Song Tangxue looked at her intently and said, "Okay."
Song Tangli cursed inwardly, as if he were just casually dealing with a cat or dog.
The higher she climbs now, the harder she'll fall. She'll reclaim all the face she's lost and make Song Tangxue kneel at her feet again.
The young ladies all clapped and cheered. The Crown Prince's wedding was imminent, but it had been full of twists and turns. The two people who were already at the center of the event were now arguing about a competition. How could this not arouse curiosity?
Who is truly superior?
One of the ladies suggested, "Why don't we play the 'Flying Flowers' game? It's simple and fun." The "Flying Flowers" game was a common game at women's banquets.
It's also a favorite pastime of celebrities and intellectuals, and suitable for all ages.
Song Tangxue nodded indifferently: "Okay."
Song Tangli's eyes darted around, looking at Song Tangxue's calm and composed demeanor. Who knew what Song Tangxue was up to? What if this was exactly what she was good at?
Having already suffered losses several times, Song Tangli hesitated cautiously for a moment.
In that instant, Song Tangli realized that she didn't understand Song Tangxue at all, and those stereotypes were recently shattered one by one.
This is no longer a weak and easily bullied rabbit.
"The 'Flying Flowers' game is so overused, what's the point of competing? How about we compete in painting instead?" After a moment's thought, just in case, Song Tangli chose her best skill.
She has a great talent for painting and has studied it carefully for more than ten years. She does not believe that Song Tangxue can surpass her.
The onlookers also found it interesting; the "Flying Flower Order" game was indeed too ordinary, and everyone was tired of watching it.
Song Tangxue raised an eyebrow and nodded: "Okay."
Seeing her attitude, Song Tangli's heart began to pound again. Recalling her own painting skills, she proudly raised her head again, determined to outdo Song Tangxue this time.
Song Tangxue glanced at her indifferently, wanting to see what foolish idea Song Tangli had come up with this time.
Hu Feifei chatted with the other young ladies for a bit and said, "Spring is in full bloom, and the flowers are in full bloom, attracting butterflies uninvited. Why don't we use butterflies as the theme?"
Both Song Tangli and Song Tangxue agreed.
A maidservant quickly brought over a table and painting supplies, neatly arranging them on the table. Song Tangxue looked at them and saw that they were just ordinary painting supplies, indicating that Song Tangli hadn't tampered with them.
Song Tangli did not sit down: "Why don't we keep it a bit mysterious, paint in isolation, and then show it to the ladies at the end?"
Song Tangxue's expression flickered slightly, but she still nodded in agreement.
Everyone found the suggestion interesting.
Soon the two of them placed their painting materials in two separate locations, separated by screens, so that no one could see them except for the occasional swaying of the spring breeze.
A stick of incense was lit on the field, and the brush was put down when the incense burned out.
The laughter and conversation continued, this time focusing on the two Miss Song contestants, according to some who knew the inside story.
"This second Miss Song has excellent painting skills; the eldest Miss Song is likely to lose."
"Huh? Isn't that cheating...?"
"Who says otherwise? This Miss Song's character is questionable, but she has the Crown Prince backing her up, so it's none of our business to worry about her."
"..."
The conversation didn't reach the two of them. Song Tangli calmed down and started painting, and couldn't help but imagine what Song Tangxue would look like later.
The time it takes for an incense stick to burn is quickly up. A maid went behind the screen to collect the papers, and Song Tangli went in first.
A purple butterfly flutters above it, the painting is incredibly lifelike.
But when Song Tangli saw Song Tangxue's painting, she paled in comparison again. It was a pale yellow butterfly, so lifelike that it seemed about to take flight and fly out of the painting into reality at any moment.
The maid concealed her surprise, carefully put away the paintings, and quickly switched their positions as she took them out.
The screen opened, and Song Tangxue and Song Tangli slowly walked out. Song Tangli smiled and nodded to everyone, in a good mood.
The maid began to display the paintings, in order. The one on the front was Song Tangxue's painting, which was collected later. Everyone was amazed by Song Tangxue's painting skills.
Song Tangxue immediately recognized that it wasn't her painting. She closed her eyes slightly and remained silent, realizing that this was what she had in mind.
To everyone's surprise, Song Tangli's painting stunned everyone present. The butterfly that seemed to leap out of the painting made those holding it hold their breath, afraid of disturbing it.
Song Tangli felt a little flustered. How could Song Tangxue's painting skills be so good? But she quickly calmed down. This was her painting now.
She was surrounded by words of praise.
He glanced smugly at Song Tangxue, waiting to see her speechless and unable to defend herself.
Song Tangli smiled and said to Song Tangxue, "Sister, you flatter me. It was my fault. Sister never had the opportunity to learn these things before, and you haven't been learning for long since you returned to the Song family. It's already very good that you have this painting skill."
The implication was that Song Tangxue was inferior to her.
Song Tangli was deliberately provoking Song Tangxue. So what if this painting is yours? From now on, it will bear the name of Song Tangli.
Song Tangxue turned around calmly, seemingly speechless, while Song Tangli's smugness was about to overflow.
"Sister, there's no need to be sad. Given time, you'll definitely achieve something great," Song Tangli said, feigning concern.
Song Tangxue pulled the last picture from the table: "Actually, I drew two pictures, this is the other one."
She had made two preparations from the beginning; even if Song Tangli destroyed her painting, she could prove it.
The pure black butterfly, with its noble beauty, rests quietly on the paper, exquisitely beautiful, captivating the viewer at first glance.
Some skilled painters had even more complicated expressions. The brushstrokes in this painting were similar to those in Song Tangli's painting, and the smarter ones already understood what was going on.
However, they didn't say anything, but simply watched the situation unfold quietly.
This butterfly painting is even better than Song Tangli's, and given that two paintings were created in such a short time, it's obvious whose technique is superior.
Xuesong was unwilling to let Song Tangxue be so smug any longer: "You clearly bought this painting from outside, yet you're trying to use it to extort money from Ali. It's utterly despicable!"
Hu Feifei retorted coldly, "The competition topics were only just decided. How could Miss Song have known about them beforehand?"
Xuesong coldly stared at Song Tangxue, who met her gaze with an air of nonchalance. Even in this state of extreme anxiety, she showed no outward emotion.
The most dangerous people are those who don't show off their abilities. Cedar's mother taught her this, but Cedar didn't believe it.
"It's just a lucky break. The banquet was themed around spring, so buying the butterfly painting is exactly what the theme is all about." Cedar's accusation is completely unfounded.
With spring as the theme, wouldn't people be more likely to buy flowers? Why specifically butterflies, and only butterflies?
Song Tangli knew that Xuesong's weakness would inevitably make him the target of everyone's criticism, so she remained silent.
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