As the princess finished speaking, a glint of smugness and schadenfreude flashed in Li Mengyao’s eyes as she looked toward Su Leyun.
If her own status wasn’t enough to extract the truth, how could this illegitimate child dare defy the princess and avoid answering?
Unexpectedly, Su Leyun showed no sign of panic. Lowering her gaze with a faint smile, she said, “This matter doesn’t concern me alone—it involves Sister Wan’er as well. I wonder how Sister would like me to answer?”
Su Leyun turned her smiling gaze toward Su Wan’er, deftly passing the question to her.
The smile instantly vanished from Su Wan’er’s lips. She stood rigidly in place. While others might not know, she understood all too well—Su Leyun was no illegitimate child but the legitimate daughter of the Marquis Manor. In contrast, her own identity was something to be ashamed of…
Su Wan’er bit her lower lip lightly, momentarily at a loss, and could only cast a pitiful, pleading look toward Li Mengyao for help.
Li Mengyao had always been unable to bear seeing her in such distress. After a brief pause, she immediately took over the conversation.
“Your Highness, perhaps Miss Su has been frail since childhood, or there may be other reasons. It seems she finds it inconvenient to speak.”
Li Mengyao spoke respectfully, then secretly turned her head to glare fiercely at Su Leyun. Truly an illegitimate child who couldn’t bear the light of day—daring to scheme right in front of everyone. Who knew how she would torment others once back at the Marquis Manor.
Knowing her own shameful identity, Su Leyun had shifted this hot potato to Su Wan’er to avoid family embarrassment.
If Su Wan’er remained silent, she risked offending Princess Anle; if she spoke the truth, the family’s disgrace would be exposed, and she would surely face punishment from the elders upon returning home.
Princess Anle’s gaze swept over the three of them, and she smiled understandingly. “Never mind. I was merely curious. If you don’t wish to speak of it, so be it.”
Zhao Mingyan smiled along, giving Li Mengyao a thoughtful glance before signaling Su Leyun to stand behind her. She then led the group of noble young ladies to the rear hall for the banquet.
Li Mengyao walked at the back, pulling Su Wan’er along, and leaned close to whisper in her ear, “Don’t be afraid. Watch me get revenge for you.”
With that, she beckoned her personal maid over, whispered a few instructions, and sent her away.
A flicker of anticipation shone in Su Wan’er’s eyes, though she put on a troubled expression and advised, “After all, she is my sister. Sister Mengyao, perhaps you should let it go.”
Li Mengyao tapped Su Wan’er’s forehead in exasperation. “You’re too soft-hearted! You treat her as a sister, but she certainly doesn’t see you as one! Even if not for yourself, think of upholding your mother’s dignity! Are you really going to let that little wretch climb over your heads?”
“Sister, please, let it go!”
Su Wan’er trailed behind her, but Li Mengyao remained stubborn.
Watching Li Mengyao’s slender figure disappear around the corner of the corridor, a triumphant smile curled at the corner of Su Wan’er’s lips. Having been friends with Li Mengyao for years, she knew her insecurities well—which was why she had deliberately led her to believe Su Leyun was an illegitimate child.
Hmph, using others to do her dirty work—a tactic she had always excelled at!
“Your Highness, please take the seat of honor.”
Zhao Mingyan offered the main seat, but the princess declined and instead took the first seat on the right.
“Today you are the birthday star. How could I steal your spotlight?”
Princess Anle smiled, her delicate face dignified and composed, without a trace of arrogance.
“She is quite different from her brother.”
Su Leyun sat inconspicuously in a middle seat, lifting her gaze to observe Princess Anle. Unconsciously, she recalled that sharply defined, somewhat rebellious face.
No wonder Prince Jin protected this younger sister so fiercely. With such a gentle temperament and without the protection of her birth mother, how could she possibly preserve herself in that devouring palace?
Before she could finish her thoughts, Li Mengyao and Su Wan’er entered one after another, sitting down closely beside her.
“Sister, the one sitting above is the legitimate daughter of the late empress, of noble status. You must act carefully.”
Su Wan’er put on an affected manner, lowering her voice to advise her.
Su Leyun lowered her gaze without speaking. In her past life, this woman had also pretended to be a good elder sister in front of others, seemingly caring for her everywhere, yet stabbed her in the back and tripped her up, making her the laughingstock of the entire capital’s noble families.
Let’s see what tricks she plans to play this time.
Maidservants filed in, the aroma of wine mingling with the scent of food, steaming hot dishes filling the low tables.
Zhao Mingyan raised her cup, smiling as she stood up and said, “Thank you, sisters, for coming today to celebrate my birthday. With no elders present today, everyone should feel free to enjoy themselves.”
With that, she tilted her head back and drained her cup, her clear eyes carrying a heroic and forthright air—truly befitting her military family background.
The noble young ladies raised their cups in turn, also drinking them dry.
The crisp sound of music began, and dancers in red dance attire entered with light, lotus-like steps, their flowing sleeves swirling gracefully like immortals.
The noble ladies set down their cups and chopsticks, kneeling on their mats to appreciate the performance carefully.
“Second Miss Su, you haven’t seen such things in Jingzhou, have you? Do you know what dance this is?”
Li Mengyao pursed her lips in a smile, teasingly looking at Su Leyun, her words dripping with superiority.
Su Leyun’s expression remained calm as she replied slowly, “Naturally, Jingzhou does not have such things.”
Li Mengyao wore an expression that said ‘I knew it,’ continuing, “Second Miss Su, it seems you lack not only etiquette and manners but also knowledge and insight.”
Su Wan’er tugged at Li Mengyao’s sleeve beside her, trying to stop her from continuing, and softly interceded, “Sister Mengyao, my younger sister has just returned from Jingzhou and hasn’t had time to learn these things yet.”
As soon as these words were spoken, the noble ladies sitting nearby heard them and looked at Su Leyun with a hint of disdain in their eyes.
Su Wan’er’s words seemed to protect Su Leyun, but in reality, they exposed her shortcomings clearly.
Raised in Jingzhou, crude in learning…
“This is the ‘Zhezhi Dance.’ Leyun is not unaware.”
Having lived a second life, she naturally could not allow herself to be criticized and belittled again, so she calmly stated the name of the dance.
Unexpectedly, Li Mengyao refused to let her off, sneering, “Since Second Miss Su knows, why did you deliberately hold back and remain silent earlier?”
Su Leyun set down her wine cup, watching the dancers’ graceful movements, and said slowly, “I was merely thinking that they are women like us, only with different backgrounds. We can sit wrapped in furs around warm stoves, enjoying fine delicacies, while they must wear sheer garments in the cold winter, enduring shivers to dance and entertain nobles.”
As her words fell, several noble ladies showed expressions of pity. Having long lived in high positions, their daily lives revolved around music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, wine, and tea—they had never experienced the hardships of ordinary people.
Singers and dancers existed solely to entertain their masters and nobles; no one would sympathize with them…
“Such affected posturing. Their purpose in existing is to provide amusement. Who made them of low birth? It’s simply fate.”
Li Mengyao looked at Su Leyun with a half-smile, implying something. Dancers were of low birth, just as children born to concubines were also of low birth—they should accept their fate.
Su Leyun raised her eyes, her gaze fixed steadily on Li Mengyao, enunciating each word clearly: “Even if they come from humble origins, they are still born and raised by their parents, no different from us.”
The dispute between the two had long reached the main table. Zhao Mingyan frowned as she looked at Li Mengyao, puzzled in her heart. The young lady from the Duke of Zhenguo’s family had always been steady in character; though she had a somewhat sharp temper, she would not go so far as to be so unreasonable and aggressive.
The princess naturally heard it as well, her delicate brows knitted together, her eyes revealing a touch of pity as she looked at the dancers.
Zhao Mingyan felt the same way. She raised her hand to stop the music, distributed the rewards, and dismissed all the performers.
“Since the performers have left, we must find some entertainment. Bring my guqin over!”
Li Mengyao shot a challenging glance at Su Leyun, then rose and knelt in the center of the rear hall.