Princess An Le was His Majesty's most beloved eldest daughter. Seven years ago, she was married to the son of an aristocratic family with the surname Wang. The husband and wife were inseparable for a period of time. Later on, Prince Consort Wang actually secretly kept a mistress outside. This angered Princess An Le so much that she whipped him with a horsewhip and chased him out of the princess's residence.
At that time, this matter was known by the entire city. In the end, Prince Consort Wang fell from his horse and died. There was once a person who said that the cause of Prince Consort Wang's death was suspicious. However, no one could find any evidence. Furthermore, after the Wang family fell into decline, no one dared to mention this matter again. At most, they would secretly sigh behind his back. However, who asked Prince Consort Wang to be so insensible? Even after marrying the princess, he still dared to fool around outside. This was simply seeking his own death.
After Prince Consort Wang died, Princess An Le was also unwilling to remarry. She raised a group of performers and singers to drink and make merry at the villa. Otherwise, she would invite the noble ladies of the capital to play on horseback. She could be considered one of the representatives of the capital's playboys and misses.
This time, Princess An Le held a chrysanthemum banquet. Almost all the noble ladies who were invited went to the banquet. Soon, the villa became lively.
"Have you seen Ban Xiangjun?"
"No, she probably won't be coming today."
"Why?"
"I heard that Shen Tanhua went to Marquis Jing Ting's residence to break off the engagement a few days ago. On that day, Shen Tanhua was beaten out by Marquis Jing Ting. Many people saw it."
The noble ladies were usually idle and had nothing to do. When they gathered together, it was inevitable that they would gossip about their respective families. Ban Xiangjun's engagement was broken off again. This was the current hot topic.
"If I were her, I wouldn't have the face to come out and join in the fun." Xie Qilin's younger sister, Xie Wanyu, used a handkerchief to gently wipe the corner of her mouth. She whispered to her companion beside her, "That family of absurd people. Whoever dares to marry into this family will be unlucky."
Her companion, Shi Feixian, was the granddaughter of the current Minister of the Right. Not only was she extraordinarily beautiful, she was also a famous talented lady in the capital. Even the Empress Dowager had personally praised her.
Shi Feixian had a cold personality. There were not many people who could be on good terms with her. Xie Wanyu was one of them. She didn't like Ban Xiangjun's flamboyant personality. Thus, when she heard Xie Wanyu mention her, she frowned slightly and said, "Forget it. It's not a good thing for a girl like her to have her engagement broken off three times. Let's not talk about it."
"Even if we don't talk about it, others will still talk about it." Xie Wanyu thought of her brother. Twisting her handkerchief in her hands, she said, "If she hadn't hindered my brother, my brother wouldn't have injured his eye."
There were very few precedents for officials in the imperial court to use disabled eyes. Now that her brother had lost an eye, not only could he no longer be an official in the imperial court, even his marriage would be demoted. Now that her mother was at home every day, she couldn't stand the oppressive atmosphere at home anymore. That was why she had escaped to get some fresh air.
Everyone loved to vent their anger on others. Xie Wanyu didn't care if those rumors were true or false. In any case, she didn't like Ban Xiangjun's arrogant attitude. After complaining about Ban Xiangjun, her mood became much better.
Shi Feixian listened quietly and didn't say anything. Naturally, she didn't mention that on the day of Xie Qilin's accident, he had wanted to give her a book of poems.
As Ban Xiangjun got off the carriage, the maids and senior servants guarding the entrance of the villa all went up to welcome her. No matter how those noble ladies looked at this Xiang Jun. As servants, they had to serve this master well. Who asked her to have a pretty face and a pleasant mouth? Who asked her to be able to coax the Empress Dowager and the Emperor into liking her?
"Greetings, Xiang Jun. You're finally here. The Princess is waiting in the inner courtyard. This servant will lead the way for you."
Ban Xiangjun loved it when others fawned over her. She immediately revealed a bright smile and took out a few silver peanuts from her pouch. She threw them to the maid who said she would lead the way for her. "Let's go. Sister An Le's chrysanthemums have always been prettier than the others. How can I not come?"
"Thank you, Xiang Jun." The smile on the maid's face became even brighter. "Walk this way. Be careful of the steps under your feet."
"So boring." Princess An Le flicked the jade beads on the plate. Her gaze swept across the elegant and noble young ladies in the courtyard. She turned to the mama beside her. "Is Lao Ai not here yet?"
"Princess, Xiang Jun. Ban Xiangjun hasn't arrived today." The mama recalled the rumors that had been going around the capital in the past few days. She did not dare to reveal them in front of the Princess.
"He's probably on his way." As the master and servant spoke, the sound of women chatting and laughing suddenly came from outside. A woman dressed in a gorgeous palace dress walked over with a beauty on her left hand and a beauty on her right.
"I was wondering who was causing such a ruckus. Other than her, there's no one else." The smile on Princess An Le's face instantly became brighter. She stood up and walked towards the person who had come. "Everything was fine. You came to tease my girl again. When the time comes, you'll make them call you Xiang Jun. Ban Xiangjun again and again. You'll forget about me."
"Jiejie." Ban Yun let go of the beauty in her hands. She was about to bow to Princess An Le when Princess An Le grabbed her. "Don't. There are many people bowing to me. I won't miss you."
"We haven't seen each other for half a month. I have to pretend." Ban Yun and Princess An Le walked into the garden hand in hand. As soon as they stepped in, they felt countless gazes land on them. She adjusted the hair ornament on her head and flashed a charming smile at the noble ladies.
Since they wanted to see her, she would let them see as much as they wanted.
Her dress today was made of tribute satin. Her jade pendant was made of blood-red jade that could not be bought even if one had money. From head to toe, there was nothing that was not exquisite. She had dressed up meticulously for half a day. If no one saw her, how disappointing would it be?
Xie Wanyu's face almost contorted when she saw how arrogant she was. One of her brother's eyes was damaged, but Ban Yun's face was glowing with health. She could not swallow the anger in her heart no matter what.
She finally understood why her mother liked to curse some women as sluts when no one was around. It was because these two words could vent the anger in her heart.
What Princess Anle did not lack the least were beauties, wine, and delicacies. The entire courtyard was filled with noble ladies. They listened to the music played by the musicians while reciting poems and drawing pictures. It was a very enjoyable experience. Ban Yun had been ignorant and incompetent since she was young. She was not good at reciting poems or drawing pictures. Only her mouth was exceptionally crafty. She could tell which food was old and which was new just by tasting it.
"This wine was sent here by the people in the manor. How does it taste?" Princess Anle asked Ban Yun to taste the fruit wine she had just obtained.
"It's not bad." Ban Yun moved her head close to Princess Anle's ear and whispered, "Did you see that Xie Wanyu? When she stared at me, her eyeballs were about to fall out."
"What, you two can't play together?" Princess Anle was seven years older than Ban Yun. To her, she had practically watched Ban Yun grow up. So naturally, she was more inclined towards Ban Yun.
"How can I play with them?" Ban Yun took a sip of the fruit wine and said lazily, "They like to recite poems and draw pictures. They like to be gentle and pleasant. It's not like you don't know when I've liked to study. "
"Don't complain. If Xie Qilin hadn't eloped with someone, she would have become your sister-in-law."
"Who wants to marry a man with an eye disease?" Ban Yun snorted. He didn't marry her, a proper marquis's manor lord, but eloped with a prostitute from a brothel. This made her lose all her face. "Fortunately, he eloped back then. Otherwise, I would have to spend the rest of my life guarding a playboy who is half-blind."
She once had a good impression of Xie Qilin. After all, he was good-looking and knew how to make people happy. At that time, she was still young and ignorant, so she asked her parents to agree to his proposal.
Later, she realized that believing a man's mouth was not as good as believing a ghost in broad daylight. Back then, when he had proposed, he had been considerate and gentle. Later, when he had eloped with someone, he had put on an expression as if he was ignorant back then and had only found his true love now.
And that Xie Wanyu. Her brother had broken off the engagement and embarrassed her. Now, she still had the nerve to say that her eyes were not her eyes, and her nose was not her nose. Wasn't she sick in the head?
"Xiangjun Ban, everyone is writing poems for fun. Why don't you come?" Xie Wanyu smiled and waved her handkerchief at her. "Come here."
"Tsk." Ban Li could not be bothered with Xie Wanyu's feigned friendliness. She turned her head away and continued to chat with Princess Anle.
Xie Wanyu was a little embarrassed that she did not give Xie Wanyu any face. She raised her head to meet the gazes of the noble ladies and forced a smile. "Perhaps Xiangjun Ban still has some misunderstandings about our family."
Misunderstandings? What misunderstandings?
Naturally, it was about the Xie Family breaking off the engagement.
Although women were more comfortable now than in the previous dynasty, it was still an era where men were superior to women. Even if it was the man's fault for breaking off the engagement, it still had a huge impact on the woman's reputation.
If you were good, why would the other family break off the engagement? Since the man insisted on breaking off the engagement, there must be something wrong with the woman.
Originally, the Xie Family had done something unkind. However, due to the Ban Family's hedonistic style, as well as Ban Li's never keeping a low profile, many noble ladies tacitly accepted Xie Wanyu's words.
What was the use of being beautiful? The Second Son of the Xie Family still did not want her.
This thought made many noble ladies happy. They felt a sense of superiority over Ban Li. However, the reality was that they did not dare to be like Ban Li, who would throw people's faces when they were unhappy and reward people with gold and silver when they were happy. They also did not dress extravagantly like Ban Li.
This was not right. As a woman, posture and inner qualities were more important. Women like Ban Li were too shallow and too vulgar. They were simply a disgrace to their families.
"What's the matter with that Shen Yu?" Princess Anle frowned. "Wasn't he the one who cried and begged to marry you?"
"Who cares what happened to him." Ban Li picked up a piece of fruit with a silver fork and put it into her mouth. Her red and moist lips were like a ripe peach. Princess Anle could not help but reach out to poke them.
"If you want to back off, then back off. Other than his face, there's nothing else about him that I like." Ban Li put down her silver fork and blinked her beautiful eyes. She remembered that Shen Yu in her dream did not end up well either. His face was tattooed and he was banished to the border.
"Since you like good-looking men so much, why don't you marry Rong Xia?" Princess Anle could not help but laugh. "In the entire capital, there's no man more good-looking than him."
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Translator : adDR
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