The crowd turned toward the sound, where a handsome man dressed in deep blue brocade patterned with dark clouds approached slowly. He held a folding fan of carved ivory, and his long, ink-black hair was pulled up and secured with a gold crown inlaid with green jade, which only served to heighten his distinguished bearing.
The young ladies of the noble families present found their gazes drawn to him involuntarily, their cheeks flushing a subtle pink. Some whispered, others covered their mouths to hide their giggles, but none dared to step forward rashly.
Just then, a sudden exclamation rose from the crowd: "Prince Jing!" The name cracked like a thunderbolt. As if snapping out of a dream, the crowd bowed in unison, greeting him with one voice: "Greetings, Prince Jing!"
Song Xiuyuan remained indifferent, as if he were long accustomed to such scenes. He stood still amidst the crowd, his gaze sweeping over them with calm detachment. Raising a hand, he said lightly, "Rise."
Fu Jing'an stood in the crowd watching Song Xiuyuan. She struggled to control her racing heart, touched her burning cheeks, and took a deep breath. She stepped forward and offered a graceful curtsy, saying warmly, "I never expected Your Highness to attend this Spring Banquet! Your bond with the Princess is truly deep."
As these words left her lips, they hit the crowd—save for Fu Yingzhi—like a thunderclap. Many noble ladies cast envious glances her way, whispering and speculating about the relationship between Fu Jing'an and Song Xiuyuan.
Song Xiuyuan narrowed his eyes at Fu Jing'an, his tone carrying a trace of aloofness and confusion. "Which family’s daughter are you? Do I know you?"
A few irrepressible titters rippled through the crowd, and the situation turned excruciatingly awkward.
Fu Jing'an’s face went pale. She squeezed out a smile, trembling slightly as she said, "Your Highness, I am the second daughter of Count Jingwen's Estate, Fu Jing'an. You visited our estate some time ago, and we met then." With that, she looked up at Song Xiuyuan with a pitiable expression.
The bystanders were in an uproar once more. The Count Jingwen's Estate? When had Prince Jing ever been linked to them?
Song Xiuyuan looked at Fu Jing'an seriously for a moment, his eyes filled with scrutiny and a hidden meaning. After a pause, he said flatly, "I don't recall."
Without another glance at her, he walked straight toward the less crowded lakeside.
Laughter echoed around her. Fu Jing'an could barely maintain her composure, her eyes fixed on the man’s retreating back with resentment.
"Does the Third Miss like the flowers I gave?" Song Xiuyuan walked up to Fu Yingzhi, who was feeding the koi, and leaned in slightly, whispering so that only the two of them could hear.
Fu Yingzhi had seen everything that had just transpired. Hearing this, she froze for a split second, then looked at Song Xiuyuan with a playful, enigmatic smile. "I like them very much."
Having received his answer, Song Xiuyuan curled his lips and muttered through gritted teeth, "I like the tonic the Third Miss gave me just as much."
Mosong, standing behind him, nearly choked on a cough. He lowered his head to hide his amusement, though his shoulders trembled slightly.
Though their whispers were quiet, they did not escape Fu Jing'an’s notice. She gripped her handkerchief tightly, glaring at the pair with venom.
Suddenly, she raised her voice, calling out to Song Xiuyuan’s back, "Your Highness, please forgive me!"
Song Xiuyuan turned slowly, looking at her with a puzzled expression.
When she saw that the Prince was finally acknowledging her, a blush spread across Fu Jing'an’s cheeks. She said in a soft, affected voice, "My second sister just claimed that her dress was dyed with the flowers you sent. That is sheer nonsense and is surely damaging to your reputation. I am here on behalf of the Count's estate to ask for your pardon."
A hint of sarcasm touched Song Xiuyuan’s lips. "You? On behalf of Count Jingwen's Estate?"
Seeing that he was willing to engage with her, Fu Jing'an’s joy bloomed. She stepped forward and said in a coy, delicate voice, "When I left the estate, my parents specifically instructed me to convey their respects to you."
Before she could finish, a clear, sharp female voice cut through the air: "Is my brother so very familiar with Count Jingwen's Estate?"
The crowd turned toward the source of the voice and saw a woman in a pale blue palace gown approaching. The golden clouds embroidered on her dress shimmered under the sunlight, looking quite beautiful. Before long, a woman with bright eyes, pearly teeth, and delicate features stood among them.
"This garden is quite well arranged," Song Xiuyuan said, looking at the woman with a gentle smile.
The crowd finally came to their senses and hurried to bow. "Greetings, Princess Rongjia." Compliments filled the air.
Princess Rongjia wore a perfectly measured smile, though her eyes never left Fu Yingzhi.
"I heard just now," she began, her voice crisp but edged with dissatisfaction, "that Miss Fu’s dress was dyed with flowers my royal brother sent?"
She scanned Fu Yingzhi and Song Xiuyuan. Seeing that neither spoke, her gaze darkened and her tone turned cold. "I was unaware my royal brother had such refined tastes as to gift flowers to win a beauty’s smile."
Fu Jing'an stepped forward, quickly putting on an aggrieved expression, her voice choking with sobs. "It is all my fault for not looking after my sister better. Princess, you may not know, but my sister was kidnapped by ruffians recently and was quite traumatized, which is why she is babbling and offending the Prince. I hope both Your Highnesses will be magnanimous and spare her this once. I am willing to apologize on her behalf." With that, she curtsied to the Princess and the Prince. A single tear slid down her cheek, which she wiped away with her handkerchief, casting a look of profound worry toward Fu Yingzhi.
The onlookers began to whisper. Rumors had floated about the Count’s Third Miss being kidnapped, but hadn't they been debunked? It was true after all!
The crowd’s eyes softened as they looked at Fu Jing'an, thinking to themselves: What a caring sister she is.
Fu Yingzhi frowned, looking at Fu Jing'an. Her lips parted, "Must you ruin my reputation with such groundless lies just to stop?"
She scanned the crowd and, seeing them whispering, continued slowly, "Sister, you first accused me of stealing flowers—do you have proof? Then you claimed I was traumatized and babbling—what is your evidence for that?"
Fu Jing'an’s face changed dramatically. She was speechless for a moment. Seeing all eyes on her, she suppressed her panic and said with a choked sob, "Sister, what do you mean? Do you think I am the type of person to frame others without evidence?"
She paused, looking deeply aggrieved. "I heard from the servants that the largest flower shop in Ningdu had suddenly run out of peonies, and you happened to return home with a large bouquet. I was merely guessing based on logic; how is that framing you? As for your kidnapping, you didn't return home for a long time, and you were a different person when you finally did. I was only worried you had been frightened. How did that become my fault?"
Fu Yingzhi cut through her increasingly absurd claims without mercy, her voice rising. "I cannot accept your 'concern.' You claim you are doing this for my own good, yet every word is meant to smear me. The peonies, the kidnapping—every single thing is a fabrication you invented to induce others to suspect me. My father often says that a family prospers or suffers together. I have no wish to embarrass you, Sister, but your relentless pressure is truly baffling!" She looked Fu Jing'an straight in the eye, her own eyes reddening. She stood tall, her voice trembling with suppressed emotion. "If you have a grievance against me, just say it directly. Why resort to such roundabout ways to stain my reputation? I have never done anything to wrong you, but your words today are venomous. What is your true intention?"
As she finished, the crowd was in an uproar. Someone, unable to stand it any longer, shouted, "Miss Fu, what is the cause of all this? If there is a misunderstanding, settle it face-to-face, lest you damage your sisterly bond."
Fu Jing'an’s face turned deathly pale, her eyes darting about as she struggled to hide her internal panic.
Princess Rongjia frowned, observing Fu Jing'an with a look of scrutiny and investigation.
Suddenly, a commotion broke out in the crowd. A moment later, someone screamed, "Princess Qinghuan is having another seizure!"
"Quick! Get Imperial Physician Chen!" Princess Rongjia, losing all composure, rushed toward Princess Qinghuan in a panic.