Chapter 97: Teasing Cui Yongnian with Mockery

Chapter 97: Teasing Cui Yongnian with Mockery

Everyone gathered around the jade table to watch Zheng Jinyu write, except for Cui Yongnian, who could only see the frenzied envy in Zheng Jinxiu's eyes.

He narrowed his eyes, causing more of the powder on his eyelids to fall.

After Zheng Jinyu finished writing two lines of poetry, she put down her brush.

She had written the same lines that the princess had composed before: "Endless green lotus leaves stretch to the sky, and against the sun, the lotus flowers bloom in unique shades of red."

"I humbly present my work to you all," she said.

The crowd couldn't believe their eyes as they stretched their necks to examine the poem, unable to speak for a long moment.

Xie Peiyu gave her an approving glance; she had indeed not let him down.

"No, it can't be," Lu Shen was the first to break the silence.

"You've only been learning to write for a year. How is it possible for you to write so well? Such composure and skill would require at least seven or eight years of practice."

Zheng Jinyu said coolly, "Gentleman Lu, do you know that there are differences between people? Some can pass the scholarly examination at eight, while others remain an infant scholar even at eighty. Your incapability doesn't mean others share the same limitation."

"Ah, unless you possess the appearance of a celestial being," Lu Shen taunted.

Zheng Jinyu accepted the comment with grace. "Perhaps so. Thank you for your compliment, Gentleman Lu."

"Y-you…" Lu Shen was so enraged that he couldn't find words to respond. With a swing of his sleeves, he turned and left.

Spotting Zheng Jinxiu, who was hiding on the outskirts of the crowd, silently nursing her sorrows, his heart ached.

"Little Sister Jinxiu, don't be sad. Let her bask in her glory," he said.

Zheng Jinxiu's face fell, and she cursed him inwardly as a fool and a idiot.

Initially, everyone was taking turns to praise Zheng Jinyu, paying no attention to Zheng Jinxiu.

Upon hearing Lu Shen's remark, they all turned in surprise to look at Zheng Jinxiu.

Was she upset?

Why was she upset?

Shouldn't she be proud that her own sister possessed divine beauty?

They couldn't comprehend it.

After all, siblings shared both glory and disgrace together.

Zheng Hongqi and Zheng Hongxu understood why Jinxiu was unhappy—because Zheng Jinyu was gradually winning everyone's admiration. With a gem like Zheng Jinyu around, Jinxiu no longer seemed as outstanding in their eyes.

She wasn't a blood relative of the Zhengs, so her fear and anxiety about being overshadowed by Zheng Jinyu made sense to them.

At the same time, they were deeply worried for Jinxiu.

In just one year, Zheng Jinyu's calligraphy had surpassed Jinxiu's, despite the latter having practiced diligently for over a decade. Facing such a formidable opponent, even they would feel intimidated, let alone Jinxiu.

"Jinxiu," Zheng Hongxu and Zheng Hongqi expressed their concern.

Zheng Jinxiu's face was pale, and she shook her head gently. "Second Brother, Third Brother, I'm feeling a bit seasick. Can we dock and go ashore?"

Before the two women could respond, Lu Shen hastily made arrangements, loudly calling for the boatman to dock the pleasure boat.

Zheng Jinxiu lifted her pale face and forced a smile at Zheng Jinyu with great effort.

"Sorry, sister, I'm seasick and ruined your fun."

Zheng Jinyu replied calmly, "It's alright, your health is more important. Mister Lu has already instructed the boatman to bring us ashore; it'll be over soon."

Upon hearing that Zheng Jinxiu was seasick and uncomfortable, Mister Lu became exceptionally attentive.

Anyone with eyes could see that Mister Lu had a special interest in Zheng Jinxiu.

Cui Yongnian was no fool and naturally noticed this as well.

He asked Zheng Jinyu, rather abruptly, "Is Mister Lu from the family of Lord Chancellor Lu?"

"Yes, he's the direct eldest grandson of Lord Chancellor Lu," she answered.

Eldest grandson?

Is she the legitimate eldest granddaughter?

Cui Yongnian immediately realized who had orchestrated the incident of having someone slap him in public.

Being from a large family himself, he was all too familiar with the tactics of pushing the illegitimate children to take the blame for the legitimate ones.

Zheng Hongxu entrusted Wang Fuzhen with the task of escorting Zheng Jinxiu to the ladies' guest chambers for some rest. Wang Fuzhen accepted the responsibility without hesitation.

After all, she saw herself as Zheng Jinxiu's sister-in-law, and it was only right for a sister-in-law to look after her younger sister.

Lu Shen was deeply concerned but couldn't attend to Zheng Jinxiu himself in the ladies' quarters. He could only ask his own sisters to check on her.

Once that was done, he couldn't resist taking a jab at Zheng Jinyu.

"Young Lady Zheng number two, your sister isn't well, and Young Lady Wang has gone to tend to her. Why haven't you gone?"

Zheng Jinyu smiled. "I'm no doctor; my presence wouldn't make a difference. Besides, didn't Mister Lu entrust Miss Lu to take care of her? Young Lady Wang San has also gone. With so many people there, I imagine it would be crowded enough to make it difficult to even catch one's breath, let alone rest properly."

Lu Shen huffed. "Hmph, sharp-tongued."

Cui Yongnian, usually known for his mild demeanor, unexpectedly spoke up in defense, "Little Cousin is right. If Mister Lu is worried, he can attend to her himself. Why bother picking on my little cousin?"

"I…" Lu Shen desired to marry Zheng Jinxiu and thus dared not bully Zheng Jinyu, for fear of offending Old Master Zheng and Lady Zheng, ending up like Wang Fuzhen.

But couldn't he still put pressure on someone named Cui?

"You pretty boy, mind your own business," Lu Shen retorted.

"I have to speak up when you're bullying my little cousin," Cui Yongnian shot back.

"Huh, I think you're just jealous of me, aren't you?" Lu Shen jeered.

Cui Yongnian chuckled. "Jealous of you? Jealous of your round face or your short legs and long waist? Or perhaps it's your lack of knowledge?"

"Ha!" Lu Shen burst into laughter, brushing aside a lock of hair that fell over his forehead with a touch of arrogance. "Others might laugh at me, but you? Seriously?"

He scrutinized Cui Yongnian from head to toe and taunted, "Even a corpse three days old isn't as frightening as your face. As for your figure, you're almost as thin as a bamboo pole. What gives you the right to mock me?"

"And your education?" The smile on his face widened. "I've heard that Mister Cui is about to reach adulthood, yet you haven't even passed the examination to become a scholar. Do you really have the nerve to ridicule my lack of knowledge?"

Cui Yongnian said sternly, "This young master simply doesn't bother to take the exam."

"Oh, oh, if you didn't pass, then you didn't pass. No need to make excuses. Are those who remain as students at eighty also too disdainful to become scholars?"

Fueled by Cui Yongnian's comment, a chorus of mocking voices rang out.

Xie Peiyu led Zheng Jinyu away.

Even after they had walked quite a distance, Zheng Jinyu could still hear the taunts directed at Cui Yongnian.

Neither Zheng Hongqi nor Zheng Hongxu came to his aid.

Or rather, they pretended to help by constantly belittling him under the guise of sympathy.

"Although our cousin didn't pass the scholar examination, he did put in a lot of effort."

Who would buy that?

The crowd erupted in laughter. "That eighty-year-old student has been working hard all his life and is still just a student. I wonder if Young Master Cui can work as hard as an eighty-year-old student for the rest of his life?"

"Fellow Cui is unlike us; we rely on our talents to make a living, while he relies on his looks. After all, he's a pretty boy, isn't he? Just look at that face—whose complexion can compare to his?"

"Ahaha, if slathering two pounds of flour on one's face counts as fairness, I could do it too."

"Come now, let's take a closer look. Your fairness seems to be tinged with green and red. Mr. Cui, is your fairness perhaps artificial?"

These people mocking Cui Yongnian were friends of Lu Shen and had acted on his cue. Initially, they only intended to tease him lightly, but seeing Cui Yongnian remain composed despite the ridicule fueled their anger, leading them to become increasingly harsh in their words.