The First Jasmine - Chapter 24
Chapter 24: Duel of Qin and Dance; Ye Ying's Scheme
Although Ye Li found it quite boring, given that the Hundred Flowers Grand Gathering was the annual event most highly regarded by the cloistered young ladies of Great Chu's prominent families, it naturally possessed its own unique highlights. When the banquet tables were cleared and Grand Princess Zhaoyang ordered attendants to bring out the prizes for the young ladies who claimed victory at the gathering, Ye Li felt a surge of surprise and understanding. She watched as the girls, who had been reserved and elegant moments before, collectively revealed looks of intense longing. Every young lady present hailed from an illustrious clan; they had seen countless treasures since childhood. For a treasure to move even them, it was naturally no ordinary object. More importantly, winning such a prize would bring immense benefits to their reputations. Whether during their maiden years or after marrying into their husbands' families in the future, it would be enough to let them look down upon their peers. Furthermore, the few individuals who appeared alongside the prizes to the left and right of the Grand Princess caused the hearts of these unwed young ladies to flutter uncontrollably.
The judges the Grand Princess had invited this year were clearly figures of immense weight. Of the six men and one woman who took their seats at the tables flanking the Grand Princess, the only one Ye Li recognized was the cold-faced Prince Li, Mo Jingli. Additionally, a brocade-robed man who wore a thoroughly flirtatious smile inexplicably beamed in her direction. Although it lasted only for an instant, Ye Li was certain she had not misread it; that man was indeed smiling at her, and it was by no means a standard, polite smile. "Who is that man dressed in red?" Ye Li asked in a low voice, leaning close to Qin Zheng's ear.
Of those seven individuals, only one wore red, so Qin Zheng naturally discerned who she was referring to at a single glance. Covering her lips, she whispered back: "That is the third young master of the capital's Feng family, Feng Zhiyao. It is said that he is dissolute by nature and was born to a concubine, so he is not favored by the master of the Feng family. Two years ago, rumors already circulated that the master of the Feng family intended to expel him from the clan. However, his skills with the qin are indeed unmatched in the capital."
Seeing them whispering together, Murong Ting also leaned over and laughed. "The Grand Princess has truly spared no expense this year, actually inviting so many celebrities."
Hua Tianxiang gazed forward with a perfectly dignified expression, though her mouth remained busy. "The prizes this year are exceptionally generous as well. The Retaining Radiance Pearl, the Purple Phoenix Hairpin, and the Xueyin Qin bestowed by the late Emperor. If it weren't for the fact that my qin skills are indeed a fraction inferior to Ye Ying's, I would have wanted to go down and try my hand." Hua Tianxiang admired the Xueyin Qin displayed at the front with a trace of regret. It ranked third among the five legendary qins remaining in the world—a treasure dreamed of by every lover of the instrument. Ye Li felt an even greater sense of regret. "I haven't touched a qin in several years." The four girls exchanged glances, shrugged helplessly, and turned to admire the prizes and the people on the stage. Qin Zheng continued to introduce the seated judges to Ye Li in a low voice: "Among those on the stage, that elderly gentleman is the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, Old Master Su Zhe. He was also the tutor to the current Emperor. If it weren't for the Grand Princess's prestige, I'm afraid he couldn't have been invited at all. The others are Mo Jian, the first-rank scholar of the previous imperial exam and current Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel; Mu Yang, the Heir of the Marquis of Muyang; and Leng Qingyu, the eldest young master of the Generalship of the North Manor."
Ye Li’s gaze swept inconspicuously over the people Qin Zheng had mentioned, committing each to memory. "Who is that woman?" Although Ye Li had never felt that Ye Ying’s beauty was truly earth-shattering, she had always acknowledged that Ye Ying was beautiful enough. Yet stepping out today, she discovered that Ye Ying's title of the Number One Beauty of the Capital seemed somewhat precarious. Setting aside Princess Qixia from the Nanzhao Kingdom, Hua Tianxiang's appearance alone was enough to rival Ye Ying's. Qin Zheng possessed a refined beauty, and her gentle, scholarly elegance—born from a family of literati—was not something Ye Ying's delicate, pitiful charm could match. Furthermore, at various distances across the banquet, several other young ladies were also remarkably outstanding. If it were only a slight disparity, how had Ye Ying managed to sit securely upon the throne of the Number One Beauty for the past few years? Looking back at the woman seated on the stage, her peerless countenance carried a hint of enchanting allure. Even sitting between two men, her demeanor remained entirely composed and unconstrained. It was a charm completely different from that of a cloistered young lady from a noble family.
Qin Zheng's expression turned somewhat peculiar. She paused for a moment before saying, "That lady... is Miss Yaoji of the Qingcheng House. She is hailed as supreme in both qin and dance. Compared to her, Ye Ying's dancing is simply unviewable. Moreover... she shares quite a close acquaintance with both the Heir of the Marquis of Muyang and the Third Young Master Feng." Qin Zheng spoke with some embarrassment, but Ye Li immediately understood the woman's background. Seeing her seated between the Heir of the Marquis of Muyang and Third Young Master Feng, her bright eyes flashing with intelligence as she conversed and laughed with absolute ease, Ye Li could not help but feel that this lady could be considered an extraordinary woman.
While the four talked and laughed, the Grand Princess announced the official commencement of the Hundred Flowers Grand Gathering's competitions. Ye Li had initially been rather curious about how so many categories—qin, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, lyrics, song, and dance—could be contested simultaneously. However, everyone was clearly well-versed in the flow of the event. Tables laden with brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones were moved to the perimeter of the venue, and the young ladies intending to participate in calligraphy, painting, poetry, or lyrics stepped forward on their own accord. Maids carried out various musical instruments, taking positions on both sides at the very front of the venue, thereby leaving the central open space for the ladies performing dances. Ye Li could not help but admire the organizer of the banquet; it was indeed a highly practical arrangement. There was no rigid rule forcing everyone to perform in every category. After all, not everyone was proficient in all aspects of the scholarly arts, which spared many from the possibility of making fools of themselves.
Beside Grand Princess Zhaoyang, Princess Qixia and Commandery Princess Ronghua rose at the same time. However, Commandery Princess Ronghua walked toward the area where the brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones were placed, while Princess Qixia walked toward the center of the venue. Clearly, she intended to perform a dance. Meanwhile, Ye Ying walked to one side where the Yaoqin was placed. Her jade-like fingers lightly plucked the strings, and beautiful melodies immediately flowed from beneath her fingertips.
"It seems Princess Qixia has truly squared off against Ye Ying," Murong Ting laughed. Who in the capital did not know that Ye Ying was most adept at dancing? By choosing dance the moment she took the field, Princess Qixia clearly intended to give Ye Ying a demonstration of her prowess right from the start.
Hua Tianxiang admired Princess Qixia's fluttering, graceful dance form, praising: "The people of Nanzhao are skilled in song and dance, to say nothing of Princess Qixia, who is hailed as their number one beauty. Perhaps Princess Qixia will overshadow all the beauties today." Princess Qixia's dance was passionate yet elegant, lacking neither the unbridled enthusiasm of a foreign tribe nor the grand, refined poise of Great Chu. By comparison, Ye Ying, who had not yet danced, already appeared a tier inferior in her attire alone. Murong Ting agreed, nodding with a smile. "In my opinion, if we speak strictly of dance, only Yaoji could best Princess Qixia by a margin. After this dance, Ye Ying is bound to lose this year."
"Ye Ying is no ordinary character either. To see Princess Qixia possess such strength, yet still remain so calm..." Qin Zheng reminded them.
Hua Tianxiang laughed. "If she didn't even have this much capability, Ye Ying wouldn't have the face to come out. Since she is destined to lose the dance, she must stabilize her qin skills at all costs."
Ye Li frowned and said, "I'm afraid Princess Qixia has come prepared." Although she was no longer a sniper in this life, it did not affect her keen eyesight. Ye Li had not missed the cold sneer that flashed across Princess Qixia's eyes when her gaze swept past Ye Ying.
Murong Ting gasped. "Don't tell me this Princess Qixia is also more formidable than Ye Ying at the qin."
Hua Tianxiang shook her head. "If that were truly the case, Princess Qixia should have competed with the qin first before dancing. Dancing drains an immense amount of physical strength; playing the qin after a dance easily affects one's performance. Listen to Ye Ying's qin music."
The originally melodious and tactful music suddenly took a sharp, upward turn, the melody becoming rapid and fierce. Princess Qixia's drifting figure also moved faster; in the center of the field, one could only see the flying sleeves of her robes, like a fierce gale tearing through a hundred flowers in full bloom.
Clearly, Ye Ying had likely discovered this point as well, or perhaps she sensed Princess Qixia's strength, which gave her a feeling of being threatened.
The crowd on the viewing stage had also clearly detected the shift below. Grand Princess Zhaoyang knit her brows, the gaze she cast upon Ye Ying turning somewhat cold and indifferent. Yaoji, who was leaning back gracefully to enjoy Princess Qixia's dance, suddenly let out a soft, chuckling laugh. Tilting her head toward the solemn-faced Mo Jingli, she smiled and said, "Your Highness Prince Li, the future Prince Li Consort is indeed extraordinary. Yaoji is full of admiration." With a cold face, Mo Jingli did not give Yaoji even a single glance, merely frowning slightly. In his eyes, Yaoji, who originated from a song and dance house, was fundamentally unworthy of speaking to him. Naturally, he did not need to heed her words. Yaoji did not mind his disregard; her beautiful eyes rippled with light as she spoke with a brilliant smile: "The Number One Beauty of the Capital truly lives up to her reputation, though she seems to lack a bit of hospitality toward guests."
Yaoji's voice was not loud, but the place where Ye Ying sat was precisely closest to the viewing stage. Yaoji's words happened to drift into Ye Ying's ears with just enough weight. Su Zhe, the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy who had remained silent all this time, also let out a soft snort. If Ye Ying did not need to care about Yaoji's words, Su Zhe's attitude caused her heart to tremble. Her originally smooth, flowing fingerwork faltered for a moment. Although she reacted quickly, Feng Zhiyao, who sat beside Yaoji, gradually began to knit his brows. He smiled faintly and remarked, "I originally thought that after a year, the Prince Li Consort's qin skills would have advanced further. I did not expect..."
Ye Li and her group naturally could not hear the conversations of the people at the front. Although Ye Li was proficient in lip-reading, she had no intention of speaking aloud to share it with others. Consequently, what Qin Zheng and the others saw was that when Ye Ying finished her piece, her countenance was even uglier than that of Princess Qixia, who had just been sabotaged during her dance. Princess Qixia concluded with a perfect posture, glared fiercely at Ye Ying, and turned to return to Grand Princess Zhaoyang's side. The beads of fragrant sweat on her forehead also indicated that she had not managed it as easily as she appeared to. After all, the sudden, sharp shift between the before and after of the piece Ye Ying played was simply too vast. That she had not made a fool of herself on the spot without any preparation was entirely due to her own superb dance skills and adaptability. To dare scheme against her in such a manner, she would definitely make her pay!