Gu Moli pressed her fingertip against the beginning of the first sentence.
too.
The second sentence.
back.
Continue down.
life.
feast.
She moved the letter under the lamp; the edges were damp, and the bitter taste of the medicine was still there.
big.
amnesty.
name.
book.
avoid.
Xiao.
Shi.
Gu Moli's fingertip hovered over the character "Xiao".
Chen Qingyuan sat beside her, half a piece of candy in her mouth, her cheeks puffed out.
"Princess, did my elder sister say my dress from last time was ugly? My mother said so too."
Gu Moli moved the sugar dish closer to herself.
If you let her touch it again, the powdered sugar will stick to the letter.
"How is your elder sister doing in the Eastern Palace?"
Chen Qingyuan's hand, which reached for the candy, stopped halfway.
She pulled her hands back into her sleeve and wiped them.
"The letter says 'good'."
She lowered her head, the tips of her shoes scraping against the cracks in the floor tiles.
"But every time she finished writing, my mother was still worried."
Gu Moli looked at her.
Do you believe it?
Chen Qingyuan swallowed the half-eaten candy very slowly.
My mother said that the rules of the Eastern Palace are strict.
"Even if my sister has grievances, she won't tell anyone."
Gu Moli turned the letter back.
If the Eastern Palace finds this letter, Chen Qinglan will inevitably suffer a torment.
She pushed the sugar dish away.
Your older sister did scold you.
Chen Qingyuan looked up.
What did you say to me?
Gu Moli used a handkerchief to wipe the sugar powder off her fingertips.
"I'm calling you stupid, all you know is how to eat candy."
Chen Qingyuan's face flushed, and she quickly hid her hands in her sleeves.
"Then I'll eat two fewer pieces today."
Gu Moli looked at her for a while.
Those who only have a superficial understanding are most likely to be seen as idle by others.
A quick-tongued fool can sometimes deliver the truth where it's needed.
Qingwu came in carrying the booklet, her skirt brushing against the threshold.
"Princess, the Xu Clan's daughter is hosting a small banquet tomorrow, and the Zhou Clan's daughter will also be there."
Gu Moli asked, "Has Miss Chen Er received the invitation?"
Chen Qingyuan immediately sat up straight.
"I'll accept it; I love attending banquets."
She then looked at Gu Moli.
"Is Your Highness going?"
Gu Moli shook her head, opened the booklet, and stopped at the Xu Clan's name with her vermilion pen.
"I've had a headache lately, I won't go."
Chen Qingyuan pouted.
"If you don't go, they'll laugh at me again."
Gu Moli closed the booklet.
"Don't worry, I'll teach you."
Chen Qingyuan quickly swallowed the candy.
"The princess is the best."
Gu Moli tapped the corner of the letter with her knuckles.
"Tomorrow, remember only one sentence."
At the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet, whoever plays a tune from the previous dynasty will be in trouble.
Chen Qingyuan was stunned.
"That's it?"
Gu Moli looked at her.
"They asked you where you heard it from, what did you say?"
Chen Qingyuan pursed her lips and shook her head.
Gu Moli said, "Just say that the abbess of Ganye Temple mentioned that the Xiao Clan of the previous dynasty had some old tunes that were often used at banquets in the capital."
"It would be unlucky to use this at the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet."
Chen Qingyuan recited it softly.
"The nun at Ganye Temple said that the Xiao Clan of the previous dynasty had an old tune that was often used at banquets in the capital."
"It would be inauspicious to use this at the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet."
After she finished reciting, she stole a glance at Gu Moli.
Gu Moli nodded.
" The Xu Clan girl likes to bring up rules, and she'll take it."
Qingwu turned to another page of the booklet.
" The Zhou Clan's daughter has recently been frequently visiting the ladies-in-waiting in the inner court to learn etiquette."
Gu Moli put down the vermilion brush.
That's even better.
"She will take these words to the palace."
Chen Qingyuan's head was throbbing.
Why did she bring it? Why did I say that?
Gu Moli looked at her.
"Don't they often make fun of you?"
Chen Qingyuan nodded, very obediently.
They laughed at me for eating too much and having a bad memory, and said I only knew how to follow princesses around.
Gu Moli pushed the sugar dish back in front of her.
"Tomorrow, you'll point out things they didn't notice."
They'll think you've improved.
Chen Qingyuan immediately perked up and didn't even take the candy.
"Okay, I'll carry it."
She stood up, holding her sleeves, and walked around the chair reciting.
First time, go through it smoothly.
The second time was also smooth.
The third time, he pronounced " Xiao Clan " as "Xiao Si".
Gu Moli raised her hand and tapped it on the table.
Chen Qingyuan quickly made the changes.
" The Xiao Clan, the Xiao Clan of the previous dynasty."
Gu Moli continued after hearing her recite it fluently, "If they mention the Emperor hosting a birthday banquet, add another sentence."
Chen Qingyuan immediately sat up straight.
Gu Moli asked, "Will there be a general amnesty as usual?"
Chen Qingyuan repeated, "Will there be a general amnesty as usual?"
"Finally, it appeared on the list."
Gu Moli tucked the letter into her sleeve.
"The amnesty list must be carefully examined; don't let anyone who shouldn't be released slip in."
Chen Qingyuan tilted her head.
"This sentence is easy to remember, and it sounds like a serious statement."
Gu Moli reached out and pulled her back to her chair.
It's rare to see you say something serious.
Chen Qingyuan clutched her sleeve and asked softly, "Princess, what did you mean when you asked me if my sister was alright?"
Is she having a hard time?
Can I help her?
Gu Moli looked at her and pushed the sugar dish closer to her.
"Able."
Remember what I said today. Tomorrow, eat when you should eat, laugh when you should laugh, and don't pretend to be smart.
Chen Qingyuan was stunned for a long time.
"Does eating candy count as helping out?"
Gu Moli looked out the window.
The rainwater from the eaves hadn't stopped yet, and the lampshade rustled softly in the wind.
"Calculate."
"Others only guard against clever people."
The Xu Clan banquet was held in the waterside pavilion in the back garden.
The post-rain air carried a muddy, fishy smell, and the reeds by the pond were damp. The tea stove sat by the window, bubbling as the water boiled.
Several girls sat around a small round table.
On the table were candied fruits, tea, fragrant stationery, and a newly delivered imperial flower arrangement book.
The young lady from the Xu Clan sat in the main seat, her jade bracelet clinking against her teacup.
She pushed the flower album aside half an inch.
"The patterns used in the inner court this year are much more conservative than those last year."
With the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet approaching, who would dare to dress too flamboyantly?
Zhou Wenyuan's niece stirred the tea leaves with a silver spoon without looking up.
Whether she's beautiful or not is secondary.
"It's truly shameful to make the wrong regulations."
The two girls next to them immediately chimed in.
"Sister Zhou has been seeing many female officials in the inner court lately, so she naturally knows about these things."
The Zhou Clan family girl paused at the edge of the teacup with her silver spoon, pressed her lips together slightly, and didn't rush to take it.
Chen Qingyuan held a osmanthus cake in her hand.
The pastries were soft, and the sweetness was already tantalizing.
She really wanted to take a bite.
But Gu Moli's words were right next to his ear.
Don't interrupt smart people.
First, throw out the ones you've memorized.
Chen Qingyuan put the pastries back on the plate and rubbed the handkerchief in her palm twice.
Upon seeing Xu Clan, Miss Xu smiled and asked, "Why isn't Miss Chen Er eating today?"
Chen Qingyuan a burning sensation in her ears.
She cleared her throat and began to speak, reciting the words she had memorized all night.
"The Empress Dowager's birthday banquet is a joyous occasion. When the women present their gifts, remember not to bring up old themes from the previous dynasty."
The waterside pavilion fell silent.
The tea stove made a gurgling sound.
The Xu Clan girl raised an eyebrow.
"Old tunes from the previous dynasty?"
Where did you hear that?
Chen Qingyuan almost blurted out "princess," but she bit her lip and stopped herself from speaking.
"That's what the nun from Ganye Temple said."
" The Xiao Clan of the previous dynasty had an old tune that was often used at banquets in the capital. If it were mistakenly played at a birthday banquet, it would be considered unlucky."
The silver spoon in the Zhou Clan girl's hand touched the rim of the cup.
bite.
She looked up.
"The ladies-in-waiting of the inner court have indeed been checking the program for the birthday banquet these past few days."
Upon hearing this, the smile on the Xu Clan girl's face faded slightly.
She is the hostess today and cannot let the Zhou Clan steal the limelight.
She picked up the teacup, then put it down again.
"If the song is wrong, it can be changed."
She looked at everyone.
"But there's one thing that, if truly wrong, no one can cover it up."