"Such a beauty as you, cousin - in - law. Why don't you go out more often?"
Chu Nian'an looked innocent. After walking dozens of steps away from the flower pavilion and making sure that the people in the pavilion couldn't see them, she immediately let go of Ning Yuwan.
The little girl switched between two personas quickly. Ning Yuwan covered the smile on her lips with a silk handkerchief.
Before she had a chance to speak, the delicate girl who came with Chu Nian'an spoke up, "Your Highness the Princess may not know. The Princess Consort grew up in the countryside and was only brought back to the Yongning Marquis Mansion a month ago. That's why we haven't seen her before."
After demeaning Ning Yuwan's background, she pretended to apologize, "Sorry. I might have touched on the Princess Consort's sore spot."
An Xingzhi beside her wore a faint smile. Everyone present had a noble status, but only Ning Yuwan had been raised in a humble rural area. Presumably, her vision and temperament were no match for the others.
Ning Yuwan nodded. "It's the truth. It's not a sore spot."
"If you feel sorry, it means you know you're outspoken! You should change this. I'm married even if I'm not that good. But if you're so unrestrained, you might end up unmarried!"
"You!"
Song Yiran pointed at Ning Yuwan angrily. "If a woman as immoral as you can get married, why can't I?"
"Maybe it's because I'm beautiful."
Ning Yuwan smiled charmingly and glanced at Song Yiran. "I see that you speak without thinking. Presumably, your wisdom and virtue are mediocre. And looking at your plain appearance, if I were a man, I wouldn't be interested!"
"Hahaha."
The delicate girl who didn't get along well with Song Yiran burst into laughter. Song Yiran's face turned livid with anger. She strode towards Ning Yuwan angrily, intending to teach her a lesson.
Ning Yuwan caught her wrist and said coldly, "Who do you think you are? How dare you teach me a lesson?"
Chu Nian'an originally thought that Ning Yuwan was as vulgar as a rural woman. However, she didn't expect her to be quick - witted, nimble in movement, and not one to take an insult lying down!
At this moment, there was a faint feeling in her heart that Ning Yuwan was truly a good match for Cousin Zhao. Both of them were the kind of people who couldn't be bullied by outsiders!
"Enough! The Princess Consort's status is not for you to discuss!"
Chu Nian'an rarely spoke harshly. Song Yiran slumped down dejectedly and just shot Ning Yuwan a hateful look.
An Xingzhi also watched the show. "Yiran is just straightforward. Why does the Princess Consort have to humiliate her?"
What a joke!
Song Yiran had humiliated Ning Yuwan without mercy just now.
Now she was pretending to be a good person. Sure enough, Song Yiran looked at An Xingzhi gratefully.
"I'm just being straightforward too. I didn't expect to be treated differently when it comes to someone else."
Ning Yuwan sighed dejectedly. "His Majesty asked me to make more female friends. I didn't expect to let him down. I'll go and apologize to him right now!"
If the girls present could swear in public, they would surely say in unison:
Damn it!
She was actually threatening them with Emperor Chu!
Chu Nian'an's eyes twirled quickly. She grabbed Ning Yuwan who was about to turn around. "Don't be angry, cousin - in - law. Xingzhi just hopes that the sisters can get along peacefully! Besides, it was Song Yiran who started this. Hurry up and apologize to my cousin - in - law!"
The last sentence was addressed to Song Yiran, with a hint of impatient scolding.
"Yiran, hurry up and apologize to the Princess Consort!"
An Xingzhi also gave Song Yiran a look, hinting at her to show weakness.
In just a few words of mediation, Song Yiran thought that with An Xingzhi's help, Ning Yuwan's arrogance would surely be weakened!
Unexpectedly, she directly threatened them with Emperor Chu. Song Yiran had no choice but to bow her head reluctantly.
"Princess Consort, it was Yiran who spoke out of turn. Please forgive me!"
"Miss Song is just being straightforward. How could I mind!"
Ning Yuwan's eyebrows were raised. She used An Xingzhi's words to counter her.
She didn't mind Song Yiran's straightforwardness, but An Xingzhi was pretending to be a good person for Song Yiran's straightforwardness.
In contrast, Ning Yuwan was much more magnanimous than An Xingzhi.
An Xingzhi, who understood the implication, bit her lower lip and cursed in her heart: Bitch!
Chu Nian'an also knew that this cousin - in - law was no ordinary person. She privately comforted An Xingzhi with her eyes.
Then she obediently led her to the flower pavilion. Along the way, she didn't dare to say much, only hoping that the other noble girls in the flower pavilion would be powerful enough to teach Ning Yuwan a lesson.
"The Princess is back!"
In the flower pavilion, a game of musical flowers was being played.
A little maid was beating a flower drum. A peony on the round table in the middle of the flower pavilion was being passed around. When the drum stopped, the person holding the flower had to come up with a drinking - game line starting with "flower".
If they couldn't think of one, they would have to drink a cup of wine as a penalty.
"Marquis Zhao once praised the Princess Consort for her outstanding talent. I wonder if we have the honor to invite the Princess Consort to join?"
When An Xingzhi mentioned the words "Marquis Zhao", her tone was full of affection, and the implied meaning was thought - provoking.
"Good! When did Cousin Zhao only whisper to you? I didn't even know."
Chu Nian'an said excitedly, pulling An Xingzhi's hand. Her little eyes secretly glanced at Ning Yuwan.
Sure enough, her cousin - in - law's face darkened instantly.
Ning Yuwan: Tsk! There's someone else eyeing the beautiful marquis?
Annoying!
"It's all because the marquis loves me so much. He always praises me regardless of the occasion. I didn't expect him to mention it to Miss An casually." Ning Yuwan apologized with a smile. "I'll surely talk to him when I get back."
An Xingzhi, who was actually just mentioned casually, felt a subtle sense of jealousy in her heart!
Chu Nian'an was also stunned. She didn't expect Ning Yuwan to show off her marital bliss so brazenly.
It was just like Yan Zhao in the past.
"Miss An is still unmarried, right? If what the Princess just said gets out, it might affect the girl's reputation!"
She was completely giving a kind reminder!
"If I'm not sensible and make a fuss when I get back, it might also affect the harmony of our marriage! Such words should not be mentioned again!"
"Pfft!"
Pei Yunlu couldn't help laughing. She had also accompanied Ning Yuwan with Chu Nian'an and the others. She had listened to Ning Yuwan bravely "retort" everyone along the way. Those who were usually glib were left speechless.
She had endured it for a long time, and now she finally couldn't hold it in anymore.
"Yunlu!"
Chu Nian'an stamped her foot. "Don't laugh!"
"It's my fault. I just got a cramp in my breath!"
Pei Yunlu stuck out her tongue and smiled at Ning Yuwan. "Does the Princess Consort want to play musical flowers with us?"
Maybe there were some deviations in the process, but the result was to invite Ning Yuwan to play musical flowers. So Chu Nian'an wasn't angry anymore. She stared at Ning Yuwan intently.
Song Yiran said sarcastically, "The Princess Consort isn't scared, is she?"
After all, Ning Yuwan came from the countryside. Even if she was sharp - tongued, her lack of talent would be even more laughable.
Ning Yuwan certainly didn't reject everyone's "earnest expectations". "I can't decline such an invitation."
The delicate girls sitting around the round table quickly pointed at one of them. "Ruoqian, you step down. Let the Princess Consort take your place!"
The little girl responded softly and curtsied to Ning Yuwan.
"Thank you!"
Ning Yuwan thanked her softly. The little girl was dressed in gorgeous clothes, obviously from a wealthy family, but she was cautious among the others, looking a bit inferior.
"The Princess Consort is too polite!"
Chu Nian'an and An Xingzhi exchanged glances and motioned to the little maid beating the drum.
The previous defeat apparently didn't teach them a lesson. They still wanted to take the opportunity to teach Ning Yuwan a lesson.