Seventeen, seventeen.

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“Master Qi originally hails from Pingzhou and just arrived in Yanjing yesterday. He is currently arranging a residence here. Because of his longstanding friendship with the Marquis, Madam permitted the women of his household to temporarily stay in the Marquis’s estate annex,” the nanny explained in detail. Yet, Yue Zhi found it hard to focus, for a woman near the archway had already noticed them. Upon seeing Yue Zhi, her smiling eyes immediately hardened. Ignoring those beside her, she strode directly over.

“It’s been such a long time,” she said sharply, every movement dripping with coquettish charm.

Yue Zhi wanted to ignore her, but Hua Qing, noticing the newcomer, couldn’t help but call out, “Are you Xiu Yu?”

Only then did Xiu Yu notice Hua Qing beside Yue Zhi. Their elaborate clothing was beautiful but made of common silk, the kind even the Marquis’s nannies and stewards could afford. Yue Zhi wore silver hairpins and jade ornaments that matched her delicate pink attire, while Hua Qing’s style was simpler, with a floral hairpin and a tied ribbon. From every detail, their appearance bore the humble airs of ordinary families trying to impress, hardly befitting noble households.

Xiu Yu’s face twisted in disdain. She casually raised her arm adorned with gold, silver, and jade bracelets, smoothed her heavily powdered face, and sneered at them.

“It’s been over nine years. I thought you ladies, not born to servitude, would live better lives, but turns out you’re no better than me.”

Hua Qing snorted coldly. “We’re guests at the Marquis’s estate. Who’s competing with you?”

“Guests?” Xiu Yu mocked, glancing at her fellow concubines behind her. “Looking at your outfits, you must be here to work — washing clothes or embroidering handkerchiefs?”

Hua Qing bristled, ready to retort, but Yue Zhi raised a hand to stop her.

“Nanny, you said Master Qi’s family is lodging in the estate annex. May I ask how the Marquis’s estate intends to deal with her barging into the garden and speaking rudely to invited guests?”

Faced with Yue Zhi’s pointed words, the two nannies had no choice but to act. They approached Xiu Yu and asked her to return to the annex.

“These two are guests of the Marquis. Madam and Miss are still waiting in the inner courtyard to attend the banquet. Please treat them with courtesy. If there’s any more quarrelling, we’ll have to ask Madam to decide.”

“You!” Xiu Yu was humiliated. Seeing Yue Zhi’s calm, unruffled expression and Hua Qing’s proud, flushed face, she had no courage to offend the Marquis or Madam. She could only watch as the two were respectfully escorted to the inner courtyard by the nannies.

She stomped in frustration, recalling the years of hardship and torment she’d suffered, while those two still hadn’t styled their hair as married women — still pure and unmarried.

Though they faced adversity on the same day, their fates were worlds apart. Xiu Yu’s grievances almost brought her to tears.

Unbeknownst to them, from a high pavilion, a pair of eyes quietly observed the brief confrontation.

* * *

Seated at the table, Madam Hou wore a kindly expression.

“The Marquis told me he wished to entertain the family of General Pei. I thought he’d invited the general’s parents and had the kitchen prepare some exquisite dishes. To my surprise, they are two young ladies about the same age as my daughter.”

“Madam is too kind,” Yue Zhi replied politely, cautiously inquiring, “May I ask why the Marquis invited the two of us? Has Pei Heng made some mistake in the army, or...”

“Not at all. It’s because your Pei Heng has distinguished himself in battle. Our Marquis is generous and kind; today’s banquet is to foster acquaintance between our families. When General Pei receives a promotion, you’ll surely meet often.”

Hearing this, Hua Qing, who had been focused on eating, looked up and joyfully nudged Yue Zhi: “See? I knew my cousin was getting promoted!”

Yue Zhi brushed away her hand, whispering, “Madam and Miss are watching. Mind your manners.”

Hua Qing subdued her expression and turned back to her meal.

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Opposite them, the Marquis’s daughter, Shen Xian, observed their “vulgar” gestures with displeasure.

Her maid whispered, “No matter how they dress up, they’re from a modest, poor family. Father actually wants me to marry into such a household? He must have lost his mind from riding.”

The maid added, “One girl is gentle and charming, the other delicate and refined, both quite beautiful. Surely General Pei is also handsome. Miss, why not wait and see?”

“What use is beauty? My father spends most of the year at the border fighting. How much time can he spare for me?” Shen Xian grew angrier by the thought.

Her younger brother could inherit the title and live freely, while she was to be married off to a poor family by their father’s arrangement.

Fuming, she signaled her maid.

Midway through the meal, Yue Zhi ate without appetite, for Shen Xian’s coldness was palpable. Even when Madam Hou kindly spoke, Shen Xian deliberately ignored them, keeping a chilly demeanor.

Yue Zhi was well-acquainted with Shen Xian’s temper. Back then, she was merely a seamstress working for her and dared not offend a Marquis’s daughter’s mood. Now, even as a guest of honor, she wasn’t treated with much more respect.

Being a guest required careful flattery and caution; Yue Zhi felt exhausted and yearned to go home.

Just then, someone entered.

Madam Hou looked puzzled. “What brings you here?”

Shen Xian waved and invited the newcomer to sit beside her, explaining to the hall, “Mother, the banquet was dull, so I asked an old acquaintance of the Pei family to come and chat about old times. Isn’t that more entertaining?”

Yue Zhi’s polite smile gradually faded upon seeing Xiu Yu brazenly take a seat.

Noticing their displeasure, Xiu Yu’s mood lifted, and she smugly said, “Isn’t that right? Hua Qing and I have known Yue Zhi for years. Seeing each other today, there’s so much to say.”

“Should we start with you stealing Hua Qing’s food, or with you snatching my bundle?” Yue Zhi’s expression turned cold, and Hua Qing beside her appeared ready to leap at Xiu Yu.

“That’s nonsense,” Xiu Yu dodged the topic, staring challengingly at her.

“We served as maids together. At first, you flattered the mistress to win favor, then you climbed your way to freedom with the guard. Now you’ve transformed into a guest of the Marquis’s estate — quite the remarkable person. No wonder you look down on me. I don’t have your talents, rising step by step. After the Marquis’s estate, who will you climb to next?”

“That’s a lie!” Hua Qing snapped. “You have no ability and no benefits but slander my sister. I remember clearly how you fawned on me then and coldly watched me suffer later.”

The tension between the three escalated. Shen Xian enjoyed the spectacle, ignoring Madam Hou’s pale expression.

Yue Zhi sighed and turned to Madam Hou. “Since Miss invited company for amusement, please enjoy yourselves. We sisters will take our leave.”

With that, she rose and led Hua Qing away.

Madam Hou was embarrassed and flustered, rushing to stop her, but Shen Xian intercepted.

“Mother, if they want to leave, let them. Begging them to stay is giving them far too much face. The army in Liangzhou has countless talents; if that person were truly capable, he wouldn’t still be a vanguard general.”

“You are rude today,” Madam Hou scolded.

Just as she prepared to reprimand her daughter to give Yue Zhi a graceful exit, Xiu Yu stood and interrupted.

“Madam, how can you blame Miss? There’s an old saying: marriage should be between families of equal standing. How can the noble Marquis’s family marry into such a humble household? Poor Miss must feel wronged.”

Unaware of the full story, Xiu Yu only knew Shen Xian had invited her to vex Yue Zhi. She eagerly fanned the flames, hoping to make the scene irreparable and disgrace Yue Zhi at the Marquis’s estate.

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They succeeded in turning what should have been a marriage banquet into chaos, trampling Yue Zhi and Hua Qing’s dignity into the dust.

Hua Qing hadn’t expected that even with her cousin’s protection, they’d still be humiliated. Tears welled in her eyes as she hid beside Yue Zhi, trying to cover her loss of composure.

Yue Zhi held back from clashing with these noble guests, gripping Hua Qing’s hand tightly and leading her away.

Behind them, the three watched their retreating figures. Madam Hou hesitated, helpless, while Shen Xian and Xiu Yu wore satisfied, triumphant expressions. Seeing them leave the courtyard so forlorn, they couldn’t help but sneer.

Xiu Yu spat, “Once a servant, always lowly. Don’t think climbing high branches will flip your fate—it’s just a dream!”

As her voice faded, the courtyard gate was pushed open from outside.

Yue Zhi, trying hard to maintain composure, lowered her head and walked without noticing the approaching figure. She collided with him.

Startled, she stepped back, fearing another humiliation arranged by Shen Xian. But the familiar scent of soapberry greeted her, and her gaze sharpened upon seeing the finely sewn clothes on the young man.

Looking up, she met Pei Heng’s sharply defined face.

He held her gently by the back, feeling her trembling breath. His teeth clenched as his eyes swept over the three figures inside the hall before turning to Lord Jing’an beside him.

“Let’s call off the marriage that the Marquis spoke of earlier.”

Lord Jing’an arrived outside the courtyard, faintly hearing the noise from the hall. Seeing the wife and daughter inside and the two guests who had left in anger, he guessed what had happened.

Flustered, he apologized, “My daughter was too headstrong. I will punish her severely to make amends.”

“If the Marquis can discern right from wrong and properly teach his daughter, our discussion can continue. But the matter of marriage between our families must never be mentioned again.”

Pei Heng said no more and led Yue Zhi and Hua Qing away from the Marquis’s estate.

Outside, Hua Qing cried and fumed the whole way. At her saddest, she clung to Yue Zhi’s arm in grievance.

“I dressed up carefully for the banquet, and I didn’t even get to eat enough. Such a waste of my rouge and powder.”

Pei Heng found her noisy and tossed her two taels of silver, telling her to go buy something to eat on the street. “Cry all you want, then eat your fill before coming home.”

Along the long street, Pei Heng held the reins of his horse with one hand while gently supporting Yue Zhi’s slender wrist through his wide sleeve with the other.

“I didn’t know the Marquis invited you. It’s my fault for not checking beforehand. I didn’t realize they intended to marry their daughter to me and secretly looked down on our family.”

Yue Zhi shook her head softly, forcing a smile. “They valued your talents. I was the one who brought shame to you.”

“You did nothing wrong. It’s their bullying and arrogance that’s at fault.” Pei Heng gently squeezed her wrist but hesitated to take her hand.

When he first heard Lord Jing’an’s grand plans, he was unmoved. But now, seeing Yue Zhi’s lonely profile, his heart was in turmoil.

His fingers traced her sleeve repeatedly, his brows darkening like peaks. His voice lowered.

“Those who bullied you—I will make them pay.”