Today is the flower viewing party hosted by the Madame of the Town North Marquis, and invites are sent to young masters and mistresses of the renowned families in the capital.
In the vast Azure nation, the customs are quite open by allowing unmarried men and women to attend banquets together and compete in talent, but they are not allowed to share tables.
"Who invited that simpleton here?" A boy of about fifteen or sixteen years old raised his head in disdain, pointing at a girl who is uglily featured, with dark and yellowing skin, messy hair, and a poorly-fitted white silk skirt.
Most unbearable of all is her silly grin on her face; now she seems to eye White Xuanyu, who is sitting next to her and holding a tea cup.
That's Ye Zuran, the legitimate eldest daughter of the Ye General's Residence, known throughout the capital as ugly and foolish, spending all her time chasing after her fiancé White Xuanyu.
Everyone who came to the flower viewing party, whether the sons and daughters of the rich families or the famous ladies of Kyoto, all scorned Ye Zuran and looked at White Xuanyu with pity.
To this mockery, Ye Zuran seemed oblivious and stubbornly kept her eyes on White Xuanyu, her worn embroidered shoes carefully treading on small steps.
"I advise you to stay away from me, or I will get rough." White Xuanyu detected the figure of Ye Zuran gradually closing in.
Long have White Xuanyu been impatient, the rumors and gossip in the capital were non-stop, adding pressure to his life.
He more than once advised his parents to help cancel the marriage, but the Empress Dowager and the Emperor both adored Ye Zuran, and unless she agreed, the marriage could not be canceled, making him the laughing stock of everyone in the capital city. How could he not despise Ye Zuran?
"Brother Xuanyu, why do you despise Zuran? Did Zuran do something wrong?"
Although she was silly, with the intelligence of a few years old child, she could also discern other people's expressions clearly.
That man was who she had cherished in her heart all along.
Ye Zhuban was halted in her tracks by Bai Xuanyu's words. Her body jolted, the sorrow apparent in her eyes.
"Ye Zhuban, my dislike for you isn't something new, seeing you disgusts me."
Hearing Ye Zhuban's words, Bai Xuanyu turned to look at her feeling nauseous. She was so insipid.
"But father said we're to be married. We can spend every day with each other, equally matched. Xuanyu, you shouldn't detest me," said Ye Zhuban, running up excitedly and grasping the sleeve of Bai Xuanyu.
"Shut up...What are you doing? Let go!" Bai Xuanyu didn't expect Ye Zhuban to grab his sleeve. He opened his eyes in surprise and angrily shook her off.
"Xuanyu..." Ye Zhuban, unprepared, was flung to the side, stumbling a few steps before regaining her balance.
"Smack...Ye idiot, can you not cling to my brother? You're ugly and annoying. Can you not cancel the marriage?"
Bai Xuanyu's sister, Bai Xuanxue, couldn't hold back anymore and went up to smack Ye Zhuban.
"No, I won't call off the wedding... I like Xuanyu, I won't call it off..."
"Today, even if you disagree, you'll have to agree. Guards, hit her..." Seeing her refusal, Bai Xuanxue's face turned cold and ordered the personal bodyguards she brought to deal with the ludicrous Ye Zhuban.
"Ah… Hmm..." Four or five bodyguards began hitting Ye Zhuban, who was incapable of fighting back. She could only bear with the beating, occasionally letting out moans of pain.
Although she was naive, she knew that if she begged for mercy now, she would lose Bai Xuanyu forever.
She bore even the most severe pain, never crying out.
"Miss, this fool isn't even resisting. If we keep hitting her, she might die," said one of the bodyguards.
Xiao He, with a panicked expression, rushed to Bai Xuanxue's side. The other maidens also stopped in their tracks, waiting for her command.
"Cough...Cough..." Ye Zhuran felt a severe chest pain, an itchy throat, and her blood churning, then suddenly she vomited a mouthful of blood.
She was beaten so severely that she was gasping for air, her whole body was in pain, and she didn't even want to move.
"Ye Zhuran, I'll give you one last chance, will you cancel the engagement?"
Bai Xuanxue noticed Ye Zhuran's condition, knowing that although she was severely injured, it was not life-threatning.
She half squat before her, disgustingly glanced at Ye Zhuran's face.
Ye Zhuran struggled to stand up, her body trembling, but due to the pain all over her body, she had to give up.
"Bai Xuanxue...I...I will...fight you..." With a surge of strength from nowhere, Ye Zhuran suddenly stood up and lunged at Bai Xuanxue.
Bai Xuanxue stood still, noticing nothing but the hatred and resolution in Ye Zhuran's eyes.
"Be careful...""Ah..." Two voices sounded simultaneously. Just as Ye Zhuran's hand was about to touch Bai Xuanxue, someone had already moved her aside.
Using inner strength, she was thrown against a rockery, her body brutally impacting against it.
Especially the back of her head, which hit the sharp stone, as her body fell to the ground, blood spilled all over the place.
"Brother, how did you get here?" Bai Xuanxue, still startled, clutched the hand that had just saved her, and became even more agitated when she realized it was her brother, Bai Xuanyu.
"Ah...that fool seems...dead..." The noble daughters who accompanied Bai Xuanxue to there, seeing Ye Zhuran's motionless body and the blood spilled all over the ground, started screaming in panic.
"What are you shouting for? Do you want to bring everyone here?" Bai Xuanxue's dangerous eyes squinted instantly, threatening the screaming girls.
"Big brother, that idiot seems to be really dead, look, she's not moving at all."
After yelling at them, Bai Xuanxue also felt a surge of fear in her heart.
"Sigh ... what's coming will always come, don't worry, play by ear."
Bai Xuanyu took a glance at Ye Zhuran's body, then looked away. Her death was indeed his release.
Even though there will be continuous trouble afterwards, he was willing to witness this scene.
The things that you want to suppress will never be suppressed. Their screams quickly drew the attention of everyone attending the banquet.
"What's going on? Why is there such a fuss?" The Lady of Zhennan, accompanied by a group of guests, came over.
"My lady, Miss Ye suddenly went mad and hit the wall."
"Heh..." A very soft laugh echoed, interrupting the person who was speaking nonsense.
Everyone turned their heads in that direction, only to see Ye Zhuran propped against the rockery, slowly rising with her trembling and weak body.
"Isn't she dead? How did she suddenly wake up?" Bai Xuanxue, Bai Xuanyu and their group looked at Ye Zhuran standing up, as if they were seeing a ghost.
"Hehe... Of course, you would like to see me dead, but... I don’t want to go according to your wish.”