Her gaze constantly shifted among the people below, finally landing precisely on Lin Zhiqing.
"Lin Zhiqing, quick-witted and intelligent, with a graceful appearance and a sharp mind, has performed exceptionally well and deserves to be the champion!"
The moment she heard her name, Lin Zhiqing's lips curved into a smile.
But this news was like adding a drop of oil to a boiling pot, causing everyone to erupt.
"It truly is Miss Zhiqing, I knew it!" The embroiderers standing in the covered walkway had tears in their eyes, feeling that their efforts had finally paid off.
The group of male tailors not far away looked at the tearful embroiderers, their expressions remarkably varied.
"Hmph, what's there to be proud of? It's just dumb luck. Miss Zhiqing's two design drafts, even a pig could win with them!"
"Who was it that told me Lin Zhiqing was stupid and that partnering with her would lead nowhere?"
"Absurd! I've never seen the garments she designed anywhere in the Da Sheng Dynasty. If she were to open an embroidery shop, we'd all be starving!"
"A genius! Miss Zhiqing is simply a genius!"
Perhaps their discussion was too loud, attracting the attention of several young ladies not far away.
County Princess Pingning's body trembled slightly, and she glared fiercely at them.
The tailors immediately fell silent, not daring to speak further.
Having silenced the annoying buzzing in her ears, County Princess Pingning suddenly stood up, her voice filled with disbelief:
"Impossible! That Lin Zhiqing is idle and ignorant of practical matters, and the clothes she made are unheard of, clearly just to gain attention. Why should she be the champion? This isn't fair!"
Hearing this, Lin Zhiqing's smile slowly faded.
But before she could speak, several young ladies gathered around County Princess Pingning began to chime in.
"Yes, impossible. The County Princess's dress design was clearly better."
"The County Princess's skin is whiter than snow, and that Moon Shadow Gauze makes her look like a celestial fairy. How could Lin Zhiqing's strange garments possibly compare!"
"Exactly, that useless Lin Zhiqing originally knew nothing about these things. Who knows what dirty tricks she used to get the design drafts."
Hearing these words, Lin Zhiqing snorted coldly: "The fabric was chosen in front of everyone, and the garment designs were drawn in front of you. Tell me, what tricks did I use?"
With just that one sentence, the few people who had just been speaking so self-righteously exchanged glances, completely at a loss for how to retort.
"Hmph!" Jiang Liuyun stepped forward: "The County Princess has always had a good reputation in Shengjing City, but I never expected you to be such a sore loser!"
"Qing'er's clothes look festive. County Princess, what you're wearing looks like mourning attire. If it were me, I'd choose Qing'er too." He spoke very bluntly.
"You, how could you say that?" While she hadn't reacted much to what others said, being criticized so by the man she admired, and in front of so many people, her eyes immediately welled up with tears.
"County Princess, why do you repeatedly target Zhiqing? Her victory today is based on her skill. Both sets of garments, whether in style or color, were very fitting." Lin Shi'an also couldn't help but speak.
Due to his special status, he had always endured and avoided causing trouble for the Lin family when out and about.
But County Princess Pingning's actions were truly excessive. The reason she dared to question Lin Zhiqing was her belief that the Lin family had no one to stand up for her, that was one reason.
Secondly, Lin Zhiqing's garment designs were indeed very good; the most direct assessment was that they were beautiful.
He wasn't the only one who thought this. Miss Hua felt that the County Princess was somewhat different from the person she had met a few days ago:
"County Princess, Miss Lin's ruqun and wedding dress are both incredibly innovative. Just speaking of the ruqun, by making only slight changes to our usual attire, she created a completely different garment, which is very rare."
"As for your garment, while very luxurious and exquisite, compared to existing clothing, it merely had enlarged sleeves and a cinched waist."
"Furthermore, your makeup and hairstyle stole attention that should have been on the garment itself; it was quite a case of the guest overshadowing the host."
Her tone was slightly regretful, shaking her head as she spoke.
This fair assessment quickly gained the approval of others. After all, everyone knew the truth in their hearts, but out of deference to County Princess Pingning's status, they dared not speak.
Normally, at such a high-stakes banquet involving a competition, the host's commentary would not be overly blunt to save face.
Miss Hua, however, was in a hurry and directly pointed out all the flaws in County Princess Pingning's garment.
Seeing that those around her agreed with Miss Hua's words, the feeling of humiliation at being outmatched made County Princess Pingning suddenly lose her composure:
"You and Lin Zhiqing are old acquaintances to begin with, who knows how much you might be biased towards her. Why must you step on me to glorify her?"
"Presumptuous!" No sooner had County Princess Pingning finished speaking than the sound of a walking stick tapping the ground rang out, and the smile on the Old Madam's face had long vanished.
Her brows were tightly furrowed, and her nose twitched, clearly indicating her anger: "Are you suggesting that my Scholar's Manor is biased towards Miss Lin?"
County Princess Pingning then realized she had spoken wrongly and immediately waved her hands: "Old Madam, I didn't mean that."
Lin Zhiqing, seeing this, couldn't help but sigh inwardly. She was still just an eighteen or nineteen-year-old girl, too impatient.
In the first half of the banquet, County Princess Pingning had appeared very dignified and proper, knowing how to "kill with a borrowed knife" and hide her emotions.
But as soon as she was slightly provoked, she immediately lost control of her temper.
The Old Madam was clearly very upset: "If you didn't mean that, what did you mean? Miss Lin was the champion I selected. If you are dissatisfied with the result, then you are dissatisfied with me, dissatisfied with my Scholar's Manor!"
"At such a young age, to be so disrespectful of the rules, and to deliberately wear white to a joyous Spring Banquet, spoiling the atmosphere – truly unlucky!"
These words were quite harsh. Miss Hua quickly tried to soothe her grandmother: "Grandma, it's not worth it to make yourself ill with anger."
County Princess Pingning also knew she had made a grave mistake. Her legs weakened, and she hurriedly bowed to the Old Madam: "Pingning has no intention of disrespecting the Scholar's Manor. Today my words and actions were improper, and I offended the Old Madam. I beg the Old Madam's forgiveness."
Her words were all about apologizing for her conduct, but she never mentioned the garments or the champion title, clearly still unconvinced at heart.
The Old Madam had seen all sorts of people; how could she not discern the thoughts of a young girl? She immediately sneered:
"Since the County Princess has an opinion about my judgment, then you need not attend the Spring Banquet ever again. It will save me the trouble of sending another invitation."
"Guards, see her out!"
To actually start driving people away!
This was something Lin Zhiqing hadn't expected. Of course, she wasn't foolish enough to think that one banquet would make the Old Madam protect her.
County Princess Pingning had offended Miss Hua, and likewise challenged the authority of the Scholar's Manor.
This was what the Old Madam truly cared about.
But County Princess Pingning herself did not realize this issue. She suddenly stood up, waving away the maid who tried to help her: "No, you cannot strip me of my right to attend the Spring Banquet!"
"You protect Lin Zhiqing to this extent? She is merely the daughter of a criminal, by what right does she surpass me?"
Lin Zhiqing frowned: "I am the one who won today."
That single brief sentence instantly blocked all of County Princess Pingning's arguments.
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