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墨書 Inktalez
The day of the palace banquet soon arrived.
On this day, I dressed with great care, choosing a Lake Blue Azure Sleeve Palace Dress, adorned with subtle lotus embroidery on the hem—neither ostentatious nor lacking in elegance. My hair was styled simply, held up with a white jade hairpin, complemented by matching earrings that gave off an air of grace and refinement.
In the mirror, the girl reflected back at me had brows and eyes like a painting, her demeanor calm and composed, a stark contrast to the anxious and troubled former consort I had once been.
Qing Zhu stood beside me, entranced. "Miss, you look truly beautiful today."
I smiled slightly and picked up a small fragrance pouch from the dressing table, pinning it to my waist. I had crafted this myself, adding several special herbs that could help calm the mind; it might prove useful in critical moments.
When the time came, I traveled to the palace with my father, the Liu, and Shen Ling. The atmosphere in the carriage was somewhat delicate. Both the Liu and Shen Ling had dressed meticulously; especially Shen Ling, who wore a Peach Pink gown adorned with jewels that made her appear charming yet also revealed a hint of eagerness and artifice.
She frequently glanced at me, her eyes filled with provocation and calculation. I knew she was intent on making me uncomfortable during the banquet.
I chose to ignore her, closing my eyes to rest.
The banquet was set in the Changyin Pavilion of the Imperial Garden. By the time we arrived, many nobles, officials, and their families were already seated inside. The sounds of silk and bamboo instruments filled the air as fragrant scents mingled with elegant figures in a scene of joyous celebration.
After finding our seats at the Shen Family's table, numerous familiar and unfamiliar ladies approached to exchange pleasantries, most likely drawn by my future title as Consort Jing.
I responded graciously to each one, maintaining a pleasant demeanor and composure without giving them any reason to criticize.
Shen Ling sat beside me, watching as I became the center of attention. She bit her silver teeth in frustration while keeping a sweet smile plastered on her face, occasionally interjecting remarks to display our sisterly bond.
Zhao Yan also attended, seated among the princes. He occasionally glanced my way with a gentle expression. However, I knew that beneath that warm facade lay a heart cold with calculation.
As the banquet progressed and drinks were served for the third round, music began to fade. The Empress smiled as she spoke: "I have heard that Miss Shen Wei, daughter of Grand Scholar Shen, is not only beautiful and virtuous but also exceptionally talented. Today is a special occasion; might Miss Shen share her talents with us?"
Here it came.
In my previous life, it was at this moment that Shen Ling had urged me on, claiming I had recently composed an impressive poem that would surely dazzle everyone. Trusting her words then, I recited a line I had stumbled upon days earlier: "A person thinner than Yellow Chrysanthemum." Little did I know that Shen Ling had already spread this line through her connections, embellishing it by claiming it expressed my longing for Prince Jing and depicting me as haggard. The result was uproarious laughter at my expense and the label of "Frivolous" stuck to me.
This time, I would not let her have her way again.
Before Shen Ling could speak up, I rose gracefully and walked to the center of the gathering. Bowing respectfully to the Empress and all present, I said: "Your Majesty's praise is too much; I am unworthy of such compliments. As for talent, there are many gifted young ladies in the capital; I am merely someone who dabbles in literature and dare not embarrass myself."
My humility and composure drew many appreciative glances.
The Empress chuckled lightly: "Miss Shen need not be so modest. Today is a joyous occasion; feel free to be at ease."
At this moment, Shen Ling could no longer contain herself. She stood up and said sweetly: "Your Majesty, my sister isn't unwilling; she's just too humble! Just recently she composed an Ode to Chrysanthemum; I thought it was wonderful!"
She looked at me with calculating eyes: "Sister, why don't you recite it for everyone? Let them see your talent!"
All eyes turned toward me. Zhao Yan watched with keen interest as if eager to see how I would respond.
I chuckled coldly in my heart, but feigned surprise and shyness on the surface. "Sister, you must be mistaken. When did I compose the lyrics to 'Ode to Chrysanthemum'? With the recent unpredictable weather, I've caught a chill and have been feeling unwell; I simply lack the mood to write."
I denied it outright, leaving Shen Ling at a loss for words.
"How could that be! Sister clearly..." Shen Ling blurted out in a rush, "It's that line 'Do Not Say It Does Not Captivate The Soul, The Curtain Rolls with the West Wind, thinner than the Yellow Chrysanthemum!' Sister forgot?"
As soon as she spoke, she realized she had misspoken. That line was supposed to have been "accidentally" revealed by me and then "overheard" by someone she arranged to listen; now she had blurted it out herself.
The room fell silent, and many turned their curious and amused gazes toward Shen Ling. How could an unmarried girl know such... well, rather controversial lines of love poetry?
The Liu turned pale and discreetly pinched Shen Ling.
Shen Ling panicked, her cheeks flushing red as she stammered, "I... I heard it from someone else..."
"Oh? Who did you hear it from?" I feigned curiosity, pressing on. "Where did you come across this line? I had no idea I had become such a renowned 'talented woman'."
I closed in step by step, my tone gentle yet piercing with every word.
Shen Ling was rendered speechless by my questioning and looked helplessly at The Liu and Zhao Yan for assistance.
The Liu cleared his throat, attempting to smooth things over: "She's just a young girl, speaking nonsense; please don't take it to heart."
But I had no intention of letting it go: "What Mother said is true. Sister is young and easily misled by rumors. But where did this rumor originate? Though the line has some artistic merit, it is rather melancholic; if people mistakenly believe it was composed by a daughter, wouldn't that unjustly tarnish both her reputation and that of Prince Jing?"
I deliberately mentioned Zhao Yan, elevating the matter to royal dignity.
Zhao Yan indeed frowned slightly and cast an unhappy glance at Shen Ling.
Shen Ling trembled in fear, nearly on the verge of tears.
The atmosphere in the room became somewhat delicate. The gazes directed at Shen Ling shifted from playful amusement to disdain and suspicion.
Seeing my opportunity, I turned to the Empress and bowed: "Please forgive me, Your Majesty; it is Servant Girl who has failed to discipline my sister properly and disturbed Your Majesty's enjoyment."
The Empress regarded me thoughtfully before glancing at the pale-faced Shen Ling and finally waved her hand: "It’s nothing. Just a jest from a young girl. Miss Shen need not take it to heart."
She paused before continuing: "However, today is a festive occasion; we must have some entertaining performances. Since Miss Shen is unwilling to compose lyrics, how about playing a tune instead? This palace has heard that Miss Shen's skills on the guqin are quite remarkable."
This provided me with an opportunity to step down gracefully while also showcasing my own talents once more.
"Servant Girl obeys," I replied with another bow, already formulating my plans in my mind.
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