Chapter 1042: Chapter 1044 Just Not Taking the Bait_1 Chapter 1042: Chapter 1044 Just Not Taking the Bait_1 Princess Huilan spoke with a smile plastered across her face, as if she greatly admired Bai Ruozhu, the younger generation.
Sighs of amazent were heard from the crowd, yet it was unknown how much of that was genuine and how much was feigned.
But when Princess Huilan chose to comnd soone, they naturally had to show face.
Bai Ruozhu maintained a polite smile on her face, but her heart was in turmoil.
With Princess Huilan making such a grand gesture in waiting for her, it seed the situation was not going to be resolved easily.
The buffet started soon after, and Princess Huilan kindly patted Bai Ruozhu on the shoulder, “Go grab sothing, have a look around and enjoy yourself.
You’re young, there’s no need to restrain yourself too much.”
“Yes, Your Highness,” Bai Ruozhu bowed to her and stood up to get a tray.
As she went to get food, so people actively greeted her, and she responded to each with a smile.
At that mont, a lovely figure approached and said with a grin, “Isn’t Lady Jiang worried?”
Bai Ruozhu turned to look, recognizing the young girl.
It was Xue Xue, whom she had t once at the Empress Dowager’s Birthday Banquet—none other than the biological sister of the little Marquis of Xue.
“Worrying is futile; so things cannot be avoided simply by wishing to,” Bai Ruozhu responded indifferently.
Due to the little Marquis of Xue’s ulterior motives, Bai Ruozhu did not have a good impression of Xue Xue.
“Don’t be like that.
My brother didn’t harm you at all; it’s just that you think you and the Gai Family are not on the sa side.” Xue Xue was impatient, and upon seeing Bai Ruozhu’s cold attitude, she beca anxious in an instant.
“Miss Xue shouldn’t let others hear you plotting against your stepmother.
It wouldn’t be good for your reputation,” Bai Ruozhu taunted Xue Xue with a smile.
“You…” Xue Xue stamped her foot in anger and turned away to grab sothing else.
Bai Ruozhu shook her head secretly, thinking Xue Xue and Xue Wenqian probably suffered a lot at the hands of their stepmother Gai Yalai.
At the last Empress Dowager’s Birthday Banquet, they didn’t get any advantage in front of Gai Yalai.
Gai Yalai had given birth to a son with Marquis Xue, and though he was only seven years old this year, Marquis Xue was in his pri—there was no telling who would be chosen to inherit the title in the future.
Bai Ruozhu was pondering over Gai Yalai’s situation when she actually saw Gai Yalai.
The face that bore so resemblance to Jiang Yichun caused her to feel a bit dazed.
Could it be that Gai Yalai didn’t care at all about her own son, always ignoring Jiang Yichun?
Gai Yalai noticed her gaze and returned a look that was extrely cold, even filled with disgust and contempt.
Bai Ruozhu took her tray and turned to leave, no longer casting another glance at her, thinking why she should bother about Gai Yalai, who wasn’t even her mother-in-law in any official capacity.
This scene was observed by a woman not far away, who said to a lady beside her with a laugh, “Did you see that?
Lady Xue and Bai Ruozhu.
Lady Xue is Lord Jiang’s biological mother.
You’d think they might at least greet each other since they’re mother-in-law and daughter-in-law.”
The lady beside her covered her mouth to snicker and whispered, “Lady Xue is remarried, and after that incident happened, would it be proper for them to acknowledge each other openly?”
Bai Ruozhu, having not walked far, naturally heard their conversation.
She turned back and saw that the one who had started the topic was Wang ZhenRu, who had once shalessly ingratiated herself with Bai.
However, now that Bai had fallen out with the Wang Family, Wang ZhenRu also shed her pretense of civility.
Where won gathered, there was bound to be gossip.
If three won could produce a drama, let alone so many present at the event.
She carried her tray back to her seat.
Princess Huilan beside her smiled very warmly at her, saying, “I’m not sure if the food suits your taste.
This Chrysanthemum Banquet is mostly about incorporating chrysanthemums into the dishes or shaping them into chrysanthemums, just for a pleasant atmosphere.”
“The Princess is too kind, the dishes are truly unique, and Ruozhu feels this trip has not been in vain.” She emphasized her tone a bit, wanting to make sure Princess Huilan understood her aning.
Princess Huilan’s smile widened, but she didn’t say much else before suddenly looking up at everyone and saying, “It’s too dull just to dine like this.
Let’s stick to the old rules and have a poetry competition—let the the be chrysanthemums.”
Upon hearing this, so of the noble ladies seed eager to try, with a few already having prepared their poems, hoping to earn so literary fa to take back from the banquet.
“Princess, isn’t that topic a bit too simple?
How about we add a bit more difficulty?” Wang ZhenRu suddenly spoke up.
“Oh?
ZhenRu, why don’t you share your thoughts?” Princess Huilan seed intrigued, sitting up a bit.
Wang ZhenRu glanced at Bai Ruozhu with a faint sense of triumph in her eyes, “All the sisters present are extrely talented.
Adding so difficulty would better showcase everyone’s literary flair.
Chanting about chrysanthemums is indeed a good on, but if we add the requirent of an acrostic poem, it would be even more interesting.”
“Good, good, that does sound interesting.
Let’s do as the Wang Family’s young lady suggests.
As for how to create the acrostics, that’s up to you,” said Princess Huilan with a chuckle.
After suggesting the idea, Wang ZhenRu did not rush to take the spotlight, but instead sat down and continued to sip at her chrysanthemum wine.
Not far away, a wealthy girl was the first to stand and recite a seven-character quatrain, with the acrostic using the characters for “blessings, longevity, peace, and health,” and ended with a dedication: “This humble girl wishes the Princess all blessings, longevity, peace, and health.”
Princess Huilan’s smile was radiant with delight, and she imdiately rewarded the girl for her poem.
Once soone had started, others quickly followed with their poems, mainly using auspicious phrases for their acrostics, aid at flattering Princess Huilan.
Bai Ruozhu slowly savored her chrysanthemum wine, her gaze continually sweeping over the Princess nearby, sensing that despite her smiling face, the smile never truly reached her eyes; it seed she was rely going through the motions.
If she didn’t enjoy it, and found it boring, why bother holding a Flower Appreciation Banquet every season?
Was it out of boredom, or vanity?
It was then that a lady suddenly stood up, bowed to Princess Huilan, and said, “I’ve heard of Madam Jiang’s extraordinary literary talent, and that she even represented Beiyu’s Study Palace in the Eight Academies Competition, securing first place in one of the subjects.
Why doesn’t Madam Jiang compose a poem for us to learn from?”
Bai Ruozhu sneered inwardly, another person being used as a pawn, yet seemingly quite pleased with herself—that woman was the one who had been talking to Wang ZhenRu earlier.
All eyes imdiately turned to Bai Ruozhu, and Princess Huilan, too, watched her with a smile, as if waiting to watch a good show.
With a smile, Bai Ruozhu stood and said, “This young lady only knows one side of the story.
My first-place subject was arithtic, which has nothing to do with composing poetry.
Who in business doesn’t understand the logic of bookkeeping?”
“It has been said that your brother was the top scorer in the Rural Examination.
You possess your esteed brother’s elegance, so it would be overly modest not to compose at least one poem today,” the woman evidently was not willing to let go easily.
The corners of Bai Ruozhu’s mouth slowly curved up.
Did they really think she would take the bait?
She rembered Luluo ntioning in passing that it was the young ladies who wrote poems and showcased their talents to gain literary acclaim.
If she was provoked into composing a poem, she might regain face in the mont, but later she would likely be ridiculed for competing with young misses for attention despite being married, accused of seeking attention and fishing for complints.
She was not that foolish!
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