Su Mingyu raised her eyebrows and began to recite without hesitation:
"Two peach and apricot trees lean crookedly against the fence,
Adorning the royal residence in the capital.
Why can't the spring breeze tolerate them?
It blows down several branches with orioles on them."
As soon as she finished, everyone in the backyard fell silent and stared fixedly at Su Mingyu, who usually kept a low profile.
Su Yueyue also opened her mouth in disbelief. She wracked her brains but couldn't figure out who the poem was written by.
Could it really be an impromptu creation by Su Mingyu?
It was simply incredible to compose such a poem within just a few breaths!
As if seeing what Su Yueyue was thinking, Su Mingyu curled her lips into a smile. Just then, a gentle breeze blew up, and some disobedient flower petals quietly landed on her white dress.
Su Mingyu casually picked up a petal and said:
"Where the peach blossoms vary in shade,
They seem like makeup of different tones.
The spring breeze adds to the heartbreak,
Blowing the petals onto my white clothes."
"Great poem!"
Almost the moment her voice faded, thunderous applause erupted in the backyard.
If it could be barely said that Su Mingyu was lucky with the first poem, the second one seemed to be so appropriate to the occasion.
With such literary talent, Su Mingyu had a complete victory.
Su Yueyue, who was put in an embarrassing situation, tightly wrung her handkerchief, her face turning ashen with anger.
The King of Yu watched Su Mingyu with great interest, her cheeks blushing like the peach blossoms. He slightly raised his thin lips and said:
"Truly, she is more charming than the flowers."
Su Mingyu bowed slightly and replied with a charming smile, "Your Highness, you're overpraising me."
For a while, Su Mingyu's reputation as a talented lady spread far and wide. Many learned young gentlemen quietly became interested in this young lady who could effortlessly compose two excellent poems.
Inside the Su Mansion, Su Yueyue swept the things on the table to the ground. Amid the crackling sound of broken items came a roar.
"Ah! That bitch Su Mingyu! She has stolen all the limelight! What on earth is going on!"
Wang Manwen's face turned as dark as ink. She slapped the table and said:
"This Su Mingyu! She can't be allowed to live any longer."
At the flower - viewing banquet that day, the King of Yu's appreciation for Su Mingyu was like a thorn, stabbing deeply into Su Yueyue's heart.
The position of the King of Yu's consort was hers. She would never allow Su Mingyu to take it away.
...
In a blink of an eye, it was the Tomb - Sweeping Festival for ancestor worship.
The Su family was a prominent family in the capital, so ancestor worship was naturally a major event.
Both Su Zhengyi and Wang Manwen were from the capital, so they set up a sacrificial altar on the outskirts of the city.
When more than half of the ceremony was over, Wang Manwen motioned for Su Yueyue to offer the first incense on behalf of the younger generation.
Su Yueyue proudly glanced at Su Mingyu and then walked up gracefully.
But before she could touch the incense, Su Mingyu raised her hand to stop her. "Sister, our ancestors are watching. If they knew we were so disregarding the rules, they might be unhappy."
Su Yueyue, suddenly interrupted, looked solemn. "What do you mean, sister? Didn't I offer the first incense last year too?"
Su Mingyu nodded and said seriously, "Last year, I let you offer the first incense because you and Auntie Wang had just returned to the Su Mansion. I thought it would be a comfort for you to recognize our ancestors... "
Su Mingyu casually glanced at Su Zhengyi. "But in the past year... our Su Mansion doesn't seem to have been very fortunate."
"Father has been unable to clear his suspicion in the exam leakage case. I was almost killed in the mountains by villains. And even you, sister..."
There was full of pity in Su Mingyu's eyes. "A small whip wound almost disfigured you. Although I dare not blindly claim that it is related to you offering the first incense, it's always better to be cautious."
"You're talking nonsense! It's clearly you..."
"Enough!" Su Zhengyi stopped the furious Su Yueyue. He said unhappily, "Making such a ruckus in front of our ancestors. What kind of behavior is this! Let Mingyu offer the first incense this year."
Su Yueyue turned around with a wronged look and asked Wang Manwen for help.
Wang Manwen had expected that Su Mingyu would bring this up. Su Zhengyi had been very sensitive about the exam leakage case recently, and this was clearly hitting a sore spot. Although she was extremely angry, she could only wink at Su Yueyue to let her come down.
In front of everyone, Su Mingyu confidently offered the first incense.
Watching the curling smoke from the incense burner, Su Mingyu secretly swore in her heart: Su Mingyu of this era, rest in peace. I will surely get back everything you've lost bit by bit.
The ancestor - worship ceremony went quite smoothly. By the time it was over, it was already noon.
Su Zhengyi led a group of servants and was about to return. Su Mingyu also followed the group.
Just as they reached the city gate, they saw Lin Jun, who had also returned from ancestor worship.
Su Yueyue stepped forward first and bowed. "Cousin Lin."
A flash of amazement crossed Lin Jun's eyes. Su Yueyue had grown even more beautiful in just a few days. If he didn't have a mission today, he really wanted to steal a kiss. He had been thinking about it for a long time since the incident at the Lin Mansion last time.
He couldn't help but touch his chin and asked, "Cousin Yue, are you going back?"
Su Yueyue nodded. Lin Jun grinned. "It's just noon. You probably haven't had lunch yet, cousin. How about I treat you to lunch?"
Su Yueyue pretended to be in a dilemma and glanced at Su Mingyu behind her.
Wang Manwen immediately stepped forward with a smile. "Why not? Mingyu, you go with Yue'er. I'll send someone to pick you up from the Lin Mansion later."
Su Zhengyi glanced at them and didn't say much, which was a tacit approval.
Looking at this family's acting skills, Su Mingyu rolled her eyes in her heart.
Did these people really think she was stupid?
In this feudal society where men and women should be kept apart, they would actually actively let their daughter go out to eat with a man. Even if Wang Manwen and Su Zhengyi were really open - minded, they wouldn't do such a stupid thing.
It was obvious that there was a trick!
It seemed that since Wang Manwen failed to marry her off last time, she had started to cause trouble again.