I heard that she wasn't originally going to be invited, but Ah Xue kindly begged her to join, even though Ah Xue's tea party had just been ruined because of her.
However, it doesn't matter who invited them; what matters is that a princess who is showered with favors gets humiliated in front of them every time, which is incredibly pleasurable.
Immediately, everyone eagerly awaited what would happen next.
Zhao Shu looked over and saw that it was Sun Yun, the sixth daughter of the fourth branch of the Sun family, who laughed out loud.
Sun Yun's mother was a woman from the South, and Sun Yun inherited her mother's gentle appearance. She was petite but not short. Her light blue Suzhou embroidered brocade dress made her look both gentle and graceful like a woman from the South and dignified and proper like a woman from the North.
In terms of appearance, Sun Yun is the most outstanding.
Zhao Shu looked at her, and she made no attempt to hide her disdain for Zhao Shu. "Does the princess intend to compose a poem?" she said, then looked at Lin Xiuxue with amusement.
Lin Xiuxue was annoyed by her gaze; that look was so disrespectful, as if she, Lin Xiuxue, was not worthy of being placed on the same level as Sun Yun.
Zhao Shu had never liked Sun Yun before. He was too proud and had a fiery temper. Although she didn't interact with him much, Zhao Shu knew that Sun Yun's life was not harmonious.
Despite her beauty, she was married to the second son of a third-rate family. Moreover, she had already been having an affair with the second son before her marriage. She miscarried less than three days after the wedding and hanged herself in her room.
I was naive back then, but now I realize it's impossible that there wasn't something fishy going on. Sun Yun was so proud.
"To be honest, I am not good at anything, including playing the zither, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, and songs," Zhao Shu said truthfully.
Those noble ladies who wanted to see Zhao Shu make a fool of herself changed their expressions upon hearing her words, especially Lin Xiuxue. Zhao Shu had surprised her time and time again, and she began to suspect that the person in front of her was an imposter.
The noble ladies were in an uproar. Listen to this! Princess Jun actually admitted that she was not good at playing the zither, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry and songs. This was not like her at all. In the past, in order to be invited by them, this princess practiced the zither, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry and songs every day. Sometimes she was even more diligent than those prostitutes.
Is the sun rising in the west today?
Lin Xiuxue looked extremely worried and tugged at Zhao Shu, "A-Jun, I want to go change my clothes, will you come with me?"
Zhao Shu glanced at Lin Xiuxue, who, as before, used changing clothes as an excuse to write the poem she had prepared for herself.
Look how kind and considerate she is, willing to lie and deceive others for her friends. Compared to her, Zhao Shu is utterly hypocritical, shameless, and vain.
I can practice playing the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting, but I just can't seem to master poetry.
Zhao Shu gently pushed Lin Xiuxue's hand away, glancing at the faces of the noble ladies. Each one showed disdain, contempt, and mockery. It seemed they knew that most of her previous poems were given to her by Lin Xiuxue.
Therefore, no matter how hard Zhao Shu tries, she is nothing more than a hypocritical, vain, and shameless woman, a walking joke.
"Thank you so much, Miss Lin. I appreciate all the poems you wrote for me before. But I just can't write poetry. I was too tired of pretending before, and I don't want to pretend anymore." Even if she still remembered the Three Hundred Tang Poems and the best of Tang and Song poetry, she was unwilling to share them with these people. Those were the crystallization of culture and the essence of dynasties. They shouldn't be used to argue with others or to fill the void of being a talented woman.
Thinking back on my past life, I feel waves of sadness. It turns out everyone knew, but they just didn't say anything. I watched my foolish self make a fool of myself time and time again.
At this moment, Zhao Shu felt ashamed of herself. All her secrets seemed to be written on her face, and others knew everything about them, while she thought that no one knew.
She once thought that even if they didn't consider her a close friend, they were at least decent friends. Every time she tried so hard to gain their approval, her hard work in practicing music, chess, calligraphy, and painting was met with harsh ridicule.
He practiced the piano until his hands were injured, forced himself to play chess even though he didn't like it, and refused to stop practicing calligraphy even when his hands cramped up...
But even though they knew so much that she wanted to fit in, they played her like a fool, giving her hope only to disappoint her time and time again.
Even if just one person says that your poem is Lin Xiuxue's, we all know that even if she is exposed, her heart will be warmed.
At least, someone was willing to tell her the truth.
None of the people present were proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, or songs, but they insisted on using these skills to judge whether Zhao Shu was worthy of eating at the same table with them, sharing a room with them, or speaking to them.
When Xie Jinse saw that Zhao Shu had actually pushed Lin Xiuxue away, she immediately said without any politeness, "The princess is unwilling to drink, and is not good at playing the zither, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry and songs. How will the princess give us an explanation?"
Zhao Shu sneered. They never really intended to invite her; they were just looking for a joke to pass the time during this long period of time.
But today, she wasn't going to let them have their way with this joke.
Moreover, Xie Jinse has quite the audacity to ask for an explanation? Doesn't she think having such a large face makes her look less refined?
"Weren't we supposed to be admiring flowers? Where are the flowers? What does Miss Xie mean by 'instructions'? You only sent the invitation to the Prince's residence yesterday, in such a rush. Would a family of etiquette be so hasty in sending an invitation to someone? Just now, Miss Xie deliberately closed the door, not letting this princess in, and now she's saying this princess is late. Round, flat, long, short—it's all up to Miss Xie. Her skill in lying through her teeth is truly masterful. I wonder if Madam Xie is aware of this?"
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