“Sister Xiang, what brings you here?” Xiao Rou held Xiang Chun’s hand, speaking kindly. This was a trusted person of the Empress Dowager, so she needed to be careful.
“Xiao Rou, the Empress Dowager has asked me to invite Mei Fei to Feng Xian Palace. The message has been delivered, and I cannot stay long as I must visit other palaces,” Xiang Chun said, lightly patting Xiao Rou’s shoulder before turning to leave.
Cloud’er’s poem is good, who else can write one? Yu’er, you write one,” the Empress Dowager looked at Mei Siyu and said softly, showing no sign of annoyance. The term “Yu’er” made Mei Siyu quite uncomfortable – since when had the old lady been so polite to her? The saying goes, “A cat mourning a mouse with false compassion” – be careful of a trap!
“Yes, Yu’er’s poem is not good, sisters, please don’t laugh,” Mei Siyu said modestly.
“Layers of shadows on the jade terrace, repeatedly calling servants to sweep away, just swept away by the sun, yet brought back by the moonlight,” Mei Siyu recited gracefully, borrowing from Su Shi’s “Flower Shadow”. She hoped Master Su wouldn’t blame her – she could always burn more incense for him later.
“Yu’er has made a fool of herself,” Mei Siyu bowed politely and then slowly sat down.
“Yu’er’s poem is not bad. Who else can write one?” the Empress Dowager could not believe that this girl could compose such a rhyming poem, even slightly better than Cloud’er’s. She had intended to make her look foolish but instead gave her an opportunity to show off her literary talent.
Wan’er glanced at Mei Siyu, wanting to speak but holding back. She had immediately seen that the Empress Dowager and Consort De were conspiring against Mei Siyu, hoping to humiliate her. But no one expected Mei Siyu’s literary talent to be so remarkable that even she had to admit defeat! However, Mei Siyu was too naive – this would only provoke their anger further. Now it seemed that even if she did nothing, the Empress Dowager and Consort De would not let her off. She would just observe and wait to benefit.
