Chen Shu, who had run far away, stood outside for a while. Feeling that it was about time and everyone should have forgotten the embarrassing incident, she quietly returned through the back door.
Hiding far behind the crowd, watching Song Tangli's confident demeanor, her eyes filled with the satisfaction of revenge, this smugness didn't last long.
To her surprise, Song Tangxue actually solved it. She was a little unsure. Could it be fake? How could it be?
How could a country bumpkin like her have so much?
Seeing that Song Tangli was at a disadvantage, Chen Shu anxiously shouted from the crowd, "She is your sister after all. How can you be so aggressive? Just because you are the legitimate daughter, you are so arrogant!"
"It was clearly you who bought the fake painting first, and then you deliberately set difficult questions for your own sisters. Do you have the magnanimity and composure of an elder sister?" Chen Shu became more and more excited as she spoke, raising her voice several octaves.
She had hoped to take advantage of the chaos, but to her surprise, the other young ladies all made way for her. Song Tangxue stared directly at her and uttered a single, ambiguous word: "Oh?"
"So what if I'm like this?" Song Tangxue said nonchalantly, "A concubine's daughter is a concubine's daughter. Outsiders can't determine one's birth, but it's her problem that she can't distinguish between superiors and inferiors."
"I almost forgot, you're also a concubine's daughter. You wouldn't talk back to your legitimate daughter, would you? Are you two colluding together or just sticking together for warmth? Do you also want to live the life of a legitimate daughter like Song Tangli and enjoy the happiness of being a legitimate daughter?"
Chen Shu was speechless. Her elder sister's gaze was already fixed on her, filled with scrutiny and indifference, and she dared not utter a word.
Cold sweat slowly rolled down Chen Shu's face as he stammered, shaking his head, "That's not what I meant..."
"Then what do you mean? It's not me who's being aggressive, it's Song Tangli, and you're still defending her. What a sisterly bond!" Song Tangxue bluntly exposed Song Tangli's attempt to put her in a difficult position, giving Song Tangli no face at all.
The onlookers turned their heads and whispered to their girlfriends, their voices neither too loud nor too soft, but still audible to those in the center of the incident.
"It's such an obvious thing, why is Chen Shu still coming out to distort the truth and smear Miss Song?"
"She's had a heart condition since she was little. Expecting her to face reality is probably something we'll have to wait for in her next life." These words came from the eldest daughter of the Marquis's family, who looked at Chen Shu, who was standing there dumbfounded, with disdain.
"These three are truly in cahoots; they're all cut from the same cloth."
After the young ladies from aristocratic families finished criticizing the three of them, they looked at Song Tangxue, who stood tall and handled everything with ease, with admiration in their eyes.
"This Miss Song is truly a woman of genuine character, tolerant and generous."
"Moreover, his chess skills are quite remarkable. He even managed to break through this kind of endgame. He's practically a god."
Song Tangli helped Xuesong up, keeping her head down like a quail, without saying a word. She gripped Xuesong's hand tightly, causing Xuesong to cry out in pain.
"Princess Tingyu has arrived!" The shrill voice of the eunuch was like a stone thrown into a lake. The young ladies present all stood up and bowed. Song Tangli seemed to have grasped a lifeline and squeezed to the front of the crowd.
Song Tangxue bowed slightly with the others. She was under imperial decree and was the legitimate Crown Princess. However, she had not yet entered the Eastern Palace, and her status would only be higher than that of Princess Tingyu in the future.
Princess Tingyu is the daughter of the Eldest Princess and is deeply favored by His Majesty.
The princess's gaze swept across the entire room, finally landing intentionally or unintentionally on Song Tangxue, who made no further move.
Respond to all changes with constancy.
"Please don't be so formal, everyone. Please sit down." Princess Tingyu waved her hand as if she were in a good mood and took the lead in finding a seat.
Song Tangli sat down beside her with a shameless grin and served her food in a flattering manner: "Everyone says that the princess's beauty is unparalleled in the world, and seeing her today, it is indeed true."
Princess Tingyu did not touch her chopsticks, but looked at the eager Song Tangli with a half-smile. A lowly maid, the adopted daughter of the Song family, actually dared to try to take advantage of her. Did she want to live too long?
Under Princess Tingyu's probing gaze, Song Tangli continued, "My sister is too ignorant. Her manners are improper. Please don't blame her, Princess Tingyu. It is the Song family's lack of proper upbringing."
Princess Tingyu moved her bowl further away and coldly snorted, "It's you who lacks manners. I've seen your low-class tricks since I was a child, so don't try to show off your skills in front of me."
"Those concubines were even better at using power than you. Do you know what happened to them?"
The last sound was like a cold hook that pierced Song Tangli's heart. Song Tangli smiled and said, "I don't know what the princess means."
Princess Tingyu looked at her coldly: "Don't try to use others as pawns. Not everyone is as stupid as you."
As she spoke, Princess Tingyu stood up and, as if disgusted, kept a great distance from her, walking straight towards Song Tangxue.
With everyone staring at her, Song Tangli stood there, extremely embarrassed, wishing she could disappear into a crack in the ground.
Song Tangxue noticed Princess Tingyu's arrival and raised an eyebrow in surprise: "Greetings, Princess Tingyu."
Princess Tingyu sat down gracefully beside her, a hint of urgency lingering between her brows, but she concealed it well: "I heard Miss Song solve this puzzle outside just now. Miss Song is truly talented and beautiful."
Song Tangxue suddenly remembered the rumors circulating in the streets that the eldest princess intended to marry Princess Tingyu to Xie Qianzhong.
Princess Tingyu seems to have a good relationship with Xie Qianzhong.
Having figured out Princess Tingyu's purpose, Song Tangxue calmly replied, "A mere trifle, nothing compared to the Princess."
“Speaking of both talent and good looks, Lord Xie is truly an outstanding figure in this court.” Sure enough, in just a few words, Princess Tingyu turned the conversation to Xie Qianzhong.
Song Tangxue picked up her teacup, concealing the thoughts in her eyes.
Princess Tingyu's gaze seemed to be fixed on her, as if trying to discern something from her expression.
Song Tangxue smiled slightly: "Everyone knows Lord Xie's talent and reputation. Who doesn't know him?"
Princess Tingyu frowned slightly: "I heard you recently met Lord Xie. After seeing him in person, what did you think of him?"
Song Tangxue put down her teacup: "Lord Xie has only helped me a few times out of kindness. As the Crown Princess, he, as a subject, naturally protects me."
Princess Tingyu's brows slowly relaxed. Song Tangxue had an imperial decree on her, making her the Crown Princess of the royal family. There was no possibility between her and Xie Qianzhong. She had been too paranoid.
Relieved, Princess Tingyu looked at Song Tangxue with increasing satisfaction. After all, she would be seeing Song Tangxue frequently in the future as the Crown Princess. So she invited her, "Spring flowers are in full bloom. There are rare flowers in the back garden of Emerald Manor that are hard to find outside. Would Miss Song like to go and have a look?"
Song Tangxue was also getting a little bored, so she readily agreed.
Song Tangli, who had been secretly watching this place, immediately got up and followed. When she passed the backyard, she smelled a familiar scent.
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