20. Dragon Boat Festival Feast (Part Two)
"Your humble servant, Xiao Qinshi, has been deeply moved by the remarkable performances of so many young ladies from noble families. I would like to offer my humble contribution as well, and humbly request Your Highness and Your Highness's permission." Qin Siyan bowed respectfully, her demeanor impeccable.
Looking at Qin Siyan bowing below her, Liu Hanruo felt a surge of anger, her eyes filled with unconcealed resentment. She stared straight at Qin Siyan without saying a word. This unusual emotion surprised the Prince Xiaoyao, who had been watching her closely. He sighed inwardly, realizing that the overwhelming hatred in Liu Hanruo's eyes seemed genuine. Logically, the two had not had any contact, so where did this hatred come from? He secretly noted it down, preparing to investigate after the banquet.
Qin Siyan noticed Liu Hanruo's gaze, immediately knelt down to apologize, and couldn't help but recall whether she had ever offended the Princess Consort of Xiaoyao in the past.
"This humble woman does not know what she has done wrong to anger Your Highness so much. Please enlighten me, Your Highness."
One glared angrily, while the other forced a smile. The others below were equally bewildered, secretly adding the words "capricious and unpredictable" before "extremely wicked princess." The scene remained tense. Seeing this, the carefree prince was extremely helpless and could only cough a few times, trying to wake Liu Hanruo, who was still immersed in her own thoughts.
These few coughs effectively brought Liu Hanruo back to her senses. She withdrew her gaze, lowered her head slightly to conceal the hatred in her eyes, and then looked up again with a smile on her face, saying gently:
"Madam Xiao, why are you still kneeling? This is my fault. Alas, it's all my fault for suddenly remembering something and getting distracted. I forgot that Madam Xiao has been kneeling. I apologize to Madam Xiao. Please get up!"
"Your Majesty, I am terrified. I dare not accept the apology from Your Highness!" Qin Siyan said she dared not, but in her heart she was very pleased. It was probably unprecedented for a first-rank princess to apologize to her. Thinking this, she felt that kneeling for this moment was worth it.
"Hehe, just now Madam Xiao said she also wanted to liven things up and showcase her talents?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Since Madam Xiao is in such a refined mood, I am more than happy and how could I refuse? I suppose Your Highness thinks so too, is that right, Your Highness?"
After Liu Hanruo finished speaking, she looked at the Prince of Xiaoyao and saw him nod.
"I have long admired Madam Xiao's extraordinary musical skills. I am delighted to finally have the opportunity to see them today. Madam Xiao, please begin."
"Your Highness, I have another request. I would like to ask my husband to play a duet with me."
When Liu Hanruo heard Qin Siyan mention Xiao Feng, her smile froze, and then she nodded.
"Thank you, Your Highness and Your Highness. My skills on the zither are poor, I have made a fool of myself."
Qin Siyan got up and walked to the piano stand to try tuning it. Although the sound was messy and had no rhythm, it reminded people of the saying, "Turning the pegs and plucking the strings a few times, the melody is formed before the emotion is expressed." Then, Qin Siyan smiled at Xiao Feng, and Xiao Feng returned the smile. They were so affectionate and their love was enviable. Everything was understood without words.
Qin Siyan gently plucked the strings, and a melodious tune began to play. Soon after, the clear and delicate sound of the xiao (vertical flute) joined the qin (zither), creating a harmonious duet. The music flowed like a sudden downpour, sometimes as sharp as whispered words, the notes mingling and intertwining like pearls falling onto a jade plate. When the piece ended, the two gazed at each other, their eyes filled with tender affection.
The entire piece, with its rising clouds and flying snow, initially delights the ear, then twists and turns, then turns to the anger of the dragon and the sorrow of the tortoise, until finally returning to tranquility. The rapid changes in between demonstrate the tacit understanding between the two composers and their superb skills, leaving the listener deeply captivated and enchanted.
Seeing her past life's enemy smiling so brightly in front of her, Liu Hanruo suddenly felt a sharp pain in her eyes, an impulse to rush down and destroy them. But reason told her that the time was not right. She gritted her teeth, gripped the edge of the chair tightly, and desperately suppressed this inexplicable impulse. Perhaps because she was too focused on the two people below her, Liu Hanruo did not notice that the Prince of Xiaoyao had been watching her closely, noticing all her unusual emotions. The seeds of suspicion gradually sprouted and grew stronger.
The banquet was in full swing. Xiao Feng and Qin Siyan's duet on the qin and xiao brought the banquet to a climax. The people behind them also showed off their special skills. Some performed magic tricks, and some performed ventriloquism. In contrast, the young lady who also performed the qin seemed much inferior and did not receive a round of applause.
Just then, an unexpected person arrived at the banquet. Liu Hanxue was dressed in white, her figure slender and graceful. Although her face was covered with thick foundation to try to conceal her illness, it still seemed like a cover-up, leading to various speculations among the crowd.
A delicate beauty always easily evokes a protective instinct in people. Some people felt indignant for Liu Hanxue from the bottom of their hearts, believing that Liu Hanruo must have withheld Liu Hanxue's monthly salary. Knowing that her sister had miscarried and was weak and needed to be properly nourished to recover her strength, she still did this. It was truly heartless. It seems that the title of "extremely evil princess" was indeed well-deserved.
Some people believe that Liu Hanruo was afraid that Liu Hanxue would compete for favor after her health improved, so she deliberately did something bad to make her health collapse, so that the Prince of Xiaoyao would be hers.
Only a very few people looked at Liu Hanxue with disdain, thinking that she was pretending to be pitiful to gain sympathy. Among them, of course, was none other than Young Master Ximen.
Seeing the indignation in everyone's eyes, Liu Hanxue secretly rejoiced, slowly knelt down, and tearfully admitted her mistake:
"Sister, I know I shouldn't be out on a day like this, but... but... sister... cough cough." Before she could finish speaking, Liu Hanxue coughed violently, even coughing up black blood.
Seeing this, Liu Hanruo was also surprised and puzzled, thinking to herself: Could it be...? Surely not... Knowing that her body is not fully recovered and cannot withstand such exertion, she wouldn't be foolish enough to do this...
Liu Hanruo quickly went downstairs, and while helping Liu Hanxue up, she secretly took Liu Hanxue's pulse. A chill ran down her spine; sure enough, she sighed. It seemed Liu Hanxue was truly ruthless. To frame her, she was willing to harm others at her own expense. Liu Hanruo didn't say much to someone who didn't even cherish herself. She silently suppressed the words Liu Hanxue was about to utter, and quietly sent Chunxiang to fetch a doctor. She then whispered in Liu Hanxue's ear:
“Sister, if you want to make a scene or anything else, please wait until the guests have left. It’s fine for family members to say whatever they want behind closed doors, but if outsiders see it, wouldn’t they just make a fool of themselves?”
"What are you saying, sister? I'm not feeling well, can't I even say it?" Liu Hanxue persisted, refusing to let it go, and insisted on speaking frankly.
"Sister, you know very well what caused your so-called physical discomfort. I don't want to get entangled with you on this matter. I just hope that next time you do something, you will consider whether your body can handle it, otherwise you will regret it later." Liu Hanruo said meaningfully.
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