Rejected Beauty Practices the Villain Play
Chapter 146: Playmate

Chapter 146: Chapter 146: Playmate

"Princess Huazhen, your hairpin is truly beautiful. If it were inlaid with a turquoise stone, it would complement your complexion even more." Fengyu’s voice flowed softly with the spring breeze.

Feng Shu let out a discreet sigh of relief and gave Chen Lin a subtle glance. Chen Lin sheathed his sword as Feng Shu raised her voice, saying, "Your Highness, Princess, this humble woman Feng Shu daringly requests an audience."

Huazhen turned her head and let out a whistle, causing the white tiger to halt and fix its gaze on Feng Shu and her group. Feng Shu walked past the ferocious tiger without so much as a glance, as if it didn’t exist. Yet Chen Lin and Zhang Da grew more cautious, while Qiuxiang, in fright, gripped Chunlu’s wrist tightly, taking timid steps behind her, too scared to look at the tiger.

Huazhen and Fengyu were seated in the pavilion, conversing joyfully. When Huazhen saw Feng Shu leading a large entourage into the courtyard, followed by guards from the Princess Mansion, a fleeting look of displeasure crossed her eyes. Feng Shu, unchanged after ten years, still acted recklessly, as though she had no regard for anyone. "Feng Shu, you truly are bold beyond measure, daring to barge into the Princess Mansion without a second thought."

"Ayu has only just recovered from her severe injuries; her body is weak. She has been staying at the Princess Mansion for some time, and I have been deeply worried. If I have offended Your Highness in any way, I seek your forgiveness." Though she spoke apologetically, Feng Shu’s gaze was fixed on Fengyu, who shook her head lightly.

Since the Feng Family arrived in Shangjing, Feng Shu had attended two palace banquets but had not once encountered Princess Huazhen. It had been ten years since they last met, though Princess Huazhen had once summoned her, but Feng Shu had gone to Jiangnan instead.

Princess Huazhen had been born and raised in Ningzhou, possessing the passion and boldness typical of the women from Ningzhou. In their youth, she and Feng Shu had similar temperaments and were on exceptionally good terms. Huazhen would often accompany Feng Shu to practice horse-riding and archery, forming an inseparable bond.

Yet, ten years had passed in the blink of an eye. They had grown up, and with that came distance.

Feng Shu properly greeted her old companion, a smile as gentle as the spring breeze. "Huazhen, it’s been such a long time. How have you been?"

Her smile seemed to pull both of them back to the scorching summers of Ningzhou, where they were two carefree young women riding horses across the grasslands. Ten years of time seemed to dissolve, leaving no trace of distance or estrangement.

Huazhen laughed heartily and embraced Feng Shu. "Indeed, it has been too long. Have you been well?"

"A year ago, you summoned me to the palace, but I was far away in Jiangnan at the time. After returning to Shangjing, I had planned to visit you but heard that you had accompanied the Empress to Mohe for the summer. By the time you returned, I had departed for Jiangnan again. It seems meeting face-to-face is no easy feat." Feng Shu returned the embrace with a smile. "I’ve been fine—how about you?"

The two exchanged smiles. "Today, I saw little Ayu on the street and, on a whim, decided to bring her to the Princess Mansion for a visit. I hope you don’t misunderstand. She and I were just having a pleasant conversation," Huazhen said casually.

Fengyu smiled sweetly, her demeanor both obedient and endearing. "Indeed, that’s correct."

Feng Shu shook her head in mild self-rebuke. "Ayu once caused a commotion at a palace banquet, and just days ago, in her naivety, she extorted ten thousand silver taels from Prince Kang. It’s my own fault for being overly suspicious and misunderstanding Your Highness. To make amends, I’ve arranged a banquet at Wangjiang Restaurant. Would Your Highness honor us with your presence?"

"An invitation from Shu’er? Such kindness is hard to refuse. I shall graciously accept," Princess Huazhen replied, adopting a similarly conciliatory tone. She added with a hint of exasperation, "As for the ten thousand silver taels, debts must be repaid—this is only natural. Little Ayu, you needn’t dwell on it further; what’s past is past."

"It was my foolishness that put my sisters in a difficult position," Fengyu interjected. Watching the two women exchange playful banter like old friends, she couldn’t help but beam with delight.

Sisters had an uncanny ability; no matter what they truly thought of someone, they could make others feel as if they were basking in a warm spring breeze, as if their affection were genuine and wholehearted.

Princess Huazhen, for her part, bore her no ill will. Upon hearing that Fengyu was considering inviting a live-in son-in-law, she even inquired about the qualities Fengyu desired in a suitor. When Fengyu candidly listed her requirements, Princess Huazhen found it amusing and even suggested several candidates.

These candidates were ones Fengyu had already vetted and found acceptable according to her standards.

In this regard, the Princess could be considered rather warm-hearted.

Fengyu had no desire to become enemies with Princess Huazhen and skillfully struck a balance—showing weakness when appropriate, giving compliments when needed, and invoking old memories when opportune. Soon enough, she and Huazhen were happily engaged in conversation.

Feng Shu, who had braced herself for potential conflict with Princess Huazhen, found the situation unfolding far more smoothly than expected. She no longer needed to assume a confrontational stance. As the conversation turned to various amusing anecdotes, they even broached the subject of Feng Wan’s impending marriage to Prince Duan.

Princess Huazhen admitted she hadn’t anticipated Feng Wan marrying Prince Duan. Although she felt the Feng Family’s status was a little beneath what might be expected for such a union, she tactfully refrained from voicing this thought in front of Feng Shu. Their conversation remained warm and amiable. Feng Shu invited Princess Huazhen to join a dinner at Wangjiang Restaurant that evening, promising to bring Feng Wan along.

On a spur of a thought, Princess Huazhen said, "Then I’ll invite my two older brothers and the third one to join us. Shu’er, you wouldn’t mind, would you?"

Feng Shu was momentarily taken aback but quickly composed herself. "The Crown Prince is weighed down with state affairs—we shouldn’t disturb him, should we?"

"True enough. In that case, I’ll just ask the second and third brothers. We’ll have a good get-together."

Feng Shu’s smile never faded. "That sounds perfect!"

With the plans settled, Feng Shu took her leave with Fengyu. As they turned to go, the smile on Feng Shu’s face dimmed slightly. Similarly, behind her, the smile on Princess Huazhen’s face faded as her gaze narrowed while watching the sisters’ departing figures.

"Your Highness, Miss Feng entered the Princess Mansion without notifying anyone. By law, such an offense warrants execution," a guard from the Princess Mansion said in a low, grave voice. He also silently blamed himself for failing to stop her, having been intimidated by a mere token and letting her stroll in freely.

"Execution? Who would dare?" Princess Huazhen replied with a cold laugh. "My mother is being suffocated within the palace by Consort Xie, with the position of Empress rendered practically meaningless. I want to marry Xie Xun, yet he defied the imperial decree in open court, disregarding my reputation entirely. Now even Feng Shu, not yet a member of the Marquis Mansion, brandishes her so-called authority and treats my Princess Mansion like it’s beneath notice. Who would dare lay a hand on someone connected to Marquis Zhenbei’s household?"

She dared to abduct Fengyu in broad daylight but did not dare truly harm Feng Shu.

Xie Zhang, the eldest son of Marquis Zhenbei, had been raised as the Princely Heir from a young age. With his stately bearing and noble demeanor, he was the man countless noblewomen dreamed of marrying—even without the impressive heritage of the Marquis Mansion. Yet Xie Zhang’s loyalty to his betrothed was steadfast, and he never so much as glanced at another.

When Feng Shu had first arrived in Shangjing, during a flower-viewing banquet hosted by Princess Ning Ru, she had been deliberately pushed into the lake by Princess Fu’an, the eldest legitimate granddaughter of Duke Rong Mansion. The intention had been to have Feng Shu compromised by a man rescuing her. However, Chen Lin intervened, swiftly dispatching the man who leapt into the water and shielding Feng Shu instead.

Princess Fu’an had been publicly kicked into the lake by Marchioness Zhenbei in response. The Marchioness had even commanded that no one was to save her, leaving Princess Fu’an to soak in freezing water for an hour until she lost consciousness. On top of that, the palace issued an edict admonishing Duke Rong Mansion to discipline their descendants, resulting in Princess Fu’an being placed under house arrest for a year and hastily married off. From then on, no one dared to plot against Feng Shu.

The Empress had once expressed regret over this outcome. If Feng Shu had been "rescued" by another man and had her reputation ruined, it would have thrown her engagement into turmoil—exactly as the Empress desired. Who would have thought Marchioness Zhenbei would take such an unyielding stance?

Duke Rong Mansion, a noble house with hereditary first-rank titles, cared little even for the authority of Marquis Zhenbei Mansion.

But with Xie Zhang backing Feng Shu, why would she fear storming into the Princess Mansion?

"Forget it. For the sake of old friendships, I won’t hold her recklessness against her," Princess Huazhen said with a faint smile. Truthfully, her mind wasn’t set on targeting Feng Shu, nor did she wish to escalate tensions unnecessarily. She simply wasn’t inclined to turn this into a confrontation.

After all, if she ever got her wish to marry into the Marquis Mansion, she would one day have to address Feng Shu as "sister-in-law."