This time, when You Xian'er learned that everything she took out would be donated to Ciyin Hall, she couldn't show her reluctance on her face.
She no longer wore any extra jewelry, and somehow she now had a silver bracelet on her wrist.
While others didn't see it clearly, Qiuju saw it perfectly: the silver bracelet had been secretly handed to her by the maid behind her.
Qiuju didn't want to cause trouble for her mistress, so she pretended not to have seen anything.
But this scene also happened to be seen by Zhan Shuzhen, who was very straightforward.
She stared in surprise, "Miss You was so generous just now, how come you're being so stingy now!"
You Xian'er's face immediately turned bright red.
She glared angrily at Zhan Shuzhen, "Miss Zhan, are you bored? I brought out all my most valuable jewelry, so what if I only bring out a silver bracelet now!"
"It's nothing, please go ahead, Miss You, don't be angry. I was just asking casually, I didn't mean anything by it."
Zhan Shuzhen's relaxed demeanor infuriated You Xian'er.
Someone overheard their conversation and looked over.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, You Xian'er reluctantly instructed her maid to place the silver bracelet on Cui Yudie's tray.
When others cast strange glances at her, You Xian'er turned her head away as if she hadn't seen them.
Her father said that her destiny was extraordinary, and she was destined to have a place in the harem.
She didn't care what others thought at that moment.
One day, when I enter the palace and become an empress, they will have to kowtow and pay their respects when they see me.
By then, even Jiang Shuyue will have to please her. On that day, she will make Jiang Shuyue regret her actions.
Seeing that everyone had donated enough, Cui Yudie began to arrange for the young ladies to start their competition.
"Miss Cui, please wait a moment. We haven't decided yet who will act as the mediator to determine who wins and who loses."
Jiang Shuyue's words stunned the ladies present.
"No, we all have ears, can't we tell who plays better?"
Jiang Shuyue smiled faintly, "It's most appropriate for unrelated people to make the decision; it's fair to everyone."
Just then, a screen opposite them collapsed with a "thud".
Behind the screen, more than ten heads were all crowding together to look this way.
The screen fell down, and the people behind it looked embarrassed. Some reacted quickly, turning around and picking up their teacups as if to drink tea.
Some people quickly grabbed the books on the table and placed them in front of them.
"you……"
"No, we didn't mean to listen to the girls playing the piano. Actually, this hall is warmer, and we're enjoying tea and discussing poetry."
Behind the screen were more than ten young men, each one full of energy and looking like a handsome young gentleman.
A palace maid quickly bowed to the girls and said, "I'm sorry, it was my clumsiness that caused the screen to fall over."
"It's not your fault. This hall was designed with two separate halls, one in the north and one in the south. There was no wall in the middle for the convenience of heating."
A handsome young man walked out.
He bowed respectfully towards the women's section, saying, "My name is Liu Baokun. If we have disturbed you, please leave the hall."
"Oh! It's Liu Baokun, You Xian'er. He's your cousin. Why didn't you say anything?"
Zhan Shuzhen seized the opportunity to remind You Xian'er, who was cowering in place.
“If you don’t speak, no one will think you’re mute.” You Xian practically spat out those words through gritted teeth.
Liu Baokun looked at You Xian and smiled awkwardly, "So my cousin is here too."
You Xian'er: "..."
The women in the hall were all stunned by this sudden turn of events.
Jiang Shuyue quickly realized that this matter had to be handled smoothly, and people couldn't be told that the princess's arrangements were inappropriate.
She stood up and looked at Liu Baokun and the other young masters.
Just when Liu Baokun was in a dilemma.
Jiang Shuyue called out to him, "Young Master Liu and the other young masters are here at the imperial palace to admire the plum blossoms, right?"
"You've come at the right time. We're having a musical competition, and we were just worried about not having any judges."
"If you are willing, I would like you gentlemen to score the upcoming zither competition."
"Would you all be willing to use a score of ten out of ten?"
Before Jiang Shuyue could finish speaking, Liu Baokun interrupted, "Yes, of course I'm willing."
The other young men all expressed their opinions: "We would be extremely honored if the ladies did not find it offensive."
The man holding the bamboo flute said with a serious expression, "My surname is Chen, and my given name is Xing. I have some knowledge of music and will certainly vote for everyone impartially."
"puff!"
One of the girls laughed out loud.
"Shen Xing, this person might be reliable, then we can really relax."
Upon seeing Liu Baokun, everyone worried that someone might have a relative among them, thus compromising the fairness of the vote.
There are more than ten people voting here, so it should be fair.
The girls all agreed.
Shen Xing wasn't annoyed that the girls were making fun of his name. He cupped his hands again and said, "I will definitely be fair and just, so that the ladies here can have peace of mind."
Shen Xing was about to walk over when she spoke.
A palace maid quickly called out to him.
"Please don't go over the screen, gentlemen. The hall is only so big, you'll be able to hear everything clearly."
Shen Xing had his own unspeakable suffering, but he naturally knew that Shen Xing had heard him clearly.
He wanted to get closer to watch the girl he longed for play the piano.
She was like the bright moon in the sky, desirable but unattainable.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, he could finally see her beautiful face and ease his longing.
He wished she could fall in love at first sight like he did, and give up the idea of entering the palace.
Reminded by the palace maid, Shen Xing politely retreated behind the screen.
Just as the palace maid lifted the screen back up, he glanced hastily at that beautiful face.
Even though they were far apart, he could still clearly see her beautiful face.
She was the daughter of the Right Chancellor, while her father was merely a registrar in the Court of Imperial Stud.
He failed the autumn examination and his official career was still uncertain.
Perhaps in the blink of an eye she will become the Empress, ruling the world, while I will remain unknown, worlds apart from her.
That chasm is probably impossible to cross in this lifetime.
The music started playing instantly, and everyone stopped whispering and listened attentively to the contestant girl's performance.
Qiu Ju's tightly furrowed brows relaxed.
...
After leaving the hall, Pearl ran off to the plum garden.
She didn't know where the princess was right now.
Looking around, there was no one in the plum garden. She followed the path next to the plum garden and walked to other places.
They hadn't gone far when they saw a palace maid walking towards them.
She walked up quickly.
Upstairs, Xiao Jingzhao watched the little maidservant talking and gesturing, as if she were asking about someone or something.
He waved to Eunuch Ma, "That maid seems to have been with Miss Jiang. Go and see if she needs any help."
Eunuch Ma wasn't appointed to his position for nothing.
He recognized Pearl's identity at a glance.
"Your Majesty, she is Miss Du's maid. I will be right back."
When Eunuch Ma came down from the pavilion, Xiao Jingzhao saw him stop the maid and say a few words to her.
The maid nodded repeatedly, bowed to Eunuch Ma, and then turned to walk back.
Eunuch Ma stopped the palace maid, gave her a few instructions, and then walked towards the pavilion.
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