The Imperial Palace of Nanmin
The setting sun cast a golden glow on the glazed tiles of the imperial palace. Outside Weiyang Palace, a group of exquisitely dressed young ladies sat in a pavilion, chatting.
"Rumors about the second daughter of the Grand Tutor's mansion have reached the palace lately. She's just a madwoman who has regained her senses; is she really worth you being so concerned about, Third Sister?" the Fifth Princess asked.
Shen Huajun shot her a glare and said, "She's not even worthy of my attention. I just want to vent the Crown Prince's anger."
"Oh? What happened?" The Minister's daughter's eyes lit up at the mention of the Crown Prince and she pressed, "Didn't she and the Crown Prince have an engagement?"
Shen Huajun sneered, "An engagement? Her family didn't break it off when their daughter was foolish, but now that she's regained her senses, she refuses to mention the engagement."
"I heard she broke off the engagement because she was no longer a virgin."
The Minister's daughter looked gleeful. "Ah? Is that true?"
Shen Huajun snorted, "How could it be false? I've met her concubine sister a few times. Her concubine sister told me long ago that Lin Yanxi was deceived into doing such sordid things by the servants in the mansion when she was still foolish at home."
"She also went missing for a whole night a few days ago. With such deeds, she should be utterly ashamed. But her father dotes on her and can't do anything, so he had to break off her engagement to the Crown Prince to prevent her from being discovered as not a virgin after marrying into the Eastern Palace."
The noble ladies surrounding Shen Huajun listened with flushed faces, yet couldn't help but secretly rejoice.
"That fool was never worthy of marrying our noble Crown Prince. It's disgusting that she's so careless."
"She has brought shame to the entire Grand Tutor's mansion."
"It's all true. I've heard it too. I also know she has a male attendant who stays with her day and night, even sleeping in the same room. This attendant is actually a male prostitute."
Shen Huajun's lips curved into a smile. Having lived in the palace for many years, she knew that women confined to their inner chambers most enjoyed such intimate secrets of noble households.
She noticed Jingxin, who was sitting opposite her, had remained silent. "Sister Jingxin, you are the closest to that Lin Yanxi. Are these things true? Tell us."
Luo Jingxin raised her eyes to look at her and said with a smile, covering her mouth with a handkerchief, "Third Princess, my foolish sister, you are too naive. Even if she were close to me, she wouldn't tell me such scandalous matters. Besides, we are only acquaintances."
She added indifferently, "However, such rumors don't usually come out of thin air. We should refrain from discussing it behind people's backs."
Shen Huajun said indignantly, "Sister Jingxin, it's only because you are kind. I heard that after breaking off the engagement with the Crown Prince, she immediately turned to cling to the Ninth Prince. You must be careful to guard against her."
Luo Jingxin clutched her silk handkerchief, maintaining a calm facade. "It doesn't matter. I believe in the Ninth Prince's affection for me. Besides, if I didn't like to compete, I wouldn't use vulgar methods to seduce men. Alas."
She sighed, eliciting sympathy from those present and intensifying their hatred for this shameless woman who seduced the Ninth Prince.
As she spoke, two graceful figures walked in from outside the hall.
Lin Yanxi wore a goose-yellow gown with flowing wide sleeves. Her skin was as fair as jade. With a light touch of makeup, her delicate eyebrows and almond eyes were captivatingly beautiful, her features so exquisite that she was a stunning beauty at first glance.
Her appearance outshone all the young ladies in the garden. The men who had been secretly observing Luo Jingxin now turned their gazes to Lin Yanxi, captivated and unable to look away.
One man couldn't help but ask the group of young ladies, "I have seen the Third Princess, Princess Zhaoyang, and the ladies from various mansions."
This man was handsome. The ladies exchanged glances and smiled reservedly, secretly glancing at Luo Jingxin.
They privately assumed this was another young master who admired Princess Zhaoyang and had come to strike up a conversation.
Luo Jingxin felt a moment of smug satisfaction. She was the most beautiful woman in the capital, and countless young masters from noble families pursued her daily, wanting to get to know her. In a setting like this, she was destined to be the focus.
What was that Lin Yanxi? Did she think she could steal her spotlight?
Thinking this, she haughtily turned her head to look into the distance, without sparing the man a second glance.
The man smiled and continued, "I would like to ask which mansion the beautiful lady in the goose-yellow gown belongs to."
A flicker of surprise crossed Luo Jingxin's eyes, and she looked distressed. The proud Luo Jingxin could even feel the noble ladies secretly mocking her.
Shen Huajun gave the man a cold look. "Hmph, you haven't heard of her name in the capital? Go and ask which noble lady is the most bold and unrestrained. That would be her."
Others chimed in, "Yes, indeed. It seems you are also a superficial person, liking such women."
The man immediately lost his smile and said seriously, "Ladies, you jest. I come from a scholarly family and would not be infatuated with women. I merely misjudged for a moment. I bid you farewell."
After he walked away, Shen Huajun looked at the Lin sisters and said fiercely, "See? As soon as Lin Yanxi arrived at the palace, she started posing and acting coquettishly like a vixen."
"Normally, Sister Jingxin is the most beautiful. Now everyone is chasing after Lin Yanxi."
Luo Jingxin's eyes darkened, but she feigned indifference and smiled, "It's just empty fame. I already have someone in my heart. These men only bother me."
Hearing her words, several people exchanged meaningful glances and smiled.
The palace banquet had not yet begun, but Lin Ruoyan, walking behind Lin Yanxi, felt a dull headache and extreme fatigue.
"Yan'er, are you alright? If you're not feeling well, you can go back to the mansion first," Lin Yanxi asked, noticing Ruoyan's unusual state with concern.
Lin Ruoyan shook her head, a faint blush on her small face. "It's my first time in the palace, so I might be a bit nervous. I'm fine. This palace is truly grand. The roofs are made of glazed tiles, and the floors are paved with white jade bricks."
She was not unfamiliar with wealth, but the splendor of the imperial palace was incomparable to any noble mansion.
Lin Yanxi pinched her little nose and smiled. "No matter how fine the materials, they are still trodden underfoot. If you like it, I'll take you around the palace."
"Tour the palace?"
"Is it permissible for you two to wander around the palace as you please?"
Shen Huajun sneered, blocking Lin Yanxi with a few attendants.
Lin Yanxi looked at Shen Huajun's flamboyant red attire, her head adorned with gold and silver, and her bright red lipstick, making her look like a wild pheasant.
Shen Huajun felt a prickle of unease under Lin Yanxi's gaze and said unhappily, "What are you looking at?"
Lin Yanxi raised her eyebrows playfully. "Oh my, where did a wild pheasant escape from in this palace, squawking incessantly?"
Lin Ruoyan had never seen such a scene, but she had heard that the Third Princess of the palace was the most arrogant and difficult to deal with. She tugged at Lin Yanxi's sleeve.
Shen Huajun's eyebrows shot up. "Who did you call a wild pheasant? How dare you!"
Lin Yanxi scoffed. "Ssss... Perhaps I was mistaken. I thought I saw a wild pheasant over there. What? Why is the Third Princess reacting so strongly?"
She feigned surprise and gasped. "Ah! Third Princess, could it be you're referring to yourself? This is unacceptable. Regardless, you are a princess of the royal family. Do not belittle yourself by comparing yourself to an animal and claiming it as yourself."
Shen Huajun stomped her feet in anger. "You are the animal! You disrespect this princess, and I will punish you!"
Lin Yanxi looked at her and asked, "Oh? How did I disrespect you? What do you intend to punish me for? For walking freely in this palace and mistaking a wild pheasant for someone?"
"What do you mean, Princess? If I cannot walk freely, I cannot enter Weiyang Palace. Are you implying you want to force me to defy the imperial decree and not attend the palace banquet?"
Everyone turned their gazes to Shen Huajun. She could neither lose face in public nor allow herself to be accused of defying an imperial decree as Lin Yanxi suggested.
Luo Jingxin watched the scene from afar, not stepping forward to mediate for either side.
She shook her head helplessly, averting her gaze to the distant mountains and rivers, sighing. This Third Princess was truly foolish, slow-witted, and no match for Lin Yanxi's words, yet she always sought trouble.
"Why are you sighing?" a rich, resonant voice inquired.
Luo Jingxin looked up to see Shen Yu, the Fifth Prince of Nanmin, approaching.
Shen Yu, like Shen Qingyun, was a child of the Empress, but their personalities were vastly different.
Shen Qingyun was known among the people of Nanmin as the gentle and jade-like Crown Prince, who loved his people and was benevolent.
In contrast, Shen Yu's reputation was not so good. He was a philandering rake, frequenting pleasure quarters, and recently insisted on taking an actress as a concubine, which greatly angered the Empress.
Luo Jingxin found him most distasteful. The princes who remained in the capital, apart from the very young ones, were Shen Muzhou and Shen Yu.
Shen Muzhou had earned his place through merit, being decisive and amassing countless military achievements, for which he was granted the title of Prince.
Shen Yu, however, remained due to the Empress's favor. Although Shen Qingyun was the Crown Prince, it was clear to everyone that the Empress favored Shen Yu more, never truly holding him accountable for his many mistakes.
Shen Yu remained in the capital, but was not granted a princely title for a long time, only receiving a princely residence as a leisurely prince.
Shen Yu spoke bluntly, "Princess Zhaoyang, are you unhappy because the Lin family has stolen the spotlight?"
Luo Jingxin sneered and asked, "Do you think I care?"
White pearls were affixed to the sides of her cheeks, giving her dimples when she smiled, dazzling the onlookers.
Shen Yu paused for a moment, his gaze darkening. He said with a hint of self-mockery, "Indeed. Who doesn't know that the aloof Princess Zhaoyang only cares about the Ninth Prince?"
Luo Jingxin gave him a disgusted glance. "Fifth Prince, instead of concerning yourself with my affairs, why not first take care of that courtesan, lest you anger the Empress again?"
She glared at him, intending to leave and end their verbal sparring.
As they passed each other, Shen Yu suddenly grabbed Luo Jingxin's wrist and whispered, "Your spotlight will never be stolen from me."
Luo Jingxin detested his dissolute demeanor. She wrenched her wrist free and said, "Fifth Prince, please conduct yourself with dignity."
Shen Yu watched her retreating back, a roguish smile on his lips.
Meanwhile, Lin Ruoyan's headache worsened, and she felt an inexplicable heat in her body. The front of Weiyang Palace was crowded, and Shen Huajun was still bickering with Lin Yanxi, neither willing to yield.
Lin Ruoyan was pushed to the edge of the crowd. She walked towards the outside of Weiyang Palace, wanting some fresh air.
In a corner outside Weiyang Palace, two palace maids saw Lin Ruoyan alone and quickly followed her.