Chāngpíng Gōngzhǔ glanced at Fúmǐn Jùnzhǔ and said pointedly, “Since it was just a few quarrels, let’s just forget about it!”

Don’t mention it today, so as not to spoil the fun.

After Chāngpíng Gōngzhǔ spoke, Fúmǐn Jùnzhǔ dared not speak recklessly anymore. She glared at Ling Jingshu fiercely and then withdrew her gaze in dismay.

Ling Jingshu smiled gratefully at Chāngpíng Gōngzhǔ: “Thank you, Princess, for doing justice for us sisters.”

Chāngpíng Gōngzhǔ smiled casually: “It’s just a small matter, not worth mentioning.” She smiled and said to everyone: “Everyone, follow me to the third floor of the viewing pavilion, which is the best place to enjoy the lotus.”

All the girls agreed.

This viewing pavilion had three floors. The bottom floor could accommodate thirty or forty people, and the second and third floors were smaller, with a capacity of about twenty people.

About ten people came to the banquet today. The maids stayed on the second floor. Several palace maids who played music followed to the third floor.

Through the exquisitely carved railings, the beautiful scenery on the lake could be seen at a glance. The pure white gauze fell gently, and the ground was covered with a white and soft blanket. On the blanket were red sandalwood tables and chairs, and each table was placed with various fresh fruits and snacks, just enough for two people.

The first and second floors of the viewing pavilion were also exquisite, but they were far inferior to the luxury of the third floor.

Chāngpíng Gōngzhǔ obviously often held banquets here for fun. She stepped on the white blanket without mercy and sat in the top seat. Fúmǐn Jùnzhǔ sat down beside her naturally.

Jiang Shi and Jiang Rongyue sat at one table, and Ling Jingshu and Ling Jingyan sat at the corner.

“Ah Shu,” Ling Jingyan lowered her voice and whispered, “This kind of blanket is produced outside the Great Wall and is extremely expensive. We have one at home, and my mother has kept it in the warehouse!”

Chāngpíng Gōngzhǔ took it and spread it on the ground. Who knows, she might even throw it away after using it once. It was really extravagant and wasteful, which was shocking.

Ling Jingshu raised her eyes and looked at Chāngpíng Gōngzhǔ, who was smiling brightly from a distance. She quickly lowered her eyelids and said lightly, “As the Gōngzhǔ, you can use any good things in the world.”

Ling Jingyan was startled and looked at Ling Jingshu strangely.

It was really not like she would say such words.

Ling Jingshu raised her head calmly and said to Ling Jingyan with a smile, “Don’t look at it stupidly. There are so many delicious fruits on the table. Why don’t you try them?”

It was summer and the weather was a bit hot. However, the viewing pavilion was located in the center of the lake, and the wind from the lake blew over, which made people feel refreshed and relaxed. Most of the fresh fruits were rare in this season.

Ling Jingyan only took a look. She was tempted. Naturally, she threw all the questions behind her. She picked up one and ate it.

…

The palace maids sitting nearby began to play their instruments. The tune they played was unknown, but it was quite cheerful and pleasant.

Everyone ate some fresh fruit snacks, drank some tea, and chatted casually. The atmosphere was relaxed and happy.

Chāngpíng Gōngzhǔ clapped her hands gently, and the music stopped.

Chāngpíng Gōngzhǔ said with a smile: “Everyone, today is a lotus viewing banquet, so the theme should be lotus. The lotus flowers and lotus leaves in this lake are graceful and beautiful. Now let’s each appreciate the lotus, and then show our strengths. How about painting and poetry?”

At gatherings of ladies in the boudoir, elegance was of utmost importance. Drinking games and the like were naturally unsuitable. Enjoying songs and dances was too clichéd, but the suggestion of composing poetry and painting was exactly to everyone’s liking.

Su Ying smiled and replied: “Your Highness’s suggestion is very good. I wonder if there is a time limit? Also, will there be someone to judge the poems and paintings? Are there any prizes for the winners?”

Chāngpíng Gōngzhǔ smiled and answered one by one: “Whether it is writing poems or paintings, they are not good if they are done in a hurry, so there is no need to rush. One hour is the limit. As for the judges, I will be bold and be the judge. If the poem is good or the painting is good, you can take anything from the viewing pavilion as a prize today.”

The furnishings in the viewing pavilion were luxurious and exquisite. Even the vases on the table were rare treasures.

Of course, those who were qualified to attend the banquet were all aristocratic ladies, so they didn’t care about the prizes. It was just for fun.

Jiang Rongyue was the first to laugh and clap her hands: “Your Highness is so generous, so we won’t be polite today.”

Everyone laughed and agreed.

“Today’s champion, we know without any competition that it must be Second Miss Su.”

The girl sitting next to Su Ying smiled and said, “Second Miss Su is both a master of poetry and painting. If she is second in the capital, no one dares to claim to be first. With Second Miss Su here today, how can we have a chance?”

This joke, half true and half false, inevitably had a sour taste.

Su Ying was probably used to such compliments, and she smiled and said modestly, “Fourth Miss Li, you flatter me. There is always someone better, and no matter how skilled I may be in poetry and painting, I am not worthy of being called the best.”

Jiang Rongyue smiled and took over the conversation, “Sister Su, you are too polite. With you here, it is really meaningless for us to compete. In my opinion, you should not come out today, and you should be a judge together with Her Royal Highness the Gōngzhǔ.”

This proposal was obviously very much in line with everyone’s wishes.

Su Ying agreed half-heartedly.

Ling Jingshu was secretly a little surprised.

When Jiang Rongyue spoke with Su Ying, her tone was quite casual, indicating a strong familiarity. However, their relationship did not seem exceptionally close, as there was an air of rivalry between them….

The girls began to rack their brains and think hard.

The palace maids swiftly and neatly cleared the table, methodically presenting the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone.

Ling Jingyan and Ling Jingshu were no exception. On the table in front of them was a pile of white rice paper, paint for painting, inkstone and ink sticks for writing, and brushes of different sizes. Everything was of top quality.

Most of the famous ladies present were well-read and good at calligraphy and painting. Even if they were not very proficient, it was no problem to pick up a pen to draw a lotus picture.

Ling Jingyan looked into the distance and watched carefully for a long time before she started to write.

Those who were a little slower also started to write in the time of a cup of tea. An hour, not short, but not long either. To draw a lotus picture and write a poem, the difficulty was definitely not small.

Ling Jingshu, however, sat quietly without writing, her eyes fixed on the lake.

Ling Jingyan was busy typing the draft, but when she looked up, she saw that the paper in front of Ling Jingshu was still blank. She was shocked: “Ah Shu, half of the time has passed, why haven’t you started writing yet?”

If she kept delaying like this, it would be too late.

Ling Jingshu smiled faintly and was about to speak when a sneer of contempt sounded: “If you don’t have the face to write, just give up early, so as not to embarrass yourself later.”

(To be continued)