed her appearance, and elegantly lifted the carriage curtain to step out.
She wore her hair in a cloud-like bun, and the golden hairpins in her hair shimmered brilliantly in the sunlight, looking quite eye-catching. A magenta dress accentuated her slender waist and made her skin appear exceptionally fair. With a faint smile, she offered a graceful bow to the crowd, earning herself no small amount of praise.
Fu Jing'an lazily glanced toward the carriage behind her, a hint of intrigue flashing in her eyes. The corners of her mouth curled up slightly, revealing an expression of eager anticipation, as if she were waiting to see a good show.
However, the person inside the second carriage remained motionless, as if intentionally keeping everyone in suspense.
Fu Jing'an curled her lips in impatience and said in a coquettish voice, "How affected."
Just as she lifted her foot to depart, she felt the surrounding crowd go silent in an instant, as if the very air had frozen.
Immediately afterward, the sound of people gasping in unison drifted to her ears. Fu Jing'an arched a brow, suspicion rising in her heart, and she turned to look where everyone else was staring.
A second later, her gaze locked onto a streak of purple, and she was so stunned that her mouth fell open, unable to look away.
It was not a common shade of purple; it carried with it faint traces of fragrance, as if it possessed an exotic allure, tinged with a cold, noble air that made everything around it pale by comparison.
Fu Jing'an’s gaze uncontrollably trailed that streak of purple until it came to a halt beside her. She began to scrutinize the person standing next to her.
The young lady wore her hair in a lofty, ethereal bun, adorned with a set of purple gemstone jewelry. The gems cast a cold, sharp light in the sun, surrounded by delicate gold wire that traced intricate patterns. Tassels made of tiny pearls hung from both sides, emitting a crisp clinking sound as they swayed—lively and beautiful.
The young lady was dressed in robes of the same shade of purple. It was alluring without being vulgar, carrying an otherworldly quality. The purple attire draped over her delicate frame, her waist slender and graceful, her features as exquisite as a painting. One smile could topple a city; a second, a nation.
Fu Jing'an stood rooted to the spot, her eyes following the streak of purple as it moved further and further away, only snapping back to reality when it completely vanished from sight.
She clenched her hands so tightly that her long fingernails dug into her palms. Her eyes burned red, and her entire body trembled slightly.
"Miss, Miss," Zhengxian whispered, calling her back to her senses.
"That person... was that Fu Yingzhi?" Fu Jing'an’s voice was squeezed through her teeth, her tone laced with disbelief and a hidden, simmering rage.
"It is indeed the third young lady," Zhengxian answered cautiously, stealing a glance at Fu Jing'an’s expression, terrified that she might lose her composure in public as she had done before.
Hearing this, a cold light flashed in Fu Jing'an’s eyes. She quickened her pace and strode into the estate.
Inside, the Princess's Estate was a riot of flowers and lush greenery. Clear streams meandered through the grounds, and pavilions were scattered artfully among arched bridges; every step offered a new, beautiful vista. In the courtyard, noblewomen in fine robes chatted and laughed, resembling blooming spring flowers competing for attention.
The male guests were in the outer rooms, engaged in high-minded conversation, laughter ringing out frequently. What a vibrant spring scene!
The moment Fu Yingzhi stepped into the estate, she instantly drew the gaze of every noble lady present. They swarmed around her, their eyes lingering on her magnificent dress and exquisite jewelry. Praises were endless, and some even eagerly inquired which master artisan in Ningdu had crafted such an ensemble.
"Sister, why aren't you wearing the brocade dress Mother made for us?" Fu Jing'an walked up quickly, her voice high and piercing, cutting through the laughter and chatter with undisguised provocation.
Her gaze was vicious, boring into Fu Yingzhi as if she wished to strip the fine clothes right off her back.
Seeing that Fu Yingzhi remained silent, she feigned injury and said, "Though you and Mother do not see eye to eye, you shouldn't be so willful. Mother went to such great lengths to prepare that brocade dress for the banquet."
Fu Yingzhi lifted her eyes to look at Fu Jing'an, a faint smile playing on her lips. She said clearly, "This dress was prepared for me by the Side Consort. How could it have anything to do with anyone else?"
The mention of "the Side Consort" caused Fu Jing'an to tighten her brow. She squeezed her stiffened fist and turned to the surrounding crowd, deliberately raising her voice. "Sister, why must you lie?"
She paused, acting wronged. "I wonder which sister was kind enough to lend my sister a brocade dress? Jingan wishes to express her gratitude." With that, she offered a slight curtsy to the crowd, her posture dignified but her tone full of provocation.
Instantly, a wave of low murmurs broke out among the crowd. Everyone’s gaze shifted back and forth between Fu Yingzhi and Fu Jing'an, and those looking at Fu Yingzhi’s magnificent dress began to show more disdain.
"You're lying! Our Miss dyed this dress herself!" Qinxin, who had been following Fu Yingzhi, could hold back no longer. With puffed-out cheeks, she yelled at Fu Jing'an, furious.
Fu Jing'an arched a brow, a hint of smugness in her eyes. She lowered her gaze and said softly, "Third Sister, our parents have always been too lenient with you. It is one thing to be overbearing at home, but how can you let your servants behave so insolently outside the estate?"
Fu Yingzhi smiled slightly, her gaze indifferent as she watched Fu Jing'an. "Sister, do you find this dress familiar? It is the pale blue brocade dress Mother prepared for me earlier. You have seen it before—have you forgotten so soon?"
Fu Jing'an frowned, looking closely. Sure enough, she realized the style of the purple dress was identical to that of the pale blue one.
She was shocked, but refused to show weakness. "You said yourself it was blue, but what you are wearing now is purple!"
Suddenly, her expression shifted; a look of helplessness surfaced on her face, and she spoke with a choked sob. "At first, you didn't like that pale blue dress and threw a tantrum demanding a change. It seems Mother eventually yielded to your whims and gave you a different one. I suppose you won’t be wearing the blue one anymore, but even as a Count’s Estate, we shouldn't be so wasteful!"
As soon as these words were out, another round of whispering rippled through the crowd.
Fu Yingzhi remained composed. She raised a hand to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear and spoke with a smile: "I dyed that pale blue dress myself. Red plus blue makes purple. Any skilled dyer knows this. If you don't believe me, Sister, why not call for a dyer to verify it?"
Fu Jing'an’s expression shifted slightly, but she refused to let it go. She shrilled, acting aggressive, "Red? Where did you get red dye?"
Fu Yingzhi shook her head, looking at Fu Jing'an with a touch of pity. "If you crush red flowers, don't you get red dye?"
Fu Jing'an, as if grasping at a lifeline, flashed a look of triumph and shrieked, "How much dye does it take to dye a whole dress? Where did you get so many red flowers? Second Sister, where on earth did you go to steal so many red flowers? What kind of behavior is this? How did Father and Mother teach you?"
The moment those words were spoken, the area fell silent. Everyone turned their eyes toward Fu Yingzhi. Just as she was about to speak, a cold snort echoed through the crowd.
In the next second, a cold, low male voice drifted through the air: "What is the commotion?"