The princess's residence has a majestic and solemn vermilion gate, with door knockers made of pure gold, exuding ultimate luxury.
The guards did not enter through the main gate, but instead led Jin Mudan in through a side gate.
Once you cross that threshold, you'll be greeted by the meticulously arranged scenery inside the mansion.
The winding path paved with bluestone is flanked by neatly trimmed flowerbeds. Even though it had just snowed yesterday, the Princess's Mansion was still lush and green.
In the center of the courtyard, a small pond ripples with clear water, with artificial hills piled up in the water and wisps of mist rising from it, creating a scene like a fairyland.
The buildings in the mansion were arranged in a well-organized manner, with upturned eaves, carved beams and painted rafters, making it magnificent and grand. Princess Qinghe was indeed the most favored.
However, at this moment, Jin Mudan had no interest in appreciating the scenery of the princess's residence. Following the guards through the long corridor and several archways, she finally arrived at the greenhouse where the princess was.
The spring chill lingered, and thick cotton curtains still hung on the doors of the greenhouse. Through the curtains, Jin Mudan could hear the laughter and chatter of young men and women inside.
One of the old women lifted the curtain and gave her a rough shove, making her look quite disheveled.
Jin Mudan staggered in, and everyone inside stopped talking and laughing.
"Princess, is this young lady also your guest?"
In the center of the greenhouse sat a woman dressed in fine clothes, radiant with beauty.
The woman wore a tasseled skirt woven with gold and silver threads depicting a hundred birds paying homage to the phoenix, and a hairpin adorned with cloisonné butterfly patterns. She was elegant, noble, and imposing.
Jin Mudan looked at her, a flash of hatred and fear in her eyes.
"This humble woman greets Your Highness the Princess."
Jin Mudan wore a simple silk dress, her hair ornaments trembling slightly, her face rosy and her cheeks flushed. She bowed gracefully, exuding tranquility and elegance.
"Miss Peony, please get up quickly."
Chu Qinghe stared at Jin Mudan's straight and slender legs, her eyes filled with jealousy. This bitch is really lucky.
I never expected that I could stand up miraculously after breaking my leg.
"Miss Peony, there's no need to be nervous."
"Today, I invited my brothers and sisters to the manor to compose poems and paint, but it was rather dull, so I invited Miss Peony to liven things up."
"I have heard that Miss Peony was once the most beautiful courtesan in the Hundred Flowers Courtyard, and she is proficient in all the arts, especially her dance, which captivated the world."
"How about today, Miss Peony, would you be willing to perform a dance for this princess?"
As soon as Chu Qinghe finished speaking, the discussions in the greenhouse began incessantly.
"Oh, so she's a prostitute. What bad luck."
"Yes, how could a princess associate with such a lowly and filthy woman?"
"A prostitute dares to come to the princess's residence? Doesn't she fear defiling this precious place?"
"Your Highness, have you seen this Peony Maiden at the Courtyard of Beauties?"
"Yes, you are a regular at Qunfangyuan."
"Cough cough cough, don't talk nonsense. This young master is a man of integrity and never goes to such filthy places."
Jin Mudan stood there, her face turning pale and then red, like a clown who had been stripped naked, surrounded by malicious gossip and pointing fingers.
"What, Miss Peony, are you unwilling to dance for this princess?"
Jin Mudan knelt down again, this time more carefully than before. Her legs had only just recovered, and it wasn't advisable for her to do too many squatting and kneeling movements.
"Please forgive me, Your Highness. It is not that I am unwilling, but my leg was injured a few days ago and I am still recovering. It is not appropriate for me to dance."
"Oh, you hurt your leg?"
"How were you injured?" Chu Qinghe asked knowingly.
Jin Mudan suppressed her resentment: "Injured in a fall?"
"Did you get hurt in the fall?"
"How come I heard that it was Miss Peony who seduced someone else's husband and had her leg broken?"
Jin Mudan knelt on the ground, trembling with anger. However, due to her lowly status, she could only silently endure the humiliation.
Everyone finally understood: this girl, Peony, was not the princess's friend, but rather someone the princess was deliberately making things difficult for.
As a result, the crowd began to discuss the matter even more freely.
"How shameless! She actually seduced someone else's husband."
"Judging by her looks, she's obviously a slut."
Several men nearby whispered lewd remarks: "She's the most beautiful courtesan."
What happened to the courtesan?
"The most beautiful courtesan is the most slutty and wanton of all the prostitutes; she's been used and abused by men for ages..."
Jin Mudan never knew that men could be so sarcastic.
Chu Qinghe had heard enough of the discussion and said with a smile, "Sometimes rumors shouldn't be taken seriously."
"If Miss Peony's legs were really broken, she wouldn't be able to stand up right now."
"Since Miss Peony's leg is alright, let's jump. Let's not spoil everyone's fun."
"If you don't want to dance, then this princess will ask your good sister to dance for you. I just wonder how good Miss Su's dancing skills are?"
Jin Mudan trembled with fright. This Princess Qinghe was vicious and willful; she couldn't let Jiaojiao be implicated.
"Peony wouldn't dare spoil the fun, but Peony's leg is indeed injured. If the dance isn't good, please don't blame me, Princess."
"No, this princess is not such an unreasonable person."
"Let's begin."
"Wait, bring up the reward money that I prepared for Miss Peony. I am never a stingy person."
"yes."
Soon, a palace maid carried a plate of glittering gold beads into the warm room.
"Go and give it to the peony maiden."
The palace maid carried the tray to the side of the golden peony. Just as she was about to reach out to take it, the maid suddenly let go of the tray, and the small beads on the tray rolled all over the ground with a clatter.
Only then did everyone realize that the tray contained not golden beans, but strange nails scattered on the ground, with the tips pointing upwards.
If Su Yujiao were present, she would know that this thing is called a thumbtack in later generations.
"How can you be so clumsy? You can't even hold a plate properly?"
"This servant deserves to die, please forgive me, Your Highness."
"Alright, I'm in a good mood today, and I don't want to get angry."
"You may leave."
"Thank you, Princess."
Immediately afterwards, Chu Qinghe said with a smile, "Miss Peony, let's start dancing, so as not to waste everyone's time."
Jin Mudan looked at the thumbtacks on the ground, her face pale and restrained, but she dared not disobey.
The people around them exchanged glances, all looking on with expressions of anticipation for a good show.
I wonder what this Peony girl did to offend the princess, that she would be so harassed by the princess?
The princess just said that she seduced someone else's husband. Could it be that she seduced Prince Consort Mo?
Jin Mudan took a deep breath, the music started, and she began to dance gracefully, her movements light and fluid, every turn and leap perfectly timed.
Her arms drew graceful arcs in the air, and her waist seemed boneless.
She dances with focused concentration, as if her body is radiating light, instantly drawing everyone's attention.
Those spoiled young men initially looked at her with mocking and humiliating eyes, but as she danced gracefully and charmingly, their gazes gradually turned to admiration and desire to possess her.
The other women looked on with envy—envy of her beauty, her dancing skills, her great figure…
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