"Yinyin, look, Commissioner Jiang is drinking with your brother in the outer room. Why don't you go out and join them? I know you're not willing to, but your brother will have to rely on him in the future..." Her mother's voice was a little hoarse and grew smaller.

  I smiled and said: "Father and mother have cultivated their daughter in every way, isn't it for this? What else can't my mother say, it's not the first time."

  She casually picked out a crimson dress to change into, the common fabric was gaudy, but because she was in her prime, the reflection of herself in the mirror still looked radiant and unmatched.

  I gazed at the woman in the mirror until the coldness and disgust in her eyes could no longer be found, until a shy and innocent smile like that of a young deer reappeared on her lips, before I turned around and walked out the door.

  As I finished dancing, I met Jiang Lu's dazed eyes, but only blushed and lowered my head, slowly withdrawing my hand.

  I don't remember when it started, but facing things like this, I no longer cry or feel so humiliated that I wish I were dead.

  When did it start, at thirteen years old, twelve years old, or even earlier?

  In fact, my family members are also strange, but this strangeness hides a sense of fortune. My father and mother are ordinary in appearance, and my sisters can only be considered average-looking, yet I was the one born with this elegant and refined face, lucky or unlucky?

  "Du Rutao, is this sister of yours your own flesh and blood? Just look at her delicate and charming appearance, it's really endearing. How about this, why don't you just let me take her as my fifth concubine?" Jiang Lu said.

  I just pretend to be shy and modest, covering my face and rushing out of the hall to the backyard, not worried at all. Those low-ranking cavalry officers, how can they look down on me? They still hope I will climb higher.

  "Master Jiang, I'm so grateful. It's truly a blessing from three lifetimes that you're willing to take my sister in. However, when she was born, a fortune teller predicted that she couldn't leave her parents' home before coming of age or else she would bring misfortune to her future husband. Once she comes of age, I'll immediately send her to your estate, is that acceptable?"

  The same old rhetoric, I don't want to hear it anymore. The fortune teller's assertion is that in this life, I will inevitably stand at a height that others envy, and enjoy the glory that others cannot enjoy.

  It was precisely because of this sentence that, along with my increasingly outstanding appearance, my parents almost used the entire Du family's wealth to support my growth.

  They invited the best masters for me, teaching me poetry, books, etiquette, embroidery, female red, teaching me piano, chess, calligraphy, painting, music and dance, all-inclusive.

  They bought me the best clothes and jewelry they could afford.

  Not to mention other sisters, even several brothers, what they use and spend is not as good as mine.

  But ——

  Suddenly, I recalled the scene I saw when I went to the market to pick out fabrics this morning. Those luxurious carriages, those cloud-like attendants, and that dignified procession - every face had a flattering smile on it.

  A gentle breeze blew by, and the woman in the carriage had a calm and serene smile on her face. It wasn't that she wasn't beautiful, but rather, the faint hint of endurance and discontent deep within her eyebrows suddenly pierced my heart.

  That was something I yearned for but could never attain, yet she abandoned it like a worn-out shoe, simply because of her different background?

  The people around whispered in envy: "This is the second lady of the Murong family, I heard that she was lost a few years ago and now she's back, she really looks beautiful..."

  Hong Yin noticed that I couldn't take my eyes off her and opened his mouth to persuade me, "Miss is hundreds of times more beautiful than her!"

  I know she's trying to humor me, so she's exaggerating on purpose, but even if that's the case, what can you do about it?

  She is still the noble and dignified second miss of the Murong family, while I am just a low-ranking official's daughter with a beautiful face, full of talent and emotion, but can only use it to deal with the likes of Jiang Lu.

  I am not resigned, but life has to go on year after year, until she gets married, her husband is the third imperial prince who is most favored by the emperor, and the day of my hairpinning ceremony is approaching day by day.

  As time went by day after day, even parents' faces couldn't help but show a lot of resentment.

  "Yinyin, what's wrong with you? In the past, those who came to propose were always unsuitable people. Your father and I didn't even need to discuss it before rejecting them. But now, your father and brother have risen in status, and the people they've introduced are all respectable. So why do you keep refusing? Take this time's Liu gentleman, for example. Although he's a bit old, he's a third-grade official of the imperial court! I really don't know what more you're looking for in a husband. If you pass the age of marriage..."

  I looked at my mother with a gentle smile, but her eyes were cold: "Mother doesn't need to worry, in a few days it will be the birthday of Huang Gong's daughter Huang Yiyuan, and I have already asked Liu to find a way to take me to the banquet."

  Her mother's face lit up with joy and she burst out laughing: "Oh my child, when did this happen? You've kept us in the dark..."

  I interrupted her and handed over the box in my hand: "Mother, help me sell all these jewelry, then go to 'Yunniu Fabric Store' to buy back that kind of pink satin from Qi Yue's new shipment. I want to use it to make a dress myself."

  Her mother was taken aback, then smiled: "That's right, Yinyin looks the most delicate in pink. Didn't Lord Liu praise her too? However, put away these accessories, your father and I will think of a way to buy them for you. How can you not wear anything?"

  My mother finished speaking and left, I looked at the jewelry in the box, it was the best I had, but compared to Huang Yiyuan and other famous ladies, it was nothing. Wearing it would only make them laugh.

  In just a few days, my mother handed over that piece of Luo silk to me, saying with a tinge of heartache: "This small piece of cloth is really expensive, Yin Yin, you must make a good impression in front of Lord Liu."

  I didn't notice her, alone, spent five whole days cutting and sewing the Luo Qi into a one-of-a-kind dress in this world, then pinned a newly bloomed chrysanthemum in her hair like clouds.

  I looked at Liu Binghai's infatuated expression and knew that my outfit must be beautiful, only it wasn't for him.

  I arrived at Huang Gong's mansion and had been searching for a long time, having heard a long time ago that the emperor's most beloved Princess Yi Yang would also be coming today.

  The various elegant deeds of this princess and her enthusiasm for state affairs have been widely talked about in the streets.

  I once heard that she had selected many young women as tools to curry favor with her father, brother and the powerful.

  Yes, it's a tool, but I don't mind.

  Because I know that even if it's just a tool, as long as it comes from the hands of Princess Yi Yang, its value is absolutely not comparable to that of an inner court servant girl, and the person she wants to please will never be someone like Liu Binghai who is only a third-rank official.

  My gaze has always been following Princess Yi Yang, and I had already taken advantage of the crowd to shake off Liu Binghai. However, Princess Yi Yang didn't even glance at me. How could she have seen me? Her side was surrounded by too many flatterers and sycophants.

  Time is getting later and later, I'm not in a hurry, but I'm still quietly waiting for an opportunity that can make me succeed at once.

  The joyful music and dance began to perform, but the banquet had just begun. However, I saw Princess Yiyang and a handsome young man beside her whispering and laughing together, already hinting at leaving early.

  This is really urgent, in such a situation, she is willing to come, has already given the Huang family a great face, and there is no need to stay until the end.

  Just as the music ended, I didn't dare to linger and got up to walk into the hall, facing the noble Princess Yiyang on the main seat, making a deep bow with my head lowered, and spoke to Huang Yiwu: "Miss Huang's birthday is auspicious, Yiyin specially prepared a segment of Rainbow Dress and Feathered Robe Dance to celebrate Miss's birthday, wishing Miss a year of prosperity and good fortune."

  Almost everyone was stunned, first because they didn't know who I was, and second because they hadn't expected me to leave the table so unreasonably.

  I didn't give them time to react, nor did I wait for their consent or inquiry, and I stretched out my arms and started dancing.

  For this dance alone, I have practiced for an entire lifetime.

  As the last movement solidified, I raised my eyes to look at Princess Yi Yang on the main seat.

  Her eyes sparkled with excitement that she couldn't hide, and even had a hint of thrill.

  I smiled slowly and lowered my face again, making a proper bow towards Princess Yi Yang.

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