Qin Qianlu remained silent, feeling bewildered. The others also frowned. This Xing Yaqi was truly unworthy of being the daughter of a compiler in the Hanlin Academy, so rude and disrespectful. Regardless of whether Princess Qingyun had any talent, even if she didn't, what Princess Qingyun did was of great importance to the country and its people. How could a mere compiler's daughter have the right to interfere?
Qin Qianlu frowned. "Is she out of her mind? It's not like I made her fail the exam. Why is she targeting me? Even though I do have a good father, I'm undeniably incompetent. I didn't want to be an official, and how would I know why I became one? Who wants to work a regular job?"
Everyone: What is Princess Qingyun saying? How does she look like someone who is ignorant and incompetent? It's just that Princess Qingyun did something that the lowly female scholar has no right to know, since it's still a secret and hasn't been publicized yet.
The crowd looked at Xing Yaqi in the hall with a hint of disgust. Princess Qingyun originally didn't want to be an official, and if she was really angered by this woman, she would just resign. This woman really doesn't know any manners!
Xing Yaqi stood in the hall, her face gloomy, staring intently at Qin Qianluo. How dare she insult her like this? What right did she have to insult her like this?
Qin Qianluo glanced at Xing Yaqi in the hall, stood up and said, "Miss Xing's words are quite interesting. I am honored by your praise and am aware of your curiosity. Today is Madam Lin's birthday banquet. I had no intention of competing for glory, but I could not refuse your kind invitation. In order to make Madam Lin smile and add to the joy of the banquet, I will make a fool of myself. I hope you will not laugh at me and will not forget that this is to celebrate Madam Lin's birthday."
After Qin Qianlu finished speaking, she walked upright and straight into the hall, smiled at Xing Yaqi, but the smile did not reach her eyes. She then borrowed a guqin from Madam Lin, and Madam Lin hurriedly called a maid to fetch the guqin.
Looking at Princess Qingyun's demeanor and hearing her words, everyone nodded in agreement. This was the proper bearing of a princess; she neither lost her dignity nor made Old Madam Lin feel like she was usurping the throne.
Madam Lin was also very satisfied. She looked at the tall and graceful woman in the hall with a kind and gentle expression and nodded in approval. Although she was young, she had an extraordinary demeanor.
Qin Qianlu smiled at Old Madam Lin and said, "Today, at Old Madam Lin's birthday banquet, this princess specially presents a song called 'Auspicious Crane and Fairy Shadow.' May auspicious light gather, a fairy's beauty unfold, and auspicious clouds dance. Auspicious cranes descend to earth, singing clear and high, to attend the birthday banquet."
Madam Lin nodded, feeling quite pleased. Her dissatisfaction at being abruptly interrupted by the younger generation of the Xing family had lessened considerably, and she grew to like this Princess Qingyun even more.
Seeing that Madam Lin nodded, Qin Qianluo took light steps and walked to the guqin that had just been set up. She sat down gently and skillfully plucked the strings with her hands. The beautiful and melodious music filled the hall, and everyone was captivated by it, listening quietly.
As the song ended, everyone applauded and praised her. Qin Qianlu smiled and said a few polite words. She glanced at Xing Yaqi, who was still stunned, and did not make things difficult for her. She simply returned to her seat and sat up straight.
Although this piece requires a variety of plucked instruments to sound good, I was playing it alone. When I usually practice, I choose the guzheng, guqin and pipa. Although the pipa is more suitable for this piece, I suddenly got the urge to adapt a few pieces on the guqin after taking a lesson a few days ago. The effect was unexpectedly good, and this piece just happened to be one of them. Now, judging from everyone's reaction, the adaptation is considered a success. I smiled.
Seeing the smile on Qin Qianluo's lips, 001 asked in confusion, "Luo Bao, aren't you angry? Why didn't you punish her? She provoked you like that, why are you still smiling?"
Qin Qianluo took a sip of tea and chuckled, "What's there to be angry about? He's just a child. It's nothing serious. Today is a birthday banquet, so we should save face for the host. If we make a scene, wouldn't we be embarrassing Minister Lin?"
Although 001 didn't understand, it didn't say anything. It felt that Luo Bao was too soft-hearted, but since Luo Bao had already said so, it had to listen to Luo Bao and couldn't secretly take action. It didn't think there was anything wrong with Qin Qianluo saying that a sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl was a child.
Xing Jianxing was utterly terrified. Had his daughter gone mad? How dare she provoke Princess Qingyun in front of everyone? His official position was in jeopardy!
Madam Xing quickly pulled Xing Yaqi back. She was angry, but what was done was done. Her daughter was in a daze, and she couldn't say anything at the banquet. She could only talk about it when they got home.
Xing Yaqi was somewhat unable to accept this. She had thought Qin Qianlu was a good-for-nothing who did nothing, but she hadn't expected her to play the most difficult guqin. After Qin Qianlu finished playing, she thought she would make things difficult for her and embarrass her, but she just glanced at her and returned to her seat without saying anything.
Hearing her thoughts, she didn't blame him at all, and even called him a child? He was so much older than her, yet she treated him like a child. He seemed to be inferior to her.
Xing Yaqi lowered her head in deep thought. Had she really been wrong? Princess Qingyun was not an ignorant person, and she was also tolerant. So what about her previous subtle disdain and contempt? Today, she had even disregarded etiquette, usurped the host's role, and embarrassed Princess Qingyun in public. Xing Yaqi belatedly felt a sense of panic.
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