"Second cousin, maybe Xingzhi was just too fond of that bracelet and lost her head," Chu Nian'an said with an embarrassed look. She had thought An Xingzhi was sure to win.
So when An Xingzhi used the blood - jade bracelet as a bet, she didn't pay much attention. After all, it would be retrieved in the end.
But she never expected An Xingzhi to lose.
And even more unexpectedly, she couldn't accept the loss.
Chu Nian'an never thought that her close friend would show weakness in public and use public opinion to force Ning Yuwǎn to return the bracelet.
Of course, she was even more surprised that Ning Yuwǎn didn't indulge An Xingzhi. Instead, she made An Xingzhi lose even more money.
She lowered her head, feeling a bit ashamed of An Xingzhi's and her own attitude towards Ning Yuwǎn today.
But more than that, she was scared. Ning Yuwǎn was the woman most suitable for Cousin Zhao. She was tough and shrewd, handling things with ease.
She hoped she hadn't offended her too badly.
Ning Yuwǎn didn't dislike Chu Nian'an. In fact, she quite liked her liveliness and wit.
It seemed that a long time ago, there was also a lively figure who always accompanied her, chattering in her ear.
She couldn't help shaking her head. A thousand years was really too long. She had forgotten too many things.
"Yeah."
Leaning on her chin, Ning Yuwǎn thought dealing with human women was really annoying. It was even less appealing than discussing "important matters" between husband and wife with the young master.
Seeing that Ning Yuwǎn seemed uninterested and Cousin Zhao showed no intention of speaking up for her, Chu Nian'an forced a smile and was about to back away.
Just as she turned around, Ning Yuwǎn's voice came from behind, "Wait."
Chu Nian'an froze. In an instant, a thousand thoughts raced through her mind. Was her second cousin going to settle the score with her?
"Here!"
A pair of golden Dongzhu pearls the size of bird eggs glistened. She looked up to see Ning Yuwǎn's calm expression and tone, "You like them. I'll give them to you."
Chu Nian'an's admiration for these Dongzhu pearls was too obvious. Even when she was apologizing just now, her eyes had stolen glances at them several times.
The generous dragon lady, Ning Yuwǎn: I have plenty of these things!
"Can I take them?"
Chu Nian'an looked at Ning Yuwǎn cautiously. Afraid that Ning Yuwǎn might change her mind, she immediately hugged the pearls to her chest.
"Thank you, second cousin!"
Seeing that Ning Yuwǎn didn't seem to have anything more to say, Chu Nian'an didn't mind either. She backed away with a beaming smile, "I wish Cousin Zhao and second cousin a perfect match, a pair made in heaven."
Just a few hours had passed, and her attitude was completely different from that before the morning lessons.
If it weren't for her close friend An Xingzhi standing in the way, Chu Nian'an would surely have rushed towards Ning Yuwǎn without looking back.
Taking advantage of the moment when there was no one around, she secretly patted her chest and whispered an apology, "Xingzhi, I'm sorry. It's just that second cousin's gift is too good!"
Most of the people in the flower pavilion had left.
After An Xingzhi and Chu Nian'an left, most of the other noble ladies also left.
The remaining few either continued to admire the flowers or gathered together in small groups.
An Ruoqian also left. Before leaving, she said goodbye to Ning Yuwǎn, looking timid yet polite.
Seeing her, Ning Yuwǎn seemed to remember the original self.
In her previous life, she had also faced everything timidly like this.
The original self had grown up in the countryside since childhood, so her personality and vision were limited.
But An Ruoqian was the granddaughter of Minister An. She had wealth, family learning, and talent. What was the reason for her timidity?
Pei Yunlu had been waiting until the end. Her eyes lingered and paused between Yan Zhao and Ning Yuwǎn from time to time.
Seeing that there was no one around Ning Yuwǎn anymore, she came over sincerely to offer her congratulations, "The young master's wife really impressed Yunlu today!"
Ning Yuwǎn also presented her with a pair of Dongzhu pearls, "Miss Pei also impressed me."
When Pei Yunlu knew that Chu Nian'an and An Xingzhi were trying to humiliate Ning Yuwǎn, she still offered kind help.
She was not blindly kind. For example, during the auction, when she followed Ning Yuwǎn to make An Xingzhi suffer, it was obvious.
Pei Yunlu refused the Dongzhu pearls, "I didn't do much. She deserved it. It's just a matter of getting what she deserves."
Did Pei Yunlu have an old grudge against An Xingzhi?
Ning Yuwǎn smiled faintly. This was interesting.
"Then Miss Pei should definitely accept them. After all, we both dislike the same person. It's a kind of fate," Ning Yuwǎn said.
Pei Yunlu liked her straightforwardness. She squinted and smiled back, "Then Yunlu will take them boldly."
The Dongzhu pearls were too precious. She carefully glanced at Yan Zhao. Could it be from him...
Suddenly, she quickly dismissed the thought. Ning Yuwǎn shouldn't know.
Even if she did, it shouldn't be now.
Yan Zhao looked back at her. His cold eyes seemed to hide countless secrets.
Their gazes intertwined, intense but not like the affectionate looks between An Xingzhi and someone else.
Ning Yuwǎn frowned. So, was the grudge between Pei Yunlu and An Xingzhi because of Yan Zhao?
The generous Ning Yuwǎn, who had been in a good mood for just a moment, felt a twinge of jealousy. This troublesome young master!
Yan Zhao couldn't figure out Ning Yuwǎn's thoughts, but he liked to observe her slightest expressions and knew that she should be unhappy.
But he didn't explain, nor did he know how to explain.
Naturally, he didn't know that soon the two of them would have a "big surprise" because of Pei Yunlu.
The sun was setting in the west, and the sky was filled with colorful clouds.
The flower - viewing banquet in the palace ended "successfully".
An Ruoqian had just reached the palace gate when she thought An Xingzhi, who should have left long ago, was still there.
"Elder sister."
An Xingzhi's face was ashen. She looked angry and scolded, "An Ruoqian, you made me wait so long!"
On the way here, An Ruoqian and she had taken the same carriage.
She had thought about leaving first, but she was still curious about what would happen after she left. So she simply hid in the carriage and waited for An Ruoqian.
When all the noble ladies who had attended the flower - viewing banquet came out hand in hand, she was afraid of being seen in her embarrassing state, so she remained silent and didn't dare to move.
Unexpectedly, An Ruoqian dawdled and was the last one. This made her even more annoyed.
"The princess asked about elder sister's whereabouts, so Ruoqian bid farewell to the princess on elder sister's behalf," An Ruoqian said. As soon as she saw An Xingzhi, her body began to tremble, and her voice became softer and softer, "Elder sister, don't be angry."
"Presumptuous! How dare you represent me?"
An Xingzhi slapped her across the face. The harshness was completely different from her gentle appearance in front of others, "An Ruoqian, you should always remember your own identity. You're just a bastard daughter who can't be put on the table!"
An Ruoqian's face was swollen and red. Tears of grievance slowly rolled down the painful area.
Her sobs were barely audible. She bit her lip and tried to hold back the tears, "Ruoqian knows. I won't dare to do it again."
After slapping her, An Xingzhi felt a bit better. "Let's go back to the mansion."
The maids all kept silent, as if they were used to the elder miss punishing the second miss.
The coachman responded and drove on. But halfway, the carriage suddenly stopped abruptly.
An Xingzhi stumbled and fell on An Ruoqian. She pinched the soft flesh on An Ruoqian's arm and got up with the support.
Then she scolded impatiently, "What's going on?"
The coachman replied loudly, "Forgive me, elder miss. Someone is blocking the way."
An Xingzhi motioned for the maid Lan'er to go out and check. Soon, Lan'er came back and reported, "Elder miss, it's the Third Prince."
An Xingzhi didn't want to see Chu Heye now.
Everything that had happened in the palace today had been witnessed by Chu Heye from beginning to end, which made her feel extremely uncomfortable.
She frowned tightly, digging her nails into the railing of the carriage. After a long while, she rubbed her eyelids hard, and a blush immediately appeared on her fair skin.
Then she got off the carriage gracefully and politely, "Xingzhi pays respects to the Third Prince."