Chapter 95: A Public Humiliation

Chapter 95: A Public Humiliation

Zheng Jinyu hastily withdrew her hand, feeling flustered, and then quietly moved two steps to the side.

As she turned her head and lifted her gaze, she saw his face, which was smiling but not quite.

He wasn't angry anymore.

But she was about to die of embarrassment.

Fortunately, the pleasure boat had already docked, and Cui Yongnian was beckoning them aboard.

Zheng Jinyu quickly lifted her skirt and hurried to catch up.

Xie Peiyu smiled and strolled after her.

Once Zheng Jinyu stepped onto the pleasure boat, she spotted a group of men and women seated behind a translucent gauze screen. A wave of amusement washed over her.

Of course, she maintained an appearance of surprise on her face.

"Second Brother, Third Brother, and Sister Jinxiu, you're all here too."

Zheng Hongxu's gaze flickered between her and Cui Yongnian, taunting with malice, "I wondered why I couldn't find Little Sister anywhere. Turns out she was boating on the lake with her cousin."

Those who didn't know Cui Yongnian were whispering about him discreetly.

As for Lu Shen, he even burst into laughter.

"What pretty-faced stranger has appeared? He must have powdered his face with two pounds of flour."

Well, his excessive makeup was indeed quite terrifying.

The result of using white powder to conceal bruises was a sickly greenish pallor, a sight that could send shivers down one's spine.

Cui Yongnian didn't take offense, instead, he smiled awkwardly and took a seat among the men on his own initiative.

Zheng Jinyu, on the other hand, moved to sit by the women's side.

In the next moment, Xie Peiyu joined them as well.

"Third Master Zheng, this prince has invited your sister and Young Master Cui for a lakeside stroll. What do you think about that?"

Zheng Hongxu's expression shifted instantly.

"It turns out to be Prince Chen. I thought my sister and Cousin were having a private boat ride together. Seems like I misunderstood."

With various intentions hidden in their hearts, they all sat together in the gallery, creating an awkward atmosphere.

Looking at Xie Peiyu and Zheng Jinyu together, Zheng Jinxiu felt a pang of jealousy.

Wang Fuzhen couldn't conceal her dislike for Zheng Jinyu.

Due to Lady Zheng's disdain for her, she had refused the marriage proposal between her and Zheng Hongxu, citing her dislike for Zheng Jinyu and spreading ill words about her.

Could it be her fault for speaking the truth?

Lady Zheng favored Zheng Jinyu excessively, even disregarding the long-standing friendship between the Zheng and Wang families. It was infuriating.

Of course, she couldn't direct her anger towards Lady Zheng, so she vented it on Zheng Jinyu instead.

"It's truly unexpected to see Miss Zheng, who rarely steps out of her home, attending this poetry appreciation banquet today. I've heard that you were convalescing in the countryside and never attended school. How can you appreciate poetry?" Wang Fuzhen's disdainful challenge was evident.

Zheng Jinyu smiled lightly. "Indeed, I didn't attend school in the countryside and my understanding of poetry is limited to superficial appreciation. Hearing Miss Wang San's words, it seems you have the talent for composing poems and critiquing them. Why not compose one for me, a country girl, so I may broaden my horizons? What do you think?"

Wang Fuzhen's smile froze. Compose a poem? She had no such skill.

She merely enjoyed the spectacle, at best knowing a few more poems than Zheng Jinyu.

If they were alone, she might attempt to impress Zheng Jinyu with a few verses.

But with so many people present, how could she dare to show off her inadequacy?

Quickly changing the subject, Wang Fuzhen said, "I heard that Madam Zheng invited a tutor from the Ji family to teach Miss. Why did Mister Ji leave after less than a year? Was it because Miss learned too quickly, or perhaps..." She covered her mouth tactfully, leaving the rest unsaid.

The only reasons for a tutor to quit would be either the student learned too fast and there was nothing more to teach, or the student was too slow, making the tutor lose hope and resign.

Could someone complete all their studies within a year? Unlikely, unless they were a genius among geniuses.

Thus, they all believed that Zheng Jinyu was the second type - too dim-witted for the teacher to waste his time on, so he had taken the initiative to resign.

"Wang Fuzhen inquired deliberately, "Second Miss, did Scholar Ji resign on his own initiative?"

Zheng Jinyu replied casually, "Yes, he did."

She promptly covered her mouth and chuckled, whispering with the other young misses nearby.

Everyone looked at her as if she were a good-for-nothing.

Changing into a more comfortable position, Zheng Jinyu lifted her gaze, about to speak when she caught sight of Xie Peiyu, through the sheer screen, gazing at her with concern from across the boat.

In the meantime, Young Master Zhang's words echoed throughout the pleasure boat.

"Young Master Zhang, your recitation is delightful, but allow me to play a tune to further enhance the mood," he offered.

With his appearance, he seemed more like an actor on stage.

Wanting to humiliate him, Lu Shen quickly responded, "Very well, Brother Zhang. How about having Young Master Cui accompany you on a musical instrument?"

The other person haughtily hummed in response.

Cui Yongnian promptly took out a short flute that was tucked at his waist and began to play the melody that Zheng Jinyu had given him that day.

It seemed that after realizing the guqin wasn't suitable, he had switched to a flute.

The flute was indeed a bit better than the guqin, but it still wasn't the best choice.

For this particular tune, a pipa would be the most suitable instrument.

Nevertheless, everyone on the entire pleasure boat was astounded by the piece.

Even the previously arrogant Young Master Zhang nearly sang the lyrics wrongly when accompanied by this tune.

Those who had just mocked Cui Yongnian now gazed at him with newfound respect.

"Young Master Cui, is this divine composition yours?"

Lu Shen's brows knitted together as he sensed a threat, turning his gaze towards Zheng Jinxiu sitting across from him.

He was already less attractive than Cui Yongnian; if his talents didn't measure up to his rival's either, how could Jinxiu little sister still fancy him?

Cui Yongnian smiled and shook his head. "No, it was a gift from a friend."

Lu Shen heaved a sigh of relief upon hearing this.

Someone else pressed for more information. "May we know who this friend is?"

Cui Yongnian turned to Xie Peiyu, his starry eyes shimmering with admiration that he couldn't conceal.

"Prince Chen, thank you for the musical score."

The crowd suddenly realized that Prince Chen was not only skilled in playing the flute but also composing music.

Prince Chen looked at Zheng Jinyu with a puzzled expression.

Coughing slightly...

Zheng Jinyu explained, "A while back when your cousin was injured, you mentioned that you were quite busy and couldn't visit him. So, you asked me to deliver this musical score on your behalf, didn't you?"

Xie Peiyu gritted his teeth and said through clenched jaws, "You misunderstood. I said I was giving it to you and even encouraged you to study it well. Did you forget?"

Zheng Jinyu: "..." She was actually undermining her own plan.

She put on a frightened expression and said, "Ah? Is that so? Then I misunderstood. But it doesn't matter. I'll just consider it a gift, and I'll give it to my cousin after I learn it."

Cui Yongnian felt awkward, but he quickly regained his composure and smiled. "Then I thank Prince Chen and Little Cousin. Little Cousin, what instrument did you use to play this score? Was it the unique Qin Zheng I saw in your courtyard last time?"

"No, I used a pipa."

"Pipa?" He began to imagine how the piece would sound on a pipa, and the more he imagined, the more he felt it suited the instrument better than a flute.

"Would Little Cousin be willing to play this piece on the pipa?"

Before Zheng Jinyu could answer, someone chimed in, "There happens to be a pipa on the pleasure boat."

Pleasure boats were meant for refined entertainment. Not only were there pipas, but also qin, zithers, moon guitars, sheng, and many other musical instruments.

Ancient wealthy people really knew how to have fun.

A chorus of voices urged her to play a melody, some genuinely eager to listen, while others sought to witness her embarrassment.

Among them were Zheng Jinxiu and Wang Fuzhen.