"Wan’er, why are you staring at Young Lady Pei so intently?" Princess Qing noticed her cousin’s persistent gaze, feeling it was indeed rude, and gently reminded her.
"Cousin, her outfit..."
Princess Qing imdiately understood, "You didn’t see wrong. That outfit was part of the tributes sent from another country at the beginning of the year, only about a dozen bolts in total. Besides the Empress and Consort Zhang, and the Grand Princess each receiving a few, the rest were rewarded to ministers of great rit. Heir Pei must be one of them."
Princess Qing recognized it at first glance. Although the color of the clothes was dim, the fabric’s texture was undeniably superb. The feeling of wearing it could not be matched by many flamboyant clothes.
However, this type of fabric color was extrely demanding on the wearer. Generally, people couldn’t manage it, and instead, it gave the impression that the clothes outshined the person.
Young Lady Pei, although lacking the aura of the Empress and Consorts, unexpectedly carried off the outfit style efficiently. It must be said that her own excellent qualities allowed her to do so.
Princess Qing’s tone was filled with envy. After all, which woman doesn’t want to own rare and precious things? But not all won have that destiny because, first and foremost, you need an outstanding husband.
Even Princess Qing was envious, not to ntion Tao Wan, a re orphan who just by marrying into a high family, could enjoy such treatnt... Her determination to find the best partner beca even stronger, so that what she wears and uses in the future would be sothing others can only dream of.
Indeed, speaking of what she wears and uses, look at the bracelet on Qu Fulan’s hand and the hairpin on her head. Soone inexperienced might not notice anything special, but a connoisseur would imdiately know they were of superior quality, and among the noblewon here, who wasn’t sharp-eyed?
Qu Fulan was aware of being scrutinized, but it was all within an acceptable range, except for that Miss Yu. She looked a bit too many tis, with an indescribable look in her eyes.
Initially, Qu Fulan didn’t pay attention to her, but her gaze was too obvious to ignore. She learned her surna was Yu from others calling her na.
Faced with such a borderline invasive scrutiny, Qu Fulan only pretended to unintentionally make eye contact and then gave a slight smile, conveying everything unspoken, hoping the other would restrain herself a bit.
But it didn’t deter the other from staring more, with her gaze becoming even stranger.
Taking advantage of the opportunity to change clothes after the al, Qu Fulan asked the maids beside her, "Do you know the Miss Yu who kept staring at at the banquet?"
Qu Fulan asked casually, not expecting to get any useful answers from the two maids.
Unexpectedly, the two maids actually knew.
"The Pei Family and the Yu Family were once betrothed in a pre-arranged marriage set when the old master was still alive, but later on..."
Through their account, Qu Fulan learned the whole story.
Later, so things happened to the Pei Family, going through a very difficult period and falling to rock bottom, so the Yu Family imdiately broke off the engagent.
At that ti, Heir Pei was only seven years old and personally annulled the engagent.
No one could have foreseen that this seven-year-old boy would, in the following years, turn the Pei Family into the most prominent and powerful presence in the Capital City.
Many noble families tried to curry favor but couldn’t manage.
The Yu Family naturally regretted it deeply, trying every conceivable way to restore the marriage agreent.
Qu Fulan rembered that when she was a maidservant by the elder lady’s side, delivering dicine once, she overheard the Second Madam discussing with the elder lady the matter of betrothal for the eldest young master, and it seed they ntioned the Yu family’s situation. She vaguely recalled parts of the conversation.
— Actually, while investigating the situation of the ladies from various families, the Yu Family sent a matchmaker to try to establish a relationship with us.
— How did you handle it?
— I declined it, but still ca to report to Mother.
— It’s good that you rejected them. In the future, you don’t need to ntion anything regarding the Yu Family. Whether they live or die, it’s none of our concern.
...
"Young Madam does not need to bother with the Yu Family. In the past, they turned hostile without a second thought, angering the old master to death, and the elder lady also detests them to death. Yet, the Yu Family shalessly hoped to rekindle old ties once the Pei Mansion grew strong, not fearing gossip nor disdain even from us maidservants for such a family."
Another maid followed, saying, "Indeed? It’s said that the Yu Family is now worse off than before. Although they appear prosperous outside, they perhaps can’t sustain it for long. It’s like the phlegm reaches the edge of the mouth and only then gets flicked away, realizing to turn only when the carriage hits the wall—all too late."
These two maids were born into the Pei Mansion, so it’s normal for them to know many things.
Listening to them, Qu Fulan felt a strange feeling well up inside her.
Back when she heard the Second Madam and the elder lady discussing the Yu Family, she didn’t care much because Heir Pei was just a stranger to her then.
Now knowing the truth, she couldn’t help but wonder if the Yu Family hadn’t broken off the engagent, would Heir Pei have married the Yu girl later?
This realization gave her a sowhat unsettling feeling.
She quickly realized her thoughts were inappropriate and made an effort to suppress them tily.
When seeing Miss Yu again, Qu Fulan could no longer be as completely untroubled as before, although she didn’t show it on her face.
Fortunately, the Yu Family didn’t deliberately approach her for conversation, or else she wouldn’t know if she could stay composed.
Speaking of which, when the Yu Family annulled the engagent during Pei Mansion’s decline, though morally wrong, from the Yu Family’s perspective, it was a wise choice. After all, people scatter when the tree falls, and individuals readily push on a collapsing wall. It’s human nature to seek benefits while avoiding harm.
But the Yu Family’s mistake was to propose annulnt when Old Master Pei was gravely wounded. If they had waited for so ti until his condition was stable, it wouldn’t have led to the later situation.
And Old Master Pei’s injury, ntioned in books, was also the main reason for the enmity between the Pei Family and Xiao Family. At that ti, the two families jointly went to war with the Pei Family leading and the Xiao Family providing backup. In the end, the Xiao Family’s troops did not arrive for rescue as agreed, resulting in severe loss for the Pei Mansion and serious injury to Old Master Pei.
After being barely rescued, he was still angered to death, making it sothing unbearable for anyone.
The Yu Family even had the audacity to hope for reconciliation; it’s indeed too shaless.
In such gatherings of married won, there are always a few indiscreet ones. Knowing about the Yu and Pei Families, they brought it up as a joke.
"Speaking of which, back then, almost, the Pei Mansion and Yu Mansion would have been relatives by marriage."
These words ca out, making all three parties look unhappy.
Qu Fulan felt irked again.
The Yu Family’s expression was also unpleasant.
Princess Qing, serving as the hostess, didn’t look good either. Being young, she didn’t know how to smooth over the situation imdiately.
It was another lady who spoke up to diate, "Currently, the Yu Family has intentions to marry into the Ruan Family. Why bring up old matters? Let’s talk about sothing else."
The topic opened naturally finds soone willing to follow the lead, "Really? The Yu Family wants to marry into the Ruan Family?"
Mr. Ruan, being the Assistant Minister of Rites, though not comparable to the Pei Family, is a legitimate fourth-grade official. If the Yu Family can form such an alliance, it’s considered climbing upwards.
Qu Fulan glanced at Miss Yu, so they are already looking for potential in-laws, yet she keeps staring at ?
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