Page 16

Su Yue had prepared for a long time. Her black hair was beautifully arranged, and her colorful fan was waving.

She gently extended her cloud-like hand, holding a fan in her left hand and a pen prepared by her servants in her right.

She closed the fan, and with the pen moving like a dancing dragon, her jade sleeve created a breeze.

The veil on her face added a touch of mystery.

Those below could see she was combining dance, painting, and poetry - clearly a carefully prepared performance.

The Empress was already looking displeased. This Prefectural Secretary's daughter was trying to show off without considering the occasion!

After completing her dance, Su Yue confidently stood in the center.

"Your Majesty, this humble woman has made a fool of herself."

Despite her dissatisfaction, the Empress had to suppress her anger and say: "Miss Su is truly a talented woman. Quickly bring her calligraphy and painting for us to see."

The palace maid beside the Empress bowed and hurried to fetch the painting.

The Empress looked at the painting and the accompanying poem, and had to admit that this Su family's daughter indeed had some talent.

The Empress asked Su Yue, "Did you compose these poems yourself?"

Su Yue's face remained calm, while internally she was extremely proud.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, these poems were indeed composed by this humble woman just now. With limited time, they may not be very good. I hope Your Majesty will forgive me."

Princess Chaoyang, who loved poetry, tilted her head and whispered something to the Empress.

The Empress's face darkened. "Is this true?"

Princess Chaoyang nodded.

The Empress slammed the painting onto the table.

"Outrageous! This is clearly a scholar's work that was already circulating before today. You actually dare to lie in front of me!"

Su Yue was stunned. These were the poems she had carefully prepared. How could they belong to someone else?

"I beg Your Majesty to be just! These are definitely poems I composed! I would never dare to deceive Your Majesty!"

Princess Chaoyang coldly instructed her maidservant, "Go show these poems to the ladies below. I refuse to believe that a poem I've heard in the palace hasn't been heard outside!"

"Yes, Princess."

The maidservant took the painting and descended the steps, passing it among the ladies.

"These... these poems were indeed circulating a few days ago."

"I've heard them too. I even thought the poet was quite talented."

"Miss Su is actually claiming someone else's work as her own. This..."

The Empress was furious. "Miss Su, do you have anything else to say?"

Su Yue couldn't understand how these poems, which she was certain were her own and had never shared with anyone, were now being accused of being someone else's.

Seeing the Empress's rage and Princess Chaoyang's disdain, Su Yue immediately knelt.

"I beg Your Majesty's mercy! I beg Your Majesty's mercy!"

The Empress looked displeased, saying, "The Duke's residence is noble, and Prefectural Secretary Su is an upright man. How could he have produced someone like you..."

Su Yue heard this and was suddenly stunned, then internally overjoyed.

The Empress had mistaken her for Su Li!

Su Yue immediately responded, "Li'er knows her mistake. I beg Your Majesty to forgive Li'er this time!"

She spoke softly, so only those on the high platform could hear clearly.

Princess Chaoyang said, "Mother, I remember this Miss Su hasn't participated in such events for several years. Perhaps she's forgotten some rules, which is why she's been so presumptuous?"

Princess Chaoyang didn't lower her voice this time. Wei Yuanyao found this strange.

Su Yue hasn't participated for years? Impossible! She's always been at every event!

Looking at Su Yue's veiled face and remembering she hadn't clearly stated her identity, only saying she was the Prefectural Secretary's daughter, Wei Yuanyao realized something.

The Prefectural Secretary had more than one daughter!

Wei Yuanyao quickly understood Su Yue's intentions.

"That little bitch! She's trying to smear her cousin's reputation while she's not here!"

Wei Yuanyao stood up, and Meng Zhiruo quickly tried to hold her back.

"Yuanyao, what are you doing?"

"Don't worry, I won't cause trouble," Wei Yuanyao replied.

She then walked up the steps.

Su Yue, seeing her approach, feared Wei Yuanyao might reveal her true identity. She quickly said, "Elder sister, I have made a mistake. If the Empress wants to punish or beat me, it is deserved. You don't need to plead for me. Please go back!"

Cloud Consort, wanting to win over Wei Yuanyao and prevent her from complicating matters, also advised, "Lady Wei, this doesn't concern you. Your cousin has made a minor mistake. I believe the Empress will only give a light punishment. Please return to your seat."

Wei Yuanyao, however, calmly bowed to the Empress and said, "Your Majesty, those who do wrong should be punished. I have no intention of pleading for..."

"Elder sister! Please go back quickly!" Su Yue anxiously interrupted her.

Princess Chaoyang found this strange and asked, "Aren't you here to plead for your cousin?"

Wei Yuanyao looked at Su Yue with a half-smile and said, "I only recognize Su Li as my cousin!"

Everyone looked confused, not understanding her meaning.

Princess Chaoyang looked surprised at Su Yue. "You're not Su Li?"

Su Yue's face turned pale beneath her veil, and she knelt silently.

Wei Yuanyao feigned surprise and said, "She is Su Yue, the Prefectural Secretary's concubine-born daughter. How could the Princess think she is Su Li?"

Princess Chaoyang was now truly angry. "She was wearing a veil, claimed to be Li'er, and was dressed unlike a concubine's daughter."

The Empress looked at the kneeling Su Yue and coldly said, "Slandering your legitimate sister - what great audacity!"

In this dynasty, the distinction between legitimate and concubine-born children was strict. Legitimate children were honored, concubine-born were lowly. Someone brazenly trying to smear a legitimate sister's reputation was unprecedented.

If this wasn't severely punished, others might start imitating such behavior.

Su Yue bit her lip and begged, "I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness! I was momentarily confused! I should never have slandered my sister! My childhood name is Lingxi. I was just calling myself 'Ling'er', not 'Li'er'. I beg Your Majesty to be merciful!"

She kowtowed repeatedly.

Because she had spoken softly earlier, it was indeed difficult to distinguish between 'Li'er' and 'Ling'er'.

The Empress gritted her teeth. "A concubine-born daughter, dressed more elegantly than a legitimate daughter. Isn't Prefectural Secretary Su supposed to be upright and clean?"

Su Yue knew that if she didn't answer carefully, she could damage her father's reputation and lose any hope of his affection.

Wei Yuanyao stepped forward. "Your Majesty may not know, but these Twelve Jade Pieces were a birthday gift from my grandmother to my cousin when she turned ten. Somehow, they ended up with Su Yue."

Most of the noble ladies present understood the implied manipulation. She must have used some method to obtain them.

Feeling the contemptuous gazes, Su Yue tried to explain, "My sister, knowing her face was ruined, gave these accessories to me."

Wei Yuanyao immediately retorted, "Impossible!"

The Empress rubbed her forehead. "I don't care about these accessories. I want to know how you explain stealing someone else's poetry and claiming it as your own."