All of the girls stood up and greet the emperor and empress. Behind the two of them is Princess Hui who wore smile. The emperor and the empress didn’t stay long and only appeared as formality. They talked about one thing or two before leaving Princess Hui on her own.
After the two of them go, Princess Hui smiled towards the other.
“Let’s go to the garden and hold a little contest. I’m sure that as noble girls you’re all have good knowledge in poetry.”
Jun Hua feels like hammering her head to the wall. She has never learned about poetry at all. It seems that the tag of useless will always attached to her name.
On her side, Fan Lanying face also drained of all color. She wished that she could just disappear from the place. If it’s music, she knows that she’s a bit inferior. But poetry? When has she got the time to learn about it?
Despite the two dark faces, the other girls all happily go towards the garden and started to make poetry for Princess Hui. Listening from the side, Jun Hua cannot understand most of it but she knows that the content must be praising Ming Hui.
“Third Sister, why don’t you make any poetry?” Lin Yuan asked politely.
Jun Hua face turned even darker. Do you forget about my resounding name? Have you ever heard of me making any poetry?
Lin Yuan feels alarmed when she sees the dark face on Jun Hua. She hurriedly tries to apologize. She has forgotten that Jun Hua is the worst in the term of woman ability. If not for that, how could there are a lot of people secretly whispering about it?
“Third Sister, I’m sorry. If you don’t feel well, you should have said so,” Lin Yuan hurriedly attributed it to Jun Hua condition. There is no way she would blatantly said that Jun Hua doesn’t know poetry.
Lin San sneered. “Third Sister, what if I help you? Maybe you need ideas for making poetry?”
Jun Hua politely declined before finding a good spot to hide. She doesn’t want to join in this activity and it will be better to hide far away. On the other hand, Fan Lanying stays by Ming Hui side. Ming Hui has said that Fan Lanying doesn’t need to make any poetry which helped the girl go through this event safely.
After Ming Hui had heard most of the beautiful poetry, she asked them to watch a performance. This time, she asks Jun Hua to sit beside her and Fan Lanying.
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“Princess, is it alright for someone like me to sits here?”
Ming Hui smiled, “It doesn’t matter, looking from this place is far better than from far away.”
“Jun Hua thanks Princess Hui.”
The servants prepared the cake and divided it to the guests. Since its birthday party, naturally there is cake. Jun Hua eats the cake. It tastes so good.
“The cake is really good. Princess Hui truly has good eyes to employ talented chef,” Jun Hua praised. She had learned from the other girls’ interaction to twist her words a bit. Although it’s still plain, at least she won’t praise by pointing out straightaway.
Ming Hui smiled. People always like to hear the praises from other people. Normally, Ming Hui has heard thousands of insincere praise, but Jun Hua only says what she thought and didn’t added more to it. It’s what makes Ming Hui like straightforward girls.
Fan Lanying nodded her head, “Princess Ming Hui is indeed great.”
Ming Hui smiled become even brighter. She looks towards her servants, “Reward the chef who makes the cake today.”
The servants nodded and remember it.
Seeing the two getting close with Ming Hui, the other girls also praised the princess to the heaven with countless beautiful words. Even Jun Hua had to admire them for thinking so many ways to praise someone. Seems like the first skill a woman need to have is the skill to praise other people.
After a round of praise, they focused their attention towards the play on the stage. The play is about two people from different status who meet under special circumstances. They fall in love and fight hard to let their parents agreed. In the end, they live happily ever after.
Jun Hua wondered if this kind of play is alright to be shown towards unmarried girls like them. She doesn’t really like watching play but she still endured since she needs to give face towards Ming Hui. As she had expected, many girls began to fantasize about their own happy ending.
Jun Hua didn’t really care about what they think, but she personally didn’t think such a story could happened in real life. What fall in love on first sight and fight against the law? The marriages here are determined by their parents and social status. She as a concubine born cannot really hope for much. Despite ‘her brother’ is someone at high status, she’s just someone at below.
“What do you think about the play?” Ming Hui asked.
Jun Hua stared at Ming Hui and somehow she could understand why she would show them this kind of play.
“It’s unlikely to happen, but it’s still possible.”
Fan Lanying tilted her head, “I never once heard there was anyone who can marry if their parents didn’t arrange it. Of course I don’t include the emperor decree.”
“Really?” Jun Hua is not really knowledgeable in this field, so she could only stare at Fan Lanying.
“Yeah, girls can never get the chance to fall in love with other people other than the one their parents choose for them,” Fan Lanying said, “Good for my parents though since they fall in love first before getting married.”
“I see.”
Ming Hui smiled at the two conversations. She wants to add a few things but then she sees a eunuch coming.
“Your Highness asks for the member of imperial family to gather in the hall as soon as possible.”