The First Jasmine - Chapter 25

Chapter 25: Used as a Shield

After nearly two hours of intense competition, the winners of each category were finally decided. Ye Ying’s results were a fraction inferior compared to last year's. Although she had later exerted her utmost effort to perform a Flying Immortal Dance, barely managing to tie with Princess Qixia for a joint first place, she was vetoed by Third Young Master Feng, who was hailed as the capital's absolute master of the qin. Consequently, she lost to Liu Ruyun, the young lady of the Liu family, and had to settle for second place in qin skills. Afterward, she claimed a third-place finish in poetry composition, yet this could hardly conceal her aggrieved and frustrated expression. On the contrary, Princess Qixia, despite being an outsider, shone brilliantly in the latter half of the competitions, achieving the excellent results of third place in qin skills, first in calligraphy, and second in chess. With this, Princess Qixia became the champion of this year’s Hundred Flowers Grand Gathering with two first places, one second place, and one third place.

Grand Princess Zhaoyang was clearly extremely satisfied with this outcome, and the judges on the viewing stage also showed a few more traces of admiration for this foreign princess. Just as Old Master Su Zhe was about to announce the final results of the Grand Gathering, Princess Qixia leaned over and whispered a few words into Grand Princess Zhaoyang's ear. She then stood up, offered an apologetic dip of her body to Old Master Su, and turned her gaze toward the crestfallen Ye Ying below, a cold sneer flashing across her brow.

"I request everyone's forbearance, as Qixia wishes to challenge Miss Ye Ying to a new duel of dance," Princess Qixia declared in a clear, resonant voice, instantly causing a wave of clamor to erupt across the venue.

Leaning lazily back in his chair, Feng Zhiyao looked at Princess Qixia and smiled. "To be able to witness the dance artistry of the Princess and the Number One Beauty of the Capital once more is surely something everyone present would be delighted to see. However... I wonder why it must be contested anew?"

Princess Qixia lifted her head and stated arrogantly, "Do you Central Plains people not say that there is no absolute first in literature, but no absolute second in martial arts? Although this dance is not that form of martial arts, this Princess is not accustomed to tying for first with anyone." As she spoke, she cast a disdainful sweep of her eyes over Ye Ying, falling just short of explicitly stating that Ye Ying was unworthy of sharing the top spot with her. Below the stage, Ye Ying’s face instantly turned deathly pale, her slender figure trembling as if about to collapse. Seeing this, the surrounding crowd could not help but feel that Princess Qixia was taking things a bit too far. Princess Qixia, however, paid no heed to the gazes of others, keeping her eyes fixed firmly upon Ye Ying.

Feng Zhiyao’s indolent phoenix eyes swept across Mo Jingli, who sat to one side with a dark and gloomy expression. He smiled and said, "Your Highness Prince Li, what is your opinion? After all... Miss Ye Ying is your fiancée."

Mo Jingli cast a glance at Ye Ying below the stage, a ripple of emotion surfacing within his cold, indifferent eyes as he said flatly, "Is Princess Qixia dissatisfied with Yaoji's judgment?"

Yaoji smiled brilliantly, a hundred charms instantly coming to life. "If Princess Qixia possesses an even more beautiful dance, Yaoji is naturally willing to admire it. I only wonder if I have that honor."

Mo Jingli remained silent. Although he did not possess a deep understanding of dance, he naturally knew from the results Yaoji had delivered earlier that Ye Ying's and Princess Qixia's dance artistry should be on par with each other. However, dance was inherently an art appreciated through the eyes. Even if their foundational skills were virtually identical, Princess Qixia's passionate and moving style was clearly more capable of striking a chord with people than Ye Ying's delicate and ethereal grace. This situation could also be described as a high-brow melody finding few listeners. If Ye Ying were to lose to Princess Qixia again... Mo Jingli's handsome, sharp brows gradually knitted together.

Seeing that he remained silent, Grand Princess Zhaoyang, seated at the head position, knit her elegant brows with some displeasure. "Jingli."

"Ah..."

A soft exclamation arose from below the stage, followed by the crisp sound of porcelain shattering against the ground. Everyone looked toward the source of the noise; the maidservant beside Ye Ying was currently prostrating on the ground begging for mercy, while Ye Ying held her left arm with a deathly pale face. A damp patch had already spread across her left sleeve. Clearly, while serving tea just now, the maidservant had inadvertently spilled it onto Ye Ying.

"Ying'er..." Mo Jingli rose and leapt down from the viewing stage, taking Ye Ying into his embrace. He kicked away the maidservant kneeling on the ground, snarling, "Get lost!"

On the stage, the Grand Princess's face instantly turned completely livid. The one Mo Jingli had kicked was a maidservant from her Grand Princess's Manor. "Someone, please summon the imperial physician to tend to Miss Ye."

The young ladies present were all somewhat unable to recover their wits from this abrupt turn of events. Although every one of them exerted their utmost to maintain their poise as cloistered noble daughters, it did not hinder them from exchanging opinions in various ways in private.

"Tsk, Ah-Li, you must be careful; this younger sister of yours is ruthless enough." After sitting dryly for several hours, Murong Ting's form of address for Ye Li had already evolved from 'Miss Ye' and 'Ye Li' into the intimate 'Ah-Li'. If it truly were a case of that maidservant carelessly spilling water onto Ye Ying, Murong Ting would not believe it even if she betted her not-so-studious brain on it. How could it be such a coincidence that the moment Princess Qixia issued her challenge, Ye Ying was scalded right then and there?

Hua Tianxiang knit her brows. "For some reason, I have an ominous premonition."

Ye Li arched her brows, but before she could speak, she heard Ye Ying—who was still leaning weakly in Mo Jingli's embrace—speak to Princess Qixia in a faint and regretful voice: "Princess, I am truly sorry. I'm afraid Ying'er cannot compete with the Princess. Since the Princess is unconvinced... why not invite my elder sister to take Ying'er's place for a round? My elder sister is the di daughter of the Minister's Manor; surely she will not disgrace the Princess. Elder Sister, wouldn't you say so?"

Hearing this, Ye Li’s face settled into its usual calm expression, yet her gaze darkened. How could Ye Ying possibly not know that she could not dance? If she lost, it would naturally mean that she, Ye Li, was useless and had disgraced the Minister's Manor, rather than Ye Ying being inferior to Princess Qixia. This not only averted the possibility of her own defeat at Princess Qixia's hands but also successfully caused Ye Li to make a fool of herself during her very first appearance at a social gathering. It was indeed a fine calculation.

"We shall do exactly as Ying'er says!" Mo Jingli gave the command directly with impatience. Without waiting for the imperial physician to arrive, he lifted Ye Ying straight up into his arms and prepared to leave the venue.

Watching Mo Jingli's silhouette depart without a single thread of hesitation, the Grand Princess's eyes darkened. Only after a long pause did she state in a heavy voice, "Since that is the case, let Third Miss Ye take the place of Fourth Miss Ye."

Ye Li was completely speechless: Did truly no one think to ask whether I actually know how to dance?

Virtually everyone's gaze converged upon Ye Li, and Qin Zheng's group also looked at her anxiously. Although they had previously joined in the fun to urge Ye Li to seize a rank, they had no real intention of forcing her into a corner. Setting aside the fact that they were newly made friends, even given the future relationship between Qin Zheng and Ye Li, they could not possibly harm her.

Because of Mo Jingli and Ye Ying's departure, Princess Qixia's heart was currently blithesome with burning rage. It just so happened that Ye Li, who had been pushed out by Mo Jingli to serve as a substitute, was also Mo Jingli's former fiancée. Consequently, Princess Qixia directed her entire furnace of rage straight toward Ye Li. Arching her exquisite willow-leaf brows, she said, "Miss Ye, you first, please."

Ye Li rose to her feet helplessly. Meeting Princess Qixia's hatred-filled gaze, she thought for a moment before opening her mouth to speak: "I concede."

Everyone, including Princess Qixia, wore expressions of absolute stupefaction. Only after quite a long while did Princess Qixia snap back to her senses, glaring angrily at Ye Li as she snapped, "Do you look down upon this Princess? This Princess does not need you to yield to me!"

Ye Li shook her head helplessly. "I am not yielding to the Princess; I genuinely concede."

"To concede without even competing—even if this Princess wins, it would be an unearned victory."

"Forcing someone who cannot dance to compete is even more unearned, is it not?" Ye Li sighed softly, looking sincerely at the almond-eyed, furious Princess Qixia on the stage. "Princess, I do not know how to dance. Therefore, you have been played by Ye Ying."

"Hehe, to have someone who doesn't know how to dance serve as a substitute—His Highness Prince Li and the future Prince Li Consort are truly creative." Feng Zhiyao's lazy voice echoed, his tone thoroughly laced with the flavor of enjoying someone else's misfortune.

Princess Qixia was also startled. "Why don't you know how to dance!"

"Because dancing is not a mandatory course for the cloistered young ladies of Great Chu. I believe many of the young ladies present do not know how to dance either," Ye Li replied with perfect justification. Not knowing how to dance was by no means a shameful matter. In truth, the cloistered young ladies of Great Chu who specifically learned dance were few and far between, unless they themselves genuinely possessed a particular love for it, or perhaps their families intended to send their daughters into the imperial palace.

Since Ye Li had already made it clear that she had never learned to dance, if one were to force her to perform, it would be considered making trouble without reason. Princess Qixia also understood that she had been fooled by Ye Ying, so she could only temporarily suppress the rage in her heart. Staring at the calm, subtly smiling young lady in green robes below the stage, her eyes flickered slightly as she spoke: "We did not see Miss Ye take the field to try her hand earlier either. Since Fourth Miss Ye possesses such confidence in her elder sister, then let Miss Ye display her strengths in another area instead. Or perhaps..." Looking at Ye Li with a half-smile, she paused slightly before projecting her voice, "Or perhaps Miss Ye is completely devoid of skills in anything at all?"

Ye Li lowered her head and remained silent for a brief moment. When she raised her head, her gaze looked upon Princess Qixia flatly as she replied, "In that case, Ye Li shall make a fool of herself.”