Chapter 64: Talent Competition

  Gu Qingxia was shocked by Gu Qingjin's sudden outburst. Since Gu Qingjin recovered from her illness, she had intentionally provoked him many times, but he didn't react like before, often ignoring her provocations or responding with a calm demeanor. At first, Gu Qingxia thought he was just pretending to be obedient in front of their grandmother, but as time passed and she saw how he ignored her provocations, coupled with the fact that her aunt had been favored for two years, she assumed Gu Qingjin was intimidated by her aunt and gradually became more reckless. She didn't expect him to suddenly lose his temper today. After regaining her composure, she immediately spoke up: "Gu Qingjin, you..."

  "How come, nowadays even Second Sister doesn't call you, it seems that taking you out to attend a banquet, who knows, might really lose face for our Anji Hou Mansion, since you don't want to go, then..." Before Gu Qingxia could say anything else, Qingjin directly cut off her words.

  When Gu Qingyun heard Gu Qingxuan's words, she looked at Gu Qingyun in disbelief and subconsciously wanted to open her mouth: "What makes you not let me go..." but saw that Gu Qingyun's eyes were emotionless as he stared at her, instantly extinguishing the courage to ask questions.

  Could it be that she had been wrong all along and Gu Qingjin wasn't actually afraid of her aunt, so what was the reason?

  "I'm thinking, why did I suddenly lose my temper with you, Gu Qingxia? One must be clear about their own position and identity. In the past, in the manor, I didn't bother to interact with you because you weren't worth wasting my thoughts on. But remember this: the Anji Marquis Manor is not what it used to be. Now that you're following me out, every word and action represents our Anji Marquis Manor. If you really can't control your brainless behavior, then don't go out and embarrass me and the Anji Marquis Manor!"

  Upon hearing Qing Jin's words, Qing Xia thought of the time when Qing Jin faced that young master on the street and felt a bit intimidated. However, she didn't want to apologize, so she shifted her pleading gaze to Qing Yao beside her.

  Gu Qingyao received Gu Qingxia's pleading gaze and spoke to Gu Qingjin: "Second sister... Fifth sister now knows her mistake, so second sister please forgive fifth sister this time..."

  Qing Jin heard Gu Qing Yao speak. Extremely cold eyes shot from Gu Qing Xia's body straight to Gu Qing Yao, who was pierced by Qing Jin's gaze and couldn't continue speaking.

  Gu Qingxia saw that Qing Jin didn't even give Gu Qingyao face, and didn't want to admit her mistake. But seeing Qing Jin's expression, she knew she wouldn't be able to attend today's banquet if she didn't admit her fault. Finally, she lowered her head and apologized to Qing Jin: "Second sister, it was Qingxia's fault, Qingxia knows her mistake, Qingxia will never speak recklessly again."

  Qing Jin saw that she was still somewhat sensible. The disdainful look in her eyes was retracted, and she spoke lightly: "You should know that you are a young lady from the Anji Marquis's manor, but the Anji Marquis's manor is not what it used to be. Today we're going to a banquet at the Yang family's estate, which is a hundred-year-old noble family. Although you're a concubine-born daughter, you should also understand the rules. What you said today was too inappropriate for your status... Normally in the manor, I can turn a blind eye to how you behave, but once you step out of this door, you must understand the difference between legitimate and illegitimate birth, and what words are suitable or not..."

  Gu Qingxia heard what Qing Jin said. She couldn't help but want to retort, but before she could speak, Qing Jin continued: "If you can't do it, then let Grandmother find a nanny to teach you properly, so as not to embarrass the An Ji Hou Fu when you go out and tarnish the reputation of the An Ji Hou Fu."

  Qingyan heard Qingxia's words and originally wanted to retort, but after moving her lips, she finally lowered her head.

  Seeing her appearance, Qingjin nodded in satisfaction and turned to walk onto the horseback.

  In the carriage, because of Qing Jin's earlier outburst, everyone seemed very quiet. Until the carriage passed through the bustling city area, Qing Yao, who was sitting next to Qing Jin, saw Qing Jin's usual expression and finally couldn't help but ask: "Second sister, why didn't you wear your favorite red dress today?"

  Upon hearing Qing Yao's question, Qing Jin turned her head: "Fourth sister knows where we are going to attend the banquet today?"

  "Oh, Qingyao understands now. Qingyao heard that Yang's sister, who is hosting the banquet this time, also likes to wear bright and colorful clothes just like Second Sister. Is it because Second Sister wants to avoid Yang's sister that she didn't wear her favorite red dress?"

  "Uh, the Yang family is the host of this banquet. We're attending such a banquet for the first time, so let's keep a low profile." Qing Jin looked deeply at Qing Yao and replied calmly, regardless of whether there was any deeper meaning behind her words.

  Qing Yao saw Qing Jin's frank acknowledgment and replied calmly, thinking of the glance that seemed to see through her thoughts just now, she didn't say anything else.

  A few people in the carriage arrived at the gate of Yang Gongfu in this eerie silence, and after getting off the horse-drawn vehicle, they were immediately greeted by the servants of Yang Gongfu. After Qing Jin reported the name of Anji Houfu to the incoming person, a small maid suddenly appeared from the side and took four people, led by Qing Jin and Qing Yao, into Yang Gongfu.

  The Yang Gong Fu is a hundred-year-old aristocratic family, with a hundred years of prosperity. The pavilions and halls are towering, the artificial hills stand tall, and the decorations throughout the mansion exude the elegance and understated luxury of a century-old noble family, fully displaying the grandeur of "a family that resonates with the sound of bells and enjoys sumptuous food, a clan that values poetry and books".

  For Qing Jin, who had visited the Forbidden City in modern times and climbed the Great Wall at Badaling, and had lived in Sanwangfu for many years in her past life, Yanggong Mansion was just like that. Qing Yao attended several banquets with Junshi and Sushi, but didn't have much curiosity about Yanggong Mansion. However, for Gu Qingxia and Gu Qingqi, who were attending a high-society banquet in the capital for the first time, they couldn't help but want to take a good look around.

  Qing Jin gave a faint glance at Gu Qing Xia and Gu Qing Qi, the two of whom also realized their own improper behavior, immediately lowering their heads to stop looking around and following quietly behind Qing Jin.

  Qing Jin saw the behavior of the two people, seemingly without a glance at each other, looking straight ahead, following the leading maid to the place where Yang Wen Hua was hosting a banquet.

  The venue for Yang Wenhua's banquet was the rear garden of the Yang Gong Mansion, which was still a riot of color despite being November, with flowers in full bloom.

  When Qing Jin and her three sisters arrived, there were already many noble ladies sitting in the pavilion of the backyard. Upon hearing the announcement that the four young ladies from the Anji Marquis's residence had arrived, those noble ladies who were chatting and drinking tea immediately stopped what they were doing and turned to look at Qing Jin, Qing Yao, and their sisters.

  Qing Jin's calm and serene gaze swept across the four people in Ren Tingzi, including Qing Yao, whose face wore a faint smile as she looked back at them.

  The people in the pavilion saw that Gu Qingjin and Gu Qingyao, who were attending the gathering for the first time from Anji Houfu, had originally intended to make things difficult for them. In their opinion, although Anji Houfu was now favored by the emperor and was a hundred-year-old aristocratic family, it had declined after all. If not for the emergence of Gu Huaiyi, the people of Anji Houfu would have absolutely no qualifications to attend such banquets.

  So when they heard the announcement that the young ladies from the Anji Marquis Manor had arrived, they all looked over at Gu Qingjin and Gu Qingyao with a mindset of watching a spectacle and making fun of them, trying to give the young ladies from the Anji Marquis Manor a taste of their own medicine. But unexpectedly, the two legitimate daughters of the Anji Marquis Manor, under everyone's gaze, one responded calmly and the other smiled back. After glancing at the two concubine-born daughters behind Gu Qingjin and Gu Qingyao, although they were far inferior to Gu Qingjin and Gu Qingyao, could concubine-born daughters be compared to legitimate daughters?

  As everyone looked at Qingjin and Qingyao, who were not flustered in the slightest, most of the people in the pavilion had already accepted them. However, since Yang Wenhua was the host of today's banquet, they all shifted their attention to him.

  Yang Wenhua was dressed in bright red, looking radiant and beautiful. As the noble ladies turned their eyes towards her, she also spoke up, asking Qingjin and Qingyao: "Which one of you is the legitimate daughter of Duke Anji?" Although it was a questioning tone, her gaze swept over Qingyao before falling directly on Qingjin.

  Qing Jin's gaze at Yang Wen Hua did not retreat, and she slightly bowed her head: "Miss Yang, I am Gu Qing Jin, the legitimate daughter of Duke An Ji." Her tone was neither humble nor arrogant.

  Yang Wenhua saw Qingjin staring at him with a look of surprise in her eyes, and then asked again: "Then the one next to you is your fourth sister?"

  "Yang sister, I am Qingyao." Qingyao heard Yang Wenhua's words and slightly bowed her head towards Yang Wenhua. Her beautiful big eyes looked at Yang Wenhua, showing affection and fondness. When Yang Wenhua met Qingyao's gaze, she couldn't help but nod slightly.

  Next to the noble lady, seeing Yang Wenhua nodding, someone immediately warmly invited Qingjin and Qingyao into the pavilion. After Qingjin and Qingyao took their seats, they enthusiastically started talking with Qingjin and Qingyao, as if they had completely accepted Qingjin and Qingyao's appearance.

  Later, one after another, the noble ladies arrived at Quan Hou's place. Everyone sat together, drinking tea and chatting, discussing nothing but clothes and jewelry. At this time, someone suddenly spoke up, suggesting that since everyone was idle anyway, why not have a competition to show off their skills learned in their spare time?

  Such a proposal was immediately recognized by the crowd, and Yang's family servants also opened up a venue under Yang Wenhua's indication. Then, one after another, the noble ladies in the field came out to show their usual skills in the boudoir, watching the noble ladies play chess, books, paintings, poetry, songs, and lyrics, each showing off their strengths.

  Qing Jin watched these performances that were no less than professional, savoring every moment, as if in a trance. When the last noble lady's exceptional painting skills had finished, someone noticed Qing Jin and her sister Qing Yao sitting on this side, and then voices came out suggesting that the new sisters who arrived today should also showcase their talents. Of course, the "new arrivals" referred to Qing Jin and Qing Yao's group.

  As soon as the words were spoken, everyone's eyes immediately turned to Qingjin and Qingyao. At this time, Yang Wenhua on the main seat also looked at Qingjin and Qingyao and spoke: "Everyone is so enthusiastic, and the two sisters of Anji Houfu have just joined us. I don't know if the two sisters are willing to follow local customs and show off their skills?"

  Thank you to Weiwei-An for 2 pink tickets, Wang Qin for 1 ticket in 1975, thank you to Yuhou Tingyuan's reward "Angel Wings", thank you to ShaShaTuHuiHui's reward "Peaceful Symbol", and thank you to Wanmei Xiaoyuer's reward of two anniversary cakes...