Shangguan Wanning stood up and bowed, lowering her eyes and said, "Your Majesty, you are too kind. Ning'er's mother taught her since she was young that a woman's virtue lies in her lack of talent. The so-called surpassing the number one scholar is just an exaggeration. The number one scholar is a disciple of the emperor, so he doesn't care about a little girl like me."
"Miss Shangguan is really modest." The Queen didn't say anything else.
Shangguan Wanning retreated.
She secretly observed and saw that the Queen Mother and the Empress exchanged glances, left the paper with two poems and handed it to the chief eunuch.
After lunch, there was another series of formalities. Afterwards, everyone accompanied the Queen Mother to take a walk in the Imperial Garden to enjoy the flowers.
The warm spring afternoon sunshine is gentle and blows gently, bringing with it a warm atmosphere and the air is filled with the sweet scent of flowers.
Several colorful butterflies are dancing among the flowers, which makes people feel relaxed and happy and intoxicated.
"I often hear people in the palace mention that the daughters of the ministers in the court are all talented. I am happy today, so I will find a few girls to dance for me. If they dance well, I will reward them handsomely."
Many ladies from well-off families were eager to try it after hearing this.
After all, being able to perform in front of the Queen Mother will definitely benefit you in the future.
Several brave girls immediately volunteered, and the queen called out a few people by name, including Shangguan Wanning.
"Eunuch Liu, please take the young ladies to the inner hall to prepare."
"I obey your command," Eunuch Liu agreed to the Queen's request, then turned to the beautiful girls, bowed and smiled, "Ladies, please follow me."
Shangguan Wanning felt a little helpless, her mind was racing. Suddenly, she caught a glimpse of Shangguan Xiaoxiao silently retreating, and walking in another direction while no one was paying attention.
"Lutong, follow her."
Shangguan Wanning quietly reminded Lutong.
Lu Tong nodded in understanding.
"Second Prince, you're looking for me?"
Shangguan Xiaoxiao came behind the rockery, but what she saw was not Xiao Zhenting, but the eunuch who was close to Xiao Zhenting.
Her expression suddenly fell, her tone became less friendly, and she asked coldly, "What do you want from me?"
The eunuch looked at Shangguan Xiaoxiao with contempt, obviously not taking her seriously.
He pulled out a small cloth bag from his sleeve, handed it over and said, "This is what the Second Prince asked me to give you. Find a chance later and put it in Shangguan Wanning's dancing shoes before she starts dancing."
"What is this?" Shangguan Xiaoxiao took it and opened it. It was a silver needle shining with blue light.
This silver needle... is poisonous.
"You don't need to ask what it is, just follow the instructions of the Second Prince. I want to remind you to be careful. If you accidentally pierce your flesh, don't blame others."
After the eunuch said this, he walked away.
Shangguan Xiaoxiao looked at the silver needle and a ferocious smile appeared on the corner of her mouth.
Lutong hid in the dark, watching with fear. She never thought that her second daughter would collude with outsiders to harm the eldest daughter.
She tried her best to suppress the shock in her heart, and immediately returned to the back hall, reporting everything she had just seen to Shangguan Wanning.
Shangguan Wan Ning sneered secretly, "He is indeed a traitor, an ungrateful wolf who can never be fed."
"My lady, what should we do now? Do you want me to expose her?"
"No need, just pretend you know nothing. I know my limits."
Shangguan Wanning asked Lutong to find two pairs of identical dancing shoes, and put on her dancing costume with the help of eunuchs and palace maids.
The sound of stringed instruments was heard, and a girl went out to perform first.
Not long after, Shangguan Xiaoxiao walked in with a smile on her face, and as usual, she took Shangguan Wanning's arm affectionately.
"Sister, I just watched outside, and none of them dance as well as you. You will definitely please the Queen Mother."
"Really?" Shangguan Wanning said softly, "I'm still a little nervous."
"Sister, don't be nervous, you must be the best." Shangguan Xiaoxiao saw that the time was right and squatted down, "Let me put on your shoes for you, it will be your turn soon."
Lu Tong nervously wanted to step forward to stop them, but Shangguan Wan Ning stopped her with a look.
Shangguan Xiaoxiao looked at Shangguan Wanning who had put on her dancing shoes, and suppressed the sneer that was rising at the corner of her mouth.
"Thank you, sister. Please wait for me outside. I'll be there soon."
"OK."
After Shangguan Xiaoxiao left, Lutong immediately took out another pair of shoes that she had prepared for Shangguan Wanning to change into, and carefully took out the silver needle that Shangguan Xiaoxiao had hidden.
"Miss, how should we deal with this?"
"Take the silver needle and go to my uncle and ask him to find a trustworthy doctor to see what it is. If my uncle asks anything else, just say you don't know."
"I understand."
After Lutong left, Shangguan Wanning walked out of the inner hall.
Her appearance immediately attracted everyone's attention.
With a stunning face, a graceful figure, and an elegant temperament, she is the most dazzling one among many young and beautiful girls.
She slowly walked to the center and danced to the music.
"oops……"
Shangguan Wanning jumped only a few steps before falling heavily to the ground, her composure completely lost, and a sigh came from the crowd.
She seemed a little panicked and knelt down while enduring the pain.
"Please forgive me, Queen Mother. Ning'er is clumsy. Although she has learned to dance, she just can't learn it. Queen Mother, I..."
The Queen Mother and the Empress looked at each other and couldn't help shaking their heads and sighing.
Rumor has it that the eldest daughter of the Shangguan family is extremely talented and beautiful, with an elegant temperament. She appears to be graceful and elegant on weekdays, so how could she be so stupid at the critical moment?
"Forget it, it's none of your business." The Queen Mother's attitude was a little cold, "Come here, send Miss Shangguan to the inner hall to rest."
"Thank you, Queen Mother."
Shangguan Wanning returned to the inner hall with the help of several old maids.
She saw her mother in the crowd looking at her anxiously, and she blinked playfully.
Madam Shangguan secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Although she couldn't check on her daughter's injuries right away, she looked relaxed, so there shouldn't be any major problems.
"I'm fine. I just want to rest quietly for a while. You all can go down."
Shangguan Wanning dismissed the old nanny and gently lifted her skirt. Her ankles were red and swollen.
To make it more realistic, she deliberately sprained her foot. She wanted to rub it, but when she pressed it lightly, she gasped in pain.
"If I had known... I wouldn't have tried so hard, I would have just pretended..."
Shangguan Wanning muttered to herself, and suddenly a pair of slender legs appeared in her sight.
She was startled and looked up quickly, meeting a pair of deep eyes.
"Is it you?"
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