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After listening to Tian Hui complain about her sister, Lin Yuan and she then talked about the banquet at Yao Mansion. With Tian Xuan’s words, no matter how much Tian Hui insisted this time, Lin Yuan would not allow her to go out with her.

Attending the banquet at the Yao Mansion this time, they were bound to face marginalization, and she did not want Tian Hui to be subjected to that as well.

"Alas, although I can’t go with you, some of the young ladies from the capital, I can still speak with a few of them. I will have Shuishui go in person to ask them to take care of you at the banquet."

Lin Yuan found it hard to refuse Tian Hui’s kindness, but whether those people would really take care of a country girl from outside the city, she did not know. After all, there weren’t many people as nice as Tian Hui.

After thinking it over, Lin Yuan asked her about the situation of several ladies in the capital.

Tian Hui frowned slightly and said, "Although there are so many young ladies in the capital, given your current status, there aren’t many who can be compared with you."

This made Lin Yuan feel somewhat ashamed. Her status, what status did she have?

Perhaps sensing Lin Yuan’s embarrassment, Tian Hui patted her hand and smiled, "You must not belittle yourself. Not to mention you are the Third Prince’s adopted sister, just the importance the Xia Mansion places on you surpasses that of many young ladies from Fourth or Fifth Rank Officials’ homes! "

That was indeed true. Otherwise, after their family moved into the Third Prince’s mansion, the entire capital began to gossip about her, the adopted sister of the Prince from the countryside.

And when she thought back to what Xia Zheng had whispered to her that day, Lin Yuan felt the burden on her shoulders was indeed too heavy.

"If we speak of the most outstanding young ladies in the capital, aside from the princesses in the palace, there are Yao Hanai from Yao Mansion, Prime Minister Su’s daughter Su Qiuyu, and Yan Ruchun from Yan family."

Lin Yuan had met both Yao Hanai and Su Qiuyu, and she had even dealt with Su Qiuyu more than once, so naturally, she wasn’t too interested in them. But this Yan Ruchun, it was the first time she had heard the name.

"Yan Ruchun? She is..."

Tian Hui smiled and said, "The Second Prince’s mother, Consort Liu, belongs to the Yan family."

No wonder.

Lin Yuan understood. Empress Su’s eldest son had passed away early, and currently, only the Eldest Princess Cuiwei, who was unwed, stayed by her side. However, it was said that the Eldest Princess was already past the usual age for marriage, yet for some reason, she remained unmarried.

With Empress Su’s eldest son gone, the ones most likely to become the Crown Prince were naturally the Second and Third Prince. Whether Consort Liu’s family, who had mostly been involved in business in recent years, had the ambition to help their grandson succeed was unknown to anyone.

Thus, the status of the Yan family in the capital should not be underestimated.

"The Young Lady of the Yan family, how to put it, she is a very sharp woman, just like her aunt," Tian Hui said with furrowed brows, cautiously watching Lin Yuan. "And she also likes Xia Zheng."

Lin Yuan’s mouth twitched. Were there no other men in the capital?

Why did everyone always fixate on Xia Zheng?

What’s more, wasn’t Yan Ruchun a cousin to the Second Prince?

Weren’t such cousins most likely to develop all kinds of extraordinary feelings?

Why was it that she liked Xia Zheng instead of Zhao Hongsheng?

Looking at Lin Yuan’s clearly distressed complexion, Tian Hui didn’t know if she should continue speaking.

"Sister Hui, just tell me straight, how many people in the Capital city actually dislike Xia Zheng?"

Amused by Lin Yuan’s teeth-gritting expression, as if she were about to settle accounts with Xia Zheng, Tian Hui laughed, patted her hand, and whispered, "Don’t take this the wrong way, but there really aren’t many.

Mainly because the General Mansion is the only household in the Capital city that does not allow concubines, naturally, there are quite a few women who yearn for it.

Now it is Xia Zheng, but before, everyone’s eyes were fixed on Brother Zhen.

Once you and Ah Zheng are married, those women will lose hope and will no longer upset you. "

These were all Tian Hui’s experienced insights.

Although they could not completely dispel Lin Yuan’s concerns, at least they made her understand the situation in the Capital city—it turned out that there weren’t many who truly liked Xia Zheng; they were just envious of the General Mansion’s lack of interference from little concubines.

After all, even a gentle and beautiful woman like Madam Tian had to contend with several annoying concubines in her sight, let alone others?

Fortunately, Tian Hui had no such worries, and it seemed Madam Tian genuinely rejoiced for her daughter. It was only uncertain what kind of man Tian Xuan would meet in the future and whether she would encounter a man who was wholeheartedly devoted to her, just like her sister.

Tian Hui informed Lin Yuan about the situations of some young ladies she knew in the Capital city. Lin Yuan listened attentively, and before she knew it, two hours had already passed.

Looking at the sky, Lin Yuan hurriedly stood up to prepare to leave. Tian Hui had wanted to keep her for dinner, but it was not very safe to travel back to the mansion at night, so she did not insist on her staying.

As she escorted Lin Yuan to the door, Tian Hui held her hand and reminded her again, "Usually, during each banquet, everyone will showcase some of their talents. You’ve had nothing to do at home these past few days; you must practice beforehand."

Talent?

Just mentioning talent gave Lin Yuan a headache; apart from cooking, there wasn’t much else she could do.

Seeing her pout in distress, Tian Hui was taken aback and exclaimed, "You, you don’t mean to say you have no talents at all?"

As expected, Lin Yuan nodded.

Tian Hui laughed at her response, "Poetry, songs, guqin, pipa, sheng, xiao, you really don’t know any?

You don’t need to be proficient, just knowing is enough!

Well, ok. If you can’t write poetry, you can at least recite, right?

In that case, find Ah Zheng to write a poem for you, and memorize it in advance.

And remember, if they deliberately provoke you using reverse psychology on the day, no matter what, don’t tell them you can’t do anything.

Even if you have to fake it, you must bluff your way through.

With so many people there, it’s unlikely anyone will truly notice. "

With Tian Hui’s numerous reminders ringing in her ears and a heart full of worries, Lin Yuan finally made it home. As soon as she entered her room, she collapsed on her bed as if she had no bones.

Talent, oh, talent!

Suddenly, Lin Yuan popped her head out from beneath the covers with a resolute look, "It’s just a talent show, right? What’s so difficult about that! If they push me, I’ll just show them my knife skills on the spot! Hmph, once my kitchen knife comes out, let’s see who dares to make more noise!"

Shui Xian and Yin Xing stood to the side, silently sweating for those young ladies.

The banquet was set for the afternoon on the twenty-sixth day of the first month. After breakfast, Lin Yuan and the others returned to their respective rooms to retrieve the clothes they had prepared for the banquet and began to dress up carefully.

Sister Chang, supported by Qiaoer and Miamiao, went from one young lady’s courtyard to another to give advice.