After that, Shen Li didn't try to strike up another conversation with Han Yue.
She had seen through it. No matter what she said, Han Yue could always say something to kill the conversation.
Pulling the quilt over herself, Shen Li took a moment to calm her nerves and soon fell into a deep sleep.
Han Yue was on the roof beam, listening to Shen Li's steady and long - drawn - out breathing. She didn't understand why Shen Li suddenly stopped talking and fell asleep so quickly.
Not dwelling on it, Han Yue found a comfortable spot and soon dozed off as well.
Half a month later, the weather grew warmer. The wild geese flew north from the south, and the spring scenery was enchanting.
The palace gates swung open. A group of eunuchs with fair complexions went in an orderly manner to the mansions of marquises and officials in the capital to distribute invitations.
Not long after noon, the Shen Mansion also received an invitation to a banquet hosted by the three princesses.
Shen Li looked at the gilded red invitation card in her hand, feeling as if it was slightly burning.
Since ten years ago, every spring, the unmarried princesses would host the Spring Banquet in the palace.
They would invite the unmarried daughters of noble and official families who had come of age to the palace to enjoy the flowers, drink tea, and showcase their talents.
Shen Li remembered that in her past life, she was laughed at by countless people in the capital because of her apology to Xiao Hanzhi.
Even though Shen Miao had persuaded her many times to attend the banquet, she had always refused. Rarely had she been so firm - minded and not listened to Shen Miao.
So, she had made an excuse of being ill and skipped the Spring Banquet that time.
Even so, she was still mocked for being petty and ungrateful for not attending the princess's invitation.
However, although she hadn't attended the Spring Banquet in her past life, she still clearly remembered some things.
The eldest legitimate daughter of the Prime Minister He's family had danced a dance that had shaken the world, outshining everyone. Even Shen Miao, who prided herself on her beauty and talent, had been overshadowed.
Later, if she hadn't married Xiao Hanzhi earlier in her past life, it might have been He Yimeng who would have married into the Fourth Prince's Mansion.
However, even after Xiao Hanzhi ascended the throne and filled his harem, he had once thought of taking such a beauty into his possession.
Unexpectedly, this beauty had simply taken a knife and cut off her hair, then retreated to a nunnery to live with the Buddha.
Xiao Hanzhi had to let it go in the end.
In her past life, Shen Li had once sighed about He Yimeng's fate, thinking that there was such a woman who would rather break than bend in the world.
Even if it wasn't for the banquet itself, just to watch the beauty dance, she would go this time.
Even though she knew that this banquet might not be as simple as it seemed.
This time, Shen Li directly agreed to attend the banquet, which saved Shen Miao from bothering her.
Three days later, Shen Li rarely wore a wide - sleeved purple - red silk dress.
This purple - red color was usually more suitable for mature and steady middle - aged women. If a girl was too young, lacked presence, or had slightly darker skin, she wouldn't be able to carry off this color. Instead, it would make her look frivolous and clumsy.
But Shen Li had skin as white as snow. Her eyebrows were delicately arched, and her beautiful eyes were so dark that they seemed to be soaked in ink, giving people a sense of mystery.
The purple - red dress on her made her face look even more exquisite and radiant.
Today, Shen Miao was also dressed up grandly. Her lotus - pink dress brought out her shy and innocent charm as a young girl. The blooming lotus painted on her forehead made her look even more charming.
Surprisingly, Shen Miao didn't say a single sarcastic word about Shen Li's dressing today.
The carriage stopped at the palace gate. Everyone got off the carriage with their maids and was led into the palace by the palace maids.
Shen Li walked in front, followed by Jiaoyue and Han Yue, trailing a little pink - dressed maid. Behind her was Shen Miao with Chunxi and Chunxu.
The Spring Banquet was held in the imperial garden. By now, a group of people had already arrived and were chatting in small groups.
When they saw Shen Li coming, everyone started whispering.
"Why is she here today? The princesses even invited such a person!"
"She still has the nerve to show up!"
"Why not? Her father is in favor! Even if you all didn't come, she would!"
"Hehe! Hehe!"
Everyone burst into laughter.
Ignoring their scrutinizing looks and mocking words, Shen Li just found a quiet place and started admiring the flowers.
On the other hand, Shen Miao quickly flitted like a butterfly into the crowd and started chatting with her friends.
A girl in a light - yellow dress seemed to be on good terms with Shen Miao and was hugging her tightly while talking.
"I heard that now in your family, it's that person who is in charge. Is that true?"
She tilted her head in Shen Li's direction.
Shen Miao skillfully put on a wronged look. "Alas! It's really embarrassing. Now, inside and outside the house, it's my elder sister who is in charge!"
Although everyone had heard rumors, they were still shocked when they heard Shen Miao confirm it with her own mouth.
"How could your family let her act so recklessly? Don't your parents discipline her?" the girl in the light - yellow dress asked anxiously.
Shen Miao shook her head. "Discipline? How? My father just said a few words to her, mostly in persuasion, but she got impatient and called the servants, threatening to drive our whole family out!"
"That's too much!"
"How dare she be so bold? Lord Shen is a court official! How could she treat him like this?"
"I've always disliked her. It seems I was right!"
...
The young ladies around started chatting again. When others heard the commotion, they also curiously gathered around.
There were also a few people who glanced at Shen Miao but didn't go over, perhaps disapproving of their behavior of gossiping behind others' backs.
Shen Li roughly counted. There were only six or seven of them.
For a moment, Shen Miao was surrounded by people like a star in the sky.
Shen Miao enjoyed this moment of being in the spotlight very much. She spared no mercy when slandering Shen Li and even pretended to speak up for her in the end.
"Elder sister wasn't like this before. Ever since she woke up after falling into the water last time, she's changed. She's become much more distant from our family."
A girl in a lotus - blue dress asked curiously, "Fell into the water? Why on earth did she fall into the water in the middle of winter?"
Shen Miao said with a look of self - reproach, "It was my fault that day. Elder sister wanted to practice sword - dancing, and I failed to stop her!"
Shen Li now had excellent hearing. When she heard Shen Miao say this, she knew that next, Shen Miao would probably say how she had pestered the Fourth Prince and fallen into the water while trying to dance a sword for him.
Shen Li's eyes turned cold. She took a smooth stone that she had been playing with and held it between her fingers, waiting for the moment when Shen Miao dared to speak. Then she would hit her leg with the stone and make her shut up.
"Last time, the Fourth..."
Just as Shen Li was about to throw the stone, she heard the eunuch outside shout loudly, "Princess Luoyao! Princess Yajing! Princess Luoning is arriving! Princess Heyuan is arriving!"
Everyone stopped talking. "Your humble servant girls pay respects to the princesses! May the princesses be in good health!"
"Pay respects to the princess - in - waiting!"
"All rise," said Princess Luoyao, the eldest of them.
The three princesses were all dressed in gorgeous clothes, looking extremely noble.
"I see it's quite lively here. Were you all just chatting about something new that I don't know?"