Chapter 33: Seeking External Aid

Luo Yunqiao knitted her elegant brows, her expression one of utter bewilderment.

"I merely remarked that your assessment—that being the eldest daughter of the Marquis’s residence is no easy task—was highly reasonable. At no point did I mention feeling ashamed. Why, Father, do you keep insisting that I feel inferior or disgraced?"

Luo Zefeng laughed in cold anger. "By that tone, are you suggesting you possess some skill in the Six Arts that surpasses Zhen’er’s?"

Luo Yunqiao pondered for a moment, then replied with grave sincerity, "How would I know unless I try?"

Luo Zefeng snapped, "Then let us try!"

"If you truly have the ability, then compete against Zhen’er. Let strength decide who is fit to be the eldest daughter of the Marquis’s house. Do you dare?"

Luo Yunqiao countered without hesitation, "Why wouldn't I?"

Such arrogance infuriated Luo Zefeng, who repeated the word "good" three times. However, he did not forget to seek the opinions of Luo Yunzhen and Luo Chao.

Upon hearing that Luo Yunqiao had agreed to the competition, Luo Yunzhen could barely suppress the smirk tugging at her lips. Since childhood, the Marquis’s residence had spared no effort in her upbringing. Luo Yunqiao stood no chance against her.

Yet, she felt it necessary to maintain a facade of modesty. "Zhen’er has studied the Six Arts since childhood; it would hardly be fair to compare us this way..."

Luo Zefeng waved a hand dismissively. "What is there to fear? It was her own request."

"In my opinion, Zhen’er, you should give it your all. Let Luo Yunqiao learn that there is always someone better, and a sky beyond our own. She shouldn't think that just because she has a sharp tongue, she can look down on everyone."

Having said this, Luo Zefeng tentatively looked toward Luo Chao. "Father, what is your intention?"

After all, regardless of what others said, the final decision rested with Luo Chao. Luo Chao held his own private biases, and in the end, he granted his approval for the wager.

"Then let there be a competition. We shall arrange it for the welcoming banquet."

"Wait," Luo Yunqiao suddenly interjected, drawing everyone’s attention.

Luo Chao wore a look of knowing, as if he had already anticipated what she would say. As for Luo Zefeng, his face was filled with disdain. "What? Are you going to back out?"

Luo Yunqiao shook her head. "It is not that I wish to back out, but for a matter of such importance, it would be most prudent to invite someone of high standing to serve as an impartial witness."

Luo Chao agreed readily this time, perhaps thinking it would serve to legitimize Luo Yunzhen’s status. What he truly thought, Luo Yunqiao could not know, but as long as her goal was reached, it mattered little.

In the days that followed, Luo Yunzhen practiced more diligently than ever, determined to shock the crowd at the banquet. Time passed quickly, and soon it was the eighth day of the following month.

The welcoming banquet was grand, attended by the wealthy and the powerful. It was clear that Luo Chao had poured significant effort into the event, likely hoping to pave the way for Luo Yunzhen.

"Have you heard? The two young ladies of the Marquis’s house are going to compete at this banquet. Whoever wins will be the official eldest daughter of the house from then on."

"That lost pearl, I heard she was raised in the countryside. I imagine she struggled just to afford food and clothing, so where would she find the leisure or money to study music, chess, calligraphy, or painting? Even if she had, how could it compare to the masters hired by the Marquis’s residence?"

"This banquet is a farce; it’s clearly just a ploy to legitimize Miss Yunzhen. One must admit, the Marquis’s household is showing a rather unsightly side."

The crowd whispered among themselves, filled with sympathy for Luo Yunqiao. It seemed impossible for her to win, and seeing her agree to such a contest, one could only wonder if she had been coerced.

These rumors eventually reached the ears of the clan elder, Luo Zhenghua. He felt a deep sense of unease, believing that Luo Chao’s actions were becoming increasingly muddled. How could he allow his own biological daughter to be bullied by an adopted one? However, he was there as a witness and felt it improper to speak his mind, though he did not give Luo Chao a pleasant look throughout the event. Luo Chao was left puzzled, unable to discern where he had failed as a host.

As planned, halfway through the banquet, Luo Zhenghua stepped onto the prepared platform to preside over the contest. By custom, he informed both parties of the consequences of the outcome and asked if they were participating of their own free will.

Luo Yunzhen nodded, polite and graceful. "I appreciate your trouble, Elder. This competition is indeed my own voluntary choice."

The crowd then turned their gaze to Luo Yunqiao. It was only then that they noticed her eyes and the bridge of her nose were flushed red, as if she had been weeping.

Luo Chao’s heart skipped a beat; he felt she was about to stir up trouble. Sure enough, Luo Yunqiao spoke in a voice choked with tears.

"I implore the Elder to uphold justice for me." With those words, she sank to her knees.

Luo Zhenghua, having heard the rumors earlier, already felt a surge of pity for this unfortunate child. Seeing her like this, he hurriedly reached out to help her up. "Yunqiao, what are you doing?"

Luo Yunqiao’s eyes welled with tears. "I am burdened by grievances and have nowhere else to turn, which is why I have resorted to this desperate measure. I beg the Elder to see the truth."

Seeing her timid demeanor, Luo Zhenghua assumed she had suffered much hardship and rejection within the Marquis’s house, and his heart burned with indignation. "My child, tell me everything that troubles you."

Luo Yunqiao did not stop her tears; instead, she wept even more bitterly. "Why? Why did it have to be me? I never wanted to be lost. But since it was my fate, so be it—yet why did they bother to bring me back? Life in the village was poor, but at least people treated me like a human being. It is not like here in the Marquis’s house, where I live in constant fear, not daring to take a single wrong step."

"Since I was lost, I had no opportunity to learn any skills. I know I am coarse and unrefined, and I never intended to vie for status with Yunzhen."

"I know my father and mother do not like me, but we are blood relatives! Why must they drive me to my death? It would have been enough to throw me into the temple to kneel and chant sutras for no reason at all, but now, they must make me a laughingstock before everyone, just to pave the way for sister Yunzhen."

Luo Yunqiao looked at Luo Chao, her eyes filled with disappointment and terror. "Father, how can your heart be so cruel?"

The reversal was so sudden that the onlookers were stunned. A perfectly good welcoming banquet had inexplicably become a duel between two daughters, and now, it had morphed into a one-sided denunciation of the Marquis’s household for abuse.

The most bewildered of all was Luo Chao. The competition was something Luo Yunqiao had agreed to herself—how had it suddenly become his own act of coercion?