After sitting down, the Duchess smiled at Old Madam Shen and said:

"Madam, this is my adopted daughter, Jiaojiao. I brought her out to broaden her horizons today on your birthday."

Madam Shen glanced at Li Jiaojiao indifferently and politely praised her, "Oh, she's quite pretty. Madam Liu is very fortunate."

The Duchess smiled and said, "Yes, Jiaojiao is very filial."

Li Jiaojiao was in a bad mood. She felt that this old lady Shen always had a superior attitude and was too rude. After all, they were a Duke's mansion, which was a level higher than a Marquis's mansion.

But the mother didn't get angry; she sat to the side, smiling gracefully and elegantly.

"My mother's temper is too good!" Even though Li Jiaojiao was somewhat dissatisfied, she didn't dare to say a word.

At this moment, two men, around seventeen or eighteen years old, walked in. One was aloof and deep-set, the other leisurely and gentle, each handsome in their own way.

When Li Jiaojiao saw the two of them, her eyes immediately lit up.

My goodness, what a handsome young man! Not only is he good-looking, but he also exudes an air of nobility!

Although Gu Han was also handsome, for some reason, he always seemed shabby and poor.

The two people in front of him were far more imposing than Gu Han, and they were also radiant and full of energy.

Ever since they came in, Li Jiaojiao's gaze hadn't left them; her eyes were practically glued to them.

"Jiaojiao..." The Duchess of Pingguo whispered in Li Jiaojiao's ear, "The one in the black brocade robe is Shen Xingyue, the heir of the Marquis of Dingguo's mansion!"

"Is he Shen Xingyue?" Li Jiaojiao's gaze fell on the cold and handsome man, and a wave of joy washed over her.

Although the other young nobleman was also handsome, she still loved the aloof and handsome type like Shen Xingyue the most.

He truly deserves to be the man Li Jiaojiao has chosen!

Alright, Li Jiaojiao is determined to be the Crown Prince's wife!

"Grandmother, your grandson has brought Henghui to pay his respects to you," Shen Xingyue said.

The young nobleman beside him smiled and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Lord Feng."

"Quickly, no need for formalities." Old Madam Shen smiled broadly. This Lu Heng Hui was the son of Grand Princess Fu Shun, a minor prince. "Where is your mother?"

"When I came in, I was stunned by the room full of glass. I happened to run into the First Madam outside and she was 'questioning' me."

After he finished speaking, everyone in the room burst into laughter.

Li Jiaojiao didn't know what they were laughing at, and of course, her mind wasn't on that; she was completely focused on Shen Xingyue.

She couldn't wait to walk up to him and let him see her.

Shen Xingyue chatted with Madam Shen for a few more minutes before taking his leave.

Li Jiaojiao quickly stood up and curtsied to Madam Shen: "Madam, I'd like to go out for a stroll too."

Madam Shen said calmly, "Go out quickly! And all the young ladies in the house, go out and play. Don't stay cooped up here."

After hearing this, Li Jiaojiao quickly left.

Little Green quickly caught up with her.

Li Jiaojiao left Chang'an Hall, but Shen Xingyue was nowhere to be seen.

She couldn't help but purse her lips.

Little Green caught up with him: "Miss, should we go back?"

“Why go back? It’s so boring.” Li Jiaojiao thought that Old Madam Shen was difficult to get along with, but that didn’t stop her from taking a liking to Shen Xingyue. “The invitation says that the banquet will be held in the Plum Garden. Let’s go there to play.”

The two did not ask anyone to lead the way, but instead followed the flow of people.

I strolled along, stopping occasionally to admire the surrounding scenery, especially the glasswork, which was crystal clear and as translucent as ice.

Li Jiaojiao liked it more and more the more she looked at it.

The surrounding guests, like her, kept praising her:

"The Marquis of Dingguo's mansion really went all out, filling a whole room with glass."

"Is it a matter of whether it's expensive or not? It's about the quality! The clarity, you can't find another like it in the world. Yet the Marquis of Dingguo's mansion has a whole room of it! I wonder how they got it."

Hearing these praises, Li Jiaojiao felt a surge of excitement. How prestigious it would be if she became the mistress of the Marquis of Dingguo's mansion!

Before they knew it, the two had arrived at the plum garden.

The plum garden is full of plum blossoms, which bloom exceptionally beautifully in this winter.

Noble ladies and young women gathered here, meeting with acquaintances, either admiring the glass lanterns or chatting in the pavilion.

Li Jiaojiao felt secretly depressed and suddenly felt all alone.

In her imagination, today is her first public appearance.

The moment she appears, all eyes will fall on her.

When the Duchess introduces her, she receives praise and flattery from everyone, and wherever she goes, she becomes the center of attention.

But reality is different from what I imagined; I now feel like an insignificant, dispensable character...

Li Jiaojiao was furious. She regretted running away alone!

I don't know a single person here! I'm so lonely!

But what Li Jiaojiao didn't know was that she would soon no longer be alone!

Because she was about to see a large group of people she knew!

"Miss, look, isn't that...?"

Xiao Lü suddenly gripped Li Jiaojiao's hand tightly.

"What's wrong?" Li Jiaojiao turned around, then stared in surprise.

Ye Caiping, dressed in fine clothes, was walking over with her sisters Ye Jin'er and Jin Hua.

Li Jiaojiao was shocked. How could this bunch of lowly people from the Ye family be here?

This is the birthday banquet of the Marquis of Dingguo; not just any Tom, Dick, or Harry can come!

Such a high-class banquet is something that even a minor seventh-rank official like Yiren might not be able to attend, let alone a fourth or fifth-rank official!

“Miss…” Xiao Lü tugged at her, “Let’s go, don’t talk to people you don’t like.”

She didn't want her master to cause trouble again; this was a banquet at the Marquis of Dingguo's residence.

"No...why should I leave? Am I afraid of her?"

Li Jiaojiao said angrily.

She wasn't just scared, her heart was trembling!

Ye Caiping knows about her background. What if she tells her mother that she has been to prison?

Her mother would definitely look down on her then! And this matter can't be spread, otherwise how could Li Jiaojiao survive in aristocratic circles?

What's that bitch Ye Caiping doing here? Is it just to expose her?

How did she sneak in?

No, none of that matters now. The most important thing right now is for her to get rid of Ye Caiping!

Yes, we must kick her out!