Chapter 52 Make Her Embarrassed
When it came to His Royal Highness Prince Ling, Song Shiwei's heart trembled. She nodded and said, "I know."
Qin Yueyao said: "Then you probably don't know that the first person to be engaged to Wen Ruqing was His Royal Highness Prince Ling, and they were engaged since birth.
At that time, Wen Ruqing and I were both Princess Leyang's study companions, and we often walked around the palace.
Ever since the death of Empress Huo, His Royal Highness Prince Ling has had a hard time in the palace.
Wen Ruqing often brought food to visit His Royal Highness Prince Ling. They were both young at that time, but they could be considered childhood sweethearts.
Later, Prince Ling left the palace to join the army. Wen Ruqing was sad for a long time. It is said that she often wrote letters to Prince Ling.
I thought this could be considered a good match, but unexpectedly the marriage was called off and Wen Ruqing was betrothed to the prince.
But since His Royal Highness Prince Ling left Beijing, he has never returned. I guess this childhood friendship no longer exists."
Song Shiwei really wanted to tell her that it wasn't the case, that Wen Ruqing had always been thinking about her brother Heng, so the person she was having a secret meeting with was most likely him.
But this was just her guess.
She said, “It turns out that Miss Wen and His Royal Highness Prince Ling have such a past.
But considering Prince Ling's current situation, I'm afraid no noble lady would like him, right?"
"Who says it isn't?"
Qin Yueyao laughed at herself and said, "The aristocratic families in the capital are all eager to cut off their relationship with Prince Ling.
Those noble ladies are even more unwilling to entrust their lives to a man like Prince Ling who has no future."
Song Shiwei felt sad when she heard this. Perhaps Wen Ruqing could not forget their childhood friendship and was still thinking about Xiao Jingheng.
But she will still marry the prince and become the prince's consort.
She suddenly felt some sympathy for Xiao Jingheng, but it was only a moment of softness before she came to her senses.
She secretly warned herself not to sympathize with men, as sympathizing with men would only make her unhappy.
"The banquet is about to begin, let's go there."
Seeing that the time was almost up, Qin Yueyao pulled Song Shiwei down from the pavilion and came to Changchun Garden where the banquet was held.
There are many people attending the banquet today, and they are all people of noble status, so men and women sit at separate tables, separated by a long screen.
The seats are arranged according to each person's identity.
Qin Yueyao's was at the front, while Song Shiwei's was at the back.
Qin Yueyao wanted to ask Song Shiwei to sit with her, but Song Shiwei thought that this would break the rules of other people's house and declined.
She sat down in her seat, and people gradually filled up around her.
The auspicious time had arrived, and the coming-of-age ceremony officially began. Song Shiwei sat far away, and could not see clearly what the young lady of Yongning Marquis's Mansion, who was like the moon surrounded by stars, looked like.
But wealthy families would hold a grand coming-of-age ceremony for their daughters, but Song Shiwei had never experienced such a ceremony.
She lowered her eyes and listened to the ceremonial officer reciting the ceremony of capping a scholar.
After the complicated ceremony, the guests burst into applause.
The coming-of-age ceremony ended and the banquet officially began, with fine wine and delicious food being served one after another.
After three rounds of drinks, the guests gradually became less reserved, and someone suggested: "Why don't we help to liven up Miss Gu's banquet?"
It is said to be to liven up the atmosphere, but in fact it is to attract the favor of the nobles next door. You have to know that such opportunities are rare.
Everyone was eager to try, waiting to show their skills.
"Why not let Miss Qin come first? She is the most talented woman in our capital."
The speaker is Jiang Xi, the granddaughter of Master Jiang. Master Jiang is the mentor of the current emperor. Although he has retired, he still has an unshakable position in the court.
Jiang Xi had inherited the true teachings of Master Jiang and was also well-known in the capital for his talent, but he was inferior to Qin Yueyao, which made him feel unwilling to accept it, so he often secretly opposed her.
It's just that Qin Yueyao is arrogant and never takes Jiang Xi seriously.
She said, "I'm sorry, I won't join in the fun, you guys go ahead and have fun."
Jiang Xi had expected this to happen, so she was just being polite.
After all, if she takes action, others will only become her foil.
“Who should start?” she asked.
The woman sitting opposite Song Shiwei moved her eyes and suddenly said, "Why not let Miss Song start first?"
Song Shiwei looked up at the person who recommended her, and it was Qian Xueer, the young lady from the Qian family who was good friends with Song Mingzhu.
Song Mingzhu and Zhao Jinling were driven out of the mansion, and only Qian Xueer escaped.
Before, Zhao Jinling could only serve as a foil for her. She could only flatter and curry favor in front of Song Mingzhu and could not come up with any ideas.
She knew that Song Mingzhu must hate Song Shiwei to death. If she could make Song Shiwei look bad at the banquet, she would have to give an explanation to Song Mingzhu.
She didn't want to miss such an opportunity.
When the people around heard Song Shiwei's name, they all looked over. Even the man next door pricked up his ears and couldn't help but start talking.
"I heard that Miss Song grew up in the countryside. Could it be that she doesn't know any talents?"
"She has only been taught for two months in the Cheng'en Marquis' Mansion. What can she learn? I'm afraid Miss Song will make a fool of herself."
Several noble gentlemen were talking to each other.
Jamel Xiao listened to their conversation and tightened his grip on the wine glass.
A hint of coldness flashed across his eyes, and he raised his head and drank the wine in the glass.
Then the prince asked, "Brother, do you think Miss Song will make a fool of herself?"
Xiao Jingheng put down his wine glass and said, "I don't think so."
"Oh?"
The crown prince raised his voice and smiled, "Then why don't we make a bet? If you guess wrong, you will be fined a jar of wine. If I guess wrong, I will also be fined a jar of wine. How about that?"
Xiao Jingheng smiled and said, "What's the point of just the two of us betting? Come on, who do you want to bet on?"
Not surprisingly, all the young masters present chose to bet on the prince, betting that Song Shiwei would make a fool of herself.
Only Gu Yucheng spoke with a cold face: "I'm besieging His Royal Highness Prince Ling!"
Xiao Jingheng frowned and looked at Gu Yucheng with a scrutinizing gaze.
Through a screen, their conversation naturally reached the ladies' table.
When Song Shiwei heard them gambling with her for fun, a hint of displeasure flashed across her face.
Qian Xueer on the other side was already impatiently urging: "What do you think, Miss Song?"
Wen Ruqing had suffered a setback at the hands of Song Shiwei before, and was holding a grudge against her.
She thought Song Shiwei had really discovered something, but it turned out to be a lie. There was clearly no mark on her neck.
She had inquired and found out that before she came to the garden, Song Shiwei was helping Shen Suyun and had never left, let alone run into her.
"I heard that Miss Song grew up in the countryside. Could it be that she is illiterate and has no talent?"
Wen Ruqing sneered.
Song Shiwei shrugged and said to everyone present, "Miss Wen really got it right.
I haven’t read much, and I’m not good at playing the piano, chess, calligraphy, or painting.”