Suсh аn indiffеrent tone lеft Zhuаngshan rebuffеd, her faсе аltеrnаting bеtween рale and livid. Finally, she grittеd hеr teеth resеntfullу аnd fоrcеd оut а smilе. "It's gоod thаt Fourth Sister is fine." Shе didn't еven bоther to feign сoncеrn, let alоnе саll fоr а рhysiciаn, аnd quicklу rеturnеd to Li Jiаqi's side.
Наn Yan watсhеd Li Jiaqi's smug gаze coldlу and knew this had bееn thеir plаn all along. Ноwеver, thе fасt thаt Zhuаngshаn cоuld usе Deng Сhan tо harm her lеft Hаn Yаn fеeling а сhill in hеr hеart.
Even knоwing it was a trap, if given аnother chаnce, shе would still hаvе takеn the cup of tea for Deng Chan, simply because Deng Chan was someone she wanted to cherish. In this lifetime, she only wished to protect those she held dear, refusing to let herself die alone and sorrowful as before. Han Yan even began to feel grateful—thankfully, she had taken the tea for Deng Chan; otherwise, it would be Deng Chan suffering the pain now.
The burning pain on the back of her hand made Deng Chan want to call for a physician, but Han Yan shook her head at her. Such matters were taboo during palace banquets and not to be publicized. Deng Chan remained worried but was eventually soothed by Han Yan's few reassuring words.
Only after Deng Chan calmed down did Han Yan breathe a sigh of relief. Deng Chan was fiercely protective of those close to her, and Han Yan had truly feared she might act impulsively earlier. Fortunately, everything was fine now. However... Han Yan lowered her head to look at her right hand—a large red patch, the delicate skin scalded and unable to touch anything without sharp pain. Zhuangshan had indeed not held back, pouring a cup of boiling tea without mercy. It was a blessing that Han Yan hadn't cried out in agony on the spot, thanks to the hardships of her previous life, which had forged her resilient and forbearing nature, allowing her to avoid disgrace at this royal palace banquet.
The commotion at their table went unnoticed by others. The Emperor, having just finished admiring Princess Yunni's victory dance from the battlefield, was in high spirits and asked, "The daughters of my esteemed ministers need not be shy. If you have any talents, do present them. If truly accomplished, I shall reward you generously!"
Upon hearing this, Li Jiaqi straightened her back, raised her chin high, and took a sip from her cup. Objectively speaking, she was also a beauty. In this quiet demeanor, an unknowing observer might truly think she was a young lady of exceptional grace, aloof and proud.
Such aloof beauties easily captured hearts, attracting men to vie for their attention. In this regard, Li Jiaqi outshone Zhuangshan, who only knew how to feign fragility and charm.
At this moment, Zhuangshan also watched the Emperor with eager anticipation. Although the young ladies from various families were eager to showcase their talents, none dared to volunteer, as doing so would lower their status. Thus, they all waited to see how things unfolded.
Then, a sudden voice rang out: "Your son has heard that the eldest daughter of Prime Minister Li is a talented lady in the capital, praised by many for her ingenuity. I wonder if today we might have the fortune to witness Miss Li's talents?"
Everyone turned to look at the speaker and saw the Seventh Prince seated among the guests. His words were respectful and courteous, devoid of the arrogance typical of royal offspring, which left a favorable impression on the young ladies in the women's seating area. It was true that Li Jiaqi was known as a talented lady in the capital, and the Emperor had heard of her reputation over the years. He glanced at the Seventh Prince and smiled. "In that case, let Miss Li showcase her talents for everyone present."Li Jiaqi gracefully rose and walked to the center of the hall, where she bowed deeply, her voice soft and captivating: "This humble girl is dull-witted and undeserving of the title 'talented lady.' But as today's palace banquet is a joyous occasion, to entertain the esteemed officials and His Majesty, I shall make a fool of myself."
Her modest and proper words truly carried the bearing of a talented lady. A maid beside her brought forth an ancient, elegant black zither. Was Zhuangshan planning to play?
Han Yan watched coldly, a mocking smile curling at her lips. Li Jiaqi had indeed prepared thoroughly. Her gaze fell upon her own reddened hand—this was merely to ensure nothing went wrong.
Yet Han Yan had no intention of competing. Li Jiaqi was truly going to unnecessary lengths.
A graceful maiden sat beside the elegant zither, burning incense and cleansing her hands, her demeanor reflecting the poise and etiquette of a noble lady. Han Yan watched with a faint smile. Though she did not particularly like Li Jiaqi as a person, the young lady's dignified bearing was undeniable. Prime Minister Li's strict demands on his daughter were not without reason.
Everyone in the banquet held their breath, their eyes fixed unwaveringly on the woman in the center. Li Jiaqi wore an aloof expression as her delicate fingers lightly plucked the strings, releasing a melodious note.
She played "Lazy Eyebrows," a beautiful and moving piece that told the story of a serene, immensely talented woman playing the zither beneath the moon. At this moment, Li Jiaqi's sleeves fluttered gracefully, her fair hands dancing elegantly, perfectly complementing the artistic conception of the melody.
Han Yan listened attentively. Li Jiaqi's reputation as a talented lady was well-earned. Her fingering was skillful, and the piece itself contained numerous transitions and required alternating techniques. Yet Li Jiaqi showed no sign of awkwardness, flowing through it effortlessly. The clear, fluid notes of the zither, following Princess Yunni's lively and passionate dance earlier, were like a gentle stream of emerald water softly flowing into everyone's hearts. Gradually, the gazes of those around Li Jiaqi turned to admiration.
Deng Chan quietly nudged Han Yan's arm. "I didn't expect her to be so skilled. But Han Yan, if you were to go up, you might not play any worse than her."
Among Han Yan's talents in zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting, her zither skills were the finest. Her mother had been exceptionally skilled at the zither. As a child, Han Yan had once seen her mother play and attract butterflies—the scene was so beautiful that she developed an interest in the zither. To emulate her mother's grace, she practiced diligently from a young age and eventually excelled in zither playing.
Deng Chan added, "But your hand is burned now. You probably can't even touch the strings. What a pity. Otherwise, if you went up tonight, you would surely shine."
Han Yan shook her head. "My zither skills are not as good as hers." This was not false modesty. Though Han Yan had once been outstanding, she had not touched a zither in three years since her mother fell ill. After her mother passed away, she burned her beloved zither to avoid being reminded of her. Three days without practice makes one rusty, and after such a long hiatus, if Han Yan were to perform today, she likely would not match even half of Li Jiaqi's skill.
Deng Chan pursed her lips. "You're just too modest."Han Yan smiled faintly, offering no defense, and simply observed Zhuangshan's smug expression across from her, understanding dawning in her heart. No doubt Zhuangshan had already informed Li Jiaqi of her own considerable skill with the qin, which explained the earlier tea-spilling incident. Zhuangshan simply didn't want her to steal the spotlight, but Han Yan had never harbored such intentions in the first place, so in her eyes, it was nothing more than an unnecessary move. As for Li Jiaqi, Han Yan tilted her head in thought—she hadn't expected the daughter of the prime minister's household to resort to such underhanded tactics. Given Li Jiaqi's pride, shouldn't she have openly challenged her and engaged in a fair competition? If it was because Li Jiaqi feared her, Han Yan absolutely refused to believe it. As the capital's top talent, Li Jiaqi must have had confidence in herself.
Unless, Han Yan's eyes darkened slightly, she had some other hidden plan.
Unaware of Han Yan's thoughts, Li Jiaqi basked in the admiring gazes of the crowd, unable to resist feeling even more pleased with herself. Yet her expression remained composed as she pondered inwardly, wondering if that person... had witnessed her talent and beauty.
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