The princess regretted it.

Lin Qian's face paled as she heard Princess Jin'an's words. The smugness in her eyes vanished like smoke, leaving only a deep sense of unease. Her heart was a turmoil, a turmoil of panic. She couldn't help but wonder how she had offended Princess Jin'an. Now she was comparing her dance to Concubine Zhang's. How could she possibly compare? She was merely the daughter of a courtier, while Concubine Zhang held a high position. Her dance shouldn't be compared to that of a noble concubine.

Lin Qian lowered her head, her eyes flickering, her hands unconsciously clenched tightly. She no longer dared to hope for the Imperial Concubine's appreciation; she simply hoped to avoid causing displeasure with Imperial Concubine Zhang and bringing unnecessary trouble to herself and her family. At this moment, she was filled with regret and fear, standing there, not daring to speak or move.

Concubine Zhang looked at Lin Qian in the arena. Although she was displeased, years of harem intrigue had honed her ability to conceal her emotions. She forced a smile, seemingly gentle, yet tinged with an elusive depth. "Miss Lin, everyone in Jin'an is praising your dancing! It seems you've put in a lot of hard work. Minister Lin is truly fortunate to have such a daughter. Please sit down!"

When Lin Qian heard this, she became even more frightened, but she still pretended to be calm and thanked him, saying, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your praise. I am so humbled." Then, she carefully sat back in her seat, no longer showing her previous arrogance.

Pang Sisi, standing by, secretly delighted, unable to resist a sarcastic remark. She raised her chin slightly, a hint of sneer and disdain in her eyes: "Sister Lin's dance is truly wonderful. It has won the heart of Princess Jin'an." Her words were filled with sarcasm, clearly expressing her dissatisfaction with Lin Qian's previous sneer. Although Pang Sisi's voice was low, she ignored the silence in the hall, making her words particularly harsh and heightening the already tense atmosphere. Everyone looked at Pang Sisi, then at Princess Jin'an in front of them, each wondering how this minor incident would unfold.

Concubine Zhang's expression changed again, a hint of gloom crossing her delicate features. She looked at Princess Jin'an, whose smile remained undimmed. She lifted her eyelids slightly, her gaze as cold and sharp as the water of a cold pond, as she glanced over. "Hmm? It sounds like Miss Pang has objections to what I said? Why don't you come forward and speak?" Princess Jin'an's voice was neither hurried nor slow, yet it carried an undeniable authority.

It was too late for Pang Sisi to react. Her face paled instantly upon hearing Princess Jin'an's words. She hurriedly stepped forward, bowing in greeting, her voice trembling as she spoke, "Princess, I dare not. I, too, marvel at Sister Lin's dancing prowess." She lowered her head, not daring to meet Princess Jin'an's eyes. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead, and she felt a surge of regret, hating herself for her impulsiveness.

"Oh! Really? You also think Miss Lin's dancing is good?" Princess Jin'an raised her chin slightly, staring at Pang Sisi intently, and continued to ask, as if waiting for a satisfactory answer. Princess Jin'an's tone seemed calm, but it made Pang Sisi even more anxious.

Pang Sisi bit her lip and answered cautiously, "Princess, Sister Lin's dance is indeed beautiful, and I am amazed. I was excited at the moment and offended Your Highness. Please forgive me." She bowed again, her clothes soaked with sweat, and beads of sweat on her forehead slid down her cheeks. She prayed silently in her heart that Princess Jin'an would let her go.

Seeing this, Jin An suddenly smiled and said, "Why are you so nervous? Since you have the same opinion as me, why should I blame you? Get up!"

Pang Sisi felt as if she had been pardoned, and she kowtowed again to express her gratitude. She stood up carefully, lowered her head, and tremblingly returned to her seat.

At this moment, the other daughters were all silent, afraid that Princess Jin'an would accidentally call out their names. Jin'an, however, turned to Concubine Zhang with a smile, saying, "Mother Zhang, today's performance was really interesting. Shall we continue watching?" Her calm demeanor was as if nothing had happened.

Concubine Zhang felt as if thousands of horses were galloping through her heart, but she didn't show it on her face. She smiled lightly and said, "Well, continue!"

As Concubine Zhang finished speaking, the daughters of the royal family looked at each other secretly. After a moment, one of them slowly stepped forward. Her face was not nervous. She leaned forward and whispered softly, "Your Highness, Princess, I would like to play a piece of music for you on the pipa." Then she sat on the stage with the pipa in her arms, took a deep breath, and calmed her nervousness. Then her fingers gently plucked the pipa strings, plucking and twisting them gently. The pipa emitted bursts of crisp sounds. However, her playing seemed mediocre. Although there were no mistakes, it was not outstanding either. She was nervous throughout the whole process. Fortunately, Princess Jin'an did not say anything, so it ended safely.

Then another young woman stepped forward to perform a dance. Although her movements were graceful, they lacked the confidence and agility of Lin Qian's previous dance. Her eyes were filled with caution, and she was careful with every move, fearing even the slightest mistake.

The daughters who took the stage one after another showcased their talents, reciting poetry, painting, and calligraphy... but each, utterly fearful, remained extremely reserved. Throughout the talent show, everyone walked on eggshells, daring not to be bold or uninhibited. They were all concerned not to disappoint the Imperial Concubine or draw the attention of Princess Jin'an. As a result, the second half of the banquet seemed bland and dull, like a painting stripped of its color. Concubine Zhang watched with rage, as if five raging Buddha statues were roiling within her. Yet, she maintained a composed demeanor. This was thanks to her decades of experience in the harem; otherwise, faced with such a scene, she would have lost her composure and collapsed. It must be said that the position of Imperial Concubine is not easily secured.

Concubine Zhang had no intention of continuing, so she found an excuse and ended the banquet.

This flower-viewing banquet should have been a scene of vibrant beauty and bustle, but it was ruined by Princess Jin'an's presence. Concubine Zhang was able to suppress her anger and maintain a dignified and elegant appearance. This is truly not to be underestimated.

Concubine Zhang secretly wondered whether Jin'an's actions today were intentional or accidental. Regardless, this flower viewing banquet was completely messed up. The thought of her careful planning going to waste made Concubine Zhang secretly angry.