The head maid beside the Queen was a third-rank female official, more noble than the concubines below the rank of pin.
The Queen would never have sent her head maid to deliver a message if she didn't attach great importance to it!
Madam Rong suppressed the panic in her eyes and quickly said, "Quickly invite her in!"
Dai Ying was ushered in. She was in her mid-twenties, with calm manners. Although there was a smile in the corners of her eyes, she gave an awe-inspiring feeling.
Only those who had trained in the palace of the mother of the nation for a long time could have such a strong sense of oppression.
Madam Rong invited her to sit down and served her good tea.
Dai Ying didn't put on airs. She drank a cup of tea, giving enough face.
Then she slowly said, "Her Majesty the Queen said that the winter jasmine in the imperial garden is in full bloom. The spring is so lovely that it would be a pity to waste it. Tomorrow, Her Majesty specially invites all the unmarried young ladies from various families to enter the palace to enjoy the flowers and have tea."
After saying that, she openly observed Cheng Simian's reaction.
Even the young ladies from noble families would be overjoyed and proud if they were invited by the Queen and the message was delivered by the most prestigious head maid.
Or they might be panicked and terrified.
However, Cheng Simian was elegant and generous. She gave a faint smile and said, "Your Majesty the Queen has such elegant taste. I'm honored to accompany her."
She didn't ask unnecessary questions. She only said what was appropriate for her status. She was both dignified and proper.
Dai Ying nodded slightly. Miss Cheng had easily passed the first test set by Her Majesty the Queen.
She remained calm in the face of difficulties and wasn't arrogant when flattered. She truly had the bearing of a noble lady from a prominent family.
Compared with the bad reputation of the Marquis of Wude's Mansion, Miss Cheng was truly like a lotus emerging unstained from the mud.
After Dai Ying returned to the palace, she described today's scene in detail to the Queen.
The Queen sneered slightly, with a meaningful look in her eyes. "Let's see what she does and says tomorrow."
After Dai Ying left, Madam Rong pondered for a long time but still felt a bit confused.
"The Queen invited all the unmarried young ladies into the palace. It's impossible for her to send the head maid to every family to deliver the message. Why did she only send the head maid to our family?"
Cheng Simian thought for a moment and said, "Maybe she wants to test if I'm steady enough and if I can shoulder the responsibility of being the Crown Princess."
However, there was also a bit of confusion in her heart.
Her engagement with the Crown Prince was just a show.
After the commotion in the capital died down, her mission as the Crown Princess would be over.
Later, there would surely be a better and more suitable woman to take over the position of the Crown Princess.
That woman should be the one the Queen focused on investigating.
She was just a mascot to calm the storm. Why did the Queen bother to test and probe her?
Could it be that the Crown Prince didn't convey the message clearly, causing the Queen to misunderstand?
Cheng Simian could imagine that there would be more tests at the flower-viewing banquet tomorrow.
She had to find an appropriate opportunity to explain the situation to the Queen.
...
The next day, the warm wind blew gently. It was a perfect day for enjoying the flowers.
In the imperial garden, the noble young ladies were more colorful than the flowers.
The Queen's invitation to the unmarried noble ladies to enjoy the flowers was no ordinary signal.
The Crown Prince hadn't married yet, and the position of the Crown Princess was vacant.
Even the positions of the four side concubines and six ladies-in-waiting were all empty.
Serving the Crown Prince meant serving the future emperor.
When the Crown Prince ascended the throne in the future, the people around him would become noble concubines.
All the noble families regarded this flower-viewing banquet as a banquet for the Queen to choose a concubine for the Crown Prince.
Therefore, these noble young ladies dressed up as beautifully as they could, vying with each other to be the most gorgeous.
They were afraid that they weren't gorgeous enough to attract the Crown Prince's attention.
Only Cheng Simian wore a light yellow dress. There was only a light apricot hairpin inlaid with turquoise in her hair, and she wore oriental pearls on her ears.
Although not very luxurious, her nobility couldn't be concealed.
Among the group of noble young ladies in bright colors, she was like a celestial maiden, standing aloof from the world. In the bustling and noisy environment, she showed a unique aura of coldness and tranquility.
The Queen didn't show up in a hurry. Instead, she observed carefully under the eaves for a while.
"Not bad. She didn't over-dress, but she still looked delicate and charming. She didn't wear many accessories, but they were all luxurious and noble."
Dai Ying also smiled and said, "Miss Cheng is low-key and not ostentatious, but it's also obvious that she attaches great importance to this flower-viewing banquet."
The Queen nodded at her. "Go."
Dai Ying responded and showed herself. The noble young ladies quickly stopped chatting and curtsied to her.
Since the Queen hadn't arrived, there was no need to perform the grand kneeling ceremony.
Dai Ying's gaze swept over the young and delicate faces of the ladies one by one.
"Her Majesty the Queen is still dressing up. She specially sent me to tell the ladies that since the waiting is boring, you don't have to be restrained. You can stroll around at will, eat some snacks, and get to know each other. It's also a good thing."
The noble young ladies quickly thanked her.
Dai Ying's gaze swept over Cheng Simian's face but didn't stay.
Only to hear her raise her voice. "Her Majesty the Queen specially asked if Miss Cheng from the Cheng family has arrived?"
As soon as the voice fell, the imperial garden suddenly fell silent.
Some of the noble young ladies looked confused, some sneered contemptuously, and some looked around, searching for Cheng Simian's figure in the crowd.
Cheng Simian walked out of the crowd calmly.
"Thank Her Majesty the Queen for her concern. I'm already here."
"How did she come? Her father was a minion of the Princess. When the Princess fell from power, Cheng Yong was the first to be punished. I heard he was beheaded immediately!"
I don't know who started it, and the whispering began.
It was like the noisy cicadas in summer, wave after wave, reaching Cheng Simian's ears.
"How shameless. She doesn't even have a family anymore, but she still dreams of climbing up to the Crown Prince!"
"The Crown Prince hates the Cheng family to the core. He must not show her a good face!"
"It's really ridiculous. Does she think she can seduce the Crown Prince just because she's a bit good-looking? The Crown Prince has good moral character. He's not such a lecherous person!"
Dai Ying turned a deaf ear to these comments.
Instead, she held Cheng Simian's hand and talked to her kindly.
"Her Majesty the Queen is most concerned about you. This is your first time in the imperial garden. Don't be nervous. I heard that you're very good at poetry, calligraphy, and painting. The Crown Prince also loves elegance. Her Majesty the Queen also said that when the opportunity arises, she wants you to discuss poetry and appreciate calligraphy and paintings with His Highness the Crown Prince."
Now, the looks of those noble young ladies towards her changed from disgust to hatred.
Why could a daughter of a convicted official get the favor of the Queen and the Crown Prince?
After Dai Ying left, Cheng Simian calmly faced those unfriendly looks.
Shuyi was so angry that her face turned red.
"Miss, what does Her Majesty the Queen mean? Aunt Dai Ying clearly saw you just now, but she still asked aloud. Her Majesty the Queen didn't ask about the other young ladies, but only gave you kind instructions. Isn't this deliberately making you the target of public criticism?"
Cheng Simian smiled calmly. "This is exactly Her Majesty the Queen's purpose."
If she became the Crown Princess, there would probably be even more unpleasant remarks than this.
The Queen was testing her ability to face rumors and slander.
Only to hear a sneer. A woman in a crabapple red rain silk brocade walked out of the crowd. Her skirt was inlaid with pearls and embroidered with gold thread. Her head was full of pearls and jewels, and she swayed gracefully.
"If I were you, after my father was beheaded for a capital crime, I would have shrunk my head and hidden. But you show your face at Her Majesty the Queen's banquet, making such a coquettish appearance. You're really shameless!"
Although Cheng Simian had no acquaintance with this woman, she recognized her.
Qin Xuanyan, the eldest legitimate daughter of Duke Rongxiang, Qin Feng.
Duke Rongxiang was one of the four dukes in the capital. His ancestors made their fortune through military merits and were on par with Duke Jinning, Liang Xuguang.
Liang Xuguang had no daughter and had no chance to marry into the royal family.
Therefore, everyone said that if the Crown Prince wanted to marry the most noble daughter of a prominent family, it had to be Qin Xuanyan.