Chapter 684
The sixth day of the Lunar New Year, Zhang Residence
Princess Zhaoyue's prestige stemmed from her seniority and age, but only the younger generation from each family had been sent. After all, the matriarchs had their own social obligations and engagements, and truly had no time or energy to deal with an imperial princess who held no real power.
"So it's Miss Zhan, please come this way." The eldest daughter of the Zhang family smiled gently, her eyes revealing a hint of curiosity.
"Hello, Sister Zhang," Zhan Feiyu returned the greeting with a smile. He Nuan, following behind her, handed the visiting gifts to a nearby maid before accompanying Miss Zhang towards the back courtyard.
Unlike the previous visit to the Chang residence to celebrate the Chang family's matriarch's birthday, where the young ladies from various families had arrived much earlier, it was less than two quarters of an hour before the scheduled time on the invitation, yet the reception hall of the Zhang residence was sparsely populated with only seven or eight young ladies sipping tea and chatting. The noble ladies from the Yin imperial family had yet to appear.
"Miss Zhan has arrived."
Upon seeing Zhan Feiyu enter, the young ladies in the room all stood up in unison, even taking two steps towards the door to greet her.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries and courtesies, the ladies were seated again. Like Miss Zhang, several of them kept glancing at Zhan Feiyu with curious and surprised eyes. After all, this young woman had first offended Zhe Jing and Wen Ruyi, then been targeted by Madam Bai, and now had offended the Rui Prince's estate and the Wu'an Marquis's estate.
Yet, Zhan Feiyu, whose background and origins were completely unknown, seemed to be completely unharmed. According to the intelligence gathered by the various families' informants, Miss Zhan had been living in Huaishu Lane, and the Imperial Guards seemed to treat her with great courtesy, which only made her identity more enigmatic.
As soon as they received news yesterday that Zhan Feiyu had also accepted Princess Zhaoyue's invitation to the Zhang residence banquet, the elders of each family had instructed their juniors that no matter what, they were not to get into any conflict with Miss Zhan at the Zhang residence.
"Oh, since when did any cat or dog become a guest of honor among the noble ladies of the capital?" a sarcastic voice rang out from the doorway, interrupting the idle chatter among the young ladies in the room.
Zhe Jing, still clad in a red fox fur coat, her face beautiful and her eyes filled with arrogance, strode in past Wen Ruyi and a few others, her gaze filled with hostility fixed on Zhan Feiyu.
Wen Ruyi and Miss Chen exchanged glances, their faces etched with helplessness. The instructions they had received before leaving home had gone to waste.
Seeing the aggressive Zhe Jing, Miss Zhang was also extremely troubled, but she could only steel herself and step forward to receive them. As she was the hostess, she said, "Miss Zhe, Miss Wen, Miss Chen, you are most welcome. It's snowing again outside."
"Sister Zhang, there's no need for such politeness. The young madam just led us here, but she accidentally sprained her ankle outside the courtyard, so we came on our own." Wen Ruyi, as the foremost among the capital's noble ladies, was truly remarkable. Even though Miss Zhang could only rely on her grandmother, Princess Zhaoyue, she didn't even rank among the third-tier ladies in the capital's aristocratic circles. Yet, Wen Ruyi's smile was kind and friendly, her conversation conducted as an equal.
"We are all family, so we won't be polite with Sister Zhang," Miss Chen said, her eyes curving into crescent moons as she smiled. Her sweet voice, paired with her delicate features, instantly evoked a favorable impression.
In contrast, Zhe Jing, who had come with them, was as domineering and arrogant as ever, making her disliked. If not for the Zhe family's prestige, no family would likely have sent an invitation to the Zhe residence for any banquet.
"The annual Flower Banquet at the Zhang Residence is attended by unmarried young ladies. How dare you, a slut..." Zhe Jing's outburst of insult was abruptly halted when she met Zhan Feiyu's cold gaze.
Not to mention He Nuan, who was serving in the corner, Zhan Feiyu herself was a skilled martial artist. Zhe Jing, having suffered a loss before, did not dare to engage in a war of words. She simply finished her sentence with fierce resentment, "How thick-skinned are you to dare sit with a group of unmarried young ladies!"
Hmph! Was Zhe Jing openly calling Miss Zhan impure?
However, considering that Zhan Feiyu had been living in Huaishu Lane since the Yu Feng Tower was burned down, the young ladies lowered their heads, not daring to respond. Even though it was the Zhang residence, it was impossible to guarantee that there were no Imperial Guard informants outside. Anyone who dared to gossip about the Imperial Guards behind their backs would surely be tired of living.
Zhan Feiyu held her teacup in one hand, gently fiddling with the lid with her left hand, and slowly raised her eyelids to look at Zhe Jing, whose face was filled with indignant hatred. "If Miss Zhe dares to say that in Huaishu Lane, then from now on, whenever I see Miss Zhe, I will make a detour."
"I..." Zhe Jing's voice rose sharply, provoked, but before she could finish speaking, she was interrupted by Wen Ruyi.
"Jing'er, you must not be so unruly!" Wen Ruyi grabbed Zhe Jing's arm, her beautiful face showing a rare seriousness. She shook her head at the loose-tongued Zhe Jing and said, "The Imperial Guards are the Emperor's left and right arms. How can we, sheltered ladies, speak of them so carelessly."
Given the arrogance and unreasonableness of the Imperial Guards, Wen Ruyi was certain that Zhe Jing would fall into trouble, and the Zhang residence, where she had accompanied Zhe Jing, would likely be implicated as well.
The Zhe family might not fear an investigation by the Imperial Guards. They were merely military officers, their official positions earned through real combat and killing enemies on the frontier.
However, the Wen family was different. A large family like theirs was bound to have dark secrets. Once the Imperial Guards began their investigation, the Wen family would undoubtedly lose a significant portion of its power and influence.
Staring at Zhan Feiyu with angry unwillingness, Zhe Jing's eyes blazed with fire. This wretched woman must have used some shameless means to get close to the Imperial Guards, no wonder she dared to be so arrogant in the capital.
But with the backing of the Imperial Guards, Zhan Feiyu was not only dared not be provoked by Zhe Jing, but the aristocratic young ladies in the hall were also equally wary. If they provoked these mad dogs and vicious ghosts of the Imperial Guards, no matter how deep their roots in the capital, they would inevitably suffer severe damage.
"Well said, 'a dog relying on its master's power.' Today, this princess has truly broadened her horizons!" Clapping sounds echoed from outside the door. Everyone turned to see the arrival of the Yin imperial noble ladies, led by the beautiful and radiant Seventh Princess Yin Xuan.
Everyone in the room immediately stood up. Even Zhe Jing restrained her arrogant and overbearing demeanor. After all, no matter how much she valued her status, she did not dare to compete with an imperial princess, let alone the Seventh Princess, who had a rather bad temper. She could not afford to offend a princess either.