Preparations for the Banquet

The Chrysanthemum Banquet of the 68th year of the Mingqi Dynasty finally arrived.

This year, Guangwen Academy had made a change: the usual examinations had been replaced with a talent competition. Any student with skill could step onto the stage to showcase their abilities and challenge their peers. This not only highlighted the youthful vigor of the students but also showcased the diverse talents of Guangwen Academy's scholars.

Both male and female students would compete on the same stage, unlike previous years where they were separated into gender-based groups. If they wished, girls could challenge boys in subjects like strategy and archery, while boys could challenge girls in areas like music, chess, calligraphy, and painting—though such scenarios were rare.

Early in the morning, the Ye household was bustling with activity. In the west courtyard, Shuangjiang carefully pinned a silver hairpin into Lily's hair. "All done, Miss."

Shuangjiang was the best at styling hair. Once, Amy had tried to poach her, but Shuangjiang, who had been personally assigned to Lily by Lady Ye, refused to leave.

"You look absolutely stunning, Miss," Bailu said with a smile, though she hesitated slightly. "It's just that your hair looks a bit too plain."

Lily's hair was thick and black, styled into an elegant cloud-like bun by Shuangjiang, giving her a refined and graceful appearance. Even after her coming-of-age ceremony, Lily had always worn her hair in simple twin buns. This new style made her look more mature, her round, youthful face now carrying a hint of delicate beauty.

But the single silver hairpin looked lonely and pitiful.

Guyu couldn't hide her anger. The Ye family was wealthy, yet Lily didn't have a single decent piece of jewelry to wear today. The entire family lived off Ye Xin's earnings, yet they treated his daughter so heartlessly. And Lily couldn't even complain—after all, her aunts had given her jewelry, albeit gaudy gold pieces that would only invite ridicule if worn in public.

Lily glanced at Guyu and immediately guessed what she was thinking. She couldn't help but smile wryly. From a young age, the second and third branches of the Ye family had gone out of their way to cultivate her tasteless preferences, making her believe that gaudy gold was the height of elegance. This way, they could tell outsiders that it wasn't their fault Lily looked so ridiculous—it was simply her personal taste!

And so, as Lily happily adorned herself with gaudy accessories, the public formed a clear impression of her: the eldest daughter of the Ye family was greedy, materialistic, and utterly lacking in refinement.

Gold was valuable, but it wasn't meant to be worn as jewelry.

Worried that Lily might be upset, Guyu quickly changed the subject. "But Liniang's craftsmanship is truly exceptional. This dress looks beautiful on you."

Perhaps out of pity for Lily, Liniang had sent over a dress with unusually exquisite embroidery. To balance the heaviness of the lotus-blue, she had added large, vividly blooming peonies at the hem, making the dress both elegant and vibrant.

And Lily wore it perfectly, without a hint of awkwardness.

Shuangjiang and Bailu exchanged glances, both surprised. Lily, who had always struggled with darker colors, now looked completely at ease in this deep shade.

"Let's go," Lily said, standing up. "We shouldn't keep them waiting."

As they passed through the garden, Lily paused to pluck a small peony and tucked it into her hair, adding a touch of natural beauty to her already stunning appearance.

"You look absolutely radiant, Miss," Guyu praised.

Granny Gui, who had just come out of the kitchen with a basket of snacks for the carriage ride, was taken aback when she saw Lily.

She had raised Lily since she was a baby and had watched her grow up, but today, Lily seemed almost like a stranger. Her demeanor was calm and dignified, and the noble lotus-blue suited her so well that she could have been mistaken for a princess. Granny Gui nearly dropped the basket in her shock.

Bailu chuckled. "Granny Gui, what are you staring at?"

Granny Gui snapped out of her daze. She was about to offer some flattering words when she remembered that today was the Chrysanthemum Banquet. If Lily outshone Amy and Cindy, it would be a disaster. She swallowed her compliments and instead put on a concerned expression. "Miss, this dress is too dark for someone as young as you. It hides your natural beauty. Why don't you change into that peach-colored jacket with the embroidered magpies? It's much more youthful. And your hairpin—didn't Madam Ren give you plenty of jewelry? If you go out looking so plain, people might think the Ye family's daughters are too frugal."

Guyu rolled her eyes. The peach-colored jacket with the magpies had been a gift from Ren Wanyun. It was garish, and paired with the gaudy gold jewelry, it made Lily look like a country bumpkin. If she wore that to the banquet, she would be the laughingstock of the event. Granny Gui was clearly up to no good. Just as Guyu was about to scold her, Lily spoke up softly.

"In these peaceful times, the emperor advocates for frugality. Extravagance is frowned upon, while simplicity is a virtue. If people see me dressed modestly, they'll think the Ye family is upright and honorable. As for the dress," Lily smiled faintly, "today is about appreciating flowers and showcasing talent, not about clothing."

Her words were gentle and polite, yet carried an undeniable authority. Granny Gui was at a loss. She wasn't afraid of Lily's temper, but when had Lily ever been able to articulate such reasoned arguments? Lily had always been indifferent to her studies, so Granny Gui had assumed she was unintelligent. But now, faced with this eloquent and composed young woman, Granny Gui, who had never been educated, found herself unable to respond.

Bailu couldn't help but laugh, though she quickly stifled it and assumed a serious expression, her eyes still sparkling with amusement.

Granny Gui, unable to retort and humiliated in front of the servants, felt a wave of frustration. She couldn't understand why, since Lily's return to the manor, every conversation between them had ended with her at a disadvantage. Lily's words were always gentle, yet they left her speechless.

Flustered, Granny Gui handed the basket to Guyu. "These are snacks for the carriage ride. The banquet is quite a distance, so don't let Miss go hungry." She turned to Lily. "I'll return to my duties now."

"Go ahead," Lily replied lightly.

After Granny Gui left, Guyu and Bailu were visibly pleased. The more assertive Lily became, the more she resembled a true mistress of the household. This way, the disrespectful servants wouldn't dare to bully her.

As they reached the front gate, they saw two carriages waiting. The first was ready to depart, while the second was empty.

Cindy's maid, Chuntao, stood by the first carriage.