Chapter 66 Left Hand Pointing to the Moon
The Empress personally organized this flower-viewing banquet on an unprecedented scale. In the Imperial Garden, a hundred flowers vie for brilliance: renowned peonies, fragrant orchids, and splendid peach and plum blossoms, their rich fragrance practically condensing into substance.
But everyone knows that the spring scenery in the garden is just a foil. The protagonists today are the noble ladies and gentlemen in the capital who are included in the list of "excellent shields" of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and... the preliminary battle of the "tributes" from various countries who are about to arrive in the capital.
The Emperor Nangong Yu's calculations in persuading the Empress to hold this banquet almost hit Dongfang Yuning's face through the palace wall - inspect the goods in advance to ensure the quality, so as not to lose face for the country in front of envoys from all over the world!
Those who are restless, quick-witted, or really have nothing to show for themselves can take this opportunity to be "promoted" and passed on to those covetous foreign princes and princesses for marriage, killing two birds with one stone!
[Tsk, Brother-in-law Lao Deng's calculations, I even heard them in the Lingquan space!]
Dongfang Yuning let the palace maid dress her while she complained to the system in her mind.
[Using me as a cover to run a large-scale blind date corner, and even calling it a flower viewing party? Your face is as thick as a round piece of armor!]
System 118:
[Ding—Host's summary is insightful. Emperor Nangong Yu's resource optimization strategy has been activated. Goal: internally digest high-quality resources and export unsaleable products. Risk warning: There may be slip-throughs or hidden bombs.]
Dongfang Yuning:
[Who cares! I have Brother Aye as my 12-hour personal bodyguard! Anyone who dares to approach me should first ask his sword if it agrees!]
She looked at herself in the bronze mirror. The girl in the mirror was wearing a newly designed light cherry pink brocade palace dress. The hem of her skirt was dotted with tiny crystals. Her movements were shimmering, making her skin look whiter than snow. Her eyebrows and eyes were lively and picturesque, and she was pretty with a natural nobility and cunning.
She nodded with satisfaction. "Mm, not bad. This outfit makes me look both youthful and elegant. Reserve advertising space for Yueji Pavilion's new high-end couture! And by the way, I'll piss off those who want to poach me!"
At the Rong'an Marquis's residence, Xun Huiyun was also meticulously dressing up. The shadow of the broken engagement seemed to have been cast behind her. The girl in the mirror was radiant, dressed in a carefully selected moonlit soft silk gown. Her hair was tied high in a bun, and a jade-inlaid and jewel-embellished hairpin slanted diagonally. Her movements swayed gracefully, and she was truly elegant and charming.
Her mother, Madam Xun, looked at her daughter. Although there was a hint of worry about the divorce, there was more pride and anticipation in her eyes:
"Yun'er, you must perform well today! With my son's talent and looks, he will definitely find a good husband and surpass the Xiao family!"
Xun Huiyun pursed her lips and smiled, her eyes gleaming with determination:
"Don't worry, mother. I'll save you some trouble."
[A good son-in-law? Humph, my goal is that supreme position! The position of that short-lived Dongfang Yuning! And the immense wealth she has accumulated!]
On the way from Fengyi Palace to the Imperial Garden, Princess Nangong Yue walked hurriedly, and even handed the new quarterly account book of her beloved Yueji Pavilion to her trusted steward.
"Hurry up! If you go too late you won't be able to get a good seat!"
Her face was filled with uncontrollable excitement. Those who understand will understand: the Queen Mother is in charge, her aunt Dongfang Yuning will definitely be in attendance, and the Emperor, Crown Prince, and Prince Yong are all present = a prime example of a melon field!
Even though the emperor has a secret decree to execute nine generations of the clan hanging over my head, but... it shouldn't be illegal to just watch the show quietly and not reveal my thoughts, right?
Happy! Who could possibly understand the joy of this top-tier bastard? Even though it often ends with pinching one's thighs to stifle laughter, it still can't stop everyone from rushing to the melon field!
For a time, all the royal family nobles, ladies and young men from high-class families who had some connections and heard the news were trying their best to get into the palace. The Queen's flower-viewing banquet had never been so "lively"!
The banquet was held in a spacious pavilion overlooking the lake. Surrounded by exotic flowers, the water shimmered, and the melodious sounds of stringed instruments filled the air. The Emperor and Empress sat together, the Empress Dowager in her finest attire, seated at the head of the table.
When the Queen Mother appeared, the whole audience fell silent for a moment, followed by a suppressed gasp!
The Empress Dowager was dressed in a crimson-purple palace gown, her hair meticulously combed with silver hair. But her face… her skin was firm, smooth, rosy, and lustrous, and the fine lines around her eyes were so faint they were almost invisible. She looked radiant and energetic, as if she were twenty years younger! Someone would even believe she was the Emperor's eldest sister!
[Oh wow! The Queen Mother's advertising is amazing! You deserve this Rejuvenating Cream!]
The villain in Dongfang Yuning's heart clapped crazily.
[This wave of free endorsements is worth a fortune! When all nations come to pay homage, we'll let the Queen and Yue'er make a grand entrance... Hehehe, leeks, get your wallets ready!]
Empress Dongfang Qiwu and Princess Nangong Yue sat below the Empress Dowager, and both of them were in surprisingly good condition.
The queen is dignified and elegant, with skin as white as jade and a mature charm in her eyes. You can't tell at all that she is the mother of four children.
Nangong Yue was radiant and bright, her youthful vitality overwhelming. Emperor Nangong Yu sat beside the empress, his eyes never leaving his own empress, his clingy attitude making the crown prince and the crown princess beside him feel a little uncomfortable.
Nangong Yu's inner thoughts: [Wu'er is so beautiful... I must let her wear that new dress from Yueji Pavilion tonight... Hmm, it must be exciting to tear it apart...]
The queen seemed to sense something, and a barely perceptible blush appeared on her dignified face. Her hand under the table secretly pinched the emperor's thigh.
Crown Prince Nangong Chengqian and the Crown Princess sat on the other side. They both had calm demeanors and glanced at the noble ladies and gentlemen who were being "inspected" below, with their own assessments in mind.
Nangong Ye followed Dongfang Yuning, who was wearing a pink palace dress, step by step. He was dressed in a black python robe, with an upright posture and a stern face. He exuded a cold aura that kept strangers away. Only when he lowered his head to look at the chattering little people beside him would the ice in his eyes quietly melt, and a gentleness that almost drowned people would overflow.
As soon as Xun Huiyun entered the pavilion, her eyes eagerly searched for the dark figure.
When she saw Nangong Ye, her heartbeat accelerated instantly, but the next second, all her excitement and fantasies were shattered by the pink figure next to Nangong Ye!
Dongfang Yuning!
She was wearing that damn, glittering pink dress, smiling sweetly, and was so lively that it seemed as if she had gathered all the light in the world.
And the man she was determined to get was leaning slightly sideways, listening to the girl attentively. The doting in his eyes was something she had never seen in any man's eyes in her past or present life!
What made her even more jealous was the whispers of the ladies around her:
"Look at Princess Fuxing! That pink dress really suits her! She's like the most beautiful peach blossom in spring!"
"Yes, yes, His Royal Highness Prince Yong really is... I can't take my eyes off him!"
"Who can compare to the princess? Her beauty, bearing, family background, and all that blessing... Tsk tsk, this is truly the chosen one!"
"The young lady from the Xun family is quite pretty, but standing next to the princess... alas, how can the light of a firefly compete with the bright moon?"
These words pierced Xun Huiyun's ears like needles, almost breaking the gentle smile she had carefully maintained.
[Dongfang Yuning! You short-lived ghost! Why?! How did you get all this?! Soon, all of this will be mine!]
She was screaming inwardly, her jealousy and sense of superiority as a reborn person nearly driving her mad. She took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down.
[No rush, the opportunity is right before our eyes! First, get his attention! Then... at the flower viewing party, make this eyesore disappear completely!]
She walked towards the center of the field with the most perfect demeanor, her target clear - the direction of Prince Yong, Nangong Ye.
She deliberately slowed down her pace and adjusted her angle, hoping to fall into those deep eyes.
However, Nangong Ye's full attention was on Dongfang Yuning. Xun Huiyun's approach only made his brows furrow slightly, and the coldness emanating from his body intensified. He even quietly stepped aside, shielding Dongfang Yuning even more tightly behind his own figure, so that not even a corner of his clothes could touch Xun Huiyun.
Dongfang Yuning was whispering with Nangong Ye about which snack was delicious when he suddenly felt a strong gaze of scrutiny and inexplicable hostility falling on him.
She looked up subconsciously and met Xun Huiyun's complex eyes, which were filled with strong ambition and which she had not yet completely restrained.
[Huh? 118, why is that girl in the moon-white dress looking at me so strangely? It feels... a little chilly.]
Dongfang Yuning poked the system in his heart.
System 118: [Ding—Scanning target: Xun Huiyun, daughter of the Rong'an Marquisate. Basic information: Fifteen years old, recently divorced from her engagement to Xiao Chongyong, the eldest son of the General of the Cavalry.]
Emotional Analysis: Highly hostile (98%), jealous (95%), and ambitious (MAX). Special status detection...
Warning! Abnormal mental fluctuations detected! Energy characteristics...match the markings of a 'reborn'! Preliminary determination: a reborn individual carrying memories of a past life!]
[Reborn?!]
Dongfang Yuning exclaimed inwardly, her mouth slightly opened.
[Alive?! A novel coming to life?! So exciting?!]
System 118: [Ding—deep analysis of her subconscious and recent focus… Analysis complete. Core goal: Replace the host and become the Princess of Yong.]
Plan steps: 1. Approach Nangong Ye; 2. Create an 'accident' during the flower viewing banquet, causing the host to fall into the water (target depth: over 2 meters), causing serious injury or damage to the host's reputation;
3. Take advantage of the host's 'weakness' or 'loss of power' to win over Nangong Ye with the image of a gentle and sweet-talking woman; 4. Wait for the host's 'natural death' (estimated time: within half a year), and then naturally receive all the host's 'inheritance' (including wealth, reputation and fiancé).
Note: It shows a strong possessiveness towards the host's wealth and the title of Lucky Star.]
【……】
Dongfang Yuning fell silent. She looked at Xun Huiyun in the distance, who was trying hard to maintain a gentle smile but occasionally glanced at Nangong Ye. A cold rage shot up from the soles of her feet to the top of her head!
His fingers tightened unconsciously in his sleeves, his knuckles crackling.
【Tongzi~】
Her inner voice was filled with a calmness that seemed to be about to bring a storm, but it made everyone who could hear her feel their scalps tingle instantly.
"Tell me... How should I shove this reborn girl, who's so clueless and still wants to kill me and take my man and my wallet, into the mud? I want her to be so deep she can't even be pulled up, and she'll never be able to turn over again!"
boom--!
Dongfang Yuning's voice was like thunder, exploding in the minds of everyone who could hear it!
At the top, the Queen Mother's hand that was twirling the Buddhist beads suddenly stopped, her kind smile froze instantly, and a cold light flashed in her eyes!
[What a vicious and heartless person! How dare you murder my Ning'er?!]
The smile on Emperor Nangong Yu's face disappeared, his eyes were as sharp as a knife, sweeping towards Xun Huiyun, and the dragon's might emanated unconsciously.
[Want to harm Ning'er? And want to take Ning'er's things? You're courting death!]
Beneath the dignified appearance of Queen Dongfang Qiwu, there was overwhelming anger and coldness.
[Touch my sister? Rong'an Marquis Mansion, very good! ]
Crown Prince Nangong Chengqian and the Crown Princess looked at each other and saw shock and disgust in each other's eyes.
Princess Nangong Yue almost crushed the glass cup in her hand and screamed in her heart:
[Ahhh! I knew there were melons! But I didn't expect them to be poisonous snake melons! Murdering my aunt?! How dare this bitch?!]
At the Dongfang family's location, Taifu Dongfang Yanru's elegant face instantly turned pale, and the teacup in his hand cracked with a "crack"!
[Asshole! How dare you touch my daughter?!]
Madam Dongfang, Li Zhener, had gentle eyes that instantly became cold and sharp, and she exuded the fierce aura of a military commander's daughter.
Marquis of Zhenguo Dongfang Liezheng gripped the sword at his waist tightly (although he did not bring a real sword with him when he entered the palace), and his eyes were fixed on Xun Huiyun like a tiger, as if he was going to pounce on her and tear her to pieces at the next moment.
The usually gentle eyes of Dongfang Qichen, the Minister of Rites, were now filled with frost, and a chilling sneer appeared at the corner of his mouth.
The imperial merchant Dongfang Linyuan silently moved the golden abacus in his hand, his eyes as if he was looking at a dead person, and he was already calculating how to make the Rong'an Marquis's Mansion bankrupt and live a life worse than death.
Rong'an Marquis Xun Moxing and Madam Xun naturally heard it too! Xun Moxing felt his eyes go dark, and a fishy and sweet taste rushed straight into his throat!
He covered his chest tightly, his face as pale as paper, and looked at his proud daughter in disbelief!
[Plotting to murder... Princess Fuxing?! How...how dare she?! This is a heinous crime punishable by the death of all her clans!]
Madam Xun collapsed directly, and was held tightly by the nanny beside her. She looked at her daughter with eyes full of horror and despair.
The hearts of all the noble ladies and gentlemen in the audience were in turmoil!
[Reborn?! Murdering the princess?! Seizing her property and fiancé?! Oh my god! Is Xun Huiyun crazy?!]
[The Rong'an Marquisate is finished! Completely finished!]
[Who else could he mess with? And he even wants to kill me?!]
[Look at the faces of the Dongfang family and the Emperor...hiss, so scary!]
[Silently light a candle +1]
【Light candle +10086】
…
Nangong Ye's reaction was the most direct! The coldness around him instantly erupted, like tangible frost, causing the temperature around him to drop sharply!
He suddenly protected Dongfang Yuning behind him, as if guarding the most precious treasure. His cold eyes were like the sharpest sword, piercing Xun Huiyun!
The murderous intent in his eyes was undisguised! At the same time, the aura of the secret guards hidden in the shadows instantly became fierce, and countless cold gazes locked onto Xun Huiyun. If she dared to move even a little, she would be stabbed like a sieve!
The entire waterside pavilion fell into an eerie silence. The sounds of stringed instruments seemed to have vanished, leaving only the rustling of flowers and leaves in the wind.
Everyone held their breath, their eyes focused on Xun Huiyun, who was completely unaware and still trying hard to pose, with either horror, contempt, sympathy, or anticipation for a good show.
Xun Huiyun was completely unaware of the terrifying atmosphere of impending storm. She saw Nangong Ye seemed to glance in her direction, but in fact he was looking at Dongfang Yuning, and she was ecstatic!
He looked at me! He must have noticed me! Here's my chance!
She suppressed her excitement, walked gracefully to the center of the hall, bowed gracefully in the direction of the Emperor and Empress, and deliberately made her voice soft and sweet:
"Your humble servant, Xun Huiyun, pays respects to His Majesty, the Empress, and the Empress Dowager. Today, with all the flowers in full bloom, your humble servant is moved. I would like to present a pipa tune to entertain you and all of you."
She deliberately emphasized her name, and glanced shyly in the direction of Nangong Ye, giving him a wink.
She remembered that her father had mentioned Dongfang Yuning's stunning dance at a similar banquet, so she had chosen the pipa this time, hoping to win with her elegance and talent. She was very confident in her instrumental skills.
The sound of the pipa started, and it was quite melodious. While Xun Huiyun was playing, she did not forget to look at Nangong Ye with the most gentle and charming eyes.
She fantasized that her piano music could touch the heartstrings of the cold-faced god of war and make him see her uniqueness.
[Damn! Tongzi! How can I tolerate this?!]
Dongfang Yuning looked at Xun Huiyun's pretentious manner and the way she kept flirting with her fiancé, and then thought about how this woman was plotting to kill him and take away everything from him, and he became increasingly angry!
[You're trying to steal my girlfriend right in front of me?! And you're playing the pipa? Are you trying to outdo me by being a talented woman?]
System 118: [Beep—Host's anger level detected! Target's behavior is seriously provocative! System suggestion: Head-on crush! Let her know what dimensionality reduction strikes mean!]
Host, show us your royal aura, the daughter of a wealthy family! Isn't it just talent? The King of Karaoke requests a challenge! This system provides top-notch accompaniment for free, no points required!
Out! We must teach her a lesson! Let her know that in front of a real cheater, even reborn ones are nothing!]
[Okay! I've been waiting for you to say that!]
Dongfang Yuning is ready to fight.
[Show me the most dazzling folk-style song… No, show me "Left Hand Pointing to the Moon"! I want the opera version! Today, I'm going to show her what heavenly music is and what self-humiliation is!]
By the way... I'd like to advertise Yueji Pavilion's Tianlai Pavilion (the planned music training + musical instrument store)! 】
Just when Xun Huiyun finished her song and thought she had performed perfectly, she was about to bow gracefully and enjoy the admiring gazes of everyone (especially Nangong Ye) -
Dongfang Yuning suddenly jumped out from behind Nangong Ye, with an innocent yet slightly cunning smile on her face, and said sweetly to the Emperor and Empress Dowager at the top:
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, Your Majesty, Queen Mother! Ning'er heard Sister Xun play the piano so well, and I'm itching to sing a song to help cheer you up! Sister Xun, don't mind, right?"
She blinked her big eyes and looked at Xun Huiyun with an expression that said, "I admire you so much that I want to learn from you."
Xun Huiyun was stunned by this sudden admiration and felt disdainful:
[Humph, you short-lived bastard want to show off? Perfect! I'll make you look bad in front of Nangong Ye!]
She maintained a gentle smile on her face:
"Your Highness, you are too kind. It is my honor to have you share my happiness with me."
Nangong Ye frowned slightly and wanted to stop her, but when he saw the excitement and the "trouble-making" light in Ning'er's eyes, he swallowed his anger back silently and just gave the secret guard a look that said "keep an eye on Xun Huiyun".
Queen Dongfang Qiwu was so smart that she immediately agreed with a smile:
"Ning'er wants to sing, then go ahead. I'm curious too."
The Queen Mother also nodded lovingly:
"Okay, okay, whatever Ning'er sings sounds good."
Emperor Nangong Yu waved his hand:
"OK!"
Dongfang Yuning cleared his throat and walked to a slightly more open area in the middle of the field. Just as everyone was curious about what tune the Fuxing County Lord would sing—
A grand, ethereal background music with a mysterious oriental flavor sounded without warning!
It was like heavenly music descending upon the earth, instantly capturing everyone's attention! The exquisiteness of the music and the complexity of the instruments far surpassed any court music of the time!
[Here it comes! The accompaniment is here! 118 awesome! ]
Dongfang Yuning encouraged herself inwardly. She closed her eyes slightly, and when she opened them again, her entire demeanor seemed to have changed.
She opened her cherry lips slightly, and her clear, ethereal, and penetrating voice echoed through the waterside pavilion like the cry of a phoenix in the sky:
"Hold the earth with your left hand and the sky with your right hand~
The palm lines crackled with lightning in ten directions~
Time has been quickly exchanged for years~
Three thousand lifetimes are like nothing you have ever seen..."
The first high note of the opera tune uttered, and the entire audience was stunned! The sound seemed to penetrate the clouds and reach the depths of the soul! Ethereal, distant, and with a kind of divinity that looked down upon all living things!
Xun Huiyun's smile froze completely, her eyes filled with disbelief! What…what kind of singing style is this? This voice…how is it possible?!
Dongfang Yuning was completely immersed in the singing, with a natural rhythm in every gesture, which blended perfectly with the mysterious accompaniment:
"Holding a flower in the left hand and dancing with a sword in the right hand~
Ten thousand years of snow fell between my eyebrows~
A tear ah ah ah ~
That’s me~”
The extreme high notes in the climax are like a phoenix reborn from the ashes, with a power that shocks the heart!
You could hear a pin drop in the pavilion, and everyone was completely conquered by this unprecedented sound of nature!
Even those eyes that were attracted by Xun Huiyun's pipa sound were now all fixed on that pink figure!
Nangong Ye looked at the radiant girl in the field with a look of infatuation and pride. His Ning'er could always bring him surprises (and shocks).
The Queen Mother, the Emperor, the Empress, the Crown Prince, and the others were completely mesmerized by what they heard, their minds frantically scrolling through their screens:
[Ning'er/Aunt/Princess Fuxing is mighty! ]
【This song should only exist in heaven! 】
【Crush! Absolute crush!】
[Yueji Pavilion also has this service? I must learn!]
…
When the last sentence
"I pick you up with my left hand and put you down with my right hand. When we put our hands together, you are all taken back into my heart..."
The ending tone slowly dissipated with endless charm, and the entire water pavilion fell into absolute silence that lasted for several seconds.
immediately--
"good!!!"
Emperor Nangong Yu was the first to excitedly slam the table and cheer loudly!
"Wonderful! Wonderful!"
The Empress Dowager couldn't help but applaud.
"Ning'er sings so well!"
The queen's eyes were filled with surprise and pride.
Thunderous applause and heartfelt praise erupted instantly! Everyone was completely captivated by this musical feast that transcended their time!
Xun Huiyun stood alone on the sidelines, her face as pale as paper. The complacency and ambition she had just felt were crushed by this dimensionality-reducing display of talent!
She felt like a clown!
What made her feel even more like she was falling into an ice cave was that she found that the eyes of the people around her looked at her differently. They were no longer full of appreciation or curiosity as before, but were filled with... contempt, disgust, pity, and even... as if they were looking at a dead person?
Especially the despair and anger in the eyes of Marquis Rong'an and his wife made her feel cold all over.
【Huh, you want to fight me? I'm cheating!】
Dongfang Yuning laughed heartily with his hands on his hips, enjoying the applause from the crowd. Then he gave Xun Huiyun an innocent smile that made her feel cold all over.
"Sister Xun, how was my singing? Did I not embarrass you? But when I was playing the pipa just now, your eyes kept drifting towards my brother Aye. Did you drop the music sheet over there? Do you want me to help you pick it up?"
puff--!
Xun Moxing, the Marquis of Rong'an, could no longer hold back and spat out a mouthful of blood! It's over! It's all over!
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