making things difficult

These women were all prominent figures among the noble ladies of the capital, and they could usually talk to Dou Zhen. It was not surprising that Bai Shi, who was eager to make a good impression on her daughter, invited them all.

Lin Xu took a sip of the tea brought by the maid, and when she looked up again, she saw several elegantly dressed women chatting and laughing in the second row on the right. Among them, Madam Zhang and Madam Jiang were the most distinguished.

Madam Zhang had been in charge of the Huo family for many years, and it was rare for her to attend a banquet. Today, she wore a dark crimson silk embroidered jacket, with a pearl and kingfisher feather hairpin inlaid in her hair. She looked even more elegant than when Lin Xu looked across the stream at the Huo family's ancestral worship ceremony.

Madame Chiang Kai-shek, needless to say, was always elegant and noble.

Beside the two sat a very slender young woman. On such a grand occasion, when everyone was vying to outshine each other, she was only wearing a plain white gauze dress with fine patterns, and her long black hair was tied up with a thin silver hairpin.

So fresh and elegant, standing out amidst the glittering and opulent prosperity, it is as noble as a white plum blossom that has not yet fully bloomed, thus attracting special attention.

While clapping along with the applause, Zhang would occasionally turn her head to talk to the girl.

When Lin Xu, separated from the crowd, finally saw the girl's face clearly as she turned around with a smile, he couldn't help but be slightly taken aback.

Yao Su'an has always been gentle and graceful, but she has never dressed so elegantly and refinedly before.

Lin Xu then realized that Yao Su'an was dressed so plainly in white perhaps because the family's mourning period was not yet over. Yao Suran's death was sudden, but it had already been several months...

Life is so unpredictable. Even with all the entanglements he had with the Yao sisters in the past, Lin Xu couldn't help but sigh.

Soon, Dou Zhen completed the coming-of-age ceremony, including the hairpin-insertion ritual. With the Princess Consort of Gong personally inserting the hairpin, Dou Zhen, already the legitimate daughter of a high-ranking official and a companion to a princess, would undoubtedly become even more famous throughout the land, making her a desirable match for many noble young men.

However, Lin Xu searched the entire banquet hall but could not find Jiang Heng. It was his beloved's coming-of-age ceremony; why wasn't he there for such an important occasion?

Lin Xu had only thought about it briefly before he saw the greeting completed and everyone disperse, preparing to rest for a while before taking their seats at the banquet.

Miao Yiyun was accompanied by two very respectful palace servants. Her eyes swept indifferently over the faces of the crowd, which were either fawning or envious, and she walked straight toward Lin Xu.

Lin Xu knew that Miao Yiyun had grown up alongside Liao Yan since childhood and was also raised by the Princess, almost like her own daughter. However, apart from Princess Kunrou, the two had never had a proper private conversation. Now, seeing Miao Yiyun arrive, he stood up, gently smiled, and bowed in greeting.

"This humble woman attends the ceremony for the Crown Princess."

Miao Yiyun looked at Lin Xu, who was being very respectful in front of her, and remained silent for a while.

In the crowded hall, people soon looked over, only to see Miao Yiyun looking at Lin Xu, who was bowing to her, with a cold and arrogant expression, but she did not say anything to tell him to rise for a long time.

The Third Prince had just received imperial favor at the beginning of last month, entering the Eastern Palace and being formally appointed Crown Prince. Emperor Su praised his bravery and filial piety, not only bestowing upon him three tutors and three junior advisors, but also specially granting him the honorific title of "Benevolent and Filial Crown Prince." With such overwhelming imperial favor, naturally no one in the court dared to offend Miao Yiyun, who was now the Crown Princess.

Lin Xu had changed his clothes after falling into the water, and now he was wearing a very simple light apricot-colored jacket with a plain brocade belt around his waist. He was not adorned with silk or jade pendants, and his whole demeanor was exceptionally gentle.

Miao Yiyun looked coldly at Lin Xu's downcast eyes and gave a soft snort.

She had always disliked Lin Xu, always thinking he was just putting on an act in front of the princess. Her gaze shifted, and she noticed a flash of red light on Lin Xu's pale finger. She immediately recognized it as the ring that Liao Yan always wore.

The princess even gave her this ring!

Back when she and the princess were still together all the time, she had her eye on this valuable ruby ​​ring and pestered Liao Yan for a long time, but Liao Yan wouldn't give in no matter how much she pleaded and begged.

What methods did Lin Xu use to coax Liao Yan into ignoring her words and even giving her the ring?

This is a priceless treasure...

Lin Xu, with her head down, was unaware of Miao Yiyun's thoughts. She could only vaguely sense that Miao Yiyun had come with ill intentions, but no matter how hard she racked her brains, she couldn't figure out why Miao Yiyun was targeting her. Since Miao Yiyun wouldn't tell her to get up, she couldn't be impolite, so she could only remain in this stalemate.

Seeing this, Zhu Ling couldn't help but feel worried.

The lady is pregnant and should be more careful. She has just fallen into the water and been rescued. Now she is bent over like this. Although she is not far along in her pregnancy, if she delays any longer, it will definitely harm the baby in her womb!

She glanced at the banquet laid out in the distance, and, quick-witted as ever, curtsied as well, saying respectfully:

"Greetings, Your Highness. The banquet is now ready in the palace. Shall I lead you to your seat?"

Miao Yiyun had no intention of making things difficult for Lin Xu in front of everyone; she just didn't like the look of her. But when she saw the ring, her jealousy slowly surfaced.

She had never understood why she and the princess had suddenly become estranged. A while ago, the princess went south with the army. Before leaving, she went to visit her, but the princess made an excuse that she was busy practicing martial arts and didn't even see her. The princess didn't accept the tonics and fine cloth that she had sent.

The princess had long since forgotten the sisterly bonds of the past, and even felt closer to this woman who always feigned weakness and innocence. Despite her efforts, she couldn't sow discord between the princess and Lin Xu…

Miao Yiyun raised her phoenix eyes, her dark eyebrows, like distant mountains, reaching her temples, exuding an incomparably dignified chill:

"I've long admired Madam Lin's reputation, and now I finally have the chance to speak with her. I see that ring on your hand is quite beautiful; may I ask where you obtained it?"

Lin Xu's bent-over body paused slightly.

As soon as Miao Yiyun said this, the curious glances that had been repeatedly directed at them became even more undisguised.

Meanwhile, Song Xiyan, who was muttering to herself by the incense table that her hair ornament was the same style as Song Jiaoling's, who came from a humble background, looked over curiously at the table after being reminded by Jin Wanzhi and Deng Tanyu.

Lin Xu spoke softly, his voice neither humble nor arrogant:

"Thank you for your praise, Your Highness. This ring was a gift from a good friend, and I wear it out of gratitude for our friendship. I will certainly pass on your praise to my friend in private."

Lin Xu's mind raced, and he guessed that Miao Yiyun's sudden attack was probably related to Princess Kunrou. Perhaps Miao Yiyun had even recognized the ring.

In front of everyone, Lin Xu couldn't directly say that Liao Yan had personally given it to him, so he had a sudden idea to use this to remind Miao Yiyun of something.

Unexpectedly, upon hearing this, Miao Yiyun's already gloomy eyes flickered.

Meanwhile, Song Xiyan took in all of this. She looked at the imposing Crown Princess, but a few thoughts gradually surfaced in her mind.

Now, Song Xiyan's father, Song Zhihua, has been appointed as the Crown Prince's tutor, and is now a legitimate member of the Eastern Palace's power.

Although she had previously been tricked by Yao Suran into missing out on becoming the heir of the Prince Gong's mansion, now that Yao Suran was dead, Song Xiyan no longer had a nemesis and naturally regained her confidence.

And this Lin Xu...

Miss Song glanced at Lin Xu, who was standing docilely beside Miao Yiyun, and felt a surge of anger rising in her heart.

She was so foolish back then, falling for Lin Xu's trick so easily!

At the Crown Prince's wedding banquet, Lin Xu stirred her heart with just a few words, making her think that the Fifth Prince was truly a perfect husband. For several months afterward, she and Yao Suran secretly competed with each other.

She even secretly bribed the servants around the Fifth Prince, wanting to imitate the shameless Yao Suran and create a "chance encounter" in the places where the Fifth Prince often appeared.

At that time, she even gritted her teeth and secretly resented it, thinking that she was about to be defeated by Yao Suran again, but her father woke her up in time.

Now that Father is the Crown Prince's tutor, he can no longer easily get too close to the other princes. Otherwise, it would invite criticism of the Crown Prince for forming cliques and engaging in corrupt practices!

She spent all her time studying floral makeup and never thought of this aspect! After she inquired about the Fifth Prince's deeds several times, she learned that others might not know, but when the Fifth Prince was studying at Zhiqiong Hall, he was not good at literature and history and always ranked at the bottom of his class!

What good are martial arts skills if one is so ignorant and incompetent? Can one expect to have a future in the future?

Those of them who weren't in the academy naturally had no way of knowing such things, but Lin Xu had actually studied at Zhiqiong Hall before! She actually kept all of this a secret and insisted on spreading rumors to make herself think that the Fifth Prince was a rare and excellent young man. What kind of vicious heart does Lin Xu have!

At that time, Song Xiyan, who suddenly realized that she had been used, was so anxious at home that she jumped up and down. Now that she saw Lin Xu again, she was determined to retaliate!

Thinking of this, Song Xiyan straightened the hair ornament in her hair and walked over gracefully.

"Greetings, Crown Princess."

She curtsied to Miao Yiyun, then slowly straightened up, and smiled gently at Miao Yiyun:

"I just saw the Crown Princess at the banquet, but I didn't have time to greet her. Please don't be offended."

Then, changing the subject, Song Xiyan glanced at Lin Xu, whose body had already stiffened, and her smile deepened as she said leisurely:

"Just now, I overheard Your Highness chatting with Madam Dou. Did something interesting happen? After all, Madam Dou is always quite witty."

Song Xiyan's addition undoubtedly made their actions even more eye-catching.

Lin Xu sighed inwardly, understanding that Song Xiyan harbored resentment towards her and was eager to vent it. She felt that she had truly run into bad luck today, with one unfortunate thing after another happening. She should have listened to Zhu Ling's advice and stayed in the room to rest.

Thinking this, she slowly straightened her numb body, looked up and smiled at the two people in front of her.

Since she couldn't avoid it either way, she had no choice but to accept the challenge.