Chapter 247 She must also hate herself for being so blind back then, right?

Zhan Xingzhuo and Prince Xin stepped forward to pay their respects first, and Zhou Zhining followed with a dignified lady's salute.

With many distinguished guests in the mansion, Zhou Zhining instantly became the focus of attention, and whispers arose all around her.

Some people looked at Zhou Zhining, their gazes intentionally or unintentionally shifting to Yao Qingling.

Needless to say, something interesting is about to happen.

Zhou Zhining smiled slightly, ignoring the sounds around her, and waited for Princess Chen to invite her to rise.

Princess Consort Chen disliked Zhou Zhining, and with a slight frown, glanced at Zhan Xingzhuo.

She had already warned him once, but this time he actually brought people to the Prince Chen's residence, making the entire Prince Chen's residence lose face as well.

Princess Chen felt that Zhan Xingzhuo was going against her, just like he did to the Grand Princess Deyang.

However, under the watchful eyes of everyone, Princess Consort Chen had to maintain the dignity of the Prince's residence and could not directly show her displeasure on her face.

She said calmly, "Alright, get up."

Unlike others, they didn't say anything polite like, "It's cold, go have a cup of hot tea to warm up."

Zhan Xingzhuo then spoke up: "I heard from Prince Xin that there is a poetry gathering at the Prince's mansion today. I had nothing to do, so I came to join in the fun."

The implication is that since everyone is related, why is there an invitation from the Prince Xin's residence but not from the Xin's residence?

Princess Consort Chen replied with a smile: "This poetry gathering is just a place for everyone to get together and chat in their spare time. It's not like we didn't send invitations to the Duke's Mansion. Even Xingxiang knows about it, but you don't. You even had to bring Prince Xin along. People who don't know the situation might think that I, as your cousin-in-law, don't like you. How wronged I am!"

Xing Xiang suddenly appeared out of nowhere, holding a candied hawthorn in his hand. When he saw Zhan Xingzhuo, he called out "Second Brother".

She was all smiles, clearly very happy to be at the poetry gathering.

Zhan Xingzhuo wasn't so happy to see his sister.

He was reprimanded by Princess Chen at the entrance of Xiangyuan last time, and he was still unhappy about it. Zhou Zhining was also unhappy for a long time after she returned home.

He has already become a vice minister, a favorite of the emperor. Isn't that enough to prove himself?

However, even Princess Chen didn't take him seriously. Although it wasn't exactly a lecture, her words of admonition were still grating to his ears.

And now, Princess Consort's words are lecturing him again, saying that he shouldn't break away from the Duke's Mansion, as if his whole life is bound to the Duke's Mansion.

Zhan Xingzhu suppressed his dissatisfaction and smiled, "Sister-in-law, you're joking."

He exchanged a few polite words to regain his composure, and then asked, "Where is the poetry gathering at?"

He glanced at the stone table in the middle, on which were the Four Treasures of the Study, and fine Xuan paper laid out. Someone had written the first half of a poem, but no one had finished it yet.

Some suggested that Zhan Xingzhuo, the third-ranked scholar, should take over.

Zhan Xingzhuo did not refuse. He immediately held his sleeve with one hand, picked up the brush with the other, moistened it with ink, and filled in the ink.

He was surrounded by men and women who had gathered around to watch.

Yao Qingling was not a scholar; she was only interested in making money. She turned her head to look at other things.

After each of these banquets, she would review the entire event, thinking about what improvements to make next time. The guests' enthusiasm, in another sense, was a form of recognition for her.

While others watched Zhan Xingzhuo write poetry, Yao Qingling lowered her eyes and looked at the foot of the table.

The plum blossom table was made by a craftsman who hollowed out a piece of stone to create the table legs. There is a hole in the middle so that a charcoal brazier can be placed inside.

The stone table is cool in the summer, but as cold as ice in the winter. It's too cold to drink tea, play the piano, or write on it.

But the scenery in this courtyard is so beautiful, it would be such a waste to leave this table empty.

It can be placed in a small stove to warm the table, making it a practical item even in winter.

This trial was a success; next time, we'll figure out how to hollow out the chairs too...

Yao Qingling stared blankly at the plum blossom table, but others interpreted this as her disappointment.

Her ex-husband was incredibly talented; he wrote only half a poem, yet it was so brilliant that everyone applauded and praised him. Meanwhile, she, an uneducated woman who couldn't even manage a household, instead of reflecting on her mistakes, made a huge scene over the divorce, criticizing everyone and utterly disgracing the man.

It's fortunate that he left that woman; Minister Zhan has a better future ahead of him!

Did she regret it when she saw how brilliant Zhan Xingzhuo is now?

She must hate herself for being so blind back then, right?

She actually showed such disdain for such an outstanding man, behaving so wickedly; now it's probably too late to win her back, no matter how hard she tries.

When Zhan Xingzhuo put down his pen, his face was calm, but there was no shortage of pride and smugness in his eyes.

In terms of talent, he believed he was second to none among those present.

He glanced at Yao Qingling out of the corner of his eye and saw her looking in his direction, seemingly stunned. She didn't even dare to look at his face, and could only steal glances at his feet.

Does it remind you of the past, when she served him by washing his feet?

Since Zhan Xingzhuo arrived at the Prince's Mansion, he has never given Yao Qingling a proper look, as if she were just a lowly servant.

He chatted fluently with those who came up to praise him, and he stood out the most in the crowd.

Even Zhan Xingxiang was mingling in the crowd, looking at her brother with admiration: "Second brother, you're amazing! This poem is so difficult, so many people couldn't finish it..."

Someone else suggested that Zhan Xingzhuo write another opening, and then let others continue his poem.

Zhan Xingzhuo did not refuse and picked up his pen again.

A noble lady offered to grind ink for him.

Zhan Xingzhuo picked up his pen and began to write, stroke by stroke.

"Madam Yao, what are you thinking about?" Prince Xin appeared beside Yao Qingling at some point. He looked up at Zhan Xingzhuo's direction and said, "He should have been your man."

Yao Qingling turned to look at Prince Xin.

Prince Xin was wearing a purple robe embroidered with white cranes today, which was noble and gorgeous. With his handsome face, he could become the center of attention just by his clothes and his face.

But in Qingling's eyes, he was like a peacock.

Yao Qingling had never liked this magnificent peacock. She smiled faintly and said, "The meaning of 'should have' is 'no.' I have never had any attachment to it, so why is Prince Xin feeling sorry for me?"

“The Prince of Xin appreciates him and likes him, so it would be fine for him to be taken in.”

Prince Xin chuckled and said, "You woman, you never mince words."

He tilted his head slightly, his gaze sweeping from Yao Qingling's neck to her lower back and then around her calves.

She's lost a lot of weight and looks just like the one in the painting.

A hint of admiration flashed in his eyes.

He had no interest in the poetry gathering or anything like that; he had only come to take a look because he heard that Yao Qingling had helped the Prince's Mansion plan the set design.

Yao Qingling slightly raised her chin but didn't say anything.

Zhan Xingzhuo had already finished writing the first half of the poem.

This one is even more difficult than the last one, and no one can keep up with it.

“Speaking of talent, Zhou Zhining was once the most talented woman in Shengjing.” Prince Xin stepped forward slowly, waving his feather fan. He glanced at Zhou Zhining, who was standing quietly in the crowd. “You come here.”

Zhou Zhining said modestly, "This servant is by no means the most talented woman; I am just an ordinary servant."

Her expression held both nostalgia for the past and the embarrassment of her current situation; the desolation on her beautiful face was heartbreaking.