Just as someone stood up to be the first to recite poetry, they heard Empress Wang ask this question. That person's smile suddenly froze on her face. Everyone turned and looked towards a certain direction while Luo Qing Luan's eyelids twitched. [Darn! She deliberately sat in the corner. Why did Her Highness still think of her?]

Was it possible she really fancied her to be the crown prince consort? That would be anything but reassuring!

But having no choice, she also could only brace herself as she stood up. "Greetings to Your Highness."

Full of smiles, Empress Wang immediately waved towards Luo Qing Luan. "Come. Qing Luan, you also come and sit by my side."

After she finished speaking, she looked at Yuchi Lianqing by her side, then looked again at Luo Qing Luan who's walking over. The two young ladies both had bright eyes and white teeth, outstanding and other worldly. Merely, one was dressed in white, fresh and pure, just like a heavenly immortal, while one was was adorned in a yellow palace dress, pretty, bright and beautiful. Based on appearance alone, it's truly difficult to say who was better.

"Thank you, Your Highness." Luo Qing Luan bowed and sat at Empress Wang's left side and did not look at Yuchi Lianqing to the empress right side at all.

"Last time, at Your Highness' Flower Bestowment feast, Lianqing health was out of sorts, so I didn't have the fortune to participate. Only today do I have the pleasure of meeting Miss Luo. This is truly regretful." Yuchi Lianqing actually smiled slightly as she looked at Luo Qing Luan while speaking. A bit of sincerity was displayed within her eyes, as if she really regretted not having met earlier.

Empress Wang was puzzled as she asked, "Lianqing, what do you regret?"

"Your Highness, I can see that Miss Luo is so young yet unmatched in our generation. I can't help but think about the past."

The expression in Luo Qing Luan's eyes altered. Very likely, this Duchess of Yiyang is up to something. As expected, she then heard her let out a sigh before saying faintly. "I wonder if Your Highness has heard the rumors which has spread throughout the capital previously. The second Miss Luo from the General's Mansion was an utterly vulgar, ugly woman. Not only was she madly obsessed with Fifth Prince, she also stabbed her sister in the back, ganged up with servants at her home, and was a love-struck fool."

Speaking up to here, she paused. Sure enough, she saw a flash of astonishment streak across the empress' eyes while her brows knitted, apparently somewhat unhappily.

Without the slightest difference in her facial expression, Yuchi Lianqing continued, "But only having personally seen Miss Luo today did I know that there's actually such a beauty in the world. Even I feel ashamed of my inferiority. Clearly, those rumors were all lies."

The corners of her lips raised as she looked towards Luo Qing Luan and nodded with a smile on her face before saying softly, "Miss Luo, don't you care about those common people's crazy words. They're merely following the crowd, that's all. Tonight is the annual Full Moon poetry gathering. Naturally, Miss Luo is capable of bringing everyone a poetic masterpiece and have everyone know the purity of a faultless person, how you're not the kind of person that you're rumored to be at all."

Looking at the girl facing her, whose face was covered in an appearance of goodwill, as if she was helping her speak on her behalf, Luo Qing Luan sneered in her heart.

This Miss Yuchi truly deserved to be Nangong Wan'er's bosom buddy. She actually helped the princess in this way, ridiculing her in front of everybody. Her previous reputation was in fact something that the Luo Qing Shuang mother and daughter originally started rumors about. She'd now completely changed beyond recognition. Anyone could tell by looking.

Yet Yuchi Lianqing insisted on bringing up her past, wasn't she deliberately bringing up her faults in front of everybody?

Sure enough, these pampered aristocratic ladies and imperial relatives, each and everyone of whom were not simple minded, who grew up within large mansions, if they don't have any scheming ability, how could the fame of their talents have easily spread throughout the capital?

Empress Wang nodded repeatedly as she listened. The displeasure on her face reduced quite a bit as she pulled Luo Qing Luo's hand and said, "Mm, not bad, the main wife's daughter from the General's Mansion is naturally like a tiger's daughter. How can she be mediocre? Qing Luan, have you prepared for tonight's poetry meeting?"

Most likely, Yuchi Lianqing had already investigated thoroughly earlier that she formerly had never touched these poems before? So she waited to hit her with it tonight. Otherwise, why would she spread those rumors claiming that she wanted to strive for the title of the most talented girl in the capital?

Luo Qing Luan naturally wouldn't fall into her web. Without the least bit of shame, she replied, "Empress Wang, I don't know how to recite poetry."

"Hm? You don't know how......"

Empress Wang stopped and continued in astonishment, "Qing Luan, you, you truly......"

Luo Qing Luan smiled faintly, not minding it in the least as she replied, "Yes, Your Highness, how can I joke about this kind of thing. I really don't know how to compose poetry. It may be only possible for me to recite some poems from books."

She smiled gently and serenely, without the slightest bit of embarrassment, as if it was not an embarrassment at all for a high class lady not not be able to paint and compose poetry, just like it was normal for someone from the nobility not to work the farms.

"That can't be, right? Miss Luo is a noble daughter from the General's Mansion. You should have been schooled since little to learn these things. Why don't you know how?" Imperial Consort Song interrupted, also appearing very puzzled.

Whispers erupted in around them. The multitude of women all heard Luo Qing Luan's unconcealed voice. Each and everyone of them now whispering while their faces displayed a sneering expression, completely appearing as if they were both surprised and looked down upon her.

Grasping this perfect timing, Yuchi Lianqing's eyes opened wide slightly and responded in an unconvinced tone, "Miss Luo is not joking, right?"

"This is not something to brag about anyway. Why would I joke about it."to

Luo Qing Luan was as calm and indifferent as before. "I already said this earlier. I truly don't know how to compose poetry and paint, these kinds of things. My mother passed away early. My father grieved too much, so he'd never bothered with me ever since my childhood. Naturally, I'm not as blessed as other young ladies."

Listening to hear somewhat grief filled voice, Empress Wang sighed, "It doesn't matter, Qing Luan, there's no harm in not knowing how to compose poetry. Just take tonight as a chance to enjoy yourself. Listen to other people's poems. Eat a bit. Don't dwell on it too much, understand?"

"Yes, Your Highness."