Chapter 6 Even More Extravagant Than the Imperial Daughter

Several ladies and young women from official families nearby, who were selecting fabrics, were secretly astonished. One lady couldn't help but whisper to her companion, "My goodness... even second-class maids wear top-grade fine linen? And with plain brocade trim? This... this is too extravagant! Their maids are dressed more elegantly than many young ladies from other families!"

"I heard she's the legitimate daughter of the Grand General's Mansion, who just returned to the capital..." Her companion lowered her voice even further, filled with incredulous amazement. "Tsk tsk, what a grand display, what a spoiled attitude... Even when the Second Princess came to select fabrics before the New Year, she was never like this... so..." She couldn't find the right words for a moment.

"Such extravagance?" the lady from before interjected, her tone complicated. "It's more than extravagance; it's like throwing gold at people to make a sound! Even Her Highness the Princess isn't like this, but this one... tsk tsk, truly a princess of noble birth!"

Even so, the one in the palace probably wouldn't dare say anything...

"Are you out of your mind! You'll say anything!"

Amid the discussion, Xie Sangning practically swept away all the good stuff. When it came time to pay, she didn't keep a record like other women in the family; she paid on the spot, making the shopkeeper beam with joy.

After buying the clothes, Xie Sangning's interest waned considerably; Jinling was nothing special after all.

What a glittering and prosperous place! It's a complete lie and a disappointment.

I had originally planned to visit the best teahouse in Nanjing, but now I've lost interest.

The General's Mansion, Ruixue Tower.

Xie Sangning leaned against the chaise lounge, while Ru Chun gently massaged her calves. Ru Xia directed the maids to carefully put away the day's purchases.

The room was warm and fragrant, with the silver charcoal burning brightly in the brazier, creating a peaceful and tranquil scene.

Rumors were flying around, but they didn't affect her at all, because that was exactly the effect she wanted.

Inside the warm pavilion of the Imperial Garden.

Princess Pei Mingyue was leaning against a soft couch by the window, absentmindedly pruning a pot of plum blossoms.

She was eighteen years old, with a beautiful face and an innate royal air about her.

The personal maid, Qingdai, entered lightly, a hint of unease on her face. She whispered, "Your Highness, outside the palace... there are some rumors circulating about the eldest daughter of the General of the State's mansion, and they're... a bit outrageous."

Pei Mingyue paused in her hand, which was pruning plum branches: "Oh? What's going on?"

She had only heard the name Xie Sangning from her mother yesterday. She was told that Xie Sangning was the apple of General Xie's eye, raised in the western borderlands since childhood, and had just returned to the capital. At the time, she hadn't paid much attention to it, thinking she was just a wild girl raised on the frontier.

Qingdai carefully observed her mistress's expression, choosing her words carefully: "Your Highness, it's said... that Miss Xie went on a lavish shopping spree at Jinxiu Pavilion today, her spending so extravagant and extravagant that it's caused quite a stir throughout the city..."

She paused, her voice lowering even further: "And even more ignorant fools dare to say... say that Miss Xie's pomp and grandeur are even... even Your Highness cannot match her in the slightest, her extravagance surpassing that of the imperial daughters..."

"Snap!"

A crisp sound!

The carefully tended plum blossom fell to the ground with a thud.

The air inside the heated room instantly froze.

The palace maids standing by were so frightened that they fell silent, not daring to utter a sound.

Pei Mingyue's face darkened visibly; her extravagance surpassed even that of the imperial daughters.

What a Xie Sangning!

"Ignorant scoundrels, making unwarranted comments about the imperial family, their intentions are deserving of death!" Her voice was icy, filled with suppressed anger.

"Xie Sangning..." she murmured the name softly, with disdain, "A ignorant and foolish woman like her dares to compare herself to me? I'd like to see what kind of person she is!"

The Second Princess's Dislike?

Ah, that's exactly what Xie Sangning wanted.

If I don't dislike her, how can I see her sooner, and how can I make her remember me?

The news spread throughout Nanjing in an instant, causing a great uproar, which was undoubtedly due in no small part to her behind-the-scenes instigation.

Pei Mingyue, the most beloved daughter of Emperor Pei, is also the most arrogant and domineering person in this imperial city.

From a young age, she would always hold onto and caress anything that caught her eye.

Any woman more outstanding than her would surely disappear in Jinling.

Back then, when Pei Mingyue was very young, she took a liking to her older brother Xie Sangyu and forced him to be her playmate.

But everyone in Nanjing knew that although they were called playmates, they were no different from kept male concubines!

News from the princess's residence indicated that the young boys who played with her often bore whip marks.

This princess seems to have some quirks that are best left unsaid.

Xie Sangyu was proud and unyielding; how could she possibly bow down?

He immediately and decisively refused, giving Pei Mingyue a slap in the face.

This infuriated Pei Mingyue, who felt that Xie Sangyu was ungrateful. In the middle of the night, she sent two eunuchs to sneak into her brother's room, kidnap the eight-year-old boy, and intend to humiliate him.

If the father hadn't arrived in time, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

But this incident, like a leech, was deeply etched into the boy's heart.

Now that his brother is eighteen, he still needs someone to sleep with him in the room. Every time he closes his eyes, he sees those two ugly and lewd faces.

At that time, Xie Zhenting was merely a fifth-rank military officer.

Before the Second Princess, who was enjoying the Emperor's favor, Xie Sangyu was as insignificant as an ant.

This turmoil was ultimately brought to a close, but then gently subsided, leaving Pei Mingyue completely unharmed.

Xie Sangning's fingertips traced the cold window frame, her eyes hardening with icy coldness.

Ten years have passed; I wonder if Your Highness still remembers this incident.

Ha, what does it matter whether you remember or not?

When she's nearing the afterlife, will she finally understand who took her life...?

That's enough!

——

The following day, Xie Sangning received the invitation as she wished; it was for a flower-viewing banquet hosted by the Second Princess.

Both she and Xie Wuyou received invitations in the manor, which must have been a deliberate attempt to annoy her.

Given Xie Wuyou's status, he shouldn't be able to attend this flower-viewing banquet.

But it didn't matter; all Xie Sangning wanted was this banquet.

At the same time as the invitation arrived, the gatekeeper came to tell them that the second wife, Madam Wang, had brought Xie Wuyou with her.

After the maid announced their arrival, the group stormed in.

Wang Shi wore a fake smile, accompanied by two trusted stewardesses and Xie Wuyou, who looked on with amusement.

"Oh, so your niece Sang Ning has also received an invitation? You've just returned to Jinling and don't know many of the rules. I'll have your sister Wuyou guide you so you don't offend the princess without realizing it."

Xie Sangning laughed and said, "I wonder when it became my turn, a commoner, to teach this legitimate young lady the rules?"

Xie Wuyou was furious upon hearing this: "You!"

What does it mean that the second princess could invite her? It means that the princess acknowledges her status!

Xie Sangning, that country bumpkin, doesn't know anything!

Wang pulled her daughter back, who was about to explode. Now was not the time to throw a tantrum.

Her eyes swept across the room like searchlights, a fleeting glint of greed in them, but her tone was feigned intimacy: "I heard that my niece really made a name for herself at the best shop in Jinling City yesterday!"

Xie Sangning slowly raised her eyelids, glanced at the two of them, and finally landed on Wang's face. "Second Aunt is quite well-informed."

Wang was taken aback by her cold attitude and cleared her throat: "I dare not call myself a 'wise one,' but my niece's commotion has been too great, it's spread all over Jinling City! There are all sorts of rumors!"

"Floating shimmering brocade? Tribute-grade soft gauze? My dear niece, do you know how much silver these cost? That was all your father's hard-earned money, earned with his life in Xihan!"