Chapter 138 Ensemble
By the winding river, the music of stringed instruments is pleasant and people are talking and laughing happily.
Wen Ning sat quietly at the table, her eyes lowered, hoping no one would notice.
Her fingertips unconsciously stroked the cold table, and suddenly, a shadow elongated by the sunlight quietly fell on the edge of her palm.
It's his silhouette.
The Marquis was sitting not far from the water, and this realization made her heart tremble slightly.
These days, she missed him very much, and this kind of missing was completely different from before.
In this deep palace with strict rules and intertwined gazes, this longing is wrapped with more reliance and nowhere to confide.
And all his preferences for her.
Her fingertips rested on the slightly cool table, tracing the straight shoulders in his shadow.
But today she was so radiant, with a fairy-like appearance and charming charm that she even dimmed the spring scenery in the garden and the surrounding pearls and jade. Unknowingly, she attracted the attention of all the young men at the banquet.
A young man from the Shangshu school beside Xie Jinglan stared at him with his eyes wide open. He couldn't help but move closer and whispered,
"Your Majesty has always enjoyed His Majesty's trust and often serves in the palace. I'm sure you also see Princess Yanning... You know what her hobbies are?"
Xie Jinglan's phoenix eyes suddenly turned cold, and his eyes swept across the ungrateful young man like an icy blade, and he said clearly word by word, "She has someone she loves!"
Before he finished speaking, he suddenly stood up.
The man was dressed in a black brocade robe with dark cloud patterns and silver threads, a jade belt around his waist, and stood tall and straight like a pine tree.
He walked straight to the seat of Prince Chen and Princess Chen.
Xiao Jinyu was holding a glass of wine and sipping it. He looked up and saw Xie Jinglan standing beside the table, and couldn't help raising an eyebrow.
Xie Jinglan didn't say anything, but just looked back at him with deep eyes.
Xiao Jinyu was stunned at first, then his gaze quickly swept across Wen Ning beside the princess, and a hint of understanding and teasing flashed in his eyes.
He said nothing, but turned his head and gently patted the back of his princess's hand, giving her a tacit look.
Shen Yunshu was also a thoughtful person. Seeing this, he stood up with a smile and silently exchanged seats with Xiao Jinyu.
Xie Jinglan bowed slightly towards the princess as a silent token of gratitude.
Then, he sat down calmly beside Prince Chen.
From an outsider's perspective, it seemed as if Marquis Anyuan and His Royal Highness Prince Chen were gathered together, but in fact, Wen Ning happened to be sitting on his other side.
The light beside Wen Ning suddenly dimmed, and a clear and familiar scent of sandalwood slowly drifted over, quietly enveloping her.
During the meal just now, she didn't even dare to let her eyes linger in his direction for too long, for fear of revealing the emotions surging in her heart.
"Xibao is fine, don't worry. Did you... miss me?"
The man's gaze was steadily cast towards the distant water, as if he was just commenting on the scenery.
Wen Ning lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes hiding the smile in her eyes, and then she deliberately shook her head slightly.
Catching a glimpse of her subtle movement from the corner of his eye, Xie Jinglan almost immediately reached out his hand, his warm palm precisely covering the back of her slightly cold hand as he resentfully scolded, "Ning'er!"
Wen Ning did not struggle to break free. Instead, she turned her hand over and inserted her soft fingers into his palm, interlocking theirs.
Xie Jinglan's extremely doting smile immediately climbed up the corner of his lips and spread silently.
The prince, who was not far away, narrowed his eyes, and his sinister gaze swept across Qushui and fell on the two figures that seemed unintentional but were actually very close.
Zhang Zhenghe's disciple! Consort Lu's daughter!
What a great man Zhang Zhenghe is, he actually hid this chess piece so deeply!
He actually underestimated that old guy.
Fortunately, the old man was now stupid and useless, and he had people burn him to ashes, leaving no evidence.
This Wen Ning and An Yuanhou?
He doesn't believe there is no conspiracy!
He had originally planned to have his fifth sister embarrass the newly arrived "Princess Yanning" at the banquet, but his fifth sister was truly a worthless fool! She had no ulterior motives at all!
He had previously focused all his attention on Xie Jinglan, but now for some reason he has gotten into a fight with that kid from the Xu family. He is completely useless.
In his eyes, everyone can be exploited, especially women.
They were born to be stepping stones and tools for men to climb to the pinnacle of power, just like Yin'er.
Even if he had some love for her in his heart, it would not prevent him from putting her in the chess game and making the best use of her.
Since that was the case, he came in person to meet this "good sister" who had just returned to her ancestral home.
The crown prince raised his lips in a cold smile, picked up the wine glass, slowly stood up, bowed in the direction of Emperor Chengxuan, and said in a loud voice:
"Father, today is the Shangsi Festival. I have observed that the Imperial Sister Yanning possesses a peerless beauty and an extraordinary temperament, and I believe she is also quite talented. With such a beautiful scene, how about inviting the Imperial Sister to play a piece of music to enhance the atmosphere, and allow me and the other officials to witness the elegance of our Imperial Princess?"
When Xie Jinglan heard the prince's words, his eyes suddenly turned cold.
Among common women, unless they were from a wealthy family, it was rare for them to learn to play the piano or chess.
The prince's action seemed to be a compliment, but in fact it was like roasting Ning'er on the fire!
Unexpectedly, the crown prince couldn't contain himself like this.
The man twisted the white jade ring fiercely with his fingertips, and a deep and sharp light flashed in his eyes.
This East Palace...it's really time for a new owner.
Upon hearing this, Emperor Chengxuan's gaze slowly fell on Wen Ning.
Since Wen Ning entered the palace, Emperor Chengxuan often visited Concubine Hui's palace.
What surprised him was that although this child grew up outside the palace, she had a calm and composed demeanor in her words and deeds. On the contrary, she was more noble and steady than several princesses in the palace, and had a royal demeanor, which was rare.
Hearing the prince's proposal, he hesitated for a moment, and did not directly agree or reject it. He only replied:
"Ning'er, what do you think? If you're willing to give it a try, I'll let everyone see how talented my daughter is. If you feel it's too hasty, there's no need to force it."
Xie Jinglan was just about to stand up and find an excuse to take the blame for the incident, but the little hand in his palm suddenly tightened.
She parted her cherry lips slightly, and said softly, "My Lord, I want to try."
She said she wanted to try it.
It’s not that she can’t.
Xie Jinglan had never seen her play the zither, nor did he know that she was so knowledgeable about music.
But then I remembered that she once mentioned that her mother attached great importance to her education when she was alive, and had hired several teachers to teach her carefully.
When she was a slave in the mansion, she could write beautiful small characters on silk, which surprised him.
Thinking of this, he began to understand a little.
Wen Ningying stood up and bowed in the direction of Emperor Chengxuan and the Crown Prince. "Your Majesty and the Crown Prince have given me an order, and I dare not refuse. However, my zither skills have been rusty for a long time, so if there are any discrepancies, I hope Your Majesty and you will forgive me."
Xie Jinglan immediately stood up, bowed towards the throne, and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, the princess is trying her zither for the first time and may need some help. I am not talented, but I am willing to accompany her with my flute music, and do my best to help."
Even though her piano skills were average, with him by her side, he could always cover up for her and prevent her from being too embarrassed.
Everyone knew that Marquis Anyuan was an excellent painter and had profound attainments in music, but he had a cold and aloof personality and rarely showed it in front of others.
Now, when many royal family members and officials who loved music at the banquet heard that he had volunteered, they all showed expressions of surprise and anticipation, and they all wanted to see the Marquis's hidden skills.
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