"As Huizi said, 'How can you know the joy of fish if you are not a fish?' This implies that you should not judge others by your own standards. You come from a scholarly family, so I suppose you are aware of this?" Zhao Shu retorted without backing down. At this moment, only Qiu Tong and Yan Ruyu were by her side.
Qiu Tong and Yan Ruyu had received instructions from their families to help Zhao Shu. Before they could even stand up for Zhao Shu, she had already passed the problem on to them.
Yang Zhangshi was speechless after being questioned by Zhao Shu, and her face immediately turned ugly. After a moment of surprise, Madam Sun remembered that Zhao Shu had also rendered Hanlin Rong Weide speechless in Chang Le Palace, so she gave Yang Zhangshi a way out.
“Princess, you are indeed intelligent and quick-witted. It’s just a casual remark, yet you’ve quoted so many classic texts. I’m too old to argue with you,” she said, then slowly walked forward with her cane, intending to go over the screen.
After she finished speaking, Zhao Shu immediately said, "I am neither a saint nor a sage, so I do not know how to answer the old lady's question. The ancients said that one cannot know without asking. One should study extensively, inquire carefully, think prudently, discern clearly, and practice diligently. The old lady must be very knowledgeable and eloquent to ask such a question. I do not know, so I will ask the old lady."
He's implying she doesn't respect elders, haha!
Upon hearing Zhao Shu's words, the ladies and noblewomen following the old lady immediately dared not speak casually, fearing that Zhao Shu would turn her attention to them. They could not answer such a tricky question, and at the same time, they were shocked by Zhao Shu's domineering nature, as she was unwilling to suffer any loss.
Sun Yun walked over to Zhao Shu, wanting to speak to her, but Old Madam Sun stamped her cane and said, "Even my words have no effect!"
"Go ahead, it's alright." Zhao Shu gently patted Sun Yun's hand, indicating that she didn't need to worry.
Sun Yun seemed hesitant, and squeezed Zhao Shu's hand as if she wanted to say something, but then resolutely followed the old lady's steps, humbly serving her.
The arrogant Sun Yun actually humbled herself, and the old lady Sun clearly did not treat her as a granddaughter. Even the maids around her had a higher status than Sun Yun.
Sun Yun's tragic experiences in his previous life also occurred during this period. It is likely that what happened within the Sun family is something outsiders cannot find out.
The group followed behind the old lady, passing by Zhao Shu one by one. Although they did not speak, they would curtsy in greeting.
After everyone had walked around the screen and disappeared from sight, Qiu Tong said, "I really didn't know how to answer Madam Sun's question just now. I didn't expect you to be so quick-witted. No wonder my father said that I was just here to support you, and you would have to handle the rest."
"Yes, Sister Jun, you're amazing." Yan Ruyu looked at her with admiration, her eyes sparkling.
Zhao Shu was a little confused. She didn't know these two people before, but they suddenly appeared in front of her, claiming that they would support her...
Seeing her bewildered expression, Qiu Tong smiled and said, "Don't worry, A-Jun, Ru Yu and I are both on your side."
“Yes, yes, my father said that in the capital, Sister A-Jun is the one I should get to know better. I can’t disobey my father’s orders, so please accept me as your younger sister, Sister A-Jun.” She finished speaking with a cute fist and palm salute, as elegant and refined as a scholar.
"Thank you, Sister Qiu and Sister Yan." Zhao Shu said with a mix of helplessness and emotion.
"Sister Ajun, no need to thank me. Let's go. I heard we'll be seeing Lord Huo later. You're acquainted with Sister Huo, so you must see Lord Huo often, right?" Yan Ruyu started gossiping about Huo Baichuan endlessly.
For example, she excitedly asked, "Sister, Lord Huo always wears a white robe with ink bamboo patterns. Does he particularly like ink bamboo? Lord Huo always has a licorice root in his mouth in a carefree manner. Why does he like to have a licorice root in his mouth? I used to try to do that too, but licorice doesn't taste good..."
Chattering and chattering, Zhao Shu was almost at her breaking point. Fortunately, she managed to get around the screen and soon arrived at the place where everyone was enjoying the flowing water, drinking wine and composing poems.
The winding stream had several small tables placed on its banks that looked messy but were actually in good order. Next to the tables were brocade mats, and everyone who had arrived was already sitting on the mats.
Although there were many people, not everyone could reach the top. Many who were not of high enough status could only stay at the bottom. Zhao Shu glanced around and felt that her position was somewhat awkward.
She was a princess of the highest rank, while Consort Ning and Consort Hao were also there. One was a concubine of the first rank, and the other was of the first rank, while Old Madam Sun was only a second-rank imperial consort.
Logically speaking, she should be the highest-ranking person here, but at this moment, Madam Sun is sitting in the main seat, with the Noble Consort being the only one below her, followed by Consort Ning, and then the other ladies and noblewomen.
Upon closer inspection, only two or three empty seats could be found at the very end. Sun Si warmly greeted Zhao Shu, "Ah Jun, please sit down, it's about to start." He only spoke, without rising to greet each other; everyone remained as steady as a mountain.
The stream was small, about thirty meters long, with a white jade screen made of orchids in the middle. You could faintly hear a man's voice coming from the other side.
Consort Hao chuckled as she watched Zhao Shu staring at the empty seat at the end of the table. She poured herself a cup of wine with a seductive air, then placed the half-filled cup into the water. "Princess, you're late. You'll be punished."
It's the same old routine, the same old formula; history is repeating itself in an astonishing way.
On the opposite side, Prince Yong was playing chess with Xie Yun. Upon hearing what Sun Si and Consort Hao said, his ears immediately perked up, and he couldn't concentrate on the game anymore, fearing that someone was bullying his daughter.
Although she couldn't see the person opposite her, the positions on both sides were roughly arranged. Zhao Shu said, "Just now, Madam Sun asked me what class I belonged to, and I couldn't answer. Now I'm even more confused. Wives and concubines are in a master-servant relationship. I don't know why Madam Sun wants to eat at the same table as the Imperial Concubine and Consort Ning."
"My fourth brother is born out of wedlock, while my fourth sister-in-law is the legitimate daughter of a noble family. One is legitimate and the other out of wedlock, yet they have managed to form a bond between two families. Such old rules and shackles have been broken. But I don't know why I, the princess, have been placed at the end of the list. Putting aside the distinction between host and guest, if we were to judge by rank, I, the princess, should be in the first place. If we were to judge by age, I, the princess, should not be in the last place. I don't know who arranged this position, which is so contrary to etiquette."
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