Su Yue had prepared for a long time. Her bck hair was beautifully arranged, and her colorful fan was waving.

  She gently extended her cloud-like hand, holding a fan in her left hand and a pen prepared by her servants in her right.

  She closed the fan, and with the pen moving like a dang dragon, her jade sleeve created a breeze.

  The veil on her face added a touystery.

  Those below could see she was bining dance, painting, and poetry - clearly a carefully prepared performance.

  The Empress was already looking displeased. This Prefectural Secretary's daughter was trying to show off without sidering the occasion!

  After pleting her dance, Su Yue fidently stood in the ter.

  "Your Majesty, this humble woman has made a fool of herself."

  Despite her dissatisfa, the Empress had to suppress her anger and say: "Miss Su is truly a talented woman. Quickly bring her calligraphy and painting for us to see."

  The pace maid beside the Empress bowed and hurried to fetch the painting.

  The Empress looked at the painting and the apanying poem, and had to admit that this Su family's daughter indeed had some talent.

  The Empress asked Su Yue, "Did you pose these poems yourself?"

  Su Yue's face remained calm, while internally she was extremely proud.

  "Rep to Your Majesty, these poems were indeed posed by this humble woman just now. With limited time, they may not be very good. I hope Your Majesty will five me."

  Princess Chaoyang, who loved poetry, tilted her head and whispered something to the Empress.

  The Empress's face darkened. "Is this true?"

  Princess Chaoyang nodded.

  The Empress smmed the painting onto the table.

  "eous! This is clearly a schor's work that was already cirg before today. You actually dare to lie in front of me!"

  Su Yue was stuhese were the poems she had carefully prepared. How could they belong to someone else?

  "I beg Your Majesty to be just! These are definitely poems I posed! I would never dare to deceive Your Majesty!"

  Princess Chaoyang coldly instructed her maidservant, "Go show these poems to the dies below. I refuse to believe that a poem I've heard in the pace hasn't been heard outside!"

  "Yes, Princess."

  The maidservant took the painting and desded the steps, passing it among the dies.

  "These... these poems were indeed cirg a few days ago."

  "I've heard them too. I even thought the poet was quite talented."

  "Miss Su is actually g someone else's work as her own. This..."

  The Empress was furious. "Miss Su, do you have anything else to say?"

  Su Yue couldn't uand how these poems, which she was certain were her own and had never shared with anyone, were now being accused of being someone else's.

  Seeing the Empress's rage and Princess Chaoyang's disdain, Su Yue immediately k.

  "I beg Your Majesty's mercy! I beg Your Majesty's mercy!"

  The Empress looked displeased, saying, "The Duke's residence is noble, and Prefectural Secretary Su is an upright man. How could he have produced someone like you..."

  Su Yue heard this and was suddenly stuhen internally overjoyed.

  The Empress had mistaken her for Su Li!

  Su Yue immediately responded, "Li'er knows her mistake. I beg Your Majesty tive Li'er this time!"

  She spoke softly, so only those on the high ptform could hear clearly.

  Princess Chaoyang said, "Mother, I remember this Miss Su hasn't participated in such events for several years. Perhaps she's fotten some rules, which is why she's been so presumptuous?"

  Princess Chaoyang didn't lower her voice this time. Wei Yuanyao found this strange.

  Su Yue hasn't participated for years? Impossible! She's always been at every event!

  Looking at Su Yue's veiled fad remembering she hadn't clearly stated her identity, only saying she was the Prefectural Secretary's daughter, Wei Yuanyao realized something.

  The Prefectural Secretary had more than one daughter!

  Wei Yuanyao quickly uood Su Yue's iions.

  "That little bitch! She's trying to smear her cousin's reputation while she's not here!"

  Wei Yuanyao stood up, and Meng Zhiruo quickly tried to hold her back.

  "Yuanyao, what are you doing?"

  "Don't worry, I won't cause trouble," Wei Yuanyao replied.

  She then walked up the steps.

  Su Yue, seeing her approach, feared Wei Yuanyao might reveal her true identity. She quickly said, "Elder sister, I have made a mistake. If the Empress wants to punish or beat me, it is deserved. You don't o plead for me. Please go back!"

  Cloud sort, wanting to win over Wei Yuanyao and prevent her from plig matters, also advised, "Lady Wei, this doesn't you. Your cousin has made a minor mistake. I believe the Empress will only give a light punishment. Please return to your seat."

  Wei Yuanyao, however, calmly bowed to the Empress and said, "Your Majesty, those who d should be punished. I have no iion of pleading for..."

  "Elder sister! Please go back quickly!" Su Yue anxiously interrupted her.

  Princess Chaoyang found this strange and asked, "Aren't you here to plead for your cousin?"

  Wei Yuanyao looked at Su Yue with a half-smile and said, "I only reize Su Li as my cousin!"

  Everyone looked fused, not uanding her meaning.

  Princess Chaoyang looked surprised at Su Yue. "You're not Su Li?"

  Su Yue's face turned pale beh her veil, and she k silently.

  Wei Yuanyao feigned surprise and said, "She is Su Yue, the Prefectural Secretary's e-born daughter. How could the Prihink she is Su Li?"

  Princess Chaoyang was now truly angry. "She was wearing a veil, cimed to be Li'er, and was dressed unlike a e's daughter."

  The Empress looked at the kneeling Su Yue and coldly said, "Sndering yitimate sister - what great audacity!"

  In this dynasty, the distin betweeimate and e-born children was strict. Legitimate children were honored, e-born were lowly. Someone brazenly trying to smear a legitimate sister's reputation was unpreted.

  If this wasn't severely punished, others might start imitating such behavior.

  Su Yue bit her lip and begged, "I beg Your Majesty's fiveness! I was momentarily fused! I should never have sndered my sister! My childhood name is Lingxi. I was just calling myself 'Ling'er', not 'Li'er'. I beg Your Majesty to be merciful!"

  She kowtowed repeatedly.

  Because she had spoken softly earlier, it was indeed difficult to distinguish between 'Li'er' and 'Ling'er'.

  The Empress gritted her teeth. "A e-born daughter, dressed more elegantly than a legitimate daughter. Isn't Prefectural Secretary Su supposed to be upright and ?"

  Su Yue khat if she didn't answer carefully, she could damage her father's reputation and lose any hope of his affe.

  Wei Yuanyao stepped forward. "Your Majesty may not know, but these Twelve Jade Pieces were a birthday gift from my grandmother to my cousin wheuren. Somehow, they ended up with Su Yue."

  Most of the noble dies present uood the implied manipution. She must have used some method to obtain them.

  Feeling the ptuous gazes, Su Yue tried to expin, "My sister, knowing her face was ruined, gave these accessories to me."

  Wei Yuanyao immediately retorted, "Impossible!"

  The Empress rubbed her forehead. "I don't care about these accessories. I want to know how you expin stealing someone else's poetry and g it as your own."

  [--------------------------------------------]

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