As the sun gradually rose, its rays scattered, illuminating the heavens and the earth, and the small banquet officially began.

Amidst the clinking of glasses, the chatter of the women mingled with the chirping of birds in early spring, like a spring symphony in full bloom.

A young lady rose, gracefully bowed, and offered a beautiful guzheng piece, thus beginning the secret competition among the young ladies.

The young ladies all possessed their own unique skills, enabling them to stand out at such banquets and attract attention, thus paving the way for a better marriage.

Song Tangxue observed politely, her fingers lightly tapping on her knees to keep time. The fruit wine at the table was sweet but not cloying. After drinking a few more cups, a slight warmth entered her mind, and Song Tangxue found herself somewhat lost in thought.

Don't dwell on those heavy and complicated things from your past life.

But there are always some people who want to disrupt this tranquility. The young lady playing the guzheng is named Lin Yuan, and she is the daughter of the Minister of Revenue.

After finishing her piece, Lin Yuanrou stood up and said, "I've made a fool of myself."

She returned to her seat, her cheeks still flushed, a smile playing on her lips, clearly very satisfied with her performance.

Everyone in the capital knew that Lin Yuan's guzheng skills were unparalleled, and the ladies of the palace all loved to invite her to learn from her.

Song Tangli, whose seat was right next to Lin Yuan, held up a glass of fruit wine and said, "Sister Hu's guzheng playing is truly melodious."

Lin Yuan nodded politely in thanks.

“My sister’s guzheng is also quite good. If you have time, you two can have a competition.” Song Tangli’s eyes seemed to hold only simple envy.

Song Tangxue's good mood plummeted: "She can't compare to Miss Hu when it comes to passing the time in her spare time."

Lin Yuan had been taught the guzheng by a renowned teacher and had practiced diligently over a long period of time. Song Tangli's words were a slap in the face to her, and the smile on Lin Yuan's face faded considerably.

Song Tangli disagreed, saying, "Sister is being too modest. Sister is intelligent and eager to learn. She is not only good at playing the guzheng, but also at writing poetry and lyrics, and even has some experience in wood carving."

A few words propelled Song Tangxue to a high point, as if she were the only one of her kind in the world.

Lin Yuan's face turned completely cold, and she looked at Song Tangli with a cold gaze. Song Tangxue sighed as she watched Song Tangli's foolish behavior.

Some people just have to court death; there's no way to stop them.

After finishing the fruit wine in one gulp, Song Tangxue found a quiet spot and quietly enjoyed the performances of the ladies at the banquet.

Isn't this much more interesting than those folk performances?

Song Tangli was still praising Song Tangxue incessantly when her best friend Xuesong snorted coldly from the side: "Some people are just arrogant and aloof, unwilling to attend these banquets. Why haven't we seen her at the usual banquets?"

"Why did you rush here today? I wonder what your purpose is?" Xuesong's words stirred the ladies nearby, each of them pondering their own thoughts.

Song Tangxue was positioned at a distance that was neither too close nor too far, allowing her to see Song Tangli but still hear their conversation.

"Who knows if this is real talent or fake talent? Everyone claims to be a genius with unparalleled talent, so wouldn't they all be able to become high-ranking officials in the temple? What real skills could a country bumpkin like her have?" Chen Shu retorted, her tone disdainful. The side of her face that had been slapped was still slightly red and swollen, and the hatred hidden in her heart was tormenting her like a raging storm.

"To be honest, my talent far surpasses hers. It just depends on whether she's willing to compete with me. I'm afraid she'll refuse. If you don't have any knowledge, wouldn't that be shameful?" Chen Shu got more and more excited as he spoke, as if he could imagine the scene of Song Tangxue being trampled under his feet.

She hasn't gotten revenge for being slapped in public yet.

The surrounding ladies smiled without saying a word, all watching the spectacle with amusement. As long as it didn't concern them, they wouldn't interfere. Why not enjoy the show?

Regardless of who wins or loses, it's always something to talk about.

Seeing that rumors were spreading like wildfire and getting increasingly outrageous, Hu Feifei, the concubine's daughter of the Hu family, frowned slightly: "It's best for you ladies to refrain from speaking ill of others behind their backs."

Song Tangli's eyes were deep and dark as she stared intently at Hu Feifei with a smile on her face. Hu Feifei, however, felt a chill in her heart: "Miss Hu, you are mistaken. It is not your place to gossip about my sister's affairs. It is just some banter between sisters. As an outsider, you should refrain from saying more."

Hu Feifei's face turned pale and then red. Song Tangli was also a concubine's daughter, but everyone knew that she was the most beloved concubine's daughter in the Song family and the precious daughter of Song's mother.

She was also someone the Crown Prince held dear, so Hu Feifei dared not contradict her.

Song Tangxue sneered as she watched the farce orchestrated by the three of them. Some people always seem to test other people's patience time and time again.

Song Tangxue returned to her seat, tapping the glass of fruit wine on the table with a soft sound, and fixed her eyes on Chen Shu: "Alright, let's have a contest."

His expression was calm, and his posture was relaxed, showing no sign of panic, as if he had already won the battle.

A sense of fear involuntarily welled up in Chen Shu's heart, and her face felt hot. She thought that Song Tangxue would never agree, and that she was just being verbally aggressive.

Chen Shu lowered his head and remained silent. Song Tangxue's words still lingered in his heart. He was just a concubine's daughter, unlike Song Tangli. If he offended someone, no one would stand up for him.

Song Tangxue is the legitimate daughter of the Song family and the Crown Princess recognized by the imperial family. After the grand wedding, she will become a true member of the imperial family with a prestigious status.

The more Chen Shu thought about it, the more panicked she became. She raised her hand to look at Song Tangxue, who was staring at her. Song Tangxue's eyes seemed devoid of warmth. Chen Shu trembled and said, "Let's leave it at that for today. I have an appointment with Miss Qin to discuss matters. I'll definitely make it up next time."

After saying that, he didn't care about the expressions on everyone's faces, and left with his head down. The onlookers had different expressions. Wasn't this just running away in a panic, and he was even making up some so-called excuse?

Some people had already made comparisons in their minds. A concubine's daughter is a concubine's daughter. Her knowledge and courage are no match for those of a legitimate daughter. Look at Song Tangxue's composed demeanor, and then look at the flustered Chen Shu.

Everyone shook their heads.

Song Tangxue's attitude once again won the praise of the young ladies, who looked at her intentionally or unintentionally, and some even came over to chat with her.

After all, she is the future Crown Princess. Befriending her would be beneficial to both their families and themselves.

Song Tangli's fingers clenched tightly. It was Song Tangxue who stole the show again, while she herself was relegated to an insignificant supporting role, like an inconspicuous little flower or grass growing in a corner.

“Sister, how about I have a little competition with you?” Song Tangli took a deep breath and invited Song Tangxue with a smile.

Her studies were taught by renowned teachers hired by her parents, and her various skills were also taught according to the standards of legitimate daughters, so she was no worse than the legitimate daughters present.

Song Tangxue was just a wild girl from the countryside; he only needed to show a little of his skills to suppress her.

Song Tangli could already picture Song Tangxue losing the competition.

"Please go easy on me, sister," Song Tangli said deliberately, knowing she wouldn't show any mercy anyway.