Shipin Dalizheng

When they got closer, everyone realized that the so-called fight was not a brawl, but a competition.

The story began when Xie Ying, the newly adopted daughter of the Xie family, suddenly decided to form a poetry club. Every two weeks, they would visit various mansions to gather, drink tea, and collect excellent verses. The most enthusiastic young ladies would send their maids around on flower-shaped paper, asking the invited ladies to write a line on it. This would serve as a criterion for acceptance into the club.

When the flowered paper was handed to Tang Tiantian, she learned that it was for a poetry club. Since she couldn't write poetry, she politely declined the maid's offer. This wasn't a big deal, as most of the ladies present couldn't write, and many of them handed in blank papers.

Who knew that the daughter of the Minister of Revenue who distributed the flowery notes was very close to the daughter of Minister Liang's family, and she also wanted to marry into Prince Rui's mansion as a concubine. Then Rong Tang, who had a dispute with Minister Liang's family, became her enemy.

The enemy's fiancée is naturally also an enemy, and she immediately started to mock and ridicule Tang Tiantian.

"Looking at Miss Tang's appearance and demeanor, she's definitely not going to be able to write poetry. But the Music Bureau is looking for dancers, and she's a perfect fit."

These words were extremely vicious. The dancers in the Jiaofangsi were all women of low status, most of whom were daughters of convicted officials and were sent there to be playthings for singing, dancing and making fun of people. Even using these words to describe the daughter of an ordinary citizen was an insult, not to mention that Tang Tiantian was the legitimate daughter of an official after all.

Tang Tiantian's face flushed red for a moment, and she bit her lip, about to cry. Feng had brought her out, so how could she let her suffer such an injustice? Her face changed and she retorted, "Miss Luo, you are a girl from the boudoir, and you keep talking about the Jiaofangsi. How can you be so vicious? All the ladies present here are kind-hearted, but you are the only one with a dirty mind. Let's see who will dare to marry you in the future."

Her family was a military family, and the Sima family she married into was also famous for its tough style. They were not afraid of Miss Luo's status and position, and they were very straightforward in their dealings with her. The word "ask" described Miss Luo as worthless, someone who could be taken away at will, and also hinted that she might marry as a concubine.

Miss Luo was furious and trembling all over. "How dare you say that to me? I'm the daughter of the Minister of Revenue."

Feng said, "Miss Luo, what are you saying? Putting aside our respective fathers, who are you more noble than? My status is not important. What is important is that I came to the Xie family today because I was invited. Miss Xie, you are the host of today's banquet, so please say something. If you say that our Sima family is not worthy of attending a banquet at the Xie Mansion, I will take my sister home immediately and make a detour when I pass by the Xie Mansion in the future."

Xie Ying is not a fool. In terms of status, her biological parents are not as good as Tang Tiantian. The list of invitations today was also carefully considered by the second master Xie. Although the Sima family has a low official position, they must have value that the Xie family values.

She immediately tried to smooth things over, "They are all distinguished guests invited by the Xie family, just the same. Don't be angry, Mrs. Sima. Miss Luo meant to say that Miss Tang has a talent for singing and dancing, but her metaphor was inappropriate. Singing and dancing are good things. Who among the noble ladies present doesn't have one or two special talents? Even I can play the pipa with some difficulty, but I'm afraid I'll pollute your ears, so I won't show off."

Feng was still feeling uneasy. Why did they assume that cousin Tiantian was capable of singing and dancing? They looked down on her because she was of Hu descent, believing she was only fit to be a toy for singing and dancing. She was afraid that someone would start a fight and ask her to perform.

Tang Tiantian paused for a moment, then spoke slowly, "I can't sing or dance, I can't write poetry, and I can't embroider."

Ms. Luo's face was burning with anger after being criticized by Feng. After Xie Ying saved her face, she just calmed down a little, but became complacent again, "So it turns out that she is just a vase, with nothing but pretty face."

Feng was furious again, "You said my sister is a vase, then at least admit that my sister is beautiful. Unlike some people, they can't even be a vase."

This was a blatant comment about Miss Luo being ugly. Miss Luo couldn't stand it and was about to explode on the spot. Tang Tiantian then whispered, "Is this the only way to be worthy of living?"

This statement caused many people to cover their mouths and laugh. Is this the ultimate description of a useless beauty? They don't think they are very talented, but if they go out without one or two talents to show off, it is like a blatant declaration to the outside world that they are useless and can only get married.

Xie Ying sighed. This was something she felt most deeply. Taifu Xie's family had no daughters of marriageable age, so years ago they had selected beautiful and intelligent relatives for training. She had fought her way through a pool of three candidates, rising from a peasant girl to a noblewoman of the clan. Therefore, she had known from a young age that a girl with no merits didn't deserve to live, or at least, not a good life.

But she couldn't be so blunt. After all, there were also some useless young ladies from official families present, lacking even the necessary beauty. Although she didn't want to admit it, Tang Tiantian's beauty was a girl's greatest asset before marriage. She already had a natural advantage over most of her peers.

"This... Miss Tang, you can't say you don't deserve to live just because you don't have any talent. But when you go out and socialize, it's more fun to have a few like-minded friends around. Otherwise, who would want to hang out with you?"

Just because you are good-looking?

Sorry, no one wants to play with you.

Tang Tiantian lowered her head and bit her lip. After a moment, she raised her head and mustered up her courage to say, "I can't write poetry, but I'm good at math. Does that count as a talent?"

Xie Ying smiled. "It's not really art, but it's talent. If it's really good."

Before Tang Tiantian could react, Miss Luo laughed abruptly and pointedly, "You? You still want to count? You must have forgotten whose daughter I am."

A girl in a green skirt said, "Miss Luo's father is the Minister of Revenue. Just the amount of incense in our house is one of the best in the capital. Miss Tang, you are the daughter of a minister of industry. Forget about counting. Even if you say you can saw wood, we will still consider you a skilled person."

This immediately caused another round of laughter. Miss Luo called out to another young lady in a pale yellow shirt, "Cui Xiaosi, come here quickly. Someone claims to be good at math. You're a math expert trained by the Imperial College's chief academic officer. Now you've met your match, why not come and ask for advice?"

Miss Cui Si had strict family education and would not deliberately belittle or target anyone, but she was a natural math geek and she begged her way into the Imperial College. There was a bachelor of mathematics who taught her, and she was also the only female student in the Imperial College.

Hearing that someone claimed to be good at math naturally aroused the desire to compete. She raised her eyebrows and said, "Let me compete with Miss Tang."

Miss Luo looked at Xie Ying again, "Miss Xie, aren't you going to leave? I heard that your skills in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting are secondary, and your real strength is mathematics."

Xie Ying sighed and was eager to try. Mathematics was what she was best at, but everyone around her told her that for a girl, it would be enough to have some talents and cooking skills, and to be able to help her husband manage the harem in the future. Mathematics was the most useless skill.

However, at this moment, it seems to be an opportunity. If we win, it will also bring honor to the Xie family.

He immediately ordered the maid, "Go to my room and bring me the book."

She collected many difficult math problems, copied them into a notebook, and studied them when she had nothing to do. She took this opportunity to use them to do the exam.

Miss Luo hated Tang Tiantian very much and ordered her maid, "Call people everywhere to come and see how powerful Miss Tang, who is good at math, is. She is worthy of being praised."

That's why the maid was spreading the word everywhere.