Chapter 16

Not long after, Princess Huayang hosted a garden party in the Royal Peony Garden, inviting all the eligible young ladies from the Capital to attend.

The late Empress Dowager loved peonies most of all. The Late Emperor built this garden for her, and it became a symbol of the deep affection between them.

On the way there, Zhang Jincan warned me, quite unwillingly, “When you get to the Peony Garden, don’t pick any flowers at random. All the peonies there are rare and exotic varieties that the Late Emperor brought back from Luoyang. Princess Huayang has a fiery temper-if she catches you damaging the peonies, you can just wait for death; even Father won’t be able to save you. Behave yourself once you’re inside, and don’t bring shame to our family.”

As soon as we entered, Zhang Jincan took her maid to look for her friends.

Xiaotao and I were admiring a cluster of yellow peonies when a sharp, gloomy greeting pierced my ears: “Second Sister, long time no see. I hope you’ve been well.”

Li Rongchuan had grown much thinner; the fat that once crowded his face had diminished by several layers. Now he finally looked almost human.

“I hope you’ve been well.” I had no intention of getting tangled up with him. I pulled Xiaotao and turned to leave.

He quickly stepped forward to block my way, indignantly declaring, “I was wondering why Second Sister acts so high and mighty in front of me-turns out you’ve gotten close to Your Highness the Crown Prince. You forced me to eat vegetarian and recite scriptures in a temple for more than three months – quite a scheme.”

I gave a mocking laugh. “Those three months in the temple did you good-helped you lose some fat and, hopefully, clear up your dirty mind.”

“Zhang Qiuhe, what are you so proud of? Is it just because you’re good-looking? Other than that, you’re useless – vicious-minded, scheming, and completely improper-”

“You aren’t good-looking, and you’re good for nothing. Your ugliness is truly out of the ordinary: a bloated, greasy face and an oversized frame. Haven’t you ever looked at yourself? Even if you wanted to flirt, no one would want to stick to you. Ugly, and yet always making trouble.”

“Miss, please stop,” Xiaotao whispered, shrinking back as she tried to pull me away.

“Well, Zhang Qiuhe, now that someone’s backing you, you’ve grown bolder. How dare you insult me? No one’s ever dared to talk to me like this.” Li Rongchuan’s smile was cold and stiff. He drew the whip from his waist and cracked it on the ground with a loud snap-he was truly angry now.

It wasn’t that I’d grown bold. Back then, I had promised someone to keep a low profile, restrain my temper, and protect myself.

Back then, I still had something to hope for. Now, I was just muddling through, my heart like dead wood, my body like a boat unmoored-I was no longer afraid of anything.

Seeing Li Rongchuan’s whip, I even felt a subtle hint of pleasure. I wanted to provoke him, to let him cause a scene in the Peony Garden. I wanted to see whether Princess Huayang would let Li Rongchuan off once she saw her peonies ruined.

“Do you know what kind of occasion this is? You dare cause trouble here? Do you think this is the Wuan Marquis Mansion, where you can do as you please?”

“Just see if I dare.” Li Rongchuan gritted his teeth and lashed out, sending a cloud of dust into the air.

Hiss- Xiaotao took a lash, hunching her shoulders and shielding me, gasping in pain. The swollen mark on the back of her hand stood out starkly.

I told Xiaotao to run for help, and kept flinging insults at Li Rongchuan. While he was focused on swinging his whip at me, I slipped into the thick peony bushes, darting and dodging among the flowers.

The sharp whip cracked against petals and leaves, leaving this corner of the garden in utter disarray. Li Rongchuan was clearly furious, his whip never stopping, and he cursed as he chased me: “Zhang Qiuhe, no one has ever dared to insult me like this-only you, only you!”

Hearing his footsteps getting closer and closer, I began to cry out for help, my voice hoarse and tears streaming down my face.

Sensing that someone was nearby, I pretended to trip on the whip and fell hard onto the gravel path.

I braced myself for a heavy lash, but the pain I expected never came.

“Young Lord Li, do you think this is the Wuan Marquis Mansion?” A dignified man in a purple robe caught the thick whip in his large hand. With a forceful tug, he sent Li Rongchuan sprawling to the ground.

The man in purple took off his robe and draped it over me. “Miss, I am Fu Yu, son of Princess Huayang. Forgive us for our poor hospitality and for frightening you. I will take you to the infirmary right away.”

I nodded weakly.

Fu Yu murmured an apology and moved as if to pick me up. As his hand circled my waist, Zhang Jincan and a group of young ladies rushed over.

“Fu Yu, you mustn’t touch her!” Zhang Jincan hurried over, shoving him away rather roughly. “Don’t touch her. I’ll carry her myself.”

What was going on? Why was Zhang Jincan acting so strangely?

Zhang Jincan pulled me up with all her strength, yanking at my wounds several times, making me gasp in pain.

“Miss Zhang, don’t make trouble,” Fu Yu shouted. At his words, Zhang Jincan immediately fell silent, stomping her foot in grievance.

Then her eyes lit up. She quickly adjusted her expression, putting on a look of propriety and poise.

Following her gaze, I saw a graceful, dignified woman approaching. She must be Princess Huayang.

On her left was Yin Jiuqing in a silver robe, and on her right, a beautiful woman in a robe the color of moonlight-

A beauty?

????