Shangguan Yanran plopped down next to her, glanced at her, and suddenly said, "If it weren't for you, I wouldn't want to enter the palace."
Rong Qingqing was surprised, "Why is it for me? I even wanted to pretend to be sick."
Shangguan Yanran suddenly said meaningfully, "You don't know this, do you? I heard that this palace banquet, ostensibly for appreciating plum blossoms, is actually for selecting candidates for His Highness the Crown Prince. Otherwise, why would they only invite famous ladies and young women?"
Besides, I've inquired and found out that all those invited to the palace this time are young ladies of marriageable age. You and I are just there to accompany them. But, since you're my good friend, I naturally have to go to the palace to help you drive away those slutty and vulgar women.”
Upon hearing this, Rong Qingqing suddenly realized, "So that's how it is. I was wondering why the Empress Dowager was in such high spirits, suddenly putting on this show on such a cold day? It turns out that admiring the plum blossoms was an excuse, and admiring people was her real purpose."
Shangguan Yanran was amused by her words, but seeing that she was not worried at all, she was also relieved. "I was worried that you would feel uncomfortable, but seeing that you are so calm, I am relieved."
"What's there to be uncomfortable about? Isn't it normal for the Crown Prince to hold a selection of candidates?" Rong Qingqing glanced at her, unconcerned.
"It seems that His Highness the Crown Prince has reassured you, which is why you are so calm and composed," Shangguan Yanran said knowingly.
Rong Qingqing scoffed, "He didn't reassure me at all. But I believe that since he's decided to marry me, he'll show his sincerity, at least for now." Xie Jingrun wasn't one to waver. In the original book, although he was a villain, he was a man of his word and wouldn't be swayed by others or change his mind. However, who knows what will happen in the future.
"Oh my, you're not even married yet, and you're already speaking up for him," Shangguan Yanran teased.
Rong Qingqing didn't blush or get annoyed by her teasing. Instead, she calmly said, "This is trust."
Shangguan Yanran sighed, "No wonder you're not worried about the Empress Dowager's actions at all." After saying that, she remembered something, glanced at her plain clothes, and frowned, saying, "By the way, for tomorrow's plum blossom viewing banquet, don't dress too plainly. You need to dress more eye-catchingly and overshadow all those young ladies."
Rong Qingqing said uninterestedly, "I don't want to go through all that trouble. I think I'm fine as I am."
Shangguan Yanran disagreed, saying, "You have a good foundation, but you still need to dress up occasionally. At least, for an occasion like tomorrow, you have to outshine everyone else."
Rong Qingqing's lips twitched, and she raised her hand to touch her face. "Still trying to outshine everyone? I know my own limitations. I don't want to end up being outshone by everyone instead."
Shangguan Yanran was both amused and exasperated. "Can't you be a little more confident?"
"I'm not pessimistic either," Rong Qingqing said with a smile. "I know what you mean, but you have to understand that you know tomorrow's plum blossom viewing banquet is not simple. Those socialites and young ladies may well know that too. Just wait and see, tomorrow's plum blossom viewing banquet will definitely be a dazzling display of beauty, blinding you. If I also dress up in a dazzling and beautiful way, I will become just one of them. Not only will I not stand out, but I will also offend the Empress Dowager's eyes. Then, trouble will come."
Shangguan Yanran wasn't stupid; she immediately understood what she meant. "You mean, the Empress Dowager will object to you and Xie Jingrun?"
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