The afternoon sun in autumn, having shed the scorching heat of midsummer, became gentle and clear. Golden rays filtered through the layers of branches and leaves in the Imperial Garden, casting dappled shadows on the bluestone path, warm and cozy, carrying a hint of the sweet fragrance of osmanthus.
Since the controversy surrounding "advising everyone to share the spoils equally" that night, these past few days have been unusually peaceful.
Su Jinxiu was torn between Xiao Che's lukewarm and indifferent "favor," feeling like she was sitting on pins and needles, her whole body tense, temporarily lacking the energy to cause trouble. Lin Wanwan, on the other hand, was happy to have some peace and quiet, enjoying the calm before the storm.
The weather was perfect today, and after finishing his official duties, Xiao Che unusually took the initiative to suggest that they take a walk in the Imperial Garden together.
Lin Wanwan readily agreed.
The two strolled side by side among the vibrant flowers, neither speaking a word, yet an unspoken understanding flowed in the air. Since that night when they established their "silent alliance" against Consort Xian, their relationship seemed to have entered a completely new realm.
Occasionally, Xiao Che would stop and point to a "golden osmanthus" in full bloom, commenting casually, "This flower has a rich fragrance, even better than the ordinary red osmanthus."
Lin Wanwan would then smile and agree, "Your Majesty is right. I'll have Ruolan pick some and make osmanthus cakes for Your Majesty to try."
He then fell silent, responding only with a barely perceptible nod.
Lin Wanwan found it amusing. This Emperor was only pretending to praise the flowers; his real intention was to eat some desserts. But she saw through him without saying anything, finding his hypocrisy rather endearing.
She glanced at him furtively to the side. In the sunlight, the lines of his handsome, godlike profile softened considerably, and his eyes, which were always as deep as an ancient well, were now tinged with warmth.
Even without any emojis flashing above his head, Lin Wanwan could sense that he was relaxed and happy at the moment.
The warmth and tranquility of this ordinary couple made her almost forget that she was in a dangerous palace, and that a venomous snake was lurking beside them, ready to strike at any moment.
Just as Lin Wanwan's heart was slightly stirred, a melodious and ethereal piano melody, without warning, drifted into her ears on the breeze.
The music was clear and melodious, like flowing water in the mountains or echoing footsteps in an empty valley. Every note seemed to have been washed clean by spring water, pure and clear, carrying an ethereal quality that could instantly capture one's heart and soul.
"Huh?" Lin Wanwan stopped and listened intently. "There's actually someone in this palace who can play such exquisite music?"
Xiao Che stopped in his tracks and looked in the direction from which the music was coming, his brows twitching slightly.
Lin Wanwan followed his gaze and saw a pavilion with upturned eaves and brackets, built over the water, standing quietly in the center of the shimmering lake. The music was coming from there.
The two exchanged a glance, then tacitly took a step and walked towards the pavilion in the middle of the lake.
The closer one gets, the clearer the music becomes. At times, the notes are like pearls falling onto a plate, crisp and melodious; at other times, they are like a gentle breeze caressing a hill, warm and soothing. The melody is elegant, the technique exquisite, and the player is clearly a master of the zither.
As they walked up the winding corridor connecting the pavilion, the view inside finally came into clear view.
In the pavilion in the middle of the lake, a woman dressed in an elegant, moon-white dress sat gracefully before an ancient seven-stringed zither. Her hair, as black as clouds, was held up by a simple jade hairpin, with a few strands falling beside her cheeks and swaying gently in the breeze. Her head was slightly lowered, her expression focused and serene, her slender fingers dancing across the strings, as if everything in the world was irrelevant to her; her entire world consisted only of the zither before her.
A gentle breeze blew by, lifting her wide robes and drawing elegant arcs in the air. The shimmering light from the lake reflected on her, bathing her in a hazy and sacred glow.
The scene was like a flowing, exquisite ink painting, with a fairy in the painting who seemed otherworldly and beautiful, unlike any mortal.
Who else could this fairy be but Consort Su Jinxiu?
Lin Wanwan paused slightly, the smile on her lips faded, and only two words remained in her heart: Here I come.
She knew that Su Jinxiu, that venomous snake, wouldn't stay still for long. After experiencing the "cold treatment" of the past few days, she finally couldn't hold back any longer and began to take the initiative.
Moreover, every move they make is a game-changer.
Lin Wanwan looked around, her sneer growing even stronger.
On the other side of the corridor, and behind several artificial hills and flowerbeds by the lake, many palace maids and eunuchs had been drawn by the music and were now pausing to admire it. They were whispering among themselves, their faces full of amazement and praise.
"My goodness, Consort Xian's zither skills are truly divine! This music should only exist in heaven!"
"Yes, yes, Your Majesty is not only beautiful and kind-hearted, but also so talented. You are truly a fairy princess!"
"Look at the Empress's demeanor, she's like a fairy who stepped out of a painting..."
The whispers, neither too loud nor too soft, drifted on the wind to the ears of every passerby, sounding like spontaneous praise, but in reality, like carefully arranged background noise.
Lin Wan-wan raised an eyebrow, already internally complaining.
Good heavens, this is no chance encounter, it's clearly a meticulously arranged large-scale outdoor "film set"!
Look at this! The female lead, costumes, props, lighting (sunlight and water), and location are all top-notch. Even the extras responsible for creating atmosphere and the voice-over narration are all there.
This director is quite skilled.
She could even picture Su Jinxiu's entire plan: to stage an "unintentional" display of talent in the most elegant spot in the Imperial Garden, a place the emperor frequented. First, she would attract passersby with her music, creating buzz, and then, "coincidentally," be seen by the passing emperor, showcasing her otherworldly, ethereal beauty and extraordinary artistic talent.
This tactic is a complete game-changer compared to the low-level domestic power struggles that Consort Shu used before, which involved nothing more than empty talk and arrogance.
Lin Wanwan's inner alarm bells were ringing, but her face remained calm. She knew that she and Xiao Che had now "stepped" onto each other's stage, becoming the most important "audience" in this grand drama.
She glanced at Xiao Che beside her out of the corner of her eye.
What will his reaction be?
Xiao Che stood quietly with his hands behind his back on the corridor, his gaze fixed on Su Jinxiu, who was playing the zither in the pavilion. His face remained expressionless, revealing neither joy nor anger, and even carrying a hint of the pure appreciation that an emperor possesses for beautiful things.
If Lin Wanwan hadn't already known the inside story, she probably would have really thought that he was attracted by the "beauty playing the zither" painting in front of him.
But who is Lin Wanwan? She is the only viewer with VIP access.
Her gaze, as was her habit, slowly moved upwards and landed on the familiar "bullet screen area" above Xiao Che's head.
Sure enough, it wasn't empty.
A brand new emoji is quietly floating in the air.
It was a cartoon cat GIF. The cat sat upright, its posture noble and elegant, its tail tip lightly tapping the ground. Its emerald green eyes were filled with a knowing, bored, and even slightly mocking indifference.
Next to the emoji, there was a line of small text: 【Oh, it's starting, it's starting, she's started.gif】.
"puff--"
Lin Wanwan almost couldn't help but burst out laughing on the spot.
Fortunately, she reacted quickly and covered it up with a light cough.
Her Majesty's ability to deliver sarcastic remarks is truly growing day by day, precise and scathing. This one meme completely eclipsed this meticulously planned drama.
What fairy playing the zither, what extraordinary talent—in his eyes, it was nothing more than a boring performance of "Oh, she's starting again."
With this "official certification," Lin Wanwan felt completely relieved. She even developed a wicked urge to watch the show. She wanted to see just how entertaining this "tea master's" performance would be.
Just then, the music in the pavilion suddenly changed, the melody shifting from melodious and ethereal to tender and poignant, as if telling a story of unrequited love.
The sound of the zither lingered, its echoes resonating endlessly.
Finally, as the last note slowly dissipated into the air, the song came to an end.
The entire lakeside fell into an extreme silence, and all the "extras" seemed to have been captivated by the music, unable to recover for a long time.
Inside the pavilion, Su Jinxiu's fingers were still on the strings, as if she was still immersed in the music she had just heard, unable to extricate herself.
After a long while, she seemed to wake up from a dream, and slowly, with a hint of loneliness and melancholy, she raised her head.
Her gaze swept around seemingly casually, then froze instantly when she saw the Emperor and Empress in the corridor.
The next second, a pure look of astonishment flashed in her beautiful eyes, which then turned into just the right amount of surprise. Finally, a touch of touching shyness, as if her secret had been exposed, was added to that surprise.
The entire emotional shift was layered and the transition was natural; it was simply textbook-level acting.
She quickly stood up, hastily straightened her skirt, and hurried to the pavilion. Facing Xiao Che and Lin Wanwan, she gracefully bowed, her voice carrying just the right amount of panic and shyness:
"Your Majesty and your sister, the Empress, were unaware of your presence. I apologize for disturbing Your Majesty's presence."
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