Marquis Wuyang's Residence was adorned with lanterns and festive decorations at its entrance.
Marquis Wuyang commanded substantial military power, and his three sons were all exceptional, truly marking his family as a prominent and distinguished house.
It was his fiftieth birthday, a milestone that called for a grand celebration.
The servants had changed into neat, uniform, clean attire, each with a smile gracing their face.
Marquis Wuyang, Ji Kui, was dressed in a majestic crimson official robe, greeting the guests with an imposing and dignified air.
The three sons of the Ji family stood like pines, tall and graceful as jade trees, at the vermilion main gate, welcoming the arriving guests.
The moment Su Li stepped inside, she saw Wei Yuanyao and Qu Zhirou conversing together.
"Cousin-Sister, Sister Qu."
"Li'er."
"Cousin-Sister, you're here? It's been a while, and Li'er has grown even more beautiful, so stunning I barely dare to look directly."
Su Li chuckled, "How could that be? Both of you, Elder Sisters, are the true beauties!"
These words were not false; Qu Zhirou and Wei Yuanyao were indeed naturally beautiful.
Today, both of them had clearly put considerable effort into their attire and appearance.
Wei Yuanyao wore a short jade-green jacket over her upper body, paired with a floor-sweeping long skirt embroidered with silver patterns and a hundred butterflies flitting among flowers. This attire set off her skin, making it fairer than snow, and her large eyes blinked, instantly revealing boundless vitality. It was rare to see her dressed so gently and movingly, truly a different kind of charm.
Qu Zhirou, on the other hand, wore a goose-yellow hibiscus-embroidered silk brocade jacket, matched with a skirt depicting butterflies playing with narcissus flowers. Her black hair cascaded like a waterfall, and her countenance was exquisitely beautiful, shining like a luminous pearl and glowing like fine jade. Between her brows, there was an subtle aura of scholarly elegance.
These two figures, one in jade-green and one in yellow, simply standing there, drew frequent surreptitious glances from young masters of various families.
When Su Li joined them, it was truly adding flowers to brocade – enhancing perfection.
Su Li removed her cloak, and immediately, sounds of indrawn breaths could be heard all around.
With her cloak removed, her countenance, fair as white snow, was revealed. Her raven black hair cascaded to her waist, her brows were like ink paintings, her spirit like autumn waters, and her clear, smiling almond eyes sparkled. Her red attire carried not a trace of worldliness, only appearing brilliant, pure, and of an incomparable grace.
This was Tianqi's Foremost Beauty! Truly, even her portrait couldn't capture a fraction of her real-life splendor!
These three women standing together formed the most beautiful scenery.
Tianqi's most esteemed ladies were likely these very few.
Noticing the gazes from all around, Qu Zhirou said, "Let's not stand here. Let's go warm up under the corridor."
Wei Yuanyao took one arm of each, saying, "It's too cold here. There are braziers under the corridor, let's go there."
Su Li nodded, following them to sit down under the corridor.
No sooner had they sat down than they heard female voices coming from a nearby pavilion. The three women looked over.
Qu Zhirou said, "It seems they're playing Fei Hua Ling."
What attracted Su Li was none other than the woman reciting poetry there.
Yu Banxia, she's back in the capital!
Yu Banxia was very beautiful, around fourteen or fifteen years old, with a face like a hibiscus, flushed cheeks, eyes like rippling stars, and long braids draped over her shoulders, appearing very lively and quick-witted. In the capital, there were women more beautiful than her, but none possessed her particular quick wit and cleverness, which was very attractive.
In her previous life, this woman was a star in the heavens, sought after by countless young masters. And she, Su Li, was but a humble weed in the mud.
Yu Banxia gazed triumphantly at the group of "ancients" rendered speechless by her replies, her head held high in pride. Did they think her Three Hundred Tang Poems were memorized in vain? A bunch of ancients trying to compare with her, utterly overestimating themselves!
Liu Jiao, seeing her triumphant, glanced over and noticed the three women under the corridor. Her eyes darted, and she said in a delicate voice, "No matter how impressive you are, you can't compare to Princess Changning, the Foremost Talent!"
Yu Banxia asked indifferently, "Who? Princess Changning? Is that the Princess Changning who is both the Foremost Talent and the Foremost Beauty?"
"Yes! She was personally enfeoffed by His Majesty!"
The young ladies nearby readily agreed. As for Princess Changning, they were truly convinced and impressed. If someone surpasses you by just a little, you might feel jealous or unconvinced. But if that person is so far beyond your reach that you couldn't even catch up by urging your horse, you would only feel admiration and envy, not even daring to entertain thoughts of rivalry.
Of course, Yu Banxia was inwardly unconvinced. No matter how formidable, that was only formidable among a group of ancients. She didn't believe anyone could surpass her.
"It's a pity Princess Changning isn't here, otherwise I could seek some guidance."
The words were humble, but her tone and expression suggested otherwise.
Liu Jiao's eyes lit up, saying, "Oh! What a coincidence, isn't that Princess Changning right there?"
Yu Banxia turned her head and met Su Li's gaze.
Yu Banxia was stunned.
Can someone be this beautiful and still be human?
Su Li looked at her with a gentle smile, nodding slightly.
For the first time, a sense of threat arose in Yu Banxia's heart.
Wei Yuanyao asked, "Cousin-Sister, do you want to join the game? There's still a while until the banquet, just sitting here is too boring."
Before Su Li could move, Yu Banxia lifted her skirt and ran to stand before her, scrutinizing her.
"You are Princess Changning?"
Wei Yuanyao frowned. How could this young lady be so ill-mannered? Not only did she fail to pay respects to a noble of higher rank, but she also addressed her so casually with "you, you."
Su Li's expression remained unchanged. She nodded and said, "That would be me." She could tell that in Yu Banxia's eyes, there was a self-perceived superiority, a sense of being above others, which persisted even when facing various imperial princes. In her previous life, Yu Banxia had spoken of "all people being equal," yet to Su Li, it felt as though this woman inwardly considered herself superior to all living beings. Su Li just didn't know where her sense of superiority came from.
"I wonder if I might humbly seek some guidance from the Princess?"
Before Su Li could reply, Wei Yuanyao said, "Li'er, why don't you play along?" Let some people know that not just anyone can be provoked.
Liu Jiao and the others also gathered around, saying, "That's right, Princess, please just play along." The noble ladies of the capital were exclusive, and this was Yu Banxia's first appearance in such a setting, yet she had already caused quite a stir. There were many who found her disagreeable. Someone from a small place, daring to provocatively challenge Princess Changning, who was personally enfeoffed by His Majesty, truly didn't know her place!
Su Li knew that Yu Banxia was very talented; her poetry seemed to flow effortlessly from her mouth, as if she didn't need to think at all.
Su Li nodded, saying, "Alright, it would be too dull with just the two of us. Let's all play together."
Wei Yuanyao said, "I'll be the official in charge of the game. We'll start with the simplest word flower as the theme. I might change the theme midway, though!"
Yu Banxia nodded, her eyes full of excitement, "I'll go first! 'A night of wind and rain, how many blossoms have fallen?'"
"'Moving branches cast disordered shadows, blowing flowers send distant fragrance.'"
"'It sheds the leaves of three autumns, and can make flowers bloom in the second month.'"
...
With each back-and-forth, fewer and fewer young ladies could provide a matching verse as the game progressed.
Wei Yuanyao said, "Changing the flower theme: now, the theme is a flower's name."
It was Yu Banxia who started again: "'A cluster of peach blossoms opens without a master; do you love the deep red or the light red?'"
"'In the small tower, I listened to spring rain all night; in the deep alley, apricot blossoms will be sold tomorrow morning.'"
"'Tomorrow, leaning by the window, will the winter plum have blossomed?'"
"'May I ask where the plum blossoms have fallen? The wind blew all night, filling the passes and mountains.'"
...
After this round, there were fewer than ten participants remaining.
They then heard Wei Yuanyao further increase the difficulty: "Changing the flower theme: now, the theme is the blooming and falling of flowers."
Yu Banxia lowered her head, thought for a moment, but did not speak.
Su Li lightly parted her red lips and recited: "'Flowers bloom, not all appreciated alike; flowers fall, not all mourned alike.'"
Qu Zhirou followed: "'Flowers fall, but the houseboy has yet to sweep; orioles sing, but the mountain guest still sleeps.'"
Yu Banxia's eyes lit up, and she said: "'Flowers fall, do what one may; familiar swallows return.'"
...
Su Li: "'Willow catkins fall completely, cuckoos cry; I hear Longbiao has passed the Five Streams.'"
Yu Banxia bit her lip. Those young ladies earlier truly weren't on the same level as Princess Changning. She had a stored reserve of knowledge, while the other person was composing poetry on the spot. Truly worthy of being the Foremost Talent.
"I concede. The Princess is indeed very formidable."
Su Li chuckled, "The same could be said for you."
"Clap, clap, clap."
A round of applause came from beyond the corridor.
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