Even Xie Fengran looked over. She was also quite curious.
At this moment, Xie Yunxi felt like dying. She didn't know whether she hated Xie Fengran for being so merciless or Wang Yahan for being so meddlesome.
It was really like trying to steal a chicken but losing the rice instead. She felt as if she was about to be roasted alive!
Seeing that Xie Yunxi didn't say a word, Wang Yahan simply said, "Yunxi, didn't you say that Xie Fengran often speaks ill of you in front of the old lady and tries to drive a wedge between you and your grandmother? And she snatched the master who should have been yours. Oh, and you also said that her mother snatched the position of the main wife from your mother. You've suffered so much injustice. Don't you think you should get it back?"
Oh~
As soon as these words were spoken, the scene fell silent. Everyone looked at the Xie sisters with inquisitive looks in their eyes.
Who would have thought that the gossip in the Marquis Mansion was so explosive!
Xie Fengran's expression turned cold. Her gaze on Xie Yunxi was like a knife, scraping at her bit by bit.
Xie Yunxi shivered involuntarily. The look in Xie Fengran's eyes was chilling. At this moment, there was only one way out for her: to faint.
But before she could act on this thought, a servant came up from downstairs.
"Miss, the mistress sent someone to ask if it has started here. She's waiting to see the works of the young ladies."
"Yes, yes. I almost forgot. Please, sisters, take your seats. I have something to announce."
Sun Yuelan was also shocked by Wang Yahan's words just now. Now that she had regained her senses, she quickly took control of the situation.
Xie Yunxi let out a sigh of relief. She didn't have to pretend to faint anymore. However, she still had a bit of sense left. She ignored Wang Yahan's invitation and sat down beside Xie Fengran.
After sitting down, Xie Yunxi looked at Xie Fengran uneasily.
"Elder sister, what Miss Wang said was not what I said. I really don't know. I..."
"Shut up." Xie Fengran leaned halfway against the railing, her eyes downcast. Her tone was hard to read. "You don't need to explain it to me. Go and explain it to father when we get back."
Xie Yunxi's expression froze. A flash of hatred passed through her eyes. She gritted her teeth and endured it.
*
Regardless of what people were thinking in their hearts, the banquet continued.
Sun Yuelan had someone set up a large table in the middle of the attic.
Writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones were placed around the table.
The servants of the Sun family quickly finished setting everything up and then retreated in an orderly manner.
Sun Yuelan stood there, smiling at everyone. "Ladies, after enjoying the scenery in the garden, do you have any interest in showing your talents by writing, painting, or reciting poems about it?"
"Of course we're willing. I do these things at home as well. It's a great opportunity to communicate with you sisters here. I'm more than happy to do it."
As soon as Sun Yuelan finished speaking, someone chimed in. Immediately, everyone started talking noisily.
"That's right. We should be grateful to Miss Sun for providing such an opportunity!"
"Yes, yes! I'll be so happy just to see the literary talents of you sisters. I'll even laugh in my dreams!"
While everyone was discussing, suddenly a voice rang out abruptly.
"That's right, especially since Miss Xie is here. Everyone in the capital knows that Miss Xie is proficient in all the arts and her literary fame is well - known in the capital. We're really in for a treat today."
Looking in the direction of the voice, they saw Miss Wang looking at Xie Fengran with a sneering and provocative look in her eyes.
The noise in the attic gradually died down. Everyone's eyes shifted back and forth between the two of them, wondering in their hearts.
Was this a confrontation?
However, if what Wang Yahan said was true, no matter how talented Xie Fengran was, a bad character would still be a stain on her.
"Miss Wang, what are you talking about? Every sister here is well - educated. For example, Miss Wang's landscape paintings are also outstanding. Today, we're all here to communicate. If the sisters agree, I'll take all of your works to my mother for her to comment on, and then return them to you. What do you sisters think?"
Sun Yuelan stepped forward to smooth things over and gave Miss Wang a meaningful look.
Miss Wang gritted her teeth. Due to the fact that this was a banquet in the Sun Mansion, she didn't dare to be too presumptuous. She sat back down angrily.
The others were attracted by what Sun Yuelan said.
"Miss Sun, will our poems and paintings really be seen by Imperial Academician Sun?"
A young girl looked at Sun Yuelan with bright eyes, her expression excited.
Sun Yuelan nodded. "Yes, this was what my mother instructed. The Emperor has ordered my mother to reopen the girls' academy. All of you sisters may become rising stars in the girls' academy in the future. Naturally, my mother pays attention to you. She even sent someone to ask just now!"
"Wow, that's great. I must write carefully. Imperial Academician Sun has always been my idol, Miss Sun. Thank you for giving me this opportunity."
This girl was almost too excited to stand.
No one laughed at her. Among all the young ladies present, who didn't admire and respect Imperial Academician Sun?
Immediately, everyone started discussing noisily about what they were going to write. Some of the more enthusiastic ones didn't even care about being reserved and walked to the table to start writing.
Even Xie Yunxi was a bit eager to try.
The opportunity she had begged her father for was precisely to get closer to Sun Yuelan and try to get a chance to enter the girls' academy.
However, she knew her own limitations.
Immediately, her eyes shifted and landed on Xie Fengran.
Xie Fengran sensed her gaze and sneered in her heart. She was waiting to see how low Xie Yunxi could go.
But she really underestimated Xie Yunxi's shamelessness.
Xie Yunxi always knew how to be flexible. Even though what had just happened was still fresh in her mind, she could act as if nothing had happened. She looked at Xie Fengran with a cautious and pitiful expression.
"Elder sister, I also want to give it a try."
"Try if you want. Why are you telling me?"
Since the Sun Mansion had provided such a legitimate opportunity, if Xie Yunxi couldn't seize it, it would be her own fault.
Xie Yunxi thought that Xie Fengran was mocking her. She felt a bit embarrassed. But then she thought that if she could catch the eye of Imperial Academician Sun this time, there would be no problem with her entering the academy. So she gritted her teeth and said, "I'm not very talented. I'd like to ask elder sister to give me some guidance."
Xie Fengran blinked her eyes, looking surprised. "What did you say?"
How could Xie Yunxi be so thick - skinned?
"Elder sister, don't you remember that father told you to take care of me when we left the mansion? Do you think that if father knew that you not only didn't take care of me but also joined others to suppress me, and that you didn't help me when there was such an opportunity, would father be disappointed in you and take it out on mother?"
Xie Yunxi lowered her voice and stared at Xie Fengran intently.
It was no secret in the capital that the main wife of the Xie Mansion had long been out of favor with her husband and was almost invisible in the Marquis Mansion.
And Xie Yunxi knew that what Xie Fengran cared about most was her mother.
In the past, whenever Xie Fengran offended her, she would go and tell her aunt. Her aunt would whisper in her father's ear, and then her father would cause trouble for her step - mother.
Her step - mother was always submissive and devoted to her father. How could she bear her father's cold attitude? She would always fall ill after that.
Then Xie Fengran would be much more obedient.
She couldn't do anything to Xie Fengran now, but her father's favor was her greatest support.
"Sister, have you forgotten what I just said?"