“Mr. Qu, the opera group today seems decent. Let them make a performance in my mansion a few days later,” Pei Yuanjun said lazily, pointing at the coquettish female performer with delicate makeup.

Qu Zhizhen hurriedly bowed to him, “My lord, I’m afraid I can’t decide for them. This opera group has been staying in the Crown Prince’s Mansion… It’s not up to me if they agree to arrange the performance or not.”

“Do you mean I’m less important than you?” Pei Yuanjun sneered, “Just deliver the message to the group owner. I don’t care if they agree or not!”

Qu Zhizhen kept nodding in a cold sweat, “Yes… Yes. The message will be well delivered to them, my lord.”

He realized that even the Crown Prince would agree to any request from Lord Yun. Whether the opera group belonged to the Crown Prince or even the emperor, as long as Lord Yun wanted to watch their performance, they had to agree anyway.

Pei Yuanjun had done his job of showing up in public, so he didn’t stay any longer. After he had a brief talk with Qu Zhizhen, he stood up and got ready to leave.

Qu Moying stood up with him, same as Qu Zhizhen, who was prepared to walk them out.

Lord Jing wanted to leave with them but was rejected by Pei Yuanjun. Then, accompanied by Qu Zhizhen, Pei Yuanjun swaggered out of the mansion with Qu Moying.

After they left, Lord Jing followed an old maid and left as well…

However, Pei Yuanjun stopped halfway and rested in a vacant yard as Qu Zhizhen waited for him outside nervously. After he finished a cup of tea, Lord Yun finally left with his men. Qu Zhizhen wasn’t relieved until he walked Lord Yun to the entrance and watched his carriage leave.

Qu Moying waited until Qu Zhizhen accompanied Pei Yuanjun to leave, then she took off the veiled hat, removed her lip makeup, and returned to the mansion with Yu Dong, who had been waiting for her in the yard.

It was quiet since all the guests were gathering in the garden to watch the opera performance. Standing outside, Qu Moying overlooked the high stage built far away as she curled up her lips. They made a detour to this place which was quite far from the garden, but the noises of the celebration could still be heard here.

The melodic, affectionate singing from the female role echoed in the space.

“They are somewhere nearby in front?” Qu Moying asked while observing the path that Yu Dong led her to.

“Yes, they are right in front,” Yu Dong nodded at her.

“Let’s go take a look!” said Qu Moying as her eyes under the veil darkened…

“My older sister left with an old maid?” Duan Jinxiang asked in surprise. “I never heard of anyone from the Qu’s Family who gets alone with her. Let’s go. I want to check on her.”

“Second Lady, this is the Mansion of Vice Minister Qu. You’d better not go.” Her maid tried to persuade her not to make any trouble.

“This place is so boring. I might as well go have a look. Who knows what my dear sister will do behind our back?” Duan Jinxiang said with sarcasm. “Mother asked her to marry my cousin, but she seems unwilling to do so. Does she even know her position? How dare she has any expectation as a degraded person!”

The maid next to her lowered her head. She had met the Second Lady’s cousin before, who’s a lecherous man. He was notorious for harassing women. Even though he knew she was his cousin’s private maid, he would still try to flirt with her every time they met. People would all agree that he was a terrible man. If the First Lady really married him, her life would be ruined.

The maid was aware that she should stand by her master’s side, but she could totally understand why the First Lady was unwilling to marry him.

“Second Lady, it’s not appropriate…” the maid muttered.

“Slap!” The young lady hit her face hard. The maid covered her face and knelt down immediately as tears were rolling in her eyes. “Please, Second Lady.”

“Are you my maid or Duan Yuxiang’s maid? You disloyal rat! If you let me hear these words again, I will ask people to beat you to death,” Duan Jinxiang yelled with rage.

Fortunately, they had already left the pavilion, standing in the shadow of a tree. Only a few people noticed them from a distance, but every witness couldn’t help but frown at the scene. Rumors about this Second Lady Duan had existed since long ago, saying that she was a total shrew. It was unbelievable that she didn’t even watch her manner in another family’s mansion. People started to feel bad for her future husband, imagining how much trouble she would bring to her own family.

They couldn’t hear what they said, but even if it was the maid’s fault, she could just wait to punish her after they went back home. It was really unnecessary to make such a scene here.

After being scolded in public, the maid didn’t dare to disobey the lady again. The poor teary-eyed maid stood up silently and led her to the path where the First Lady headed. She saw clearly in which direction Duan Yuxiang went.

At the same time, Duan Yuxiang was striding since she noticed one of her handkerchieves was missing. It was very inappropriate that an unmarried lady lost her private staff. If her stepmother used it to take advantage of her after being informed, she couldn’t imagine how nasty the rumors would be. There were many guests in the Qu’s Mansion today, and anyone could get her handkerchief. If things turned out bad, there would be no way for her to explain it.

She had implicitly asked the servants in the Qu’s Mansion about her missing handkerchief, and they agreed to help her ask around.

The old maid who was showing her the way right now was one of them. She got back to her with the information about someone finding a handkerchief, but she was not sure if it belonged to Lady Duan. The old maid didn’t have the hanky with her since Fourth Lady Qu was the one who found it. Usually, a noble guest like Lady Duan didn’t need to ask about such a small matter by herself, but the old maid only witnessed it from a distance. As a servant, she didn’t dare to bother a lady with such a personal issue. It would be better for First Lady Duan to pay a visit to Fourth Lady Qu in person.

All the female guests knew that Fourth Lady Qu was in poor health and went somewhere to rest.

So, Duan Yuxiang didn’t suspect what the old maid said and followed her all the way to a small pavilion.

The old maid stopped and turned around with a smile, “My lady, since the Fourth Lady is taking a rest now, I’m afraid we can’t bother her. But I’ll call Yu Chun over, who’s the Fourth Lady’s private maid. You can ask her about it.”

“No problem. Thank you, Granny,” Duan Yuxiang agreed politely.

“My lady, please stay here and don’t leave!” said the old maid.

Duan Yuxiang nodded and walked into the pavilion. The pavilion was built next to a lake as over half of it was surrounded by water. It was not the time for lotus leaves to grow yet, but the view was still beautiful with all the willow branches waving in the wind. Compared to the showy lotus blossom in hot summer, the lake in spring revealed a different aura of charm and elegance.

“You, come with me.” The old maid waved her hand at the young maid standing behind Duan Yuxiang, who came with the lady from her family’s mansion.

“What’s the matter?” the young maid froze in confusion.

“Do you see the yard over there? That’s the place where desserts and beverages are prepared. You can go there and bring some tea and snacks back to First Lady Duan. She’s our guest today and should be treated well, or the madam will scold me.” The old maid pointed at one place. “It’s not far away and only takes a few minutes to get there.”

The young maid took a look at that place, making sure it wouldn’t take too long for her to go, and it should be safe for the lady to stay here temporarily. Then she nodded, ready to go.

After the old maid showed the way to the young girl, she bowed to Duan Yuxiang and left.

Lady Duan sat down in the pavilion, leaning on the rail and facing the lake view. This place was quiet, far away from the buzzing crowd. With the gentle breeze touching her face, her mind was finally in peace.

Duan Yuxiang was never good at socializing with other people. Staying alone here made her think about her family affairs and feel upset.

She’d rather die than marry her stepmother’s nephew. Suddenly, her heart was filled with sorrow. She forgot that she was not at her own home and started to wail, burying her face in her arms.

“Tsk, I can’t believe you are crying here. Do you think this place is your own home?” A familiar sarcastic voice came from behind, making Duan Yuxiang startle. She hurriedly wiped her tears and turned back. As expected, she saw her younger sister’s disdainful face.

“Jinxiang, why are you here?” Duan Yuxiang stood up nervously.

“Oh? My dear sister, since you are here, why can’t I be here as well?” Duan Jinxiang looked around arrogantly, “Such a nice place, and it’s far away from people. Sis, are you here for a secret date?”

“Jinxiang, don’t talk nonsense!” Duan Yuxiang’s face turned red with irritation. Her voice was louder than usual.

“Shouldn’t you be more aware than me whether I’m telling the truth or not? You don’t want to show your own sister the husband you found for yourself?” Duan Jinxiang sneered, “Since you think my cousin is not worthy of you, it makes me more curious about your secret dirty paramour!”

The second wife that the Minister of Food and Beverage married didn’t have a decent family background. But after she gave birth to Duan Jinxiang, she absolutely spoiled her daughter. The young girl had been arrogant and pampered at home. Right now, she flew into a rage, and everything in her mind was how to insult her older sister. She totally ignored that they were in someone else’s mansion and just said whatever she wanted, showing her rude nature.

Duan Yuxiang was so furious that she even forgot to fear. She said while trembling, “Jinxiang, this is not what a well-educated lady should say!”

“Sis, you’ve done it already. Why don’t you allow me to say it?” With her mother’s support, Duan Jinxiang could always have the upper hand while arguing with Duan Yuxiang, never showing any respect for her older sister.

“First Lady Duan, the Fourth Lady invites you over!” A voice suddenly came from behind and broke the tension between the two sisters.

Both of them turned around and saw a maid standing outside of the pavilion, wearing the same light red coat as all the other maids in the Qu’s Mansion.

“Okay, I’ll be right there!” Duan Yuxiang said hurriedly. The maid’s arrival was a lifesaver for her since all she wanted right now was to get as far as she could from her younger sister.

“Huh, why didn’t the Fourth Lady invite me?” Duan Jinxiang asked rudely and pulled a long face. She didn’t think she needed to show any respect for that useless lady.

“My lady, who are you? Why does the Fourth Lady have to invite you? Which family are you from? Where’s your manner?” Yu Dong questioned her with a stern look on his face.

Apparently, Second Lady Duan said such discourteous words because she looked down on the Fourth Lady.

When Yu Dong served Pei Yuanjun before, even generals who fought on the battlefields would show him some respect, let alone noble ladies who grew up in boudoirs. For him, a shrew-like young lady like Duan Jinxiang was nothing. His sharp glance frightened Duan Jinxiang, and she couldn’t help but take a few steps back.

She had no choice but to watch them leave. When she recovered from the shock, she flew into a rage immediately. She seated herself where Duan Yuxiang sat before and said resentfully, “She’s just an ugly, blind girl given birth by an ex-wife. Does she really think she’s someone important?”

She hated people like Duan Yuxiang the most, those ex-wife’s children. She just felt disgusted seeing their hypocritical, graceful manner.

Duan Jinxiang slapped the rail with anger. She had never been shamed like this before, frightened by a blind girl’s maid. She regretted that she didn’t follow them just now since she doubted Qu Moying would reject her and leave her outside.

She was just a useless one like Duan Yuxiang…

The more she thought about it, the more regretful she felt. She gave a hard slap to the rail again as her body leaned on it. Suddenly, her body lost control, falling forward, and she heard a scream from her maid. With a splash, she fell into the lake…