Chapter 89: The Complete Villain Package
Led by the palace maid, Wang Gege slowly stepped through the entrance of the Flower Pavilion.
The moment she entered, a delicate fragrance of blooming peonies and plum blossoms drifted toward her.
The pavilion was far grander than she had imagined.
Elegant stone pathways wound through colorful flower beds, while a tranquil pond reflected the morning sunlight. Several exquisitely decorated pavilions surrounded the garden, each prepared with neatly arranged tables laden with tea, fresh fruits, and delicate pastries.
Laughter and pleasant conversations echoed throughout the garden.
Noble ladies dressed in luxurious robes chatted gracefully beneath flowering trees, while palace maids quietly moved between them, ensuring every guest lacked for nothing.
Wang Gege instinctively slowed her steps.
’Wow... This is way bigger than those historical dramas...’
"Young Madam." The palace maid politely gestured toward a vacant seat beneath one of the flowering trees, "This way, please."
Wang Gege smiled, "Thank you."
Without suspecting anything, she gracefully took her seat.
Qing’er quietly stood behind her, placing the embroidered gift box neatly beside the table.
For a brief moment, everything seemed peaceful.
Until a gentle voice interrupted the silence.
"My apologies."
Wang Gege looked up.
Standing before her was a familiar young lady dressed in an elegant pale green hanfu.
The corners of Wang Gege’s lips twitched almost immediately
’Gu Ruyan... Of all people.’
Gu Ruyan offered a graceful curtsy.
"My apologies for disturbing Young Madam Xie." Her smile was as elegant as ever, "However... I believe... this seat belongs to me."
Wang Gege blinked. Instinctively, she looked toward the palace maid who had guided her here.
The maid’s face instantly turned pale.
"This... This servant deserves death!" She immediately dropped to her knees. "It was this servant’s mistake! I accidentally guided Young Madam Xie to the wrong seat!"
The commotion quickly attracted the attention of the surrounding noble ladies.
One after another, conversations gradually came to a stop. Several curious gazes landed upon Wang Gege.
"Oh?" One of the ladies smiled politely. "So... She is the Young Madam of the Xie Residence?"
Another lady looked at Wang Gege with interest before turning back toward Gu Ruyan.
"Young Lady Gu..." She smiled warmly, "Won’t you introduce us?"
Gu Ruyan lowered her eyes modestly. "There is nothing much to introduce."
The lady laughed softly. "How can that be?"
She turned toward Wang Gege instead. "Young Madam Xie may not know." She gestured politely toward Gu Ruyan, "This is Young Lady Gu Ruyan. The beloved daughter of Minister Gu."
She smiled then continued, "The Minister often brings her into the palace to accompany Her Highness during banquets."
Several ladies nodded in agreement.
"It is no wonder."
"Young Lady Gu has been attending palace banquets since she was very young."
"Naturally, she understands palace etiquette better than most of us."
Gu Ruyan smiled bashfully, "Everyone is praising me too much."
While the ladies continued chatting, Wang Gege quietly leaned toward Qing’er.
"Minister?"
Qing’er lowered her voice, "Yes, Young Madam."
Wang Gege blinked. "So... She’s the Minister’s daughter?"
Qing’er nodded, "Yes."
Wang Gege stared at Gu Ruyan for a moment before whispering again, "Why didn’t anyone tell me?"
Qing’er looked equally puzzled, "This servant thought Young Madam already knew."
"I don’t." Wang Gege answered honestly. "I’ve only..." She abruptly stopped herself before coughing lightly, "Never mind."
She leaned closer once again, "So... If she’s the Minister’s daughter... who has the higher status?"
Qing’er looked around cautiously before answering in an almost inaudible whisper. She respectfully gestured toward Wang Gege, "Young Madam."
Wang Gege pointed at herself. "Me?"
Qing’er nodded, "The Xie Residence stands above Minister Gu’s household."
"As Young Master’s lawful wife... No matter where Young Madam goes... others should first pay their respects to Young Madam."
Wang Gege’s eyes brightened, "Really?"
Only then did she finally understand why everyone had been calling her Young Madam Xie instead of Second Miss Shen.
She was no longer representing the Shen Residence.
She now represented The Xie Residence.
Wang Gege slowly stood up before returning Gu Ruyan’s greeting with a graceful nod.
"My apologies for occupying Young Lady Gu’s seat." She smiled politely, "Allow me to introduce myself properly."
"I am Shen Taotao..." She paused briefly, "The Young Madam of the Xie Residence... Xie Rong’s wife."
The faint smile on Gu Ruyan’s face stiffened instantly. The surrounding noble ladies also fell silent for a brief moment.
After all, no matter how much they looked down upon Shen Taotao... The title Young Madam of the Xie Residence was not one they could casually disregard.
Gu Ruyan was the first to recover. The corners of her lips lifted into a gentle smile once more.
"It seems I have been discourteous." She gracefully lowered her head. "Since Young Madam Xie has already taken a liking to this seat... This young lady shall sit elsewhere."
The moment those words left her mouth, several ladies exchanged meaningful glances.
One of them immediately spoke.
"Young Lady Gu... How can you give up your own seat?"
Gu Ruyan merely smiled. "It is only a seat. There is no need to make Young Madam Xie uncomfortable."
Another noble lady sighed, "As expected of Young Lady Gu. Always so considerate... Unlike some people..."
She stopped halfway through her sentence before covering her lips with a smile.
Although she never finished the sentence, everyone understood its meaning.
Qing’er’s brows furrowed. She instinctively took half a step forward, "Young Madam—"
Wang Gege quietly raised a hand, stopping her. She looked at Gu Ruyan for several moments before smiling, "Young Lady Gu."
Gu Ruyan looked back at her. "Yes?"
Wang Gege pointed toward the seat, "This seat belongs to you. I merely sat here because the palace maid led me to it."
She stepped aside completely. "So..." She smiled brightly. "Please... It’s yours."
Gu Ruyan’s smile faltered for the briefest moment. She had expected Wang Gege to either insist on keeping the seat or angrily defend herself.
Instead, Wang Gege calmly handed it back.
Without arguing, blaming anyone else or giving Gu Ruyan the slightest opportunity to appear generous.
The surrounding ladies gradually fell silent once again.
Gu Ruyan’s graceful smile remained upon her face, though it had stiffened ever so slightly.
Just as she was about to speak, a palace maid’s voice announced from outside the pavilion.
"Miss Shen Yurou has arrived."
Several ladies instinctively turned toward the entrance.
Moments later, Shen Yurou slowly stepped into the Flower Pavilion.
Dressed in a soft lavender hanfu embroidered with delicate plum blossoms, she carried herself with practiced elegance. Every step she took was graceful, her posture flawless.
The moment she entered, a few young ladies whom she had known from previous banquets smiled and walked toward her.
"Miss Shen, you’ve arrived. We were wondering if you would attend."
Shen Yurou smiled gently and returned their greetings one by one. Only after exchanging a few pleasantries did her gaze wander across the pavilion.
Then, her eyes met Wang Gege’s.
For the briefest moment, the smile on Shen Yurou’s lips froze. She clearly hadn’t expected to see Shen Taotao standing beside Gu Ruyan.
Meanwhile, Wang Gege quietly blinked.
’Wonderful... One Gu Ruyan, one Shen Yurou... Who’s the third one again?’
She glanced around before her gaze landed on Xie An’an.
’Ah... The complete villain package has been assembled.’