Gu Liyue was not a petty person. If others were close to her, she would be happy to reciprocate.
Under the instructions of their parents, when these young ladies saw Gu Liyue this time, they were not only affectionate but also worried that she might feel out of place. They took the initiative to start conversations and never mentioned topics that noble people usually talked about.
"I went back to my hometown last summer. I learned how to swim from my sisters there. Swimming is so much fun! Have you ever tried it?"
"Ah, I've always wanted to learn, but I never got the chance. Liyue, can you swim? If I get the chance later, will you teach me?"
Gu Liyue felt a bit embarrassed and shook her head. "I... have been in poor health since childhood, so I've never learned."
The young ladies felt a bit awkward and quickly changed the topic. "Swimming is fun, but opportunities are rare. It's a pity we don't have the chance. By the way, Liyue, take a look at this handkerchief. How's my embroidery? I learned from Embroidery Lady Zhang, who used to work in the palace, for two months. My mother even praised it."
Gu Liyue took the handkerchief and looked. Although it was just ordinary, it was embroidered with gold and silver threads, so it was quite delicate. She nodded. "It's really beautifully embroidered. The stitches are neat, and the bamboo has a real charm. This embroidery technique should be from the Sichuan and Shu areas. It's rare in the capital."
The young lady quickly agreed. "Liyue, you have really good eyesight. My mother told me that you're very good at embroidery. You must teach me more in the future."
"I want to learn too. Liyue, teach me. My mother is worried that when I get married in the future, I won't even be able to embroider my husband's belt. I'll be laughed at."
The girls' chatter made Gu Liyue relax a lot. It was true that status made a difference. In the past, she had been in an awkward position, and no young ladies were willing to get close to her. But now, things were different.
She didn't think they were being snobbish. Most people were like this. If she had grown up in the capital with a good family background like them, she might not have treated everyone equally either.
At the entrance of the main hall, a young woman and a young girl were standing, looking coldly in this direction. They seemed to despise the lively scene.
The young girl was Qi Manyan.
Qi Manyan sneered and whispered, "Princess Jing, that's Gu Liyue, the one who ruined Yingyue's reputation. Now she's climbed up a high branch and somehow really became a young lady of the Marquis Mansion."
Princess Jing squinted her eyes and said disdainfully, "Such a person. Lady Jiang actually said she was very similar to Yue'er? It's just like an ugly woman imitating a beauty. It's just a joke."
Qi Manyan supported Princess Jing and walked inside. As they walked, she said again, "Princess Jing, don't underestimate her. Even the Grand Princess once praised her."
The Grand Princess was Princess Jing's aunt and a legitimate princess. Her status was self - evident. Princess Jing looked unhappy but didn't say much. She took her seat and started chatting with other ladies.
When the palace banquet started, it was just music, dancing, nothing particularly new. Although the Gu family was seated in the front, Gu Liyue, Gu Cheng'an, and Gu Chengzhi were sitting at the back of the Gu family group, so they weren't very noticeable.
The emperor said some encouraging words, looked forward to a good year ahead, and praised Princess Yunxi for her filial piety in serving the Empress Dowager.
Gu Chengzhi immediately snorted coldly. His voice wasn't soft, which made the noble people nearby look at him. Even Gu Zhongxian turned around and glared at him fiercely.
Gu Liyue lowered her voice and asked, "Fourth brother, I think Princess Yunxi seems quite nice. Why do you dislike her so much?"
Gu Cheng'an, the third brother, shook his head. "You don't know. Yunxi has been naughty since childhood. When she was a child, she was as wild as a boy. When they were playing together, she once..."
"Third brother!"
Gu Chengzhi quickly shouted to stop Gu Cheng'an from saying more.
Just then, the emperor paused, and in the main hall, only Gu Chengzhi's voice could be heard.
Lu Yunxi was originally receiving the reward. Hearing Gu Chengzhi's voice, she immediately stood up, tilted her chin at Gu Chengzhi, and said, "Gu Chengzhi, what's wrong? Are you dissatisfied with the emperor's reward for me?"
Gu Chengzhi's face turned bright red, and he didn't dare to raise his head.
But Lu Yunxi didn't let him off. She stomped over. "I'm talking to you. If you're dissatisfied, stand up. Don't be such a coward!"
Gu Chengzhi suddenly raised his head and looked at Lu Yunxi defiantly. But when he stood up and looked at the emperor, the Empress Dowager, and his grandfather, parents who were very dissatisfied with him, he finally just stammered, "I dare not..."
Gu Liyue saw Gu Cheng'an trying hard not to laugh beside her. She suddenly had a feeling and probably knew how Lu Yunxi had mocked Gu Chengzhi when they were kids.
"I thought you wouldn't dare." Having won the argument, Lu Yunxi was like a victorious peacock, proudly strutting her stuff. She ran to the Empress Dowager and pointed at Gu Liyue. "Your Majesty, look. That's the newly - recognized daughter of the Gu family. She's very beautiful. When I saw her, I no longer thought Gu Chengzhi looked like a girl."
Gu Chengzhi stood in the main hall, gnashing his teeth in anger. He thought that he must find Lu Yunxi later and give her a good beating.
"Why are you so naughty?" The Empress Dowager shook her head helplessly, patted Lu Yunxi's hand, and smiled at Lady Gu. "My granddaughter is too naughty. I'm making you laugh, sister."
How could Lady Gu say anything bad about Princess Yunxi? She just kept saying it was okay and that she liked Princess Yunxi very much because she was lively and smart.
Unfortunately, Lu Yunxi was not good at reading the situation. Hearing Lady Gu's praise, she immediately asked, "Madam, you like me so much. Do you like me more or Gu Liyue more?"
Lady Gu was stunned. How could she answer this? If she said she liked her own granddaughter more, this princess was so willful. What if she didn't let it go? But if she said she liked Lu Yunxi more, how could she bear to let her own granddaughter be wronged? Even if it was just a few words on the surface, she couldn't bear it.
Gu Liyue didn't know that Lady Gu didn't answer because she was afraid Lu Yunxi would pester them. She just thought Lady Gu was in a difficult position and afraid of being blamed by the royal family. She immediately stood up and bowed. "The princess is as beautiful as a celestial being. Everyone who sees her praises her. How can I compare with her?"
Lu Yunxi propped her face. "You mean your grandmother likes me more?"
Gu Liyue just smiled. "Princess, family affection is deep - rooted. Although the princess is beautiful, of good character, and smart and lively, exactly the kind of person my grandmother likes the most. And I'm just an ordinary girl with poor upbringing. But after all, we're related by blood. Maybe my grandmother's heart is just a bit biased..."
Lu Yunxi burst out laughing. She pulled the Empress Dowager and asked, "Your Majesty, her grandmother's heart is biased. I don't have a grandmother. You're my real grandmother. Is your heart biased?"
The Empress Dowager gave her a reproachful look, then looked at Gu Liyue seriously, and said to Lady Gu with a smile, "You're really lucky. In your old age, you've got such a good granddaughter."