When Fu Zhen returned after changing her clothes, the banquet was about to start.
She walked up to Lady Bai. Lady Bai had been smiling and chatting with another lady. When she saw Fu Zhen coming, she immediately noticed the change of clothes. With a smile, she said a few more words and then led Fu Zhen aside.
"What made you change your clothes? Did something happen?" Lady Bai asked with concern.
Fu Zhen was always well - behaved. Lady Bai knew she liked that dress. If there hadn't been some accident, she wouldn't have changed clothes casually at someone else's banquet.
Fu Zhen pursed her lips and lowered her voice. "I was scratched by the Second Princess's cat." As she spoke, she gently lifted the cuff of her sleeve, revealing the bandaged wound inside.
Lady Bai was stunned. She immediately grabbed Fu Zhen's hand and examined it carefully. Frowning, she said, "Even though it's wrapped so tightly, there's still blood seeping through. You must be badly hurt. Why don't you go home first? I'll tell Lady Liu."
How could one leave just as the banquet was about to start?
Moreover, Fu Zhen thought with downcast eyes that there was still a good show to watch later.
"It's okay, Aunt. Bi Yu has already applied wound medicine for me. The cuff can cover it, so no one will notice. Besides, the banquet is about to start. If I go back now, there will be gossips in the capital saying that I'm domineering and ill - behaved," she comforted.
"Humph, who's more domineering than the Second Princess?" Lady Bai gritted her teeth. Fu Zhen was never one to provoke trouble. Why did the cat pounce on her instead of others?
There must be something fishy.
Just then, the music started and the crowd began to move. The banquet had officially begun.
"Forget it. Let's go to the banquet first," she said. This wasn't the right time to talk. She'd send someone to investigate carefully after they got back to the mansion.
Lady Liu had arranged this banquet interestingly. Married women were seated together, and unmarried girls were placed at another table. Fu Zhen took a quick look and saw the arrogant Second Princess.
She paused slightly, but suddenly someone patted her on the shoulder. She was startled and turned around abruptly, only to find it was Jin Xianghuan.
Seeing that she was frightened, Jin Xianghuan let out a soft laugh. "You're as timid as a rabbit. Come on, sit at my table."
With that, she pulled Fu Zhen forward, carefully avoiding her wound.
Fu Zhen didn't know many people at the banquet. She was just worrying about which table to sit at when Jin Xianghuan came. So she followed her willingly.
There were already a few people sitting at the table Jin Xianghuan led her to. They seemed to know each other. When they saw Fu Zhen coming, they greeted her with a smile. "We were just about to look for you, and here you are."
Jin Xianghuan snorted. "If you got up from your chair right now, I might believe you a bit more."
A young noblewoman beside them burst out laughing. She was used to Jin Xianghuan's personality and wasn't annoyed. She just scolded with a laugh. "Oh, I'm so wronged! My kind - heartedness has been taken for something bad!"
After they joked around for a while, their eyes fell on Fu Zhen. After a moment of hesitation, the noblewoman lowered her voice. "Thank you so much today."
Fu Zhen smiled slightly. Jin Xianghuan took over the conversation. "You're a bit late with your thanks. I've already thanked her. From now on, she's my good friend."
This was equivalent to saying that she would protect Fu Zhen from now on, and others should not provoke her.
The others exchanged glances. They naturally understood the hidden meaning. Their expressions changed several times, but finally they still smiled and echoed a few words.
As more and more people came, they were afraid it was not appropriate to mention the matter, so they all kept silent. Only those sitting close whispered to each other.
Fu Zhen was looking at the pastries on the table, thinking that they didn't look as delicious as those made by Granny Zhou in the Marquis's Mansion.
Just as she was in a daze, a fragrant breeze suddenly wafted past her nose. It seemed familiar. Before she could react, someone sat down beside her. She looked up and saw a strange noblewoman she had never seen before.
When the woman saw Fu Zhen looking at her, she nodded. "Zhang Lan. Pleased to meet you."
Her voice was so clear that it made Fu Zhen feel even more familiar.
Fu Zhen was stunned. Then she quickly said, "My surname is Fu, and my given name is Zhen. I'm pleased to meet you, Sister Zhang."
Zhang Lan nodded slightly. "Yes, I know you."
Fu Zhen sized her up discreetly. This face was really strange. It didn't seem like she had seen it before, but her every move seemed familiar. It was really strange.
The two of them fell silent for a moment. As the maids served up all the hot dishes one by one, the music changed, and the banquet officially began.
Fu Zhen picked up her chopsticks and took a piece of cold dish in front of her. Just as she put it in her bowl, she felt the person beside her lean over and whisper in her ear. "Be careful of your younger sister, Chen Huanyun."
Her hand holding the chopsticks paused. She suddenly looked up at Zhang Lan in surprise, only to see her sitting up straight again and eating on her own.
What did that mean?
Did Miss Zhang know something?
She recalled the faces of the noblewomen before she fell into the water. She didn't seem to have seen Zhang Lan among them. Did she see it from a hidden place?
Fu Zhen's heart skipped a beat. She couldn't help but look at Zhang Lan again. She pursed her lips and lowered her voice. "What do you mean, sister?"
Zhang Lan glanced at her and shook her head. Her expression was a bit cold, but not towards Fu Zhen. "She has a deep - seated mind. You should just be careful."
After saying that, she stopped talking.
Seeing that some people at the table were looking over faintly, Fu Zhen lowered her head and took a bite of the dish. But her mind was still thinking about what Zhang Lan had just said.
Zhang Lan must have seen something, which was why she kindly reminded her.
Chen Huanyun had a deep mind but was not very skillful. She always spoke up to sow discord herself. A slightly smart person could figure out who had started the trouble this morning.
But if she hadn't fallen into the water...
Fu Zhen's eyes were deep. If she hadn't fallen into the water, it was estimated that they would have already found out that there was a scent on her that made the cat go crazy. At that time, everyone would only think it was her fault and that she deserved it. The matter of Chen Huanyun sowing discord would seem less important. At most, it would be regarded as a feud between sisters.
This must be the result Chen Huanyun wanted.
It was a pity that she had turned the tables on her.
Thinking of this, she couldn't help but glance at Jin Xianghuan.
It wasn't convenient to take action at the banquet. Jin Xianghuan would surely choose to do it after the banquet.
Thinking like this, she covered her mouth with a handkerchief to hide the slight smile on her lips.
How could she miss such a good show?
Everyone at their table was familiar with Jin Xianghuan. Maybe because of what happened this morning, everyone ate in silence. But the table next to them didn't have such concerns. From time to time, there were bursts of laughter. It seemed extremely lively.
Jin Xianghuan took a look and snorted. She turned to Fu Zhen and said, "Don't get involved with those people at that table." There was a look of disdain in her words.
Fu Zhen was a bit curious. She stretched her neck and looked over. She saw that the woman who was laughing with her eyes narrowed looked a bit like Lady Liu.
"Why?" she asked.
Jin Xianghuan put down her chopsticks and said straightforwardly, "Lady Liu is very shrewd. She even dared to force the legitimate daughter to feign illness and not show up on such an occasion. She's extremely narrow - minded. How could her daughter be a good person?"
Fu Zhen had heard about the affairs of the Liu Mansion. Naturally, she thought of the eldest daughter of the Liu family who hadn't shown up today. It was said that she was seriously ill and had been bed - ridden.
According to what Jin Xianghuan had just said, it didn't seem like she was really ill. Instead, it seemed like she had been squeezed out of her position.