The late spring wind blew fallen petals past the corner gate of the Taifu Mansion. Shen Ruorou stumbled out of the moon-shaped gate, her plain white skirt stained with mud. Her right foot was still bare, her embroidered shoe flung somewhere unknown. The noble ladies' undisguised laughter echoed behind her, like countless needles pricking her back, forcing her to just find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
"Cousin, please stay!"
A crisp voice came from behind, Shen Ruoruo froze and turned around suddenly - Shen Weiwan caught up with her skirt, the silver butterfly hairpins on her temples trembled slightly as she ran, but there was a "concerned" smile on her face.
"What are you doing here!" Shen Ruoruo screamed and retreated, the last jade hairpin on her bun also trembling, "Shen Weiwan, you vicious woman!"
"Why did my cousin say that to me?" Shen Weiwan stopped three steps away, panting deliberately, and tapping her chin with her fingertips. "I saw that my cousin was running in a hurry, so I came to remind you."
Chun Tao followed behind, her shoulders shaking from trying to hold back her laughter, but she still had to pretend to be serious: "Yes, Second Miss, our young lady is kind-hearted!"
Shen Ruorou looked at her warily, only to see Shen Weiwan tilting her head, her eyes shining like stars: "Cousin, next time you want to show up at the poetry meeting, remember to copy some unpopular poems."
"What do you mean?" Shen Ruoruo gritted her teeth, her nails almost digging into her palms.
"Look at you this time," Chen Weiwan said innocently, counting on her fingers, "copying Wang Anshi's 'Plum Blossom'. Even a child can recite it. It's so easy to be discovered." Her eyes suddenly lit up, "I have a good idea!"
"Who wants to listen to your ideas!" Shen Ruorou turned around and wanted to leave.
"Don't, cousin!" Shen Weiwan chased after her and stood in front of her, "Listen to me! Next time you can copy 'Ploughing the Fields at Noon'!"
"Ploughing in the middle of the day?" Shen Ruorou was stunned, then realized what was happening and turned purple with anger. "That's Li Shen's 'Song of the Peasants'! Even farmers can recite it!"
"Hey? My cousin actually knew that?" Shen Weiwan pretended to be surprised and clapped her hands. "Then make it a little less popular! How about 'Bright Moonlight Before the Bed'? I guarantee no one will know you copied it!"
"That's Li Bai's 'Quiet Night Thoughts'!" Shen Ruorou screamed, shaking with anger, "You're deliberately playing tricks on me!"
"Oh, cousin, how are you so smart?" Shen Weiwan spread her hands with an innocent look on her face, "Then let me think about it... That's right!'The sun sets behind the mountains'! Isn't this song unpopular enough?"
Chun Tao finally couldn't help it, and laughed out loud, then quickly covered her mouth. Shen Ruorou looked at the cunning light in Shen Weiwan's eyes, and finally realized that she was deliberately humiliating herself - these are poems that even enlightened children can recite!
"Chen Weiwan! I will kill you!" Shen Ruoruo completely lost control and pounced on him to scratch him.
Shen Weiwan was well prepared, she jumped to the side flexibly, and did not forget to make a face: "Cousin, calm down, I am not helping you find a solution!"
At this moment, the voice of the Seventh Prince Xiao Yu came from the Moon Cave Gate: "Miss Shen, are you teaching your younger sister the art of poetry?"
Everyone turned around to see Xiao Yu approaching, fanning himself, his moon-white robe billowing in the wind, a playful smile in his eyes. He was followed by Wen Ziran, who appeared to have just finished an elegant gathering and happened to be passing by.
When Shen Ruorou saw Xiao Yu, her face turned pale. Thinking of her embarrassed appearance at the moment and the scene where she was teased by Shen Weiwan just now, she wanted to faint immediately.
"Your Highness is joking," Shen Weiwan bowed with a sly smile on her face, "but seeing that my cousin is so enthusiastic about poetry, I am just showing off."
Wen Ziran couldn't help but speak, his voice tinged with laughter: "Ms. Shen's innovation in poetry is something I've witnessed today."
"Master Wen, you are too kind," Shen Weiwan blinked, "after all, my cousin is 'quick-witted', but she lacks some 'experience'."
"You!" Shen Ruoruo was so angry that she couldn't speak, and her hand was shaking as she pointed at Shen Weiwan.
Xiao Yu stepped forward and stood in front of Shen Weiwan, seemingly unintentionally blocking Shen Ruorou's sight: "It's getting late, Miss Shen should go back home. As for Miss Shen Er..." He paused, his eyes swept over Shen Ruorou's bare feet and messy bun, "You'd better find a pair of shoes first, don't catch a cold."
These words seemed to be words of concern, but in reality they were a reminder of her plight. The servants following her could no longer hold back and let out a low chuckle.
Shen Ruorou couldn't stand the humiliation any longer. She screamed, covered her face, turned around and ran, slipped, and almost fell to the ground. Chuntao quickly supported her, but she pushed her away: "Don't touch me!"
Watching Shen Ruoruo crawling and disappearing around the corner, Shen Weiwan finally couldn't help laughing: "Chun Tao, look at her, she's still so imposing even though she lost her shoes!"
Chuntao laughed so hard she couldn't straighten her back: "Miss, you are so mean, deliberately teasing her with enlightenment poetry!"
Xiao Yu shook his head helplessly: "Miss Shen's finishing skills are getting better and better."
"Of course," Shen Weiwan raised her chin, "To deal with people like this, you have to use this method." She turned to look at Xiao Yu, "By the way, Your Highness, why are you here?"
"I'm just passing by," Xiao Yu waved his folding fan, "and I'm here to see if someone's nose is crooked from anger."
Shen Weiwan snorted: "How can I be so easily angered. But my cousin, I'm afraid I won't dare to participate in poetry gatherings again in this life."
Wen Ziran laughed and said, "It's not just poetry gatherings. I'm afraid I'll avoid the word 'plum blossom' whenever I hear it from now on."
A few of them walked towards the General's Mansion, chatting and laughing. Behind them, at the corner gate of the Grand Tutor's Mansion, a few sweeping women were still pointing and talking:
"Look at the Second Miss, she's like she's being chased by a dog!"
"That's right, he even lost his shoes. It's so funny!"
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