Chapter 047: Pretending To Be Noble

Obedient…

Jiang Xuening’s eye twitched when she heard these words.

Why did Xie Wei make it sound like she had no backbone?

She wanted to stand up and retort, but when she was about to speak, she thought carefully about her actions today and realized she didn’t have the thick skin to claim she had any backbone.

After all, who would want to provoke Xie Wei if they could avoid it?

She felt a surge of frustration.

Fortunately, the other party didn’t seem to want to say much more. As soon as he finished speaking, he walked past her and headed straight out of the hall.

Jiang Xuening stood inside the hall, watching his back.

By now, the mist had almost completely dissipated.

The bright daylight shone down from above, making Xie Wei’s figure appear even more divine, like an immortal descending to the world. Where was the bloodthirsty and sinister aura she had seen in her previous life?

Moreover…

Why did she feel that Xie Wei seemed to be in a good mood when he spoke to her just now?

But when he told Chen Shuyi, “If you don’t want to learn, you can leave,” he seemed to be in a bad mood. Who knows what happened? Otherwise, the meticulous Xie Ju’an wouldn’t have said such a thing.

Thinking of this, Jiang Xuening felt even worse: Please don’t tell her that her two flattering words pleased Xie Wei! If it were that easy, how much of a failure was she in her previous life, having tried all kinds of methods without success…

“Ningning, aren’t you leaving?”

A voice suddenly called from outside the hall.

Jiang Xuening snapped back to reality and turned her head to see Shen Zhiyi, who had returned and was standing at the hall door, looking in at her. It seemed they had gone out to comfort Chen Shuyi first, and when they saw she hadn’t followed, they came back to find her.

She felt a bit touched.

She replied, “I’m coming.”

When Shen Zhiyi saw her come out, she lowered her voice and said, “Shuyi’s family is strict, and Lord Chen is very authoritative, so that’s why. You too, even if you think that way, you shouldn’t say it in front of everyone.”

Jiang Xuening hadn’t expected herself to say it either.

She couldn’t explain, so she admitted, “I was too reckless. I’ll be more careful next time.”

Hearing her somewhat dejected tone, Shen Zhiyi quickly comforted her, “Hey, don’t think too much. Shuyi is actually very nice and doesn’t get angry easily. She won’t hold it against you, especially for my sake.”

Jiang Xuening thought that might not be the case.

But she couldn’t say that to Shen Zhiyi, so she smiled and accepted her kindness, saying, “As long as Your Highness cares, I don’t mind anything else.”

When Shen Zhiyi heard this, she looked up and met Jiang Xuening’s gentle gaze. Her beautiful lips curved into a faint smile, and for some reason, Shen Zhiyi felt her face heat up and her heart race. She couldn’t look directly at this stunning face.

She became very shy, “Ningning, what are you saying!”

Feeling inexplicably embarrassed, she stomped her foot, said, “I’m going back to the palace first,” and lifted her skirt, fleeing in a hurry.

Jiang Xuening: “…”

No, she just wanted to cling to a powerful friend. What did Shen Zhiyi misunderstand?

Don’t panic…

It’s just friendship, just friendship!

Chen Shuyi was not a naturally arrogant person, but she had never been so humiliated as she was today. It was one thing for Xie Wei, their teacher, to teach them things that were inappropriate for young ladies to learn. After all, he was the teacher, and as students, they should respect their teacher and follow the rules. She shouldn’t say more about it.

But who did Jiang Xuening think she was?

How dare she say that Chen Shuyi was “judging others by herself, utterly absurd”!

As she walked out of the Fengchen Hall, Chen Shuyi didn’t want to see Jiang Xuening for even a moment longer, fearing it would taint her eyes.

The others followed to comfort her.

When they returned to Yangzhi Zhai, everyone tried to console her, saying, “Everyone in the capital knows that Jiang Xuening has a naturally arrogant temperament and is not presentable. It’s not surprising she would say such things. Chen Shuyi, you are different from her in every way. Why bother with her and get yourself upset?”

Of course, some were genuinely comforting her, while others were not.

You Yue, who loved to stir up trouble and still held a grudge from being embarrassed in the hall earlier, said sourly, “Yes, it’s obvious to everyone that the princess has a special fondness for her. We all put in so much effort to please the princess, but she turns around and gives everything to Jiang Xuening to choose from. No matter what outrageous things she does, the princess will protect her. Chen Shuyi, your family is so distinguished, but in the palace, it’s better not to oppose her.”

Xiao Shu glanced at her. Yao Rongrong sighed enviously, “Jiang Xuening is really capable to be liked by so many people.”

Chen Shuyi’s face grew darker.

You Yue sneered, “Is that capability? I heard she’s not good at studying and has poor character. When we were selected to enter the palace as companions, everyone saw it. If it weren’t for the princess’s favor, how could she sit with us in Fengchen Hall?”

Yao Xi remained silent.

Chen Shuyi suddenly looked at her and said, “Yao Xi, you seemed to be walking with her this morning?”

Because of the incident with Zhang Zhe, Yao Xi didn’t think Jiang Xuening was as bad as others said. Besides, it was You Yue who was troubled by her, not herself. Apart from being scared at the time, she didn’t feel much.

She had indeed considered getting closer to Jiang Xuening.

After all, she was curious about her relationship with Zhang Zhe.

But seeing everyone’s attitude, knowing they all disliked Jiang Xuening, she dismissed the idea and said, “I just had something to ask her.”

Chen Shuyi said, “I thought you wanted to befriend her.”

Yao Xi smiled, “Is she worthy?”

You Yue immediately echoed, “Yes, how could she be worthy of being friends with you, Yao Xi? Her family background is far inferior. Even acknowledging her is giving her face.”

Fang Miao, who had been listening for a while, rolled her eyes and said, “Isn’t it? It’s just that the prince treats her like a treasure, making everyone wary of her.”

The others didn’t notice anything wrong.

You Yue, thinking Fang Miao shared her view, said excitedly, “Who knows what’s wrong with the prince? Everyone knows Jiang Xuening was raised in poverty before being brought back. She has a poor and vulgar air, no elegance of a noble lady, and looks indecent. How can she be considered a ‘beauty’?”

Fang Miao nodded in agreement, “Exactly, her eyebrows are just a bit thin, her eyes a bit big, her nose a bit small, her lips a bit nice, and her skin a bit fairer than others. Not pretty at all, really not pretty!”

You Yue said, “Yes, her eyebrows are thin, her eyes are big…”

After saying a few words, she finally realized something was wrong.

You Yue turned to Fang Miao and questioned, “Are you insulting her or praising her? What do you mean?”

Everyone’s eyes fell on Fang Miao.

Fang Miao was startled, “Of course, I’m insulting her. I’m just following your lead.”

You Yue felt a blockage in her chest, almost unable to breathe.

Chen Shuyi frowned slightly and asked bluntly, “Fang Miao, whose side are you on?”

Fang Miao looked innocent and immediately exclaimed, “Me? Isn’t it obvious? Of course, I’m on your side! I’ve always said, I follow the ‘trend’!”

Her expression seemed genuine.

Even Chen Shuyi couldn’t find any flaws in her words. Thinking it over, she realized Fang Miao was telling the truth, which made her even more frustrated.

At this moment, Zhou Baoying, who had just finished eating a piece of osmanthus cake, looked up and said, “Jiang Xuening? She’s really pretty! I’ve never seen such a beautiful sister before.”

“……”

The room fell silent, and Yangzhi Zhai was suddenly quiet.

Zhou Baoying, puzzled, asked, “What’s wrong? Don’t you think so?”

Fang Miao almost burst out laughing.

From Chen Shuyi to Yao Xi to You Yue, everyone looked as if they had swallowed a fly, their expressions indescribable.

When Jiang Xuening leisurely walked back in, she saw this quiet scene. No one was speaking, and they only turned to look at her when they heard her footsteps.

Fang Miao, sitting in the corner, secretly gave her a thumbs-up.

Jiang Xuening was completely confused.

However, she guessed that she had offended many people today, or even if she hadn’t, others would be wary or jealous of her because of the princess’s favor.

So she remained calm.

As she passed the door, she smiled and said, “You all continue chatting, I’ll go back to my room.”

Chen Shuyi sneered, “If I were Jiang Xuening, I would be too ashamed to show my face after saying such spineless things in front of everyone. But Jiang Xuening has thick skin and comes back so calmly.”

Spineless?

Jiang Xuening thought, who are you compared to Xie Wei? Between offending you and offending Xie Wei, I’d naturally choose the former. I’m not stupid!

Besides, she genuinely disliked Chen Shuyi’s words.

In her previous life, even a woman like You Fangyin could live freely and unrestrainedly. The difference was just the environment and the dynasty. Why couldn’t women learn things? Why was it that when men used power and strategy, it was considered brilliant and wise, but when women did, it was seen as improper and against the rules?

It was all nonsense.

She slightly raised her eyes, her sharp chin outlined beautifully in the daylight, her posture exuding a disdainful contempt. She sneered, “If you have backbone, don’t attend Master Xie’s classes. No one’s forcing you. Stop pretending to be noble!”

Chen Shuyi stood up abruptly, “You—”

Jiang Xuening, having finished her retort, walked away without even looking at her, leaving behind a faint murmur, “Even the princess hasn’t said anything, who do you think you are…”

Everyone quietly looked at Chen Shuyi.

The gossip session about Jiang Xuening ended unknowingly. Someone mentioned, “We still have to accompany the princess to greet the Empress and the Empress Dowager this afternoon. Let’s go back to our rooms and rest,” and people gradually dispersed.

Chen Shuyi was left standing there, her face alternating between red and green, trembling as if she had been slapped.