Report to the Empress and the Eldest Princess: They're using the system to poach your men.

The scene became awkward for a while.

"When I first arrived in Zhongdu, His Highness settled me in the palace. After the situation stabilized, I have been living in the Princess's residence. However, His Highness and I are good friends and mentors. I wonder if this young lady has misunderstood something?"

As long as she and Shen Sangwan stubbornly deny those things, there's nothing anyone can do about it.

After all, these are just rumors. No one actually saw what happened between her and Shen Sangwan. Based on what people in the manor said, it's all just everyone's imagination.

A look of regret appeared on Lin Wanshuang's face as she inwardly cursed herself for speaking too quickly.

"It's probably just a rumor that's misleading people, Miss Cen, please don't take it to heart."

Jiang Sixuan quickly chimed in to smooth things over, suppressing the situation before it escalated.

The group chatted casually with Shuyan.

"It's a pity that Miss Cen didn't come today, otherwise the two of you would definitely have a lot to talk about."

Although Shuyan smiled, she silently refuted him in her heart.

"I have nothing nice to say to her. She's the legitimate daughter of a prime minister, with an extremely noble status, yet she insists on acting like a scheming, manipulative woman. I don't know what she's thinking."

Fortunately, the young ladies from prominent families around her did not behave with the kind of open and sarcastic remarks she had imagined.

After learning her identity, he neither deliberately belittled her nor lectured her from a superior position.

It turns out that being with cultured people, no matter where you are, is always comfortable.

Those in positions of authority were chatting and laughing, while those below were also engaged in lively conversation.

"I'm in a good mood today. The guests I've invited are all young masters and ladies of similar age. How about we play a game of 'Flying Flowers' with the theme of flowers?"

Shen Sangwan felt a headache coming on when she heard this. Why did she have to play poetry games? She, a spoiled rich kid, was really not good at it.

And the thought of having to use my brain to write poetry gives me a headache.

"Since Your Majesty wishes to see them compose poems to add to the festivities, I will add a prize. The Princess's residence has a piece of jade from the Northern Witch Kingdom, of a quality rarely seen in the world. I will present the jade to the one whose poem is considered the best among those present today."

To avoid writing a poem, Shen Sangwan simply added a touch of humor by speaking as if she were the host.

The ladies and Princess Consort of Prince Sheng were all shrewd and knew perfectly well that Shen Sangwan didn't want to compose the poem herself.

Someone who has spent years in the military can answer questions about history books and military strategies fluently, but someone without leisure and interest in poetry and prose probably wouldn't know how to write them.

Princess Consort Sheng chuckled softly, not revealing Shen Sangwan's thoughts. "Since today is a flower appreciation banquet, whoever wins first place can take a pot of their favorite flower or plant from the mansion."

"It's just a fun activity, and everyone can participate voluntarily."

After saying that, he asked the steward to find a few accountants and ordered someone to bring over several small tables with writing brushes, ink, and Xuan paper on them.

"Ten lines form a group. Once a group is finished, the sentence structure can be changed. As long as the poem contains the flowers and plants that are in your household today, it is acceptable."

"Since it was I who brought it up, I will start with this line: After the rain, the fragrance of osmanthus fills the room; under the bright moon, the shadow of banana leaves invades the bed."

When Lin Wanshuang heard Princess Consort Sheng mention the rules, she had already thought of a line in her mind. Seeing that no one responded, she slowly stood up and said, "Three beautiful flowers bloom before Tao Xie Hall, and a hundred lilac bushes bloom in the courtyard."

Once someone starts, others will get up and play the game of passing the flower.

"The east wind carries the fragrance of osmanthus blossoms, and the silk curtains hang low over the painted hall."

"Red and white blossoms reflect the sun, the magnolia alone bears the pure autumn."

Suddenly, a man on the other side of the screen stood up and said, "The spring breeze blows for ten miles, and the golden osmanthus blooms, its fragrance wafting from the curtains."

"Autumn leaves flutter in the west wind by the willow pond, while crabapple branches still stand before the courtyard."

......

Separated by the screen, the woman would sometimes rise to compose a poem, and the man would sometimes rise to respond, creating a lively exchange in the courtyard.

Shen Sangwan was the most distinguished guest besides the host, and sat in a high position with Princess Sheng.

The scene below was laid out before them, and halfway through, the relay of orders reached a fever pitch, with the scene becoming quite intense.

"Among these young masters from prominent families, has Awan set her sights on any of them?"

Shen Sangwan, who was enjoying the show, was a little confused by what Princess Shengqin said when she suddenly came over.

"Xiao Tong, could this flower-viewing banquet be a matchmaking event arranged by the Empress Dowager through this old princess?"

[It seems...maybe...perhaps!]

Xiao Tong was also a little confused, as the Empress Dowager had always been indifferent to her master's marriage.

Otherwise, his master wouldn't still be single even though he's already in his twenties.

This sudden, unannounced pressure to get married caught the two off guard.

[Your Majesty, it seems the Empress Dowager has been acting strangely ever since you went to Wuzhou for disaster relief. First, she forced the young emperor to favor his concubines, and now she's secretly arranging matchmaking events for you. I'm wondering if something happened in the palace during the two weeks we were away from Zhongdu?]

The two racked their brains but couldn't find a reasonable explanation.

“Aunt, I have no intention of doing this.”

“Ah Wan, you’re not young anymore. Look at your cousin, his child is already two years old. The Empress Dowager… cough cough! It’s time for you to find someone who is considerate.”

Princess Consort Sheng accidentally betrayed the Empress Dowager halfway through her sentence, and Shen Sangwan had reason to believe that the other party did it on purpose.

“Aunt, I know you mean well, but after spending so many years in the military camp, matters of love and romance are no longer so important to me. Moreover, I cannot rest easy until the Northern Witches and Eastern Rui are subdued. I simply have no time to think about these things.”

The refusal was delivered crisply, leaving no room for the other party to make amends.

Although Nanjing has no shortage of good men to fight on the battlefield, everyone knows that the princess is obsessed with the battlefield. If they force her to change her mind, they will be in trouble.

“These are all top-notch young men in Zhongdu. Ah Wan can take a look first. If she finds one she likes, she can marry later.”

You guys are all incredibly skilled at using flanking maneuvers.

"Ah Wan thanks Your Majesty for your kindness."

"Xiaotong, have they all been given some kind of secret mission by mysterious figures? Why is it that pressuring them to get married has been a perennial trend throughout history?"

【Why don't you ask him, Master?】

〖......〗

Shen Sangwan rolled her eyes at Xiaotong, thinking it was better not to say anything at all.

She pretended to carefully observe the man who was talking intensely on the other side of the screen.

He glanced at the noblewoman out of the corner of his eye.

Although those young men from noble families were handsome, she remained true to herself and ultimately preferred women.

Almost everyone in the room chimed in with a comment, some even adding four or five.

"Won't Miss Cen say a word?"

Looking at Shuyan sitting quietly on the stool, Wen Yuexi assumed that she was a little reserved and couldn't relax, which would make such a lively gathering less fun, so she asked in a low voice.

Shuyan really wanted to say, "Just have fun, please don't bother me, thank you."

When asked directly, she couldn't refuse. After thinking for a long time, she slowly said, "The laurel blossoms spread their fragrance far and wide, and fallen leaves and withered branches are a reminder of the Double Ninth Festival."

She can recite many poems about flowers and plants, all by famous poets.

However, if she were to steal the spotlight in such an occasion, she would likely face endless trouble. Today, she only intended to remain a nobody, simply letting the people of Zhongdu know who she was. She didn't want to be in the limelight.