cold clothes

Entering the Prince's Mansion through the West Corner Gate, one sees the outer courtyard rooms and the accounting office. After the second gate, there is the west side courtyard and the steward's office. The places one passes through are all where the servants live. Leng Yi secretly memorized the detailed layout of the surroundings. If Yun Qiu is really still alive, he is most likely to live in such a place.

Then, Granny Liu led Leng Yi across the Prince's Mansion, passing through the inner courtyard gate, and then walking east to the east corner gate of the second courtyard, where they saw the innermost closed hall with a hanging flower gate.

The hanging flower gate is the dividing line between the outer courtyard and the inner residence. It is said that a lady of a noble family "does not leave the main gate, nor step out of the second gate," and this second gate is the hanging flower gate. Before marriage, a lady cannot easily leave this gate. This gate is also not opened easily, only on important days.

Granny Liu, wearing a light coat, entered through a small door next to the hanging flower gate and walked east along the covered corridor until she stopped in front of a side room.

"You stand outside first, I'll go and inform Miss Yuqing," Liu Mama said to Lengyi.

As soon as Granny Liu finished speaking, a gentle and quiet female voice came from inside the room: "Just let them in, Granny Liu."

“Yes, Miss Yuqing.” Granny Liu responded towards the room, then turned cold and said to Leng Yi, “Since Miss Yuqing has spoken, then you should come in quickly.”

Upon hearing Liu Mama's voice, Wang Yuqing instinctively sat up straight, though her eyes held a hint of curiosity. Raised in seclusion, she rarely saw outsiders. A few days ago, she had heard from her maids and servants that Ningbi was a renowned courtesan with a stunningly beautiful face and rare azure eyes. Moreover, she was skilled in swordsmanship. Wang Yuqing's curiosity about this courtesan had reached its peak.

Granny Liu was the first thing that caught her eye, followed by the woman's slightly bowed head. The next moment, the woman gently raised her eyes to look at her. Wang Yuqing was so stunned by the woman's beauty that she was speechless the instant their eyes met.

So beautiful. I've never seen anyone so beautiful. It's like seeing a beautiful blue-eyed fox in the snow. Her beauty is so extraordinary that I can't even think of comparing myself to her.

As soon as Leng Yi entered the room, she saw the dignified and quiet young lady in the main seat, dressed in a pink ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) and a white beizi (another type of traditional Chinese jacket), like a red plum blossom quietly blooming on a branch. Her face was oval, with almond-shaped eyes and peach-blossom cheeks, and she exuded an air of nobility yet made people feel very approachable.

Wow, is this the eldest daughter of the Wang family? She's so beautiful.

Leng Yi couldn't help but admire in her heart. Although she had seen many beauties, most of them were beautiful, strong, and tragic, with a sharp edge in their eyes. But this young lady of the Wang family was as pure and beautiful as a plum blossom. Was this what pure beauty was?

"This humble girl, Ningbi, greets Miss Yuqing." Lengyi glanced at her twice before turning her gaze away and bowing respectfully to Wang Yuqing.

Wang Yuqing, as if snapping out of her daze, said, "Please rise."

"Miss Xie Yuqing."

Wang Yuqing couldn't help but take a closer look at Leng Yi. She thought that this courtesan Ningbi was not only beautiful, but also impeccable in her manners. Did she really need to learn etiquette? At the same time, she was very concerned about the red marks on Leng Yi's face from the cold, so she said, "We have already prepared accommodations for you, Ningbi. You have come all this way, so rest today and get familiar with the environment of the mansion. You can start learning etiquette tomorrow."

Good heavens, praise the young lady!

“Miss, you must seize the time when it comes to studying. Not a moment can be wasted. Besides, it’s not even noon yet. It wouldn’t be good to waste the whole day,” Granny Liu said to Wang Yuqing with her hands crossed at her sides and a serious expression.

Wang Yuqing hesitated. Her mother and nanny had both told her not to be soft-hearted, but Ningbi didn't seem like a bad person... After a moment of inner turmoil, she finally lowered her eyebrows and compromised, saying, "Alright, I'll listen to Nanny."