Chapter 30: The aunt is insulted, Fourth Miss's birthday banquet shines with splendor

  She took the brocade box from Zi Yun's hand, opened it with a smile and said: "I heard that Father likes plum blossoms the most, so I used this pair of plum blossom longevity paintings to celebrate Father's birthday." Along with Zi Yun, they unfolded the exquisitely mounted scroll. On the snow-white silk fabric, the ink-colored branches were vigorous and bold, while the vermilion red flowers stood proudly on the branches, perfectly capturing the proud and rugged spirit of the plum blossoms. The black ink was as dark as night, and the red sand was as white as jade, with bright colors that were most suitable for celebrating a birthday.

  "What a great painting!" Bae Jo-seong was infatuated with Mei Cheng, and as soon as he saw it, he couldn't help but blurt out in praise.

  Zhang Yun's expression was not pleasant, and she deliberately picked at it: "Fourth Miss said it was a plum blossom longevity picture. We've all seen plum blossoms before, but what does this 'longevity' character mean?"

  No one expected Pei Yuanchao to take over the conversation at this time, gazing at Mei Shoutu for a long time before exclaiming in surprise: "At first glance, it's just plum blossoms. But if you look closely, you'll find that the branches and flowers are sparse and elegant, forming a perfect seal script character for 'shou' (longevity). No wonder it's called Mei Shoutu! There's calligraphy in the painting, and painting in the calligraphy. This Mei Shoutu by Fourth Miss is truly exceptional in both!" In comparison, Chapter Yun regarded her mother and daughter as thorns in her eyes and flesh, but Fourth Miss might be slightly better.

  "It's not just a pair of ultimate, it's three ultimate!" Pei Zhucheng couldn't contain his excitement and got up to take a closer look, exclaiming in surprise, "This isn't painted, this is embroidered! It's so lifelike, if I hadn't seen the embroidery thread myself, I wouldn't have dared to believe it! Ge'er, did you design the pattern for this plum blossom longevity picture yourself and embroider it yourself? The way the words are woven into the painting, with hidden characters within the painting... this is truly a clever and unprecedented idea. And such exquisite embroidery... Ge'er, this plum blossom longevity picture is exceptional, it's the best among all the birthday gifts I've received."

  He turned around and ordered Shiyan: "Go take down the Spring Plum Blossom picture hanging in the front hall, replace it with Fourth Miss's Plum Longevity picture. I want everyone to see how good my daughter is!"

  Everyone was shocked and jealous, yet envious.

  The spring plum blossom painting hanging in the front hall of the Pei residence was actually painted by the Emperor himself. The Emperor rarely paints, and it is extremely rare for his ministers to receive one as a gift, so Pei Zhucheng was very proud of it and had it hung in the front hall to show off. Unexpectedly, Master thought so highly of Fourth Miss's plum blossom longevity painting that he replaced the Emperor's calligraphy with it. It can be imagined that when guests see it, they will inevitably ask about it, and this time, Fourth Miss has stolen the spotlight, leaving no one else in her shadow.

  Pei Yuanhua's Buddhist scriptures were sincere, but his father did not believe in Buddhism; Pei Yuanqiao's longevity gifts were ordinary; as for Pei Yuanrong, that ornate and impractical precious sword was certainly not something a martial general like her father would appreciate. Only her plum blossom longevity painting showed off her father's preferences, her filial piety, and her cleverness, earning her father's liking was only natural.

  But Pei Yuange didn't expect this either, and said somewhat anxiously: "Father, isn't this a bit...?"

  "What does a child's family know? The emperor's imperial brush is so noble, how can it be placed in the front hall to suffer from wind, snow, rain and erosion of years? Isn't that a great disrespect to the emperor?" Pei Zhucheng said solemnly, but soon changed his face, with a smile on his eyebrows, "But my daughter's is different, it's worn out, just embroider another one for me tomorrow."

  That being said, who can't tell he's showing off?

  "...Bai Yuange silently lowered her head, she found that anyone who had been in office for a long time would inevitably have a mouth that could turn black and white upside down, and her father was no exception."

  Zhang Yun said suspiciously, "I thought the teacher was being difficult with Fourth Miss everywhere, but I didn't expect her calligraphy, painting, and embroidery to be so exquisite? Could it be that we wronged the teacher?" Her eyes were sharp, and the former Pei Yuange had never had such talent, there must be a problem.

  "Zhang Yiniang, you're wrong to say that. Although the master is not good, I myself can't be idle either? In private, I still have to work hard. Otherwise, it's not just me who will lose face, but also my father and the Pei family's reputation!" Pei Yuange said with a smile, but her heart was bleeding. No one knew that before she got married, her rough and unrefined talents had to go through so much hardship and effort to become perfect, and she even had to learn how to manage accounts and do business, all because Wang Guanxiao liked women who were talented and virtuous.

  So much blood and sweat, in the end, only two lives were exchanged, hers and that of her child!

  Pai Zhucheng nodded in approval, but Pai Yuanyong's face turned white with anger. According to Pai Yuange, she was now unskilled and had lost face for her father and the Pai Manor?

  Just then, a servant came in to report: "Master, Zhang Shangshu from the Ministry of War has arrived to wish you a happy birthday. Madame Zhang's sedan chair is also approaching the inner courtyard."

  The birthday celebrants have begun to arrive, and Pei Zhucheng is entertaining the male guests in the front courtyard. The female guests in the back courtyard are naturally being received by Zhang Yun, the mistress of the house. Normally, this would be a time for Pei Yuanrong to show off, but today Pei Yuange is present, whether it's playing chess or attending banquets at the imperial palace, or even just being known as "An Qian Guan", in short, Pei Yuange has made a name for herself in the capital. These ladies can't help but be curious, and now that they've seen her in person, they can't help but be surprised by her elegant beauty and refined demeanor, which is full of noble bearing, and they can't help but offer a round of praise and admiration.

  These words were like a needle piercing her ears, causing unbearable pain.

  Pei Yuanyong and Pei Yuange's current situation was just like a long time ago, when everyone praised Ming Jin, while she could only be a backdrop. But back then, this backdrop was able to get rid of Ming Jin, causing Pei Zhucheng and Shu Xueyu to become enemies, leaving only her in power. Today, it was the same, and she could also destroy this yellow-haired girl! With that, Pei Yuanyong gave a sly glance and smiled: "Yuanrong, you all don't have to stay here, take the young ladies to the rear garden to play!"

  "Madam Zhang, the wife of the Minister of War, said: "In the past, even if Fourth Miss wasn't here, it was still okay. Now that Fourth Miss is also present, there should be a distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children, and yet you're still letting Third Miss Pei entertain the young ladies?"

  As soon as this was said, many noble women nodded in agreement, their faces showing approval.

  Although Zhang Yun is in charge of the Pei Mansion, after all, she is a concubine. These noblewomen, apart from having ulterior motives, who would really get along with her? Can't let the concubines at home follow this example and bully the legitimate wife, can they?

  "It's probably Auntie's oversight, but that's nothing. I've never taken these things to heart, and Auntie doesn't need to apologize to me either. We're all family, no need to be so polite." Pei Yuange said this, not only showing her own demeanor, but also firmly pinning the blame of disrespecting the legitimate daughter on Zhang Yun's head. The more she said there was no need to apologize, the more Zhang Yun wanted to apologize, otherwise, in front of everyone, it would seem that Zhang Yun didn't understand etiquette, let alone have any dignity, and yet still refused to apologize to Fourth Miss after being pointed out for her mistake.

  Zhang Yun never thought that at the beginning of the birthday banquet, Pei Yuange would give her such a blow!