Chapter 441 - Qualifications (1/2)
Li Meirou sensed that Royal Princess Minglan was looking at her in a displeased manner and decided that she couldn’t lose this argument. She raised her voice to say, “Everyone who is here had ancestors who contributed to the country, which is how they ended up with their ranks. You’re only the daughter of a farmer, so how dare you compare us to you?”
Yu Xiaocao opened her eyes wide and looked at Li Meirou. It was only when the other girl started to feel uncomfortable that she finally replied, “You also said that this was all the deeds and contributions of your ancestors. So what leg do you have to stand on in being so proud and arrogant? Are you able to help the emperor in making the country better? Or are you able to improve the lives of the people? If you can’t, then are you in any position to look down on other people?”
Li Meirou was speechless. Her father, as the Right Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Appointments, was a third-ranked official. Other than He Wanning occasionally saying a remark that made everyone not know what to say, there really wasn’t anyone else in this circle who would speak to her so impolitely. At this moment, she was so incensed that her lips trembled and the rims of her eyes gradually turned red.
As one of the famed four talented girls in the capital, Wu Lingyun [1] had to interfere now. She stepped forward and said, “Older Sister Li had just had a misunderstanding with you and felt a bit upset about it. The only reason why she was a bit rude was because of the situation. Official Yu, do you need to be so overbearing?”
Overbearing? Her? Was the other girl sure it wasn’t the other way around? One shouldn't be this obviously biased, right? Yu Xiaocao had never been the type of person to rein in her sharp tongue. That being said, it wasn’t as if she was trying to fawn over these maidens. What was the point in swallowing this humiliation for nothing? If they wanted to cause problems for her, then she wasn’t going to make their lives easy either.
“Miss Wu, the words you’re saying are a bit too biased! From the moment I entered, have I ever personally claimed to be the daughter of the Left Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Appointments? Miss Li made a mistake, which isn't a big deal in the first place. But was there any need for her to lash out at me about my background and birth? From what Miss Wu is saying, I should take these insults, no matter how awful, and just endure it? Then, if someone wants to slap my face, I shouldn’t try to dodge and instead raise my face to meet their hands and let my dignity be trampled? Is this how the noble maidens in the capital interact with each other? If that’s the case, then I was wrong to come to this flower battle!”
As she finished, she slowly stood up and used a sharp gaze to look at all of the maidens who were obviously enjoying the show. She flitted across Wu Lingyun’s and Li Meirou’s faces before finally looking at Royal Princess Minglan. She moved a few steps as she said with an unapologetic look on her face, “Forgive me for causing havoc at your flower banquet, Your Highness. This pot of ‘Two Qiaos’ I will leave behind as a gift of apology. Hechun…”
Hechun stepped forward with a rigid look on her face and placed the pot of flowers in her hands up front. She also took cloth covering off of the flower, revealing a pot of chrysanthemums that had flowers that were colored yellow and purple on one bloom.
Royal Princess Minglan, who was a lover of chrysanthemums, immediately forgot the words of persuasion she wanted to say as her entire attention was now on that pot of gorgeous flowers. The dark green leaves contrasted sharply with the one flower in full bloom. The flower had rows of delicate petals and, in the exact middle, there was a clear division between the bright yellow petals and gorgeous purple petals. Next to the open bloom were several delicate buds that were all half yellow and purple. They seemed like shy little sisters that hid behind their beautiful sister and regarded everyone else bashfully.
“Isn’t this...this the legendary ‘Two Qiaos’ chrysanthemum that is referenced in ‘Two Qiaos hidden deeply within the Bronze Sparrow Platform’ [2] poem and has flowers that are two colors? Miss Yu, where did you get such a valuable chrysanthemum? In fact, in order to find such a beautiful specimen, I begged my father and my older brothers to look for news about it. Yet, we’ve had no luck so far…”
The rumors weren’t wrong. Royal Princess Minglan was truly someone who loved chrysanthemums beyond comparison. When she saw this valuable ‘Two Qiaos’ species, she only had eyes for this and nothing else.
Earlier, when her background was established, for a moment, all of the maidens in the room regarded the ‘Two Qiaos’ on the table with undisguised contempt. That all happened before Royal Princess Minglan revealed the identity of this flower. Yu Xiaocao had gotten a brief overview from her godmother before she went to this party. Royal Princess Minglan had been spoiled by her father and older brothers, so she had a somewhat childish yet open personality. Consequently, Yu Xiaocao didn’t have any ill will towards her.
After the princess spoke, Yu Xiaocao glanced deliberately at the other maidens in the room and especially gave Li Meirou a provoking look before she leisurely replied, “My hometown is next to the mountain and ocean. In the mountains there, there’s a valley surrounded on all four sides by the mountains. The climate there is mild and very few humans venture into that area. My younger brother and I had coincidentally discovered this area and found that the valley had all types of rarely seen flora. This two-colored chrysanthemum had also come from that valley. From my godmother, I found out that this flower is the famous ‘Two Qiaos’ chrysanthemum. Thus, I brought it into the capital to the General’s Estate and had it raised in the greenhouse…
“The rumors that true treasures are found in the wild are true. Flowers that have been bred from the hands of humans all seem to lose some sort of liveliness. Only this flower, which came from the wild mountains, has the liveliness befitting of a treasure. After hearing Miss Yu’s story, I also want to go to that valley to take a look!” Royal Princess Minglan adored this pot of ‘Two Qiaos’ chrysanthemum and couldn’t bear to look away.
She remembered that this pot of ‘Two Qiaos’ was something that Miss Yu had brought over to attend the flower wars banquet. However, the competition hadn’t even started before this guest wanted to leave in anger. This offended guest also wanted to leave such a valuable specimen as a gift to her. If word of this came out, her reputation, as the host, would be negatively affected and people would claim she wasn’t raised well. Royal Princess Minglan reluctantly ordered her maid, “This pot of ‘Two Qiaos’ was brought over by the young miss of Zhaoyang General’s residence to attend the flower wars party. Quickly bring it into the greenhouse before it gets damaged from the cold.”
Yu Xiaocao was about to open her mouth to say something when the princess interrupted her, “There’s a common saying: ‘an exchange of blows may lead to friendship’. It’s hard to avoid a few misunderstandings here and there between us girls. For my sake, would you two consider making up now?”
Although Li Meirou was indignant at the thought, she wasn’t brave enough to refuse Royal Princess Minglan’s suggestion. The princess’s father was a first-ranked duke and her older brothers were all in the military with illustrious deeds under their belts. In fact, Royal Princess Minglan was awarded her title as royal princess from her father’s and brother’s deeds. If she made things inharmonious at the princess’s party, then she likely wouldn’t get any future invitations to the duke’s residence...
After thinking things through, she restrained the hatred in her heart and pasted on a fake smile before she said to Yu Xiaocao, “It was just a misunderstanding. Miss Yu, please don’t take it to heart.” This was the most she could do at this point. If she really had to apologize to a peasant with dirt on her shoes, in the future, how could she hold her head up in this circle of girls?