Chapter 2: Restoring Her Honor

Half an hour later.

The Spring Banquet was held in a peach blossom grove on the outskirts of Chang'an. The grove stretched for three miles, a continuous expanse of vibrant, fragrant blooms. As the breeze stirred, petals fell in a soft, rustling shower, filling the air with their scent.

Fu Jinhao was still a dozen paces from the banquet when she heard the harsh, mocking laughter of several young nobles.

"Why is that venomous woman Fu Jinhao not here today?"

"She has the audacity to show her face? Last time, during the river lantern festival, she harmed Miss Jiang in full view of everyone and even threatened to kill her. We certainly don't welcome her!"

"One wonders what sins Grand Tutor Fu committed in his past life to be cursed with such a malicious daughter."

"The one who suffers most is Young General Song. He is a man of rare talent and brilliance, yet he is betrothed to a woman like her. What a tragedy..."

Song Junyao, who was mentioned, felt his expression darken. His loathing for Fu Jinhao had reached its peak.

How could it not be a tragedy?

Ah Xue was enchanting and possessed extraordinary wit and insight, whereas Fu Jinhao was foolish, vicious, and capable only of petty jealousy and underhanded schemes. Fu Jinhao was not worth a fraction of Ah Xue, yet he had been betrothed to her since childhood.

Ah Xue once said that in love, there is no such thing as who came first; the one who is not loved is the third party. Society constrained them, forcing them to hide their surging emotions deep within, unable to reveal them to the light of day.

Jiang Manxue, seated at the center of the noblewomen, wore a crimson, cloud-patterned crepe robe. While her beauty was not the finest in Chang'an, her makeup was exceptionally creative. A delicate, dew-kissed peach blossom was painted between her brows, and her red lips were curved in a way that stirred a man’s desire to claim them.

As if sharing a telepathic connection with Song Junyao, she sensed his impatience and offered him a radiant, charming smile.

The gloom in Song Junyao’s heart was instantly swept away by Jiang Manxue’s bright expression. His heart felt as though it had been lightly brushed, leaving him with a tingling, restless sensation.

Ah Xue.

The road ahead was long and winding. He and Ah Xue still had a long journey to traverse together.

Fu Jinhao stood still, a faint, elusive smile on her lips, listening to their words in silence. Only then did she signal the waiting attendant to announce her arrival: "Lady Fu has arrived—"

The noise at the banquet ceased abruptly. Everyone turned to look, and most of their faces betrayed expressions of displeasure and disgust.

Fu Jinhao walked toward them with grace. She wore a plain-colored long dress, adorned with minimal jewelry that chimed softly with each step. Her skin was as flawless as jade, and though she wore no heavy makeup, her brows were like gathering peaks and her eyes like rippling water. She appeared as if she had stepped out of a painting—refined, elegant, and full of ethereal charm.

The expressions on the crowd's faces shifted repeatedly. Was this really Fu Jinhao?

In the past, she had been jealous of Miss Jiang and had competed with her in everything. Miss Jiang was vibrant and loved wearing crimson, with unique makeup that complemented her well. Fu Jinhao, in her clumsy attempts to imitate her, would wear red and layer on heavy makeup, looking utterly ridiculous. Miss Jiang possessed world-class talent and could compose sublime poetry on the spot. Unwilling to lag behind, Fu Jinhao would churn out petty, jealousy-filled verses that made her the laughingstock of the city.

Today, however, standing in her simple attire beneath the blossoms, her graceful poise was truly eye-catching.

"I never realized before that Lady Fu was actually so beautiful," a young man in green exclaimed, unable to help himself.

Chu Changling, the youngest son of the Vice Minister’s household and one of Jiang Manxue’s many admirers, considered Jiang Manxue to be nothing short of perfect. He could not tolerate this venomous woman stealing the spotlight from her.

"Fu Jinhao! A few days ago, you pushed Miss Jiang into the water during the lantern festival. Have you no intention of offering her tea and apologizing?" Chu Changling barked at her.

Fu Jinhao glanced at Chu Changling, who was playing the hero for Jiang Manxue, then withdrew her gaze. She walked directly up to Jiang Manxue, her eyes clear and chillingly indifferent. "Miss Jiang, was it truly I who pushed you that day?"

Jiang Manxue was seated while Fu Jinhao stood, forcing Jiang to look up to meet those cold, piercing eyes. She found this sensation deeply unpleasant.

Having transmigrated from the 21st century, Jiang Manxue possessed wit and knowledge far superior to the dull and rigid noblewomen of this era. She had always looked down upon them, never regarding them as equals. She had not expected that after hiding in the Grand Tutor’s estate for a few days, Fu Jinhao would have grown so sharp.

"Lady Fu, that matter has already passed; there is no need to bring it up again. As for the harsh words Young General Song spoke to you that day, you need not take them to heart, either," Jiang Manxue said with an enchanting smile, appearing magnanimous. She knew well that as long as she mentioned Song Junyao, Fu Jinhao would fly into a rage, losing all reason.

Fu Jinhao’s lashes remained still. She asked in an incredibly calm tone, "Does Miss Jiang mean to imply that I should bear the false reputation of pushing you into the river for no reason?"

Chu Changling was instantly incensed. "Fu Jinhao, how dare you suggest Miss Jiang is slandering you! It is clear you intended to push her into the moat—the evidence is irrefutable!"

Song Junyao’s eyes were filled with disgust. "Eloquent and deceitful, with no sign of repentance," he said coldly.

Fu Jinhao turned. She finally looked directly at Song Junyao, the man she had chased for an entire lifetime in her previous existence. In truth, he was indeed handsome and imposing, with an extraordinary air.

The devotion she had once felt for him—that soul-baring, desperate infatuation forced upon her by the script of her life—had vanished the moment she died in her previous incarnation and broke free from the narrative's shackles. Now, only disdain and hatred remained.

"The Great Zhou has strict laws. Even a murderer has the right to defend themselves and prove their innocence. Charges are only finalized after evidence is gathered, reviewed, and judged." She looked at them steadily. "For the Young General and the Third Young Master of the Chu family to judge me so rashly—are you perhaps dissatisfied with the laws of the Great Zhou?"

The crowd was stunned. It was as if Fu Jinhao were possessed; she had completely changed. She had always been foolish, yet now she was using the laws of the Great Zhou as her weapon. Even though no royalty was present today, such words would inevitably reach the palace and invite imperial suspicion.

What astonished them even more was her cold, almost dismissive attitude toward the Young General. Everyone knew how deeply she had been infatuated with him. Was this some kind of ploy to play hard to get?

Song Junyao felt a deep sense of contempt when he heard her address him as "Young General Song." *What kind of petty tantrum is she throwing now?* he wondered. *Does she really think that by making such a scene, she can cover up the fact that she harmed Ah Xue? It’s delusional.*

Chu Changling faltered, not daring to retort. While he was infatuated with Jiang Manxue, he dared not challenge the laws of the Great Zhou just to follow Fu Jinhao's lead.

Fu Jinhao curled her lips. *How mediocre.*

She turned back and asked again, "Miss Jiang, did I push you that day?"

Jiang Manxue stared at the calm and composed Fu Jinhao. The girl was indeed a bit smarter than before. *Very well, winning too easily is boring anyway. I shall play along with her.*

She gave an ambiguous answer: "Lady Fu, that day, after I finished releasing my lantern, I was walking up the stone steps when I felt a force hit my back and almost fell." She paused, her expression artful. "I was so frightened at the time that I didn't know for certain if it was you who pushed me."

Fu Jinhao’s tone was light. "Yesterday, I returned to the spot where we released the lanterns. The railing reaches my waist. Although there are gaps, they are not wide enough to reach through. I also found a girl of similar stature to verify this; I reached over the railing to push her, and I could only reach her head. I had no opportunity to push your back at all."

Suddenly, she smiled. "Since only the two of us were standing there, if Miss Jiang says someone pushed your back, it must have been some supernatural entity at work."

The young woman’s face was as pure as a lotus in clear water, her smile enchanting and poignant. She had presented her argument with logic and evidence, and her final remark was brilliant, dripping with irony.

Jiang Manxue gripped her sleeves tightly. She had transmigrated a year ago and had been successful in everything she did. This was the first time she felt a faint, unsettling loss of control.

Chu Changling sneered repeatedly. "Are we to believe your one-sided story? Who in Chang'an doesn't know that Fu Jinhao is a pathological liar?"

Fu Jinhao had been waiting for this. "My one-sided word cannot be fully trusted. In that case, let us take this to court. The Assistant Minister of the Supreme Court is known for his impartiality; he would never allow an unjust verdict." Her gaze was as sharp as a blade. "Miss Jiang, let us confront each other in court."

"Do you dare?"

*Do you dare?* The three words echoed in the ears of the noble youth. Her tone was light, yet filled with an aggressive edge.

Jiang Manxue had been pushed into a "desperate situation" by Fu Jinhao, caught in a dilemma. *I have underestimated her!*

Feeling utterly stifled, Jiang Manxue secretly gritted her teeth before saying, "Lady Fu, it must have been that I was feeling unwell that day and suffered from dizziness, leading to the illusion that someone pushed me..."

Fu Jinhao interrupted her. "I have waited for days, but at least Miss Jiang has finally remembered that I did not push you, and my innocence is restored."

"As for you, Young General Song and Third Young Master Chu, while I understand your eagerness to protect, judging others so recklessly is truly detestable."

Finally, she added with profound meaning, "It is quite unfortunate that I am feeling unwell and must return home to rest. I shall not disturb everyone’s refined amusement any further. Farewell."

With that, she ignored the colorful expressions on the faces of Jiang Manxue and the others and departed from the banquet.

Fu Jinhao did not stop, nor did she look back. Her steps were steady and resolute.

She was alone.

Yet she did not care in the slightest. Instead, her heart was stirred by a solitary courage—the strength to break free from the control of a scripted fate. She had her own thoughts and her own soul; she would no longer be the "malicious female villain" meant to serve as a foil for the so-called fated protagonists.