If shе hаd knоwn thаt man was the Хuаn Qing Princе, she would rаthеr hаvе bееn discovеred than dared to do suсh а thing!
For а momеnt, shе wаs fillеd with both rеgrеt аnd wоrrу. Deng Сhan, sitting beside hеr, nоticеd her exрression аnd felt a stir in hеr hеаrt. Shе whisреrеd, "Don’t tell mе уou’vе rеаlly tаken а liking tо that onе? It’s finе to lоok, but with his status, somеone from а fаmilу like оurs should never dаrе tо dreаm оf it."
Тhе Хuаn Qing Prinсе held immеnse рower in thе cоurt аnd wаs eхсерtionally tаlented himself. Not to mеntion the daughtеr of a third-rаnk offiсiаl like hеr, even a princess would be more than a suitable match for him.
Han Yan shook her head. "How could I not know? Don’t tease me. But I think you and General Cheng are quite well-matched, and your families are of equal standing. Why not..."
Deng Chan blushed. "Stop teasing me." Her eyes and brows were filled with the delicate charm of a young maiden.
Seeing this, Han Yan felt a pang in her heart. In her previous life, Deng Chan had married an official in the Hanlin Academy but met an untimely end, passing away young and beautiful. In this life, could she help change that fate? Deng Chan clearly had feelings for General Cheng, and their families were indeed well-matched. Earlier, Han Yan had observed Shi Lei, who carried himself with an air of righteousness and seemed to have a good temperament. Counting the time, there was still a year before Minister Deng would be demoted in this life. What could she possibly change?
Lost in thought, Deng Chan nudged her. "What are you daydreaming about? Try these dishes. The palace chefs truly make things that are extraordinary."
Han Yan snapped out of her reverie, picked up her chopsticks, and tasted a pastry. Instantly, a fragrant aroma filled her mouth, and she couldn’t help but smile.
"I told you it was good," Deng Chan said, noticing Han Yan’s smile. She picked up a Crystal Lotus Seed Jade Pearl Cake for her, sprinkled with glistening sesame seeds. It was fragrant, adorable in shape, and Han Yan couldn’t help but feel delighted.
Just then, she heard a disdainful snort from beside her. "Such a greedy look! Anyone would think you were a servant from some household, grinning like that! As expected, one’s upbringing matches their status!"
Han Yan was taken aback and saw Li Jiaqi sitting upright nearby, her lips curled in mockery, her eyes fixed on Han Yan with contempt.
The seating arrangements for men and women were clearly separated. The wives and young ladies sat apart, as did the officials and their sons. Unlike the men’s side, the young ladies mostly sat with those they were close to. Since her mother had fallen ill, Han Yan had stopped socializing with other young ladies and naturally had few friends. Thus, only Deng Chan sat beside her. At this table, Li Jiaqi seemed to hold the highest status. When Han Yan had been targeted earlier, the other young ladies had all echoed the sentiment without objection. Now, as Li Jiaqi spoke, the other young ladies turned their gazes toward Han Yan, their eyes filled with disdain and scorn.
Kicking someone when they’re down is human nature. Moreover, with Li Jiaqi being the daughter of the Right Chancellor, even if Han Yan were in the right, these young ladies would likely twist it into wrongdoing.
Then, Zhuangshan timidly spoke up. "Miss Li, please don’t say that. Sister Yan is still young. Being able to attend such a banquet with everyone is a rare opportunity. Perhaps she’s just too happy."
On the surface, her words seemed to defend Han Yan, but in reality, they implied that Han Yan, relying on her youth, lacked manners and rarely had such opportunities, making her an unfavored one.
Did Zhuangshan think Zhuang Hanyan was a fool?
Li Jiaqi, however, was delighted. Her gaze toward Han Yan grew even more provocative.Han Yan said nothing, merely watching Zhuangshan quietly, her smile unwavering and expression showing not a ripple of disturbance. Deng Chan had initially intended to speak up for her, but seeing Han Yan’s demeanor, she reconsidered and fell silent, sitting to the side to enjoy the spectacle.
Han Yan stared at Zhuangshan, smiling again and again, until finally, Zhuangshan could no longer endure her lukewarm attitude. Her expression shifted, and she said, “What is Sister Yan’er laughing at?”
Han Yan spread her hands innocently. “Today’s palace banquet was hosted by His Majesty and Her Majesty, inviting all our sisters to attend. Every detail of the banquet, including the food and arrangements, was overseen by Her Majesty.” Han Yan held her teacup, taking a small sip before continuing, “Whether Her Majesty’s arrangements were meticulous is now known to all. I found this pastry delightful and praised it, which reflects well on Her Majesty and His Majesty. What is wrong with that? I smile to express my joy—must I cry instead? Yet Sister Yu Shan says I have breached etiquette.”
She sat upright in her seat, her smile as gentle as a spring breeze. “Laughter should not be unrestrained, eating should not be rushed, sitting should be as steady as a pine, and words should be spoken with grace—these are the manners of a refined lady. May I ask, Sister Yu Shan, which of these have I violated?”
Zhuangshan had not expected Han Yan to refute her so openly in front of so many people. She was both furious and resentful, yet the other’s words were undeniably reasonable. With so many eyes on the banquet, she had no way to press the matter further. Forcing herself to hold back, she gritted out a few words through clenched teeth: “None.”
The young ladies around them fell silent. Earlier, the Empress Dowager and the Empress’s praise had already stirred some jealousy toward this young lady of the Zhuang family. Then, with Zhuangshan’s provocation and Li Jiaqi’s opposition, they had followed suit, hoping to dampen Han Yan’s shine. Yet this smiling young girl was not to be trifled with. Not only had Zhuangshan failed to gain the upper hand in their exchange, but Han Yan had also effortlessly recited from The Book of Female Virtues. For a child of merely eleven or twelve to recite it so fluently was no small feat.
Han Yan smiled faintly. In her previous life, her only joy while confined to the manor had been reading. The Zhuang manor housed many rare and ancient texts, which Zhuangshan disdained, leaving them for Han Yan to enjoy. Though she privately found such rigid rules tiresome, she had memorized The Book of Female Virtues from cover to cover in hopes of becoming a good wife and winning Wei Rufeng’s favor after marriage.
Yet the outcome had been far from ideal. Han Yan lowered her head, concealing the depth in her eyes. When she looked up again, she was smiling brightly at Li Jiaqi, her voice clear and sweet: “Since I have not violated etiquette, it must be that Sister Yu Shan misunderstood. The pastry I tasted was truly delicious. What do you think, Miss Li?”
Li Jiaqi shot her a disdainful glance. “How petty. A mere pastry—my family wouldn’t even feed it to our dogs.”
With those words, the atmosphere at the table instantly stiffened. Li Jiaqi regretted her words as soon as they left her mouth. She had intended to belittle Han Yan while flaunting her status as the daughter of the Prime Minister, but her remark had inadvertently insulted the other young ladies present, implying they were inferior even to dogs. Then it occurred to her that she was the most distinguished person at the table—the other young ladies still sought to curry favor with her. What did she have to fear? Instantly, her confidence swelled again.Han Yan gave her a faint glance, passing a reassuring look to Deng Chan. Li Jiaqi was no fool; on the contrary, she possessed some wit, as could be seen from her somewhat regretful expression. However, she had chosen the wrong opponent. This time, Han Yan intended to pin a grand accusation on her.
"So, the dog food in Miss Li's household is actually imperial pastries." The table had already fallen into silence, and Han Yan's words immediately startled everyone.
"What nonsense are you talking about? When did I ever say such a thing! Zhuang Hanyan, you're slandering me!" Li Jiaqi grew agitated, her voice rising sharply. Immediately, those seated nearby among the ladies and gentlemen glanced over curiously.
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