Chapter 921: How do you explain that?

Tuan Tuan's little face suddenly flushed red, and she opened her mouth to shout.

Cheng Ru'an and Song Shujun simultaneously reached out, one left and one right, and pressed her down.

"Tuan Tuan," Cheng Ru'an gently put an arm around her daughter's shoulders, lowered her voice, "Don't shout."

"She's lying! Mother!" Tuan Tuan clenched Song Shujun's handkerchief tightly with her little hands, "That poem is clearly……"

"Mother naturally knows," Cheng Ru'an gently patted her back, "Don't rush."

"Since this Miss Yuan has the courage to step forward and claim this poem, let's first hear what she has to say."

Tuan Tuan turned to look at Song Shujun: "Sister, don't be upset; I'll vent your anger for you in a moment!"

Song Shujun gently shook her head.

Her face was pale, tears welling in her eyes, yet she forced herself not to let them fall.

"Miss Song, don't worry," Cheng Ru'an said softly, "That Miss Yuan likely came prepared; let her finish her act first, then we can respond."

Song Shujun looked gratefully at Cheng Ru'an: "Thank you, Princess Consort."

Tuan qi sat puffed up on the stone bench, eyes fixed tightly on that Miss Yuan.

Lady Yuan gazed at her own daughter, her face full of surprise and joy that she could hardly conceal.

One lady laughed and said, "Lady Yuan, your elder daughter truly hides her talents well!"

"Yes," another lady chimed in, "Miss Yuan is truly extraordinarily talented!"

The noble ladies' gazes were far more complicated.

Some clenched their handkerchiefs in envy, others reddened their eyes with jealousy.

"Just now they couldn't answer such a simple question, yet they turned around and took first place in poetry!"

"Miss Yuan is so deeply scheming; it's better for us sisters to keep our distance from now on."

"Yes, for us simple-minded folks, we might one day become someone's stepping stone."

Murong Jin looked at Miss Yuan, a smile touching his lips, his voice gentle: "Is it you? Come forward quickly, let this palace have a good look at you."

Miss Yuan stepped forward gracefully, her skirt trailing the ground, each step taken with utmost dignity.

She stopped five steps before Murong Jin, bowed deeply, her forehead lightly touching the ground.

"Help her up, come to this palace's side."

Si Yu hurried over, lifted Miss Yuan from the ground, and led her to Murong Jin's side.

Murong Jin took Miss Yuan's hand, examined it up and down for a moment, his eyes full of praise: "Good child, you indeed have a fine appearance."

"This poem is written with exquisite elegance, free from clichés; this palace likes it very much."

She pointed to the lines on the paper: "This poem neither writes of flowers, grass, fish, nor insects, nor of lamenting spring and mourning autumn; yet it takes the simple joy of children studying as its theme, which feels refreshingly new."

"But I don't know what inspired you to compose this poem."

Miss Yuan smiled faintly, composed and graceful: "Your Majesty the Empress, my household runs a private school where teachers occasionally come to give lessons."

"There are several younger brothers of similar age studying together there."

She paused, her expression gentle: "One day I passed by the private school's window and saw several little ones slumped over the desk, dozing off, yet they dared not truly sleep because the teacher was watching."

She raised her handkerchief to cover her lips: "That sight was both pitiful and highly amusing."

Murong Jin also laughed: "Miss Yuan, you have great eloquence! You made this palace feel as if we were right there."

Miss Yuan lowered her handkerchief: "Beyond the wall came the laughter and play of several children, while a paper kite drifted in the sky above."

She lowered her eyelids, her voice growing softer: "The stillness within the wall and the bustle outside—these two contrasting scenes moved me, prompting me to compose this poem."

"Afterward I ordered a servant to bring some sweet soup to the private school—also a way to refresh them."

She bowed slightly: "I never imagined this would catch the Empress's eye; truly, this poem's fortune."

Murong Jin nodded slightly, his eyes full of praise: "Not bad; as a legitimate daughter, you know how to cherish your younger brothers and do not look down on them just because they are born of concubines."

"Such a benevolent heart is truly the bearing of a noble lady from a distinguished family."

She patted Miss Yuan's hand: "The daughter of the Shangshu Fu is truly beautiful inside and out, both talent and appearance."

"Today's champion of the Hundred Flowers Banquet is truly deserving of the title."

Miss Yuan's cheeks flushed crimson as she lowered her head in salute: "I, your servant, dare not accept such praise."

Several ladies exchanged glances, first praising talent, then appearance, and now even her virtue they could not stop complimenting.

"Could it be that this Miss Yuan will truly enter the Eastern Palace and become the Crown Princess?"

Lady Yuan gazed at her daughter, eyes shining, her face full of joy.

Tuan Tuan could no longer hold back; she leapt up and stood on the stool.

She raised her little hand and pointed at Miss Yuan, shouting loudly: "She's lying! That poem was definitely not written by her!"

The courtyard fell silent in an instant.

Everyone turned their heads in unison to look at Tuan Tuan.

Lady Yuan's smile froze on her face.

Miss Yuan slowly turned, looking at Tuan Tuan, her face full of astonishment: "Princess, what do you mean by saying that?"

"This poem was indeed personally composed by your servant; I don't know why the princess would mistakenly blame your servant."

She paused, her eyes slightly reddened, her face full of grievance, choking up: "Although your servant lacks talent, she would certainly never plagiarize another's work."

"The princess is still young; she must have misremembered something."

"Although your servant dares not argue with the princess, I also ask the princess not to wrong an innocent person."

The ladies looked at one another, the noble maidens' eyes flickering, and they all began to chatter at once.

"Although the Protector of the State Princess is young, she has never spoken nonsense!"

"Exactly, she is the Protector of the State Princess, who has been to the battlefield and earned countless merits!"

"Princess, why do you say this poem wasn't written by Miss Yuan? Could it be you've seen it before?"

Tuan Tuan's face flushed with anger, and she pointed at Song Shujun beside her, her voice sharp and bright: "That poem was clearly written by my sister Song! Every single character is!"

She lifted the handkerchief in her hand and shook it: "This is the handkerchief my sister embroidered; the embroidery on it is exactly that poem!"

Song Shujun lowered her head, tilting it slightly, looking pitifully at Chu Chu.

Miss Yuan's tears streamed down as she looked a hundred times more pitiful than Song Shujun: "This poem was clearly composed solely by this humble maiden; if the Princess does not believe, she may …"

Tuan Tuan didn't waste words with her, and thumped over to the seat, unfolded the handkerchief, holding it high above her head: "If you don't believe, just look!"

Everyone gathered around, craning their necks to see the handkerchief.

The ladies' gazes swept back and forth between Miss Yuan and Song Shujun, and whispered murmurs spread like a tide.

"It really is that poem!"

"Why does Miss Yuan's poem appear on Miss Song's handkerchief?"

"Who actually wrote this poem?"

"Of course it's Sister Song!" Tuan Tuan puffed her small chest proudly, her voice crisp and bright, "This is the first poem I can recite! Sister Song taught me!"

Murong Jin gave Si Yu a glance.

Si Yu hurried to Tuan Tuan's side: "Princess, the Empress also wants to see this handkerchief."

Without a word, Tuan Tuan sprang on her short legs to Murong Jin, thrusting the handkerchief into her hand: "Empress, please have a look."

Murong Jin took the handkerchief and lowered her eyes to look.

After a moment, she lifted her head, her expression slightly grim, and looked at Miss Yuan: "What explanation do you have for this?"