She could only watch helplessly as Meng Yunwan, surrounded by admirers, sat beside the Empress Dowager, enjoying the most exquisite delicacies, with a cup of freshly offered Snow Peak Emerald Tea in hand. Meanwhile, those who had not received invitations, including herself, sat at the hastily added seats at the very end of the banquet, enduring occasional strange glances and whispers. Meng Yu Tang felt as if she were sitting on pins and needles, with jealousy and resentment overflowing from her eyes.
The awkwardness of the four below was fully observed by Meng Yunwan.
She smiled slowly.
In her past life, she had also experienced such a scene.
Back then, it was her three elder brothers who received praise and admiration in the front courtyard, while she was confined to the side courtyard, listening to the faint sounds of applause, her heart filled with envy.
Ever since the day she passed the xiucai examination and her talent was discovered by the three Meng brothers, she had been forced to take the provincial examination, metropolitan examination, and Palace Examination on behalf of Meng Ruan. And each time the results were announced, her eldest brother would be more proud than ever, strutting around as if the honors were truly his own achievements.
Even her second and third brothers—one entered the White Deer Academy with her full assistance, and the other, under her personal tutelage, achieved Third Place in the Imperial Examination—enjoyed a series of honors and glory in their lives.
Only she had nothing.
The tight ropes of the “Three Obediences and Four Virtues” bound her tightly, locking her in that small world, watching as the three Meng brothers rose to prominence and basked in endless glory.
Today was the first time she had won praise in her own name. It turned out this feeling was so wonderful, so worthy of pride.
In her past life, she truly had been blinded by foolishness.
As soon as the luncheon ended, the guests scattered in small groups to stroll through the imperial garden or play tiles. Meng Yunwan intended to go out for some fresh air but was dragged to a secluded spot by someone.
“Yun Guan, I have something to say to you!”
Seeing Meng Ruan’s angry expression, she couldn’t help but lower her gaze. “Eldest Brother, do you need something?”
Meng Ruan scoffed, as if he thought she was feigning ignorance, and decided to get straight to the point. “Tell me, what exactly happened in today’s competition?”
Meng Yunwan smiled faintly. “Eldest Brother lost the competition. Are you now blaming me, thinking I shouldn’t have outperformed you?”
Meng Ruan choked, his shame and anger growing even more intense. He flicked his sleeve. “Is that what I meant? Yun Guan, how have I taught you since childhood? Haven’t I told you that women are inherently weak and should never show off or steal the limelight? Moreover, you’ve just entered the palace and should know how to hide your talents, not let outsiders see your brilliance. Only then will they think you are a virtuous and dutiful woman, and in the future, you can find a better family to marry into. But what did you do today? Stepping on me to elevate your own reputation—do you really think others will see you as talented? Wrong, utterly wrong! They will only think you disrespect your elder brother and are nothing but a fame-seeker! Yun Guan, you’ve disappointed me greatly today. Out of consideration for you as my sister, I advise you: one must be down-to-earth and not spend all day dreaming of catching the moon in the water or flowers in a mirror!”
As he spoke passionately, Meng Ruan’s spittle flew.
But Meng Yunwan curled her lips in mockery.
Yes, in her past life, they had spoken to her in the same way.
One phrase after another about how a woman should be, as if not being virtuous and submissive is some great sin. Hide one’s talents? In her past life, she did hide her talents, but the result was that everyone knew Meng Ruan was a young genius, that the Meng family had three outstanding talents, yet no one recognized her, Meng Yunwan.
“Well, seeing as you were once my elder brother, I’ll offer you a piece of advice too.”
Meng Yunwan spoke slowly, “My advice is: don’t spend all day giving advice to others.”
Watching the sudden anger flare in Meng Ruan’s eyes, she leisurely added another sentence,
“And, elder brother, what you said earlier was very good. I hope that on the day your official career and ambitions falter, you’ll still remember your own words today, understanding that the moon in the water and flowers in the mirror are both illusions, and that only by relying on yourself and being down-to-earth can you rise steadily. If you truly do that, then I will indeed think more highly of you, elder brother. But as it stands now, you, as my defeated opponent, saying these things to me is rather laughable.”
With a gentle, shallow smile, she turned and left, completely ignoring the livid expression on Meng Ruan’s face behind her.
If she had to be cautious and hide her edge at every step in this reborn life, worrying about this and that, then what was the point of her rebirth?
In this life, she would win spectacularly and triumph openly. She wanted every step, every stage of her life to be adorned with flowers and blazing with fire.
This was what she deserved, and what the Meng family owed her.
When Meng Yu Tang hurriedly came looking for him, Meng Ruan was staring blankly in the direction Meng Yunwan had left.
She called his name several times before he reacted, turning his head to ask listlessly,
“Don’t you think Yun Guan has changed?”
Meng Yu Tang frowned, what nonsense was this? “Of course she’s changed. Ever since she entered the palace, she’s become obsessed with face and cold-hearted. Isn’t that what we all know? Elder brother, what’s wrong with you?”
“No, it’s not that.”
Meng Ruan originally wanted to say that Yun Guan wasn’t like this before, but the words rolled around in his throat several times, ultimately never spoken.
“Forget it.”
He suppressed the myriad thoughts in his eyes, his sigh so light it was almost inaudible. “It’s getting late, let’s go back to the mansion.”
That evening, back at Lin Hong Palace, Qian Bi was taking stock of the congratulatory gifts received that day. One wooden chest after another was carried in, until the bedchamber was almost overflowing.
Meng Yunwan leaned on the couch watching, feeling a profound sense of irony.
At the beginning of the banquet, there actually hadn’t been so many gifts. Quite a few were added halfway through the feast, after the Empress Dowager publicly backed her, especially after the Empress and Crown Prince personally arrived—guests hastily added more gifts.
It seemed one thing Meng Yu Tang hadn’t been wrong about: the imperial palace was a place of fame and fortune, bustling with activity, all driven by profit.
She had only obtained the admission ticket now, but whether she could truly establish herself was not something a few large chests of gifts could determine.
She still hadn’t been granted the title of princess, even her surname remained the original one, showing the emperor didn’t take her seriously at all. And relying solely on the Empress Dowager’s favor and the Empress’s recognition was far from enough.
She still needed to demonstrate some real value, to make the people in the palace see her irreplaceability.
What Meng Yu Tang failed to achieve in her past life, she might not necessarily fail at too.
As Meng Yunwan was calculating how to forge her own future, the main hall of the Huainan Marquis Mansion remained brightly lit late into the night.