The Empress Dowager then allowed the princes to take their seats.
Then he suggested that the girls perform.
These young ladies from noble families had all learned some poetry, literature, and arts. In order to impress the Empress Dowager and the princes, they each brought out their best skills.
Playing the piano, singing, dancing, composing poetry, painting...
Qingying watched with great interest, clapping and exclaiming in admiration.
Such performances are usually based on personal willingness and are not forced. Qingying was completely unprepared and had no intention of going up, but someone just wouldn't let her go.
"I wonder if Miss Liu has any skills she would like to demonstrate?"
She paused for a moment, then looked at the seventh prince who had spoken.
“I…” She quickly put down the pastry she was eating, wiped her mouth, stood up and curtsied, saying, “Although I have studied music, chess, calligraphy and painting, I have no special skills, so I will not embarrass myself in front of you talented sisters.”
"Oh?" The Seventh Prince raised an eyebrow, his gaze on her filled with amusement. "But I heard you won first place at the poetry competition?"
"Your Highness misunderstands. I only won first place by chance in the grass-fighting game that day. As for composing poems, I did not participate in it."
"Is that so?" He didn't seem to intend to let her off the hook.
Qingying wasn't actually afraid of his challenge. She was quite confident in herself. Although she had never shown her talents in front of others, she had spent many years in seclusion, honing her skills in her spare time. She had mastered the arts of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting.
Her health doesn't allow her to learn archery and horsemanship, but she can still try her hand at etiquette, music, calligraphy, and mathematics.
Just as she was about to pretend to reluctantly agree, someone spoke up for her: "Seventh Brother, didn't you enjoy seeing so many girls' talents just now? Is it because they didn't quite meet your expectations?"
That familiar voice brings a sense of peace.
Qingying immediately felt relieved.
The Empress Dowager then spoke up: "Miss Liu's illness has not yet fully recovered, so there is no need for her to perform. I am also a bit tired, so I will not join in the fun of you young people. From now on, let the Crown Prince take charge."
After saying that, she got up and left her seat.
Everyone bowed and respectfully saw them off.
With the Empress Dowager gone, the atmosphere in Fanghua Palace became even more lively.
The Seventh Prince stood up and said, "Having just witnessed so many talents from you ladies, as a way of giving back, I'd like to perform for you all as well."
As he spoke, a young eunuch presented him with an unsharpened sword.
He twirled the sword in his hand, and the longsword seemed to come alive as it spun in his fair and slender hand. Then, as the music began, he started to dance.
He was already handsome, with a tall and slender figure. His long, dark hair traced graceful arcs as he danced. His movements were clean and crisp, flowing smoothly with each movement, combining strength and gentleness.
Noble ladies were all attracted to him.
This person is simply too dazzling.
Qingying was so engrossed in watching that she didn't even realize the sword tip was flying straight toward her.
The Seventh Prince's sword slipped from his hand and stabbed towards Liu Qingying.
With a "crack," the sword was deflected by the flying porcelain shard and fell to the ground.
"What are you doing?!" Wei Huaixu stood up.
There were shards of porcelain on the table in front of him and on the floor. Tea dripped down the edge of the table, and his sleeves were already wet.
Qingying clutched her wildly beating heart. The danger she had just experienced had only happened in the blink of an eye. Now that she had come to her senses, she felt flustered and her eyes welled up with tears.
The sudden turn of events silenced everyone; the once bustling Fanghua Palace was now so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
"I...I don't know how this happened..." The Seventh Prince looked helpless and leaned closer to ask with concern, "Miss Liu, are you hurt?"
Qingying looked at him and clearly saw a mischievous smirk in his eyes.
She took a deep breath, her nails digging into her palms to stop herself from swearing. Her eyes were brimming with tears, she was extremely aggrieved, but she could only utter two words in a trembling voice: "No."
Wei Huaixu strode over and stood in front of Qingying, coldly looking at the Seventh Prince: "Wei Huaichong, what exactly do you want to do?"
Wei Huaichong drooped his eyelids innocently, pursed his lips, and said, "It really was a mistake. Besides, the sword wasn't even sharpened. It couldn't have hurt her. Miss Liu said she was fine. Why is Your Majesty so angry?"
Qingying then said timidly, "Your Highness, I was just a little frightened, but I'm really fine."
Wei Huaixu turned around and glanced at her, his brows furrowing as he met her misty eyes.
“Miss Liu has just recovered from a serious illness and should not stay on the lake too long to avoid a relapse.” He said this without looking at Ying, and turned to walk to his seat.
He wanted her to leave, so Qingying followed the steps and said, "My daughter fell seriously ill after returning from the poetry gathering some time ago. The doctor did advise her not to catch a cold, so I will take my leave now."
Since the Crown Prince had spoken, the others naturally dared not have any objections. Moreover, seeing her aggrieved appearance, most of them felt sorry for her.
Qingying curtsied and was led out of Fanghua Palace by the palace maid.
Walking along the palace path, her thoughts were in a daze.
She didn't know how she had offended the seventh prince, since they had no prior interaction.
Could it be that he set his sights on me just because of that one glance?
If that's the case, all she can say is that this person is most likely sick.
As she walked, she suddenly realized something was wrong. Why did this seem to be a different route from the one she had come by? Could it be that she had misremembered because she was so focused on talking to Xie Jiaoying?
Yu Yue was still waiting for her at the palace gate, and she didn't even have anyone to give her advice.
She had no choice but to ask the palace maid leading the way, "Excuse me, sister, is this the way out of the palace?"
"no."
She had thought the palace maid would try to lie to her, but to her surprise, the maid admitted it directly.
Qingying immediately stopped and stepped back. "Where...where are you taking me?"
She was unfamiliar with the place, and the palace was so big. If she were tricked into going to some deserted, cold palace and killed, her body might not be found for three days and three nights.
The young palace maid turned around, her attitude still respectful: "Miss, there's no need to be nervous. His Highness the Crown Prince instructed me to bring you here."
"Really?" she asked, slightly doubtful.
“Miss, you are General Liu’s daughter. Even if I had a hundred lives, I wouldn’t dare to lie to you.”
Qingying looked around and saw only tall red walls and glazed tiles visible in the distance. Nothing about her was familiar to her, and even if she wanted to run, she didn't know where to go.
I had no choice but to believe her for the time being and figure out what would happen.
Qingying was taken to the East Palace by a palace maid.
Only then did she have to believe that it was Wei Huaixu's order.
"Why did Your Highness ask you to bring me here?"
The palace maid did not answer, but bowed and said, "Miss, you only need to wait here for a moment."
After saying that, she turned and left.
Qingying was left alone in this vast palace, restless and uneasy.
She dared not look around. There was a teacup on the table in front of her. She was a little thirsty, but she dared not move around easily.
She sat upright, her hands resting on her knees, obediently waiting.
Before long, Wei Huaixu returned.
"I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."
He walked in, and when he got to Qingying, he suddenly took off his outer robe.
Qingying was so frightened that she quickly covered her eyes.
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