Chapter 16: She Really Dares!

Cheng Xi ignored Cheng Fenglan as she walked straight past her, finding an empty spot to take a seat.

The hall was filled with young women of distinguished backgrounds, but because Cheng Fenglan possessed talent, and because Cheng Xi had previously been betrothed to Jiang Weiran, Li Shi had deliberately suppressed her, so she rarely went out to socialize.

Therefore, she truly had no friends in Jindu.

The original owner had a kind nature and would not overthink things, but Cheng Xi knew that Li Shi and her daughter had long intended to steal the marriage, which was why they had kept the original owner cooped up; with the original owner having no friends or kin, whether she was good or bad was entirely up to what that mother and daughter said.

Since the original owner had no interaction with them, Cheng Xi would not take the initiative to associate with them either; after sitting down, she leaned against the window to look at the scenery outside.

"Sister, if I had known you would also be attending the banquet today, I would have come with you."

Cheng Xi looked at Cheng Fenglan, "I cannot accept this 'sister'; after all, I do not have a younger sister who has an affair with my future brother-in-law."

Cheng Fenglan had thought that since they had entered the palace and Li Taifei was present, Cheng Xi would not dare to go too far; besides, the matter with Jiang Weiran was, after all, a family scandal—could she really disregard her own reputation and spill it out?

She never expected that she would actually dare!

As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere in the hall froze once more.

"Feng Lan, what does she mean by that?" Lu Mingyao strode over, staring at Cheng Xi with an unkind expression, "Eldest Miss Cheng, what is the meaning of you slandering people with such snide remarks? I heard that your engagement to Jiang has long been annulled; even if he has become betrothed to Feng Lan again, it has nothing to do with you."

Cheng Xi tilted her head to look at Cheng Fenglan and said with some amusement, "Long been annulled? Who told you that? Cheng Fenglan?"

Cheng Fenglan's expression tightened, "Eldest Sister, let us discuss this when we return. Today is for attending a banquet; it would be bad if we were to displease the Taifei."

Using Li Taifei to pressure her?

Cheng Xi did not buy that!

"This young lady, may I ask your name?"

"I am Lu Mingyao."

Lu Mingyao... digging through the original owner's memories, she turned out to be the daughter of Lu Xian, the head of the Imperial Hospital; Lu Mingyao also had an older brother named Lu Jinfan.

It was said that Jiang Weiran's severed arm had been reattached with the help of Lu Jinfan, whom Cheng Fenglan had requested.

No wonder Lu Mingyao was willing to stand up for Cheng Fenglan. Cheng Xi looked at her and revealed a faint smile, "So it is Miss Lu. My engagement to Jiang Weiran was only annulled a few days ago; I wonder where you heard that it had been annulled for a long time?"

Lu Mingyao was stunned and instinctively looked at Cheng Fenglan, "Only just annulled? How is that possible?"

Cheng Fenglan grew a bit anxious; she took a deep breath and looked at Cheng Xi, saying, "That is all in the past, why bother pursuing these questions? I only saw you today, Sister, out of concern for you. Since you do not like it, then let it be."

Cheng Fenglan turned around and pulled Lu Mingyao to the other side, fearing that Cheng Xi might say something else outrageous.

Her heart sank; could it be that even the name of Li Taifei could not suppress her?

If that were the case, what would happen to her marriage with Jiang Weiran?

It was a pity that although she had talent, she had not yet officially entered the Qinghe Academy to take a master; if she had learned a thing or two, she would have already dealt with Cheng Xi.

Thinking of this, entering Qinghe Academy was an urgent matter; she did not want to wait any longer.

Cheng Fenglan pulled Lu Mingyao to the side to whisper, while on the other side, Fang Huiru was thoughtfully sizing up Cheng Xi not far away; this Eldest Miss Cheng was truly completely different from the rumors.

Sitting beside her was Jiang Miao, the niece of Jiang Taifei; she had a good relationship with Fang Huiru and whispered in her ear, "Huiru, what do you think is the relationship between Cheng Xi and the Chief of Tongtian? Why would the Chief of Tongtian send her to attend the banquet?"

Every noble lady in the hall wanted to know this; that was Li Zhi'an, the most powerful and highest-cultivation person among the younger generation!

It was said that Li Zhi'an was devoted to eliminating demons and managing the Tongtian Division, that he did not get close to women, and was cold and heartless, but... why was he with Cheng Xi today?

She had always admired Li Zhi'an, and her father had even tested the waters for a marriage between the two families; with her family background, marrying Li Zhi'an would not be considered climbing too high, but Li Zhi'an had rejected it directly.

Fortunately, this matter had not been publicized, otherwise she would have had nowhere to hide her face.

Ever since she discovered she had talent, she had been focused on getting into Qinghe Academy; once she achieved success in her studies, she imagined the Chief of Tongtian would be able to see her.

Recalling how gently the Chief of Tongtian had treated Cheng Xi just now, her face turned pale.

Fang Huiru knew her friend's thoughts and looked at her, saying in a low voice, "Perhaps it was just on the way, do not overthink it. Don't forget, Eldest Miss Cheng previously had an engagement with Jiang. It is not that I have a prejudice against Eldest Miss Cheng, but it is impossible for the Chief of Tongtian to take a fancy to a woman who has had her engagement broken."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Miao's expression improved slightly, "What you say makes sense." As she spoke, she looked toward Cheng Xi again, "I heard that Eldest Miss Cheng has not awakened her talent."

If that were the case, she could set her mind at ease.

Li Zhi'an would not like a weakling.

Perhaps they really were just on the way.

Fang Huiru sighed softly, "I actually think it would be better if Eldest Miss Cheng had talent."

"Huiru, what do you mean by that?"

Fang Huiru saw that her friend's expression was not good and said in a low voice, "I know your feelings, but since it is impossible for Eldest Miss Cheng and the Chief of Tongtian to be together, why must you harbor dissatisfaction toward her? You didn't hear their conversation as sisters just now; it hasn't been clarified when the engagement was annulled, and seeing Cheng Fenglan's evasive attitude, I fear there is some other story behind it."

Jiang Miao was thoughtful, "I heard that Fang Dage and Cheng Fenglan have a good relationship; why do you seem to have a prejudice against her?"

"Probably just intuition; I don't really like her, the way she looks at people makes me uncomfortable," said Fang Huiru.

Jiang Miao and Fang Huiru had both awakened their talent; they were all people waiting to be admitted to Qinghe Academy, and the directions of their awakened talents were different. Fang Huiru's intuition was sharper, so she naturally trusted her friend.

"Then let us just be more observant in private," Jiang Miao said in a low voice.

"The Taifei has arrived!"

Everyone in the hall stood up immediately, and Cheng Xi also stood up and remained in the crowd.

Li Taifei was dressed in dark palace attire, wearing a string of Buddhist beads on her wrist, and walked slowly into the hall while lightly supported by a palace servant.

After Li Taifei took her seat, everyone stepped forward to pay their respects, "Greetings, Taifei."

"Everyone rise," Li Taifei said with a very kind smile.

"Thank you, Taifei," everyone replied and took their seats one after another.

Li Taifei first looked at Cheng Fenglan with a slightly soothing gaze, then looked at Cheng Xi and slowly began to speak, "This palace has heard that Eldest Miss Cheng drove her own father, stepmother, and siblings out of the manor in the middle of the night; is this true?"

Once Li Taifei said this, everyone's gaze fell upon Cheng Xi; this matter was truly astonishing—they had never seen anyone dare to drive their elders out of the manor; this courage was truly not ordinary!

Cheng Xi stood up, looked up at Li Taifei, and said unhurriedly, "The Taifei is well-informed, though it was only yesterday's matter, and you already know it today. However, this statement is incorrect; how can it be called driving them out?"