I savored the fruit wine, ignoring Sui Sui's suggestion.
At this moment, Song Shuxian was the first to take the stage.
She changed into a magnificent dance costume and performed a peacock dance with lifelike grace.
Sui Sui snorted, "As the host, to seize the initiative and dance the opening number, Madam Ming would be furious if she knew."
Madam Ming was the one who taught us etiquette.
The order in which the noble ladies took the stage was decided by drawing lots. However, drawing the host family first was unlikely, and even if it happened, most people would yield. If news of this spread, the Song family's hospitality would likely be criticized for a while.
"Miss Song is usually quite clever. How could she make such a mistake?"
Sui Sui pursed her lips, "Who knows? Perhaps she's gone mad with wanting to be the Crown Princess."
That tone was off.
Sui Sui was the Emperor's only princess, doted on by her two elder brothers. Yet, she was well-brought up and loved making friends. Although I was her favorite companion, she had always had a good impression of Song Shuxian.
I looked at her in surprise and lowered my voice, asking, "Sui Sui, did you two fall out during the six months I was away from the capital?"
Sui Sui gently shook her head and said she would explain later.
It was my fault. After returning from the sea, I was consumed by the desire to escape. I was either recovering or in Meicheng. Every time I played with Sui Sui, it was a brief encounter. I never paid attention to her social interactions. I was a very poor companion.
In the pavilion on the lake, Song Shuxian concluded with a perfect backward bend, drawing rounds of applause. She curtsied gracefully and left the stage, her gaze occasionally drifting towards the judges' table. On that side, the three judges had already displayed their ratings.
Academician Gu and Libationer Zhang gave scores of 9 and 9.4 respectively, while only the Crown Prince, sitting solemnly between them, gave a detached score of—8.
The triumphant look in Song Shuxian's eyes instantly dimmed. Fortunately, Madam Ming's years of teaching paid off; she maintained her composure and exited to change.
Honestly, Zhang Shuxian's peacock dance was excellent. Yet, for such skill, the Crown Prince only awarded an 8.
Were the Crown Prince's standards too high, or did he dislike dancing? No one knew. However, the young ladies who had planned to perform dances now decided to change their acts.
Sui Sui, looking at the score card of 8, was delighted. Humph, as expected, whoever she disliked, her elder brother the Crown Prince would also dislike.
I suddenly became very curious. Song Shuxian was always so diplomatic, praised by everyone in the palace for being resourceful and kind-hearted. Outside the palace, she was also a model of a reputable young lady from a noble family. How could such a person offend Sui Sui so carelessly?
Delicious dishes were served one after another. The performances by the young ladies were splendid: zither, pipa, guzheng, calligraphy, and painting—a hundred flowers blooming, a feast for the eyes.
However, the Crown Prince remained impartial, awarding everyone an 8, regardless of their performance.
It was clearly a perfunctory effort.
This made the young ladies aspiring to enter the Eastern Palace both frustrated and relieved. Frustrated that they hadn't caught the Crown Prince's eye, yet relieved that the Crown Prince treated everyone equally, and no particular enchantress had won his favor. As long as he showed no special preference, they still had a chance.
Midway through the banquet, many female guests began to toast Sui Sui. They naturally wouldn't force her to drink, merely offering their respects and making their presence known. If they could win Princess Sui Sui's favor and have her put in a good word for them with her elder brother, wouldn't that give them an advantage?
Seeing Sui Sui chatting with them with ease, I casually found an excuse to withdraw from the crowd.
It wasn't that I was unsociable, but one had to be observant. Sui Sui was a princess, and they were there to curry favor with her. As a humble merchant's daughter, my presence there was truly inappropriate. It would also easily invite jealousy; among so many young ladies, why should only I bask in Princess Sui Sui's light?
Because of Madam Song, my mother was very reluctant to visit. Even for Song family banquets, she would usually prepare gifts and have me attend.
At that time, Song Shuxian and I were both serving as companions to Sui Sui in the palace, and our superficial relationship was maintained quite well. But there was nothing deeper; after all, her mother harbored deep animosity towards mine. I had been to the Song residence a few times, but always briefly. Leaving immediately after the meal was the norm.
However, due to the enthusiasm of the young ladies today, the banquet was still ongoing.