I dress up as a poor noblewoman, and I bring my whole family home with my literary talent.

Chapter 22 Princess' Birthday Banquet
The next day, the breeze was not dry

The Song family was invited to the princess' birthday banquet, and the whole family did not dare to delay, so they were busy since early morning.

In front of the dressing mirror behind the carved partition window in the east wing, Song Lingyi was wearing the moon-colored brocade phoenix and plum blossom long gown prepared by Zhou Xiaoniang. Her fair and delicate face looked coldly at the reflection in the bronze mirror.

knock knock --

There was a gentle knock on the door: "Fifth sister, are you ready?"

It's Song Lingwan's voice

"The carriage is waiting at the door."

In order to attend the banquet today, the Song family sent a servant to rent two decent-looking carriages, which cost a lot of money.

"I'm coming." Song Lingyi inserted the last hairpin, stood up and pushed the door open. It was a rare occasion that she dressed solemnly today, and she amazed Song Lingwan at first sight.

Song Lingwan sighed softly, "Fifth sister has really grown up. Even Fourth sister is ashamed of her appearance after a little dressing up."

Song Lingyi held Song Lingwan's arm affectionately, "Fourth sister, we are sisters from the same mother. If I am beautiful, isn't that the same as you being beautiful?"

"Ghostly"

Just at this moment, Song Xianglan came out from the west wing opposite, wearing a lake blue long coat, the color was elegant yet luxurious. The three of them looked at each other, she was the first to look away, turned around and walked towards the front yard without saying a word.

Mr. Song and Mrs. Song rode in the front carriage, and the four sisters squeezed into the back one.

The atmosphere in the carriage was solemn

For so many days, Song Xianglan has been feeling guilty for not pleading for Song Lingyi because of fear; while Song Changling is worried that Song Lingyi will ask about the frame-up. The four people have their own thoughts.

Zhuque Street was as bustling as ever, with ginger-colored car curtains swaying gently and occasional calls of hawkers coming in.

The carriage is approaching the princess's palace
While I was lost in thought, the carriage stopped with a whoosh.

Song Lingyi lifted the curtain again, and outside was the majestic and magnificent princess mansion.

The eaves of the pavilions on both sides extend outward like wings. Outside the tall and deep vermilion nine-nail gate, carriages stop and go, and there are great scholars chatting and laughing, and there are ordinary people coming and going.

The eunuch who was leading the way to welcome the guests came forward with a smile and said, "You are all here early. Please follow me into the mansion."

Mr. Song bowed his hands and said respectfully, "Thank you, eunuch."

The princess' birthday banquet was also divided into separate seats, with the unmarried women's seats in the East Hall. As soon as they entered the mansion, the four sisters were separated from their father and mother.

The princess's mansion is magnificent with its stacked brackets and decorated with lanterns.

The four sisters were led by the eunuchs, feeling the gazes from all directions, some curious, some contemptuous, some mocking...

Until entering the East Hall where the unmarried women are seated.

The originally noisy banquet came to an abrupt end due to the appearance of the four sisters. The ladies at the banquet looked over casually yet slightly deliberately, and there were many familiar faces among them.

The princess's banquet was attended by all the prominent figures in Chang'an City, and the seating arrangement was very particular. The three sisters were arranged at the back, and only Song Lingyi was led by the eunuch to the lower right seat of the main seat.

No one expected that the Song family's fifth daughter, who was still unknown before the Zhuxia Banquet, would become famous in Chang'an City because of a poem. To be appreciated by Princess Qi Yang, she must have a bright future. These noble ladies looked down on the Song family for being a small family, but they had to consider Princess Qi Yang's face.

Not long after, Xiao Xuan also arrived
But she didn't enter the East Hall alone, there was a woman with her. The woman was dressed in complicated and gorgeous clothes, covered with gold, silver and jewelry. Unlike Xiao Xuan's petite and beautiful appearance, this woman was nearly 1.8 meters tall, with heroic eyes and eyebrows, and was a very aggressive type.

Just this impressive height made Song Lingyi shocked and amazed. It would be a pity if she didn't become an athlete.

Xiao Xuan whispered a few words to the woman
She didn't know if it was an illusion, but Song Lingyi always felt that their gazes were vaguely lingering on her.

Each one takes a seat
Coincidentally, Xiao Xuan sat next to her, and the woman sat opposite her.

Song Lingyi couldn't help but look up at the sky. Just sit here and don't say a word.

"Miss Song Wu is really resourceful. The last time I saw you, you were sitting in the corner and couldn't even hear the questions. This time, you can sit opposite the eldest daughter of the General of Cavalry." Xiao Xuan said sarcastically.

Song Lingyi's response was polite yet distant: "Miss Xiao, you are too kind to me. The fact that I am sitting here today is all arranged by Her Royal Highness the Princess. How can there be any tricks?"

When Xiao Xuan heard her bring up Princess Qi Yang, he became even more unhappy. "Song Lingyi, stop pretending. The daughters of your Song family are used to clinging to the rich and powerful. Don't you know how the invitation to the last Zhu Xia Banquet came from?"

Zhu Xiayan's post...

Song Lingyi frowned. The Zhuxia Banquet was hosted by Princess Qi Yang. Although most of the invited guests were literati and poets in Chang'an City, the Song family was not a scholarly family and her second sister had never studied under a master, so how could she have received an invitation to the Zhuxia Banquet?

This was probably due to the handiwork of her "brother Yi". Xiao Xuan was being sarcastic, could it be that she knew about the secret dealings between her second sister and others?
Song Lingyi straightened her back and said sternly, "Miss Xiao is from a noble family after all. Do you want to ruin the reputation of our Song Mansion with just empty words?!"

"What good reputation can your Song family have?" Xiao Xuan smiled contemptuously. She had found out everything after returning home. The ancestors of the Song family were good officials, but in this generation, the head of the Song family was incompetent and spent his days in brothels. To say that the Song family had fallen into decline was considered a nice thing to say. To put it bluntly, they should be called a ruined family.

"The Song family is naturally not as famous as the Xiao family, but I really didn't expect Miss Xiao to care so much about the affairs of my Song family. I don't know what you are thinking."

Xiao Xuan wanted to fight again

Suddenly, a burst of women's exclamations and noises came from the main hall next door. A noble lady sitting near the door curtain seemed to hear something and said in surprise, "It's Young Marquis Xie!"

The noble ladies all had delighted expressions on their faces and crowded to the door curtain to take a peek.

Song Lingyi felt annoyed and stood up to leave the table.

"The young marquis has just arrived, but you can't wait to look for him. You really are willing to lower yourself to a low level." Although Xiao Xuan's sarcasm did not mention anyone by name, Song Lingyi knew very well that this sister was scolding her.

The noble lady sitting opposite put down her tea, raised her eyes and stared at Song Lingyi, asking in an unfriendly tone: "Are you familiar with Xie Yanshu?"

Song Lingyi felt quite puzzled. God is her witness that she had no intention of looking for Young Marquis Xie. She didn't even know him!

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. Since they cared so much about Young Marquis Xie, she would just do as they wished.

"Yes, very familiar." Song Lingyi said simply, "He said he admired my talent very much. Last time in Changchun Garden, we talked about poetry and songs and the philosophy of life. However, I am not really interested in sour Confucian scholars. I didn't expect that the two sisters cared so much about Young Marquis Xie. Could it be that they are his confidantes?"

Snapped--

The woman sitting opposite slammed the table and stood up, "What did you say? Xie Yanshu said in person that he admires you?!"

(End of this chapter)