The noble girl is beautiful.

After an indeterminate wait, the Emperor entered with his concubines. The crowd knelt in unison to pay their respects, and despite the hundreds of people present, the grand banquet hall remained solemn and orderly.

The Emperor, advanced in age with graying hair and beard, did not appear hunched, but his aged presence was unmistakable. Dressed in a resplendent yellow imperial robe, he sat on the throne, exuding an aura of authority that no one dared to meet his gaze directly.

After a short while, he commanded the crowd to rise, and everyone took their seats accordingly. In the absence of an Empress or Dowager Empress, the highest-ranking concubines, Lady Shu and Lady Li, sat to the left of the Emperor. On the right side sat the Fourth Prince and Prince Duan. The Fourth Prince occupied the seat closest to the Emperor, signifying his esteemed status. Next to Prince Duan were other nobles, including some Dukes.

Shen Yourong and her companions, following the elderly matriarchs Lady Yang and Lady Li, took seats at a distance from the Emperor. Initially, they could hear the Emperor jovially conversing with several nobles, followed by a lively exchange of sharp words between Lady Shu and Lady Li. Amidst the lively atmosphere, someone brought up the topic of notable young ladies from the capital. Many seized this opportunity to showcase their talents, with the Second Princess merely hinting at it before numerous ladies stepped forward to perform dances or songs. The eldest daughter of the An Guogong’s family, dressed in riding attire, gave a captivating sword dance performance that won everyone’s admiration.

Opportunities for women to showcase their talents were scarce, and this was a rare moment to make a mark in the Emperor’s presence.

Shen Yourong and her companions discreetly watched the elderly matriarch’s reaction, remaining composed.

The Emperor praised the sword dance and asked, “Is the accompaniment ‘Breaking the Battle Formation’? The guqin and zither were excellent, well done!”

At his words, a young lady stepped forward from the side of the hall and expressed her gratitude, “Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty.”

The Emperor, surprised, smiled and asked, “Was it you who played the guqin?”

The young lady respectfully bowed and replied, “Yes, Your Majesty.”

Shen Yourong recognized her as a girl from the family of the Deputy Censor-in-Chief, surnamed Zheng, with whom they did not get along. The Deputy Censor-in-Chief, a second-rank official responsible for supervising other officials, was a trusted minister of the Emperor, and few dared to offend him.

Suddenly, Lady Li rose and said, “I have heard that the three young ladies of the Qi Guogong’s family are beautiful and talented. On such a fine occasion, why don’t we see them step forward and show themselves? Sister Shu, you’ve hidden them away too well.”

Lady Shu chuckled and replied, “My three nieces are not as talented as the other young ladies here; it would be unbecoming for them to step forward.”

“Why say such things?” Lady Li smiled meaningfully, “Everyone knows the three ladies of the Shen family are outstanding.”

With a calm expression, the Emperor asked Lady Li, “So, what do you suggest they do?”

Lady Li smiled and suggested, “I’ve heard that the third young lady of the Shen family excels at painting, the second at poetry. How about having the third lady paint a scene of today’s festivities, the second lady compose a poem, and the eldest lady inscribe a calligraphy?”

Although this seemed reasonable, it placed Shen Youyong in a difficult position as her calligraphy was not her strong suit.

This was both a lenient and stringent request. The three Shen ladies withdrew to a side hall to create their artwork while the music continued at the banquet.

Ji Zhuo, pouring himself a drink, sat beside the similarly aged Prince Huai’an, who asked, “Uncle Duan, I understand you have some ties with the Qi Guogong family. Are you familiar with these young ladies?”

Ji Zhuo replied, “Yes, I do. I once stayed at the Qi Guogong’s residence and have tutored these young ladies.”

Prince Huai’an inquired, “What do you think they will present? The Qi Guogong family seems rather low-key today, perhaps they haven’t prepared anything?”

“I’m not sure,” Ji Zhuo responded, “but what can a few young ladies produce that would be truly astonishing? If you wish to be kind, a few words of praise wouldn’t hurt.”

“Understood,” replied Prince Huai’an.

Soon, a group of palace attendants returned with a long scroll painting. The artwork depicted a grand scene, from the heavenly palace gates to the multitude of nations in ceremonial robes, from the vast canopy to the incense-filled golden censer. The painting skillfully captured the grandiosity and detail of the occasion.

At the head of the painting was a poem praising the era of peace and prosperity, with a sense of unity across the land. The calligraphy was bold and free-flowing, exuding a unique character.

“Excellent!” the Fourth Prince praised first, followed by others.

Lady Li smiled and remarked, “The third young lady of the Shen family has crafted a painting full of detail and thought. Who would believe that a young lady created such work without being told? It’s comparable to the work of many academicians in the Hanlin Academy.”

The Emperor, pleased, declared, “Reward them.”

Thus, everyone eagerly praised Shen Qingyan’s painting, while Shen Yourong and Shen Qinghan were not mentioned further.

The Prince of Huai’an commented to Ji Zhuo, “Everyone praises the painting, but I find the calligraphy by the eldest Shen lady quite impressive, reminiscent of your style, Uncle Duan.”

Ji Zhuo openly acknowledged, “At least this Shen family girl did not disgrace her Master.”

Prince Huai’an laughed, “Uncle Duan, you were doubtful earlier, but look at the painting, poem, and calligraphy! Many well-read men would struggle to match this. You’ve taught some excellent students.”

Ji Zhuo smiled quietly.

As the banquet reached its midpoint, the Emperor and others rose to freshen up. Shen Qingyan was called forward by Lady Shu, leaving Shen Qinghan feeling uneasy. She quietly tugged at Shen Yourong, saying, “Elder sister, accompany me for a walk, will you?”

The old Lady overheard and advised, “Do not wander too far, and be cautious.”

“Yes,” they replied.
Shen Yourong and Shen Qinghan left the banquet. As night fell and the late spring air turned cool, they walked to a pavilion behind a palace, where they sat down as no one else was around.

Shen Qinghan’s face was clouded with discontent. In such a grand occasion where all three sisters were to create artwork and poetry, only Shen Qingyan had garnered attention, leaving her feeling neglected. At home, the three sisters were somewhat evenly matched, but here, people were only interested in flattering the Emperor and had little regard for the feelings of a young girl. The disparity was hard to bear.

Shen Yourong touched Shen Qinghan’s temple and said, “Having too much spotlight can be as difficult as having too little. Don’t you understand this? Second Sister, not being involved in the royal affairs might actually be a blessing.”

Shen Qinghan looked at her and asked, “Elder sister, doesn’t it bother you?”

“Me?” Shen Yourong pondered for a moment, then replied, “If it were up to me, I’d prefer not to be seen at all. I’d just sit and watch others perform and enjoy the royal chef’s dishes.”

She managed a smile through her tears, and Shen Yourong added, “Look at you, your makeup is starting to run.” She beckoned Shen Qinghan’s maid to help her fix her makeup.

As she and her maid went off, a figure in white approached from a distance and soon reached Shen Yourong.

She recognized Ji Zhuo, whom she hadn’t seen for a long time. His appearance, which had begun to blur in her memory, instantly became clear upon seeing him again.

She curtsied and said, “Greetings, Prince Duan.”

“No need for formalities.” In the night, Ji Zhuo’s voice sounded gentle.

“Your calligraphy is excellent,” he said with a light smile. “You’ve made great progress.”

He was the first person to compliment her tonight, and she looked up at him and smiled.

“You seem unhappy,” he remarked. “Is it because the Emperor praised the third young lady and you feel unsettled?”

Shen Yourong shook her head. “It just feels like the situation tonight is overwhelming.”

“Indeed,” he agreed. “Since the Emperor is willing to favor the third young lady, it’s likely that her marriage to the Fourth Prince will soon be settled. What are your plans, eldest young lady?”

Shen Yourong was silent for a moment before asking in return, “And you, what are your plans?”

He paused, then smiled, “What plans could I have?”

Her smile faded as she looked at him, feeling a surge of frustration.

“If that’s the case, what does my marriage have to do with you?”
Her words clearly marked a boundary. She found herself disliking him more and more, forever ambiguous and elusive. She also disliked herself for not being able to stay away, despite her resolve.

He raised an eyebrow and asked with a smile, “Did I offend you somehow? Why the sudden outburst?”

She adjusted her sleeve and said, “I used to think the Fourth Prince was arrogant and not worth associating with. Now I see he’s quite decent, sincere, and loyal, much better than those who are full of schemes and calculations.”

Ji Zhuo’s expression grew cold as he scrutinized Shen her. “So, you only appreciate him now that he’s gone?”

She frowned, feeling slightly insulted.

He lifted his chin, exuding an air of aloofness, and said, “You’ve always misjudged people. You only see how he’s devoted to your third sister. Have you considered whether his feelings for others are the same?”

She looked sharply at him. “What do you mean?”

He sneered and said, “Young people like you are fickle, easily swayed by appearances, and prone to change your affections. It’s quite common.”

Before she could respond, he took out a pouch and tossed it to her. She fumbled to catch it and opened it to find the earring he had previously taken.

“I forgot to mention,” he said as he walked past her, “this earring doesn’t suit you at all.”
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