The flower-viewing banquet hosted by the Wang family seemed on the surface to be an effort to befriend and draw in Zanying, but it was also an opportunity to weigh her character and determine whether she was worth the Wang clan’s time and effort.

A few days before the banquet, the Wang family had made a show of sending the guest list to Zanying, asking this honored guest to review and make changes if she wished.

Zanying did not engage in such petty behavior and returned the list without even looking at it, saying that guests were at the discretion of the host.

Chun Jin was somewhat concerned. “Mistress, do you think the Fu family will attend?”

She knew that the last people her mistress wanted to see at this moment were the Fu family, followed closely by the Crown Prince—or perhaps those two were tied for first place.

Ever since the day the elderly lady from the Fu family caused a scene in Wuyi Alley, Zanying had proactively requested that the Fu family be expelled from the temple’s prayer list, giving them a ten-day deadline.

Tomorrow was the final day.

Zanying dismissed the thought lightly, “If the Wang family has any sense, they won’t put me in a difficult position. If they have no intention, then it’s none of my business. I’m not someone who can’t face people. There’s no need for me to avoid anyone—whether they come or not has nothing to do with me.”

Chunjin nodded in agreement and skillfully parted Zanying’s hair, which she had been growing out since childhood, into two sections, revealing her delicate forehead and arching brows.

Her fair skin, as white as snow, combined with her long, dark brows and jade-like complexion, made her look like the moon breaking through the clouds, radiant and ethereal.

As Chunjin gazed at her mistress’s transformed appearance, she said softly, “Miss Gu was right—Miss, you’ve been hiding your beauty all these years.”

Though Zanying had always been lovely, her long bangs had lent her a somewhat childish and awkward appearance.

With this change in hairstyle, her natural elegance and beauty were fully revealed.

Chunjin carefully styled Zanying’s soft side hair to blend with her parted bangs, decorating it with a pair of pearl ornaments and twisting it into two delicate cloud-like buns adorned with flowing tassels.

She finished the look with a jade cicada hairpin and tied the rest of Zanying’s long black hair with a light yellow ribbon that hung down to her waist.

Chunjin wanted to add some eyebrow and cheek makeup, but Zanying, feeling it was too much trouble, refused.

She barely applied any powder and, once dressed in her ruqun, left the house by mid-morning.

Outside the gate of the newly renovated garden, carriages and horses were already prepared.

The Wang family lived on the same street as Zanying, and several elegant carriages were lined up neatly.

The Wang family’s main lady, today’s hostess, had not gone ahead to Le You Garden to oversee the banquet but had instead waited for Zanying so they could travel together.

Madam Wang was originally from the Xie family and married Wang Xiao, the eldest son of the main branch of the Wang family, who was now the chancellor and in charge of the Wang household.

That day, she wore a robe of crimson chrysanthemum brocade embroidered with birds and dragon motifs.

Surrounded by her attendants, she stepped out of the mansion and, seeing Zanying’s party nearby, sent a maidservant to invite Zanying to share her carriage.

Zanying gave a distant bow and declined, saying she dared not sit alongside a respected elder.

The alleyway was lined with dark tiles and intersecting stone steps, exuding a somber gray.

Among the scenery stood a graceful young lady, with hair as dark as clouds, her presence bright and pure.

Lady Wang caught sight of her at a glance, feeling a refreshing sense of calm.

She nodded slightly and invited Zanying to share a carriage with her third daughter.

Wang San Niang, who was betrothed to Fu Ze, was someone Zanying knew well, so she didn’t refuse again.

Wang Xu had already spotted her from a distance.

After seeing her elder aunt off into the carriage, she hurriedly brought her maid over to greet Zanying.

When she got a closer look at Zanying’s snow-white skin and black hair, as if transformed into a different person, Wang Xu froze in surprise.

Grabbing Zanying’s arm, she examined her carefully and asked with concern, “Ah Ying, are you alright? You were perfectly fine in the palace, so why—”

“I’m fine,” Zanying smiled as she held onto Wang Xu’s arm, her tone revealing a hint of playfulness. “Third Sister, let’s talk in the carriage. I’ve never been to Leyou Garden before. Will you accompany me?”

“Of course.” Before Wang Xu left home, she had been given strict instructions: today, she needn’t worry about anything else but staying by Lady Fu’s side at all times.

Ah Ying was the Wang family’s honored guest, and no mistakes were allowed.

Just as the two were about to board the carriage, a green silk carriage suddenly turned into the alley, and someone called out, “Sister Ah Ying!”

The voice sounded familiar to Zanying.

The curtain of the carriage was lifted by a slender white hand, revealing a delicate, oval-shaped face.

In a lively tone, the young woman said, “I heard the Wang family is hosting a banquet at Leyou Garden, and my grandfather specially granted me permission to enter the city. Sister, please be kind and take me along for some fun!”

“Lady Gu!”

Zanying’s eyes lit up.

The person who leaped down from the carriage was none other than Gu Xichan.

Zanying immediately reached out to take her arm. “How did you get here? Chun Jin was just thinking about you this morning.”

“Aha!” Gu Xichan clapped her hands upon seeing her, “I told you this hairstyle looks great! And indeed, it truly does!”

In truth, her visit had a reason.

When her grandfather heard that the Wang family was hosting a banquet to entertain Sister Ah Ying, he mulled it over for a long time before sending Gu Xichan into the city.

His instructions were clear: she was to stay by Sister Ah Ying’s side at all times, paying special attention to what she ate and accepted.

No detail was to be overlooked.

Though Gu Xichan had grown up in a mountain retreat, that didn’t mean she was ignorant of the inner workings of high society.

More than ten years ago, the Gu family had been embroiled in a court intrigue, and every younger member of the Gu clan had been repeatedly warned about such matters.

Gu Xichan deeply loathed this kind of underhandedness.

And now, Sister Ah Ying had just broken off her engagement with the Crown Prince.

While nothing had been openly mentioned about the situation in the palace, Gu Xichan knew exactly what her grandfather was worried about and took it seriously.

Zanying introduced Third Sister and Ah Chan to each other.

Upon hearing the introduction, Gu Xichan was full of admiration. “So, the famous beauty of the Wang family, skilled in both painting and calligraphy, is you, Sister Wang. I’ve long heard of your great reputation.”

Third Sister Wang smiled faintly, “The young lady of the Gu family must be referring to my cousin, the third daughter of my uncle, the Prime Minister. As for myself, my talents are modest and can hardly compare.”

However, inwardly, Wang Xu was astonished.

The Gu family had not been involved with the capital for many years.

The head of the Gu family, a man of the highest intellect, had retreated to live in seclusion in the mountains.

Even her own father had visited the Gu household many times, but never once had the elder granted him an audience.

When had Ah Ying become so close with a daughter of the Gu family?

Gu Xichan attending their banquet was a matter that could be seen as either small or large in importance.

Wang Xu quickly gave her maid a glance, signaling her to run ahead to inform the mistress.

Meanwhile, she warmly invited Lady Gu to share their carriage.

Gu Xichan was still childlike in many ways.

As soon as the three women boarded the carriage, she barely waited to settle down before peeking out through the curtains, her eyes wandering all around.

She then turned to Zanying and asked, “Where’s Sixteenth Uncle? Is he coming too?”

Zanying replied honestly, “He hasn’t mentioned it. The Young Grand Marshal was not invited, likely because he has his own matters to attend to.”

Upon hearing their conversation, Wang Xu was stunned once again.

If the Grand Marshal were to lower himself and appear at Le You Garden, none of the illustrious young men or famed maidens would dare to so much as breathe.

“Ah Ying,” she tugged at Zanying’s wide, snow-white sleeve. “You and the Grand Marshal, are you…”

Zanying softened at her words, her gaze becoming gentler. “The Grand Marshal, for the sake of my late mother, has looked out for me in many ways.”

Seeing Wang Xu’s anxious look, she hurried to clarify, “Sister, don’t believe the rumors outside. The Grand Marshal is a calm and gentle person; he is as good as one could be.”

“Shen Jingxu, gentle…” Wang Xu nodded slowly. “Is that so?”

At this moment, the carriage began to move, with eight Northern Guards following neatly at the rear.

Gu Xiaoniang immediately understood and breathed a sigh of relief, lowering the curtain as she murmured to herself, “This is almost the same as being there in person.”

The carriage was spacious, and the road long.

Wang Xu, seeing that Gu Xiaoniang was not an outsider, couldn’t help but quietly talk to Zanying about her change of registration. “Ah Ying, have you considered this carefully? I’ve heard that things at the Fu residence have calmed down a lot lately. If you keep your aristocratic registration, surely they wouldn’t dare trouble you anymore.”

Zanying glanced at Wang Xu, understanding that given her background with the Wang family, her advice to retain the aristocratic status was genuinely well-intentioned.

However, Zanying responded, “As long as my father’s and my registration remain under the Fu family, I find it bothersome; I find it disgusting. They’ve argued and caused a scene, and now they wish to make peace, but it’s too late.”

Her voice, soft and clear like the misty rain of Jiangnan, struck Wang Xu like a bolt of thunder.

This was because she knew what Ah Ying used to be like: gentle in temperament, soft-hearted, with a voice, smile, and even gaze that were naturally soft and sweet, pure and untainted.

She once thought that all of Jiankang would never find another like her, someone as delicate as snow piled on flowers.

Only Ah Ying could soften one’s heart with just a glance, making others unwilling to hurt her even the slightest bit.

But now, those beautiful peach blossom eyes had subtly sharpened, like bold strokes hidden within delicate calligraphy, revealing their edge.

Zanying was truly not the same as before.

Wang Xu lowered her eyes and remained silent for a long time before softly saying, “Ah Ying, you must have suffered a lot.”

“My suffering is all in the past,” Zanying replied calmly, gazing at her sister. “Elder Sister, how much longer will you endure yours?”