Chapter 38: He Revealed Their Secret So Easily

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The birthday banquet was held in the Pei family garden today. Jiang Lingyao found a secluded spot, hiding behind a cluster of flowers at a small table to drink tea.

She had come today solely to put her grandmother’s mind at ease. In the past, as a young lady of the Duke’s estate, she would have been required to socialize with other noblewomen at such events. But things were different now; she was about to leave, and these social obligations no longer concerned her. She had no desire to waste energy pandering to anyone.

While she was lost in thought, Song Lian’er suddenly appeared, smiling at her. "Sister, it is fortunate that Brother Pei mentioned it to me; I knew I would find you here."

Jiang Lingyao’s expression turned cold, and she rose to leave.

This had been a secret sanctuary shared tacitly between her and Pei Xingzhi. Every time there was a banquet, they would hide away here to share a cup of tea and shed their exhaustion. A strange, indescribable feeling welled up within her. The secret she had kept with Pei Xingzhi for years had been shared with Song Lian’er just one year after she had left.

On second thought, she realized she was perhaps being sentimental. It was a secret she had defined as such, but for all she knew, Pei Xingzhi had never given it a second thought.

"Sister, don’t go. Princess Wende wishes to see you." Song Lian’er beamed, turning to call out behind her, "I’ve found her! She’s right here, Sister!"

"Get lost!" Jiang Lingyao snapped coldly. "Don’t drag me into the trouble you’ve stirred up."

She departed without hesitation, her pace swift. Song Lian’er, not expecting such resolve, stood stunned. By the time the handmaid of Princess Wende arrived, Jiang Lingyao was already gone.

The handmaid frowned, her expression impatient. "Where is she?"

Song Lian’er’s smile faded. She pointed in the direction Jiang Lingyao had fled and said, "She went that way, hurry and catch her!"

The handmaid shot her a look of disdain. "What do you mean by that? If I were to chase after her, what would people think of my mistress? My mistress merely wished to invite her over, not to have her forcibly dragged here."

"Keep your little schemes to yourself. Do not think my mistress is foolish enough to be a blade in your hands."

This handmaid was a confidante of Princess Wende and a former palace servant to the Empress Dowager; naturally, she could see through such low-level manipulation at a glance.

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Song Lian’er felt humiliated, biting her lower lip so hard she tasted blood. The handmaid cast a cold glance at her and walked back the way she had come.

Burning with rage, Song Lian’er’s face turned pale. She stared at the abandoned tea cup on the table, snatched it up, and smashed it violently against the ground.

"Lian’er?"

Hearing that detached voice, she froze. Flustered, she turned around and whispered, "Why is Brother Pei here?"

Pei Xingzhi saw that it was Song Lian’er standing there and looked visibly disappointed. He glanced at the shards on the ground but did not answer her question. Instead, he asked, "How did you know about this place?"

Song Lian’er lowered her eyes, feigning panic. "It... it was Sister who told me."

Jiang Lingyao told her?

Pei Xingzhi frowned. Every time he came here during past banquets, he would see Jiang Lingyao waving to him, with warm tea and refreshments already prepared on the table. He had once thought that perhaps Song Lian’er had discovered the place by chance, but he never imagined that Jiang Lingyao would have been the one to tell her.

His expression darkened. Song Lian’er complained with a wronged air, "Brother Pei is silent—do you think I am lying to you?"

Pei Xingzhi shook his head. "It is nothing. You go on and rest; I have matters to attend to."

...

Having left the quiet area, Jiang Lingyao inevitably ran into a group of people.

"Oh my, isn’t this Miss Jiang? Long time no see. When did you return from Baima Temple? Why have you become so thin?"

Meeting the malicious glint in the girl’s eyes, Jiang Lingyao replied calmly, "I returned some time ago. It has been a long time, indeed, but Miss Wang is as plump as ever. I am truly envious."

Miss Wang’s face changed. The thing she hated most in her life was being called fat.

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How dare Jiang Lingyao!

She was furious, but a companion tugged at her sleeve and whispered in her ear, "Even if she has fallen from grace, she is still a lady of the Duke’s estate. Calm yourself."

The girl’s rage was stifled, leaving her face sallow with resentment. She shot a hateful look at Jiang Lingyao and said sarcastically, "I certainly cannot compare to Miss Jiang, having spent a year in ascetic cultivation at the temple. But Princess Wende was looking for you just now; why didn’t you go?"

Jiang Lingyao raised her eyes coldly, swept a calm glance over her, and walked away after a brief acknowledgment.

She had no interest in wasting time on a fool who could be provoked by a few mere words. However, with so many people at the banquet today, would she not attract attention if she quietly claimed illness and took her leave now?

Jiang Lingyao pondered for a moment. She truly wished to leave, so she stood where she was, waiting for her servant, Wenqiu, to return from delivering the gifts.

"Jiang Lingyao."

Hearing the voice, she looked up and met a pair of haughty eyes. She immediately bowed and said, "Greetings, Princess Wende."

Princess Wende sneered, "What are you hiding from?"

Jiang Lingyao frowned slightly.

Having run into this troublesome Princess, it seemed she would not be able to leave anytime soon.

In the distance, Song Lian’er was following Jiang Xiuyuan, being introduced to various young masters and ladies. Seeing Princess Wende standing with Jiang Lingyao, she felt a surge of malicious delight.

"Hey! Eldest Young Master Jiang, is that your sister standing with the Princess?"

Jiang Xiuyuan looked in the direction his friend was pointing, his brow furrowing instantly.

She was in trouble.