Nangong Jin, who had just been beaten, was bewildered.
A thousand curses were screaming through his mind.
Ming Li, having finished her beating, left as quietly as she had arrived, like a gust of wind, without disturbing a single cloud. Yet, Nangong Jin could still smell a faint, cool fragrance lingering in the air.
Nangong Jin:?!
The technique, the scent – it was all too familiar.
After beating someone, Ming Li returned and enjoyed a good sleep. The next morning, she woke up to find her maid, Cui Zhu, entering with an invitation. "Miss," Cui Zhu announced, "someone from the palace delivered this invitation this morning. The Noble Consort saw that the flowers in the Imperial Garden were blooming beautifully and invited all the young ladies to the palace for a flower viewing."
Ming Li took the invitation and said lightly, "Alright, I understand. You may go now."
After Cui Zhu left, Ming Li sat before her dressing table, gazing at her reflection in the mirror, lost in a silent daze.
What was the female lead planning now?
When Ming Li arrived at the palace gates by carriage, she saw that many noble young ladies had already arrived. The noble ladies noticed another carriage arriving and looked up in the direction of the newcomer. With just a glance, their eyes were captivated.
The person alighting was tall and graceful, possessing a peerless, captivating beauty. Her small, delicate face was adorned with a pair of alluring peach blossom eyes. Her brows were like distant mountains, naturally dark without any makeup, and her lips were like painted vermilion, full and red without application. Her skin was like congealed fat, and her complexion was like peaches and plums. Her dark, ink-like hair was tied up with a purple hairpin, and the purple robe she wore made her appear exceptionally noble and unparalleled.
Ming Li had originally planned to wear a red robe today, but Cui Zhu had vehemently objected, leaving her no choice but to comply.
As Ming Li stepped off the carriage, her excellent hearing picked up the hushed whispers of several noble ladies not far away.
One noble lady asked, "Which young lady is this? I've never seen her before."
Another noble lady replied, "This seems to be the Prime Minister's daughter."
"Is that so? But I distinctly remember the Prime Minister's daughter, Miss Bai, not looking like this."
At this moment, a young lady standing nearby, about fifteen or sixteen years old, with a cute appearance, her hair styled in twin buns, and wearing a pink outfit, spoke up. "This is Miss Bai from the Prime Minister's residence. I remember meeting her at my grandmother's birthday banquet when I was younger. However, I feel like she's changed somehow."
Ming Li: ... Of course, she's changed. After all, she's not the real Bai Ming Li.
Ming Li's gaze suddenly shifted towards the palace entrance. She saw someone dressed as a eunuch, and indeed, it was a eunuch, walking towards them. This must be someone from the female lead's side.
Eunuch An walked up to the group of noble ladies and bowed. "Esteemed young ladies, our Noble Consort has instructed this servant to invite you to the Imperial Garden for a flower viewing. Please follow this servant."
With that, he led the group of noble ladies towards the Imperial Garden.
As they walked, Ming Li saw a figure in bright yellow approaching. It was the male lead, Nangong Jin. Not only Ming Li, but also the group of noble ladies saw him and immediately offered their greetings.
Nangong Jin's gaze swept over them, causing many noble ladies to blush. It wasn't for any other reason than Nangong Jin possessed a face that looked as if it had been meticulously carved by an artist, or rather, a cleaver. When those deep eyes looked at you, it felt as if your heart was no longer your own.
Ming Li: ...?!
When Nangong Jin's gaze met Ming Li's, a strange sensation spread through Nangong Jin's heart.
Ming Li: ...?! Stay calm, stay calm. She calmly averted her gaze. After all, Nangong Jin didn't know it was her who had beaten him.
As Ming Li brushed past Nangong Jin, he suddenly caught a faint, elusive cool fragrance. Nangong Jin found it very familiar, but he couldn't recall where he had smelled it before. Thus, Nangong Jin failed to recognize the person he had been searching for, yet couldn't find.