Chapter 31

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“Thud, thud…”

A round, glossy black chess piece was nudged out of the chess box by a playful paw, rolling across the smooth surface of the table. Gu Yan Fei extended her index finger, pressing down on the black piece with a calm, steady hand. In a flat tone, she uttered four words: “I already know.”

Her expression remained tranquil, as if the matter at hand were of little consequence—or perhaps as though she had anticipated it all along.

In her previous life, when she returned from Jing Wang Manor, Gu Yun Zhen’s face had been half-destroyed, leaving her looking like a ghostly shadow of her former self. Yet Gu Yun Rong, owing to her supposed act of saving Emperor Kang, earned the Empress Dowager’s favor. The Dowager herself issued an edict, granting a marriage decree that named Gu Yun Rong the future Princess Consort of Emperor Kang. When Gu Yun Rong returned to the Gu family, she was the epitome of glory and splendor.

No one paid any attention to Gu Yun Zhen’s disfigurement. In the face of Gu Yun Rong’s rise to power and fortune, Gu Yun Zhen’s suffering was deemed insignificant, even negligible. In her past life, she had not gone. This time, she wanted to see it for herself.

The playful kitten, lively and restless, pawed at her hand in protest.

Seeing that Gu Yan Fei had benefited from her mistress’s generosity yet showed no gratitude, Xia Lian felt increasingly irritated. She couldn’t help but add, “Second Young Miss, it doesn’t matter if you don’t know how to play polo. The guests invited by the Princess of Changqing are all from the most prominent families in the capital. My mistress thought that, since you’re new here, visiting Jing Wang Manor would be a good opportunity to meet some new friends.”

Her tone carried a hint of mockery, sharp and sarcastic.

Gu Yan Fei finally graced Xia Lian with a glance. At the same time, the little milk kitten turned its head toward Xia Lian as well. “Meow?”

The kitten’s emerald-green eyes were bright and vivid, exuding an otherworldly charm. The moment those luminous eyes met hers, Xia Lian seemed as though struck by lightning. She fell to her knees with an enraptured expression, as if bewitched, unwilling to look away.

Gu Yan Fei covered Qing Guang’s pair of “bewitching eyes” with her hand, her tone calm as she waved to Juan Bi. “Take her away,” she said, gesturing at the still-dazed Xia Lian.

“Meow, meow, meow!” The kitten squirmed under her hand, clearly displeased. Batting away Gu Yan Fei’s palm, it launched into an impassioned series of “meows,” protesting its treatment.

This time, Gu Yan Fei understood the kitten’s body language perfectly. Without a trace of mercy, she rejected its plea outright. “No, you’re not going.”

“Meow, meow, meow…”

Qing Guang stared unblinkingly at Gu Yan Fei, its round cat eyes shimmering faintly with moisture, their beauty striking enough to make one’s heart skip a beat.

Unfortunately for the little kitten, Gu Yan Fei’s heart was as resolute as iron. She remained unmoved and casually picked up a rattan ball, tossing it across the room.

The ball rolled away, the bell inside jingling softly. Qing Guang seemed to feel an irresistible pull, its entire being lured by the sound, and happily chased after it.

“Ding-ling-ling…”

Although its attention was momentarily diverted, Qing Guang hadn’t given up entirely. By the next morning, when it spotted Gu Yun Zhen, it made an unprecedented move—it rubbed affectionately against her.

“Meow-woo~” Qing Guang mewled softly, circling around the hems of Gu Yun Zhen and Gu Yan Fei’s skirts in a show of endearment. Even though Gu Yun Zhen avoided looking into its eyes, its sweet, plaintive voice was enough to tug at her heartstrings.

Gu Yan Fei, however, remained completely indifferent. With a faint smile, she said to Gu Yun Zhen, “Elder Sister, don’t mind it.”

Gu Yun Zhen reluctantly tore her gaze away from the kitten’s back, speaking gently, “Originally, Third Sister wanted to borrow Grandmother’s large carriage, but Grandmother went to White Horse Temple early this morning to offer incense. The other carriages in the Hou Residence are smaller, and with so many people, they’d be cramped. So, I thought, Second Sister, why don’t you ride with me today?”

Her offer was made with sincere goodwill, and Gu Yan Fei naturally had no objections.

Thus, the two sisters made their way to the main gate. The kitten, determined to see them off, ended up sneaking into the carriage itself, hiding cleverly beneath Gu Yun Zhen’s skirts.

The journey to Jing Wang Manor was marked by Gu Yun Zhen’s extreme nervousness. She sat stiffly upright, barely daring to move, as though afraid Gu Yan Fei might notice something amiss.

Gu Yan Fei, of course, was fully aware there was an extra passenger in the carriage. This was shedding season for cats, and the stray strands of fur floating in the air made it impossible to ignore.

Amused, she chuckled inwardly but kept her expression neutral, feigning ignorance.

Jing Wang Manor was located on Shengping Street in the western part of the capital, roughly five or six streets away from Marquis of Dingyuan Residence—a carriage ride that took just over the time it takes to burn an incense stick.

The coachman timed their journey perfectly. At the break of dawn, the two carriages from the Hou Residence arrived promptly at Jing Wang Manor.

The manor stretched from Crescent Alley in the south to Old Locust Alley in the north, occupying an expansive area—at least twice the size of Marquis of Dingyuan Residence. Today, the Princess of Changqing was hosting guests, and the street outside the manor was noticeably livelier than usual. Carriages and horses arrived in succession, stopping one after another in front of the estate. Among them were numerous crimson-wheeled carriages of varying designs, signaling that many of the invitees were members of the royal family or related nobility.

The servants of Jing Wang Manor maintained a well-ordered system, gracefully welcoming the guests. Each carriage entered the estate through the eastern corner gate and stopped in the pathway between the outer ceremonial gate and the main entrance.

After disembarking from their carriage, Gu Yan Fei and her two sisters were greeted by one of the manor’s maids, who bowed with respectful elegance before leading them further into the estate.

The maid led them confidently through the vast, labyrinthine estate, navigating the grand halls and layered gates of Jing Wang Manor with practiced ease. Gu Yun Zhen, however, seemed somewhat distracted, frequently glancing back in the direction of their carriage. Her thoughts were clearly preoccupied with the kitten.

Before stepping out of the carriage, she had carefully instructed Qing Guang to stay put and behave. The kitten had seemingly agreed, but would it really stay where it was, or would it wander off?

By the time Gu Yun Zhen snapped out of her thoughts, they had arrived at the garden on the western side of the manor. Crossing a small bridge over a lake, they found themselves on the far side of the garden, near the horse paddock.

The lakeside featured two elegant waterside pavilions connected by a winding corridor that seemed to float above the water. Delicate veils of gauzy fabric hung around the pavilions, billowing gently in the breeze, creating a dreamlike and ethereal atmosphere.

At this moment, the Zhuoxin Pavilion, closer to the paddock, was bustling with activity. The space was filled with young nobles, the shimmer of fine jewelry and the murmur of lively conversation blending into a vibrant, dazzling scene. Groups of young men and women gathered in twos and threes, chatting and sipping tea. The atmosphere was as lively and brilliant as a springtime garden in full bloom.

In the Da Jing dynasty, the societal atmosphere was relatively progressive, with women enjoying a higher status compared to previous eras. Gender separation was not strictly enforced, and gatherings like these were often held among the influential families of the capital.

“This way, ladies,” the maid gestured, guiding them forward.

The maid led Gu Yan Fei and her sisters into the Zhuoxin Pavilion, heading toward a young girl dressed in yellow seated at the head of the room.

The girl, around fifteen or sixteen years old, was clad in a slim-fitting, vibrant apricot-yellow riding outfit embroidered with colorful butterflies. Over it, she wore a light, gauzy robe embroidered with cloud patterns in gold thread. Beneath the hem of her skirt peeked a pair of butterfly-patterned shoes adorned with flower motifs.

“Your Highness.” Gu Yun Rong curtsied gracefully to the girl in yellow, a soft smile blooming on her lips as she introduced her companions. “This is my eldest sister, Yun Zhen, and my second sister, Yan Fei.”

“Rise,” the Princess of Changqing said, her gaze sweeping across the two sisters.

This one has quite an extraordinary appearance, she thought to herself, pausing slightly to take a second look at Gu Yan Fei. However, her attention quickly shifted back to Gu Yun Rong. Smiling warmly, she said in a familiar tone, “Yun Rong, I’m so glad you’re here. Today, we absolutely can’t lose to my third brother!”

Gu Yun Rong responded with a cheerful smile, her expression poised and agreeable.

As they spoke, the door to the pavilion opened once more, and two young men and a young woman entered, guided by another maid. The girl at the front, dressed in blue, caught sight of Gu Yun Rong and greeted her with a bright and familiar smile.

Gu Yun Rong was held back by the Princess of Changqing for conversation, while Gu Yan Fei and Gu Yun Zhen were led by a maid to the western side of the pavilion, passing by the two young men and the young woman as they went.

“Clatter.”

A folding fan slipped from the hand of the young man dressed in green. The maid leading the way quickly stopped, picked up the fan from the ground, and respectfully handed it back. “Young Master Li.”

Young Master Li accepted the fan, tapping it lightly against his palm as his gaze followed a slender, graceful figure in the distance. With a smug grin, he turned to his cousin and boasted, “See that? We still have beauties here in the capital!”