The crowd tasted the fine wine while enjoying the singing and dancing, chatting in groups of twos and threes.
Chu Qingge didn't attract much attention when she spoke loudly, but her cries of 'Qin Wangfei' attracted the attention of everyone present.
There was no helping it. Han Yunxi was the center of attention to begin with. Moreover, the person by her side had caused a ruckus at the banquet, so it was hard not to look at her at the mention of her name.
The lively hall quieted down once more as the empress dowager and Emperor Tianhui looked towards Chu Qingge.
That was exactly the effect Chu Qingge wanted!
Han Yunxi was a little surprised. She knew Chu Qingge would find a chance to get revenge for the restaurant incident, but never expected her to call her out at the empress dowager's birthday banquet.
She really didn't know what this woman was thinking. Although this looked like a banquet, it was actually a competition between men. What was a woman like her causing a ruckus?
Cold, Han Yunxi asked, "Do you need something?"
"Qin Wangfei's talents and learning are unparalleled in Tianning. Even our Princess Yao lost to you. Now all of Cloud Realm Continent is saying that Princess Yao is inferior to Qin Wangfei."
Chu Qingge smiled as she spoke, causing Duanmu Baiye's face to darken.
What does this woman want to do? Why bring up Yao Yao for no reason? Hasn't she lost enough face?
Chu Tianyin's eyebrows creased in irritation as he tugged at Chu Qingge. Unfortunately, she ignored him and kept talking. "The so-called talents and learning include poetry and songs, as well as the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting. It's a pity that esteemed wangfei only beat Princess Yao in poetry. "
At these words, Duanmu Baiye's gloomy face dissipated into the clear skies. He suddenly realized that this was a great chance to turn things around for Yao Yao!
After all, a cold beauty like Chu Qingge had always disdained competitions or women's gatherings. But in reality, her talents and learning far surpassed Yao Yao's. She was the most talented woman in Western Zhou.
If she said something like that, then she must be challenging Han Yunxi!
Han Yunxi was definitely going to lose!
Cold, Han Yunxi looked at Chu Qingge and allowed her to speak without saying a word.
Chu Qingge pressed on step by step before adding, "Qingge invites Qin Wangfei to play a piece so I can experience Qin Wangfei's zither skills. It can also count as a performance for esteemed empress dowager's birthday celebration!"
Han Yunxi's lips curled into a mocking smile. It was obvious that she wanted to compete with her in zither skills and avenge Duanmu Yao!
Look at how good her words were. With just a few words, she pulled the Empress Dowager to her side.
Needless to say, the empress dowager had been fretting over a chance to make things difficult for Han Yunxi. As soon as she heard Chu Qingge's suggestion, her interest was piqued.
Before Han Yunxi could say anything, the old lady had already made the decision. "Alright! Good idea! Aijia has also heard that Qin Wangfei's talent is renowned throughout the world. Aijia wants to take this opportunity to see for herself. "
"Esteemed Empress Dowager, why don't we each play a song for the Peach Blossom Dance?" Chu Qingge suggested hastily.
"Very good, very good!" The Empress Dowager was very happy.
When there was a performance, there would be a competition. When there was a competition, there would be an evaluation. Of course she wouldn't give Han Yunxi a good review. Moreover, playing a song together wasn't an easy task.
Playing a live zither accompaniment was the most difficult part. It tested not only one's skill in the zither, but one's temperament and skills as well.
This required a certain level of mastery over music. Usually, one had to start from elementary school and receive professional guidance from a court musician. Otherwise, it would be impossible to learn.
Of course, the Chu Clan could afford to hire a court musician, but Han Yunxi's clan … hehehe.
Both Chu Qingge and the empress dowager were certain that Han Yunxi didn't know how to play!
Indeed, Han Yunxi really didn't know how to play. Forget about accompanying music, she couldn't even understand ancient musical scores.
"Yunxi, come, come. Play a song to cheer me up," the empress dowager was half joking, half commanding.
They'd just come to the birthday celebration, so she couldn't bring herself to ask everyone for gifts. Thus, she couldn't do anything about Long Fei Ye or the other nobles.
But now, she had ways to deal with a single Han Yunxi.
No matter how strong the Duke of Qin was or how rebellious Han Yunxi was, they couldn't openly defy her orders at the birthday banquet.
Han Yunxi hesitated for a long time before replying. "Esteemed Empress Dowager, let Miss Chu play a song first!"
Hearing this, Chu Qingge and the empress dowager were both secretly pleased. If Han Yunxi was in such a difficult position, there'd be a good show to watch later.
"Esteemed Empress Dowager, Qingge has embarrassed herself," Chu Qingge couldn't wait to show off.
Today, Long Fei Ye was present. If she didn't seize the chance to draw his attention, who knew how long she'd have to wait?
Today, she'd let Long Fei Ye know that she was more than twice as good as Han Yunxi!
An expensive guzheng was placed in the center of the hall with Chu Qingge sitting upright behind it. The musicians on the side had all stopped what they were doing to allow a group of pink-robed dancers to surround her.
Her white robes made her seem otherworldly, her aura cold and clear. The dancers' pink robes were beautiful and dreamy, like a fairy descending from a forest of peach blossoms.
Everyone was intoxicated by the sight. Even Emperor Tianhui grew interested. Unfortunately, Long Fei Ye was the only one drinking wine by himself. He was in a world of his own, completely ignoring the beautiful scenery in the hall.
When Chu Qingge saw that Long Fei Ye wasn't even looking at her, she angrily began to play. Today, she was going to play until he looked over.
Clang! At the sound of the music, the dancers began to dance. Chu Qingge was so focused that she didn't have the dancers coordinate with her music. Instead, she used the music to match the dancers' steps.
It was the same Flourishing Peach Blossom Dance from before, but the accompanying music was completely different. It changed from the bleakness of winter to the cheerful blossoms of spring, to the joy and joy of spring, and then to the fall of spring. It was both romantic and sad.
The dance and the music matched each other perfectly, far surpassing the accompanying music from before.
Everyone watched and listened until Chu Qingge finished the last note and the dancers stopped. Only then did they recover their senses.
The empress dowager clapped her hands and exclaimed, "Good! Excellent! "
Everyone exclaimed in admiration and praise, but Chu Qingge only had eyes for Long Fei Ye, the Long Fei Ye who hadn't spared her a single glance.
She was so disappointed!
She stood up and faced Han Yunxi directly. "Esteemed wangfei, it's your turn."
Perhaps Long Feiye would only realize how good she was at playing the piano with a comparison.
"Heheh, don't lose face for me or our Tianning," the empress dowager was impatient.
Currently, Han Yunxi was sitting lazily with her chin propped up in her hand. She had no intention of rising to her feet as she smiled. "Miss Chu is truly formidable. I was completely mesmerized just then. You played so well."
"Esteemed wangfei praises me wrongly. Esteemed wangfei can definitely play better than Qingge," Chu Qingge feigned modesty.
Han Yunxi's face was full of worry. "How could that be? You and the dancers worked so well together. This wangfei can't do such a thing."
Chu Qingge only felt that these words were strange, but she couldn't put her finger on it.
"Yunxi, hurry and play a song," the empress dowager urged.
But Han Yunxi only laughed. "Esteemed Empress Dowager really knows how to joke. Yunxi isn't a servant! How could I play for the dancers? What kind of scandal is that? "
No matter if they were musicians, singers, or dancers, they were all servants. Whether they sang, danced, or played, they were all there to serve their masters and make them happy. Han Yunxi was a proper Qin Wangfei, so how could she perform with the dancers?
Han Yunxi had only allowed Chu Qingge to go first, but she hadn't agreed to perform.
As she spoke, she praised Chu Qingge generously. "It's a pity that Miss Chu didn't become a musician!"
Her words were like a slap to Chu Qingge's face. How could Han Yunxi do such a thing?
What she was proud of was the behavior of a servant in Han Yunxi's eyes!
What about Long Fei Ye? Did he think the same thing? Was that why he didn't even spare her a glance?
Chu Qingge was furious, but when she saw Han Yunxi dressed in purple and sitting next to Long Feiye, she couldn't help but feel inferior to the woman.
No!
She was too afraid of this feeling. It had to be her imagination.
Chu Qingge didn't answer Han Yunxi, but sent a pleading look towards the empress dowager. She was very clear that the empress dowager wouldn't let go of such a good chance.
That's right, the empress dowager hated Han Yunxi even more than Chu Qingge! How could she let go of such a chance?
"Yunxi, you made a promise to me just then. Don't make me unhappy," the empress dowager was still smiling, but there was a hidden meaning behind her smile.
"Esteemed Empress Dowager, Yunxi only wanted Miss Chu to play a song first. When did I ever agree?" Han Yunxi pretended to act coquettishly.
"Then if she plays a song first, you'll take it," the empress dowager said patiently.
"I didn't say I'd take it! If she plays a song first, she'll play another! "Han Yunxi said self-righteously. She was simply a scoundrel.
Many people laughed at her words. Mu Ling 'er laughed the loudest of all.
How could a proud person like Chu Qingge stand it? She huffed and said, "Esteemed Empress Dowager, is Qin Wangfei going back on her word?"
Finally, the empress dowager grew serious and said coldly, "Yunxi, I'll have you …"
As the empress dowager spoke, she saw Han Yunxi slowly take out a fan from behind her back. First, she turned it over and over in her hands to play with it a few times, then calmly and leisurely fanned herself.
As soon as the empress dowager saw the fan, she shut her mouth.
Heavens!
This was the Medicine Fan, the very thing she'd bitterly searched for for decades. She looked forward to seeing it every day, so she recognized it at a glance. It was definitely the best medicine for insomnia, the Medicine Fan!
She'd suffered from insomnia ever since she was young. Every night, she found it hard to fall asleep and had to toss and turn in bed for two to four hours before she fell asleep. Once she fell asleep, she'd be woken up by noises and couldn't fall asleep again. Instead, she'd have to keep her eyes open until dawn.
Naturally, she'd taken plenty of medicine before, or else she wouldn't have lived to this day. She wouldn't be so energetic during the day, but every medicine had a side effect. She was already afraid of taking them.
Back then, the Head Imperial Physician had written a prescription for the Medicine Fan, saying it was only beneficial and harmless to the body. But she'd never found a trace of it. She never thought that it'd end up in Han Yunxi's hands!
Only those who'd suffered from insomnia knew how painful it was. The empress dowager stared at the item in Han Yunxi's hands and forgot about making things difficult for her. She was so happy that she was about to cry.
Very few people could recognize the Medicine Fan. Chu Qingge didn't recognize it, nor did she know about the empress dowager's insomnia. Seeing the empress dowager remain silent, she hastened to say, "Esteemed Empress Dowager, does your Tianning wangfei always go back on her word?"
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