Chapter 14: The Reason for Liking Magnolia

Please, Grand Princess, come this way.

Shen Shuangning took the spoon from the palace maid, rolled up her sleeves, and scooped out what was inside.

The clan ladies also couldn't help but lean forward to look, very curious.

The Grand Princess laughed: "Pumpkin soup with glutinous rice balls? This is truly the first time I've seen it."

This round, Shen Shuangning is considered to have passed.

I still have a question: that painting "Spring Day Magnolia" is yours; why did you decide to paint that magnolia tree?

This time Shen Shuangning did not answer as smoothly.

She lowered her eyes, pondered for a moment, then softly said: "The magnolia has flowers without leaves, leaves without flowers; it is the flower of faithful love, which my heart longs for, so I painted the magnolia."

As she spoke, her tone carried an imperceptible sorrow, and her downcast gaze seemed to have weathered many vicissitudes.

"... 'The flower of faithful love, I see.' The Grand Princess murmured, not knowing what she had thought of, shaking her head with a quiet laugh."

The Grand Princess's prince consort died young; it is said that even while he was alive, he and the Grand Princess were outwardly together but inwardly estranged, and his death also has various accounts.

Some say he betrayed the Grand Princess and was thus ordered to die; others say he died of illness.

But what the truth really is, probably only the Grand Princess herself knows.

But at this moment, Shen Shuangning inexplicably felt a sense of mutual pity with the Grand Princess.

The Grand Princess lowered her hand to her forehead, hiding the pain in her eyes; when she lifted her gaze, she had regained her composure, and she told the clan ladies: "You are also tired; please rest for now."

The Grand Princess gave Shen Shuangning a meaningful glance, then left.

Madam Shen came before Shen Shuangning, helpless yet indulgent, and said: "You, you, always causing trouble."

"Older sister!" Shen Ling hurried over, lifting her skirt, her face anxious.

She still did not know what had just happened.

"Just a false alarm; it's fine now, don't worry." Shen Shuangning said.

Shen Ling was still a bit out of breath; hearing this, she relievedly smiled: "Did you also pass, older sister? That's wonderful."

However, upon seeing Lady Yang's gloomy gaze, Shen Ling's smile froze, and she lowered her head.

At that moment, a young man in white robes walked over to them.

"Fourth Miss, I am Dong Zhuo; earlier I nearly injured you, and I am truly sorry."

Dong Zhuo clasped his hands and bowed deeply, as if he would not rise unless Shen Shuangning forgave him.

Shen Ling was somewhat angry: "It's all your fault; you caused my older sister to get hurt."

Dong Zhuo lowered his head further: "Sorry, Fourth Miss, I didn't mean to! Please forgive me!"

The people around all looked over; if this continued, who knows what gossip would spread.

Shen Shuangning hadn't intended to pursue the culprit, and she quickly said: "Master Dong, please get up; I forgive you."

Upon hearing this, Dong Zhuo felt relieved in his heart.

After Dong Zhuo left, Madam Shen then asked what had happened earlier.

Shen Shuangning sat in the tent, gave a brief recount; upon hearing that the Heir of the Yan Prince's Mansion had saved her, Madam Shen did not know what to feel.

"Today the Yan Princess Consort is also present, but this is not the time to give thanks; after the Lantern Festival, when your injuries are better, I will send a visit note."

Before, the Yan Prince's Mansion looked down on Shen Shuangning, and Madam Shen was somewhat unwilling to go there again; but since the heir saved Ningning, it's another matter—proper etiquette must be observed, and we must not give anyone cause for gossip.

Shen Shuangning softly agreed.

Speaking of that, Shen Shuangning again asked how the polo match went.

Shen Ling immediately went out to inquire.

Those young ladies who did not participate in the ladies' etiquette contest all went to watch the polo match, and cheers could be heard from time to time; it's not hard to imagine how lively the scene was.

In her previous life, it was this very match; the noble ladies were all enamored of the Yan Prince's Mansion heir, Shen Shuangning included.

Not long after, Shen Ling returned.

"Our older brothers beat the Wei and Gongsun families." Shen Ling said happily, her eyes curved like crescent moons.

The reborn Shen Shuangning knew the match result and was not surprised; she cared about another matter: "And the brother-in-law?"

Shen Ling knew she would ask: "The brother-in-law got sand in his eyes, rested after the first round, and never returned to the field."

That meant he was fine.

Shen Shuangning felt the stone in her heart drop to the ground.

The upcoming tea art contest proceeded smoothly.

Two people, too nervous, shattered their teacups; someone else mistakenly got the order wrong; all were directly asked to leave.

The Yan Princess Consort watched from not far away.

She watched Shen Shuangning's tea-making motions, feeling somewhat familiar; a hint of contemplation unconsciously crossed her eyes, and she gazed at her for a long while.

The Yan Princess Consort, when young, was obsessed with the tea ceremony and had her own insights into the art of tea; she realized that Fourth Miss Shen's technique was actually the same as hers.

She did not think this was a coincidence.

The Duke of Rongguo's Mansion, in order to slip Fourth Miss Shen into the Yan Prince's Mansion, really went to great trouble.

The Yan Princess Consort let out a cold snort in her heart: indeed, she is a deep-thinking one; those earlier remarks were nothing but opportunistic cleverness.

The Yan Princess Consort did not even put Shen Shuangning in her eyes; she did not think Fourth Miss Shen's methods could reach the point of swaying A Yuan's thoughts.

The Yan Princess Consort lost interest in watching further, flicked her sleeves, and left.

And Shen Shuangning was completely unaware of this.

Shen Shuangning's skill in brewing tea was taught to her in full by the princess consort after she married into the Yan Prince's Mansion.

While in the Yan Prince's Mansion, she spent more time with the princess consort than with her own husband; seeing her often melancholy, the consort thought to teach her tea art to divert her attention.

The original Shen Shuangning was someone who could not sit still, but the princess consort could calm her down; afterward, the two often discussed the tea way, and could be considered half bosom friends.

In this regard, Shen Shuangning is grateful to the Yan Princess Consort.

Shen Shuangning's tea art had improved considerably compared to her previous life; Madam Pei nodded in satisfaction, so she passed directly.

The young ladies sat where they were, waiting for the final result, whispering casually.

"You say, who will win this time's championship?"

"I guess it's Elder Sister Lin; her painting, cooking, and tea arts are all excellent, especially her Lotus King painting, which the Princess Royal praises endlessly!"

"I also think it's Elder Sister Lin; although she isn't as perfect as Elder Sister Song, she's still among the most outstanding ladies here."

Shen Shuangning didn't know what the ladies were discussing, but she suddenly realized she had made a grave mistake.

She shouldn't have painted magnolia flowers; this could very well cause the Princess Royal's fondness for her to plummet to freezing point.

In the past, the Princess Royal forced Marquis Ye to marry her via imperial edict; before that, Marquis Ye had favored another woman.

They were married ten years without a son or daughter; after the Prince Consort died, the Princess Royal returned to the palace and never set foot in the Ye household again.

The Prince Consort had loved magnolias in life, and the Princess Royal filled the palace with magnolia trees, so that seeing the objects reminded her of him.

But just today, Shen Shuangning told the Princess Royal that the language of magnolia flowers is fidelity.

Undoubtedly, this tore a deep wound in the Princess Royal's heart.

Shen Shuangning's cold sweat dripped down.

Even if she had painted a turtle, it would be better than painting magnolias!

Beside her, Shen Ling closed her eyes, pressed her palms together, and prayed to become one of those ten.

Not long after, Madam Pei personally came over to announce the results, but the Princess Royal was nowhere to be seen.

Shen Shuangning grew even more nervous, as the Princess Royal had always been present before.

"Congratulations, you all passed the ladies' etiquette contest; I will select ten outstanding representatives from among you, awarding jade tablets to the top three. Tenth place: Wen Peizhen; ninth: Zhao Jiayi; eighth: Sun Zhenzhen..."

Shen Ling's breath grew shallow; upon hearing that the first seven places were already taken, she felt even more hopeless, her face falling.

It must be that her painting and tea skills are too poor...

Madam Pei glanced at her and said, "Third place goes to the Shen clan's young lady, Shen Ling."

Shen Ling stared, head lifted, unable to believe it.

She actually managed to get third place?!

Shen Ling turned to look at Shen Shuangning, so excited she could not speak.

Shen Shuangning sincerely felt happy for her and gave her hand a squeeze.

Shen Ling's gaze toward her was full of gratitude; if not for her elder sister, she probably wouldn't have had the chance to join the ladies' etiquette contest, and without her elder sister's careful guidance, she wouldn't have achieved such good results.

Her elder sister is truly wonderful.

"Second place goes to the Lin clan's young lady, Lin Wanrong."

The Lin clan young lady breathed a sigh of relief; second place is also very good.

Madam Pei didn't beat around the bush: "First place goes to the Shen clan's young lady, Shen Shuangning."

Many people's faces changed.

There are only three jade tablets, yet the Duke of Rong's household has taken two—this is really excessive.

Still holding her sister's hand, Shen Shuangning heard this and lifted her head in slight astonishment.

She's actually first? Did I hear wrong?

Madam Pei smiled and said, "What are you staring at? Come get your jade tablet."

After Madam Pei handed the jade tablets to the three, her gaze fell on Shen Shuangning: "Since you are the ladies' etiquette model personally appointed by the Princess Royal, you should know that 'exemplary' means not just superficial skill but consistency in word and deed, only then do you deserve the weight of this jade tablet."

She reached out to straighten the lady's collar, saying, "Don't let the Princess Royal and the Shen household become the butt of after‑tea gossip because of your 'model' title."

Shen Shuangning's jade tablet differs slightly from the others; hers is golden.

The last person to obtain this jade tablet was Song Xizhi; afterward she became the high branch sought by hundreds of noble youths.

Upon learning that the champion was Shen Shuangning, the Yan Prince's Consort grew very worried.

She feared that Shen Shuangning would use this opportunity to ask the emperor for a marriage decree.

Xiao Jingyuan and Song Xizhi's marriage has not yet been settled; if Shen Shuangning really did that, the Yan Prince's manor would have no grounds to defy the edict.

The more she thought, the more anxious she became, so she went ahead early, pondered, and then ordered someone to summon Song Xizhi.

Shen Shuangning didn't know what the Yan Prince's Consort was worrying about; Madam Shen always feared she would lose decorum before the throne, so she adjusted her sash and belt, gave her detailed instructions, and only then accompanied her to see the emperor.

Emperor Xuwen was watching a polo match at the training ground, accompanied by the wives and daughters of officials; the Princess Royal was also present.

As Shen Shuangning was about to arrive, she happened upon the young nobles taking a mid‑match break.

Her gaze swept unintentionally and she saw Song Xizhi kneeling to wipe the sweat from Xiao Jingyuan's face.

Xiao Jingyuan is tall and slender, so he had to lower his head; the two stood very close, and from Shen Shuangning's angle they appeared almost in an embrace.

Song Xizhi showed a hint of feminine bashfulness.

Xiao Jingyuan usually keeps his distance from young ladies outside, as aloof and cold as a plum blossom, but now, with so many eyes around, he doesn't mind Song Xizhi's closeness.

Seeing this scene, who knows how many young ladies will have their hearts broken.

Shen Shuangning thought she would feel heartache, but instead she felt unexpectedly calm.

Perhaps her heart has already gone numb.

It was merely a moment of inattention; she stepped on a protruding stone.

A hand reached out from beside her in time and steadied her.

"Thank you." Shen Shuangning lifted her head, and thus met a pair of amber eyes, very gentle.