Wei Yuan felt a hint of confusion.
"Are you sure the Princess has been at the manor all this time?" He stroked his chin, finding it utterly preposterous. If that Fengluan of Quanzhou was indeed Feng Jiu, then she should have been in Yuzhou during this period. Why was she still at the manor?
Furthermore, he distinctly remembered Fengluan not knowing medicine. How had she become a living Buddha capable of miraculous healing after a trip to Yuzhou?
Wei Yuan was utterly perplexed!
Shen Yue nodded, not understanding why Wei Yuan was asking. Nevertheless, he replied with absolute certainty, "Yes, I'm sure. I delivered medicine to Xingyuan Pavilion twice, and she was at the manor. However, there is one peculiar thing, a feeling that the Princess is not quite the same as before."
Wei Yuan hummed and pressed, "How is she different?"
"It's just… she doesn't look as good as before."
Wei Yuan frowned in confusion. Shen Yue set down the herbs in his hand and chose his words carefully, "It's as if the weight of her soul is different. How should I put it? The first time I saw the Princess, I was stunned by her beauty. But the second time, it was as if a fairy had descended to the mortal world, been tainted by the mundane, losing her ethereal aura and gaining a touch of the common."
Wei Yuan: "..."
An excellent and vivid analogy!
So, the Nan Shiying who had been staying at the manor all this time was likely an impostor?
But what about her suddenly acquired medical skills?
Interesting, truly too interesting!
...
After Qin Yurou went mad, she was confined to Linglong Pavilion, guarded by the manor's security, making it impossible for anyone to approach her.
The manor, due to a series of changes, had become increasingly secure. Qin Qiancheng received almost no news, and no one within the manor could relay any information outwards.
Nan Shiying's life during this period had been quite pleasant. She either learned some moves from Xuan Yi or snuck out of the manor to enjoy some good food, while also improving the lives of the Poison Elder and the little rascals.
The only minor inconvenience was that the old man, the Poison Elder, staged the annual drama of taking on disciples and giving jade pendants every few days.
However, such leisurely times were always fleeting. Leaning on a soft couch, she watched the busy Lv Wan and sighed leisurely.
"Your Highness, please stop sighing. You should quickly choose an outfit for the flower appreciation banquet at the palace tomorrow." Lv Wan glared at her, exasperated.
Nan Shiying lazily propped her head with her hand, yawning without any interest. "Just pick any set."
Lv Wan sighed helplessly and chose an outfit she liked best. "Then this one. A wide-sleeved skirt in blue with floral patterns."
Nan Shiying indifferently hummed, "Alright, this one."
"What about the jewelry? With the blue floral pattern, would this glazed hairpin match?" Lv Wan excitedly tried to pair them, but Nan Shiying merely nodded, murmuring "Yes, yes, yes, good, good," her mind already preoccupied with the people she would meet at the flower banquet tomorrow.
...
The next morning, Lv Wan helped Nan Shiying wash and change. It was Nan Shiying's first time attending a palace banquet, and Lv Wan was more nervous than she was. She incessantly cautioned, "Your Highness, this palace banquet is held in Noble Consort Zou's Lilan Palace. Those invited are all family members of important court officials. Among them, many will surely want to see you make a fool of yourself. You must be extremely careful not to be schemed against by those vile individuals."
Nan Shiying felt as if thousands of flies were buzzing in her ears. She placed a hand on Lv Wan's head, stopping her endless nagging. "Alright, alright. Aren't you coming with me? Why are you rambling now?"
Seeing her Princess's annoyed expression, Lv Wan mumbled softly, "This servant is just afraid you'll be careless."
Nan Shiying let out a snort and tapped Lv Wan's head with her finger. "Worrying for nothing."
Just then, Bai Zhi's voice urged from outside the door, "Your Highness, the carriage is ready and waiting outside."
Lv Wan quickened her movements. Nan Shiying, however, lazily raised her gaze, her voice carrying a hint of sharpness. "Don't rush. Wait."
Bai Zhi stuck out her tongue and said, "Understood, Your Highness!"
...
The Imperial Palace, Lilan Palace.
Madams and young ladies from various manors arrived early for the banquet.
"Madam Li."
"Madam Wang..."
"Miss Liu..."
The madams gathered, chatting about family matters. The young ladies from various manors also congregated with their familiar girlfriends.
Led by Qin Yushan, the young ladies from military families huddled together.
On the side of the civil officials' daughters, since the Prime Minister's daughter, Nan Yuan'er, had not yet arrived, they gathered in twos and threes, whispering.
"Did you hear? The Princess will also be here today."
"Who? That one who usurped the nest, the 'madam' who was confined to her residence as soon as she entered the manor? She's coming? She still has the nerve to come?"
"Hmph, who says not? I really don't know what she's thinking, coming here for? To embarrass herself?"
"If you ask me, the Prince might as well have kept her confined to the manor forever. Why let her out? Just watch, there will be quite a show later."
"Indeed, the Regent Prince's lifelong reputation is about to be ruined by this Princess. It's truly pathetic!"
Within Lilan Palace, cold sarcasm and laughter filled the air. Whether it was the daughters of civil officials, military officials, or the madams of various manors, the topic of conversation now revolved around Nan Shiying. This Regent Princess, who had been confined as soon as she entered the manor and had not attended any banquets in the past three months, was finally making an appearance. Everyone was eager to see what she was made of.
"Yushan, where is your sister?"
Upon hearing that Nan Shiying was attending the banquet today, the young ladies from families close to Qin Yushan inquired with concern.
On previous occasions when there were such banquets, the manor would send the secondary consort Qin Yurou. Now, even though the Prince had married a main consort, the secondary consort would surely still attend such events, right?
Qin Yushan's knuckles turned white as she clenched her fists by her side. She didn't know that since the day she was sent back to the Qin manor by the manor's guards, she hadn't visited the manor at all in these past months, nor had she received any letters from her sister. When she asked her father, he refused to say much to her.
It must be that bitch Nan Shiying who bullied her sister.
She gritted her teeth, a look of resentment appearing on her face. The others exchanged glances and did not ask further.
There was no need to ask; the answer was already obvious.