Chapter 2

I was wearing red today.

So was Meng Wantang.

In my hair was the newest hairpin from Jincui Jewelry.

She wore one too.

She was a beauty, certainly.

But even dressed in a gown much like mine, with her hair arranged in a similar style,

I could not see the slightest resemblance in her features.

My words left the room silent.

Everyone turned toward me with expressions that were difficult to describe.

Meng Wantang recovered first.

The color drained from her face, and she suddenly dropped to her knees with a thud.

“Your Highness possesses peerless beauty. I am plain and unworthy. How could I dare compare myself to you?”

Her kneeling

made the guests exchange looks, disapproval clear in their eyes.

The Crown Prince frowned in displeasure too.

“Sister, our bodies and features are given to us by our parents. Sister Meng was born looking the way she does. It isn’t up to her whether she resembles you. You can’t take it out on her just because you insist on being unique in everything!”

Take it out on her?

I almost laughed.

“You stupid boy. Didn’t you hear? I was insulting you.”

I had addressed the Crown Prince.

But my gaze swept over every displeased face in the room.

“Three years, and the Princess Royal is still so temperamental.”

“We used to think Miss Meng resembled her, but now that we see them together, how can that sickly princess compare to Miss Meng?”

“If you ask me, the Princess Royal’s face is the only thing she has going for her…”

“What? You think I can’t hear you whispering about me behind my back just because you’ve stepped away from your seats?”

Everyone in the capital knew I had a bad temper.

Father had once advised me that a woman ought to be gentle.

But I felt that, rather than making myself miserable, I might as well let other people be upset.

So I had never allowed myself to suffer the slightest grievance.

I looked at the young nobles, now silent with fear after I had punctured their show of civility.

I had thoroughly lost interest.

“My welcome banquet, and every one of you looks as though your parents have died.”

“Fourth Sister, thank you for going to all this trouble. In future, if these people are going to be present, don’t ask me to join them. It’s revolting…”

I had no wish to linger.

I rose unhurriedly, ready to leave.

But as I passed Meng Wantang, her maid suddenly cried out.

Her hand shook, and the gift box she was carrying dropped against Meng Wantang.

The rouge inside stained Meng Wantang’s dress red.

A moment later,

Pei Yanli’s furious voice rang in my ear.

“Lu Shijin, why are you behaving so unreasonably?”

“Wantang spent days making this rouge herself, barely stopping to sleep. If you didn’t like it, you could have refused it. Why ruin something she put so much care into?”

Pei Yanli and I had grown up together.

He was cold and reserved, his expression indifferent no matter whom he faced.

In all our years of acquaintance,

this was the first time I had ever seen him so angry.

His lowered eyes were dark.

“Everyone came today because you’ve been away so long and have finally returned. We wanted to welcome you home. Why must you make things so unpleasant?”

“Three years, and your temper hasn’t changed. You actually…”

A sharp slap rang out.

Pei Yanli’s voice stopped dead.

Around us, one startled gasp followed another.

His eyes widened in disbelief.

It took him a moment to find his voice.

“You… hit me?”

Yes, I had hit him. And?

I gave a cold snort. “Who gave you the right?”

“Who do you think you are, addressing me by name?”