The hall hummed with soft conversations and polite laughter, but beneath the surface, tension coiled like a hidden serpent. Lin Yumei and Rourou moved through the crowd, eyes calculating every glance and gesture. The first whispers of Yuexin's entrance had already spread, and while the nobles admired her poise, Lin Yumei knew it was only a matter of time before their carefully constructed chaos took effect.
"See how they glance at her?" Rourou whispered, leaning close to her mother. "They're impressed...but she doesn't belong here. Not really."
Lin Yumei's lips curved, but her gaze was sharp. "That is exactly why she will fall spectacularly. The higher she rises in the eyes of these people, the more visible every flaw will be. Remember, Rourou: we need no false accusations. One small misstep and the world will believe it to be truth."
Rourou nodded eagerly, stepping slightly ahead to position herself near the main table where the elite would gather. Every smile, every nod she offered, was a calculated performance. Her fan fluttered delicately in her hand, hiding the subtle tension in her fingers.
From a discreet distance, Yuexin moved among the guests with an effortless grace that only sharpened Lin Yumei and Rourou's frustration. Each polite bow, each acknowledgement of a noble's presence, was precise yet natural. She spoke just enough to be recognized, but never too much to draw suspicion.
Yet Lin Yumei had planted the first seeds of discord. A servant, bribed earlier in the day, had ensured that Yuexin's seating card was misplaced. The intention was simple: let her sit at the wrong table, appear unprepared, and have the assembly question her status.
And yet, Yuexin had already noted it. She paused briefly near the main table, glanced at the misplaced card, and smiled faintly. A few whispered words to Ling'er, and in moments, her seating card was quietly corrected. No one noticed. No one suspected.
Rourou's hand twitched imperceptibly at her side. Why is she so calm? she wondered, her smile faltering for the briefest second.
Meanwhile, Lin Yumei circulated subtle warnings to the nobles:
"You may wish to pay attention to Second Miss," she murmured to a group of socialites. "I hear she has recently taken on responsibilities beyond her station. One misstep and the family's reputation could be… compromised."
Whispers began to flutter among the attendees:
"Do you think she's capable?"
"She's bold, but… inexperienced."
"She might ruin the Zhao name if we're not careful."
Lin Yumei's venomous intent was invisible yet effective. She watched the ripples of doubt spread through the room like a spider watching its web vibrate under the weight of its prey.
Rourou, still near the center of attention, performed with practiced charm, ensuring that the nobles' eyes lingered on her rather than Yuexin. Yet, every time someone praised Rourou, another noble glanced toward Yuexin and whispered under their breath. The effect was subtle but unsettling.
Yuexin remained perfectly composed, her eyes scanning the room with quiet calculation. She had noticed the misplaced card, the whispers, the subtle gestures of disdain. Every movement, every minor alteration of reality orchestrated by Lin Yumei and Rourou, was meticulously logged in her mind.
She leaned slightly toward Ling'er, whispering softly:
"They believe they have control. Let them think it. The more confident they are, the deeper their fall will be."
Ling'er, standing quietly behind her, nodded, admiration and concern mingling in her gaze. Yuexin's calm was terrifying. not only to her enemies but also to those who served her.
The first true misstep came not from Yuexin, but from the schemers themselves. A noblewoman, having overheard Lin Yumei's whispered warnings, began to watch the Zhao family carefully. She noticed the exaggerated attention Rourou demanded, the subtle control Lin Yumei exerted over their own patriarch, and the discrepancies in the whispered rumors.
"It seems… they are manipulating the narrative," she murmured to her companion. "See how Second Miss remains unaffected? Watch Lin Yumei. her smiles are too measured, her gestures too rehearsed."
Across the hall, Yuexin caught these glances, noting the beginnings of cracks in her enemies' web. Her smile widened imperceptibly, the calm before the storm.
Lin Yumei and Rourou's first overt move was to question Yuexin's legitimacy at the table. A noble approached, asking, "Is Second Miss officially managing this evening's preparations?"
Rourou tilted her head with feigned innocence. "Well… she is involved, yes, but I suppose it's more honorary than anything. Our family entrusted her only recently, so she may not fully grasp the details."
The nobles exchanged whispers, some casting wary glances at Yuexin, others curious. But Yuexin did not flinch. With a slight nod, she presented a neatly bound set of documents from her own hands. everything Lin Yumei had attempted to tamper with corrected and annotated in her handwriting.
"This," Yuexin said softly, her voice carrying across the table just enough to draw attention, "is the portfolio for tonight's presentation. Every document verified, every detail accounted for. I have confirmed each supplier, timeline, and responsibility."
A murmur ran through the hall. Some nobles leaned forward, inspecting the neat documents, realizing they bore not only authenticity but also a precision that only an experienced hand could ensure.
At that moment, Lu Shen, standing among the attendees, subtly stepped forward. With a nod and a quiet gesture, he confirmed Yuexin's work. A few documents previously thought misplaced were in order, every discrepancy explained and accounted for.
The nobles' whispers shifted tone:
"Indeed… the documents are flawless."
"Second Miss has… prepared everything herself?"
"Then Lin Yumei's warnings… were misleading."
The trap, carefully laid over weeks, began to unravel in plain sight. Lin Yumei's eyes flickered with unease, Rourou's lips pressed into a thin line. Their smugness, carefully cultivated for the evening, began to crumble as the crowd turned its gaze from Yuexin to them.
Yuexin's voice, soft yet precise, cut through the hall. "It seems there has been some confusion regarding my preparations. Let me clarify: all materials were handled directly, and any claims otherwise are inaccurate. I have included notes on the altered seating, the miscommunication with the suppliers, and confirmations from all responsible parties."
Gasps echoed around the room. Nobles who had begun to doubt Yuexin's abilities now recognized the meticulous planning and effort behind every detail. Lin Yumei and Rourou, the architects of the trap, were revealed as manipulators, their schemes laid bare for all to see.
Lu Shen stepped closer, presenting corroborating evidence from independent sources, ensuring no doubt remained. The hall's whispers turned from curiosity to shock, then murmurs of admiration for Yuexin.
TO BE CONTINUED