Chapter Sixteen: Who Says Engineering Girls Can’t Recite Poetry?

At this moment, Jiang Nansheng had no way to step forward and check. She could only watch helplessly as Shen Yi and Liu Ruyan walked away.

Shen Yi followed Liu Ruyan to a patch of apricot blossoms.

Liu Ruyan said to Shen Yi, “Sister, look how beautiful these apricot flowers are!”

Actually, Shen Yi did not like admiring flowers; she didn’t even like flowers at all.

In her previous life, many girls loved flowers, but Shen Yi thought that if a boy spent money on buying her boneless chicken feet instead of flowers, she would be much happier.

But at this moment, Shen Yi still went along with Liu Ruyan and said, “The apricot blossoms do have a special kind of beauty, just like you, Ruyan.”

A faint blush appeared on Liu Ruyan’s face.

It was hard to tell whether it was genuine or feigned.

Shen Yi knew Liu Ruyan had something to discuss with her, so she straightforwardly asked, “Little sister, I’m afraid you didn’t bring me here just to admire the apricot blossoms. You must have something on your mind.”

Liu Ruyan didn’t take Shen Yi for a fool and answered, “I do have something to ask, Sister, and it’s about the War Prince.”

Shen Yi looked at Liu Ruyan, sensing her urgency.

But if she wanted to ask, how could Shen Yi refuse to answer?

“Go ahead and ask. As long as I know, I’ll tell you.”

Liu Ruyan said, “When I entered the palace, I saw the War Prince. A few days ago, you said he was severely injured, but now he looks so spirited. I suppose it’s because you gave him the Purple Gold Pill I entrusted to you!”

Shen Yi immediately understood—Liu Ruyan was here to gather information.

She had already prepared what to say about this before entering the palace.

She sighed quietly and even showed a trace of worry.

“Little sister, you must have misunderstood. This has nothing to do with me; it’s Jiang Nansheng’s doing. I originally intended to give the Purple Gold Pill to the prince, but Jiang Nansheng wouldn’t let me approach him and healed his wounds herself.”

Liu Ruyan was somewhat surprised. She knew Jiang Nansheng’s medical skills were unmatched—even the imperial physicians couldn’t compare.

But she never expected the severely injured War Prince to recover so quickly—it was truly miraculous!

Still, Liu Ruyan was more worried that Shen Yi hadn’t given the Purple Gold Pill to Xiao Huaijin.

If Xiao Huaijin found the pill and Jiang Nansheng discovered something wrong with it, she would be in trouble.

So Liu Ruyan said, “Sister, the Purple Gold Pill is a rare treasure; one pill can save a life. Since the prince is fine now, can you return the pill to me? If my family finds out I stole the pill to give to you, I’m afraid I’ll be punished.”

Shen Yi naturally knew Liu Ruyan was lying, but she didn’t intend to expose her.

Besides, Shen Yi knew what Liu Ruyan wanted to hear.

A hint of regret appeared on Shen Yi’s face.

“Little sister, it’s not that I don’t want to give it back. After you told me about the pill’s effects, I gradually added it to the prince’s medicinal food. Since you saw the prince and noticed his good spirits, that’s the effect of your Purple Gold Pill.”

Liu Ruyan was dumbfounded, then wanted to burst into laughter.

If no one were around, she really would have done so.

Unfortunately, there were people nearby, so Liu Ruyan forced herself to suppress the laugh.

She comforted Shen Yi, “Sister, since you’ve used it, I have nothing more to say. After all, if it pleases you, even if my family punishes me, I accept it.”

Shen Yi was deeply moved. As for how much was true or false, that was clear without saying.

They chatted about other matters—Xiao Huaijin, Jiang Nansheng.

Mostly Liu Ruyan asked questions, and Shen Yi answered.

Liu Ruyan’s questions were all over the place.

Shen Yi understood Liu Ruyan was probing the situation in the prince’s mansion, so she made things up on the spot, yet Liu Ruyan believed every word.

Liu Ruyan didn’t doubt Shen Yi because she considered Shen Yi a good sister.

But Shen Yi had long seen through what kind of person Liu Ruyan was.

Good sisters were indeed good sisters!

Here, one should gnash their teeth in frustration.

About an hour later, a sharp-voiced eunuch shouted, “The Empress Dowager has arrived!”

In an instant, all the noble ladies in the capital stood together in the imperial garden, waiting for the Empress Dowager.

When she arrived, Shen Yi gazed at the Empress Dowager adorned in a phoenix crown and couldn’t help but feel a pang of emotion.

In her thirties, at such a ravenous age, she had already become the Empress Dowager—truly a heavy fate.

Although in her thirties, she was maintained as if she were in her late twenties.

If she claimed to be the elder sister of the Princess of Pingyang, no one would doubt her.

Of course, she probably wouldn’t be so shameless!

The noble ladies in the capital all bowed to the Empress Dowager.

“Greetings, Empress Dowager!”

The Empress Dowager smiled gently and said, “You may rise.”

“Thank you, Empress Dowager!”

After thanking her, everyone returned to their places.

Though Shen Yi was of low birth, as the War Prince Xiao Huaijin’s sworn sister, she naturally sat near the front, beside Jiang Nansheng.

The Empress Dowager spoke briefly, though she rambled on for quite some time before saying something straightforward.

“Today’s flower viewing banquet is also a test for all of you noble ladies. After all, the emperor and the capital’s famed young talents are watching from next door. Should you gain fame at this banquet, you might find a suitable husband.”

Shen Yi recalled that in the original story, Zhao Jiayi had challenged Jiang Nansheng at this banquet.

Though Jiang Nansheng was the heroine, she wasn’t as skilled in dancing as Zhao Jiayi.

She was a medical scholar; dancing was too embarrassing for her.

Luckily, she remembered Li Bai’s “Bring in the Wine.” After taking a few sips from a wine jar, she recited the poem and astonished everyone.

Even many young masters in the capital were won over by Jiang Nansheng’s talent.

Xiao Huaijin was utterly enchanted by her brilliance, completely spellbound.

Who said a girl skilled in science couldn’t recite poetry?

Of course, everyone could guess what happened next.

Zhao Jiayi claimed the poem wasn’t hers but written by her teacher, a great scholar from the Imperial Academy.

Jiang Nansheng, unwilling to be outdone, composed over a dozen poems in one breath, thoroughly humiliating Zhao Jiayi.

As Shen Yi pondered what would happen next, Zhao Jiayi stood up and said to the Empress Dowager, “Your Majesty, I have prepared a dance to add color to this flower viewing banquet. I humbly request your permission to perform for you.”

Shen Yi murmured, “Here it comes.”

Her gaze turned to Jiang Nansheng.

Jiang Nansheng’s mind began to stir.

“Zhao Jiayi, just like last life, are you really going to target me again? But now, I’m not just a poet.”