Duan Mingxi didn’t linger but entered the Peony Terrace with Duan Min.
Before they even reached the garden, they saw a pool of green water surrounding it, with rugged rocks and winding covered corridors. Through the lattice windows, they glimpsed colorful flowers and lush greenery inside.
The garden was bustling with maids moving back and forth and guests arriving one after another, all dressed elegantly and in high spirits.
There was exciting news: the eldest young misss of Dingyuan Marquis’s family, who had been raised in a merchant’s household, would be attending today’s banquet.
Ever since her return to the Marquis family, many prominent families in the capital had been keeping an eye on her, curious but without much to report. Today’s appearance had piqued everyone’s interest.
A Marquis’ legitimate eldest daughter raised in a merchant’s household—what a pity.
So, upon hearing that she would attend, even those who had planned to skip the event put aside their tasks and arrived at the terrace. It made today’s flower banquet particularly lively.
Before the event began, noble young women gathered, familiar groups engaging in conversation. Many were already whispering about the mysterious Duan Mingxi, wondering what kind of person she had become.
Duan Mingxi and Duan Min strolled through the flowering shrubs, overhearing someone’s mocking tone: “Raised by merchants—what a pity. Even if she’s back with the Marquis family, marriage prospects will be difficult. What gentleman would want a boorish merchant’s daughter?”
Duan Min’s face darkened at these words and turned to Duan Mingxi. “Xi Jiejie, don’t mind them. They haven’t met you and are just indulging in idle talk.”
Duan Mingxi asked calmly, “Who is that young lady?”
She actually knew, but she wasn’t supposed to.
“The eldest young lady of Jingyuan Marquis household, Chu Qingying. Her birth mother passed early, and the current marquis’s wife is a stepmother. Chu Qingying’s temper isn’t very pleasant.”
Duan Min didn’t initially want to speak ill of others, but since Chu Qingying started with insults, she wouldn’t hold back.
Duan Mingxi was well-informed about the affairs of the Chu family. She took the opportunity to have Duan Min introduce everyone around Chu Qingying, making everything clear.
As they walked by, hearing people gossiping about her behind her back, Duan Mingxi and Duan Min strode right past them.
The highest level of “face-slapping” is ignoring them.
“Who’s that unfamiliar young lady?”
“Isn’t the one beside her Duan Min from Dingyuan Marquis’ family?”
“It is her.”
“The girl next to her is so beautiful. Do you know who she is?”
No one recognized her, until someone suddenly said, “Could she be the Duan family’s eldest daughter who was recently reunited with her family?”
Everyone exchanged awkward glances.
This was embarrassing.
Talking behind someone’s back, only to be overheard by the person in question.
From afar, they saw Duan Mingxi in a purple dress with a silver-red shawl on her arm, exuding grace and poise, nothing like the demeanor of someone from a humble background.
Could a merchant family raise someone with such elegance?
Eyes darted quickly between the group as they dispersed, but the latest gossip about Duan Mingxi spread rapidly.
Duan Mingxi didn’t care about the swirling rumors. However, Duan Min beside her didn’t look happy, clearly feeling indignant on her behalf.
Gradually, people gathered around Duan Mingxi, watching her and Duan Min as they greeted the host of today’s banquet.
But Duan Huirou had already gone to see Yao Yunyi, so why weren’t the three Duan sisters together?
From a distance, Duan Mingxi saw Yao Yunyi with Duan Huirou. Greeting the host was part of etiquette; she couldn’t afford to give anyone grounds to find fault.
“Thank you, Miss Yao, for inviting me today, allowing me to admire the beauty of these peonies,” Duan Mingxi said as she and Duan Min entered the octagonal pavilion.
Quite a few people had already gathered there, and eyes shifted between the Duan sisters.
At this moment, Chu Qingying and her entourage also arrived, making the pavilion even livelier.
Everyone looked Duan Mingxi up and down. They had assumed that as the eldest daughter raised in a merchant family, she might be shy or act presumptuously in such a setting. To their surprise, she was not only beautiful and poised but also remarkably composed, her manners as refined as those of noble girls raised in the capital.
Initially here to watch a show, they now had subtle changes in their thoughts.
They were the ones becoming the joke.
Yao Yunyi’s eyes glimmered as she glanced at Duan Huirou, noticing her displeasure. She turned back to Duan Mingxi with a hint of disdain in her gaze. “I heard the eldest Miss Duan was raised in a small place like Jiangcheng. Please, feel free to enjoy yourself today; if you want anything to eat or drink, just say the word.”
“Miss Yao, you’re so generous! In that case, I won’t be polite. I’ve heard of a famous dish here in the capital called ‘Jinji Yuhuai.’ I wonder if I might be lucky enough to taste it today.”
Yao Yunyi flaunted her extravagance, so Duan Mingxi gave her the chance to prove it.
The wealthy elite love to put on airs, with elaborate presentations for even the simplest dishes.
Silent flakes fall like snow, finely chopped with spring onion, perfectly describes Jinji Yuhuai. The fish, thinly sliced like cicada wings, is dipped in sauce and melts in the mouth.
This dish is challenging, with complex sauce preparation and delicate knife skills. Not just any family could afford a chef skilled in such a technique.
At the mention of this dish, everyone’s gaze instantly changed.
Yao Yunyi’s face faltered—it was she who had made the boast, yet Duan Mingxi dared to ask.
It wasn’t the fish she lacked.
Upon seeing this, Duan Huirou immediately defended her friend, saying to Duan Mingxi, “Big Sister, aren’t you deliberately making things difficult?”
Duan Mingxi’s smile softened as she looked at Duan Huirou. “What do you mean, Second sister? Miss Yao kindly offered to show me the sights, knowing I was raised in a small place and haven’t seen much. It was out of goodwill.”
“Since she offered, how could I refuse her kindness? Following her lead is polite; how is this making things difficult?”
“Or are you suggesting that Miss Yao’s words were only to fool me? If that’s the case, then I was indeed presumptuous.”
Her words caused a few in the crowd to chuckle.
Chu Qingying, embarrassed earlier, suddenly felt relieved; at least she wasn’t the focus. She quickly spoke up, “Miss Duan was only joking! How could you all take it so seriously? This is a complicated dish, not something that can be made on a whim.”
Duan Huirou immediately said, “Is that an appropriate joke? I think she’s doing it on purpose.”
Duan Mingxi responded bluntly, “That’s strange. Everyone else sees it as a joke, yet my own dear sister insists on labeling me guilty. I wonder, what did I do to offend you?”
Only after speaking did Duan Huirou realize she had acted rashly.
But she hadn’t expected Duan Mingxi to leave her so humiliated in front of everyone.
