Chapter 34 Playing the Piano
Putting aside their upright character, it was all just a misunderstanding.
Although he and Xiao Yuxuan only exchanged a few words, he found that she was a person without prejudice against social class and who respected his father. How could such a person be the shameless and pretentious person that Princess Wenyue described?
His impression of Princess Wenyue, who had scolded Xiao Yuxuan without even knowing the facts, plummeted to the lowest point.
With the Crown Prince still by his side, Xiahou Yin only glanced at Xiao Yuxuan, whose cheeks were still streaked with tears, and said nothing more.
The other person was Qi Jun. He looked at Xiao Yuxuan, who had wiped away her tears and stopped sobbing with the comfort of the two kind girls beside her, and felt that something was wrong.
He knew that the rumors were unreliable. He was aware of the secret dealings in the Xiao family. But if Xiao Yuxuan was so quick-witted and adaptable in the past, why was she repeatedly outmaneuvered by Xiao Yuyao?
He grew up in the treacherous imperial harem, and his younger brothers, who were about the same age as him, had experienced many struggles for the emperor's favor.
Qi Jun had long known that the love of an emperor always comes at a price, but did the girl from the mere Minister's mansion also face the same predicament as him?
Whether one strives or not, the difference in circumstances is so vast. How could he possibly remain mediocre and hand over his fate to others?
Then there's my cousin Qi Wenyue. Uncle Duan is in poor health, and there's no mistress in the mansion, so Qi Wenyue's upbringing is inevitably neglected. As a result, she's become so fond of gossiping and petty, lacking any of the demeanor of a royal princess.
He had a headache. They owed Uncle Duan a lot and shouldn't be too harsh on their younger sister.
Xiao Yuxuan was unaware that her gentle yet forceful response, which deterred Qi Wenyue from further escalating her actions in front of everyone, inadvertently revealed a side of her beyond the rumors to many.
Suddenly, the name of Miss Xiao Wu was frequently mentioned by the young men and women.
The story of the babies being switched at birth was told to the outside world that it was a momentary oversight by the midwife. Xiao Yuyao has been raised as a daughter of the Xiao family for so many years, and now she is an adopted daughter of the Xiao family and is listed in the family genealogy. Naturally, the young men and women here recognize her identity.
As for Xiao Yuxuan, although she had a reputation for being arrogant and rude before, she was not so bad after meeting her in person. On the contrary, her stunning beauty made many people feel good about her.
Everyone present was shrewd, and no one dared to bring up the topic again.
Maids filed in carrying one exquisite dish after another, and thin wooden flower sticks began to float on the winding stream, which people could pick up and compose poems on.
The organizer, a boy with beady green eyes, stood up to liven up the atmosphere and suggested a game of musical chairs and drawing lots to compose poems.
A girl in green suggested:
"It's so boring having the maids beat the drum every time. How about we play the zither this time? When the music stops, we'll use the last note to correspond to a flower slip and call on someone to answer!"
Someone chimed in, "This is great! It's both elegant and innovative!"
The five notes, Gong, Shang, Jiao, Zheng, and Yu, are the musical scales of this dynasty. Children from aristocratic families learn the Six Arts of a Gentleman from a young age, including rites, music, archery, charioteering, calligraphy, and mathematics, with music being one of them.
The person in charge of drumming was originally a maid brought by Princess Wenyue. She wasn't intimidated at all and smiled confidently:
"This servant is not good at music, and knows nothing about playing the zither. I wonder if any young master or young lady would be willing to temporarily take over the task of playing the zither, so as to avoid having to draw lots to compose poems."
This was said in a witty way, and everyone present laughed.
Qi Huan then looked at Xiao Yuyao, his gaze gentle, and said:
"I've heard that Miss Xiao's zither skills are unparalleled in the capital. Why don't we let Miss Xiao play the zither for us?"
Xiao Yuyao blushed slightly under the Fourth Prince's gaze. Just as she was about to get up, Qi Wenyue interjected:
"Yuyao's zither skills are obvious to all, they are naturally excellent. Wouldn't it be a waste of her talents to have her play the zither?"
"In my opinion, why not let Miss Xiao do it? Since you are Yuyao's sister, even if you are not as good as Yuyao, it would be good to exchange playing the zither for a chance not to write poetry."
The Fourth Prince paused, and Xiao Yuyao was even more furious, wishing she could shut Qi Wenyue up.
What is she really up to? She's ruined her plans time and time again!
Xiao Yuxuan went to the girls' school for the first time yesterday, and she probably doesn't even know what the Six Arts of a Gentleman are, let alone how to play the zither.
If she were to feign shedding a few tears and say she hadn't learned how to gain sympathy when she was wandering the streets, wouldn't all these people flock to her again?
She now understood that Xiao Yuxuan had become clever and knew how to use a retreat as a pretext to gain sympathy. How despicable!
Xiahou Yin's cheerful and warm expression turned slightly cold as he took the initiative to speak:
“Princess Wen Yue, you are mistaken. How can it be that Miss Xiao Si’s playing the zither is a waste of her talents, and Miss Xiao Wu’s playing the zither is an excuse to avoid composing poetry?”
Qi Wenyue didn't expect that before Xiao Yuxuan could even speak, the boy opposite her would be the first to refute her, glaring at her coldly.
Xiahou Yin glared back defiantly. A princess from the capital city couldn't possibly control the only son of the general guarding the southwest.
Xiao Yuxuan stood up at this moment, tears welling in her eyes, and said:
“The princess has given her order, and Yu Xuan dares not disobey.”
After saying that, he walked towards the piano that had already been carried up.
She can play the piano, but her skills are not very advanced. Xie Tingzhou passed away before he could fully teach her, so she is barely good enough to deal with this group of teenagers.
"I'll go too!"
Xiahou Yin hurriedly tried to catch up, but unexpectedly, a large, well-defined hand pressed firmly on his shoulder.
"I have no desire to compose poetry today."
Qi Jun stood up and, amidst the astonished gazes of the crowd, followed Xiao Yuxuan away.
As he passed Qi Wenyue, his gaze swept over her coldly, as if to say that he would settle accounts with her later. Qi Wenyue shrank back, realizing that it would be necessary to go see her aunt, the Princess, again.
"If Miss Xiao doesn't wish to play the zither, how about she draws a flower fortune stick for me instead?"
Xiao Yuxuan was also a little confused when she saw Qi Jun following her. Why was the Crown Prince interacting with her so frequently today? She wouldn't be so narcissistic as to think that the Crown Prince admired her, since they had only met that day. She just found it strange.
Why would a crown prince, with such a noble status, take such good care of the daughter of a subject?
"Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness, but since I have promised the Princess, I cannot go back on my word."
Qi Jun frowned; this little girl was a bit stubborn.
Not all of these people, but at least half of them are waiting to see her make a fool of herself. He has already given her a way out, why is she still not grateful?
"Does she really know how to play the piano?"
Qi Wenyue was now unsure of what to do. She had only intended to mock her for being ignorant, but she hadn't expected her to actually go and do it.
Xiao Yuyao wore a faint smile, wondering why the Crown Prince had gone along, but outwardly she only said:
"I don't know either. My fifth sister is used to doing things her own way and doesn't like to confide in me. Maybe, maybe she wants His Highness the Crown Prince to do it for her."
Qi Wenyue snorted disdainfully, wanting to see what tricks this person was up to.
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