Han Yunxi was very satisfied when she saw the empress dowager's expression so happy she was about to cry.
She thought that the Medicine Fan would be useless to her, but now it looked like it was quite useful!
She lazily straightened her body and leaned against the back of the chair, fanning the Medicine Fan in her hand. The embroidered patterns on both sides of the fan flickered in and out of view with her movements.
The empress dowager's eyes followed Han Yunxi's movements, afraid that she'd miss something and lose the Medicine Fan!
The empress dowager liked receiving birthday gifts because she enjoyed the feeling of being respected and pleasantly surprised. But right now, the treasure in Han Yunxi's hands was something she truly needed!
Chu Qingge stood in place, waiting for the empress dowager to speak, but the empress dowager stopped talking and ignored her. She had no idea what the old woman was spacing out for!
Han Yunxi and Long Fei Ye had caused such a mess at the birthday banquet that the empress dowager should be cruel to them. If she couldn't deal with Long Fei Ye, how could she spare Han Yunxi?
She was giving the empress dowager a chance, so why wouldn't she seize it?
"Esteemed Empress Dowager, Qin Wangfei is such a bully. You have to give me justice!" Chu Qingge grew even more impolite.
"Aiya, Miss Chu, everyone's watching. Just how did I bully you? What did I promise you? "Han Yunxi's calm demeanor was enough to anger a person to death.
Chu Qingge had a cold heart and didn't want to waste words with a scoundrel like Han Yunxi. She looked at the empress dowager with a serious expression.
If this was the past, the empress dowager would've forced Han Yunxi to stand up long ago without Chu Qingge's urging. But now she was hesitating.
Her mind was filled with thoughts of how to get the Medicine Fan from Han Yunxi's hands.
Han Yunxi was someone who could be persuaded by reason, but not cowed by force. If she got angry and burned the Medicine Fan, where was she supposed to find a second one?
This matter had to be done slowly, and it had to be done intelligently!
The Empress Dowager thought that it was better not to provoke Han Yunxi at this juncture. They were like fire and water. If she let Han Yunxi hold a grudge, it would be difficult for her to win.
The old empress dowager was so lost in her own thoughts that she didn't even notice Chu Qingge's curtsy. She simply treated the girl as air.
Everyone in the hall was watching. Chu Qingge waited and waited until she felt like she was singing a one-man show all by herself.
Old Empress Dowager, say something!
If you don't say anything, where should I put my face?
Finally, she couldn't take it anymore. Right now, all thoughts of being aloof, haughty, and cold beauty were thrown to the back of her mind. Flustered and exasperated, she turned to give the empress dowager a grand bow. "Empress Dowager of Tianning, everyone's watching. Please give Qingge justice!"
Only then did the Empress Dowager come back to her senses. "Miss Chu, please rise."
Chu Qingge took a deep breath and straightened up, her haughtiness returning. As long as the Empress Dowager cooperated with her, Han Yunxi's words would be useless!
But who knew that the empress dowager's next words would be, "It's true that Qin Wangfei never agreed to play a song. It was just a joke, so Miss Chu shouldn't take it seriously."
What?
Chu Qingge felt like she'd been struck by lightning. She gaped, her entire body stiff.
Did I hear wrong?
What did the Empress Dowager just say?
"Esteemed Empress Dowager is wise and brilliant! This wangfei sees that Miss Chu's qin skills are truly exceptional. Why don't you play another song to liven up everyone's spirits? "Han Yunxi covered her face with her Medicine Fan and smiled. How could she look so bashful and charming?
'Liven up everyone's spirits?'
If Han Yunxi hadn't said that she was a servant, it wouldn't have been a big deal for her to liven things up.
But Han Yunxi had just said that she wasn't a servant, so she wouldn't show her face in public. Now she wanted her to liven things up for everyone, much less help them drink!
Just what did this woman take her for?
Although her status wasn't as high as her status as the Duke of Qin's official consort, she was still the eldest young Miss of Western Zhou's Chu Clan. Outside of Western Zhou's imperial clan, the Chu Clan was the noblest clan in the country!
Chu Qingge was a proud person, but she was still so angry that her face turned red. She almost burst into tears as she glared hatefully at the empress dowager, unable to comprehend her words.
The empress dowager was in a difficult position as well. She didn't want to offend Han Yunxi, but she couldn't hurt Chu Qingge, either.
She was trying to think of a way to settle the dispute and have Chu Qingge return to her seat when Han Yunxi lazily spoke up again. "Esteemed Empress Dowager, let Miss Chu play another song. She played so well just then that I still want to hear more!"
As she spoke, she purposely placed the Medicine Fan on the table and lightly patted it.
This action … stunned the empress dowager!
Could it be that Han Yunxi knows that I've been begging for the Medicine Fan for ages? Does she know about my insomnia as well?
Most likely, the Duke of Qin knows as well, so it's no surprise that Han Yunxi knows. Perhaps the Duke of Qin was the one who gave her the Medicine Fan!
Could it be that she was threatening her with her actions?
Damned girl!
The empress dowager cursed in her heart, but in the end, she couldn't resist the temptation of the Medicine Fan.
Suffering from insomnia for over 20 years was a fate worse than death! It was enough to make her give up on all her past grudges.
If Han Yunxi is threatening me, then I still have a chance to get the Medicine Fan.
Mm, I won't be impulsive. I'll use my wits!
"Heheh, I still want to hear more, too. Miss Chu, can you play another song?" the empress dowager smiled as she went along with Han Yunxi's wishes.
Chu Qingge couldn't believe her ears. Her vision went black, then white. She was so angry that she almost fainted!
Who could tell her what was going on? Had the old empress dowager lost her mind, or been possessed?! She was actually protecting Han Yunxi!
Few of the people present could tell Chu Qingge the reason, because everyone else was as incredulous as she was.
Even Emperor Tianhui didn't recognize the Medicine Fan, much to his surprise. What's wrong with muhou?
Although Emperor Tianhui wanted to help Chu Qingge, this was still a woman's affair. He hadn't interfered from the start, but now it was even harder for him to do so.
Moreover, he had his own fears. If he interfered, Long Fei Ye would get involved as well. If that happened, then the losses would outweigh the gains.
Emperor Tianhui hadn't feared Long Fei Ye at all before the birthday banquet. He'd only given him a bit of courtesy, but now he feared Long Fei Ye even more.
Emperor Tianhui glanced at Long Fei Ye, who was drinking leisurely without batting an eyelid. In the end, he decided to bide his time. Muhou must have her reasons for doing this, he thought. I'll ask her about them later.
"Esteemed Empress Dowager!" Chu Qingge felt wronged.
"What, Miss Chu isn't willing to play another song for me?" the empress dowager's face was filled with disappointment.
Chu Qingge almost spat up blood at the words.
Intolerable bullying, absolutely intolerable bullying!
Duanmu Baiye and Chu Tianyin watched from the sidelines. Chu Tianyin furrowed his brows as he lamented the misfortune of his little sister.
He'd warned her long ago not to have any ideas about Han Yunxi, but she refused to listen. If news of this reached his father's ears, he wouldn't be able to protect her, either.
The situation before them was clear. Although there was no way to explain the empress dowager's actions, anyone who tried to help her would only be at a loss.
Duanmu Baiye had been planning to attack Han Yunxi, but now he only rejoiced that he hadn't interfered. Otherwise, he'd be in an awkward spot as well.
Chu Qingge couldn't refuse the empress dowager since she was the one who'd started all this trouble.
Moreover, the two of them had come with Crown Prince Ye to attend the birthday banquet because of Duanmu Yao's collusion with Northern Li's Duke of Kang. In other words, they were here to explain and apologize. Duanmu Yao's matter was still fresh, so she couldn't afford to make the empress dowager unhappy in front of everyone, right?
Chu Qingge had no choice but to play another song!
"As long as Esteemed Empress Dowager likes it, Qingge will be honored," Chu Qingge didn't even know how she finished her sentence. Her heart was stifled enough to suffocate her.
But Han Yunxi only smiled and spoke again. "Miss Chu, are you planning to accompany the dancers or play a solo piece?"
Chu Qingge had to take a deep breath to control her emotions and prevent herself from exploding.
"A solo piece!" she said Coldly.
Of course she was going to play a solo piece. If she accompanied the dancers, wouldn't she really be a "servant" performing for everyone's amusement?
The dancers withdrew, leaving Chu Qingge to sit by the zither again. Although she was still as beautiful as ever, cold and noble, as if she didn't eat the food of mortals, she'd lost all of her previous self-confidence and ease.
The best zither skills lay in one's mental state. If one's heart wasn't calm, the notes would be jumbled up.
The more Chu Qingge played, the more she lost herself. The more she wanted to give up, but she had no choice but to persevere to the end.
She didn't even dare to raise her head to look at the crowd for fear of their mocking gazes. Still, she couldn't help but look towards Han Yunxi.
Han Yunxi was still sitting there lazily, "admiring" her with interest.
Even though she'd chosen to play a solo piece, the sight of Han Yunxi's elegant posture and languid gaze still made Chu Qingge feel like a servant performing for Han Yunxi's sake.
She'd been so confident in challenging Han Yunxi to a duel, but who knew that she'd end up playing two pieces in a row while Han Yunxi sat there so respectfully the entire time? She'd won without a fight.
Grievance, unwillingness, and resentment all rose up in her heart. Her zither notes grew more and more disorderly as the crowd began to talk amongst themselves. Chu Qingge herself didn't notice.
She couldn't help but glance towards Long Fei Ye from the corner of her eye, only to see Long Fei Ye looking at her!
Heavens, is he finally paying attention to me?
Chu Qingge's heart trembled. Suddenly, there was a clang as the zither string snapped …
Only then did Chu Qingge recover her wits and realize how terrible she'd been playing!
She looked at the broken string, then looked up at Long Fei Ye. She was at a loss when faced with the attention she'd been longing for.
Long Fei Ye was looking at her now, but only at her most wretched state.
Long Fei Ye only glanced at her a few times before leaning towards Han Yunxi and intimately pressing his lips against Han Yunxi's ear. She couldn't hear what he was saying.
Han Yunxi chuckled softly as if she was very happy.
Chu Qingge's heart ached at the sight. Are they laughing at me?
With the string snapped, she couldn't play anymore.
She gritted her teeth and finally lowered her proud head to bow to the empress dowager before silently returning to her seat.
She'd lost – thoroughly.
After Chu Qingge's farce, Emperor Tianhui and the empress dowager had no choice but to withdraw all of their preparations. The birthday banquet proceeded smoothly.
Although it didn't count as a coup d 'état, it had far-reaching implications for Tianning.
When the banquet ended, Long Fei Ye and Han Yunxi's carriage was the first to leave. Unexpectedly, Mu Ling 'er was even faster than them. By the time they reached the Duke of Qin's estate, Mu Ling' er was already waiting for them on the steps …
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