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After the military parade, the Emperor's prestige soared to a divine level in everyone's hearts, and Elder Brother Li, the planner of the event, also rose in prominence. Li Xuan Zong rewarded Elder Brother Li for his contributions by granting him the title of Changping Bo, which would be inherited for three generations without reduction. This made Elder Brother Li even more sought after, but the Emperor's decree and Elder Brother Li's steadfastness rendered any marriage alliance attempts futile, leaving many ministers and their wives and daughters lamenting. Particularly, the noble young ladies harbored resentment towards Elder Brother Li's fiancée. Upon hearing that she had arrived in the capital, these girls banded together to plot against Hanno.
"So many invitations?" Mo Yan, the Princess, and Qi Xueru opened the invitations sent to the General's residence and laughed. "These women are all dissatisfied with your title of 'General Li's fiancée' and want to slap your face in public. Are you going?"
Hanno smiled slightly. "Just because they sent me invitations doesn't mean I have to go. I'm not like them with nothing better to do."
Mo Yan chuckled. "No wonder you're my good friend; you act just like I did back then."
Qi Xueru opened one of the invitations. "But refusing them all might not be good; it could offend people. Like this one—it's from Madam Zhang. It wouldn't be right not to attend."
"Which Madam Zhang?" Mo Yan asked curiously.
Qi Xueru explained, "It's Madam Zhang, the wife of Zhang Zhongxi."
Zhang Zhongxi was the Imperial Teacher and became a Grand Scholar of Wenyuan Pavilion after Li Xuan Zong ascended to the throne, gaining significant favor from the Emperor. Madam Zhang had a close relationship with her husband and bore him four sons. With so many sons, she longed for a well-behaved daughter and finally gave birth to her daughter Zhang Yunrong at thirty-five, becoming a devoted mother who believed her daughter was the best. When Elder Brother Li first emerged as a prominent figure, Zhang Zhongxi had considered marrying his daughter to him. After learning about Elder Brother Li's character, both Madam Zhang and Zhang Yunrong were quite pleased with this potential son-in-law. However, when news broke that Elder Brother Li already had a fiancée, Zhang Zhongxi abandoned the idea of an alliance. Yet Zhang Yunrong felt discontented; how could a country girl compare to her? How could she be worthy of General Li? This resentment festered within her, leading her to want to meet Hanno upon arriving in the capital to demonstrate how much General Li would lose by not marrying her! Aware of her daughter's feelings, Madam Zhang planned a Flower Viewing Banquet and sent an invitation to Hanno. In the eyes of all the My Ladies and Young Ladies in the capital, Hanno was merely a country girl who had risen through her engagement with General Li; attending such gatherings would surely bring her shame. If General Li noticed their mismatch, wouldn't he cancel their engagement? Wouldn't that give their own daughters a chance?
Many Young Ladies and My Ladies in the capital shared this sentiment.
"Hanno, are you going?" Mo Yan turned to ask Hanno.
"Of course," Hanno replied with a smile. "I want to see what kind of face-slapping schemes these ladies have set up for me."
Qi Xueru laughed. "These arrogant ladies have no idea that not only are you talented in literature but also skilled in martial arts—truly well-rounded; they can't compare to you at all."
Hanno humbly said, "While I may be proficient in both literature and martial arts, my energy is limited, and there are many areas where I am not as skilled as you in medicine or embroidery, or as good as Mo Yan in painting and Go."
Mo Yan remarked, "But your calligraphy and musical talent are exceptional; you surpass many men. So there's no need for you to be modest."
Qi Xueru added, "General Li is fortunate to have chosen you."
Mo Yan laughed heartily. "We'll also attend the Zhang family's flower viewing banquet and watch how you turn the tables on them."
Hanno smiled back. "I'm not going there to slap faces; I'm going there to clear my name."
"Yes, clear your name!"
Elder Brother Li was not worried at all about Hanno attending the Flower Viewing Banquet. After all, Hanno, as Song Yuhua in her past life, had inherited the skills of the eldest daughter of the Song Family. Skills such as playing the guqin, chess, calligraphy, and painting were essential for a lady of her status. After inheriting these skills, Hanno treated them as a pastime, practicing music and art during her breaks from martial training. With decades of accumulation, Hanno was undoubtedly superior to the young ladies of the Great Zhou Dynasty, who had only practiced for a maximum of ten years.
After some time, Qi Xueru and Mo Yan, the Princess, arrived at Li Residence together to accompany Hanno to the Zhang Family. On the surface, it seemed they were there to support Hanno, but in reality, they were there to enjoy the spectacle. Both of them had great confidence in Hanno.
Due to Mo Yan's status, Madam Zhang personally came to greet them at the second gate: "I have the honor of meeting you, Mo Yan, the Princess."
"Madam Zhang needs not be overly courteous," Mo Yan replied with an air of royal dignity that was absolutely graceful in front of outsiders. "This is my dear friend Hanno; I believe Madam Zhang and Sister Zhang have heard of her."
Madam Zhang smiled, her expression normal, while a hint of disdain flashed in Sister Zhang's eyes.
"So this is Sister Han, General Li's fiancée. It is indeed better to meet than to hear; she is as beautiful as a flower," Madam Zhang greeted Hanno with a smile, but the underlying meaning made Hanno uncomfortable. Was beauty all she had—just looks without talent?
Hanno curled her lips into a smile and performed a very standard Noble Etiquette bow to Madam Zhang. Her movements were even more refined than Sister Zhang's, leaving Madam Zhang secretly astonished. She had hired elderly matrons from the palace to teach her daughter etiquette, yet her daughter fell short compared to Hanno. Was this girl really just a country bumpkin from a remote place? The grace and composure she exhibited could easily convince anyone that she was a royal princess. Madam Zhang felt an instinctive unease; this Flower Viewing Banquet might not achieve its intended purpose of suppressing Hanno and making her look foolish but instead could allow Hanno to redeem her reputation among the noble ladies. Immediately, Madam Zhang considered abandoning her planned activities. However, with so many guests arriving at the Zhang Family's residence, even if she wanted to withdraw her plans, it might no longer be within her control.
Zhang Yunrong stepped forward to greet Hanno and her companions. Her gaze was not as shrewd as her mother's; despite recognizing Hanno's impressive appearance, she still looked down on her, believing that Hanno was merely beautiful on the outside but lacking substance. Li Wei Feng was also captivated by Hanno's looks and began to harbor disdain for Elder Brother Li.
The two mothers led Hanno and her companions into the garden. The Flower Viewing Banquet was naturally set in the garden. Although not very large, the Zhang Family's garden was exquisitely designed with flowing water features, green ponds, and pavilions that resembled those found in southern water towns. It was now April, and flowers were in full bloom; the garden was a riot of colors—beautiful beyond compare. Even more stunning were the carefully adorned young ladies within the courtyard, each vying for attention and looking even more radiant than the flowers themselves. These girls were determined to overshadow Hanno with their appearances; however, upon seeing Hanno walk in beside Sister Zhang, many girls angrily crushed their flowers into petals.
"No wonder General Li likes her; she's pretty enough."
Some were more honest: "Besides her face, her figure and demeanor are also quite good."
Others were drawn by Hanno's accessories: "Those hairpins and decorations are so beautiful! I wonder where she bought them?"
"These accessories must be expensive; how can this woman waste money like this? Doesn't General Li care about his finances?" someone remarked sourly.
Hanno heard their comments and smiled lightly; all her accessories combined cost no more than two hundred coins—where was the extravagance?
"Mo Yan, the Princess; Lady Geng; Miss Han—we are currently holding a Poetry Gathering; would you three like to join us?" Zhang Yunrong waited until Hanno had greeted all the distinguished ladies attending the Flower Viewing Banquet before extending an invitation with an air of arrogance that left no room for refusal.
The noble ladies watched with eager anticipation directed at Hanno. Madam Zhang initially wanted to intervene but swallowed her words upon seeing her daughter's confident expression.
The Zhang Family had a rich literary tradition and their poetry was highly praised by scholars and literati alike. Madam Zhang knew that her daughter had prepared several pieces to win first place at this gathering and felt confident enough not to voice any objections. Even if this Hanno appeared impressive outwardly, substance was what truly mattered; she did not believe that a country girl could surpass her daughter’s poetic talent honed under the guidance of a renowned scholar husband.
Hanno smiled lightly: "Since the host has invited me, how could I refuse?"
In her heart, she began to search her memories for poetry about the Spring Scenery and blooming flowers. Influenced by modern thinking, even after living for centuries in several ancient worlds and mastering skills like the guqin and Calligraphy and Painting, she found herself lacking in poetic talent. Hanno could only manage to write some light verses this time, resorting to being a mere copyist.
All the young ladies of the Zhang Family gathered together, each believing that while their poetic skills might not match Zhang Yunrong, they were certainly better than Hanno's. Each one harbored thoughts of outshining Hanno.
"You are quite the target now," Mo Yan, the Princess teased, leaning close to Hanno.
Hanno sighed, "What can I do? It's not my fault that Li Wei Feng is so popular."
Mo Yan, the Princess: "Are you bragging?"
Hanno: "No, I'm just considering how to deal with that charming fellow when I get home."
"Poor Li Wei Feng, with only you in his heart, yet he suffers from undeserved troubles because he's too outstanding," Mo Yan, the Princess lamented insincerely.
Hanno chuckled lightly, "Doesn't your Yue Yunfei also suffer from his own undeserved troubles?"
Mo Yan, the Princess shot him a glare: "His troubles are well-deserved. Hmph! Sneaking off to drink flower wine without telling me? It was merciful of me not to break his legs."
Qi Xueru covered her mouth and laughed, "You just say that; you wouldn't actually do it. Besides, Yue Yunfei only went to drink flower wine that once. After that, he was quite obedient, wasn't he? No need to keep bringing it up."
"Where would I hold back?"
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