Before dawn, Madam Xu got up early and called Xie Xiangxiang and Xie Tingting to get dressed. Madam Xie, dressed in her finest clothes, set off with her daughter-in-law and granddaughter.

Consort Xi was unable to leave the palace, so the old man wanted to take this opportunity to see his daughter.

Madam Xie's carriage was at the front, followed by Xie Zhaozhao's carriage, with Madam Xu riding behind with her two daughters.

Amidst the sound of horses' hooves, they lined up to wait to enter the palace.

Yuanyuan carefully lifted a corner of the back curtain, looked around for a while, and suddenly said, "Miss, you're here!"

Upon hearing her words, Xie Zhaozhao carefully peered back through the small window peeked through the invisible gauze.

Not far away, Gu Chengyan was riding his horse, and his servant Wang Fugui was staring intently at Xie Zhaozhao's carriage.

Xie Zhaozhao was very familiar with Wang Fugui, but the person in front of her was not Wang Fugui.

Although the facial features looked almost indistinguishable from the real thing, it was a woman!

Ha, that's really bold.

Xie Zhaozhao's carriage was a two-horse carriage bestowed upon her by His Majesty on the day she came of age. The carriage was made of golden nanmu wood, and the two snow-white steeds were precious horses presented as tribute from the Western Regions. They were tall and had beautiful bodies.

With four imposing guards by his side, it was indeed luxurious; no wonder Guan Yingying was envious and jealous.

Manman looked at "Wang Fugui" and whispered in surprise, "Miss, isn't this the servant I saw at the entrance of Tianhou Alley in the South City the other day? He's actually one of Young Master Gu's men!"

“Take a closer look,” Yuanyuan said to Manman. “Don’t you think she doesn’t look like a man?”

Upon hearing this, Manman suddenly realized, "No wonder I felt something was off, that thing about her..."

She drew two semicircles on her chest and blushed.

Xie Zhaozhao whispered, "Wait a moment, Manman, come into the palace with me. Yuanyuan, you watch the carriage outside."

Yuanyuan nodded in agreement, "Don't worry, Miss!"

Xu felt resentful looking at Xie Zhaozhao's carriage and couldn't help but mutter a complaint in a low voice: "I, the mistress of this manor, am not as good as her, a mere daughter. People who know me are aware that she is the legitimate daughter of the Xie family, but those who don't would think she is a princess."

Xie Xiangxiang sneered and said, "Let her be smug for a few more days!"

"How accurate are your dreams?"

"Mother, don't worry, it'll be absolutely accurate. The more smug she is now, the harder she'll fall!"

Mrs. Xu felt much more at ease.

"Don't keep mentioning Prince Gu. You need to be more discreet when you see the Lady of the Marquis later," Madam Xu instructed. "Although the eldest young lady is annoying, her manners are indeed good. You should learn from her."

Xie Xiangxiang said impatiently to Madam Xu, "Mother, when you meet the Lady of the Marquis, the betrothal date must be set for the Dragon Boat Festival."

Thinking of the passing of Grand Secretary Gu, Xie Zhaozhao's indifferent face was now streaked with tears, her expression one of utter heartbreak... and she felt incredibly smug.

At the palace gate, the carriages and horses split into two groups: the women took the right-hand passage to enter the Imperial Garden, while the young masters and noblemen took the left-hand passage.

Gu Chengyan never expected Guan Yingying to be so bold. She tricked Wang Fugui into going to Nancheng, and then disguised herself as Wang Fugui to sneak into the palace.

When he left home in the morning, it was still dark. He was preoccupied with how to show off at the opening and closing of the Peony Flower Festival, and didn't notice that Guan Yingying had disguised herself as Wang Fugui.

She questioned Xie Zhaozhao's carriage, and only then did he realize it.

"Go back!" he hissed.

She wouldn't listen. Her makeup skills were so good that even Gu Chengyan didn't recognize her, so others would definitely be even less likely to recognize her.

At the palace gate, "Wang Fugui" was stopped by the guards. Female guests were only allowed to bring one maidservant inside, while male guests could enter the palace alone. Servants were not allowed to enter through the second gate.

Guan Yingying was stunned. She had been busy all morning, and they wouldn't even let her in the door?

Gu Chengyan breathed a sigh of relief and whispered, "Wait there by the wall. Don't wander around. If you offend someone important, I won't be able to protect you."

"Okay." Guan Yingying was unhappy, waiting here, not knowing when it would be.

Xie Zhaozhao's carriage slowly stopped at the palace gate. Yuanyuan and Manman got off first, and servants respectfully knelt down to serve as horse stools.

Xie Zhaozhao stepped out of the carriage with her back straight. She wore a honey-colored jacket, a pale yellow silk cotton skirt, and a necklace of sparkling gold jewels. She also wore a shimmering brocade cloak. With each step she took, she was radiant with light.

A phoenix hairpin adorned with gilded cloisonné and kingfisher feathers and pearls is tucked diagonally into her jet-black hair, her smile gentle yet dazzling.

She was very well-mannered; she dismounted from the carriage at a leisurely pace and walked with great rhythm, each step neither too big nor too small, and the hair ornament on her head remained almost perfectly still.

When Guan Yingying first saw the elegant lady from a prominent family in ancient times, she was so dazzling and noble, like a phoenix descending from the heavens to the mortal world.

Although the makeup techniques of later generations were comparable to head transplants, she had to admit that compared to the natural beauty before her, it was like comparing heaven and earth.

Is this Miss Xie?

The peony is breathtakingly beautiful, its charm captivating the nation.

The thought that this person had almost become Gu Chengyan's legal wife sent a chill down her spine.

If Gu Chengyan weren't blind, he wouldn't have let such a stunning beauty slip by. Even if he didn't love her, having her at home would still be a feast for the eyes.

Guan Yingying felt like her heart was on fire, and all she wanted to do was destroy this noble beauty.

Such nobility, such a fairy-like beauty, it would only be fair if Grand Secretary Gu were a pervert who ravaged her beyond recognition, leaving her to live a lonely life.

Yes, destroy her! Destroy her!

She was destined by heaven and traveled through a thousand years; only she, Guan Yingying, deserves to be the center of attention!

The nobles entered the palace in an orderly fashion, leaving only the waiting servants outside.

When Guan Yingying first came to the palace gate, she looked at the tall palace walls and felt no awe, only disdain.

It's not as beautiful as the Qin Palace and Jin Palace in Hengdian.

The ancients were backward, yet they still tried to show off, calling themselves real dragons and emperors—it's utterly ridiculous!

She shook her head as she looked around, and then bumped into someone with a bang.

Hey, isn't this Miss Xie's maid?

"Excuse me... Are you a maid from the Xie family?" she asked tentatively.

"Ouch, that hurts so much!" Yuanyuan rubbed her head, and seeing her apologize, she didn't know what to say. "Is this your first time here?"

Guan Yingying said, "I'm just browsing because I'm bored."

Two people with good intentions put aside their past grievances and ended up having a very pleasant conversation.

Guan Yingying said casually, "Your young lady doesn't seem easy to get along with. Who gets off a carriage and steps on someone's back? Everyone is born equal, we are all born of the same parents, why is she bullying you like this?"

Yuanyuan whispered, "Little brother, no one has ever told us these things before."

"The main problem is that you haven't seen the wider world! She has the reputation of having the face of Guanyin, but she is aloof and hypocritical."

Guan Yingying took out a few silver ingots from her pocket and stuffed them into Yuanyuan's hand, saying, "If you don't mind, how about we become friends?"

Yuanyuan took it, her eyes sparkling, and kept saying thank you.

Seeing her grateful expression, Guan Yingying thought with pity, "The ancients were truly pitiful; I must do something..."