Chapter 18: Refusal.

林家的闹剧过后，宴席正式开始，在场的大部分人并不觉得这场闹剧扫了他们的兴致，相反，大家的好奇心得到了极大的满足。

As Gong E elegantly arrives, she presents a selection of exquisite wines, pouring a glass for each guest, instantly filling the air with a delightful aroma.

Yang Jun can't help but sniff the fragrance and says, "It smells so good..."

Lin Yannan warns him, "You better not drink any, just appreciate the gesture."

"Why? It's not like I can't drink." When she was a child, she went to Yan Yan's house to play, and they even stole Yan Yan's mother's homemade green plum wine and drank it.

Lin Yanyan said, "Peach blossom has the ability to invigorate the blood and remove stasis. It's not advisable for you to drink in these few days."

Yang Chujun was taken aback for a moment, then quickly realized that she was in her menstrual cycle these days. But... how did Lin Yannan know? Was her scent too strong? Yang Chujun immediately felt uneasy and shifted to the side.

Lin Yannan looked at her with a sidelong glance: "I'm not a dog's nose. I just guessed that you were in a bad mood today."

Okay then! Perhaps even a dog's nose couldn't compare to hers.

Yang Yujun:...

Did she become irritable? Her temper has always been like this!

"This is last year's peach blossom, brewed with a secret recipe, buried under the peach tree for a whole year, and only came out yesterday." Princess Qingrou said with a smile.

"I have long heard that the peach blossom wine in the Imperial Aunt's manor is extraordinary, but I have never had the chance to taste it. Today, I finally have the opportunity," Prince Xiaozhuo laughed.

"If you like it, you can take a jar with you when you leave," Princess Xinyang said.

“侄儿先谢过皇姑姑。”

“那我也要一坛。”九皇子萧澜不甘落后。

萧濯不悦地斜了眼老九，你丫的三杯就倒的料，凑什么热闹？

Xiao Lan replied with a side-eye, "You're the only one allowed to ask for things, and not me?"

"Mother left a jar for each of my four brothers," said Princess Qingroujun.

陆昭南听闻，小声对萧潜说：“改天我请客，你带酒，这酒味虽淡了些，但别处喝不到。”

Xiao Qian: "It's all for you."

在军中跟一帮糙老爷们喝惯了烈酒，这么淡的酒，喝不惯。

Lu Zhaonan chuckled: "Alright then, let's swap with some bamboo leaf green liquor."

One dish after another came, peach blossom soup, peach blossom fish, peach blossom tofu...

It was a truly magnificent Peach Blossom Feast.

Savoring the fine wine and delicious food, a melodious sound of a zither suddenly emerged, sometimes resembling the murmuring of a mountain stream, sometimes resembling the surging of a river.

林晏晏循声望去，见一身穿紫色衣裙的小姐在抚琴。

“Who is that?”

“礼部左侍郎余大人家的小姐余晚晚。”杨琸君道。

"This was all arranged in advance and must have cost a lot. There aren't many opportunities to show up in such occasions."

"She plays the piano well," Lin Yanyan commented objectively.

The sound of the piano gradually stopped, but the lingering melody still resonates, winning endless applause for Yu Wanwan's piano performance.

Soon after, other ladies demonstrated their talents: playing the flute, plucking the pipa, and even presenting paintings...

The shows are all very exciting, but Lin Yan Yan finds them uninteresting.

The ladies are showcasing their talents enthusiastically, and the male guests are completely captivated by their performances. This scene reminds Lin Yan Yan of the annual beauty contest, which she finds extremely boring. Why can't men display their talents and let women make the choice?

I'm feeling a bit unhappy, and I hear Princess Qingrou say, "Miss Lin, it is said that Lady Hou has exceptional dancing skills, her performance of the Tasha Dance captivates everyone and has won the heart of Hou Lord. I assume you have received authentic teachings as well, so why not dance a piece to liven up the atmosphere?"

Immediately, someone chimed in and said, "Miss Lin, why not dance a song and let us all enjoy it?"

Lin Yannan looked at Princess Qingrou, who was smiling and full of anticipation. Translated response: Sure, I would be delighted to perform a dance for everyone's enjoyment. Please allow me a moment to prepare.

Lin Yannan thought for a moment, wondering how she had offended this princess?

Could it be that Qingrou Princess is venting her anger for Zhuzi Yu or Lin Zhenzhen?

What kind of captivating the hearts of the masses? What kind of love at first sight? It sounds as if her mother is a frivolous person, and her father is even more inclined to lust. She had long heard her mother talk about how her parents met and got to know each other. Back then, her mother secretly followed her two uncles to Ganzhou to trade goods, but they encountered bandits along the way. In the moment of crisis, her father appeared like a god and saved her mother and the two uncles, which is how they became destined.

And besides, when other young ladies perform their talents, the princess doesn't mention anything about providing entertainment. Why should she have to entertain you when it comes to her? What's so entertaining about her anyway? Is she a dancer?

Lin Yannan said, "I'm sorry, I apologize for disappointing the princess. I have just recovered from a serious illness and I am unable to dance."

Qingrou, the princess, did not expect Lin Yannan to refuse, and the reason for the refusal was beyond reproach. It would be unreasonable to force someone to perform a dance when they have just recovered from an illness.

"Then... I wonder what Miss Lin is good at?"

Lin Yannan raised her cup and said, "Does drinking count?"

After finishing her words, she tilted her head back and finished the drink in her cup, then turned the cup upside down, smiling at Princess Qingrou.

对面的萧潜情不自禁地流露出几许赞赏的神色。晴柔郡主言语轻佻，对侯爷和侯夫人有不敬之意，林晏晏自然听得出来，拒绝的干脆，而且让晴柔郡主无话可说。

“好酒量。”陆昭南忍不住喝彩。

看不出来，晏晏长的温婉秀丽，喝起酒来颇有女中豪杰的风采，太对他的味口了，满场仙音都不及林晏晏一杯酒。

Princess Qingrou chuckled and said, "Miss Lin has just recovered from a serious illness, so it is better to drink less."

"This peach blossom wine has the benefits of beautifying and nourishing the skin, as well as improving blood circulation. It is harmless to the body, and you can just have a few glasses. It won't do any harm," Lin Yanyan replied confidently.

Princess Qingrou's smile couldn't hold up anymore. "Miss Lin seems to understand a great deal."

Lin Yannan sighed, "During my illness, I read a few more medical books and studied the ways of healthy living, that's all."

Lin Zhenzhen listened to the fake sister for a few words and managed to deceive Qingrou Princess. She couldn't help but worry secretly. She really wanted to step forward and expose the fake Lin Yanyan, but she was afraid of falling back into the previous embarrassment. Besides, Brother Ziyu had already greeted Qingrou Princess and even given her the opportunity to showcase her talent. However, Qingrou Princess ended up choosing the fake Lin Yanyan.

No, she can't just sit and wait, she must seize the opportunity to turn the situation around.

So, Lin Zhenzhen stood up and volunteered, saying, "Princess, why don't I dance a song for everyone!"

She has also been practicing dancing since childhood. Not to mention how stunning her dance skills are, she can be considered outstanding among all the ladies.

Someone stepped forward to break the deadlock, and Princess Qingrou naturally sought after it. She smiled and nodded, saying, "Then please let Miss Lin perform a dance for everyone."

I really admire Lin Zhenzhen's courage. She has already become a public enemy, but she still dares to show up. Lin Zhenzhen's dancing skills are just average, but her entourage praises her to the skies, and she thinks she is exceptionally talented in dancing.

Okay, let's wait and see how Lin Zhenzhen wins applause. However, it remains to be seen whether it will be a standing ovation or booing.