Lin Ziyu noticed that Rong Qing'er's gaze was always fixed on Song Jinyu. She whispered a reminder, "Why does the daughter of the Duke's Mansion keep staring at you?"
"How could that be?" Although Song Jinyu knew it well, she pretended to be nonchalant.
Casually, Song Jinyu caught a glimpse of the venom in Rong Qing'er's eyes.
Just then, a long - missed voice suddenly rang out, "Miss Song, you're quite well - known in Liuzhou City. Everyone knows about you."
"Why don't you show us how you steal the limelight?" There was no shortage of malice in the tone. Song Jinyu didn't even need to look up to know it was He Shuyi.
Hearing these words, Lin Ziyu couldn't hold back her temper. "Miss He, are you drunk?"
Song Jinyu grabbed her and shook her head, signaling her to stop.
Today was a banquet to welcome Princess Suoli. In any case, their feud couldn't be put on the table.
She gave He Shuyi a cold glance and smiled, "Miss He, I suppose the wounds from the last beating have healed? If not, I don't mind giving you another twenty strokes."
He Shuyi was furious, but was held back by another young lady. "Are you crazy? Do you know what occasion this is!"
The feud among the ladies at the women's table didn't affect the men's table. Song Jinyu accompanied Princess Suoli in chatting. Because of her knowledge of the Gu tribe, Princess Suoli really enjoyed talking to her.
At first, Rong Qing'er, being self - important, kept talking about the lives of noble ladies in the capital. But Princess Suoli showed no interest at all. The more happily she talked with Song Jinyu, the more she found Rong Qing'er artificial.
Before long, maids were coming in and out, carrying hot soup. Among them, an unremarkable maid exchanged a glance with Rong Qing'er and then quietly approached Song Jinyu. It seemed that she was about to drop the bowl of hot soup.
As if sensing the malice in her gaze, Niaoniao tripped the maid with her foot. Suddenly, the maid lost her balance and fell straight towards the table. The hot soup spilled out, and due to the large movement, it splashed on Rong Qing'er.
"Ah..."
She let out a shrill scream and covered her face with her hands. "Song Jinyu, you did this to me!"
Song Jinyu, who was named out of the blue, on one hand supported the princess, and on the other hand arranged for someone to change the table setting. However, although the maid was kneeling on the ground, kowtowing like crazy, she didn't seem very scared.
Zhongli Mingye was attracted by the commotion at the women's table. He had a cold look on his face, and his eyes fell on Song Jinyu. Without saying a word, he just sent someone to take Rong Qing'er away.
Princess Suoli was a carefree person and didn't care about this little episode at all.
But the noble ladies in Liuzhou didn't think so. They all thought it was Song Jinyu's maid who made the daughter of the Duke's Mansion get scalded, and that Prince Yu had handled the matter unfairly, only because of the face of the Prefect's Mansion. For a moment, there was a lot of discussion.
Lin Ziyu saw this and couldn't help but feel anxious.
"Stop talking nonsense!"
Song Jinyu suddenly blocked the maid's way. "Stop!"
"As a maid, you can't even carry the soup properly. It seems these hands are of no use." She motioned for Niaoniao to grab the maid and pretended to break her hand.
Everyone gasped. What a cruel woman! Zhongli Mingye looked at Song Jinyu lovingly. He didn't stop her. Originally, he planned to torture the maid later. Now, seeing that she was being gossiped about, although he wanted to help, he couldn't be too obvious.
So he just acquiesced in her actions.
The maid knelt on the ground, kowtowing desperately. She shouldn't have taken that fifty taels of silver today. Now, her hands might be in danger.
"Miss, please spare me!"
"Spare you? What about my reputation?" She quietly walked up to the maid. "If you admit now who instructed you..."
Unexpectedly, the maid shouted, "Miss Song, this slave shouldn't have taken your silver."
"Please spare this slave!" Anyway, she would offend someone. It was better to offend the daughter of the Liuzhou Prefect than the daughter of the Duke's Mansion.
Hearing this, everyone was even more indignant, thinking that Song Jinyu must have played some dirty tricks behind the scenes. As if seeing through everyone's thoughts, Niaoniao twisted the maid's arm slightly, making the maid turn pale with pain.
"..."
A strange smile appeared on Song Jinyu's face. She took out a handkerchief and gently fanned the air in front of the maid.
Before long, the maid seemed to be in a daze.
"Tell me, who did you take the silver from?"
"It was... it was the maid from the Duke Rong's Mansion." In just a moment, the situation had reversed. Then the maid poured out all the details of the deal between the maid from the Duke's Mansion and her like beans from a bamboo tube. Zhongli Mingye looked at Song Jinyu curiously, wondering how she did it. But in his heart, he was very happy. His woman was truly a pearl.
Princess Suoli saw it clearly. She had heard that there were many disputes in the backyards of the Central Plains families. She didn't expect such a commotion at this welcoming banquet.
Prince Yu walked in and sent someone to take the maid away and give her to Rong Qing'er. Today's farce actually suited his wishes. As if thinking of some bad idea, a strange light flashed in his phoenix - like eyes.
"Miss Song, your Central Plains women are really not straightforward enough," Princess Suoli complained.
"... I'm sorry. I've spoiled your mood today," Song Jinyu said. She also disliked these back - yard schemes of competing for favor. Putting them on the table was embarrassing. This was not just about her face, but the face of the whole Liuzhou City.
"However, this princess suddenly wants to have a competition with you," Princess Suoli had an idea.
"This garden is really nice. There's enough space for horse - racing! If you official daughters can beat this princess,"
"Today's matter will be forgotten."
All the accompanying young ladies frowned. Horse - riding? They always traveled in carriages or sedan - chairs. How could they ride horses?
Zhongli Mingye smiled and said, "Princess, you're making things difficult for them."
"You only know those useless things like poetry, calligraphy, music, and painting. You can't even ride horses or shoot arrows!" Princess Suoli said contemptuously.
Song Jinyu said seriously, "To educate the sons of the state in the right way, they should be taught the six arts: the five rites, the six musical pieces, the five archery techniques, the five chariot - driving skills, the six writing methods, and the nine mathematical arts."
"Poetry, calligraphy, music, and painting are exactly the music, rites, and writing among the six arts. Everyone in our dynasty knows the six arts, so there are many talented people and the court is clear - headed."
"Each has its own advantages and disadvantages. Only by knowing one's own strengths and weaknesses can one achieve long - term development."
"..." Princess Suoli put away her contempt. She looked at Song Jinyu seriously. The young ladies in the Central Plains were really amazing.
These words not only made Princess Suoli look at her with new eyes, but also made Prince Yu Zhongli Mingye, who was standing beside her, very excited. The woman he liked was a woman with great vision. Prince Nai An and Prince Xicheng were also shocked by Song Jinyu's words. Even ordinary young ladies in the Central Plains required themselves according to the standard of the "six arts". Other young masters and scholars must be even more profound.
The Celestial Empire was truly a state of etiquette and culture.