Rebirth and Reversal of Fortune

Chapter 73 The Showdown at the Banquet

After the mysterious guest left, the atmosphere at the banquet became somewhat tense, but it was quickly broken by the subtle competition among the noble ladies.

Miss Zhao, dressed in a gorgeous pink silk dress embroidered with delicate peony patterns, swayed her figure as she approached Miss Lin, deliberately raising her voice to say, "Sister Lin, your attire today is quite plain. Perhaps you're running out of silk?" Miss Lin's face darkened. Although her dress was simple, it was carefully chosen. Not to be outdone, she retorted, "Sister Zhao, your outfit is indeed vibrant, but the color seems too flamboyant, lacking a bit of dignity."

Su Jinxiu observed all of this and stepped forward with a smile, saying, "Miss Zhao and Miss Lin are both beautiful in their own way today. Miss Zhao's beauty is like the blooming flowers of spring, while Miss Lin's elegance is like the serene chrysanthemums of autumn. Both are lovely." She skillfully defused the tense atmosphere between the two.

At this moment, Miss Sun came over again, holding an exquisite folding fan with a landscape painting embroidered on it. She deliberately opened the fan in front of everyone and said, "This fan is one of a kind, specially found by me in Jiangnan." Miss Zhou snorted coldly, "It's just a fan, what's so great about it? The jewels on my head were made by the artisans in the palace."

Su Jinxiu smiled gently: "Miss Sun's fan is uniquely crafted, and Miss Zhou's pearls and jade are exceptionally exquisite; both are rare treasures. Today, we are gathered here, and we should value harmony and enjoy this beautiful scenery and delicious food together." Her words neither favored either side nor made it difficult for everyone to continue their confrontation.

However, the noble ladies did not give up. During the talent show segment, they each displayed their unique talents, trying to outshine each other.

Miss Li was the first to play a piece on the guzheng, her fingerwork skillful and the melody melodious, winning a round of applause. Miss Wang followed, performing a graceful dance, her movements light and lithe, like a fairy descending to earth.

After the performance, Ms. Li said dismissively, "The dance was beautiful, but it couldn't move people as much as my guzheng music." Ms. Wang retorted, "The guzheng music is indeed beautiful, but it's ultimately not as vivid as the dance."

Su Jinxiu stepped in to mediate again: "Miss Li's guzheng music is like a mountain stream, and Miss Wang's dance is like colorful butterflies fluttering. Both are rare talents, and it is really hard to tell which is better."

During the poetry competition, the noble ladies showcased their talents, each vying for the top spot. Some recited delicate love poems, while others composed bold frontier poems.

Su Jinxiu listened attentively to each noble lady's work, and then commented: "The poems and lyrics of all the ladies are excellent, some are delicate and graceful, others are bold and unrestrained, each has its own merits, and all of them demonstrate your talent."

Thanks to Su Jinxiu's skillful maneuvering, the rivalry among the noble ladies gradually subsided, and the atmosphere of the banquet returned to harmony and concord.

Just then, a noble lady suddenly challenged Su Jinxiu to a talent contest.

"As the mistress of the Marquis's mansion, Sister Su must be exceptionally talented. Why don't you show us your skills and broaden our horizons?"

All eyes were on Su Jinxiu, eager to see how she would respond.

Su Jinxiu stood up calmly and said with a smile, "Since you are so kind, I will make a fool of myself."

She walked to the piano and played a piece she had composed herself. The melody was beautiful and melodious, yet also contained profound meaning. After she finished playing, everyone was captivated by it, and after a moment, they burst into enthusiastic applause.

"Sister Su is indeed exceptionally talented; we are all ashamed of our own abilities," the noble ladies said in unison.

Su Jinxiu responded modestly, "You flatter me, everyone. You are all exceptionally talented."

After this contest and response, Su Jinxiu's demeanor as the matriarch of the household became deeply ingrained in people's minds, and everyone admired her even more.

However, before the banquet was even over, a new situation arose...