Chapter 107: Chapter 103: Could It Be Fake?

Shen Jingxian’s beautiful eyes lingered without comment on Pan Jiaojiao’s words, but suddenly her gaze fell on Song Yun. “Since the Commandery Princess has openly said she wants to take the back door, I can’t stop it. But as for this maid, she doesn’t seem to be well-behaved; it’s not quite appropriate to go in together, right? To those who don’t know, they might think the Commandery Princess is using this opportunity to find a husband for her maid.”

Shen Jingxian seemed to be competing with Pan Jiaojiao, but in reality, it was Song Yun who was hurt.

Song Yun very much resented Shen Jingxian seeing her as a maid, but she couldn’t explain herself.

It wasn’t about considering their identities, but rather that her public persona was one of open-mindedness and being an understanding and talented woman.

If a talented woman was taken for a maid and even needed to actively defend herself, it might seem beneath her, so she might as well remain silent and appear indifferent. If someone asked, she could respond that she didn’t care about such trivialities to gain favor.

Song Yun had her own calculations, but she didn’t expect that at this moment, Shen Ming, whom she cherished in her heart, was watching her with his group of playful friends from the second floor.

Since Song Yun was mistaken for a maid, those friends who knew about the relationship between Song Yun and Shen Ming couldn’t help but snicker.

They teased Shen Ming, “Isn’t Prince Shen going to gallantly rescue a beauty?”

Though they said this, they all knew Shen Ming was not likely to step in; they just seized the chance to tease him.

Shen Ming, as both the Princely Heir of the Prince Rong Mansion and the Capital’s top scholar, was meticulous in his words and actions. His fiancée was the legitimate daughter of the Song Family, and even his confidante held the title of the Capital City’s top talented woman.

A scholar paired with a beauty was a celebrated match.

But if the beauty, clearly a talented woman, was mistaken for a servant, it became amusing.

As Shen Ming’s brothers, sometimes they would make harmless jokes at his expense, like now.

Everyone knew Song Yun was Shen Ming’s confidante, and now Song Yun was being troubled, which was akin to slapping Shen Ming’s face, wasn’t it?

Especially since the one causing trouble turned out to be a princess, it was even more interesting.

Shen Ming would make things difficult for anyone for Song Yun, but he wouldn’t trouble the Princess, as Yi Fen was the goddess in the hearts of all young men in the Capital, including Shen Ming himself.

Speaking of this, some might ask, only young men? Wouldn’t older men like the Princess?

Ahem, it’s not that they don’t like her, they just don’t dare to. Those in the know understand, haha.

This is no exaggeration; it’s a fact.

The dispute between the Commandery Princess and the Princess dragged the unlucky Song Yun into it. Normally, Shen Ming would sympathize, but now, standing on the second floor with his brothers, he had no thought of defending Song Yun, and he even felt slightly ashamed.

He looked at Song Yun standing with Pan Jiaojiao and Shen Jingxian, and in comparison, he started to doubt his own judgment.

Today, not only were Shen Ming’s usual friends on the second floor, but also those who just came to attend the poetry gathering. They might know Shen Ming and Song Yun but didn’t know their relationship. Seeing the Princess mistake Song Yun for a maid, they could make a “fair” comment: “You can’t blame the Princess for the mistake; the talented woman they speak of beside the Commandery Princess does indeed look like a maid.”

That was exactly what Shen Ming was thinking at that moment.

Suddenly, he recalled a fleeting glimpse of the Song Family’s legitimate young lady that day, who lacked the serenity and gentle intentions common in daughters of ordinary official families, and didn’t have the academic aura of a talented woman, yet inexplicably carried an air of grandeur, clearly suited to be a legitimate wife of the imperial family.

Shen Ming found out afterward that Song Yan surprisingly already had academic honors, but he didn’t care. While women did enter the court as officials, most of them either came from families in tough circumstances or lacked sons to inherit the family estate, leaving daughters to gamble on their futures.

In Shen Ming’s view, Song Yan had no need to gamble. Even if her family lost their title, Mr. Song’s official position remained, and the Song Family’s century-old establishment still stood. A legitimate daughter from such a family had no need to pursue honors; it was probably just a pastime.

Shen Ming regarded Song Yan’s examinations as an entertainment similar to his own mingling in the Capital’s scholar circles and let her be.

From Shen Ming’s perspective, once a woman marries, she will naturally settle down.

Song Yun, as an illegitimate daughter, was fine to play with in everyday matters, but publicly, it was her sister Song Yan who was more presentable.

Rarely, Shen Ming felt somewhat embarrassed on behalf of Song Yun.

Yet, Gong Yu, having overheard bits and pieces, understood that there was some affection between Shen Ming and Song Yun, and he deliberately asked, “What is the relationship between the maid and cousin?”

If it were before, Shen Ming would have praised Song Yun’s talents and clarified their mutually appreciative confidante relationship, but he hesitated now.

“Just ran into each other at previous poetry gatherings.”

Gong Yu knew the situation wasn’t as Shen Ming said but didn’t press further; he was only concerned about one thing now: when would the Princess come up?

“Cousin, isn’t the Princess your cousin too? If you go down and invite her, she will surely do you the honor.”

A realization hit Shen Ming—yes! He was the Princess’s cousin!

Although the Princess generally paid him little mind, family ties are unbreakable!

Shen Ming straightened his back and said coolly to the group of gloating noble sons, “The Princess and the Commandery Princess are both my cousins. As a cousin, I indeed need to step in when my cousins quarrel.”

Cousins?!! Their gloating faces instantly turned into ones of flattery, “Oh my, look at my memory, how could I forget the Princely Heir’s connection to the Princess!”

“Cousin! Please put a good word for your little brother in the Princess’s presence later!”

“Who’s calling him cousin?! He’s clearly my big brother!”

Listening to everyone’s flattery, Shen Ming was in high spirits.

Pan Jiaojiao could have immediately resolved the situation for Song Yun, stating her true identity to stop the Princess from calling her a maid again.

But Pan Jiaojiao also realized that Shen Jingxian was taking her frustrations out on Song Yun, so she wasn’t in a hurry, pretending not to notice Song Yun’s grievances and righteously “arguing” with Shen Jingxian.

Many people present knew Song Yun, which was related to her reputation as a talented woman established in the Capital and connected to Shen Ming.

After Shen Jingxian again referred to her as a maid, someone noticed Song Yun’s displeased expression and finally attempted to quietly tell the Princess that Song Yun wasn’t a maid.

Shen Jingxian heard and loudly expressed her confusion, “What? She’s not a maid?!”

Song Yun immediately raised her head proudly, yes, she wasn’t just a maid, she was a talented woman!

She was preparing to enjoy the satisfaction when others proclaimed her talents, delivering a slap to the Princess’s face, but unexpectedly, after hearing it, Shen Jingxian’s gaze became even stranger toward her.

“If she’s truly so talented, why doesn’t she answer the questions? Instead of taking the straightforward path, she sticks with the Commandery Princess to take the back door; perhaps those talents are fake?”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep