The Grand Tutor smiled and said, "This is Songtang, and the other is Songtang's young friend..."
"Artemisia," said Artemisia.
The princess smiled and said, "Welcome."
She beckoned to the maidservant waiting outside the pavilion and said, "Serve the food."
Several maids brought over a table and low stools, and then carried food trays, placing the dishes on the table one by one. The Grand Tutor sat down at the table with Songtang, and Aicao was also pulled by Songtang to sit down beside her.
The table was soon filled with plates of all sizes. A maid standing beside the Crown Princess picked up silver chopsticks, tasted each dish, and then stepped back behind the Crown Princess.
The Crown Princess smiled and picked up her chopsticks: "Please use them all."
Song Tang glanced at the Crown Princess, then at the Grand Tutor. Only after the Grand Tutor had also picked up his chopsticks did she carefully take a bite of the food from the plate in front of her.
She knew the dish was delicious, but she always felt it lacked flavor.
The Crown Princess smiled and ate a few bites, then asked Song Tang with a smile, "Do you know who I am?"
Song Tang nodded. She swallowed the food in her mouth nervously, preparing to answer the questions that followed.
"I heard you've been invited to the state banquet tomorrow," the Crown Princess said. "You can't refuse His Majesty's invitation, but—perhaps you don't want to go with the Song family?"
The Crown Princess curled her lips into a smile, her eyes calmly fixed on Song Tang: "There's still room in my carriage to the palace; you can come with me."
Song Tang pursed her lips and quietly observed Ai Cao's reaction.
Ai Cao was focused on finishing the plate of meat in front of her, only showing Song Tang a side profile.
The Crown Princess noticed her subtle movements. She glanced at Ai Cao and said, "She won't do. She has no status here, so I can't take her to state banquets like I did with you."
"...What do you want?" Songtang asked.
The Crown Princess's smile faded: "Your support."
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