cold clothes

She got up early to play the piano, practice calligraphy, and dance. Leng Yi tried her best to keep up with the pace of Zhuoyu Pavilion. The other four practiced alone in their respective places, and she also wanted to find a quiet place.

After wandering around the Jade Pavilion for a while without finding a single vacant room, Leng Yi had no choice but to step out of the courtyard. Wearing only a thin dance dress, she was immediately chilled by the autumn wind.

It's not realistic to practice outdoors in this season...

Leng Yi sighed. "It's okay if it's just for dance practice, but for everything else, let's leave it inside."

The small hut to the east of Zhuoyu Pavilion was a small kitchen, while the one to the west was the torture chamber where Leng Yi had been imprisoned the day before yesterday. Seeing the torture chamber, Leng Yi felt a chill run down her spine and quickly walked in the opposite direction.

She went around to the back of the small kitchen and found a rockery on the lawn behind the house. On the other side of the yard wall stood a tall tree, all its leaves gone, so bare that she couldn't recognize what kind of tree it was.

It's quite quiet here, Leng Yi thought to herself, and decided to practice dancing here from now on.

Afterwards, Leng Yi went back to class. She paid no attention to what the nanny was saying, her mind was full of thoughts about the afternoon's plans.

Lengyi finished her literature and history class absentmindedly, clutched the sachet in her arms, and suddenly instructed Lingcao, "Woven me a new handkerchief; I don't want to use the old one."

Lingcao was startled by Lengyi's sudden coldness and timidly agreed. Then, when Lengyi said she was going out for a walk and that Lingcao didn't need to follow, she had a bad feeling and said uneasily, "Miss..."

Leng Yi looked up at her coldly, her stubborn sharpness making her hold her breath and fall silent. She watched Leng Yi walk out the door with worry and fear, a desolate feeling welling up inside her. Her mistress had become someone who would stubbornly continue on her own path, something neither she nor Yun Mei wanted to see.

-

"I'm sorry, Bellflower, but I don't want to involve you in this." Leng Yi silently said to herself as she walked out of Zhuoyu Pavilion.

According to Yunqiu's plan, she would lure Qingchun to the Nuanfeng Pavilion to instruct the second-class girls on their group dance. She would then have someone steal Qingchun's white jade hairpin so that Lengyi would find it, thus creating a major conflict between them. Afterward, Yunqiu would have someone drug Qingchun, causing her to develop a rash on her face, preventing her from performing on the Double Ninth Festival. Yunqiu would do most of the dirty work; Lengyi's role would be to act as Yunqiu's scapegoat.

Yun Qiu promised to protect her and told her not to worry. But she knew perfectly well that he was just being hypocritical. Since she had chosen to go along with him, she would fight to the death if he dared to go back on his word.

With a heavy heart, Leng Yi walked to Nuanfeng Pavilion, only to find that the first person she met was Sister Juanxin.

Juanxin is Yunmei's good friend; the last time she saw her was on Yunmei's birthday...

"Ningbi!" Juanxin exclaimed in surprise upon seeing Lengyi, a smile spreading across her fair face.

“Sister Juanxin.” Lengyi was also very happy to see her old friend again, and her solemn expression softened a bit.

"Wow, you've become so beautiful in just one month!" Juanxin exclaimed, her gaze sweeping over Lengyi from head to toe, finding her increasingly stunning.

Leng Yi has indeed changed a lot. She is at the age of growing up. She used to be thin and small due to malnutrition, but now she eats and drinks well and has grown a lot taller. Her face is also rounder. In addition, after being made up by Zhuoyu Pavilion, her clothes, temperament and demeanor are different from before. Now her hair is neatly tied up, she wears brocade clothes, her jade face is rosy, and her blue eyes are sparkling. She looks like a fairy child who has walked out of a painting.

Juanxin: "That's wonderful! Ningbi has grown into such a beautiful young woman. Yunmei would be so happy if she knew."

Yunmei: "I really look forward to seeing you grow up. Ningbi will definitely become the most beautiful girl in Fengxiang Pavilion."

A half-new, half-old memory suddenly stabbed into her heart, causing excruciating pain, like a freshly scabbed wound being reopened. Leng Yi's face turned deathly pale instantly, and she quickly lowered her head to hide her emotions.

"Sister Juanxin, how are the other sisters doing?" Lengyi asked with a forced smile.

"Our lives are all the same no matter how we live them. How are you doing at the Jade Carving Pavilion? Is your practice tough?" Juanxin smiled and then asked about Lengyi's situation.

Leng Yi's face instantly fell: "It's so tiring! I have to study and dance every day. My body is tired and my mind is tired too! So I couldn't stand it and came out to relieve my boredom. I miss the days when I could sneak food in the kitchen."

"Hehehe, in that case, I'll go get you some pastries."

"Okay, okay, thank you, Sister Juanxin." Lengyi kowtowed repeatedly, her azure eyes seemingly overflowing with stars, making Juanxin extremely happy. She went to the kitchen to get some pastries. Little did Juanxin know that the moment she turned to leave, Lengyi's expression underwent a complete 180-degree change.

"..."

Her smile faded, and Leng Yi stood silently for a while on the leaf-strewn path, her youthful face displaying a complex expression.

Would Yunmei really be happy to see me like this...? Everything is irreversible.

Lengyi walked to the Butterfly Dance Pavilion where the girls of Nuanfeng Pavilion practiced their dance. Sure enough, she found a white jade hairpin in the grass next to it. Lengyi picked it up and then put it into her hair.

Inside the Butterfly Dance Pavilion, Yunqiu and Qingchun were watching a dance. Qingchun rested her chin on her hand, her beautiful face clearly showing boredom and disdain. Yunqiu shifted her gaze to Qingchun and asked with a smile, "Qingchun, do you have any suggestions?"

"Hmph, this kind of choreography will only make us a laughing stock in a New Year's performance." Qingchun criticized mercilessly, then said confidently, "But since you asked me to give you some pointers, I will naturally make this dance better."

"Hehe, of course I believe in Qingchun's abilities," Yun Qiu laughed, her smiling eyes concealing a sharp edge. She glanced towards the doorway, sensing something, and saw the little girl walking in.

You've finally arrived. Now let's see your performance, Ningbi.

"Wow, the older sisters' dance is so beautiful!" A clear child's voice rang out, and Leng Yi skipped and hopped in.

Leng Yi's inner thoughts: If I were an ordinary person, I would definitely look silly. Luckily, I'm cute.

Qingchun was drawn to Lengyi's voice. Upon seeing her, she recognized her as a beautiful girl she had never seen before. Her striking blue eyes immediately made her realize who she was.

"Ningbi, is that it? She's quite pretty, but too arrogant and domineering, it's hard to like her." Qingchun first praised Lengyi's appearance, then her tone changed and her expression turned unfriendly.

Leng Yi's inner thoughts: It's good that you don't like me. If you liked me, I wouldn't be able to bring myself to do it.

Leng Yi glared at Qing Chun angrily and said in a coquettish voice, "Who said I'm arrogant and domineering? I'm not!"

Qingchun's eyebrows shot up, her anger beginning to show: "What is this glaring and screaming look of yours if not arrogance and domineering? You've been here for three months and still don't know the rules. It seems you've never suffered before."

"Moreover, you did not greet Yunqiu and me first. We are considered half teachers, so this shows a lack of respect for teachers."

Qingchun, as expected of the most beautiful courtesan, easily accused Lengyi of something with just a few words, making Lengyi both ashamed and angry, her face turning red and white in turns.

"I didn't! You're lying through your teeth! Who are you, and what gives you the right to say that about me?"