After her mind was read, the spoiled brat became the darling of the whole group.

Everyone's attention turned to Xie Xing, who was wiping crumbs from the corner of her lips with a handkerchief.

Xie Xing had only been back at the manor for a few months. Unless he had studied music, chess, calligraphy, and painting in the countryside, it would be embarrassing for him to stand up.

Xie Yu frowned, and just as she was about to get up to speak, Xie Xing stood up. She raised her wine cup and toasted the princess of the Southern Kingdom, saying, "Your Highness's dance just now was so beautiful that even I, a woman, was captivated."

"Thank you for your appreciation, Princess. You believe that my daughter is as good as you."

Xie Xing's voice was clear, crisp, and melodious. Compared to the sexy and charming princess of the Southern Kingdom, she was still wearing an immature green silk dress, and her hairpins made a soft sound with every movement. Her bright eyes were captivating.

Aruo crossed her arms and looked Xie Xing up and down: "You're the real daughter of that general's mansion?"

Xie Xing nodded, walked up to Aruo, and covered Aruo's hands with her bright eyes, saying with emotion, "Princess, you are so kind."

“They all disliked me because I was raised in the countryside and didn’t want to play with me. But you, who came from a faraway country, didn’t recognize anyone else but recognized me.”

"This respect will stay in my heart for the rest of my life!"

Aruo: "..."

She was stunned for a moment.

Her original intention was to cause trouble. Xie Tongchen had repelled their army and caused them a great defeat. Aruo was still furious and wanted to embarrass the Xie family at the palace banquet. However, she did not expect Xie Xing to react this way.

With just a few words, her fault-finding was transformed into respect for her.

Who wants to respect her?!

Aruo, with a sour face, withdrew her hand and snorted coldly, "Then let this princess see what you're capable of."

"Your brother defeated our army with great might and heroic bearing. As his sister, if you cannot convince me, then I will consider your Chu Kingdom to be nothing more than this!"

Xie Xing blinked: "So the princess likes my brother? My second brother is indeed handsome and mighty, but in terms of looks, my third brother is even better."

"Why doesn't the princess take a look at my third brother?"

Aruo: ...

"Who likes your brother!" she said in a shrill voice, somewhat embarrassed and annoyed. "Are you coming to compete or not?"

Xie Xing always has a knack for driving people crazy.

Although the envoy from the Southern Kingdom had ill intentions, Xie Xing eased the tense atmosphere with just a few words.

Is the fifth daughter of the Xie family really a fool?

During the meal, Wen Yan's gaze fell on Xie Xing. He narrowed his eyes slightly and rubbed his fingertips against his wine glass.

He had gone out to look for Xie Xing in the back garden, but unexpectedly, he happened to see Jun Lanjin affectionately tapping Xie Xing's forehead.

What secrets could she possibly be hiding that would make Jun Lanjin treat her so specially?

Xie Xing withdrew his hand, put his hands behind his back, tilted his head and smiled, "I will naturally accept the challenge from the princess."

"However, my sister just defeated the princess with the zither. Does the princess acknowledge this?"

Xie Mingzhu was surprised that Xie Xing would mention her at this time, and looked at Xie Xing with some astonishment.

She has already been humiliated enough, so why should she speak up for her?

Aruo sneered: "So what if he has superb piano skills? He's just a fake."

“Princess, that’s not how it is.” Xie Xing raised a finger and said with a smile, “My Xie family has always been a family of generals, but my grandmother and mother have always been strict with their children. My sister alone can outdo you with her talent.”

"As for me, I have only been recognized and returned to the General's Mansion for a few months. If the princess were to compare her dance with mine, which is your best skill, then there would be no need to compare; the princess would inevitably win."

"As a princess of a nation, I presume she possesses other talents besides dancing?"

Aruo naturally knew that beating Xie Xing would be a piece of cake.

She raised her chin and looked at Xie Xing arrogantly: "What do you want to compete in?"

Xie Xing smiled brightly and said, "Of the four arts—music, chess, calligraphy, and painting—let's compete in chess and painting, shall we?"

"Okay." Aruo agreed without even thinking.

Upon hearing Xie Xing's words, the Xie family members' expressions changed slightly.

When did Xie Xing learn to draw?

The words Xie Xing had just said made Old Madam Xie's expression more comfortable, and her goodwill towards Xie Xing increased once again.

He is someone who understands the big picture and the overall situation.

At the palace banquet, regardless of Xie Xing's relationship with Xie Mingzhu, humiliating either of them on such an important occasion would be humiliating the Xie family. At least Xie Xing wasn't a fool; he knew to speak up for Xie Mingzhu at this time.

Even so, Madam Xie turned to look at Madam Xie beside her, "Xie Xing can paint?"

Madam Xie looked bewildered: "Mother, I don't know."

Madam Xie: "..."

With a simple "I don't know, Mother," Old Madam Xie fell silent.

He didn't know his own daughter could read accounts, nor could she play chess or draw.

What else does she know?

Old Madam Xie's lips twitched slightly, and she turned away from Madam Xie with a sullen face.

Madam Xie truly didn't know.

But Xie Xing's chess skills are obviously inferior to those of a princess.

How can a daughter raised in a poor rural area compare to a noble princess of a country?

They can make the wind blow and the rain fall as they please.

Madam Xie clutched her handkerchief, muttering under her breath, "Isn't this just making a fool of myself?"

"I'll be the one who loses face then."

A biological daughter can't compare to an adopted daughter; who knows how she'll be ridiculed.

During the banquet.

Xie Xing is a chess player, as all three Xie brothers know. Xie Xing's chess skills are superb, and Xie Yuze has never won against him.

but--

"Third brother, have you seen Xie Xing paint?" Xie Yuhe asked Xie Yuze, turning his head to the side.

Xie Yuze paused for a moment, then asked, "Does the turtle she drew on my face count?"

Xie Yuhe: "..."

He was silent for a moment.

But I must admit, the turtle Xie Xing drew really does look like one.

"How about we have a drawing contest for the first round?" Xie Xing said confidently, turning to Aruo beside her.

"Let's paint this palace banquet, using materials from the place, so that we can determine the winner at that time."

Aruo glanced at it and agreed, "Okay!"

Since it was a banquet in the palace, the Chu Emperor also became curious.

He immediately ordered someone to bring the court painter's tools.

Two white sheets of paper were laid out in front of Xie Xing and Aruo.

In fact, Xie Xing's painting skills are just average, and she doesn't dare to compare with national-level master painters. However, the only thing that makes her better than Princess Aruo is one point.

Information gap and novelty.

Her painting style is unprecedented in ancient times, and this style is far more refreshing than that of the ancients who were used to ink wash paintings.

More than enough to deal with Princess Aruo.

Xie Xing didn't use a brush to draw; instead, he had someone fetch charcoal ink from the kitchen and made his own charcoal pencils.

"What is Xie Xing doing?"

"She's holding a dark, unsightly thing in her hand. Is she using that to paint?"

"Are you kidding me?"

"Haha, interesting, interesting. Let's see what kind of flowers she can draw?"

Everyone was waiting to see Xie Xing make a fool of himself.

How could a woman brought from the countryside be able to paint such refined things?

Look at what she's carrying; it's all that kind of cheap, unrefined carbon ink that you'd find in the kitchen.