Xie Jinse was shocked. All the noble ladies looked at Zhao Shu in disbelief. What had they heard? Princess Jun, who had always been humble in front of them, was speaking to Xie San so arrogantly.
Is she crazy?
After a brief moment of shock, Lin Xiuxue came to her senses. She had known all along that Zhao Shu was no longer the same person she used to be. At first, she thought that Zhao Shu had been instigated by others to distance herself from her and not rely on her anymore. But now it seemed that Zhao Shu had completely changed.
Was it because she went too far in the past that she changed so much? Lin Xiuxue couldn't help but suspect that Zhao Shu had long been unable to gain their approval, so she had given up and acted recklessly. Otherwise, she should have performed well today.
I heard that the Prince Yong's Mansion has made a double-skin milk pudding. Shouldn't she present the recipe to them today so that they can send her another invitation next time?
“Ah Jun, quickly apologize to Jinse. She didn’t mean anything by it. You went a bit too far just now.” Lin Xiuxue said gently to Zhao Shu, and then pulled Xie Jinse in front of her. “Jinse is good in every way, but she can’t get rid of her bluntness. Ah Jun, quickly apologize.”
That tone was like an older sister coaxing a younger sister who had made a mistake, both doting and helpless.
Lin Xiuxue was indeed older than Zhao Shu, but her words implied that Zhao Shu was at fault, while Xie Jinse was simply outspoken but kind-hearted.
All those who speak hurtfully in this world are outspoken and blunt, and Zhao Shu wants to be that kind of person too.
Xie Jinse was already very angry, and now she was even angrier, as if her lungs were about to explode. She shook off Lin Xiuxue's hand and said, "Since you are utterly useless, what are you doing here?" She wanted to say, "Come out with me now, the Xie family doesn't welcome you," but remembering Xie Yun's warning, she swallowed her words.
"I am utterly useless? Then what about you? Are you exceptionally talented and knowledgeable? Or are you a pillar of the nation with outstanding literary skills? Perhaps you will say that this is a matter for gentlemen, but let me ask you again, are you truly proficient in all the arts, such as music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, and songs? Why don't you prove it to me? If you can't prove it, what right do you have to presumptuously say that this princess is utterly useless?"
Zhao Shu vented her anger, and after saying all that, she felt much better. After being looked down upon by a group of ignorant women and children for so many years, she was finally going to be able to hold her head high today.
If these women were truly that capable, they wouldn't be resorting to such underhanded tactics only within the inner quarters.
Being proficient in everything from music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, and songs is considered a great achievement, but in modern times, it's impossible to master the guzheng from level one to level nine without years of dedicated study.
Moreover, let alone the many skills in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, and songs, unless one is a genius, and which of these people looks like a genius?
"Ah Jun, stop making a scene, this is the Xie family home." Lin Xiuxue continued to persuade, but her words not only failed to calm the situation, but instead caused Xie Jinse to explode instantly.
“Princess Jun, didn’t your teacher teach you manners as a guest? Although you are rude and uncouth, I don’t mind showing you the truth about what a true noblewoman is. You, who came from humble beginnings, are not even worthy of carrying our shoes!”
"As expected, you're an idiot," Zhao Shu said coldly. "Is that so? Then prove it to me. If you're not proficient in everything from music and chess to calligraphy, painting, poetry, and songs, how about you carry my shoes every day? This princess doesn't mind that you're not worthy of carrying my shoes!"
Seeing that Lin Xiuxue couldn't persuade her, Liuli hurriedly came over and pulled Zhao Shu, "Sister Ajun, stop making trouble, let's go back. The Xie family is not to be trifled with." Although her voice was low, as if she only intended to speak to Zhao Shu, it clearly reached everyone's ears.
Xie Jinse was smug. Hmph, these are legitimate daughters, princesses, so what? In front of the Xie family's daughters, they are nothing!
"Jinse, calm down. Don't hold it against Ajun. That's just her personality. You've known that for a long time. Alright, alright, music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, and songs are just pastimes in our spare time. Aren't they more valuable than the friendship between us?" Lin Xiuxue said.
Xie Jinse had already regretted what she had just said. Although she had studied music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, and songs, she was not much better than Zhao Shu. When she needed to compose a poem for a grand occasion, she had to ask someone to write several in advance.
She was very grateful for Lin Xiuxue's words.
However, she glanced at Zhao Shu with disdain. Who had any loyalty to her? "Ah Xue, stop talking. Some people can't stand seeing others do better than them. Where is loyalty now?"
Changing the subject so quickly, is that all the tricks you have? You're scared before it even starts. How could I have been so blind before? Why did I have to try to gain the approval of someone like that?
However, her cousin Liuli did not disappoint her. She helped her as before, which only made others bully her more brazenly.
"Sister Liuli thinks our Zhao family needs to be afraid of the Xie family? Sister Liuli thinks the royal family can't afford to offend the Xie family? Who said that? Uncle? Or Xie Shuling? Since when has the royal family had to live by the Xie family's whims? Does this world belong to my uncle or Xie Yun?"
A barrage of questions was thrown out, and Zhao Shu didn't want to wait for Liuli to explain herself. She looked at Xie Jinse and said, "Miss Xie, didn't you want to prove it to me? Which one should we start with? Music, chess, calligraphy, and painting—music comes first, so let's start with music."
Xie Jinse glared at her, "You!" Wasn't she afraid of being called heartless, ruthless, and aggressive?
"What? You can't prove it? So Miss Xie is just as useless as I am? Look, even Miss Xie, born into a prestigious family, the Wuyi Clan, is useless. This shows that I, a princess who came from humble beginnings, am not so shameful."
Her words were already quite harsh. Xie Jinse was so angry that she was about to lose her temper. No, she never really had any temper to begin with. Ever since Zhao Shu was invited in by Xie Yun, she had been on the verge of exploding.
Lin Xiuxue forcefully stepped between the two, "A-Jun, listen to me, quickly apologize to Jinse." Xie Jinse was already so angry, and she wanted to add fuel to the fire.
Zhao Shu looked at her and said, "Miss Lin, shouldn't you address me as Princess? You've been calling me A-Jun for a long time, and I've tolerated it. Such rudeness is not what one would expect from a scholarly family like the Lin family, which should have such upbringing. Moreover, you keep asking me to apologize. May I ask where I went wrong?"
“Ah Jun, you…” She choked up immediately, tears welling up in her eyes, looking at Zhao Shu with heartbroken eyes, “Sister, I was only thinking of you.”
She was so pitiful, with tears streaming down her face, like a beautiful white lotus flower.
When Lin Xiuxue started crying, someone couldn't bear it any longer. "If the princess wants to bully others here, she has come to the wrong place. Although we are weak women, we have the integrity of gentlemen. I'm sure the Empress Dowager and the Empress do not approve of the princess's behavior."
No sooner had he finished speaking than Sun Yun burst out laughing.
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