"Come with me." Qin Zijie took Shen Xihe's hand forcefully and walked into the gate of Prince Ding's Mansion.
Most of her hands were in the wide cuffs, and Shen Xihe could only see half of her fingertips, which were slender and made the woman's fingers look thicker and stronger.
Shen Xihe didn't like being touched by others. She was about to struggle, but Qin Zijie let her go after she entered the door. "You are of noble status, so it's inevitable that someone will want to get close to you. You have to open your eyes and see clearly."
It is said that the censors cannot tolerate any grain of sand in their eyes, but in fact, the Qin family is the most sharp-tongued in the imperial capital.
Qin Zijie must have seen Yu Sangning's behavior and was dissatisfied. He didn't know her and was afraid that she would be taken advantage of, so he kindly reminded her.
"Miss Qin, you're worrying too much." Shen Xihe said in a distant tone.
She will not associate with Yu Sangning, nor will she be close to Qin Zijie.
As if sensing Shen Xihe's coldness, Qin Zijie glanced at her, barely nodded, and walked ahead.
At this time, the women of the Ye family took Ye Wantang's place behind the screen to welcome the guests, and led them one by one to the lotus waterside pavilion where the banquet was held.
This is the most beautiful place in Prince Ding's Mansion. Two water pavilions are built on the blue waves along the winding water corridor, echoing each other from a distance, with an arch bridge in the middle for travel between them.
The water pavilion was very large, with more than a dozen tables placed on it. In the middle of the pavilion, there was a stone platform extending from the other side, on which a musician was playing the piano and dancers were dancing.
"Sister Xihe!"
As soon as Shen Xihe appeared, Xue Jinqiao, who had been waiting in the pavilion on the side of the female relatives, caught sight of Shen Xihe with his searching eyes and immediately ran towards her.
The corridor was actually very wide, enough for three people to walk side by side. Qin Zijie walked in front of Shen Xihe. When Xue Jinqiao pounced on Shen Xihe, Qin Zijie dodged.
Xue Jinqiao somehow tripped and fell headfirst, but was caught by the hand of a maid behind Qin Zijie, who held him steady, preventing him from hitting his face on the stone slab.
"Thank you, Sister Qin." After being supported, Xue Jinqiao bowed to Qin Zijie to express his gratitude.
"I don't know you well, don't call me sister." Qin Zijie glanced at Xue Jinqiao in a very arrogant manner, "A girl from an aristocratic family should have proper manners when walking, standing and sitting."
"I got it, Sister Qin... Miss Qin." Xue Jinqiao lowered her head obediently after being scolded.
Shen Xihe had no intention of watching the show, so she walked past them and walked forward.
Seeing this, Xue Jinqiao stuck out her tongue mischievously, then picked up her skirt and strode after Shen Xihe, insisting on doing what she wants, "I listen, but I won't change."
"Princess Ding." Shen Xihe arrived at the water pavilion and paid her respects to Princess Ding.
She was only twenty years old this year. She wore an eggplant-colored maxi dress, a crabapple-red wide-sleeved robe, and a golden hairpin and a gorgeous crabapple silk flower on her head, which made her look very bright.
"Princess, please get up quickly. Don't be so polite." Ye Wantang personally helped her up. "I just returned home a few days ago and haven't had the chance to see you. You are so beautiful..."
As Ye Wantang admired, her eyes were still a little dazed. Just now, she saw Shen Xihe walking towards her. Her graceful demeanor and cold and noble appearance gave her the illusion that an old friend had returned.
When she got closer, she came to her senses. They looked alike and yet not alike.
That man's aloofness was more like coldness, while Shen Xihe's aloofness was more like nobility.