No matter what turmoil arises in the capital, or what undercurrents are surging, on the surface everything looks peaceful and harmonious. The annual Chrysanthemum Banquet is also approaching, and since the Guangwen Tang's examination happens to be just before the banquet, this year they will be held together.

  Unlike previous years, this has turned into a grand banquet in public view, a feast for the noble and aristocratic families.

  Early in the morning, Old Lady Shen sent her personal maid, Xi'er, to the West Wing, saying that she had invited a tailor to come and make clothes for the Chrysanthemum Banquet, and also asked Shen Miao to go and pick some out.

  Shen Miao nodded in agreement.

  In the past, Shen Miao would casually dress up and attend because she was only a backup, wearing eye-catching clothes would only attract ridicule. Now that the inspection and chrysanthemum banquet are together, not dressing up is also unacceptable.

  At the chrysanthemum banquet, all the wives and children of various families were present, most of whom came to take a look at their future daughters-in-law. Therefore, any family with a daughter would dress her up and bring her out, hoping that she would become more beautiful after dressing up. Although Old Lady Shen was not fond of the eldest branch of the family, she still had to put on a good face. Moreover, Old Lady Shen was a person who only cared about her own interests, if she could use Shen Miao to exchange for a helpful marriage, she wouldn't mind selling her off either.

  Bai Lu seemed a bit delighted, walking alongside Shen Miao towards Rong Jing Tang while saying: "I didn't think it would arrive so quickly at the Chrysanthemum Banquet. Miss isn't fond of the Chrysanthemum Banquet, right? At that time, you can admire the flowers."

  Shen Miao liked chrysanthemum banquets, but not for the sake of admiring flowers. At such gatherings, she was always isolated by an invisible force, partly due to Shen Yue and Shen Qing's instigation, and also because of her own dull and stupid nature, often dressing in a way that wasn't quite suitable, only to be ridiculed behind her back without even realizing it.

  She liked chrysanthemum banquets, but it was because of Fu Xiuyi.

  At the chrysanthemum banquet a year ago, Fu Xiuyi was also present. On that day, she was ridiculed and isolated again. In the chrysanthemum garden, everyone was looking for the reddest and most gorgeous ones, while she walked to the corner and saw a pot of white chrysanthemum from afar.

  Chrysanthemums like these are usually used for funerals, so they're naturally unlikable. Moreover, this chrysanthemum has bloomed rather miserably. The petals have withered somewhat, and it's unclear whether they were battered by the rain or blown by the wind. A single stem stands alone in a corner, unnoticed by anyone.

  It was as if they shared the same misfortune, Shen Miao felt that she and the chrysanthemum were identical. A lone figure, a pitiful sight unseen by anyone. Just as she was sighing in sympathy, she saw a man in magnificent attire walk up to the chrysanthemum.

  He stretched out his hand and picked up the flower branch, gently stroking the petals with his fingers. The people around him asked: "Ninth brother, this flower is so bleak and miserable, what's good about it?"

  The man in Chinese clothing smiled and said, "Pitiful, it's weak and has no one to rely on."

  It was this sentence "Pity it's weak and dependent" that made Shen Miao have a good impression of the man. When the man turned around, she was even more captivated by his handsome appearance.

  Later, Shen Miao learned from the ladies that the one over there was the ninth prince of the current emperor, Ding Wang Fu Xiu Yi.

  Perhaps when you're young, having a crush on someone is always unreasonable. Fu Xiuyi's words were clearly about chrysanthemums, but she felt like they applied to her too. She thought that such a gentle person would surely cherish and love her just as he cherished the lonely flower.

  Unfortunately, she still thought crookedly. Fu Xiuyi pitied the delicate flowers, pitied the world, and pitied Mrs. Yuan, but unfortunately had never pitied her. As for everything she had paid out, in his eyes it was all based on the "responsibility" that a wife should fulfill. Those days of mutual respect were nothing more than Fu Xiuyi enduring his disgust to accompany her in a play.

  He didn't actually care about the chrysanthemum, but she took it seriously just because he mentioned it casually.

  "Miss?" Lost in thought, she hadn't even noticed that they had already arrived at the entrance of Rong Jing Tang. Bai Lu hurriedly spoke up to remind her, and Shen Miao followed Xi Er as they stepped inside.

  Shen Yuanbo was not present today, and Old Lady Shen wore a cyan white brocade long gown with buttons down the front. She was already at an advanced age, yet she still insisted on wearing such a bright and youthful color, which made her face look like that of a female ghost. And to make matters worse, she herself seemed completely unaware of it.

  Shen Yue and Shen Qing stood beside their respective mothers. The second house still had two concubine daughters, but unfortunately, Ren Yuanyun was too overbearing and domineering. In such a banquet, it was naturally not allowed for the concubines to go out and steal the spotlight. As for the third house, Shen Wan only had Chen Ruoqiu as his legitimate wife, with only one door for the concubine, let alone mentioning any illegitimate children.

  As a result, only the legitimate daughters of each house received invitations to attend the flower banquet.

  Shen Miao paid her respects to Old Lady Shen, and Ren Yuanyun looked at Shen Miao with a smile, saying: "Xiaowu is here, come quickly to pick out fabrics. Later, we'll have Liniang take your measurements."

  Shen Qing smiled and said: "I've already chosen with Second Sister, now it's your turn."

  It was obviously Xi'er who came late, but it seemed like she didn't belong there, lingering in the Rongjing Hall with a crowd of people. Shen Miao was too lazy to bother with her and walked alone to the soft couch covered with fabric.

  Ling Niang was a middle-aged woman in her thirties. Every year, the new clothes for the entire Shen household were purchased from her family's tailor shop. When she was young, she had followed the female officials in the palace to learn some embroidery skills, and she also made very beautiful clothes.

  In front of them were spread out five or six pieces of fabric, one piece of sea-rose color and one piece of smoke-pink color had been picked out to one side, which was exactly the two that had been taken away. Needless to say, they must be Shen Qing's and Shen Yue's.

  The scene of the past is vivid in my mind. On that day, at the chrysanthemum banquet, Shen Qing wore a sea-pink colored scattered flower cloud skirt, looking passionate and generous, making her look more beautiful than the flowers. And Shen Yue wore a bright pink embroidered white pear flower satin thin lotus sleeve skirt, which was even more delicate and pure. While she wore a pale yellow dress, with the golden necklace and accessories given by Old Lady Shen, looking like a joke that she didn't realize herself.

  And that light yellow fabric was chosen under the urging of Auntie and sister.

  Shen Yue smiled and said, "Fifth sister's skin is fair, why not try on that tender yellow dress? It will make you look lively and lovely, it really suits you."

  Shen Qing nodded repeatedly: "Not bad, looking at the remaining fabric, it seems that only the light yellow color suits Wu Mei better."

  Chen Ruoqiu's mouth corners rose in a smile, but she didn't say anything. Ren Yuanyun's eyes flashed with a hint of mockery.

  Shen Miao doesn't know how to pick out clothes.

  Madam Shen is often not at home, and with her mother absent, the young child inevitably loses many advantages. The other people in the Shen household are all harboring ulterior motives, so who would genuinely teach the little girl how to behave? As a result, Shen Miao only knows how to follow Shen Qing and Shen Yue around, and she will pick up whatever they say.

  For example, the tender yellow fabric complements her skin tone, but it looks too childish and somewhat cheap. Moreover, those glittering gold accessories make her look like a landlord's daughter.

  Several people wanted to persuade her to get rid of those accessories, but she was stubborn and went to humiliate herself.

  How ridiculous.