Imperial Capital 25. Being used as a shield

After nearly two hours of competition, the winners of each skill were finally determined. Ye Ying's performance was slightly inferior to last year's, although she later performed a Fairy Dance and tied with Princess Qixia for first place. However, the Third Young Master Feng, who was known as the best zither player in the capital, rejected her and lost to Liu Ruyun, the daughter of the Liu family, and finished second. After that, she won third place in poetry, but it was hard to hide Ye Ying's aggrieved and frustrated look. Princess Qixia, as an outsider, shined in the subsequent competitions, and won third place in zither, first place in calligraphy, and second place in chess. In this way, Princess Qixia became the champion of this Hundred Flowers Festival with two first places, one second place, and one third place.

Princess Zhaoyang was obviously very satisfied with the result, and several judges on the stage also showed some appreciation for this foreign princess. Just when Master Su Zhe was about to announce the result of the Hundred Flowers Festival, Princess Qixia whispered a few words into Princess Zhaoyang's ear, then stood up and bowed to Master Su apologetically, then turned around to look at Ye Ying, who was looking gloomy, with a hint of sneer between her brows.

"Please forgive me, everyone. Qixia would like to have a dance competition with Fourth Miss Ye again." Princess Qixia said loudly, and the venue suddenly became noisy.

Feng Zhiyao lazily leaned back in his chair, looked at Princess Qixia and said with a smile, "I believe everyone here is very happy to see the princess and the most beautiful woman in the capital dancing again. But... I don't know why we have to compete again?"

Princess Qixia raised her head and said proudly, "Don't you say in the Central Plains that there is no first in literature and no second in martial arts? Although this dance is not that martial arts, this princess is not used to being on the same level with others." While speaking, she glanced at Ye Ying with disdain, almost saying that Ye Ying was not worthy of being on the same level with her. Ye Ying, who was standing in the audience, suddenly turned pale, and her slender figure was about to fall. The people present saw this and felt that Princess Qixia was going too far. Princess Qixia did not care about other people's eyes, but just stared at Ye Ying steadily.

Feng Zhiyao's lazy eyes swept over Mo Jingli, who was sitting on the side with a gloomy look, and said with a smile: "Your Highness Prince Li, what do you think? After all... Miss Ye Si is your fiancée."

Mo Jingli glanced at Ye Ying below the stage, his cold eyes flickered a little, and he said calmly, "Princess Qixia, are you dissatisfied with Yao Ji's evaluation?"

Yao Ji smiled sweetly, and immediately became very charming. "If Princess Qixia has a more beautiful dance, Yao Ji would naturally be willing to watch it. I just don't know if I have the honor to do so."

Mo Jingli remained silent. Although he didn't know much about dancing, he knew from the results Yao Ji had given him that Ye Ying and Princess Qixia's dancing skills should be on par. But dancing is a skill that is appreciated with the eyes. Even though the two people's skills are almost the same, Princess Qixia's passion is obviously more touching than Ye Ying's gracefulness. This situation can also be called "highbrow music is not appreciated by the masses". If Ye Ying loses to Princess Qixia again... Mo Jingli's handsome sword-like eyebrows gradually wrinkled.

Seeing that he didn't say anything, Princess Zhaoyang, who was sitting on the first seat, frowned in displeasure, "Jingli."

"Oh……"

There was a low cry from the audience, followed by the crisp sound of porcelain falling to the ground. Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw the maid next to Ye Ying lying on the ground begging for mercy. Ye Ying covered her left arm with a pale face. Her left arm was already wet. Apparently, the maid who served tea just now accidentally spilled the tea on Ye Ying.

"Ying'er..." Mo Jingli stood up and jumped down from the stands to hold Ye Ying in his arms. He kicked the girl who was kneeling on the ground away and said, "Get out!"

The eldest princess on the stage suddenly turned pale. Mo Jingli kicked a maid from her eldest princess's mansion. "Someone, ask the imperial physician to come and treat Miss Ye."

The ladies present were all a little stunned by this sudden situation. Although each of them tried their best to maintain their demeanor as ladies from wealthy families, it did not prevent them from exchanging their opinions in private in various ways.

"Tsk, Ah Li, you better be careful, your sister is really cruel." After a few hours of sitting, Murong Ting's address to Ye Li has evolved from Miss Ye, Ye Li to the intimate Ah Li. If it was really that girl who accidentally poured water on Ye Ying, Murong Ting would not believe it even if she bet her brain, which does not like studying very much, would it be such a coincidence that Princess Qixia just made a challenge and Ye Ying got burned here?

Hua Tianxiang frowned, "I don't know why, but I have a bad feeling."

Ye Li raised her eyebrows. Before she could say anything, she heard Ye Ying, who was also leaning on Mo Jingli's arms, say to Princess Qixia in a weak and regretful voice: "Princess, I am really sorry. I am afraid that Ye Ying cannot compete with you. Since you are not convinced... why not ask sister to replace Ye Ying. Sister is the legitimate daughter of the Shangshu Mansion, and I believe she will not humiliate the princess. Sister, don't you agree?"

Hearing this, Ye Li's usually calm expression darkened. How could Ye Ying not know that she couldn't dance? If she lost, it would be her, Ye Li, who had lost face for the Shangshu Mansion, not her, Ye Ying, who was inferior to Princess Qixia. Not only did she avoid the possibility of losing to Princess Qixia, but she also succeeded in making Ye Li lose face at her first party. It was indeed a good plan.

"Just do as Ying'er said!" Mo Jingli gave the order impatiently. He picked up Ye Ying and prepared to leave the venue without waiting for the imperial physician to arrive.

Watching Mo Jingli leave without hesitation, the princess' eyes darkened, and after a while she said in a deep voice, "In that case, Miss Ye San will replace Miss Ye Si."

Ye Li was speechless: Has anyone really ever thought of asking her if she can dance?

Almost everyone's eyes fell on Ye Li, Qin Zheng and the others also looked at her nervously. Although they had urged Ye Li to win a place before, they had no intention of forcing Ye Li to go. Not to mention that they were new friends, they couldn't harm Qin Zheng and Ye Li's future relationship.

Princess Qixia was furious because of Mo Jingli's departure from Ye Ying, and it just so happened that Ye Li, who was pushed out by Mo Jingli to replace him, was also Mo Jingli's ex-fiancée. So Princess Qixia was full of anger and directed it directly at Ye Li, raising her delicate eyebrows, "Miss Ye, please go first."

Ye Li stood up helplessly, met Princess Qixia's hateful gaze, thought for a moment before speaking: "I give up."

Everyone, including Princess Qixia, was stunned. After a while, Princess Qixia came back to her senses and glared at Ye Li, saying, "Do you look down on me? I don't need you to give in!"

Ye Li shook her head helplessly, "I didn't give in, Princess. I really admit defeat."

"If you admit defeat without competing, even if you win, it would be unfair to me."

Forcing someone who can't dance to compete is even more unkind, isn't it? Ye Li sighed softly, and looked at Princess Qixia with angry eyes, "Princess, I can't dance." So, you were fooled by Ye Ying.

"Haha, His Royal Highness Prince Li and the future Princess Li are very creative in choosing a person who can't dance as a substitute." Feng Zhiyao thought lazily, with a sense of schadenfreude in his voice.

Princess Qixia was also stunned, "Why can't you dance!"

"Because dancing is not a compulsory course for the ladies of the Great Chu. I believe that many of the ladies here cannot dance." Ye Li answered confidently. It is not shameful not to be able to dance. In fact, there are very few ladies in the Great Chu who specialize in dancing, unless they really like it or their families may intend to send their daughters to the palace.

Since Ye Li has already stated that she has never learned to dance, forcing her to dance would be unreasonable. Princess Qixia also realized that she was fooled by Ye Ying, and could only suppress her anger temporarily. Staring at the calm and elegantly smiling young girl in green, she said with a twinkle in her eyes: "I didn't see Miss Ye try it out just now. Since Miss Ye Si has so much confidence in me, please let Miss Ye show her strengths in other aspects. Or..." She looked at Ye Li with a smile, paused for a moment, and then said loudly: "Or Miss Ye can't do anything?"

Ye Li lowered his head and remained silent for a moment, then raised his head and looked at Princess Qixia calmly and said, "In this case, Ye Li is embarrassed."