Jiang Xuelin was somewhat taken aback. This was the Fei family mansion of the Yongchang Marquis, and Fei Qing was the second daughter of the Fei family, as well as their only legitimate daughter. Why was she so carefully reminding her not to go near the water?

Jiang Xuelin wouldn't be so surprised if anyone came up to her and said that.

What's wrong with the Fei family?

Or will something unexpected happen at today's flower-viewing party?

Jiang Xuelin didn't know much about these things in the backyard, so apart from knowing that there would be a conspiracy today, she really couldn't figure out the purpose of doing so.

It couldn't be that the Yongchang Marquis's mansion felt she had stolen Fei Qing and Fu Hanlai's marriage, so they wanted to take revenge on her and plotted to drown her, could it?

It shouldn't be that bad.

Moreover, if possible, she would prefer that the Prince Ping's Mansion continue to form a marriage alliance with the Marquis of Yongchang's Mansion.

She didn't want to get involved in this!

Unable to figure it out, Jiang Xuelin was puzzled, but she wouldn't risk it for such a small question. With a flick of her wrist, the small note disappeared from her palm.

The maids in charge of Jiang Xuelin's affairs were all literate. Green Luo also saw the note in her hand and her heart tightened. "Miss?"

"It's alright, I reckon the others will be here soon."

However, because of Fei Qing's reminder, Jiang Xuelin did take the matter to heart. She got up to admire the flowers, and while admiring them, she glanced at the maids and nannies around her, as if trying to find out something.

Hmm...

With her discerning eye, she really couldn't tell.

Before long, all the people Fei Qing had invited arrived. The sisters were chatting happily, and when they saw Jiang Xuelin, they all looked on with curiosity.

Jiang Xuelin's personality was different from that of the noble ladies in the capital, and they didn't get along very well. She was only familiar with a few daughters of meritorious officials. Those families with strict rules would not have any contact with her at all, for fear that their reputation would be ruined.

Fei Qing invited her today, so naturally he wouldn't invite anyone with whom he had a conflict.

"Isn't Sister Xue Lin engaged? Why is she here?" The last girl to arrive asked Jiang Xue Lin with some curiosity.

She was the daughter of the fourth branch of the Ningguo Duke's Mansion, and also the daughter of a married woman from the Yongchang Marquis's Mansion. She and Fei Qing were cousins.

Jiang Xuelin glanced at her but quickly looked away. "Oh, it's Sister Xue. I'm engaged, not that I'm no longer married. Why can't I be here?"

Speechless for a moment after being rebuffed by Jiang Xuelin, the Xue family girl clearly paused for a moment. "That's not what I meant, sister. It's just that normally after an engagement, one should be at home preparing the dowry and embroidering the wedding dress. How can one continue to show her face in public?"

As soon as she said this, the other girls also showed their dissatisfaction, and their delicate eyebrows furrowed.

Just as someone was about to speak, Jiang Xuelin preemptively retorted, dramatically covering her mouth with her handkerchief and chuckling.

It's really contrived, the kind of deliberate affectation that makes you feel uncomfortable just looking at it.

She did it on purpose.

Jiang Xuelin really didn't like arguing with other noble ladies; if they didn't get along, they didn't. But she wouldn't ignore trouble that came her way.

Spoiled by his family since childhood, he almost became one of the most powerful figures in the capital alongside Fu Hanlai. How could he possibly have a good temper and not bully others? That's all thanks to the good upbringing he received from the Jiang family.

"Oh... so what Sister Xue meant by attending Sister Qing'er's banquet was showing her face in public? Tsk tsk, won't Sister Xue's reputation suffer from showing her face in public like this?"

The fourth daughter of the Xue family blushed, seemingly not expecting Jiang Xuelin to react so quickly, and became somewhat anxious.

She had no problem with Jiang Xuelin before, but this time Jiang Xuelin stole Fei Qing's marriage and still dared to attend the banquet. Could it be that he came here to show off his power?

That's not what I meant...

"Oh, what do you mean? I'm showing my face at the banquet, but it's perfectly legitimate for my sister to attend?"

“It’s just that girls who are engaged usually don’t go out anymore.”

"Oh, what should we do then? What if we are betrothed at birth? Wouldn't we have to be kept in the household after birth? Does the Xue family have such a rule? I've never heard of such a thing in other families."

If you dare to say yes, the Xue family's marriage prospects will become more difficult in the future.

"You're engaged to Prince Ping's family, how dare you go to Qingjie's appointment now!" Seeing Jiang Xuelin's barbed and aggressive words, the fourth young lady of the Xue family became anxious and blurted out in a panic.

Jiang Xuelin sneered and looked away, clearly not wanting to talk to this dim-witted person.

Even if others were curious, they didn't ask anything at this moment. Is she the only one with a mouth?

It was already inappropriate to bring this up here; everyone was talking about other things, and she came over and immediately started questioning us.

Jiang Xuelin didn't continue to argue, not because she had nothing to say, but because she didn't want to embarrass Fei Qing.

If she were to say now that she was dissatisfied with the marriage and did not want to be associated with Fu Han, it would inevitably make people think that she was deliberately trying to embarrass Fei Qing.

After all, the two families had exchanged betrothal gifts, which was tantamount to an engagement. The Prince Ping's mansion broke off the engagement with Fei Qing and chose Jiang Xuelin. Even though everyone knew why, they couldn't help but compare the two in their hearts.

At this moment, Jiang Xuelin revealed her disdain for Fu Hanlai...

The Prince Ping's mansion chose Jiang Xuelin instead of Fei Qing, clearly showing that they valued Jiang Xuelin more. The difference in their status was obvious. But then she revealed that she didn't like Fu Hanlai. Isn't that just like, "If you can't have me, I don't like you"?

What is this if not humiliation and ridicule? It's practically trampling on Fei Qing's dignity in public.

Jiang Xuelin wouldn't say that out of consideration for Fei Qing.

Just like how she didn't drag the other girls into the mess when she criticized the fourth daughter of the Xue family, otherwise she could have easily said that the other girls were also making a scene in the Xue family girls' mouths, thus dragging everyone down with her.

Jiang Xuelin remained silent not because she was afraid of the Xue family girl or because she had blocked her way, or because she felt guilty, but simply because she didn't want Fei Qing to lose face.

However, the Xue family girl thought that she was speechless because she had something to hide, and that was why she was not speaking. Just as she was about to press her advantage, Fei Qing, who had finished giving instructions to others, stopped her.

Fei Qing had just seen that everyone was present, so he went to instruct the servants to get everything else arranged. But when he returned, he heard the last words of the fourth young lady of the Xue family, and his face immediately turned grim.

She was already preoccupied, and now she could no longer suppress her anger.

Is Xue's cousin standing up for her? Or is she setting her up?

Besides, it was she who invited Jiang Xuelin over.

"What nonsense are you talking about, little sister! When has Sister Xuelin ever done anything to wrong me? Others may not know what kind of person Sister Xuelin is, but I do. Besides, it is the parents' order and the matchmaker's words that make it too impolite for an unmarried girl to talk about marriage. I will inform my aunt about this matter later."

Upon hearing this, the fourth daughter of the Xue family's eyes reddened, "Cousin..."

Wasn't she standing up for her cousin? Why was her cousin scolding her like that?