Su Yuting's plan was truly brilliant—effortlessly ruining the reputations of the daughters of the Prime Minister's family.
"I am not very knowledgeable and cannot compare with Sister Yingxue and Sister Caiyun, so I will not embarrass myself by showing off!"
"Sister Lixue's mother is Aunt Qingzhu, who was once the most talented and beautiful woman in the capital. Sister's talent must also be exceptional, so why be modest!"
Su Yuting smiled politely, her clear and melodious voice like the tinkling of a spring, beautiful and pleasant to the ear. Her beautiful eyes were like a pool of autumn water, full of affection, as if she knew everything about Shen Lixue. If Shen Lixue did not match the couplet, then she was hypocritical and pretentious.
"The most beautiful woman in Qingyan Capital is Sister Yingxue, and the most talented woman is Sister Yuting. I grew up in the countryside, so my talent and learning are naturally inferior to my two sisters, let alone my mother who is both talented and beautiful!" Shen Lixue said softly, her eyes somewhat dim, as if she was immersed in sad memories.
The crowd looked at Shen Lixue with more pity. She was clearly the legitimate daughter of the Prime Minister's family, but due to a series of mishaps, she was abandoned in the countryside for more than ten years. She had no good environment or conditions to learn poetry and cultivate her character. Su Yuting knew this, yet she still poked at her wounds. She was truly malicious.
Caught off guard, Su Yuting's polite smile froze slightly: "I'm sorry, Sister Lixue, I didn't mean it. I was just thinking that since you're Aunt Qingzhu's daughter, even if you grew up in the countryside, your talent wouldn't be lacking..."
In a simple sentence, the key point is that Shen Lixue grew up in the countryside. As a member of a noble family, birth is important, but the environment in which one grows up is equally important. Shen Lixue's environment was very poor, and even though she was the legitimate daughter, she could not be considered noble...
"Zhuang Kexin committed a capital crime and was imprisoned. Yuting went to great lengths to visit her, bringing pastries. She is a person of great loyalty and affection. I also believe that what you said just now was unintentional, and I will not take it to heart."
Lord Yang found pastries and handkerchiefs in Zhuang Kexin's cell. After questioning them, he learned that they were sent by Su Yuting. As usual, he went to visit the Duke of Wen's mansion.
The case of the Gu worm shocked the entire city, and everyone avoided the Zhuang family. Su Yuting actually went against the tide and went to visit them in prison. Some people thought she was loyal and righteous, while others thought she was overestimating herself. They looked at her with a strange gaze.
Su Yuting's smile became even more stiff: "Thank you for your understanding, sister!" She simply apologized to Shen Lixue without mentioning Zhuang Kexin at all.
Shen Lixue raised an eyebrow. The matter of the prison pastries was suspected of involving collusion with criminals. If it were anyone else, they would definitely make a scene. She was actually unmoved. She was really calm.
She was also smart enough to know that it was a fact that she was going to jail, and that any explanation would only make things worse. By admitting it openly and honestly, others would feel embarrassed to say anything.
"What's all this commotion about?" Lin Yan walked over with a smile. His blue brocade robe made him look even more handsome and spirited. There was a hint of anxiety in his eyes and brows. Seeing that Shen Lixue was safe and sound, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
"We're discussing classical poetry and composing couplets. Cousin, would you be interested in joining us?" Seeing the expression on Lin Yan's face, Shen Lixue had already guessed the purpose of his visit, and her heart warmed.
"I have other things to attend to, so I'm afraid I can't keep you company..." Upon hearing that Shen Lixue was being harassed, Lin Yan put down what he was doing and rushed over. Shen Lixue was alright, and he still had to go back to work; he really didn't have time to stay here and compose poetry.
"What a pity!" Shen Lixue sighed, feigning helplessness, and was about to find an excuse to leave with Lin Yan when she heard deliberately heavy footsteps behind her.
"Congratulations on Minister Lin's promotion!" The cold, deep male voice instantly drew everyone's attention.
Shen Lixue frowned and looked over. Lei Hong had a cold face and sharp eyes. He was carrying something in his arms, which looked bulging. He strode along the bluestone path, each step exuding a powerful aura. The strong wind he generated made his clothes whistle, as if it were a silent provocation.
The group exchanged glances, looking at each other in bewilderment. Lei Hong was the Vice Minister of War, a very capable man, and his promotion to Minister was perfectly justified. No one expected that Lin Yan, who had returned from the border, would become Minister of War, while Lei Hong, who was familiar with the Ministry of War, remained Vice Minister. He must be resentful.
"You're too kind, Minister Lei!" Celebrating his promotion, Lin Yan treated Lei Hong, who had ill intentions, with courtesy, though he remained cautious.
"Minister Lin has fought on the battlefield and possesses superb martial arts skills, which I greatly admire. Therefore, I am presenting him with a piece of armor as a token of my appreciation!" Lei Hong tore off the cloth covering his chest, and a silver light rushed out, dazzling everyone's eyes.
The crowd gasped in amazement, shielding their eyes from the light to examine it closely. It was a suit of armor gleaming with silver light. The armor plates were evenly spaced and sparkling, as if made of silver itself. The material stringing the plates together was a tough, fine thread, which also shimmered with silver light, shining brightly in the sunlight. The armor's shoulders were slightly raised, like warriors ready for battle at any moment, exuding an imposing and extraordinary aura!
Lin Yan smiled and said, "Thank you, Minister Lei!" It's no reason to refuse a gift on the occasion of a promotion, but Lei Hong's visit was ill-intentioned, and this gift might not be easy to accept!
So beautiful! So majestic!
Looking at the admiration in everyone's eyes, Lei Hong smiled faintly and said, "This armor was obtained in a battle. It has a special spirit, and only a destined person can lift it!"
"Is it really that amazing!" The group exchanged glances, marveling at each other's abilities.
Lin Yan smiled slightly, but his gentle gaze darkened a little.
“Minister Lei, this armor weighs forty or fifty pounds. Noble ladies are usually quite delicate. Even if they are noblewomen, they probably couldn’t lift it.” Shen Lixue looked at the armor and didn’t find anything different about it, but seeing Lei Hong’s confidence, she knew there must be something wrong with the armor.
Lei Hong smiled coldly: "The armor is for generals and is worn by men. Women are not destined to wear it. No matter how noble their bodies are, they cannot lift it!" The implication was that the armor must be carried by men.
"Must he be a man who practices martial arts?" Shen Lixue's lips curled slightly, a half-smile playing on her lips.
"Not necessarily. It's just that if someone's status is high enough and they're worthy of this armor, they can lift it!" Lei Hong glanced at Lin Yan with a cold look, his eyes flashing with mockery and disdain.
"I'll give it a try!"
"I'll try it too!"
Several noblemen stepped forward, grasped the armor, and tried to pull it apart, but no matter how hard they tried, the armor seemed to be permanently attached to Lei Hong's chest, remaining motionless. Their eyes flashed with a hint of frustration, and the men reluctantly gave up.
The gazes they gave Lei Hong now held more respect and admiration. The armor they had struggled to lift with all their might, he had lifted so easily—amazing.
Shen Yingxue sat in the pavilion, beaming with pride. The person holding the armor was her uncle. Her uncle was powerful, and she, as his niece, was proud. Shen Caiyun didn't have such a relative, nor did Su Yuting.
As for Shen Lixue, her uncle is still at the border, and her cousin, who is young and reckless, is even more useless. He became the Minister purely by luck and could never be a match for her uncle!
Apart from Minister Lei, who else could lift this suit of armor?
"It's really that amazing!" Nangong Xiao, who had been watching the spectacle from the artificial hill, floated down in front of Lei Hong. His charming eyes stared at the armor from left to right. Amidst the expectant gazes of the crowd, he tucked his fan into his sleeve and reached out to take the armor: "This young master will give it a try!"
The armor was as hard as stone. No matter how Nangong Xiao held it—horizontally, vertically, or diagonally—it remained firmly in Lei Hong's arms, motionless. Nangong Xiao was furious: "I am the heir of the King of Yunnan, of noble status, and skilled in martial arts. How could I not be able to lift it?"
“The young master is not the one destined for this!” Lei Hong said calmly, his gaze intentionally or unintentionally glancing at Lin Yan.
"Does Minister Lei mean that the owner of this armor is a general, and only a general can lift it?" The Qingyan ranks are very strict. The armor of soldiers, generals, and marshals are all different. The style of this armor is that of a general!
"Pretty much. Anyone unworthy of this armor can't even lift it!" Lei Hong sneered, his expression arrogant.
Nangong Xiao's handsome face instantly darkened: "Is Minister Lei saying that I, the young master, am unworthy of this armor?"
"The young master has never fought on the battlefield, nor has he served as an official in the court, therefore, he cannot lift armor!" Lei Hong explained with a smile.
In the instant he looked down, Shen Lixue saw a layer of cold sweat steadily appearing on his forehead. Lei Hong was a military general, and he had been standing for so long carrying armor weighing over fifty pounds; he was sweating from exhaustion…
Nangong Xiao snorted and vigorously shook his folding fan. A hint of displeasure flickered in his charming eyes. He had indeed never been on the battlefield, nor had he ever held any official position or been involved in court affairs, so he did not meet the requirements. However, it was too embarrassing for a prince to be unable to even lift a suit of armor!
Nangong Xiao was skilled in martial arts and very strong; he couldn't even lift the armor. Many men who were eager to try gave up and turned their curious gazes toward Lei Hong and Lin Yan.