Chapter 101 Sword Dance (Part 2)

"The two beauties of the Si Mansion, one is famous for her talent, the other for her cooking skills, but they have never been seen together in more than ten years. This flower flew from the eldest lady to the second lady. In my opinion, why don't they both show their talents?"

Seeing the awkward situation below, the Princess of Yue sat at the head of the table and chuckled. Someone beside her sighed, "Lord Si is so lucky to have two daughters who are so outstanding. They will perform together at the flower banquet, which will become a good story later."

There were also a few male guests in the hall. Upon hearing this, they laughed and said, "In the past, we have only heard about the poetry of the Second Miss Si and the cooking skills of the First Miss Si. I heard earlier that the cooking skills of the Second Miss Si are not inferior to her sister. Why don't we exchange the two skills? It will be more interesting."

"..." Si Li looked at the person who was speaking, speechless. The young man had a pair of fox-like eyes, dark circles under his eyes, and a somewhat lecherous gaze. She was sure that neither the original owner nor she had ever seen this person, so why bother her in public? !

Yuan Fangtong, the son of the Dongyang Duke, noticed her gaze and smiled back, but his eyes stopped at Si Tang, who was clutching a velvet flower. After the shock and the twists and turns, Si Tang's face turned pale, and the dull color of her clothes made her look like petals rustling in the rain, which made people want to protect her.

He knew that Si Da had never been to school, but when someone makes a fool of himself, it would be better to highlight Si Er's goodness, right? He retracted his gaze, suppressed the slight itch in his heart, and glanced at the second prince who was twisting and turning in the main seat like a child. If such a beauty was left to his little nephew, it would be a pity that beauty would fade and her life would be wasted.

Si Tang did not think for long, holding the prepared glass box and stepped out of the crowd. As soon as he bowed, he heard Si Li, who was still dazed by shock, speak, "I am not very talented, I have only read a few books at home, please do not laugh at me for my ugliness."

Oh, you're backing off now? You were the first to come out and perform, but you backed off first. How could the host like you? Si Tang smiled, knelt down and presented the glass box, saying in a coquettish voice, "I am honored to be here. I'll give you a snack called White Jade Ball. Please have your Highness the Second Prince, your Highness the King of Yue, and your Highness the Princess."

Seeing the glass box appear, many people at the table changed their expressions and clenched their handkerchiefs. Si Li gave a small exclamation, which only attracted the attention of a few people nearby. Si Tang raised the corners of his lips, feeling very proud of her loss of composure.

"You can't say that. Today's cakes are not for us to taste. With all these beautiful girls in front of us, who would want to rank them? That's why I've given the right to comment to Hengyun and Alang. It must be fair and just."

As soon as Si Tang finished speaking, the Princess of Yue rejected him lightly. This was not a good start. Si Li's eyelids jumped when she saw the glass box. Except that the silver thread on it was replaced with gold thread, it was clearly a box sold by Wanglaiju. Even if they strictly prohibited the Si family from buying food from Wanglaiju, they could not avoid them asking others for help. In order to cover up, they also changed the material of the silver thread that was originally used to highlight the things in the box, which made the box look a bit tacky.

The white jade ball in the box looked somewhat similar to glutinous rice balls, but they were not the same thing. Si Li couldn't tell what material it was made of for a moment, and only saw Si Tang's hidden smug smile.

"I also have a dish called pork floss and small shellfish, which I would like to present along with the poem." Si Li took the wooden box from Ah Zhu who was standing behind her and held it over her head, "May this moment last for four seasons, and may this day come to us year after year."

"What a happy day it is to have such a great year after year." The maids beside them took the boxes from the two people's hands. The King of Yue clapped his hands and laughed, "Master Si, this game of passing the flower is not something you can play once and then not play again. You showed off your poetry and food this time, but won't you have no strengths next time?"

"It is because I know that my poetry skills are not as good as others, so I want to make up for it in other ways." Si Li smiled and said, "Please set the topic, Your Highness."

"You can choose between Snow and Plum."

Si Li lowered his eyes for a moment, then said, "One piece, two pieces, three pieces, four pieces, five pieces, six pieces, seven pieces, eight pieces."

Low laughter echoed everywhere. This was obviously the beginning of a doggerel poem. It was hard to describe its literary talent. Even the King of Yue and his wife who were sitting on the seat had strange expressions on their faces.

Si Tang acted respectful and anxious, stepped forward and stood in front of Si Li and said, "Since it is a tribute, Your Highness, would you allow me to write a poem for you?"

Si Li looked at her with a half-smile, then walked away from her pull, "Nine pieces, ten pieces, countless pieces..."

Si Tang's eyes were already filled with tears, and he choked up and said, "Sister, you don't have to force yourself."

"...Fly into the plum blossoms and disappear." Si Li stepped over Si Tang and bowed, "I am sorry for your behavior."

Si Tang froze where she was. The whispers around her and the thoughtful looks from the people sitting in the upper seats all showed Si Li's success. She was the only one who became an embarrassment.

"Since you have already presented your talent, why are you staying in the center and not leaving? If you want to show off your poetry, why not wait for the next round?" Si Li lowered her voice intentionally, but people who were close by could still hear it. Si Tang's image as a talented woman was so well-established that people who heard this couldn't help but label Si Tang as someone who loves to show off.

"It is simple yet elegant. I can't even tell whether it is Ode to Plum Blossoms or Ode to Snow." The King of Yue laughed and said, "Si Jingzhi's daughter is naturally three times as talented as him."

Princess Yue continued, "The poems written by Yue Niang of the Jian family were not bad. They were simple and elegant. Miss Si is talented. I like her. If Miss Si wants to write a poem, why not try it next time?"

Si Tang's face turned red, and she followed the maid who came forward to guide her back to the table. Yuan Fangtong saw the little girl's red cheeks, a little proud and stubborn, so he picked up the cold plum wine on the table and drank it all.

Si Ji sat there, her expression showing no sign of anything, which disappointed many people who knew the past of the capital and heard the name of Si Baifu's first wife mentioned. Only Si Li saw her handkerchief that had been clenched into a deformed shape and curled her lips slightly.

The game of passing the flower was played for several rounds, interspersed with the song and dance performances prepared by the Prince of Yue's Mansion, and the atmosphere gradually became lively. Si Tang saw that the velvet flower had stopped near her again, but it was not her turn, and she couldn't help but feel a little anxious. If there was no opportunity to show it, it would be better not to come. She began to regret why she didn't follow Si Li's words and ask for a chance to write a poem first.

The cakes sent to other places have not received any comments, but Si Li is not in a hurry. However, the pork floss Xiaobei sent this time has taro paste, and too much sugar will make it taste greasy. She thought that it would be the Princess of Yue who would comment on it, so she only added the usual amount of sugar, hoping that Jiang Shizhi would not be unhappy after eating it.

The velvet flower turned around again, and Xiao Qi was called forward. She was wearing a red brocade skirt with a large group of flowers embroidered with gold thread. The gaudy color was suppressed by her particularly gorgeous eyebrows and eyes when she smiled, and it didn't look gaudy, but rather twelve points of enthusiasm and charming. Xiao Qi glanced at Si Li and grinned, "I am a real person, I won't lie, this milk tea was taught to me by Miss Si. If Your Highness dislikes it, I can only perform poetry, sword dance and equestrianism."

Minister Xiao was not present today, but her daughter was known to many in the capital for her domineering reputation. Some ladies could not help but nod in their hearts when they saw her for the first time. It was normal for a girl of her appearance to be a little arrogant.

"Oh?" Princess Yue smiled. "Look at how timid you are. If I make things difficult for you, it would be my fault. Next year, when Miss Xiao wins the first prize in the imperial examination, it will be difficult for her to get a dance from you. Why don't you show me your sword dance as soon as possible?"

"Thank you for your good wishes, Princess!" Xiao Qi was not shy. She clasped her fists and drew out the bamboo sword handed to her by the maid next to her. The hem of her skirt fluttered like flowers, and the blunt bamboo sword took on a hint of cold light as she danced. She moved like thunder and fell like the sea, opening and closing with great momentum.

This was not the sword dance that women usually learn. It was more like a massacre without any enemies. The blood and killing feeling came towards them. Some people suddenly remembered that Xiao Qi grew up on the battlefield in the northwest.

The child sitting at the top didn't understand the chill inside. He stared with his grape-like eyes, tears of fear welling up in his eyes, but he didn't dare to say a word. His face showed both fear and fascination with the sword dance.

“Okay, okay!”

Xiao Qi made a final move outside the door, and the King of Yue stood up and raised his cup, saying with emotion, "Heroes emerge young. How is your uncle doing in the northwest?"

"Thank you for your concern, my uncle is doing fine." Xiao Qi took the wine cup from the maid, bowed and toasted, and drank it all with the King of Yue. This is the only girl who has received some appreciation at the flower banquet. Xiao Qi left the center after the show. All the jealous or envious eyes turned to her. Xiao Qi sat in the front few seats on the left side and raised her glass to Si Li with a smile.

"When I was young, I heard my elder brother talk about the battlefield in the northwest, and I also wanted to go to the battlefield to kill the enemy. Later, Hengyun pacified the northwest, and solved the big worry in my heart. It should be clear now!" King Yue looked at the velvet flower in Xiao Qi's hand and smiled, "From now on, when you perform art, all the themes of the battlefield should be as follows!"

Si Tang, who had been eager to go on the battlefield, was paused. The teacher in the academy commented that she was "able to speak in a heroic manner but without soul, and to create new words to express sorrow". Although she refused to admit it, she knew that she was not good at heroic matters on the battlefield.

What you fear will come true. Before she could throw the velvet flower into her hand, the singing stopped.

"Second Miss Si wanted to compose a poem just now. Isn't it a coincidence this time?" Princess Yue smiled, but Si Tang felt targeted for no reason.

She stood up and saluted. A poem from the past popped up in her tangled thoughts, which made her feel relieved. "There is no place to go in the scorching sun of the west expedition, and there is no fixed way to go in the east. A few people returned drunkenly from the battlefield, and they only knew that the mission was accomplished--" Si Tang was suddenly pinched by her mother. She looked up and saw that the King of Yue, who had been smiling just now, had lost his smile.

Why did she choose this poem? !

Si Tang suddenly broke out in a cold sweat. At such a lively banquet, with such a passionate host, she was talking about the hardships of war? !

Fortunately, his reputation as a talent was not all empty talk. Si Tang paused for a moment and quickly changed the poem he had just finished reading, "I only know that success will drive away the Hu people."

The King of Yue smiled again, but not too enthusiastically. "Miss Si's poems are indeed good. Fortunately, the country is now settled."

The next round of passing the flower started again, Si Tang sat down weakly, just hoping that it wouldn't happen again. Most of the people in the hall, who were still nervous just now, breathed a sigh of relief, and praised Si Tang's talent. Listening to the praise, Si Tang felt that the previous danger was not that painful.

However, the second time, the third time... When he stopped at Si Tang four times in a row and the quality of the four poems became worse and worse visibly, the compliments turned into a strange look. When Si Tang finished reciting the fourth poem, the Second Prince yawned on the seat, and there was silence all around. A huge sense of humiliation rose in Si Tang's heart, making his body tremble.

Fortunately, the Princess of Yue was still smiling, breaking the silence, and after praising her gently, she asked her to sit down. The next round of passing the flower began, and when they saw that it was not Si Tang who stood up, everyone in the hall looked much more relaxed.

"The comments of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince have arrived—"

The noble lady stood up and played a tune, and then she heard a report from outside the door. Si Li, who was already tired of Si Tang's jokes, perked up and came.

The person who came to deliver the message was an acquaintance. The guard Hulu was dressed in an official uniform and looked very imposing. Si Li couldn't tell whether it was a military officer's uniform of a certain rank. She only complained in her heart for a moment that Jiang Shizhi was wasting his talent.

"There are thirteen cakes in total. Choose three of the best, nine of the best, and one of the second best."

The whole room was filled with shock upon hearing this.

Apart from the male guests and ladies, these thirteen portions were all the cakes sent by the unmarried girls. The comments "excellent" and "good" were given to save face for the girls. Judging from the flower shows in previous years, the comment "inferior", which was obviously a negative comment, should not have appeared.

Who will be the only second-rate one?

Everyone present looked around, each with an answer in mind. Si Tang looked at Xiao Qi, who was not worried at all, and sneered in his heart. Who else could it be? Isn't it the person who directly said that he learned it from others?

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The author has something to say:

Lili's poem is written by Lin Bu, and Sitang's poem is compiled by Susu. Originally, it should be "One general's success is achieved at the cost of thousands of bones being dried up".

The stinky girl's face was almost swollen, but she still remained unyielding. It was really touching (?)

Thank you for your comments, my dears! Hug and kiss~