The Reborn Princess Has Turned Evil

Chapter 207 Gathering of Talents (2)

Zhao Yayi picked up the pipa, sat gracefully on the pear blossom chair, and soon beautiful music filled the room.

Her fingers flew across the strings, starting with a cheerful melody, then turning into a rapid, urgent sound, as if soldiers were wielding weapons, as if she were on a battlefield.

This is a piece of music that doesn't sound like something a young woman could play; it's so powerful.

At this moment, Qin Zhihua stepped forward and whispered, "This Zhao Yayi is the daughter of Zhao Xun, the General of the Imperial Secretariat. She grew up with her parents at the border since childhood."

Jing Anle looked down and saw Zhao Yayi completely absorbed in the music, as if she had become one with the pipa.

A general? She truly is a daughter of a military family. No wonder she dresses simply; she prefers military attire to feminine dresses.

When the piece ended, the noble ladies were still in shock and hadn't reacted when a voice of praise came from outside the door: "Well played!"

Hearing the sound, everyone looked towards the door and saw Old Madam Qin standing outside.

"Greetings to the old lady." Everyone quickly bowed.

Jing Anle and Qin Zhihua also came down and helped Old Madam Qin to her seat at the top.

"No need to be polite."

Looking at Zhao Yayi before her, Old Madam Qin couldn't hide her admiration. This was understandable; Old Madam Qin herself came from a military family and naturally favored daughters of generals. Such women were not arrogant, but rather remarkably open-minded.

“Miss Zhao’s song is so righteous and noble, but I have never heard this song before. May I ask who composed it?” Old Madam Qin asked.

Zhao Wanyi stood ramrod straight, her expression no longer as cold as when she played the zither. She respectfully replied, "In response to your question, Madam, this is a piece I composed over time while traveling with my parents on the frontier in the desert. The melody is a bit stiff, please forgive my awkwardness, Madam."

The other noble ladies exchanged glances, knowing that this was Zhao Yayi's modest excuse. The melody was vivid and engaging, with twists and turns, clearly showing that she had put in a lot of effort.

"Miss Zhao is too modest. The sound of the pipa is so powerful that it makes you feel as if you are there. It shows how skilled the player is."

"Thank you for the compliment, Madam." Zhao Yayi received the praise, but her face did not show obvious joy; she seemed rather indifferent.

Qin Zhihua had previously stated that these noble ladies were carefully selected by Old Madam Qin, and naturally, she had seen their portraits and knew their family backgrounds beforehand. Seeing Old Madam Qin's current state, Jing Anle thought to herself: It seems that Grandmother is quite satisfied with this Miss Zhao.

"I wonder which young lady will come first?" Qin Zhihua asked.

She was the head of the household and was about the same age as these noble ladies, so it was very appropriate for her to take charge.

Zhao Yayi had been so prominent just now, but now she had put everyone in a passive position. So everyone looked at each other, not really wanting to step forward.

Meanwhile, Murong Ruoyan, who was sitting at the lower end of the table, was also hesitant. She was skilled in playing the guqin, but she was afraid that if she made a rash move, the person behind her might also choose the guqin and outshine her.

But if she could step forward now, she could leave a good impression on Madam Qin and the princess, so she decided to strike first.

Jing Anle saw her movements clearly. Just as Murong Ruoyan stood up, Jing Anle pretended not to see her and instead suggested, "Why don't we decide by drawing lots?"

Thus, Murong Ruoyan's attempt to get up froze in mid-air, unable to sit or stand.

Naturally, her appearance was also seen by the other noble ladies, causing her considerable embarrassment.

Qin Zhihua was incredibly clever. She had previously thought Jing Anle had feelings for Murong Ruoyan, but now it seemed the opposite. She reacted quickly, "Miss Murong, are you going to relieve yourself?"

Murong Ruoyan blushed slightly, straightened up, and said, "That's right."

After saying that, he lowered his head and left from the back.

Jing Anle looked at that retreating figure, a hint of disdain flashing in her eyes. She gave Mu Ping a wink, and Mu Ping understood immediately. In the instant she poured tea for Jing Anle, the mistress and servant exchanged a few words.

"What does Grandmother think of the lottery method?" Qin Zhihua asked Old Madam Qin.

Madam Qin nodded and said, "That's a good idea."

After asking that question, Qin Zhihua turned to the ladies and inquired, "What do you ladies think?"

"The draw was excellent, very fair." The speaker was Pu Yanran, the daughter of the governor of Tanzhou. Compared to Zhao Yayi just now, her attire was much more gorgeous. She wore a blue dress that was ethereal and fairy-like, with a sapphire blue butterfly tassel on her head. With her red lips and white teeth, she was also a beautiful woman.

The others nodded in agreement, indicating that they had no objections.

Qin Zhihua quickly wrote down the names of the noble ladies, folded them, placed them on a plate, and had her maid present them to Jing Anle.

"Why don't we have the princess draw lots?"

Jing Anle did not refuse and said with a smile, "Then I will draw the lot."

Everyone stared at the plate, and for a moment the atmosphere became quite tense.

Jing Anle unfolded the paper and read aloud: "Su Yuwei, daughter of the Grand Master of Ceremonies."

After speaking, a woman dressed in green stood up, bowed, and walked straight into the hall. She picked up her lute and said, "This humble woman will make a fool of herself."

Like the pipa, the yueqin is also held horizontally, but their shapes differ. The pipa is crisp and clear, while the yueqin is gentle and melodious. Therefore, Su Yuwei played a cheerful tune, sweeping away the seriousness and solemnity of Zhao Yayi's pipa playing just now.

The music was sometimes cheerful and sometimes melodious, but those with a keen ear could hear that Su Yuwei was a little rusty with her fingering, and she couldn't reach the high notes at the climax of the piece.

After the song ended, Madam Qin simply smiled and said a few words of praise, without saying anything more.

Jing Anle roughly guessed that Old Madam Qin wasn't very interested in Su Yuwei, so she continued drawing lots. She picked up the paper and saw that it read "Murong Ruoyan". She calmly put the paper away, but then uttered another person's name, "Shao En, daughter of the Grand Master of the Palace".