The entire city of Fengzhou knows that the southern border is in turmoil again. The king of Yue was betrayed and poisoned by his subordinates, seriously injured and died. Before his death, he handed over the military symbol commanding 80,000 iron cavalry to his younger brother, Ji Yu General, who came to support him. At the same time, Xue Shizi from the Jin Ninghou Mansion went to the southern border to escort the coffin and accompanied it back to the capital along the way.

  He Le'an didn't expect her happiness to be built on someone else's suffering. These days, every time she thought of Xue Huiyu leaving with a heartbroken expression, she also felt depressed and unhappy. When He Le'yan asked her out to play, she refused, focusing all her energy on embroidering a round sachet. When Xue Huiyu came again and hadn't spoken yet, she handed the sachet over to her.

  Xue Hui looked incredulously at the round sachet woven from ivory-colored satin, resembling a bright moon. At the center of the lower hem of the circular sachet, apart from the red and white tassels hanging down, there were also two golden trumpet-shaped small bells suspended on either side, each with three red pomegranate beads, and the bell's stem was tied with a bright yellow silk ribbon, resembling a blooming hibiscus flower.

  "Xie Yuejun Wang treated me with 'exceptional' treatment, An An can only see him off with this. I hope he has a good journey." He Le'an couldn't bear to look at Xue Hui's tears and lowered his eyes, speaking in a soft voice.

  Xue Huiyu took over the sachet, choking with sobs: "This is enough already, thank you, An'an." She had come this time to ask He Le'an to send something for her deceased cousin, the Duke, who had passed away without even expressing his feelings. Unexpectedly, Miss had thoughtfully specially made a unique sachet belonging to the Duke, and it seemed that the Duke could finally rest in peace...

  **

  Two months have passed in the blink of an eye.

  Some things have already been settled and will no longer be tolerated.

  Xu Xi'an went to the Hou Mansion's side courtyard to propose, and had previously received a straightforward answer from Old Lady He, who had given her consent. The news spread throughout the city that the young master of the Xu family, the richest man in the capital, had used a ten-li dowry as a token of his sincerity to betroth himself to He Le'an, the illegitimate daughter of Duke Jingning. Some people were envious and admiring, while others looked down on it. Some people offered their congratulations, while others ridiculed and jeered. Today's banquet was a microcosm of all these reactions.

  A thirteen or fourteen-year-old girl, slightly plump in figure, wearing a brocade flower sleeve Luo skirt, with a slightly rounded face, pouted her mouth and coldly hummed: "The first rich man is just a merchant with more money, what's the use of ten li of betrothal gifts? That's something his family doesn't lack. If he really has sincerity and ability, he should climb to the top of the four occupations - scholar, farmer, artisan, and merchant - before coming to propose!"

  Sitting next to her, Shao Yingxiu chimed in: "It's just a lowly merchant marrying a humble commoner daughter, what's there to envy? You're only willing to congratulate them because of the face of the Jianing Hou Mansion. Don't forget, He Le'an is just a despicable person who was banished back to her hometown and driven out of the capital by her stepmother."

  He Le'an had just arrived, and he heard these two sentences. Before he could speak, Xue Huiyu beside him burst out laughing exaggeratedly, as if she had been tickled: "Hahaha, I've never seen anyone express envy, jealousy, and hatred in such a refreshing, elegant, and shameless way."

  Shao Yingxiu had long known that Xue Huiyu and He Le'an were close, so she didn't think it was strange to see her speaking up for He Le'an. She snorted: "Who's jealous of her? A concubine-born daughter who can't even hold her head high on stage. Even if she marries into a merchant family as the legitimate wife in the future, her birth and blood are hers alone, something that cannot be changed or rewritten in this life."

  "It's only those who are narrow-minded and look down on others who would constantly bring up someone's humble origins. As Xue Hui said, "In this world, many officials have risen from humble beginnings through hard work and become respectable people. What does it matter if one has a poor background? If a person has good morals, is elegant in speech and demeanor, and carries themselves with dignity, that is true nobility. On the other hand, if someone has a good background but is arrogant and full of themselves, they are nothing but a joke."

  Shaoying Xiu, who was being subtly mocked as a plaything for dogs, was about to counterattack in anger, but the round-faced girl spoke out first, indignant: "Sister Si's words have gone too far! Just because you like to treat poison as honey doesn't mean that those who don't like poison are despicable and arrogant. Since ancient times, it has been a common rule to distinguish between legitimate and illegitimate children. We, the legitimate ones, rely on our status and do not want to associate with those lowly illegitimate ones - what's wrong with that?"

  "Cheng San, not wanting to be together is one thing. Maliciously slandering is another matter altogether." At this time, Dongfang Niangui, who had been standing on the other side of Xue Hui's words, spoke softly: "You have never tasted grapes, yet you are certain that they are sour and bad, just because others say so and you act arbitrarily, but also spare no effort to attack and hurt. Don't you think the grape is very innocent? Are you being too excessive?"

  "Hmph!" Xiao Yingxiu coldly interrupted with a sneer, "You see, this is where He Le'an's greatest skill lies!" She indignantly said, "She always puts on an innocent face to deceive the masses, making those around her take the fall for her, even if it means being covered in blood. Yet she herself remains spotless, having used all sorts of methods to deceive the late Prince Yue and ruin my reputation. Now she's manipulating Xue Si and Dongfang Wu into becoming her blades, truly a killer who doesn't get their hands bloody!"

  The atmosphere of suspicion and uncertainty suddenly solidified, and the guests around did not dare to look at Shao Yingxiu, who was being pulled out by the late King Yue. Only Xue Huiyu's expression darkened as she furrowed her brow, while He Le'an, who had been silent all along, smiled softly and said:

  "Like the King of Yue, who fought to the death to defend the border and sacrificed his life for the country, if it weren't for the truth, how would he speak up for a humble girl like me? He upheld justice and revealed the truth, your reputation was damaged, all because of your own doing. I didn't hold a knife to force you to frame me, you did all the evil things yourself, and now you're blaming me for not falling into your vicious trap."

  He Le'an said: "Shao Yingxiu, you are foolish and do not represent everyone as being the same as you. I have tolerated your wanton slander time and again, only because of the slight affection between our two families. But it's clear that you never considered me a cousin, and since that's the case, from now on I won't bother to be overly sentimental about anything. Those who are self-righteous, I've never thought of trying to curry favor with them either. Don't act like someone is eager for your attention."

  Shaoyingxiu and the round-faced girl Cheng San's face was slapped by He Le'an with a few disdainful words, Cheng San said angrily: "You, you, you say what not to think highly of, then why did you come to Wen Yibofu today to attend the banquet——"

  "Hey, when did you become a daughter-in-law of the Wen Yibo's household?"

  Suddenly, a voice full of teasing and laughter interrupted Cheng San's flustered state. He Lian followed the sound and saw a girl about 15 or 16 years old walking towards them with an elegant and refined demeanor, wearing a luxurious but not flashy crystal silk dress that trailed on the ground. Her eyebrows were lightly painted, her eyes were full of emotions, and her red lips curled up slightly, exuding a radiant charm. All she said was: "I specially invited He Liu."

  She was actually Wen Yibo's eldest daughter, Cheng Shuwei, the number one beauty in Fengzhou City.

  Cheng San's face turned pale and red, then purple, as she gritted her teeth and said: "What if you deliberately invited him? Others don't appreciate your insincere kindness!"

  Cheng Shuwei sighed anxiously: "I've always told you to study hard and read books, don't distort other people's words arbitrarily, just adding jokes. How could I have thought that today, in front of so many people, you would still use this rule that nobody knows who taught it to lose face and not be afraid of being spread around? Smearing the good reputation that our Wen Yibo Fu has accumulated over decades with hard work."

  With one remark, he scolded Cheng San for being brainless and also scolded Cheng San's mother for having no discipline.

  The number one beauty in the provincial capital is formidable.

  "You!" Cheng San's eyes were about to split open, his purple-red face was like a pig's liver.

  Cheng Shuwei seemed to disdain listening to her superfluous words, and snatched the conversation away: "If He Liu didn't care about my feelings, he wouldn't have come today, let alone suffer the humiliation of your and your friends' haughty attitude." Having said that, she turned to He Le'an, Xue Huiyu, and Dongfang Meixiang, "To make up for the inadequate hospitality, I'll take you on a stroll through the gardens of the manor."

  Xue Huiyu pulled He Le'an and Dongfang Meiniang along, walking quickly, and as soon as they stepped out of the courtyard gate, she couldn't help but smile and say: "It's been months since we last met, and Sister Mei is still so radiant. I suppose this period of time in the capital has been extremely enjoyable."

  "I can hear it, you're blaming me for not writing to you." Cheng Shuwei said with a soft smile, "The capital is different from Fengzhou City. Behind the prosperity, there are open and secret struggles. The powerful and noble, with just one word, can pull out bloody plots and schemes."

  She said, "The Wen Yibo Mansion is different from your two mansions. Our family is located in the capital city. It was my mother who insisted that I inherit the title of my father when he went to Fengzhou City for work many years ago. After decades have passed, this peaceful life that relied on my deceased mother has long collapsed. If it weren't for Grandmother still holding on in the capital, I'm afraid Second Uncle would have taken what he wanted and played with it."

  Cheng Shuwei led them into a small garden filled with green bamboo, and stopped in front of a wooden house that faintly exuded the aroma of wine. She turned around to face Xue Hui, smiling, "This time I've returned, I'm specifically here to bid you farewell, as well as meet this He Liu you mentioned in your letter."

  Faced with their similar astonishment, Cheng Shuwei's tone was as usual without any ups and downs, saying: "It won't be long before I enter the palace to become a concubine."

  "!" Xue Hui's voice was disbelieving as she grabbed the hand of Cheng Shuwei, who had turned to push open the wooden door. "Why?!"

  Cheng Shuwei smiled without turning her head: "Father is incompetent, I am infatuated for the concubine, stepmother has a wild ambition, second uncle is unscrupulous, this big family business, he can't keep it for long. Grandmother is old and can't protect us for much longer, mother repeatedly instructed before she passed away that the title should be given to my younger brother, as his older sister, I must hold on until he is capable of taking over."

  The wooden door was pushed open, and a strong smell of wine came rushing in with the sultry wind.

  Xue Huiyu grasped Cheng Shuwei's hand tightly and whispered: "That doesn't necessarily have to be the case..."

  "This is the only shortcut." Cheng Shuwei turned her face and smiled: "My battlefield, I don't want to implicate my most unwilling innocent people, whether it's you, your brother or cousin, you and they don't need to muddy the waters for our handkerchief relationship."

  "I'm telling you this not to make you sad. It's just that from now on, we'll be separated and I don't know when we'll meet again. I don't want the feelings we've accumulated over the years to be tainted by these terrible things and fall apart. That 'childhood sweetheart' that was brewed many years ago, let's open it today." When Cheng Shuwei smiled, she had a captivating charm that was mesmerizing.

  She said: "He Liu, when you leave, take some back and deliver them to Xiao Shouzhuzhu on my behalf. Just say it's... farewell."