The next day the two sisters climbed into a carriage and rode to the Sun residence in silence.
No one had expected them. When they were led into the garden set for the banquet, the roomful of laughter and chatter went awkwardly still. A dozen young women turned their heads and exchanged puzzled looks.
Why are they here?
The Xie family was an old house with a hundred years of standing. The old madam of the Xies was famously conservative—she had always looked down on institutions like the girls’ academy. So how, everyone wondered, could the Xies possibly have sent two daughters to a gathering at the Sun house?
For a moment the sisters were left on the periphery. Xie Yunxi, however, loved company; she knew half the capital’s circle of young ladies. Within minutes she had slipped into conversation and drifted away with a cluster of familiar faces, leaving Xie Fengran alone.
Fengran didn’t care about the glances shot her way. She found an out-of-the-way bench, settled with her maid, sipped tea, and watched the spring gardens as if nothing could unsettle her.
Sun Yuelan, the hostess, came hurrying over, her skirts held high. When she saw Fengran she visibly relaxed, then waved off her maid and dropped into the seat opposite without ceremony.
“How on earth did your old madam allow you to come to my little house?” Sun Yuelan said, the surprise sharpening her tone. “Did you slip in through the headmistress at the academy—use her as a backdoor?”
She started, then laughed at herself. “No, that can’t be. Your old madam always scorns the academy. Could she have actually agreed to enroll you?”
Fengran took another sip, let the warmth go down, and answered slowly, “You flatter me, Miss Sun. You are the most talked-about girl in the capital right now. Our old madam wouldn’t be so foolish as to offend you.”
She didn’t mention her father’s influence at all.
Sun Yuelan snorted and snatched the teacup from Fengran’s hand. “No amount of fuss in my garden could ever shake your status as the capital’s foremost belle.”
Fengran lifted the teapot and calmly refilled the cup she’d taken. Her smile was soft, but her words cut.
“If you like the title so much,” she said, “then by all means use today’s flower-viewing to trample me flat. Let the academy have its moment. It would cause a scandal, sure—but think how useful it would be. I should thank you in advance.”
“Ugh, what’s so great about that ‘foremost belle’ title of yours?” Sun Yuelan rolled her eyes and glanced toward Yunxi’s cluster of admirers. “At least your half-sister is popular. That’s the shame of it.”
Fengran watched her with an amused shake of the head. She didn’t want to torment the girl, but she added, almost earnestly, “If you want me to play a part, I’ll do my part.”
Sun Yuelan gave her a skeptical look. “What nonsense are you talking? If you come here, how could I possibly make you lose face?”
“I’d welcome it,” Fengran replied with a self-mocking smile, waving her hand as if to dismiss the matter. “Go on—you have plenty to do today. Don’t worry about me.”
Sun Yuelan hesitated. She cast one last glance at the maid signaling from across the garden, then rose. Before she left she warned, “My brother is hosting some young gentlemen in the next garden. Don’t be tempted to slip off to hide from your duties. When I have a moment, you’d better come find me and we’ll talk properly.”
Fengran paused. A part of her had indeed thought to avoid everything today. She couldn’t help a small, amused answer. “All right, understood.”
Soon a maid called everyone to the pavilion above. It was only after most had gone that Fengran rose slowly and fell into the very back, trailing the others. She was thinking about tomorrow—the palace banquet. Her grandmother’s bringing her to court had a purpose, she was sure of that, but Fengran had no interest in whatever designs were being laid for her.
If she made a scene at the Sun house today, could she avoid the palace banquet tomorrow? Or if she went, might she be invisible to the nobles? That was why she had let herself be pushed forward by that father and daughter yesterday—there had been a point to letting them think she was willing.
“Sis, let’s go up too!” a voice chimed.
Fengran looked up. Yunxi stood smiling, waiting for her. Fengran nodded. “Thank you for waiting. Let’s go.”
Yunxi smiled and fell back a half-step to walk beside her. They drifted toward the pavilion together, naturally finding themselves last of the group.
After a while Yunxi’s curiosity broke the silence. “Are you close with Miss Sun?” she asked.
Fengran’s first, instinctive answer was cool: “Not particularly. You’re imagining things.”
Yunxi didn’t look convinced. “If you weren’t, you wouldn’t have been so at ease talking with her—sisters don’t behave like that unless they’re friendly.”
Fengran’s patience thinned. “Have you forgotten why we’re here? If Miss Sun greets me politely, do you expect me to stand aloof and insult her? We’re guests, Yunxi.” Her voice took on a sharper edge. “You spend your time worrying over me—why not use that energy to find out something useful? Father has set his hopes on your joining the academy. If you let him down, who do you think will be the most disappointed?”
Yunxi’s eyes widened. Hurt made her small. “I wasn’t spying on you, sister. How could you say that?”
“I simply asked you to act like someone with sense,” Fengran said. “This is the Sun residence, not the inner court of a marquis. Behave like the daughter of the Xie family. If people talk, the scandal will touch us both. My reputation will suffer—and yours won’t be spared.”
Yunxi stopped mid-reach when she tried to tug at Fengran’s sleeve. Her face fell into a look of wounded surprise—exactly the expression Fengran had expected.
Look, she thought, seeing Yunxi’s expression, she always assumed my decent face in front of grandmother and father was a mask. Today, she would strip that mask off and show everyone who the real Xie daughter was. Let them argue, she thought. Let them see who is truly the finest daughter of the Xie family.