From afar came the shouts of the carriage driver, his whip cracking through the air as the carriage sped forward like a man-eating tiger, forcing everyone in its path to scatter.
The soldiers flanking the carriage were just as arrogant, looking down on everyone with their noses in the air.
So brazen! So imposing!
Being born into the right family really is a skill.
Same woman, different lives—just look at how carefree she is.
"Miss Feng, my lady invites you to view flowers tomorrow."
Serena Feng spotted the scene from a distance, shook her head, and obediently stepped aside.
"Miss Feng, my lady invites you to a poetry gathering."
"Miss Feng, my lady invites you to a garden stroll."
In her heart, nothing was more sacred than human life. But every person she met seemed to treat it as worthless.
The carriage thundered past Serena Feng, who kept her gaze averted. She didn't look at the people inside, but someone inside noticed her.
"Stop! Stop!" came the sharp command of a young woman from inside the carriage. The driver, arrogant as he was, dared not defy his mistress and yanked the reins at once.
With a screech, the horse reared up, hooves pawing high in the air, nearly flipping the carriage over.
Fortunately, both the driver and horse were well-trained. With a firm pull, the driver calmed the animal and brought the carriage to a steady halt.
The guards quickly surrounded the carriage, keeping everyone else at bay. On both sides of the street, people dropped to their knees.
"Greetings, Princess! Long live Your Highness!"
The so-called Peach Blossom Festival wasn’t about flowers at all—it was a banquet meant to disgrace Serena Feng.
She couldn't help it—she just didn't have that instinct to kneel at the sight of royalty.
Just then, a young woman in blue riding clothes leapt down from the carriage and strode toward Serena Feng.
The girl was strikingly beautiful, every move radiating a sense of superiority. She brandished a golden whip, her posture wild and untamed.
Crack!
She lashed the whip against the ground, carving a deep white groove into the stone pavement.
Serena Feng saw the display and instantly knew the girl was targeting her.
Because this girl was Princess Serenity—Adrian Dongling’s full younger sister.
A girl spoiled beyond belief, arrogant and rude in every word and gesture.
Sure enough, when Princess Serenity saw Serena Feng’s calm, unruffled face, a flash of annoyance crossed her features. She snapped, "Serena Feng, why aren’t you kneeling before your princess?"
Kneel?
Serena Feng froze, then wore an expression of sudden realization.
Of course she should kneel before royalty. If she was going to live in this world, she’d have to follow its rules—besides, it’s not like her knees were made of gold.
With no psychological burden at all, Serena Feng calmly bent her knees and knelt down:
"Serena greets Princess Serenity. Long live Your Highness."
She knelt with her knees, not her heart. Serena Feng knelt decisively, without a hint of discomfort.
Looking at Serena Feng kneeling before her, Princess Serenity felt no joy at all. For some reason, she couldn’t find any humility or respect in Serena’s eyes.
She clearly remembered that Serena used to cower and tremble whenever she saw her, eyes already red before a word was spoken, groveling at her feet. But today, Serena Feng was nothing like before...
"Serena Feng, you..." Princess Serenity called out, but for a long moment, couldn’t find any words.
All those insults she used to hurl at Serena Feng—today, she just couldn’t say them.
"I’m here, Your Highness," Serena replied blandly, her eyes fixed on some unknown spot ahead.
She was kneeling at the princess’s feet, but her eyes held nothing of her. Princess Serenity was so furious she ground her teeth, and without thinking, whipped her arm toward Serena Feng.
But just as she raised her whip, Serena Feng’s voice rang out, completely unafraid: "Princess, flinging your whip around in public might damage your dignity, you know."
Serena Feng said it offhandedly, not expecting it to change anything.
She was certain she’d be taking a beating today.
It wasn’t that she lacked the will to fight back, but one look at the princess’s guards told her: a wise woman knows when to yield.
A lash from Princess Serenity was preferable to a brawl with all those guards.
Her reputation—already dragged through the mud—wasn’t something she could afford to throw away entirely.
Unexpectedly, her casual words made Princess Serenity hesitate.
In about a month, Prince Terrence Valen of Lyndaria would arrive in Eastlyn to choose a bride.
Rumor had it that Prince Terrence Valen was extremely picky. Unable to find a suitable crown princess in Lyndaria, he began searching in other countries.
He’d searched across kingdoms, but still hadn’t found a woman to his liking. At such a crucial moment, Princess Serenity couldn’t risk her reputation.
If Prince Terrence Valen chose her, wouldn’t that prove she was the most outstanding woman on the continent?
Princess Serenity’s eyes flashed. If she couldn’t act out in public, she’d simply find another stage.
Hmph... Even if Brother Adrian said not to kill Serena Feng, once they were back at the palace, she could play with her however she liked. As long as she didn’t kill her, it wouldn’t break Adrian’s orders.
Princess Serenity shot Serena Feng a glare, reluctantly stowed her whip, and kicked in Serena’s direction.
"Serena Feng, on the third of March, I’m hosting a Peach Blossom Festival banquet. You must attend."
Ever since Serena’s disgrace, she’d hidden away in Feng Manor like a turtle, never showing her face. Several young ladies had tried all sorts of invitations—flower-viewing, outings—but none had succeeded.
Now that Princess Serenity had this chance, there was no way she’d let it slip by.
Ever since Serena’s disgrace, she’d hidden away in Feng Manor like a turtle, never showing her face. The city’s young ladies tried every trick—flower-viewing, outings, tea parties—but none could lure her out.
Princess Serenity’s little scheme was perfectly obvious to Serena Feng. Though she wasn’t happy about it, she nodded anyway.
The so-called Peach Blossom Festival wasn’t about flowers at all—it was a stage set for Serena Feng’s humiliation.
Sigh, just when she thought she’d dodged disaster for now, even bigger trouble was waiting ahead!
Sigh, just when she thought she’d dodged disaster, even bigger trouble was waiting ahead!
She whipped the empty space beside Serena Feng once more. Watching Serena shrink back, Princess Serenity laughed even louder, her silver-bell laughter ringing as she boarded the carriage and headed for the palace.
As soon as Princess Serenity left, Serena Feng stood up, brushed the dust from her skirt, and headed for Feng Manor before anyone could react.
Just as she reached the manor gates, she saw the boy she’d saved today, standing outside with a cage holding the snake he’d played dead with.
And sure enough, within a hundred meters of Feng Manor’s gate, countless maids and servants were milling about. A few, spotting Serena Feng, immediately stepped forward and handed her a stack of ornate invitations:
Looking at the pile of perfumed, pink invitations, Serena Feng’s lips curled into a smile—half mocking, half amused.
"Miss Feng, my lady invites you for tea the day after tomorrow."
These women really were all the same. Did they actually think a few cruel words would break her?
Such childish tricks—she had no patience for them. Wasn’t there anyone among these women with a bit more cunning?
Suppressing her irritation, Serena Feng accepted every single invitation.
As crude as their ploys were, she had to admit—they’d get results. No party was ever truly friendly, and she couldn’t reject them all. Serena Feng knew that much.
The trouble before her was far from over...
Such childish tricks—she had no interest in playing along. Didn’t any of these women have a better idea?
Suppressing her irritation, Serena Feng took all the invitations.
As crude as their methods were, she had to admit—they’d get results. No party was ever truly friendly, and she couldn’t reject them all. Serena understood that much.
The trouble in front of her was still far from over...