There weren't many zithers on the second floor of the zither store, but all of them seemed to have significant histories behind them. Ordinary zithers wouldn't be able to compare at all. These zithers were better suited for Ning Xueyan's current status as the Crown Princess. If she were to use an ordinary, nameless zither, she wouldn't be able to impress anyone.
Therefore, no matter how skilled the store was at crafting zithers, her best option was picking out a famous antique zither.
The quick-witted store attendant led Ning Xueyan forward, allowing her to look at all of the zithers.
All the antique zithers were placed in the same area. Whether it was the table under each zither or the perfumed incense lingering in the air, all the details showed how valuable these zithers were.
What attracted her the most was the antique zither resting right in the middle of them all.
The location of the zither, the huge table beneat
Ning Xueyan turned her head and saw a slim, graceful young woman walking up the stairs. Several maids surrounded her like stars crowding around the moon. Upon closer inspection, Ning Xueyan realized that she recognized that elegant, pure face. It was Commandery Princess Muling."Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Princess." Commandery Princess Muling seemed surprised to her there. A conflicted look crossed her eyes. She was no longer Commandery Princess Muling of yesteryears and Ning Xueyan was also no longer Prince Yi's consort or the Lord Protector's daughter that she looked down on."You're too polite, Commandery Princess Muling," Ning Xueyan said softly with a smile.Commandery Princess Muling wasn't just a commandery princess, but Ao Mingyu's soon-to-be princess as well. Even though Ning Xueyan's status was higher than hers, it wouldn't do Ning Xueyan any favors to offend her now.The court was in a precarious state. Ao Chenyi
Commandery Princess Muling wasn't the only one who resented Ning Xueyan. Another person also hated her to the point of wanting to eat her flesh and drink her blood...Ya Moqin returned to her manor after leaving the zither store in anger and shame.When she reached her manor, she changed her mind and ordered the carriage driver to take a turn toward Wu Yao's manor. She had always considered her maternal aunt to be the epitome of elegance. Not even her paternal aunt in the palace was as graceful as her. Most importantly, Wu Yao was kind and considerate.Wu Yao was unlike her paternal aunt, who liked to make her own decisions. Her aunt knew that she liked Ao Mingyu and they had grown up together, but still chose to break them up for the bigger picture. Her aunt made her give up the princess position and even the consort position because of Ning Qingshan.Ya Moqin couldn't accept this.Wasn't her bad reputation the result
The zither was placed on the shelf. From its color and luster, down to its other details, it was indeed a good zither that suited the well-known legend.It was the real Mark of the Moon without an ounce of forgery. Heng Yuqing had made sure of that when she took Ning Xueyan to a zither appraisal expert on their way home.The handful of well-known zither players in the capital came to the same conclusion.In other words, this antique zither wasn't a fake. It was the real thing.The zither was sitting inside Ning Xueyan's room at the moment, right beside the incomplete zither piece. One could hardly find the book containing the zither piece in the market anymore, and the remedied zither piece was as good as a complete one. Most importantly, the zither piece wasn't difficult to play.With these two advantages in hand, anyone with even the slightest zither proficiency would have leaped at the chance to perform. Madam Wu Ya
Madam Wu Yao's banquet went on as scheduled.But she didn't host the banquet at her manor, but a well-known courtyard in the capital that used to belong to Hua Yunheng, the famous Peach Blossom Island. It was said that it had a new name now that Hua Manor wasn't the owner anymore.No one knew where Wu Yao heard that the new owners hadn't moved in yet, so she found a way to borrow the courtyard for a day. Thus, the banquet was held there.Ning Xueyan had been to the courtyard before, but she had entered through the side door then. She had never entered the courtyard through the main entrance. This time, a sharp-eyed servant immediately addressed her the moment her carriage arrived at the manor."Is this Her Highness the Crown Princess' carriage?" Ning Xueyan sat inside the lavish carriage, feeling helpless. When she heard the voice outside, she indicated to Qingyu to answer.It was all because of Ao Chenyi's insistence
Madam Wu Yao was speaking to a man in a wide-sleeved long robe when she saw Ning Xueyan arriving at the banquet. She quickly ended the conversation and walked toward Ning Xueyan.It went without saying that Ning Xueyan had the high status out of everyone present. Even if Wu Yao belonged to the politically neutral faction, she must show an attitude befitting of a host."Is this the Crown Princess? Please, come this way." Wu Yao went up to Ning Xueyan with a bright smile.Ning Xueyan glanced at Wu Yao with a smile, concealing the trace of coldness in her beautiful eyes.Even though she had taken notice of Wu Yao in her present life, this was still her first time meeting her. It had been a few years but Wu Yao hadn't changed much. She was still the same kind and gentle motherly figure. Perhaps, in her mother's opinion, Wu Yao was her good-tempered but unfortunate close friend.It was a pity that Wu Yao was so wicked.
The banquet had started. Unlike regular banquets, the guests were served fresh fruits, light dishes, and sweet fruit wine. Everything was meant to be mild-tasting.A maid presented a small tube filled with many polished bamboo sticks. The sticks were beautiful because of their careful engravings of all sorts of flowers.It went without saying that the tube of bamboo sticks was taken to Ning Xueyan first. The maid knelt respectfully in front of her, held the tube high, and waited for her to pick a stick. This meant that whether or not she wanted to perform, whether or not she was ready to perform, she would have to show the guests something after drawing a lot.On the surface, this was a show of respect. In reality, they were forcing her to perform.Ning Xueyan knew that Wu Yao wouldn't give her a chance to reject performing. She could guess as much after experiencing their little scheme with the zither.Thus, she smile
Nearly everyone was looking at Ning Xueyan. Not even her status as the Crown Princess stopped them from giving her mocking looks. How could a person of her caliber become the Crown Princess and the future Empress, the Mother of the Nation? What a joke!"Your Highness, look..." Commandery Princess Muling turned around and looked at Ning Xueyan with a conflicted expression."Your Highness, should I go there and shut him up? How could he criticize the Crown Princess as he pleased?" Ya Moqin said angrily, looking indignant on Ning Xueyan's behalf.Emotion rippled in Ning Xueyan's eyes. She was quite speechless at their performance. "Eldest Young Lady Ya, let him criticize as he pleases. I don't know what does this has to do with me."In Commandery Princess Muling's opinion, if Ning Xueyan was clever, she would have said the maid took the wrong paper instead of refusing to admit that it was hers. Even though no one wrote their names dow
Ning Xueyan stood up slowly. She wasn't tall, shorter than Ya Moqin even. Yet, when her face darkened and her beautiful eyes turned fierce, Ya Moqin felt a stab of uncertainty. Even the famous scholars were looking around. They were beginning to question their criticism of the poem. If the Crown Princess had truly written the poem, was it right for them to criticize her like this?Their fear was largely derived from the Crown Prince's ruthless reputation. Even if they were determined to become righteous scholars, they had to worry for the lives of their families."Eldest Young Lady Ya, you're just a daughter of the Grand Tutor Ya's Manor. You have no right to discipline my maid." Ning Xueyan looked at Ya Moqin with a grim expression. "Since when do you have the right to discipline someone from the Crown Prince's Manor?"Ning Xueyan was so frank that she sounded like she was reprimanding Ya Moqin. However, no matter how one looked at it, Ya Moqi