The Second Prince, Zhao Mian, and the Imperial Consort were seated on the high platform.
Zhao Yi was beside them, with a separate desk, obviously of a higher grade than others.
Huang Ying was attending to him, pouring wine and serving food while easing his shoulders.
When the female protagonist entered, she immediately saw Zhao Yi on the high platform.
In the past, Zhao Yi would never sit high during banquets; he would always sit beside her.
Back then, the female protagonist found Zhao Yi irritating, always cold and distant, never giving him a friendly face.
Now, looking up at Zhao Yi, the female protagonist felt as though a lifetime had passed, unexpectedly a bit unaccustomed.
The female protagonist withdrew her gaze and, as per usual practice, walked towards her position beneath the high platform.
Before she got close, a maidservant beside her stopped her.
"Miss Su, this is not your seat."
Hmm?
The female protagonist paused for a moment.
She frowned and said, "I always sat there at previous banquets!"
The maid's expression didn't change: "Miss Su, your seat is at the back."
The female protagonist's face darkened.
Just as she was about to get angry, she suddenly heard people discussing nearby.
"Isn't Su Changyuan an Imperial Censor at the Imperial Censorate? How could he raise a daughter with no manners?"
"Exactly! Her father is merely a minor fourth-rank official, and she wants to sit at the head seat?"
"Does she think her previous position was due to her own merits?"
"Tell me about it! Without the Sixth Prince, what is a mere talented woman?!"
"Hush! Speak quieter, don't let the Sixth Prince hear!"
"What are we afraid of? The Sixth Prince has already requested to annul the engagement, just waiting for the sovereign's vermilion consent for the document to take effect!"
"The Sixth Prince is such a fine person; you won't find a more affectionate man in the Capital City. It's a pity Su Qianqian didn't cherish him and went off to mingle with monks, utterly disgraceful!"
"If it were me, I would've had this wicked woman and her entire family executed long ago!"
Hearing the discussions around her, the female protagonist turned pale, her body swaying as she nearly fell to the ground!
Words taught a thousand times won't stick, but a single event will reveal all.
Though her father Su Changyuan and those matchmakers spoke about the dangers of impurity in women, she only felt uneasy and never truly understood.
Now, facing such public censure, the harsh words cut like knives, plunging right where it hurt!
The female protagonist felt a chill from within, as though life held no meaning.
She was scared now.
And finally understood her father's painstaking efforts!
The engagement mustn't be annulled!
The female protagonist took a deep breath, finally decided firmly in her heart.
Zhao Yi only kept his distance, yet these people dared to gossip about her behind her back.
If the engagement were truly annulled...
Where in the vast Capital City would she have a place to stand?
Thinking of this, the female protagonist resisted the urge to turn and leave, silently moving to the farthest corner under the contemptuous and mocking gazes of others.
Sitting in front of the desk, the female protagonist felt a humiliation she had never experienced before!
When she was with Zhao Yi, the female protagonist was always the center of attention wherever she went; when had she been so ignored?
The female protagonist lowered her head, feeling the piercing stares around her, like needles on her back!
Soon, everyone was seated.
The Second Prince raised his cup of warm wine, and everyone began to enjoy the feast.
The female protagonist finally breathed a sigh of relief at this moment.
She picked up a piece of deer meat carefully prepared by the Imperial Chef, eating it, but the delicious food did nothing to lift her spirits.
The female protagonist chewed a few times, tasteless, like chewing wax.
"Alas!"
The female protagonist sighed inwardly.
Before she had time to wallow, suddenly a crisp bell rang in the banquet hall.
The female protagonist's expression changed slightly.
This was the "Guest Awakening Bell," a reminder from the host that a spectacular program was about to start.
At the Second Prince's banquet, the program was always just one thing.
Drinking!
But before drinking, guests would present gifts to express their goodwill.
Since drinking wasn't considered a program, gift-giving became the highlight!
The female protagonist used to ridicule this matter.
In the entire Capital City, only the Second Prince made gift-receiving a part of the program.
As the most famous talented woman in the Capital City, the female protagonist always regarded money as dung, unwilling to be tainted by its vulgarity.
Therefore, she never prepared gifts for the banquet.
It was always Zhao Yi who arranged it for her!
The female protagonist had gotten accustomed to Zhao Yi's arrangements and eventually forgot about the gift-giving entirely.
Now that Zhao Yi had fallen out with her, naturally no one prepared for her.
The female protagonist was empty-handed, not knowing what to do!
At this moment, there was a sudden gasp from the crowd.
The female protagonist followed the sound and saw Yao Qing standing below the high platform, bowing respectfully to Zhao Mian and his wife.
Behind her was a gigantic copper mirror.
The mirror was inlaid with one hundred and eight pink oriental pearls, each the size of a bowl.
Though the female protagonist didn't know much about pearls, she had heard of the oriental pearls' name.
There are many types of pearls, with the oriental pearl being the most precious, and the pink oriental pearl from the East Sea being a rarity among rarities!
Ordinary pink oriental pearls were already invaluable, but the ones on the copper mirror behind Yao Qing were all bowl-sized, perfectly uniform in shape and size, indeed a rare treasure.
Additionally, all the pink oriental pearls formed the character "Longevity" on the copper mirror.
This copper mirror was not only worth a fortune, but carried a significant meaning!
Zhao Mian, grinning ear to ear, took up his cup and drank heartily.
Whether it was genuine satisfaction with the gift, or just an excuse for more drink, who could say.
Zhao Mian only stopped when he had drained the wine vessel before him, nodding with satisfaction, "Shopkeeper Yao is very thoughtful!"
Yao Qing bowed respectfully, "Powder for a beauty, a sword for a hero! Only someone like you, Second Prince, who appreciates its value, can make these oriental pearls shine. In the people's hands, they're but pearls gathering dust!"
Zhao Mian laughed heartily, "Shopkeeper Yao flatters me! Someone, bring the Rouge Pill I brought from the palace to Shopkeeper Yao!"
The Second Imperial Consort particularly liked these pearls and explained with a smile, "Shopkeeper Yao, the Rouge Pill was crafted by Miaoyin Zhenren from Xuanzhen Temple. Though it can't promise eternal beauty like the legendary Rouge Pill, it does have its unique wonders!"
Yao Qing's eyes lit up, "Thank you, Imperial Consort, thank you, Your Highness!"
Zhao Mian nodded and was about to let Yao Qing return, when Yao Qing suddenly spoke up.
She turned to the female protagonist in the corner, smiling, "I heard Miss Su is the foremost talented woman in the Capital City. I wonder what gift she has prepared today?"
The female protagonist's body shuddered violently.
She didn't expect Yao Qing to suddenly call her out, her face instantly losing all color.
Seeing her like this, people started to discuss among themselves.
"Did she not prepare anything?"
"Looks like it!"
"Attending the Second Prince's banquet without bringing a gift?"
"Su Changyuan's face has been utterly shamed by her!"
Hearing the whispered discussions, the female protagonist pursed her lips, gritting her teeth to hold back tears.
She glanced towards Zhao Yi on the high platform.
Zhao Yi was holding his wine glass, drinking, without a glance in her direction.
The female protagonist, still not giving up, turned to look on the other side, at the male protagonist sitting below the Eldest Prince Zhao Mian.
The male protagonist sat cross-legged, spinning prayer beads in his hands, completely ignoring her!
The female protagonist was utterly devastated.
Just when she wanted to apologize to Zhao Mian and his wife, she suddenly saw the sunlight streaming through the window.
Sunlight, copper mirror.
A thought struck the female protagonist, and she bowed to Zhao Mian, "Second Prince, might I borrow a piece of white paper?"
ps: Seeking collections, seeking continued reading.