A soft voice came to her ears. Xie Yunxi snapped out of her daze and turned her head, only to meet Xie Fengran's phoenix - like eyes.
She heard Xie Fengran say, "Sister, if I were you, I wouldn't be here threatening me at this moment. Instead, I'd be thinking about how to make a good impression in front of Scholar Sun. Otherwise, how are you going to explain what just happened when you get back? Even if Father wants to protect you, do you think Grandmother will spare you? Moreover, do you think you're more important than the reputation of the Marquis Mansion in Father's heart?"
Xie Yunxi's heart skipped a beat and her eyelids fluttered upon hearing this. She didn't dare to expect Father to value her more than the reputation of the Marquis Mansion. Biting her lip, she showed a pleading look on her face.
"Sister, please don't tell Father, okay? Please help your little sister, okay? We're sisters!"
Xie Fengran scoffed, a hint of sarcasm flashing across her beautiful face. "Your words are quite funny, sister. Why didn't you remember we were sisters just now? Xie Yunxi, I've warned you before. It's better for both of us if we stay out of each other's way."
Xie Yunxi knew this was Xie Fengran's final warning. Reluctantly, she shut her mouth. But she didn't want to miss this great opportunity to stand out. After thinking for a while, she finally couldn't resist and walked to the other side.
On the other side, Sun Yuelan had just dealt with a girl who wanted to pry for information. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Xie Yunxi leave. Immediately, she walked over and sat in the seat where Xie Yunxi had just been.
"Miss Xie isn't going to show off your skills?"
Xie Fengran had just managed to get rid of Xie Yunxi and was looking forward to some peace. Being interrupted out of the blue, she was so angry that she laughed.
"I won't steal your thunder, Miss Sun."
She opened her eyes and happened to meet Sun Yuelan's teasing look. They stared at each other for a long time until both of them couldn't help but burst out laughing.
"You naughty girl. Why are you bothering me for no reason?"
Hearing this, Sun Yuelan became even more energetic. "Good sister, please show off your skills. To be honest, Mother is most looking forward to your works. How could you bear to disappoint her?"
Xie Fengran wasn't fooled by her. "Scholar Sun is still in his prime. If he knows you've been up to these tricks, do you think he'll let you off easily?"
"Cough, cough. These are just minor details. Anyway, you must leave something here today."
Unexpectedly, Xie Fengran took out the phoenix hairpin from her hair. "Didn't you take a fancy to this a long time ago? Here, it's yours."
"..."
Xie Fengran saw the resentful look in Sun Yuelan's eyes and burst out laughing. She reached out and inserted the hairpin into Sun Yuelan's hair bun, coaxing her. "Alright! Please thank Scholar Sun for me on my behalf. But this time I'm here with Xie Yunxi. It's about the Girls' Academy, and Grandmother won't give in. I..."
Before Xie Fengran could finish her words, there was a sudden commotion on the other side.
"Which family's girl are you? How dare you bump into the princess!"
"Sorry, sorry. I was so stunned by the princess's celestial beauty that I didn't notice. Please forgive me, princess."
It was clearly Xie Yunxi's voice.
Xie Fengran and Sun Yuelan exchanged a look and stood up simultaneously.
At the staircase, there stood a young girl in a bright red palace dress, with two maids behind her. Xie Yunxi was standing in front of the girl, bowing her head to apologize.
When Xie Fengran looked over, the girl in the palace dress had a faint smile on her face. Looking at Xie Yunxi, she said, "Which family's girl are you? You're quite good at talking."
"I'm Xie Yunxi from the Dingguo Marquis Mansion, Your Highness."
"The Dingguo Marquis Mansion?" The girl in the palace dress raised her eyebrows. "Oh~ So you're the younger half - sister of Xie Fengran. You're much more sensible than your sister. Is your sister here today?"
Just as Xie Yunxi was about to reply, Xie Fengran stepped in first.
"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness." Xie Fengran had walked over by now. She curtsied to the girl. "Greetings to the Third Princess. My younger sister is ignorant and has offended the Third Princess. Please forgive her."
The Third Princess straightened her back. After Xie Fengran finished her curtsy, she said, "Your younger sister is much more sensible than you. Xie Yunxi, right? Stay by this princess's side today!"
Xie Yunxi was overjoyed. She quickly rushed to the Third Princess's side. "Thank you, Third Princess."
Then the Third Princess pulled Sun Yuelan, who was next to Xie Fengran. "Yuelan, you're being too polite again. Come and tell me what fun things there are. Why didn't you send me an invitation? Have you forgotten about me?"
She showed none of the coldness she had shown to Xie Fengran before.
Sun Yuelan was being pulled by the Third Princess and couldn't break free easily. She looked at Xie Fengran worriedly. Xie Fengran gave her a reassuring look, and then she turned to the Third Princess and said,
"The Queen's flower - viewing banquet is coming soon. I didn't dare to bother the Third Princess. But why are you free to come today, Your Highness?"
The Third Princess was playing with the brush on the table while pulling Sun Yuelan. Hearing this, she stuck out her tongue and said, "I came with my cousin and Crown Prince brother. Crown Prince brother said that my cousin just returned to the capital, so he brought him out for a walk, and that's how I came."
As the Third Princess's voice faded, the young girls around Xie Fengran lost interest in their own works and started chattering.
"Is the Crown Prince here too?"
"Who is the princess's cousin?"
"I heard that the son of the Eldest Princess returned to the capital a few days ago. Could it be him?"
Xie Fengran listened to the discussions of the young ladies around her without showing any expression. She quietly sat in the corner, like a background prop.
But Xie Yunxi, who was standing beside the princess, was very excited. If she had a chance to get in touch with the Crown Prince, then...
Xie Yunxi decided that she must cling to the Third Princess tightly.
In the garden downstairs, where the young gentlemen were gathering, they were also talking about the people upstairs at this moment.
Sun Jiming, the young master of the Sun family, had invited a few classmates for a small gathering today. They were supposed to stay out of the way of the young ladies over there. But unexpectedly, Xie Fengran's sarcastic remarks to Miss Wang just now were a bit too loud.
The attic was built in the garden, and the young girl's clear voice rang in the ears of the gentlemen.
"Brother Jiming, which family's girl is this? Please ask your younger sister for me. She really suits my taste. I want to invite her for a stroll."
A young gentleman in a blue robe grabbed Sun Jiming and asked him to send someone to inquire.
Sun Jiming recognized Xie Fengran's voice as soon as she spoke. Hearing what this person said, he frowned. "Brother Wang, be careful with your words. It's not proper."
"Hey, Brother Jiming, you're wrong. A gentle and graceful young lady is a gentleman's good match. Since I have a crush on this young lady, I should express my feelings boldly."
After Emperor Dezong, the society was not as strict with women. As long as men and women interacted in a proper way, there weren't so many restrictions.
The words of this young gentleman in the blue robe weren't a big mistake. But Sun Jiming knew that the Xie family was an old - established aristocratic family that still adhered to the old etiquette. The old lady of the Xie family regarded such things as "immoral". How could he put Xie Fengran in a difficult situation?
The smile on his face faded. "Young Master Wang, my younger sister is hosting a banquet. If we rashly go to disturb, and if we ruin the banquet, my mother will punish me. If you want to invite a beauty, there are plenty of them in Yuexiang in the south city."