When her name was mentioned again, Song Yihuan had no choice but to stand up and respond.
"I'm just a girl of meager talent. How dare I perform in front of Your Majesty and all the noble lords? If I dance poorly, won't I just disgrace everyone's eyes?"
"Fourth Miss Song is being too modest. Since the Princess Consort of Prince Ningqin is so outstanding, Fourth Miss Song must be no less so."
The speaker was Zheng Wanxi, the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Yongping's Mansion. She used to be good friends with Song Nanxin.
"Moreover, His Majesty just bestowed a reward on Fourth Miss Song. Isn't it only proper for Fourth Miss Song to dance a dance to express her gratitude to His Majesty?"
Her words not only flattered Song Nanxin but also put Song Yihuan in a position where she had to dance. Her intentions were clearly malicious. After she finished speaking, she exchanged a knowing look with Song Nanxin from afar.
This plan was naturally hatched when they were resting at the inn in Tianxiang City. They thought it was foolproof, but suddenly a very unexpected deep voice rang out from the crowd.
"In that case, ever since I returned to the capital from the border, I've never seen the Princess Consort perform any talent. The Princess Consort has excellent grades in the Imperial College. As Miss Zheng said, she must be extremely outstanding. Compared to Fourth Miss Song, I'm more eager to see the Princess Consort dance a dance. What's Your Majesty's opinion?"
The smug smile that had just appeared on Song Nanxin's lips instantly froze on her face. Looking at Ji Lingchuan in disbelief, Song Nanxin felt that the phoenix - like eyes of the other seemed to be hiding a terrifying undercurrent at the moment, as if it was about to erupt the next second.
She instinctively felt a twinge of fear, but she had no way to back out. She only heard Ji Zihuan laugh and say, "Since it's what General Weiyuan wishes, how could I not grant it? Cousin - in - law, why don't you show us your skills today?"
The situation suddenly reversed. The person who was originally named to perform changed from Song Yihuan to Song Nanxin, which piqued the interest of the people on - site even more.
Yes, this Princess Consort of Prince Ningqin was chosen by the Empress Dowager to marry the Heir Apparent of Prince Ningqin precisely because of her excellent grades in the Imperial College. Instead of watching Fourth Miss Song, it would be better to watch her performance!
Since the Emperor had spoken, Song Nanxin had no choice but to take the stage. However, instead of choosing to dance, she chose to play the zither.
Song Nanxin was the legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Ding'an's Mansion and had been carefully cultivated since childhood. Under normal circumstances, her skills in the four arts of the Chinese scholar (qin, chess, calligraphy, and painting) were quite good. However, playing the zither required a calm state of mind. At this moment, her mind was in a complete mess, so her zither - playing was also in a complete mess. The tune went wrong many times, making people can't help but frown.
When the tune ended, the applause on - site was sparse, which made Song Nanxin's face turn even uglier.
Ji Lingchuan originally thought that the matter would end after Song Nanxin played the zither. Who would have thought that Ji Zihuan tapped on the table with his fingers and then laughed, saying, "Cousin - in - law plays the zither so well. Presumably, Fourth Miss Song, who is also a daughter of the Marquis of Ding'an's Mansion, is no less so."
This meant that he was going to ask Song Yihuan to take the stage.
Ji Lingchuan frowned and looked at Ji Zihuan, thinking to himself what trick this guy was up to this time?
Song Yihuan had already steeled herself at this moment. She stopped being coy, stood up, and bowed, saying, "Your humble servant obeys the order."
Just as she took a step forward, suddenly Gu Yunzheng's voice rang out from the crowd, "Your Majesty, your servant is willing to provide musical accompaniment for Fourth Miss Song and perform for Your Majesty together."
Everyone looked in the direction of the voice. They saw Gu Yunzheng holding a long flute in his hand, standing in the middle of the seats. The firelight reflected on his face, making this newly - crowned second - place finisher in the imperial examination look tall, upright, handsome, and suave.
Under everyone's gaze, Gu Yunzheng gave a faint smile, "Your Majesty may not know this, but Fourth Miss Song once showed kindness to your servant by giving up the ink. Your servant has always wanted to repay Fourth Miss Song for this kindness. Today is just the right opportunity."
Ji Lingchuan stared at Gu Yunzheng with a deep look in his eyes. Suddenly, he felt a fire ignite in his body. As soon as the spark rose, it seemed to spread like a prairie fire to all his limbs and bones, making his breathing involuntarily become a bit heavier.
Ji Zihuan glanced at Ji Lingchuan below the throne and said with a smile, "Since Lord Gu is willing to help Fourth Miss Song, I grant his request."
After getting the approval, Gu Yunzheng was extremely excited. Just as he was about to step forward to perform with Song Yihuan, another timid voice rang out from the crowd.
"Y - Your Majesty, your humble servant is also willing to use the zither in her hand to provide musical accompaniment for Fourth Miss Song."
No one on the scene could have guessed that this person would suddenly speak up.
It was actually Miss Cao, Cao Jinyu!
Gu Yunzheng looked at Cao Jinyu, who had summoned up the courage to stand up, and frowned slightly. He had some impression of Cao Jinyu. At the Duke of Jiang's Mansion before, when he and Ji Lingchuan had a competition on - site, she was one of the three question - setters in the game of musical chairs.
Ji Zihuan raised his eyebrows and said, "Oh? Why do you want to help Fourth Miss Song?"
Being stared at by so many people at the same time, Cao Jinyu's head was in a daze. She was so nervous that she was almost on the verge of fainting, but she managed to hold on and said, "B - Before at the Duke of Jiang's Mansion, Fourth Miss Song taught your humble servant how to solve the nine - link puzzle. Your humble servant has always been grateful to Fourth Miss Song."
Ji Zihuan laughed and said, "It seems that Fourth Miss Song is even more popular than I thought. Since both Lord Gu and Miss Cao said they want to help Fourth Miss Song, then you can all go on stage together."
Compared to Song Nanxin's solo performance before, Song Yihuan having two people to help her instead highlighted her uniqueness.
If it were only Gu Yunzheng, Song Yihuan would have felt extremely uncomfortable. But with Cao Jinyu there, she felt at ease and didn't have to worry about others misunderstanding her relationship with Gu Yunzheng.
When the three of them stood together, Song Yihuan quietly squeezed Cao Jinyu's hand to comfort her, telling her not to be too nervous and just follow her heart.
Cao Jinyu played the zither, and Gu Yunzheng played the flute. The three of them discussed and decided to play a tune called "Heavenly Questions". Song Yihuan had no objections to their choice of music. She asked someone to bring a red drum and placed it in the middle of the venue. After a brief preparation, Gu Yunzheng blew his long flute.
The melodious and lingering sound of the flute soared straight into the sky, hovering over the vast camp. It had the ethereal quality of questioning the heavens. At this time, the sound of the zither like flowing water rang out, blending perfectly with the sound of the flute. The noise on - site gradually subsided, and everyone listened attentively.
Cao Jinyu was extremely timid. In a crowded place, she would be so scared that it would be difficult for her to breathe. But when she played the zither, she was completely immersed in the music, as if she had become a different person. There was no trace of her previous timidity.
What surprised Gu Yunzheng was that although the two of them had never had any intersection before and could be said to be strangers, one blowing the flute and the other playing the zither, their cooperation could even be described as "tacit".
"Boom - Boom - Boom -"
The sound of the drum rang out. Song Yihuan stood bare - footed on the drum. She gently tapped the drum membrane with her toes and danced along with the sound of the flute and the zither. A song as clear as a mountain spring flowed out of her lips.
"Ask: In the beginning of time long ago, who passed down the stories? Before the sky and earth took shape, how could they be investigated? In the darkness and confusion, who could fathom it..."
The woman on the red drum was as light as a wisp of green smoke. She sang and danced at the same time. Her gorgeous face was full of solemnity and reverence for the heavens. There was not the slightest hint of coquettishness. Her dance was not intended to show off her good figure, nor to seduce any man on the scene.
Instead, it was a prayer.
Praying that the heavens would favor this land and that their autumn hunting trip this time would be a fruitful one.
But in Ji Lingchuan's eyes, her slender waist twisted gently in front of him. Every turn of hers and her cheeks flushed with the after - effects of the wine tightly tugged at his breath, making the fire in his body burn even more vigorously. He urgently needed to vent.
He looked at the wine cup beside him and only then realized something.