Chapter 236: Chapter 236: If You Don’t Understand, Don’t Pretend You Do
This is Wei Zhuzhu’s first time entering the palace! She was so excited that she couldn’t sleep last night.
After dressing up gorgeously, she felt a sense of uplifting pride.
Before leaving the residence, she purposely visited Wei Yingying’s courtyard: "Over the years, big sister has entered the palace no less than eight or nine times; not going this time won’t matter. We are sisters, whoever goes, it’s the same."
"To be honest, I’m rather envious of big sister’s leisure and having nothing to worry about, unlike me. It’s my first time entering the palace, and I’m so busy and anxious, fearing I might offend someone of high status and tarnish the Wei Family’s reputation."
Annoyed, Wei Yingying smashed a tea set, and only then did Wei Zhuzhu leave the house cheerfully.
Those who can enter the palace today are mostly noble girls with distinguished backgrounds, and she naturally wants to make their acquaintance.
So, after entering the palace, she set her target.
Miss Tang of the Tang Family!
Her father holds the office of Grand Commandant, and her mother is sisters born of the same mother as the current Empress!!!
Wei Zhuzhu has many assumptions; maybe Miss Tang won’t take her seriously. But showing her face is always better than not, and if she can cater to Miss Tang’s preferences and win her favor in the future, there will definitely be many advantages!
When she approached, there were already quite a few people surrounding Miss Tang.
Wei Zhuzhu straightened her clothes and attire, then advanced with the graceful gait of a noble lady like Wei Yingying always does.
"Miss Tang, I hope you’re well."
The girl in the pink dress was still fuming. She glanced at the girl who greeted her and quickly looked away, then unabashedly said to the noble lady beside her,
"Today is the Cuju Banquet, and I certainly cannot lower myself to quarrel with a girl raised by a concubine in the palace. Just wait; as soon as today is over, I will make sure she regrets it!
"What Wei Zhuzhu, her concubine mother relied on her fox-like charm to deceive her master, having her registered under the legal wife’s name, really thinking she’s become part of the legitimate bloodline? If you ask me, Wei Yingying is foolish too, even allowing a fake legitimate sister to act pretentious outside, jumping around wildly?"
"If she appears in front of me again, I’ll destroy her."
Wei Zhuzhu: ???
Without understanding why, she felt as though the sky had dimmed.
She could only switch to another person!
Yes, it was the most timid Xie Yinong.
Xie Yinong didn’t have any handkerchief exchanges and had been fearful of strangers since childhood. She was severely reclusive. If Wei Zhuzhu could become friends with Xie Yinong, that wouldn’t be bad either.
Wei Zhuzhu made her way through the crowd and saw that at the Duke’s seat, next to Xie Yinong, there was another girl lying on the table.
The mink fur completely enshrouded the girl, not even a strand of hair was visible.
Wei Zhuzhu didn’t care.
She focused all her thoughts on Xie Yinong.
"Miss Xie, I hope you’re well. I am Wei Zhuzhu from the Minister of Ministry of Industry Mansion."
The usually timid Xie Yinong suddenly looked up. She glanced at the mink beside her subconsciously, her eyes filled with a scared frenzy as she nervously asked,
"Wei... Wei Zhuzhu?"
Wei Zhuzhu was delighted.
"Yes, it’s me."
She didn’t forget to cater to her interests.
"Everyone says Miss Xie is quite the connoisseur in embroidery, why not help me take a look at what I’m wearing?"
Wei Zhuzhu pointed to the red plum blossoms on her skirt: "These were all sewn by the old embroiderer stitch by stitch, please have a closer look at how realistic the plum blossoms are."
Xie Yinong didn’t want to look. She felt guilty on behalf of Shen Hua. However, the girl laying beside her didn’t move an inch.
Wei Zhuzhu was persistent. From the moment Xie Yinong spoke to her, she felt as though she had already achieved victory.
"Lady Xie, please take another look, this is Su Embroidery."
Between comfort and anxiety, Shen Hua slowly raised her gaze. She casually glanced over.
"Do you want the truth or pleasantries?"
After getting a clear view of Shen Hua’s face, Wei Zhuzhu was startled.
Shen Hua smiled, her critique: "It’s said that ’Plum Blossoms Bring Five Blessings’, each petal symbolizes fortune, official position, longevity, happiness, and wealth. Plums retain their pride; they’re the epitome of purity. You’ve been thoughtful with your attire entering the palace."
For a moment, Wei Zhuzhu didn’t know whether Shen Hua was friend or foe.
The next instant, she understood.
Shen Hua slightly leaned forward: "Do you understand Su Embroidery?"
"I... of course I do."
"Some people think they can embroider just because they hold a needle, and they think they can tell fortunes just because they hold a compass."
Shen Hua’s smile seemed teasing: "Do you even know how many techniques there are in Su Embroidery?"
"How to use the needle to show texture? How to match colors? And how to use thread?"
"If you don’t understand, why pretend you do?"
Shen Hua spoke seriously: "You’ve utilized the Su Embroidery needle technique, yet it completely lacks depth. A slight miss leads to an entire mile’s error; the light and shadow in the plum blossoms are indistinguishable."
"However, overall, it is definitely not Su Embroidery."
Shen Hua was very meticulous in her explanation. The girl’s mastery in the final aspects of embroidery was profound, and she couldn’t stand it when laypeople generalized the world’s embroidery works as Su Embroidery just by mouthing off.
Su Embroidery has its own characteristics.
It’s uniquely beautiful.
Fortunately, she did not really give the silk handkerchief to Wei Zhuzhu; otherwise, it would have been a sheer waste.
The sound of drums and gongs filled the air, and the ladies who were going to play football had already prepared well in advance, with Ji Shimin leading the way.
The field was vast, with women seated on the right side and men on the left.
Ji Shimin immediately fixed her gaze on Xie Xun sitting in the stands, feeling both shy and regretful.
If Xie Xun were to play, he would surely win.
Military generals don’t take kindly to women who feign literary elegance. General Cui Yang is an example. His late madam was lucky in the football game, while Lady Cui Xuan could only recite a few sour poems.
The drumbeats grew more intense; the drummers sweat profusely, their actions becoming faster and faster, leading to a thunderous final beat.
The football game officially began!
Ji Shimin immersed herself wholeheartedly, yet Xie Xun never glanced her way.
Over at the men’s seating.
Ji Huo nonchalantly tossed peanuts into his mouth.
"Boring!"
"Why are the seats for men and women separate!"
"I can’t look at the girls; did I come here early because I had nothing better to do?"
"What, do the palace’s peanuts have gold in them?"
His complaints gave Cui Yun a headache.
Cui Yun spoke calmly: "This football game is different from the past ones; the invitations were not issued from the residence."
Ji Huo: "True, last time both my father and stepmother were here."
With elders present, there was no need to concern oneself with these matters.
Ji Huo felt dejected and slumped in his chair.
"What’s so good about watching football!"
"My father asked me to take this opportunity to look for a match, just like that, what’s there to see!"
Ji Huo: "I really want to get married."
Cui Yun: "Princely Heir, first get rid of all those concubines in your compound before talking about this."
"Are you trying to grieve me! How could I part with my Zhu Zhuz, Cuicuis, Lianlians, and so on?"
As he spoke, he looked around.
"Xie Xun was just sitting there; where did he go now? Did you see him?"
Cui Yun responded indifferently: "I don’t know."
Just then, someone shouted.
"Trouble! The Second Prince has run towards the women’s side, and nobody can stop him."
Ji Huo sneered.
Wait! The women’s side!
He suddenly perked up!
"No need to panic!"
"You all sit down and continue watching the football game."
He excitedly urged.
"I, the Princely Heir, cannot shirk my responsibility and will certainly bring him back!"
Not long after he left, Xie Xun leisurely returned. Seeing that Ji Huo’s seat was vacant, he did not ask any questions.
People were moving around in the stands, taking the opportunity to talk to each other. Xie Xun was away from his seat but for a short while, and no one paid it much mind.
"Today’s event, many thanks to the Marquis for the advice."
He had evidently arranged things well in advance.
It was Ji Cong whom he had subtly guided there.