The Eldest Daughter is Delicate and Pretty, How Can She Be a Malicious Supporting Character - Chapter 14

Chapter 14: Preparation

Time flew by quickly.
Calculating the days, the last grand gathering before winter was the Gentleman’s Gathering.

After a long period of peace, the people lived comfortably, and scholars and poets often held poetry gatherings. Initially, these events were organized by the people themselves, but later, the emperor decided to hold a similar gathering among the nobility.
The purpose was to encourage the young nobles to study hard and provide them with opportunities to interact with each other.

Unlike ordinary banquets, the Gentleman’s Gathering was a true test of knowledge and talent.
If one could win the top prize, not only would they gain fame throughout the capital, but their family would also rise in prominence. The Gentleman’s Gathering was held every three years, and there was an age limit: participants had to be between 14 and 20 years old.

Since she was too young last time, she couldn’t attend.
There were only a few days left until the Gentleman’s Gathering, and Pei Lingyi had been preparing for it.
If Xue Yiran had impressed the Fourth Prince with her calmness at County Lord Changle’s banquet, the Gentleman’s Gathering would be her true moment to shine.

Besides preparing for the gathering, there were also interesting developments at the Xue mansion.
After being exposed at County Lord Changle’s banquet, Xue Baohua’s reputation had taken a hit.
Xue Yiran went back and complained to her mother, Concubine Dan, who then whispered in Minister Xue’s ear at night.
Concubine Dan wasn’t scheming by nature, but she listened to her daughter’s words and repeated them to Minister Xue.

When a beauty cried in front of him, Minister Xue naturally believed that Xue Baohua was the one who had wronged Xue Yiran. He punished Xue Baohua severely, making her kneel in the ancestral hall for a whole night.
Xue Baohua, who was used to being pampered, couldn’t bear the humiliation and fell ill the next day.
The mistress of the Xue household was furious and went to confront Concubine Dan, slapping her and smashing things in her room.

However, Xue Yiran wasn’t someone to be underestimated. After Minister Xue returned from court, she immediately knelt outside his study, crying about how the Madam was bullying her.

Minister Xue, who favored his concubine over his wife, was already biased. When he heard that Concubine Dan had been wronged, he not only compensated her with many precious gifts but also spent every night in her room.
He didn’t even visit his sick daughter, Xue Baohua. In short, after this incident, the madam of the Xue household and Xue Yiran’s mother-daughter duo were at odds.

In the future, they would have a good time gossiping about it.
Pei Lingyi listened to Luoxu telling her about the interesting events at the Xue mansion, and her mood improved significantly.
“Luoxu, do you think men prefer women like Concubine Dan, who are charming and seductive?” Pei Lingyi thought of this question while listening to the stories about the Xue mansion.

Luoxu was combing Pei Lingyi’s hair and replied, “Miss, you’ve been a noble lady since childhood and haven’t interacted much with men. But in this world, men are all the same. They often prefer concubines over wives, and mistresses over concubines. That’s why places like the Baihua Pavilion are always filled with music and laughter.”

“But there are good men in this world, like our master and the eldest young master. Minister Xue’s behavior was truly excessive.”
Pei Lingyi smiled slightly but didn’t say anything. Her older brother was a good man, virtuous and chaste. As for her father, well, he had many concubines, so he wasn’t a good example.

Since childhood, her mother had taught her to be a knowledgeable and etiquette-conscious noble lady. However, despite reading many books, she disliked the “Female Precepts” because it emphasized the idea of a woman’s submission to her husband and the three obediences and four virtues.
It even suggested that women should willingly allow their husbands to take concubines when necessary.

Her mother had taught her that after marriage, she should maintain her position and not argue with concubines, lest she lose her dignity. After all, a concubine was still a concubine and could never surpass the main wife.
Since men in this world took concubines, it might be better to become an empress in the palace rather than marrying into a noble family as the main wife.

But thinking about the situation in her dream, Pei Lingyi clenched her fists. When the Pei family fell, the struggle for the throne would just begin. The fifth prince would rise suddenly, and the third prince would also plot slowly.

Even after she died, she still didn’t know who would ascend to the throne. In the past, she was blinded by her focus on the crown prince.
But now, even if she became the crown prince’s wife, she might not necessarily become the empress.
The princes in the palace were not easy to deal with. The crown prince had a reputation for benevolence, but this was also his weakness. He was not as ruthless as the other princes, and the struggle for the throne was changing rapidly.
What if the crown prince was truly deposed?

She couldn’t put all her chips on one person. The eldest prince was already married and not particularly talented, so he wasn’t in her consideration.

As for the third prince, thinking about how he smiled at her in her dream, accompanying Xue Yiran, made her feel disgusted. He was a hypocrite, and she would make him pay for it sooner or later.
Regarding the fourth and fifth princes, the fourth prince seemed like a playboy on the surface, but the fact that he could cooperate with Xue Yiran to open a store and make a fortune showed that he was not as incompetent as he seemed. At the very least, he was definitely involved in the struggle for the throne.

The fifth prince was the one who surprised her the most. He had never been favored by the emperor and had a miserable childhood in the palace. Perhaps it was these experiences that led to his ruthless methods.
In terms of ruthlessness and means, the fifth prince might be the first among the princes.
Pei Lingyi rubbed her temples. The road to revenge was long and uncertain, and she needed to be more cautious in the future.

“Are you tired, Miss? Why don’t you take a nap?” Luoxu asked, noticing that Pei Lingyi seemed tired lately, probably due to the seasonal changes.
“I’m fine. Any news about Xue Yiran?”
“According to our people, Third Miss Xue has been busy with strange projects in the mansion, making food and hiring tailors. Oh, and she’s planning to visit Chengxian Street this afternoon.”

Listening to Luoxu’s words, Pei Lingyi knew exactly what was going on. Xue Yiran had big ambitions. In her dream, she not only defeated Xue Baohua but also researched various new and interesting things.
She was probably the first person to leave her noble family and open a business. After she created those new ideas, she started selling them in the market.

She created beauty creams, whitening body lotions, and many novel and bold clothing designs. However, these products not only monopolized the market, causing many other shops to shut down, but also led to people losing their livelihoods.
As for the subordinates she hired, with their newfound wealth, they became arrogant and committed many unjust acts, taking advantage of their power.

But who would dare to blame Third Miss Xue, who was perceived as innocent and pure?
Even when faced with clear evidence of wrongdoing, there were still people who defended her.

Pei Lingyi knew she herself was not a good person, but she didn’t care about others’ business. She only looked out for herself. The most outrageous thing she had done was probably plotting against County Lord Changle that one time.
Since Xue Yiran loved to play the innocent, Pei Lingyi decided to pay her back in kind. She would make Xue Yiran experience what it’s like to be disbelieved by everyone.

Hearing that Xue Yiran was going to Chengxian Street in the afternoon, Pei Lingyi smiled and said to Luoxu, “We haven’t been out shopping in a while. Go get Snow Ball, and we’ll head to Chengxian Street this afternoon too.”

Seeing Pei Lingyi’s cheerful demeanor, Luoxu knew that someone was definitely going to be in trouble.