Chapter 198 Chu Lianzhou
Xiao Qing had a feeling that there was some gossip going on here!
Moreover, she understood that Xiao Fu was deliberately making things difficult for them, insisting that she summon Chu Lianzhou.
She thought for a moment, not knowing what she was thinking, but her hand waved to Mingxiu faster than her thoughts could process.
"Mingxiu, go and see. If Miss Chu is willing, please invite her to join the banquet."
Mingxiu agreed and went to do it.
When Xiao Qing turned her gaze back, she met Fu Mingyi's eyes. She saw that he seemed to have some disapproval in his eyes, but he smiled seemingly unintentionally, giving her a strange sense of accomplishment.
Fu Mingyi certainly didn't want her to do these trivial things. He probably thought she would stick to their previous agreement and only focus on the people appearing in the portraits.
He didn't even consider that although Wang Xiang and others reminded her of the upcoming wedding, the guests at today's Winter Solstice banquet were all officials from Nanhua.
It's obvious that any selection of concubines in the palace would not be limited to Nanhua City.
In Nanhua City, not all outstanding young women necessarily want to marry the thirteen-year-old emperor.
Wang Xiang spread the word and meticulously prepared the Winter Solstice banquet, but in reality, he was using this opportunity to test her; the real wedding arrangements for her were yet to come.
When Mingxiu went to invite Chu Lianzhou, the atmosphere in the hall became somewhat awkward.
Xiao Qing raised his cup, inviting the ministers to drink together, and then ordered singing and dancing, and soon the atmosphere became lively again.
Fu Mingyi wondered what Xiao Qing meant by this.
Xiao Yan was also wondering, what did his elder brother mean by this?
About an hour later, Mingxiu actually arrived with Chu Lianzhou.
As the singing and dancing were about to end, they entered through the main gate. Chu Lianzhou wore a light-colored top with a diagonal placket, a light dark green embroidered belt around her waist, and a long skirt of the same color. She wore a slightly darker dark green winter coat with wide sleeves, which rippled like lotus leaves as she walked.
She was tall and slender with a cool and aloof expression. She wore few ornaments on her head, except for a jade hairpin inserted at an angle, shaped like a lotus leaf, with a small lotus flower of varying shades hanging down slightly, which was quite unique.
Xiao Qing looked at her again and again, and gradually felt that the woman seemed somewhat familiar.
The dancers slowly left the stage, as if making way for her.
The entire hall fell silent.
Xiao Fu clapped her hands and said, "I have long heard of his name, and seeing him today, I can see that his reputation is well-deserved."
Wang Yu felt particularly unhappy when she saw that everyone's attention was drawn to Chu Lianzhou.
She couldn't help but say, "The princess hasn't finished listening to the zither yet."
Xiao Fu smiled but didn't say anything.
As Chu Lianzhou approached and bowed to her, she finally remembered who this Chu Lianzhou was.
She saw a slight surprise in Chu Lianzhou's eyes. But she quickly lowered her head and avoided looking at her.
Xiao Qing then smiled.
"You are Chu Lianzhou."
"Your Majesty, this humble woman pays her respects." Chu Lianzhou bowed sincerely, her voice trembling slightly.
Xiao Qing confirmed it—the voice belonged to the woman from Tianyin Temple who had been bullied!
She looks much better in this outfit than in the plain clothes she wore at Tianyin Temple.
Xiao Qing's gaze unconsciously drifted towards Lord Chu.
They kept their heads down, and none of them looked at Chu Lianzhou.
Xiao Fu just had to cause trouble.
"Lord Chu, your daughter is truly remarkable."
She then turned to Xiao Qingli and said, "Your Majesty, I've heard that Chu Lianzhou's name has some interesting origins. Would Your Majesty like to hear about it?"
Xiao Qingzhen liked Xiao Fu's personality, so she nodded and asked, "What's your background?"
Seeing that Chu Lianzhou had not yet gotten up, he raised his hand and said, "Get up and talk."
Because she was close by, she could see that Chu Lianzhou seemed a little unsteady when he got up.
Could it be that she's been bullied again?
The thought had barely crossed her mind when Xiao Fu came out and affectionately took Chu Lianzhou's arm, saying, "Lianzhou, please sit next to me."
She looked at Xiao Qing, and when she received her nod of agreement, she actually pulled her to her seat.
Poor Duke Anguo quietly moved to the side a little, and then instructed the palace maids serving the banquet to make some preparations. He was a typical doting grandfather who spoiled his granddaughter.
Based on this alone, Xiao Qing's impression of him improved significantly compared to three years ago.
After thanking Xiao Fu, Chu Lianzhou sat down and said, "It's not that I have any special background. It's just that my late mother loved lotus flowers and especially enjoyed boating on the water and admiring them with others."
She spoke slowly and deliberately, pausing slightly at this point.
Lord Chu's head seemed to lower even further.
Boating on the water, we admired the lotus blossoms together.
The images of boats and the fragrance of lotus blossoms from those years still lingered in his mind, but...
"Perhaps my late mother missed the old days, which is why she named my daughter Lianzhou."
Xiao Fu seemed to sense something, glanced at Lord Chu whose head was almost completely lowered, and slightly curled the corners of her lips, as if with sarcasm.
"The fragrance of lotus blossoms fills the air, the lotus leaves stretch silently across the fields. Lord Chu is truly a blessed man."
Mingxiu whispered a few words in Xiao Qing's ear.
When Xiao Qing looked over, Chu Lianzhou's slightly wide sleeves were covering her hands.
She frowned slightly, and before she could think of how to speak, Xiao Fu said warmly, "I've heard that Lian Zhou's rendition of 'Return' was so moving and made him famous. Everyone says your musical skills are amazing. I wonder if I would have the honor of hearing you play a piece today?"
Chu Lianzhou was silent for a moment, then said, "Lianzhou is ashamed. Back then, it was during the mourning period when my mother passed away, and I couldn't help but play 'Returning Home'. It was truly my fault. Since then, I have rarely played the zither, and I really cannot bear the title of 'amazing'."
"But I heard that afterwards you had a musical duel with Miss Wang, playing for a whole day and night without stopping."
Chu Lianzhou's fingers, hidden in her sleeve, tightened, but the piercing pain forced her to let go.
"It was Lian Zhou who was reckless and indulged in pleasure, thus offending Miss Wang."
Xiao Fu refused to let her go.
"The four arts of qin (a stringed instrument), chess, calligraphy, and painting are not mere entertainment. It is precisely because of your outstanding qin skills that Miss Wang challenged you to a qin duel. Is that so, Miss Wang?"
Wang Yu gritted her teeth, "That's true. If we're talking about playing the zither, I'm no match for Chu Lianzhou."
Many thoughts flashed through Chu Lianzhou's mind. She unconsciously glanced at Xiao Qing.
Suddenly, Xiao Fu grabbed her hand and said happily, "Look, even Miss Wang says so, then we..."
Caught off guard, Chu Lianzhou hissed and withdrew his hand, noticing a few dark spots on the dark green cuff, as if...
Xiao Fu was stunned for a moment, her expression suddenly changed, and she reached out to lift up her sleeve.
But this time Chu Lianzhou was on guard and quickly dodged.
"What's wrong with your hand?" Xiao Fu reached for her sleeve again.
Chu Lianzhou dodged again and said calmly, "It's nothing. I just injured my hand recently from being so engrossed in playing the zither. It's just that it's unsightly, so I don't want to show it to others."
Xiao Qing glanced at Lord Chu and the daughter he had brought. They both had their heads down, and the girl seemed even more uneasy.
Her expression darkened. Seeing that Chu Lianzhou truly had no intention of revealing his wounds, she said, "Since you are injured..."
A brilliant idea suddenly popped into her head.
"Mingxiu, please help Miss Chu to the back to rest."
She gestured for Mingxiu to come closer and whispered a few words of advice.
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