Inside the Ziwei Palace, the lights were dazzling, and hundreds of eyes were fixed on Xie Lingqin, feeling extremely uncomfortable.
Because Xie Lingqin stopped plucking the strings and instead picked up the entire instrument, looking at it again and again, and blowing on it repeatedly.
Miss Xie is really...
If it were anyone else, they would simply find a crack in the ground to crawl into and let it go. But this person was the woman the Crown Prince desperately wanted to marry, yet she seemed completely unaware of it.
The displeasure was palpable among the hundreds of eyes in the main hall, and General Xie's head drooped lower and lower.
Xie Lingqin remained calm and composed, instead smiling slightly. Then, meeting Yuwen Yao's consistently gentle gaze, she began to carefully manipulate the object with her slender hands.
The melodious tune quickly blended with the prince's melody. If the previous one was a devastating blow, the current one was a perfect match made in an instant, a harmonious blend of music and song.
People looked on in disbelief, their eyes wide with shock.
Miss Xie really knows how to play the zither, and she plays it so well. She also blends in with the Crown Prince so seamlessly. There should only be one like her in the world.
General Xie was dumbfounded.
Xie Lingqin actually knows how to do it. When did she learn it?
Everyone had a different expression. At the head of the table, the emperor, though he concealed it well, still had a lot of complex emotions in his eyes. Only a few people still had the same expression as others.
Yu Qingyi looked on with a sense of pride, his eyes shining.
Xuanyuan Du lightly raised his wine cup, took a small sip, and seemed to think that this was the proper thing to do.
Xu Yiran's hand was on the table in front of him, his eyes sparkling, his emotions unreadable, and his aura heavy and deep.
It wasn't because Xie Lingqin could play the piano, but because the sight of the two people playing together was too glaring, far too glaring.
That one glance, that unapproachable moment, told him that he had lost, lost completely.
He drank the wine in one gulp, the sour taste rushing in, tearing at his internal organs. Xuanyuan glanced at Xu Yiran once, then instantly looked away.
Prince Zhuidamu seemed quite interested at this moment. In any case, whether Xie Lingqin was good or bad was none of his business. Although they had made a small promise in the carriage before, it did not mean that he would absolutely abide by it. So, as long as she didn't die, he had no problem. However, An Shangning, who was standing to the side, was listening so carefully.
After the ceremony was over, everyone was stunned for a moment before they came to their senses. Then, a chorus of claps rang out.
In that instant, all words of praise seemed almost simplistic.
You are the phoenix, I am the dragon, a match made in heaven, a perfect pair.
However, after a short while, many people turned to look at Xu Yiran.
It's obvious that he's interested, but she's not. What can she do about Mr. Xu's infatuation?
After the beautiful music, the hall fell into an eerie silence.
"If Miss Xie is so devoted to the Crown Prince, and the Crown Prince is also devoted to Miss Xie, then I sincerely wish you well."
After a long while, Xu Yiran's voice rang out in the quiet hall.
Xie Lingqin was shocked; this came too suddenly.
Although a huge weight was lifted from my heart, I still felt a sharp pain when I met Xu Yiran's bitter and self-mocking gaze.
Has he given up? Really? I wish them well.
"I also humbly request Your Majesty to grant a marriage between the Crown Prince and Xie Lingqin."
Xu Yiran stood up again and raised her hand to report to the Emperor.
At that moment, no one's advice was more powerful than Xu Yiran's words.
Even the greatest rival in love is willing to step aside as a sign of blessing. If the Emperor does not grant the marriage at this moment, then it would truly be the Emperor's fault.
After all, Xie Lingqin's identity is so awkward that the Emperor is probably afraid of even a woman.
The emperor did not answer immediately. His sharp gaze, hidden beneath his gentle demeanor, swept across the hall, as if everyone had entered his field of vision, yet it also seemed as if he was merely glancing at them casually, without any real focus.
It was a suppressed anger.
"Can you play?"
At this moment, Zhuidamu suddenly turned his head to look at An Shangning in the main hall and whispered, his breath, which carried a faint fragrance of wine, sprayed directly onto An Shangning's neck.
An Shangning turned her head away uncomfortably and replied coldly, "Not as good as Sister Lingqin's caress."
"When will you play a tune for this prince as well?"
"That depends on whether the prince does what I want to do..."
Before An Shangning could finish speaking, she stiffened and secretly glanced at Zhuidamu with a warning look, "Don't grab my hand, let go."
“I’m already your fiancée, so why can’t I touch you, hmm?” As Zhuidamu spoke, he gripped An Shangning’s hand tighter, and a suppressed desire seemed to ignite in his eyes. “That day, I finally managed to get close to you in the carriage, but you resisted fiercely and were even interrupted by an assassin. You have no idea how much I want you.”
"Prince, please be mindful of your status and the occasion."
Even while being warned, An Shangning remained calm and composed, saying, "I've said it before, if you want me, you can marry me. If you marry me, you can help me get revenge."
An Shangning spoke calmly, her face expressionless. She seemed not to have said a word when other people came to visit.
Zhuidamu's thick fingers still didn't let go of An Shangning's hand. Instead, he chuckled softly, his voice deeper and lower, "Do you know how many women have died beneath me?"
An Shangning trembled slightly, then struggled to break free of his hand and remained silent.
"Very good, the way you were trembling just now successfully made my heart ache."
The man's voice was deep and rough, yet he managed to keep it very low.
An Shangning frowned unhappily, and then her gaze inadvertently met Xie Lingqin's, who was looking over from the opposite side.
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