Miss Shang was a little stunned. Normally, when someone like her commented on someone else's calligraphy in public, no matter if it was praise or criticism, the person being commented on would nod in agreement. Even if she was criticized in public, she would feel it was an honor, and no one would dare to ask her why it was bad. After all, her status was there. She was the last disciple of the calligraphy master Mrs. Qian. Those who could be commented on by her were all people of low status, and no one questioned her words.
Besides, calligraphy is a matter of personal opinion. If she thinks it is not good, then it is not good. Even if Lord Qi, who is recognized as the number one calligrapher in Chu, is here, he cannot say anything to her.
However, an accident happened today, and it was the first time she encountered someone who dared to chase her and ask questions in public.
Mingyu glanced at Miss Shang who kept silent, and said with a smile: "Miss Shang is a master of calligraphy. Mingyu was fortunate to receive Miss Shang's comments thanks to Miss Luo. I'm sure everyone is very curious and wants to know why my calligraphy has become scattered and has lost its style. Mingyu is really looking forward to Miss Shang's explanation, and I will be very grateful."
The young ladies all looked at Miss Shang. Fu Lemei was more understanding and immediately agreed with a smile, "That's right, Miss Shang, tell us in detail. We want to hear it too."
Mingyu stared at Miss Shang with a smile on her face, but the smile was cold. You can eat anything you want, but you can't say anything you want. Mingyu didn't think that Miss Shang, who was only two years older than her, was a master. Her calligraphy was not top-notch, and maybe her skills were not good enough to compare with those old people who had practiced for decades, but it was definitely not messy. If you really want to comment on it carefully, I'm afraid Miss Shang can't explain it clearly.
Miss Shang's thin face showed a bit of embarrassment. She glanced at Luo Lingxian next to her, who was also looking at her hopefully, hoping that she would say something to embarrass Xu Mingyu. It would be best if she was more professional and hit the nail on the head.
Under the gaze of dozens of people, Miss Shang's face turned red. Her cheeks were burning and her back was sweating. She was Madam Qian's last disciple. She was coated with the aura of a master's disciple wherever she went. Everyone had to treat her with courtesy. If she couldn't explain well today, she would become a laughing stock in the capital. It would also anger her master.
After a long while, Miss Shang finally said, "This... is a mess... What I mean is that you are still young, your skills are not good enough, and your writing skills are not strong enough. After practicing for another ten or eight years, you will have your own style." Miss Shang was embarrassed. She quickly found an excuse.
"If the pen is not strong enough, will the words be messed up?" Mingyu asked, not ready to give Miss Shang a way out. "I wonder how many years Miss Shang has been practicing calligraphy? I am ashamed to say that I started practicing calligraphy very late, I only started holding a pen when I was two years old." Mingyu smiled.
Miss Shang was so embarrassed that she didn't know where to put her hands and feet. She was at most two years older than Xu Mingyu. Xu Mingyu started practicing at the age of two and her handwriting was beautiful. She was considered quite perceptive. Miss Shang regretted it so much that her intestines turned green. She shouldn't have agreed to help Luo Lingxian. In the end, she was fine, but she got herself into trouble.
"I... I didn't mean that either." Miss Shang's face flushed red, and her brows were furrowed, making her not-so-beautiful face look a little distorted. "You haven't practiced calligraphy for a short time, it's just... it's just..."
Fu Lemei has never gotten along with this Miss Shang. She is carefree and like a boy. She hates those self-righteous and talented girls the most. They have nothing to do all day and can only write sad poems about the passing of time. They are extremely bored.
"Haha!" Fu Lemei laughed out loud without giving any face. "Miss Shang must have practiced calligraphy for a long time. She probably started practicing calligraphy when she was still in her mother's womb!"
The boudoir girls who were watching the fun all covered their mouths and noses with silk fans. The laughter that they tried to suppress but could still be heard continued. Miss Shang was furious. Listening to the laughter, it seemed as if it was mocking her own shame. She had never been humiliated so much in her life. Her face was red as if it was dripping blood, tears were also rolling in her eyes, and the surrounding scene was blurred.
Finally, she glared at Fu Lemei and Xu Mingyu, and Miss Shang turned and ran out. Luo Lingxian also hurriedly chased after her, and before she left, she did not forget to snort at Mingyu. However, before Luo Lingxian could grab Miss Shang's hand and comfort her, Miss Shang pushed her away, secretly wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, and angrily scolded: "You go away too!" It was really unlucky. If Luo Lingxian hadn't begged her to help deal with Xu Mingyu, would she have embarrassed herself in public? If the master heard about it, she would not know how to punish her.
Luo Lingxian was pushed back two steps by Miss Shang before she could stand firm. She was also filled with anger. She suppressed her anger and said softly to Miss Shang, "Ah Shang, I know you are angry with Xu Mingyu. She is not a good person. Whoever runs into her will be unlucky. Don't be angry. Let's have a good discussion and see how to punish her to vent our anger!"
Miss Shang looked up at Luo Lingxian angrily and asked viciously, "Since you know whoever runs into her will be in trouble, why do you let me cause trouble for her? Since you hate her, why don't you punish her? Why do you have to use me? You are so scheming! You deserve to be punished by Xu Mingyu!"
After saying that, Miss Shang turned around and walked away angrily, leaving Luo Lingxian standing there with her face turning red and white. She looked at Miss Shang's receding back and stomped her feet in anger.
In the flower hall, seeing Miss Shang "fleeing in panic", the girls who were watching the fun also dispersed, sitting or standing in groups of three or five to whisper. Fu Lemei made a gesture to Mingyu to praise her, and said with a smile: "You are really brave to challenge Ah Shang!" At the end, she added, "Your handwriting is really beautiful. I think it's much better than hers. When the capital holds a poetry meeting again, I will take you there to see if she dares to claim that she is the best in the boudoir."
Mingyu smiled and shook her head, whispering: "The purpose of practicing calligraphy is to cultivate one's character. Whether the writing is good or not, and whether it is beautiful or not, is secondary." She was also a person with a hot temper when she was a child in her previous life. It took her several years of practicing calligraphy before she slowly restrained her arrogant temper and became the Xu Mingyu of today.
Dozens of young people gathered in the green space outside the flower hall. Mingyu even saw Lu Hao in the crowd, still smiling and greeting the people around him, with a gentlemanly demeanor. However, after a quick look, she did not see the person she wanted to see. She felt disappointed.
The young girls in the flower hall were secretly looking at the young man standing in the green space outside the window, while the person behind the beaded curtain in the darkness of the flower hall was also quietly observing the girls in the flower hall.
Behind the beaded curtain, an old lady with silver hair smiled and patted the hand of the middle-aged lady next to her, saying, "Can you see clearly now?"
The old lady was wearing a light blue silk shirt with a black border, a double-breasted bodice with a dark-patterned longevity character embroidered on it, a bright yellow headband, and a pair of emerald jade earrings. Her forehead was full of wrinkles, but from her facial features, it was not difficult to tell that this old lady, who exuded a wealthy demeanor, had been a beauty when she was young.
The middle-aged noblewoman had her hair combed into the popular flying cloud bun, a golden hairpin with nine phoenixes holding pearls, a red robe embroidered with gold thread, and an intricate twelve-panel silk skirt. On the ring finger of her left hand, which was holding the teacup, there was a huge sapphire ring, and she looked very noble.
After hearing the old lady's slightly flattering words, the middle-aged lady smiled faintly and reservedly, held up the teacup in her hand, opened the tea lid with her armored hand and blew away the tea, but did not drink the tea. As if she was worried about something, she put the tea lid back and placed it on the small table next to her.
"I am also worried..." the middle-aged noblewoman sighed. "You know Yan'er, he has always been like that since he was young. He keeps everything to himself. As a mother, I have to spend a lot of effort to guess what he is thinking."
The old lady agreed with a smile and said, "It's not easy to be a mother! If His Royal Highness knew that the princess had spent so much time on him, he would know how much he would thank the princess!"
The princess laughed, and two wrinkles appeared on her face. She shook her head and said, "I don't need him to thank me. As long as he is satisfied and happy, I am just helping him to check. After all, he is young and has not experienced much."
Upon hearing this, the old lady squinted her eyes and smiled. From what the princess said, it seemed that she was very satisfied with the girl she had just secretly seen. She was also relieved in her heart, and she smiled and chatted with the princess attentively. Now Princess Minhua is not the same as before. The emperor treats her well because of the relationship between brothers and sisters. Her status is different from before, so you have to serve this noble lady carefully.
After talking for a while, which was nothing more than trivial gossips about the two families, Princess Minhua felt a little tired, and a fat white maid who was serving behind her hurried forward and helped the princess up. The princess said goodbye to the old lady and left the flower hall through the back door of the small compartment. The moment she left, the princess couldn't help but turn her head and look at Xu Mingyu in the crowd.
In the bright light, Mingyu was talking to Fu Lemei. She stood there gracefully, with delicate eyebrows and eyes, and fair skin that was translucent and moist. When she smiled, her eyebrows and eyes were curved like a crescent moon. Just looking at her made people like her.
The fat white nanny also stopped with the princess, looked over, and asked tentatively: "Do you want to ask her to come over and question her alone?"
The princess turned around, the smile no longer in her eyes, and she said calmly, "No need." Then she walked out, and the fat white nanny hurriedly followed.
When they got on the carriage to the princess's mansion, the fat white nanny looked at the princess's face and said with a smile, "We must congratulate His Royal Highness the Prince when we return home!"
The princess looked at her, sitting upright in the carriage, with no expression on her face to show joy or anger, and asked, "Where does your joy come from?"
The fat white nanny was stunned. Could it be that the princess was not satisfied with the girl