Chapter 22: Showcasing Talent

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But things did not go as planned.

Ling Moxuan had meticulously prepared this grand banquet today.

How could they simply play chess and compose poetry by the lake?

There must be other intentions...

Suddenly, Ling Moxuan proposed, “Just playing chess is truly dull. Today’s banquet is rare—with such beautiful mountains, waters, and scenery. If we only let everyone watch us brothers play chess, it would seem rather uninteresting.”

“The prize is to invite a talented scholar to compose poetry, but the beauties cannot come here for nothing. Why not let them showcase their talents as well?”

Everyone saw the King of Xuan reveal a gentle and noble smile.

“Those present today are all from noble families; surely they are proficient in the arts of qin, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Regardless of their specialty, everyone should demonstrate their skills—there’s no point in all these years of hard training going to waste.”

At Ling Moxuan’s suggestion, the young ladies present began to feel a stirring of anticipation.

They were all refined daughters of prominent families, but they could not remain unmarried for life; once of marriageable age, they were expected to wed.

Unlike men, who could travel freely, sit for imperial exams, and make their mark in the world, their battleground was their future marital home.

Good families were few, but refined daughters many—competition was fierce.

For a woman, securing a good husband was as challenging as a man passing imperial examinations—

Like thousands of warriors crossing a narrow bridge alone.

The arts they learned since childhood were their means of support and standing.

With so many noble young men present today, including two princes,

If they could showcase their talents and catch the eye of an extraordinary suitor—

It would be a great boon for these young ladies.

Even if it didn’t lead to a match, they could at least gain fame; among so many refined daughters in the capital, standing out required something special.

Once they realized this, the young ladies’ faces lit up with expectation, their eyes all fixed on Ling Moxuan.

No one knew whom the King of Xuan intended to call upon...

Ling Yuzhao raised an eyebrow and glanced at Ling Moxuan but said nothing. He also wanted to see what his imperial brother was up to.

Then he noticed something unusual—

Following Ling Moxuan’s gaze, he saw Ji Hua sitting by a square table not far away, leisurely sipping tea.

The woman was dressed in a light-colored long dress, her robes flowing softly, a few strands of dark hair fluttering beside her porcelain-like face.

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Her expression was calm and indifferent, seemingly unconcerned by Ling Moxuan’s proposal.

Indeed, this woman was unlike ordinary girls; she was the one who dared to take him to a graveyard in the dead of night.

“Looks like everyone’s quite interested. In that case, why not have the capital’s foremost talented lady, Miss Ji, start us off? Miss Ji, today let everyone witness your mastery of the qin,” Ling Moxuan said with a smile.

The Crown Prince’s expression shifted slightly, a cold gleam unconsciously flickering in his eyes as he shot a glance at Ling Moxuan.

But Ling Moxuan seemed oblivious, his gaze fixed intently on Ji Hua.

The gentle features now bore a hint of aggressiveness beneath the subtle light in his eyes.

Ling Moxuan’s words, coupled with his unusual look, drew everyone’s attention sharply to Ji Hua.

Their expressions turned strange.

Some familiar young ladies and gentlemen exchanged glances, silently asking: What’s going on?

Clearly, this direction was odd—

The Emperor had already issued an imperial edict arranging marriages.

Miss Ji Hua, eldest daughter of the Prime Minister’s household, was betrothed to the Crown Prince, destined to be the future Crown Princess; Miss Ji Shulan, the second daughter, was to be the future Princess of Xuan.

Now, the King of Xuan was publicly asking the future Crown Princess to display her talents?

Surely...

This was not appropriate?

If it were simply an invitation for the young ladies to show their skills, this banquet was a gathering of youth for fun—poetry, chess, calligraphy, painting—all acceptable.

But the King of Xuan’s suggestion to have the future Crown Princess perform, while leaving his own future princess aside, invited suspicion.

A gentle breeze stirred the pavilion over the lake,

Yet the young gentlemen and ladies around Ling Moxuan and Ling Yuzhao felt an inexplicable chill down their spines.

Their eyes involuntarily flicked back and forth between the King of Xuan, the Crown Prince, and the two Misses of the Prime Minister’s family.

Ha!

Ji Hua silently cursed Ling Moxuan fiercely in her heart, but her face remained serene.

She had no idea what madness had possessed Ling Moxuan to single her out publicly—she had to keep her composure.

Suddenly, an unexpected turn—

“Bang!”

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Ji Shulan suddenly stood up, accidentally bumping the edge of the table, which emitted a dull thud. She hardly cared about the pain in her arm.

She was nearly driven mad with jealousy!

That wretched Ji Hua was truly her bane!

She must have used some enchantress’s trick to gain such special favor from the King of Xuan, even getting him to set her up to shine before everyone.

“Capital’s foremost talented lady”? Ji Hua was nothing but a miserable orphan!

If she was to marry that cursed Crown Prince, she would never see the light of day again!

In Ji Shulan’s eyes, Ji Hua was doomed to die young, yet it was this contemptible woman who the King of Xuan lavishly praised?

And he completely ignored her, the rightful future Princess of Xuan.

This was absolutely intolerable!

Under the astonished gazes of all present, Ji Shulan suppressed her fury, forcing a smile as she stepped forward and bowed to Ling Moxuan.

“Your Highness of Xuan, with so many people here today, I don’t wish to spoil your refined entertainment. But unfortunately, my elder sister cannot play the qin.”

“She accidentally pricked her hand while embroidering yesterday; her hand is still injured. I’m afraid she won’t be able to pluck the strings. Perhaps I should perform instead?”

Ji Shulan lied openly, setting the narrative that Ji Hua’s hand was hurt and she couldn’t play the qin, then unreservedly volunteered herself.

She lifted her chin, smiling as she said,

“Your Highness of Xuan, Lan and my sister studied under the same qin master, but my sister practiced more diligently, so it’s said she plays better than me. But in truth, I am no worse than my sister!”

There was some truth mixed with falsehood in her words, but everyone present was clear-eyed.

These young nobles were not street-smart schemers, but they were well-trained by their families and had sharp minds.

Especially with Ji Shulan’s obvious competitiveness, if anyone failed to see through it, they would truly be fools.

Clearly, the second Miss of the Prime Minister’s household did not want her sister to steal the spotlight.

Or rather, she did not want Ji Hua to outshine her in front of the King of Xuan, her future husband, which was why she abruptly interrupted with such remarks.

Too eager!

Ji Hua found Ji Shulan’s reaction surprising but also understandable.

A faint, barely noticeable curve lifted the corner of her lips.

She had been worried about how to refuse Ling Moxuan’s request, but unexpectedly, Ji Shulan had solved the problem for her.