Old Madam Yun and Eldest Madam Yun attended on their sides. The old Princess Consort’s face remained impassive throughout, showing no joy, anger, sorrow, or happiness. After taking the main seat, she waved her hand. Princess Consort smiled and nodded to Old Madam Yun and Eldest Madam Yun, and Eldest Madam Yun helped Old Madam Yun sit at the side seat next to the main position.

Originally, the main seats were occupied by the Old Princess Consort, Princess Consort, and the Princess, each with their own low table. The old Princess Consort had Xiao Wei sit beside her, so Wu Yiyu shared a table with Xiao Jinglin. Princess Consort then had Eldest Madam Yun add seats for Second Master Xiao’s wife and Xiao Jingyuan, mother and daughter.

Several low tables were also placed to the sides of the main seats. Now, one seated Old Madam Yun, and Ren Yaoqi was guessing who the remaining tables were for when she saw Madam Xu Ouyang Shi arrive with several other ladies. After these ladies paid their respects to Old Princess Consort and Princess Consort, they sat at the low tables beside Old Madam Yun. Six people sat there in total. Ren Yaoqi only recognized Madam Xu, Old Madam Yun, and Old Madam Su. The remaining three ladies were about the same age as Madam Xu, and regardless of their appearance, all had very refined temperaments.

All the young ladies who had been standing curtsied in unison.

Princess Consort nodded gently: “Please be seated.” Only then did everyone sit down.

“Is everyone here? Then let’s begin.” Old Princess Consort raised her eyes and said coolly to Princess Consort.

Princess Consort responded and nodded to Madam Xu.

Although the Thousand Gold Banquet was organized by the Yun family every year, the examination of the young ladies’ talents was presided over by Madam Xu Ouyang Shi.

Ouyang Shi stood up and said slowly: “The rules of today’s competition are surely clear to you all, so I won’t elaborate. Whether it’s music, chess, calligraphy, painting, or any of the six arts of a gentleman, whatever talent you consider your strength, can be displayed. Ultimately, we will judge the ten best to become this year’s champions of the Thousand Gold Banquet. The sage said, ‘The gentleman does not compete, except perhaps in archery. He bows and yields as he ascends, then drinks below. Even his competition is gentlemanly.’ As long as you understand this principle, the results don’t matter.”

Ouyang Shi’s voice wasn’t loud, nor was it forceful and resonant. It even carried some sickly weakness, but it had a unique charm that made people calm down and listen to her speak.

Ren Yaoqi sat below observing Ouyang Shi, seeing that although her complexion still wasn’t very good, her spirits seemed fine. She wondered whether that prescription had helped her condition. Ren Yaoqi thought about finding an opportunity to visit after the Thousand Gold Banquet ended.

Ouyang Shi had finished speaking and sat down, but Ren Yaoqi noticed that the young ladies who had been sitting properly seemed somewhat restless, though that restlessness was displayed very restrainedly. Ren Yaoyu, sitting next to her, kept secretly glancing toward the peach grove across from them.

Ren Yaoqi also looked up and indeed saw what seemed like crowds of people in the peach grove. Looking again at the shy, timid yet eager expressions on the young ladies’ faces, Ren Yaoqi understood. Presumably, like at the Su family’s tea gathering last time, those young masters and gentlemen were currently gathering in the grove.

She had heard that just from yesterday’s interactions alone, over ten families already had intentions of forming marriage alliances. These young men and women surely wanted very much to know the appearance of those they might be betrothed to. After all, if they met again, it would very likely be on their wedding night, since the families forming alliances might not be from the same prefecture. But separated by most of the peach grove, seeing through the mist of flowers, it was unclear whether they could make out faces.

Looking at the elders seated above, including Old Princess Consort, none showed displeasure at this. This was presumably also a tradition of the Thousand Gold Banquet.

Ren Yaoqi was absent-mindedly thinking about these various matters when she heard Ouyang Shi say from above: “Princess, shall you begin today?”

Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but look up at Xiao Jinglin. Xiao Jinglin had been sitting there expressionlessly, memorizing acupuncture points on the human body. Hearing Ouyang Shi call her, she looked up matter-of-factly, instinctively glancing toward Ren Yaoqi. Ren Yaoqi smiled and blinked at her, nodding.

Xiao Jinglin thought that she’d have to play once sooner or later anyway—first was fine, and she could finish early and then imitate those women who fell ill three times a day by claiming illness and leaving early.

Thinking this, Xiao Jinglin was about to nod when she heard Wu Yiyu, sitting beside her, speak first: “Jinglin probably isn’t ready yet. Why don’t I throw out a brick to attract jade today?” Without waiting to see what Xiao Jinglin would say, she stood up before her.

Xiao Jinglin frowned. Princess Consort was about to say something when Old Princess Consort smiled and said, “Since Yiyu wants to go first, let Yiyu do so. Having Jinglin as the finale today isn’t bad either.”

Since Old Princess Consort had spoken, Princess Consort could only swallow her words and smile with a nod: “Having Yiyu go first is the same.”

Wu Yiyu turned to Xiao Jinglin with a smile, and with her back to the crowd, her smile contained undisguised smugness and malice. Xiao Jinglin averted her eyes, treating her as nonexistent.

When two maids carried a qin table and placed it below the main seats, Ren Yaoqi had an ominous feeling.

Wu Yiyu walked slowly to the qin table and sat down. Her maid brought a qin and placed it on the table before her. Wu Yiyu’s lips curved in an arrogant smile as she raised her hand to pluck the strings.

Familiar Qin music flowed from Wu Yiyu’s fingertips. Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but sigh and look toward Xiao Jinglin.

Xiao Jinglin watched Wu Yiyu below, expressionlessly. Wu Yiyu was also wearing purple today—a jacket and skirt embroidered with gold thread depicting a flying phoenix with spread wings. It had no zhai patterns, but the sleeves and hem were bordered with embroidery of the Eight Treasures pattern of “wheel, conch, umbrella, canopy, flower, jar, fish, and knot.” She wore an ornate white jade and jeweled lotus crown. This entire outfit was seven or eight parts similar to Xiao Jinglin’s own.

Xiao Jinglin usually didn’t pay attention to dress and appearance, so she hadn’t noticed Wu Yiyu’s clothing before. But now, with Wu Yiyu playing the piece “Moon Over the Frontier Pass” that she had practiced for so long before her, if she still didn’t realize Wu Yiyu’s deliberate provocation, she would have lived in vain.

Xiao Jinglin was naturally free-spirited and didn’t care about winning or losing today’s Thousand Gold Banquet. But Wu Yiyu’s actions made her feel somewhat sorry for all the effort her mother had spent on her recently, as well as the time and energy Ren Yaoqi had spent accompanying her in qin practice.

Xiao Jinglin couldn’t help but glance at Princess Consort. The smile on Princess Consort’s face had faded considerably as she picked up her teacup and casually skimmed the tea leaves.

Meanwhile, Old Princess Consort squinted slightly, seeming immersed in Wu Yiyu’s qin music and not noticing the surrounding atmosphere. Xiao Wei smiled as she watched her daughter, the tip of her right index finger lightly tapping rhythmically on the low table.

They all seemed unaware that Wu Yiyu’s behavior was inappropriate, yet everyone in Yanbei Prince’s Manor knew about Xiao Jinglin’s qin practice—even the sweeping women in the manor knew the Princess played only that one piece daily.

Finally, Xiao Jinglin met Ren Yaoqi’s somewhat worried eyes. She thought for a moment and smiled reassuringly at Ren Yaoqi.

Ouyang Shi also frowned, but since she was presiding over today’s competition, she couldn’t say anything. After all, it had been stated from the beginning that displaying any talent was entirely up to each young lady’s own choice.

Wu Yiyu finally finished the piece.

To be fair, Wu Yiyu played quite well—at least her qin skills were far superior to Xiao Jinglin’s last-minute cramming. If Xiao Jinglin still insisted on playing “Moon Over the Frontier Pass,” no matter how well she played, she would inevitably be inferior. This was presumably Wu Yiyu’s intention in rushing to play Xiao Jinglin’s piece first.

Wu Yiyu rose and returned to her seat. As she sat down, she slightly leaned over and whispered in Xiao Jinglin’s ear: “How was my playing?”

Xiao Jinglin turned to look at her with eyes like she were viewing an insignificant ant, then said nothing and turned away, no longer paying her any attention.

Xiao Jinglin had decided not to perform, though deep down she might have felt slightly unwilling.

Wu Yiyu’s expression turned cold, provoked by that look, then as if remembering something, her lips curved in a cold smile.

“If you don’t perform, forget about today’s championship—you won’t get even one of those ten champion positions. Then Yanbei Prince’s Manor and Princess Consort will lose all face because of you. Oh, I forgot Yanbei Prince’s Manor still has Jingyuan to save face, but Princess Consort’s reputation won’t be easily recovered. You don’t care, but does Princess Consort not care either?”

Xiao Jinglin remained unmoved like a mountain. She knew Wu Yiyu was trying to provoke her anger and make her lose control in public. If she fell for Wu Yiyu’s scheme, she would be hopelessly stupid.

Though in her heart, Xiao Jinglin had already silently greeted Wu Yiyu’s ancestors back eighteen generations.

Seeing that no matter what she said, Xiao Jinglin showed no reaction, Wu Yiyu felt somewhat disappointed, but she was still in good spirits, waiting to watch the show.

Next, the young ladies performed their talents in order of seating. This seating arrangement was originally based on each family’s social status and position, so no one objected. However, the Ren family daughters were placed in a relatively forward order due to Princess Consort’s special consideration, which excited them greatly. Everyone knew that being placed earlier gave greater chances of winning.

After Wu Yiyu, it was Miss Yun Qiuchen’s turn. However, Miss Yun Da had already won the championship at the previous Thousand Gold Banquet. This time, with Xiao Jinglin and others present, Yun Qiuchen very consciously just went through the motions, composing a poem before stepping down.

Miss Su Fangfei was also well-known for her talent and beauty. Although she had lost to Yun Qiuchen at the previous Thousand Gold Banquet and came in second, this year, Miss Su performed ambidextrous calligraphy. After she finished and everyone passed it around for viewing, Ren Yaoqi also took a few glances. Miss Su’s left-hand writing should have been practiced only in the past two years. Though it looked decent enough, it ultimately lacked some charm, while her right-hand writing was quite good.