The grass and trees are turning green, the flowers are in full bloom and the branches are low; on the second day of the fourth lunar month, there is a flower-adorning banquet.

The flower-adorning banquet was hosted by the Pei family, and the Shen family, as a scholarly family in the capital, was naturally among those invited.

Today, all the ladies dressed up in their finest attire. A light mist hung over the window in the morning. As Manhuan combed Mingzhuang's hair, she murmured, "The wind blew in the middle of the night, and it started to drizzle around midnight. It's rare to see such moisture in the capital. I heard that it's like this during the plum rain season in Jiangzhou. I guess Miss likes this kind of weather."

Looking at her bright and radiant face in the bronze mirror, Shen Mingzhuang smiled, her smile filling the room with a gentle warmth.

"The land of Jiangnan is always shrouded in mist and rain, but people who stay there for a long time inevitably become sentimental and tender-hearted."

Man Huan smiled and pursed her lips, then tucked the purple fluffy silk flower into Shen Mingzhuang's temple.

"I'm going to the Pei residence today. I wonder what kind of flower the young lady will receive. I heard that there is a peony in the Pei family's garden with green petals, which is very rare. It only produces one flower a year, and the Pei family spends a lot of effort to take care of it every year, just to bring it out as a lucky charm on the day of the Flower-Hairing Banquet."

Manhuan had been in Kyoto before and had heard a lot about the pastimes of these aristocratic families, so Mingzhuang became interested as well.

As the saying goes, things are valued for their rarity. She had never seen a green peony before, and since it was being used as a lucky charm, it must be extremely beautiful.

"Who came out on top last year?"

Manhuan helped Mingzhuang up to change her clothes, and laughed when she heard this. "Miss was still in Jiangzhou last year, right? But the flower-adorned banquet last year was exceptionally lively. The three princesses competed for the title of champion at the banquet, and the scene was very grand. I heard that this event was even made into a ballad and sung everywhere. Miss, have you never heard it?"

She wasn't the real Shen Jiuniang, so naturally she didn't know about this. Shen Mingzhuang gave an interested "Oh" and asked Man Huan with a smile, "I seem to have some impression, but Jiangzhou is several hundred miles from the capital, so I'm not very clear about it."

Man Huan had only asked casually, and upon hearing this, she understood. She tightened her purple sash before looking up and smiling, "Last year's winner of the Flower-Piercing Banquet was Princess Hui Rong."

"Princess Huirong won first place at the Flower-Pinning Banquet. Afterwards, the nobles from the Prince of Qin's mansion almost wore down the threshold of the mansion to propose marriage. Princess Huirong also became the most beautiful woman in the capital."

Listening to Man Huan's words, Shen Mingzhuang carefully searched his mind for information about this princess.

Princess Huirong should be the ill-fated beauty who was ordered by Princess Jiayuan to be thrown into the palace well and drowned. There is not much description of her in the book, except for the description of her before her death. What impressed Mingzhuang the most was Princess Jiayuan's ruthlessness.

To fight for the title of "the most beautiful woman in the capital," a person was driven to death, and this person was a member of the imperial family. Princess Jiayuan dared to be so bold and reckless, which shows how arrogant she was.

"Miss, it's time for us to go to Yuehua Courtyard."

Seeing that her young mistress was lost in thought, Manhuan spoke up to remind her.

Mingzhuang's thoughts were interrupted, and he stopped thinking about Princess Huirong. He left Cuixuan Residence and headed to Lin's Yuehua Courtyard.

The spring breeze was gentle on her face. Mingzhuang, wearing the purple dress that Lin had "gifted" her, looked like a graceful young girl. She was stunningly beautiful as she met the maids on duty along the way.

Lin was wondering if Shen Mingzhuang would wear that outfit today. When she saw her appear, she was relieved, but her expression changed.