Soon, the Emperor arrived slowly, supported by his maid.
Everyone stood up and bowed.
Bai Tuantuan glanced at the Empress, only to see an unfamiliar young girl standing behind her.
"That is the Empress's niece, Fan Zhiying."
Su Shishi whispered a reminder: "He is the most unrestrained and unconventional person. You'll find out later."
Su Shishi blushed slightly when she mentioned Fan Zhiying.
Fan Zhiying also saw Bai Tuantuan. It's no wonder she noticed Bai Tuantuan; Bai Tuantuan was simply too eye-catching. It was obvious that she hadn't dressed up much, yet her exquisite face was unmatched.
This reminded her of someone, Ning Nanxiao, whose music was also exquisite and unparalleled.
"Zhiying, what are you thinking about?" The Empress glanced at Fan Zhiying and frowned slightly when she saw her staring at Bai Tuantuan. "That is Princess Changning, whom His Majesty likes very much."
Fan Zhiying curled her lip, saying dismissively, "She's just good at flattering people."
"Alright, don't cause any trouble today."
After whispering a few instructions, the Empress smiled and looked at the noble ladies below, saying, "Enjoy the flower-viewing banquet today. If you need anything, please feel free to ask the maids. However, as always, I will see your poems in two hours."
Everyone laughed and quickly flattered, "Your Majesty, rest assured, this time we will definitely show you our best skills!"
"Yes, but those of us who can't write poetry, if we don't write well, Your Majesty, please bear with us."
"Haha, now that you mention it, I'm reminded of the poem you wrote last year. It was all poetry, but it didn't have a single line about flowers."
"Nonsense! Aren't osmanthus cakes just osmanthus flowers? Aren't peach blossom pastries just peach blossoms?"
Hearing the two ladies arguing, everyone couldn't help but laugh.
The Empress was overjoyed and laughed so hard she couldn't stand up straight: "Alright, alright, you two clowns, you're both equally good. This time I'll have to pay special attention to your poems."
"By the way, Lexin finally got to attend a flower viewing party, we're really looking forward to her poem!"
Chen Zhixiu, who was mentioned, smiled lightly: "Your Majesty the Empress knows that I grew up in the countryside. How could I possibly know these poems and songs? Being an observer is not so bad."
Chen Zhixiu directly revealed her identity, which made the Empress unable to say anything sarcastic. She could only awkwardly say, "That's true, but Xiu'er has been smart since she was a child. Now that she has returned to the capital, she has naturally learned something."
"I was lost when I was a child, how does Your Majesty know that I am intelligent?"
Chen Zhixiu's straightforwardness surprised the Empress.
Fan Zhiying, standing to the side, couldn't help but chuckle: "Princess Lexin, are you not ashamed but proud? If you don't know how, then learn. Does Princess Lexin think she's so great just because she's been granted the title of princess, and doesn't care even if she's a good-for-nothing?"
Everyone's hearts jumped into their throats.
Madam Su and the others looked anxiously at Chen Zhixiu.
However, Chen Zhixiu remained calm and smiled lightly: "There's nothing shameful about admitting you're a simpleton. People are said to be intelligent or ordinary. Although I've been granted the title of Princess, I'm just an ordinary person. It's normal that I'm not as clever as everyone else. However, no matter how ordinary I am, I know about hierarchy, etiquette, and right and wrong. I wonder who this young lady is? How dare you insult the Princess bestowed upon you by the Emperor? What, are you dissatisfied with the Emperor?"
Fan Zhiying narrowed her eyes: "Princess Lexin, there's no need to elevate this to such a level. I am the Empress's niece and the Crown Prince and Third Prince's cousin. How could I possibly be dissatisfied with the Emperor? If I were to say I'm dissatisfied with anyone, it would only be with you."
"Since you have been granted the title of Princess, you must be a model for women. If you have no outstanding qualities, even if you are granted the title of Princess, you will not be respected. You will only be disgracing the Emperor for no reason!"
"I'm a bit blunt, so I hope Princess Lexin won't take offense."
"This is outrageous!" Qiu Qiaoqiao couldn't help but curse under her breath.
Su Shishi looked at Bai Tuantuan with concern, but saw that she was happily eating snacks and was not worried about Chen Zhixiu at all.
Chen Zhixiu stood up, slowly walked out, and stood in the center: "So, in Miss Fan's eyes, not being able to compose poetry means one is not good enough and disgraces the Emperor. Does Her Majesty the Empress also think so?"
Just as the Empress was about to speak, Chen Zhixiu interrupted her.
"I, Chen Zhixiu, have studied crops so that half of the people in Shengning Kingdom will no longer go hungry."
"I trade with other countries, promote our country's goods, and enrich our national treasury."
"I studied fabrics and brocades and developed a thin satin to benefit people in the hot summer."
"I wonder if these three points are enough for me to become a princess?"
With each point mentioned, Fan Zhiying's face paled further, especially the third point. She adored sheer satin but couldn't buy it anywhere! She never imagined it was actually invented by her!
Upon seeing this, the Empress's expression darkened slightly, and she said indifferently, "Zhiying, why don't you apologize to Princess Lexin right now!"
"No."
Chen Zhixiu stopped the Empress and said with a half-smile, "I don't deserve Miss Fan's apology. After all, Miss Fan wasn't sincere, and neither was Your Majesty. When I returned to the capital from the island, the Emperor promised me that I would not be bullied in the capital."
“I will remember this incident, as Your Majesty the Empress has allowed your niece to insult me in this way.”
"Tuantuan, let's go."
With that, Chen Zhixiu showed no respect for the Empress and left directly.
Bai Tuantuan quickly stood up, a faint smile on her delicate face, seemingly oblivious to the Empress's dark expression: "Your Majesty, why did you have to offend my mother of all people! My mother has seven brothers! Tsk tsk tsk, Your Majesty, you'd better pray for yourself."
Then, Bai Tuantuan looked at Fan Zhiying and chuckled, "And you too, you behaved badly and yet you called my mother a good-for-nothing? One of my mother's paintings is worth a thousand gold pieces. Even your grandfather's study has my mother's paintings hanging there. My mother was just being modest. Do you really think my mother can't do anything?"
Fan Zhiying stared wide-eyed, clearly not believing it.
Bai Tuantuan tilted her head: "My mother's name is: Fairy of Freedom."
As she spoke, she turned and rushed towards Chen Zhixiu: "Mother, Mother, wait for me! Let's go find Consort Li! It's been so long since we last saw each other, I miss her so much!"
The departure of Bai Tuantuan and Chen Zhixiu left everyone present silent.
The atmosphere was unusually strange.
The Empress glared fiercely at Fan Zhiying.
Su Shishi called out "Mother" softly. Madam Su made a shushing gesture, exchanged a glance with Madam Qiu, stood up, and said with a smile, "Your Majesty, I have some urgent matters to discuss with the Princess, so I will go ahead first."
"This humble woman is also guilty, please forgive me, Your Majesty the Empress." Madam Qiu also stood up.
Soon, some people who were on good terms with the Bai family, or who did not want to offend the Bai family, found an excuse and left the flower viewing banquet.
This action instantly enraged the Empress!
He raised his hand and slapped Fan Zhiying across the face: "Look what you've done!"
Anger blazed in Fan Zhiying's eyes. Chen Zhixiu! Bai Tuantuan! It was all because of them!
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