Turning around, Hong Ning saw two women approaching side by side. One was a young noblewoman, elegantly dressed. The other was none other than Miss Su—the magistrate’s daughter—whom she had encountered in the marketplace, competing over the same sword.
Whether by coincidence or design, Miss Su was also dressed in red today. Adorned with glittering pearls and jade ornaments, her beauty—already well known—was further enhanced by her elaborate attire, making her look even more stunning.
Both dressed in red, their skin as fair as snow, their hair dark as ink. And yet, for the first time, when the men in the distance looked their way, their gazes did not linger on Miss Su.
It was as if this crimson gown had been made for Hong Ning, its brilliance eclipsing all her flaws.
Hong Ning, naturally, was oblivious to all this. Miss Su, however, was not. She felt a twinge of resentment—finding herself dressed in the same color as a woman of low status, only to be overshadowed.
Thus, she deliberately brought the noblewoman over to greet her, smiling as she said, “That day, I didn’t know your… status. I hope you won’t take offense.”
The emphasis on the word status was subtle but deliberate. How could Hong Ning not understand? She simply responded calmly, “Miss Su is too polite.”
Miss Su gave a light laugh and nudged the noblewoman beside her. “This is Madam Wen.”
“I noticed that Miss’s clothing is of the latest style, and I’ve never seen a hairpin like that before, so I came over to take a look.” Madam Wen made no effort to bow, instead giving Hong Ning a slow once-over. “Young Master Duan is known for cherishing beauty. If you serve him well, you’ll surely enjoy even greater benefits in the future.”
Hong Ning was never one to care for extravagant adornments. However, since she was accompanying Duan Fei to a banquet, she had worn a few simple accessories to avoid appearing too plain. Yet even with just two or three modest pieces, she had effortlessly outshone Madam Wen’s entire display of jewelry.
Women were bound to feel envious, and so, in her comment, Madam Wen had deliberately twisted the meaning of serving—clearly implying that Hong Ning was merely using her beauty to win favor.
Miss Su, who had yet to marry, turned her face away, pretending not to hear.
Hong Ning smiled faintly. “Oh? I hadn’t realized that before. Thank you, Madam, for your guidance.”
Madam Wen’s face flushed red with embarrassment. Unable to lash out directly, she sneered instead, “I wonder which establishment Miss hails from?”
Hong Ning replied calmly, “Just a small and unremarkable place. If Madam is interested, I would be happy to show you the way.”
Seeing that Madam Wen had not only failed to gain the upper hand but had also been provoked instead, Miss Su quickly stepped in to smooth things over. “Miss Hong Ning is living at Young Master Duan’s residence now, Second Sister, why ask such things?”
After speaking, she turned her gaze toward the peach blossoms nearby, shifting the topic. “Speaking of peach blossoms, the ones in Liangzhou are the most famous. It’s a pity that even though the Three Princes’ Rebellion ended long ago, when I accompanied my father past that region the other day, I saw that not a single person remained for miles. Even the peach blossoms no longer bloom—it’s truly bleak and pitiful.”
Madam Wen sighed. “It made us afraid to even conduct business at the time.”
Miss Su smiled. “Thankfully, Ganzhou is far from all that trouble, and my father wasn’t affected.”
The two of them continued chatting idly, but Hong Ning, listening from the side, suddenly felt a wave of unease.
Lately, she had been experiencing these inexplicable feelings more and more frequently. She didn’t dwell on it, though, and simply turned to leave. Just as she was about to walk away, a maid carrying a tray passed by, balancing three steaming cups of tea.
“Would the ladies care for some tea?” the maid asked.
Madam Wen glanced at Hong Ning with a smirk. “We’ve been talking for so long, my throat is quite dry. Miss, would you be so kind as to bring me a cup?”
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