Chapter 56: Gossiping at the Banquet

Qin Ying's invitation specified a private room in the Cloud Ascending Pavilion, unlike what Yang Luo had previously heard regarding a celebration held only in the main hall; after all, Qin Ying was the daughter of the Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.

To ensure fairness during the previous examinations, no one had disclosed their identity, meaning there was no need for social avoidance once the exams were over. Qin Ying's invitation even included her father's official title.

"Oh, I heard that position manages ceremonial affairs, the visits of vassal kings and dukes, and various court audiences. He must be quite a versatile socialite," the young hunter remarked.

In truth, Yang Luo wasn't even sure what the position entailed, but the young hunter seemed to know quite a lot.

"Being a coachman for a young lady means one isn't idle every day," the young hunter added with a raised eyebrow.

That made sense. All the companions had their own coachmen, servants, and maids. While waiting for their respective ladies, it was easy for them to gather and exchange information. Yang Luo felt a sense of understanding.

It seemed then that Qin Ying was indeed a chip off the old block—socially adept and resourceful. During the selection process, she had been blunt about her intention to build connections, ensuring that even if she hadn't passed, she could still maintain ties with the other companions.

Since the young hunter mentioned the Qin family's social prowess, and considering Qin Ying's earlier warning not to provoke Yang Hui, Yang Luo decided to attend the banquet.

Perhaps she could glean some information regarding the old history between the Duke of Ding'an's family and the Emperor from Qin Ying.

Lost in thought, Yang Luo arrived at the room Qin Ying had reserved. Outside the door stood maids, servants, and shop assistants. Upon receiving her invitation and verifying her name, a maid pulled open the door and announced loudly, "Miss Liu of the Imperial Academy has arrived!"

As the door opened, the laughter and chatter inside ceased abruptly. Yang Luo stepped in, met by a wave of surprised gazes; clearly, they had not expected her to actually show up.

"I knew it!" Qin Ying was the first to react, calling out loudly, "Miss Liu would definitely come!"

Despite her words, her face betrayed a look of incredulous joy.

Yang Luo gave her a smile. "When I first arrived, I was quite new here. Thank you, Miss Qin, for taking the initiative to speak to me and helping ease my nerves."

Qin Ying's round eyes crinkled into slits. Being kind to others always yielded rewards; a smile and a few warm words cost nothing. She took Yang Luo's hand and led her to a seat.

She deliberately avoided Yang Hui.

It was obvious that Qin Ying was aware of the tension between the two.

However, Yang Hui was not about to let Yang Luo off easily. She sneered, "So, Miss Liu was ignoring us simply because we didn't take the initiative to speak to you first?"

Yang Luo looked at her with a half-smile. "Miss Yang, I haven't been ignoring you at all. It is you who lacks proper standing for enrollment, yet insists on being relentless toward me."

Yang Hui's face flushed with rage. She couldn't understand where this country girl found the audacity to pick on her.

"Alright, alright. Today I am hosting everyone for tea; let us not discuss matters of the Academy," Qin Ying interjected quickly, then sighed. "Some of you have great knowledge, and some have great luck. I have neither. I couldn't enter the Imperial Academy and have no right to stand beside the princesses. I am truly both envious and saddened."

Qin Ying had always been well-liked, and the others immediately chimed in with praise and agreement. Because Qin Ying had mentioned "luck," Yang Hui's resentment subsided slightly. She shot Yang Luo a glare and stopped bothering her, though she couldn't resist whispering to those around her, "No upbringing at all. I wonder how her family raised her."

Yang Luo did not engage in further conflict and sat down beside Qin Ying.

"I'm sorry. It's because of my friction with her that I caused you to lose face," Qin Ying apologized proactively.

Qin Ying shook her head with a smile. "I knew you two didn't get along, so I was mentally prepared when I invited you both. Don't mind it." She then lowered her voice. "Try to ignore her in the future."

Yang Luo looked at her and whispered, "You warned me earlier not to provoke her, but her behavior is truly arrogant. There are countless nobles and dukes in the capital; are the children of all such families like this?"

Qin Ying laughed. "Of course not."

Yang Luo whispered, "Is it true what they say at the Academy—that she has the support of the Empress behind her?"

"Yang Hui really has no sense of propriety," Qin Ying muttered.

Yang Luo looked at her. "Please guide me, Miss Qin. I worked so hard to come to the capital, thinking I could establish myself through my studies. It seems I was naive."

*How could you not be naive? What is mere scholarship compared to this?* Qin Ying thought to herself.

This Miss Liu from the countryside was indeed a bit blunt. Such a person shouldn't be befriended; one should keep their distance.

Yet, for some reason, from the very first moment she saw her, Qin Ying felt this woman was extraordinary.

It was strange; it made no sense.

*Well, I'll just trust my intuition,* she thought.

Sitting beside her, Qin Ying whispered, "Do you know that the Yang family of the Duke of Ding'an were once neighbors of His Majesty?"

Yang Luo nodded. "I've heard of it, but the Emperor has many old acquaintances from his hometown. Can they really use that as leverage?"

Qin Ying coughed lightly and glanced around, seeing that the other young ladies were occupied with their own conversations.

"There is something the world rarely knows," she whispered. "The Duke of Ding'an's family and His Majesty were extremely close in their youth. They were even on the verge of becoming in-laws."

*In-laws.*

Yang Luo felt her heart skip a beat.

"The daughter of the Yang family..." she heard her own voice grow low and husky.

But before she could ask the next question, Qin Ying interrupted her.

"No, it was only a possibility. Later, during the wars, His Majesty left his homeland to fight abroad and never returned to his hometown. He formed a marriage alliance with the Chai family instead, so that matter naturally fell through. But even so, it shows how close the two families were. Therefore, the Duke of Ding'an holds a special place in His Majesty's heart. Remember this: a few verbal spats are fine, but never truly provoke the House of Ding'an..."

Qin Ying's voice drifted in and out of her consciousness. Yang Luo felt dazed, her hands clenched tightly.

*A possibility? Was it truly just a possibility?*

"Miss Jiang has arrived."

At that moment, a maid entered with a smile to announce the arrival, but Jiang Rui did not follow immediately. From the open doorway, the sounds of lively greetings and pleasantries could be heard.

"...The Heir of the Count of Yongwu, it has been a long time."

"The Heir is here today as well?"

The laughter inside the room died down instantly. The young women rushed toward the door, and even Qin Ying couldn't help but stand up. "The Heir of the Count of Yongwu!" she exclaimed, pulling Yang Luo along. "You know him too, don't you? Go, take a look."

Yang Luo was pulled toward the door, passing the ladies standing by the threshold, and caught sight of Zhu Yunxiao standing in the corridor.

The young gentleman wore a robe the color of moonlight, cinched with a black and gold belt. He stood tall with a countenance as fair as white jade, shining like the bright moon. Jiang Rui, dressed in simple, pale colors, stood beside him, appearing somewhat dimmed by his radiance.

Sensing the countless gazes upon them, Zhu Yunxiao nodded to Jiang Rui. "I'll head up then."

Jiang Rui nodded back gently, and Zhu Yunxiao turned to ascend the stairs.

As Jiang Rui walked slowly toward the group, she was instantly surrounded by the ladies.

"Did the Heir escort you here?"

"The Heir truly takes such meticulous care of you."

The crowd teased her with envious expressions.

Jiang Rui replied with a smile, "He happened to have a banquet today as well, so we came together."

"I know, it's my cousin's banquet," one lady said. "The Heir originally said he had business and wouldn't attend, but he showed up today. It seems he came specifically to see Sister Jiang."

She laughed as she spoke.

"My cousin owes Miss Jiang a great thanks, then."

The other women laughed as well, without a hint of mockery, only envy. What woman wouldn't want a husband who cherished her so deeply?

"How performative. Such hypocrisy."

Someone let out a cold sneer.

The comment stunned everyone. Jiang Rui's expression stiffened, and she instinctively looked toward the source of the voice, seeing Yang Luo.

Jiang Rui's usually composed face turned even colder.

If this Miss Liu looked down on her and refused to associate with her, so be it; she didn't care. But to insult Zhu Yunxiao... that was going too far!

"Miss Liu, do you know him?" Jiang Rui asked coldly.

Yang Luo averted her gaze. "I do not."

"If you do not know him, how can you make such reckless assumptions about others?" Jiang Rui frowned. "You are a student of the Imperial Academy; where have the teachings of the sages gone?"

When she said she didn't know him, Yang Luo knew Jiang Rui would question her. She had been a bit lost in thought when she saw Zhu Yunxiao and hadn't intended to say more, but hearing Jiang Rui's words, she felt both angry and amused.

She looked at Jiang Rui and replied coldly, "Miss Jiang, if your fiancé can be performative toward others, he is naturally performative toward you as well. If you cannot even see that, then your studies have been in vain!"

A deathly silence fell over the hall. Everyone stared with wide eyes.

Qin Ying looked on with doubt, wondering if her intuition had been wrong. Was this blunt lady from the countryside truly worth befriending?

"I told you so—" Yang Hui shouted, "She is hostile toward all of us—"

At that moment, a sharp command rang out from outside the door.

"Silence!"

Yang Hui's voice was cut short. Everyone's gaze turned toward the sound, and their expressions instantly became even more awkward.

Zhu Yunxiao had returned at some unknown point and was standing at the doorway.

The young gentleman's face was dark as he stared at the stranger.