Father hastily got up from his seat and said to the emperor on the main seat and Qingfei that he didnt dare.

  Qing Fei smiled coyly and interrupted her fathers polite words: "Grand Preceptor Murong, you dont have to be overly modest either. Now, I only ask you one question, may I see the exceptional talent of your esteemed daughter?"

  Since things have come this far, theres no room for excuses. Moreover, as the Honorable Consort, she has even played music to help the festivities, what reason does a daughter of the Murong family have to refuse?

  I looked at the Son of Heaven on the jade steps, with a faint smile on his face, neither speaking out in support nor opposing.

  A faint sigh in his heart, he knew it was already an arrow on the string and had to be shot.

  Lowering her eyelids, she gazed up at Nan Chengyaos lazy smile and couldnt help but feel a twinge of annoyance in her heart. She let out a soft sigh and said, "I suppose Your Highness is pleased now."

  As I spoke, I gently pushed him away with my hand. Ruoer was pregnant and it wouldnt be good for her to perform in front of everyone. Now, almost everyones attention in the grand hall was focused on me. I knew I couldnt refuse, so I could only comply, hoping not to lose face.

  "Whats there to be happy about, in such a situation? With your temperament, its already not bad if you can use seven parts of your strength." He smiled lazily and straightened up: "However, being able to see you perform under the watchful eyes of everyone, without losing face for the Murong family, while also controlling yourself so as not to steal the spotlight from Empress Qing, is quite an interesting thing."

  I glared at him with a hint of annoyance, his dark eyes seemed to hold a hint of something, but I didnt have the heart to care anymore and was about to get up and leave.

  But then a clear and melodious voice rang out in the hall: "Since Your Majesty has ordered it, I shall present myself."

  I was slightly stunned, and suddenly she had walked slowly into the hall, with a elegant posture and a dignified appearance.

  It was clear that Qing Guifei had not expected her to make such a move, and after a moment of stunned silence, she reacted extremely quickly, laughing sweetly: "I wonder what instrument the Crown Princess wants to play?"

  Yaner smiled faintly: "Flute."

  Immediately, a palace maid presented a new jade flute. Xianger took it and without saying much, lightly put it to her lips and began playing.

  The hall was silent for a moment, and what she played was the same tune that Princess Qing had just played, without any difference. Only Princess Qings flute sound was gentle and charming, while Xiaoyus flute sound was clear and beautiful.

  I saw Mothers complexion change slightly, and then immediately returned to its usual calmness.

  The music ended, and the audience was still applauding. Consort Qing smiled sweetly and said, "The young lady of the Murong family is indeed as famous as her reputation."

  Yaner handed the jade flute to a nearby palace maid, smiling faintly: "Im flattered by Your Majestys praise, but Im just a music enthusiast. By chance, I stumbled upon this tune and fell in love with it, so Ive been practicing hard until now."

  Qing Fei still smiled: "Since we are both music lovers, the Crown Princes consort should have also heard the legend of the three performances that moved the phoenix. On this fine evening, it just so happens that another daughter of the Mu Rong family is present at the banquet. Why not invite the Third Princess to perform a piece and fulfill this legend?"

  She just wont let me have an easy time.

  Before she could even react, a soft and gentle voice rang out again: "The empress also said it was just a legend, why be so stubborn?"

  The Queen smiled coyly: "Its just to invite some elegance, the three princesses wont refuse, will they? Besides, with todays prince here, maybe we can even attract a phoenix, who knows? Your Majesty, dont you think so?"

  His Majesty looked at Queen Qing and smiled: "The words of the beloved concubine are indeed correct."

  The Emperor has already spoken, how dare I not follow. Unconsciously, I admired the cleverness of Queen Qings move, deliberately dragging in the Emperor, so that in everyones eyes, no matter how excessive she was in killing off the Murong family, it would only be seen as her helping the Emperor to eliminate a threat, and no one would suspect there were other hidden circumstances.

  Then she stood up, walked into the hall with a dignified manner, and said softly: "Since Her Majesty has ordered it, Qinger should play a piece to help the excitement. However, Qinger doesnt know how to blow the flute, may I use the zither instead?"

  Qing Guifei smiled lightly and said, "This is quite a challenge for me. The palace has all kinds of musical instruments, but it just so happens that we dont have this guqin. If we were to send someone to the market to fetch one now, Im afraid it would be too late. Fortunately, the guqin and the yaqin are not too different, except that one is more refined than the other, and one is not suitable for grand occasions. I wonder if the Wang Fei could make do with this excellent Shengtang Guqin, which I will immediately order someone to bring over."

  Before I could say anything, the young girl faintly opened her mouth and said: "This tune is extremely difficult to learn, let alone play on a guqin. In todays world, its likely that no one else can do it. Your Highness naturally also understands this, otherwise you wouldnt have abandoned the guqin for the flute. Now, why bother making things difficult for us..."

  "Yaner, the empress was just joking." A gentle voice interrupted Yaners words. I saw Nan Cheng rise from his seat and walk into the hall, shielding Yaner behind him. Then he bowed to Empress Qing and said: "Your sons concubine is ignorant, please forgive her, Your Majesty."

  The emperor still smiled and waved his hand: "It doesnt matter, girls are straightforward and lovely."

  The Queens face showed emotion, but she hid it well and smiled sweetly: "Ive always hoped to have a younger sister to take care of me too."

  Nan Chengyan thanked the emperor and empress with a warm expression, then took Huaner back to their seats. Huaners face changed slightly, but she didnt say anything else and quietly sat down beside the crown prince.

  In the empty grand hall, I was left alone, looking at the jade steps above, where Qing Guifei wore a smile.

  Her voice rose again, gentle and smiling: "Since the Crown Princess misunderstood that I was making things difficult for the Third Princess, then theres nothing to be done. Since the Third Princess is skilled at playing the zither, someone, go immediately to the nearest tavern outside the palace and bring back a zither."

  I couldnt help but smile slightly, and yet I was being compared to a courtesan. Even if I didnt mind, the Murong family couldnt tolerate such an insult.

  Then she lowered her eyelashes and gently opened her mouth: "Qinger dare not stir up trouble and sweep away everyones interest, please borrow the jade qin from Your Majesty, Qinger is willing to give it a try."

  Im not entirely confident, but Im a little nervous after all.

  My qin zither was learned from Su Shu, under the moonlight, between mountains and rivers, each note is like flowing clouds and water, played extremely well, this I know.

  Later, back at the Xiang Mansion, although my mother had also arranged for someone to teach me the finger techniques of the yaqin, I learned it but always felt that the yaqin was not as free-spirited and unrestrained as the qin zither, so I didnt put in the effort to practice.

  Nowadays, however, I have to use this jade zither to play a tune that is not very familiar to me. My calmness and serenity are only on my face.

  The ancient zither was lifted onto the stage in no time, and I sat down slowly, silently memorizing the notes that Princess Qinggui and Huaner had just played.

  Just as he was about to play, he suddenly heard Nan Chengyaos voice ring out, faintly smiling: "Your Majesty, if my queens playing can still enter the holy ears, then Ill have to take this Surging Waves back to the mansion."

  I glanced at him, he was smiling and talking to the emperor, but his eyes were on Empress Qing, cold and warning.

  His Majesty smiled and nodded in agreement, shaking his head repeatedly. It seemed that he was extremely frustrated with this unfilial son who refused to follow the rules, yet couldnt help but dote on him due to affection.

  Qing Guifei also fell silent, slightly lowering her head, and quietly sat back down beside the Emperor.

  Nan Chengyao seemed to have noticed my gaze, turned his head and looked at me with a lazy smile: "Ive been thinking about this Surging Waves for a long time, its not easy to get the chance, Princess, dont disappoint me."

  I delicately lifted my slender fingers, stroking the strings of the zither. Naturally, I didnt intentionally try to win because of his words, but now, I also dare not have any thoughts of hiding my true abilities. I just hope to finish playing this piece from start to finish without making a mistake and losing face for the Murong family.

  One by one, the notes resonated between my fingers, initially with some slight awkwardness that couldnt be avoided, but finally flowed smoothly like a quiet mountain spring.

  I couldnt notice the expressions of everyone in the hall, nor did I have time to distinguish my own music, but just followed my instincts, letting the strings fly between my fingers.

  When the last vibration stopped, I gently withdrew my fingers, and a drop of blood slowly fell onto the surface of the piano.

  It seemed that I heard a disbelieving cry from my mothers side, and when I came to myself, the entire hall returned to silence, with no sound of birds chirping.

  What I just heard seems like an illusion.

  I dont know how long it took, but the surroundings were still quiet and eerie. I turned back to look at my mother, her face was dazed, and she didnt give me any response.

  Then subconsciously glanced sideways to find Nan Chengyao, he was staring at me, his dark eyes were unfathomable.

  I felt a slight sense of unease, just then, a solitary applause came from the front right, breaking the silence in the room.

  I looked up and saw that the prince had a warm smile on his face, stood up, looked at me with approval in his eyes, and lightly applauded.

  It was as if his applause had awakened the entire hall, and suddenly a thunderous applause erupted, lasting for a long time without stopping.