Mingyuan's heart felt a little uneasy listening to Chuxitong's earnest words. However, she still couldn't comprehend Chuxitong's behavior. She couldn't understand why Chuxitong, with the most prestigious identity in the world, could speak to everyone with such gentleness and kindness.

The snow continued to fall heavily, landing in a flurry on the vibrant red branches of the blossoming plum tree. The accumulated snow weighed down the newly emerged branches, bending them under its pressure. Chu Qitong and a group of young ladies from noble families sat in the pavilion, admiring the plum blossoms and discussing the newly popular rouge and powder in the capital. They found the conversation far from boring.

Just as Ming Luan watched Chu Qitong laughing and chatting with those official family young ladies with "humble" identities, she found it even more difficult to understand this imperial princess in her heart.

The royal family values hierarchy the most. Ming Luan couldn't understand how Chu Qi Tong, as the only princess of the Great Chu Dynasty, could disregard the distinction between superior and inferior. Ming Luan questioned herself, realizing that she couldn't achieve the same level of familiarity as those official family young ladies.

"Hua Jiejie, your golden hairpin looks really nice. Can I touch it?" Perhaps they had become more familiar from talking together, a little girl dressed in a watermelon red dress suddenly spoke to Chu Qitong.

Chu Qitong took a casual glance at the young girl, then casually retrieved the golden hairpin from her hair, as mentioned by the girl herself, and handed it over in her direction.

The young girl probably didn't expect that Chu Qitong would actually agree to her request. Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she raised both hands above her head, showing her utmost reverence as she accepted the hairpin handed to her by Chu Qitong.

Meng Jinyu, you have such audacity. Don't you know the difference between respect and disrespect? How dare you utter the words "Sister Hua"? Do you even realize how important this golden hairpin is to my princess? If you accidentally damage it, are you worthy of it?

Just as Chu Qitong was about to hand the golden hairpin in her hand to the girl, Mingluan suddenly stood up and pounded on the table. She snatched the golden hairpin from Chu Qitong's hand and walked behind her, carefully placing the hairpin back into Chu Qitong's hair before speaking.

Meng Jinyu is the only daughter of the Meng family, who holds a high position in the court. She has always been spoiled and pampered. Perhaps it's because she sees that Chu Qitong is truly friendly, that she couldn't help but make such a request. However, she didn't expect Chu Qitong to agree to it, which caused Princess Mingluan to lose face in front of so many people.

Meng Jinyu's eyes were starting to turn red, as she had never been humiliated in public before. Feeling a sense of grievance, she rubbed her eyes and said, "Princess, your words are too harsh. Even the princess herself said that we are all the same. Moreover, I was just borrowing something from the princess, and she wasn't angry at all. Why are you..."

Meng Jinyu, who had been spoiled since childhood, only felt indignant for a moment after being scolded by Ming Luan. She opened her mouth and said, completely underestimating the identity of Princess Ming Luan, and even carrying a hint of accusation towards her.

"Meng Jinyu, have you not yet figured out the situation? This is the Rui'an Wangfu, not your Mengfu. Huajie only said it to be polite, yet you took it seriously. It's quite laughable, isn't it? Huajie is a respected princess, but you're just the daughter of a grand official. What qualifications do you have to call her 'Huajie' like the princess of this county?"

Meng Jinyu was interrupted before he could finish speaking by Ming Luan. When Ming Luan spoke, she looked at Meng Jinyu with a disdainful expression in her eyes. Despite her young age, she held herself with the bearing of a princess without any hesitation.