Shen Miao?
Feng An Ning could not help but be startled. Shen Miao and her sat at the same table on normal days in Guang Wen Tang and naturally saw it more clearly than others. That was indeed Shen Miao. There was no mistake.
These days Shen Miao's temperament has calmed down quite a lot. Even though she used to be very quiet, she no longer followed behind Shen Yue and Shen Qing and said something ignorantly or stupidly. Thus her quiet appearance was actually not bad. Feng An Ning thought that Shen Miao only became smarter but did not think that if she were to dress up formally, she would be shocking everyone.
Because of the recuperation after falling into the water, she had slimmed down a lot. Normally, one would not notice, but from today, her chin was sharper a little, making her previous appearance of eleven or twelve years old look like a young budding beauty at the age of fourteen.
It was as if the baby that was curled up in the nest of beasts had finally woken up and the claws were brandished for the first time.
Pei Xiu Cai was also at the male side of the banquet. Even though he was just a teacher in Guang Wen Tang, everyone respected talented people and he had some status in the official circles. To be this talented at a young age, if he entered the official circles, he would definitely be able to hold a position. Everyone in the official circles was smart and knew that in order to pave for their future, even though Pei Lang had yet to go in that direction. Shen Miao's gaze swept over to the male side of the banquet and landed on Pei Lang for a moment.
She knew that in today's academy examinations, even though Pei Lang was an accounting teacher, during the contest of talents, it was then when students were able to challenge the teachers. Pei Lang's literary talent on the 'Circulation of Law' was well-founded which impressed Fu Xiu Yi. Afterwards, in order to win over this talent to his side, Fu Xiu Yi made a lot of unfoldings before finally gaining the powerful force of Pei Lang.
In this lifetime, this matter absolutely must not happen.
Pei Lang was sensitive and felt that the young lady who was sitting far away had eyes on him and was observing like a hunter; watching its valuable prey. That made him feel a strange feeling in his heart. He looked over but Shen Miao had long turned her head over.
The Dàréns around were full of praise, "The Di-daughter of General Shen has such demeanour at such a young age. One must not underestimate her future."
"Her appearance is also good." A blue-clad youth said, "Originally, one did not realise that this Shen Miao was considered a beauty." When youths look at young ladies, they only see their appearance.
"Unfortunately, she is a stupid foolish thing." After Cai Lin recovered from his short astonishment, he was dissatisfied that everyone was looking at Shen Miao and ignored Shen Yue so he coldly scoffed.
"You are then a stupid foolish thing!" An unexpected voice exploded in his ear. Cai Lin jumped in front and saw a red satin clad red dumpling staring at him. He was short but his imposing manner was great.
"Apologies." A green-clad youth rushed over to Cai Lin and smiled, "My Dìdì was rude and have offended."
Cai Lin wanted to scold someone but when he saw that the other person was the heir of Ping Nan Bo, Su Ming Feng, he swallowed the words that were at the edge of his tongue. Su Ming Feng was Xie Jing Xing's close friend; who would dare to mess with him?
"Dàgē," Su Ming Lang tugged the edge of Su Ming Feng's clothes, "That Jiějiě is very pretty. You should marry her as your Zhèngqī."
Su Ming Feng's lips stiffen. Fortunately, Su Ming Lang's voice was very soft and no one heard it. He leaned over slightly and asked, "Does Èr Dìdì know Shen Xiǎojiě?"
"I do not know." Su Ming Lang played with his fingers innocently.
After that, Su Ming Feng did not speak anymore.
Shen Miao walked behind Ren Wan Yun's entourage and to the female area of the banquet.
Generally at the female side of the banquet, the Fūréns and Ladies would sit randomly with their familiar and close friends and this was the same with the young ladies. But Shen Miao other than going to Guang Wen Tang, she would be at home, not including Shen Yue and Shen Qing, no one in Guang Wen Tang was willing to be friends with her. She was also not angry nor worried and just found a seat to sit down. She was not afraid of these young ladies isolating her but on the contrary, enjoyed this calm and quiet feeling.
Those young ladies saw that Shen Miao was dressed differently today and became somewhat jealous. They wanted to see her making a fool of herself and purposely isolated her but they saw Shen Miao sitting down by herself and did not appear to be miserable. There were sets of chessboards and zhǐpái (Translator: Not sure what game is this. HidAnas: Changed Leaf Cards to zhǐpái. It's the original version of those Asian Card games. Actually, they have a couple of variations and since author-san did not specify, I am gonna leave it as zhǐpái) that were prepared on the table so that the young ladies would not feel bored. She thought for a little before picking the chess pieces from the chess basket and started to play against herself. (HidAnas: Okay, the author is using 向棋 Xiàngqí, Chinese Chess, to identify the board game FL is playing. But, further in the story, when he describes how the pawns are played, it looks like FL is playing 围棋 Wéiqí instead. Hence, I'm contemplating if I should change it accordingly or let it remain… After voting, we shall keep it as it is... So sad...)
She makes no sense of any of the four scholarly arts. Previously, because of the Second and Third Households deliberate actions to increase her hate for them, after she got married to Fu Xiu Yi, she had no time to learn. Thus, when she returned from Qin and faced the exquisite Mei Fūrén, who could sing and dance, she felt inferior in her heart. Those concubines in the Palace compared her with Mei Fūrén and said that she was vulgar and ignorant because she came from a military lineage. That was why Fu Xiu Yi would not even see this kind of Empress like her.
However, it was not necessary for one to be a talent in chess to play chess. Even though she did not know how to play chess but because of those years when she went to Qin for Fu Xiu Yi, she studied meticulously on a number of the art of war. She did not know how to play chess but knew how to use troops. This was a chess of war.
The noble females looked from afar and saw Shen Miao's calm and composed self. This kind of indifference and attitude of her 'in a higher status' divided her apart from the rest as if she was high up and the rest of them were of lower status.
"Wǔ xiǎojiě has changed a lot today." Yi Fūrén smiled at Ren Wan Yun and said, "She seemed to have become an adult." It was not good for her to say that Shen Miao had clearly suppressed Shen Yue and Shen Qing and can only remind Ren Wan Yun in a roundabout way.
How could Ren Wan Yun not know? She was good at observing others' words and gestures and throughout the walk over, everyone's eyes were not on her nor Shen Yue nor Shen Qing but were obviously on Shen Miao who was walking at the back. She was fuming with rage in her heart. It seemed that Shen Miao was really putting a lot of effort this time. She knew that Prince Ding would be present at the academy examinations and was trying all ways to attract Prince Ding's attention and compete with her Qing-er?
She picked up the teacup and looked over at the male side of the banquet as she laughed, "Is it not? Now that her age is no longer young, Old Fūrén doted on Xiǎo wǔ saying that since Dà bǎizi is not present, she said to me just before we left that I have to take a good look if there is anyone suitable."
Chen Rou Qiu's, who was sitting by the side, vision suddenly moved. Take a good look?
Shen Yue and Shen Qing were older in age as compared with Shen Miao but they have to look for Shen Miao's first, naturally, it was not because of the kindness of Old Shen Fūrén. Old Shen Fūrén hated the entire family of the First Household so how would Shen Miao have anything good out of it?
Chen Rou Qiu's gaze landed on Shen Qing, who was talking to Yi Pei Lan. Ren Wan Yun seemed to be urgently settling Shen Miao's marriage before Shen Xin's return. Why? Was it because Shen Qing was also in love with Prince Ding? And want to remove the biggest threat for Shen Qing?
Just as she was thinking, she heard a racket forming at the male side of the banquet. Jiang Fūrén mentioned, "Yù Qīnwáng has arrived."
(HidAnas: Yù Qīnwáng - Prince Yu of First Rank. 和碩親王; Héshuò Qīnwáng), commonly simplified to Qīnwáng, translated as "Prince of the First Rank" or "Prince of the Blood". "Heshuo" ("hošo") means "four corners, four sides" in Manchu.)
Shen Miao, who was contemplating the next move, paused and the white piece immediately fell onto the board. She raised her eyes and looked towards the male side of the banquet with eyes full of calm.
Prince Yu of First Rank. In the past lifetime, Old Shen Fūrén wanted to marry her off to that crippled and sexual lowlife who was currently forty-two years old.
If she wasn't obsessed with Fu Xiu Yi and pushed her way to be his dependent, most likely she would become a pile of bones in the residence of Prince Yu.