Chapter 292 Let Concubine Xiao Play a Song
Xiao Xixi was completely unaware of the strange atmosphere around her and was still eating crabs happily.
Such plump crabs are rare. It’s a rare opportunity to eat them, so I must eat more!
Soon, the crab shells piled up in front of her.
When Concubine Jing calmed down and looked at the plate of crabs again, she found that all the crabs in the plate were gone!
She was stunned at first, then turned to look at Concubine Xiao who was sitting next to her.
Concubine Xiao was inhaling crab roe like crazy.
Concubine Jing looked at the pile of crab shells in front of her and asked in disbelief.
"Did you eat all the crabs?"
Xiao Xixi licked the crab roe off her lips and said happily, "Yes, this crab is delicious, better than any crab I've eaten before!"
Concubine Jing frowned: "You won't leave me a crab?"
Xiao Xixi looked at her in confusion: "Didn't you already eat one?"
"I gave my crab to the prince. I didn't eat any crab myself!"
Xiao Xixi: "But didn't the prince ask for the crab meat you gave him?"
After saying that, she pointed to the small white jade bowl in front of Concubine Jing, which contained fresh crab meat. She reminded her that the crab meat was still there.
These words were like a knife stabbing into Concubine Jing's heart, making her mood, which had finally calmed down, even worse.
Concubine Jing felt that Concubine Xiao must have done it on purpose!
This woman was deliberately rubbing salt into her wounds! How vicious!
Concubine Jing couldn't get angry yet, so she could only force a smile: "I almost forgot about this, luckily you reminded me."
Xiao Xixi smiled brightly, with two cute dimples on her lips: "We are all sisters, no need to be so polite."
Concubine Jing wanted to curse, who said she was your sister? !
I don’t have a sister like you who is vulgar, greedy, and has a poisonous mouth!
Now it was time for the concubines to perform.
The first person to take the stage was Wan Jieyu.
She was a newcomer to the palace last year. Because she was young, beautiful, and good at singing and dancing, she had been quite favored since entering the palace.
It was precisely because of her favor that she dared to be the first to perform on stage tonight.
She performed a dance.
Xiao Xixi didn’t know what kind of dance it was, but it was pretty nice anyway.
She ate with gusto while enjoying the singing and dancing on the stage. She felt really happy.
At this time, Concubine Duan Liang came over and whispered to Concubine Jing.
"Sister, we should get ready."
Concubine Jing took a deep breath and temporarily forgot all the unpleasant experiences she had just had.
She must perform well tonight and let the prince see her talent, so that she can have a chance to attract the prince's attention.
The reason why the prince returned the crab meat to her just now was because he didn't know her well and didn't know the good things about her.
Her performance next will be an opportunity to change this situation.
Concubine Jing stood up gracefully and glanced at Concubine Xiao who was still eating next to her. Thinking of the anger she had suffered from Concubine Xiao tonight, she couldn't help but make a sarcastic remark.
"Sister Xiao, you have to eat slowly, don't choke."
After saying that, she and Duan Liangdi went to the side to make preparations.
Wan Jieyu danced very well and won the emperor's praise.
Amid the envy and jealousy of the concubines, she gracefully retreated to her position.
The two consecutive programs were dances performed by the emperor's concubines.
When it was Concubine Jing and Concubine Duan's turn to appear, three rounds of drinks had already been served and the atmosphere was much more relaxed than at the beginning.
Concubine Jing knelt behind the guqin, and her slender jade fingers gently plucked the strings, and melodious music rang out.
Duan Liangdi danced to the sound of the piano, her figure graceful and elegant as a startled swan.
To be fair, Duan Liangdi's dancing was indeed very good, but considering the excellent performance of Wan Jieyu, her dance could only be described as mediocre.
Instead, it was Concubine Jing's piano playing that attracted a lot of people's attention.
The second prince Luo Yunxuan showed a look of surprise: "Isn't this "Moon over Lonely Mountain"? "
After hearing what he said, everyone remembered that this was indeed the tune of "Moon over Lonely Mountain".
"Moon over Solitary Mountain" was composed by a talented scholar in the previous dynasty. It is famous for its melodious and pleasant melody, but this piece of music is very difficult to play and few people can play it completely.
Concubine Jing played the piano perfectly, with perfect rhythm and melody, without any flaws.
For a moment, everyone's eyes were focused on Concubine Jing.
Duan Liangdi, who should have been more in the spotlight, has now become her foil.
When the song ended, everyone applauded.
Duan Liangdi thought that everyone was cheering for her. She was very excited and subconsciously looked in the direction of the prince.
The prince was twirling the wine glass in his hand, looking somewhat nonchalant.
His eyes were looking towards an unknown place, completely ignoring the content of the performance.
Duan Liangdi couldn't help feeling a little disappointed when she saw this.
She and Concubine Jing stepped forward to greet the three big bosses.
The emperor smiled and said, "I didn't expect that the daughter of Master Jing would be so talented. She could even play "Moon over Lonely Mountain" so well. Master Jing really taught his daughter well. It is a blessing for the prince to have such a virtuous wife like you!"
Concubine Jing was happy in her heart, but she still maintained a dignified and generous look on her face.
"Your Majesty, thank you for your praise. I cannot bear the loss."
The emperor then briefly praised Duan Liangdi.
Compared with his treatment of Concubine Jing, his praise of Concubine Duan seemed insincere.
Duan Liangdi had already realized by now that she was being used as a stepping stone to gain prominence.
She secretly hated Concubine Jing for her scheming, but she couldn't show it on her face and had to pretend to be very happy.
At this moment, Concubine Jing suddenly spoke.
"Your Majesty, I heard that Concubine Xiao also understands music and is an expert in it. How about asking her to play a piece for Your Majesty?"
Xiao Xixi, who was eating with her head down, paused.
She looked up blankly, not understanding why Concubine Jing suddenly called her name?
Concubine Li, who was sitting at the table next to her, turned her head and asked with a smile, "So Sister Xiao can play the piano. With such a great talent, why don't you go up and perform? You are still hiding it. You are too low-key."
Concubine Bai and Concubine Qin also looked over.
They all saw Concubine Xiao's embarrassment and guessed that her piano skills might be mediocre.
If that’s the case, that would be great!
Now in the Eastern Palace, besides Duan Liangdi, the most favored one is Concubine Xiao. If she could be made to look bad in public, everyone would naturally be happy to see it happen.
Especially Concubine Bai and Concubine Li, the two of them hated Concubine Xiao with a vengeance and wished she would be disgraced and not have the face to go out and see people again!
The emperor had already spoken.
"Then let Concubine Xiao play a song."
The emperor's words were golden, and Xiao Xixi could only wipe her hands and mouth, stand up, and say dryly: "Your Majesty, I can't play the piano."
Concubine Jing smiled and said, "Don't you know how to play Surnai? You can play Surnai."
Xiao Xixi said in embarrassment: "This, this is not good."
(End of this chapter)
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