The Eldest Daughter is Delicate and Pretty, How Can She Be a Malicious Supporting Character - Chapter 26

Chapter 26: Seeking Elegance

It was already the first quarter of the Wei hour (1-3pm).
Today was the first day of the Gentlemen Gathering, and after settling in, the young masters and ladies from various families would go to seek elegance. Only after seeking elegance would they truly obtain the qualification to participate in the gathering.
The so-called seeking elegance was related to the origin of the Gathering.

Plum, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum had been praised and admired by scholars and poets since ancient times. When the Gathering first began among the common people, these four gentlemen were used to symbolize noble character and moral integrity.
The imperial court had continued this tradition.

Seeking elegance meant finding the jade plaques with the four gentlemen’s symbols hidden in the Lanhua Courtyard. Only those who found the plaques could represent themselves as formal participants in the Gathering.

The royal family members, as the hosts, naturally didn’t need to participate. They came to the retreat only to oversee the situation and enjoy the excitement.
It was said that the person in charge this time was Princess Zhaoren, who had already married. The crown prince, as the heir apparent, was busy with state affairs and didn’t attend. As for the other princes, Xiao Huaiqing and Xiao Huaifeng must have come to enjoy the excitement.

As for Xiao Huaice, Pei Lingyi guessed that he would definitely attend.
After all, who would bother to arrange for a disfavored prince to come to the Lanhua Courtyard?
Pei Sitang followed Pei Lingyi, and their residence, Huachun Hall, was not far from the grand hall that hosted the guests. So even though they started late, they didn’t miss anything.

On the way, they saw many familiar faces. However, since Pei Sitang hadn’t shown up in public for a long time, everyone present was a potential competitor in the gathering. Therefore, there was less unnecessary socializing.
Although Pei Lingyi and Pei Sitang started late, they weren’t the last to arrive at the grand hall. There were still many people behind them.

The grand hall had a high, suspended dome with nine layers of carved patterns, each layer carved with auspicious clouds and mythical beasts using golden nanmu wood. In the center was embedded a night pearl the size of a fist, surrounded by light silk fabrics that fluttered gently, giving off an ethereal and refined atmosphere while maintaining a sense of solemnity.

On the steps in front of the hall were placed several chairs made of yellow pear wood, and beside them were tables with tea and pastries thoughtfully arranged.
However, the chairs were currently unoccupied.

Dong—dong—dong—

The sound of a distant bell echoed faintly into the grand hall.

The young masters and ladies who were attending the Gathering for the first time looked around curiously, whereas Pei Lingyi and Pei Sitang stood quietly in place, showing no signs of curiosity.

To the lower left of Pei Lingyi were the Xue sisters. Xue Baohua loved bright colors and wore a striking outfit—a crimson long gown made of woven gold brocade with patterns embroidered using gold thread and adorned with pearls of varying sizes.

Her hair was styled in the most fashionable bun of the time, adorned with a gold filigree hairpin featuring a bird motif and tassels, and her ears were decorated with ruby earrings that refracted light beautifully.

She was naturally beautiful, and her vibrant attire made her stand out. This outfit not only showcased her status but also ensured she would be the first noticed among the noble ladies.

In contrast, Xue Yiran’s attire was much more understated, but she knew how to dress elegantly. Instead of wearing elaborate jewelry, she adorned her hair with a few wooden hibiscus flowers, giving her a refined and delicate appearance.

The two sisters did not stand together but were separated by several people, seemingly intentionally.

Xue Yiran had made an appearance at the elegant gathering at County Lord Changle’s banquet, and today, she had a few people talking to her.

As for Xue Baohua, she was surrounded by crowds wherever she went. In recent years, she had attended many banquets, and many people who wanted to curry favor with her were now gathered around her.

It was clear that the incident at County Lord Changle banquet had gradually been forgotten by others. The Xue family was currently on the rise, and Xue Baohua, as the legitimate daughter of the Xue family, had many people eager to befriend her.

At this moment, the crowd suddenly stirred, and it turned out that Princess Zhaoren had arrived. She wore a magnificent azure long gown that trailed on the ground and walked forward with poise. Everyone quickly bowed, and Princess Zhaoren raised her hand slightly to indicate that they didn’t need to bow. She then sat down in the middle chair made of yellow pear wood.

County Lord Changle stood to her left, and on her right was a man with a tall and slender figure. From Pei Lingyi’s perspective, she could only see his sharp jawline and high nose bridge. It was none other than Xiao Yan.

“Today, this Princess, will preside over the opening of the gathering with the gentlemen. All of you are talented young people. I hope you will approach the seeking elegance with fairness and integrity. Changle and Changyu behind me will also participate in this Gathering,” Princess Zhaoren’s voice was clear and pleasant.

After the two servants attended to Princess Zhaoren, they also found seats.

Moments later, several elderly men wearing plain white robes sat down.
Princess Zhaoren nodded to them as a greeting.

“The Gentlemen’s Gathering is indeed extraordinary. The people sitting above are all renowned scholars in literature in our country, including the chancellors of the Imperial College and the National Academy,” someone whispered.

“With these judges, the Gathering will surely be extremely strict. I’m worried that the poems I had others write for me will be exposed,” another person said.

When all the people on the stage were seated, the crowd below began to buzz with excitement, whispering to each other.

Pei Lingyi heard the conversation between the two people and couldn’t help but smile. Although the Gentlemen’s Gathering was a grand event, there were many people who were just pretending to be something they’re not. Some young masters and ladies would ask students from the Imperial College or the National Academy to write poems for them so that they wouldn’t lose face.

But now, the judges were the chancellors of these very institutions.

——Pulling teeth from a tiger’s mouth, isn’t that seeking death?
With a gong sound, even though everyone’s thoughts were different, they had to focus. The seeking elegance had officially begun.
The crowd surged like a tide towards various parts of the retreat.

Xue Baohua led a group of people towards the west, her eyes determined and confident, as if she was determined to find the jade plaque. Xue Yiran, on the other hand, bid farewell to the people she had been talking to and walked leisurely towards the depths of the garden.

Everyone was searching for the jade plaques in the retreat, and the Lanhua Courtyard was bustling with excitement.

Pei Lingyi’s thoughts were meticulous. She let Pei Sitang search for the jade plaque on her own while she walked slowly towards a secluded direction.
The jade plaques were carved with patterns of plum, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum and were hidden in various parts of the retreat. However, they would not be hidden in the residences of each person.

They could be hidden by the pond, on artificial hills, on trees, or in the woods. Each jade plaque’s hiding place would have a corresponding riddle.

Only by solving the riddle could one obtain the jade plaque. The first challenge was naturally easy for her. However, the people currently searching for the jade plaques in the courtyard were unaware that a new rule had been added to the Gathering.

That was, two people who found the same pattern would automatically form a pair, and their scores would be combined.

Therefore, if one partner was weak, even if the other was excellent, it would be impossible to win the top prize.