The Prince must be treating the Princess so well out of guilt for abandoning her, the crowd thought silently.
Zha Muxi could feel many gazes fixed upon her. Among them, one particularly hostile look glared at her fiercely. Lifting her gaze, she saw it was none other than her arch-nemesis, Shangguan Yue. Zha Muxi slowly curved her lips into a mocking smile.
Shangguan Yue couldn't help feeling somewhat irritated. The woman had been abandoned, yet she still dared to make fun of her! Just wait, she would definitely make her make a fool of herself in front of everyone.
With that, Shangguan Yue stood up, broke into a radiant smile, and said, "Your Majesty, since everyone is in such high spirits today, this humble subject would like to make a fool of herself and dance a piece for everyone."
"Very well, I too should like to admire the dancing skills of the Capital's foremost talented woman," Mo Xuanyi said in a ringing voice.
"This humble subject would like to request the Princess to play a tune for me. I wonder what the Princess thinks of this?" Shangguan Yue suddenly turned and smiled at Zha Muxi.
Ye Shuxin was overjoyed down below; who didn't know that Zha Muxi was an utter fool? This time, she would finally get to see her make a fool of herself.
Mo Xuanjing gazed coldly at Shangguan Yue. She had always targeted Zha Muxi in the past, though it seemed he had simply looked on with cold indifference back then. But from now on, no one was allowed to bully his person.
Zha Muxi said indifferently, "I'm not very good at playing the zither."
The crowd was taken aback, not expecting the Princess to simply admit it just like that.
Shangguan Yue was just about to open her mouth with a sarcastic remark when Zha Muxi spoke first, "However, I can learn it on the spot. Why don't you name a dance, and play the tune for me to listen to first?"
The crowd was shocked once again. Had this Princess gone mad? To actually utter such wild boasts! The Baxian Guqin was obscure and difficult to master, which was why not a single person across the entire realm was proficient in it. And yet she expected to memorize it just by listening to it once—it was sheer wishful thinking. No one believed it, but Mo Xuanjing knew she could do it.
Shangguan Yue smiled faintly and said, "Then I shall make a fool of myself."
A wondrous, lively melody flowed from her fingertips; the music was at times bold and bright, at others gentle and delicate. As the piece came to an end, everyone broke into praise and admiration.
Shangguan Yue looked at Zha Muxi with a smile that wasn't quite a smile. "Princess, if you please!"
Zha Muxi was just about to step forward when Mo Xuanjing suddenly caught her by the arm.
Zha Muxi turned her head and asked, "Prince, what is it?"
Mo Xuanjing suddenly stammered, his face turning slightly red as he said, "This—this Prince will wait for you."
Seeing this scene, the crowd harbored various thoughts. Was the Prince just blushing a moment ago? Ye Shuxin had never seen the Prince look like this before, and she was boiling with anger inside.
Zha Muxi could only nod awkwardly before turning and walking away.
Shangguan Yue was still smiling as she said, "Then we await the Princess."
Zha Muxi slowly seated herself, her slender fingers gently stroking the strings, as if once upon a time, someone else had played for her as well.
"Yes, alright then, you must keep up," Zha Muxi said with a faint smile.
Shangguan Yue, however, sneered in disdain. What right did this good-for-nothing have to be the Princess?
With a light pluck of her delicate fingers against the silver strings, her hands swept across the ancient zither. The music sounded like weeping and pleading; at times soaring and clear, like water from high mountains cascading down in murmuring ripples; at times gentle and restrained, like light singing and soft dancing. The tempo grew faster and faster, until suddenly the melody shifted—sharp and soaring, yet not jarring, sounding like a vase of ice suddenly cracking open and water gushing forth, or armored cavalry bursting out with the clashing of swords and spears, fierce and stirring.
Shangguan Yue had originally been startled by Zha Muxi's zither skills and was already somewhat flustered. In the end, Zha Muxi deliberately played a high note, and losing her footing for a moment, she actually tumbled to the ground in front of everyone.
The tune had finished, but the crowd remained immersed in the music, completely entranced, until Zha Muxi's pleasant voice rang out, pulling everyone back to their senses.
Naturally, the people present were not ignorant of musical principles; they all knew that when played by Zha Muxi, the exact same piece was vastly superior in skill—one could even call it a crushing defeat.
"Your Majesty, please examine this clearly. The Princess has committed the crime of deceiving the sovereign! She clearly claimed just moments ago that she didn't know how to play, yet how is it she was so proficient just now? This is unmistakably something that can only be honed through ten years of practice!" Shangguan Yue's voice carried a hint of accusation, as though she were suffering the greatest of grievances.
"Oh, could it be that this Princess forgot to tell you that I have a photographic memory?" Zha Muxi curved her lips into a smile.
"How is that possible? You're lying!" Shangguan Yue suddenly raised her voice.
"Your Majesty, please pick any book at random and test me by reciting passages from it," Zha Muxi said, looking gravely at the Emperor.
"Very well. Here is a collection of poetry. I will grant you the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. If you cannot finish reciting it, you shall naturally be punished, but if you do finish, you shall also be rewarded. Do you have any objections?" Mo Xuanyi's phoenix eyes narrowed slightly.
"I do," Zha Muxi said softly.
"Oh? Do you dare not prove it after all?" Mo Xuanyi said with a hint of displeasure.
Zha Muxi shook her head and replied, "Your Majesty, half the time of an incense stick will be quite enough."
Mo Xuanyi was taken aback, the corners of his mouth curling upward. "Very well."
After receiving the poetry collection, Zha Muxi leafed through it unhurriedly. Before long, she had finished reading through the entire book.
"Your Majesty, I am ready. Test me!"
What? Not even half the time of an incense stick had passed! The crowd was filled with astonishment.
"Playing in Spring," the Emperor asked with high spirits.
Zha Muxi calmly replied, "It is on page one hundred and ten.
Spring's vitality fills the air as we frolic in the spring breeze,
Flowers bloom across the land while colored clouds float at ease.
Red sleeves dance lightly as the spring wind starts to blow,
Green willows brush the face where laughter and chatter flow.
The joys of touring gardens make the spring days last so long,
Graceful youths in dancing attire join the joyful throng.
Happy voices and laughter fill every listening ear,
While spring's picturesque beauty makes the manor clear.
Outings for spring herbs bring boundless joy and delight,
The season of frolicking in spring glows warm and bright.
Fairies among the flowers sway their slender waists around,
Smiles like blossoms mirror the clear sky unbound.
The spring sunlight shines brightly on our spring excursion,
Tourists laugh and revel in carefree diversion.
Flowers bloom and fall as the spring breeze gently wakes,
We leave our spring games and strolls to whatever path it takes."
"Splendid! To have memorized it in such a short amount of time!" Mo Xuanyi then named several more poems in succession.
Zha Muxi was able to recite every single one without hesitation, and upon finishing each recitation, she casually added a brief explanation of which page it was on and what it meant.
By this time, the crowd was ten thousand points shocked. The good-for-nothing Princess turned out to be a hidden peerless genius! It seemed the Princess was the true foremost talented woman; what was Shangguan Yue by comparison?
With a look of utter disbelief, Shangguan Yue muttered to herself, "How is this possible? How could she be a genius?"
With a grand wave of his hand, Mo Xuanyi declared, "Haha, these are all poems I wrote myself, never seen by anyone else! Someone come, reward her with a thousand liang of gold and a hundred bolts of silk!"
"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty." Zha Muxi's tone remained indifferent. As she turned around, she suddenly flashed a sweet smile toward Shangguan Yue.
Everyone felt their breath catch. Though her crystal-clear eyes remained unrippled, her skin was as white as snow, and she possessed a naturally elegant and aloof disposition, making her seem like a fairy descended among mortals, too pure for anyone to dare profane.
With a darkened face, Mo Xuanjing glared coldly at those people, wishing he could gouge out their eyes for looking at his person with such gazes. And yet, Xier, who had dazzled the entire gathering, was truly breathtakingly beautiful. Was he really going to keep a person like this trapped within his estate?
Not without a trace of jealousy, Mo Xuanjing whispered into her ear, "Xier, I really want to hide you away."
Zha Muxi did not turn her head immediately, fearing some melodramatic cliché might occur—such as a kiss. Instead, she shifted slightly backward, her voice filled with detachment and alienation: "Prince."
Yet Mo Xuanjing acted like a pitiful, oversized puppy as he said, "Princess, I'm right here."
Zha Muxi glanced at Mo Xuanjing once and said no more. She knew very well that she did not love Mo Xuanjing, and could only ignore his overtures, hoping her coldness would make him give up.
Mo Xuanyi naturally witnessed this scene and could not help feeling somewhat astonished. He knew this younger brother of his better than anyone; he had always been steady, and had never once acted spoiled even as a child. As he thought about it, a strange sense of sourness arose in his heart. But what was the deal with him giving up on Zha Muxi? Once this was over, he would have to summon him and ask, otherwise he wouldn't be able to give Zha Zhengcheng an explanation.
The crowd also re-evaluated Zha Muxi's standing in the Prince's heart. With Shangguan Yue acting as the first bird to stick its neck out, for the time being, no one dared harbor any malicious intentions toward Zha Muxi.
After the imperial banquet concluded, because there was only a single carriage, Zha Muxi had to wait in a side hall for Mo Xuanjing.
"Imperial Elder Brother, why have you summoned me?" Mo Xuanyi asked indifferently.
Mo Xuanyi was instantly overcome with bitterness. He was all tender warmth when talking to his wife, yet so cold when speaking to him! Feeling somewhat aggrieved, he asked, "Are you going to explain that matter to me or not?"
Mo Xuanjing remained silent. After a long while, he finally recounted everything—including his current change of heart and his desire to rekindle past affections.
This time, it was Mo Xuanyi's turn to fall silent. Suddenly, he fetched a box and slowly began to speak, "Open this and take a look, then tell me your decision."
Mo Xuanjing slowly opened it, feeling for some reason that all his doubts would find their answers at this very moment.
After looking inside, Mo Xuanjing let out a muffled groan of agony. His hands trembled uncontrollably, and his eyes turned bloodshot. *Haha, so that was how it was. No wonder... Why would they treat her like this?* Every second felt to him like death by a thousand cuts, yet all this pain could not compare to the suffering Zha Muxi had endured.
Seeing Mo Xuanjing's reaction, Mo Xuanyi knew that this younger brother of his had truly fallen in love. He sighed and said, "Zha Muxi is a clever person. I saw ambition in her eyes; she will not be content to spend her whole life trapped within your estate."
Mo Xuanjing curled his lips into a wretched smile, his face turned deathly pale. "I understand, Imperial Elder Brother."
Watching Mo Xuanjing like this, Mo Xuanyi couldn't help feeling a pang of heartache, yet there was nothing he could do. This was a matter between the two of them; outside interference would only make things more complicated. Let everything be up to fate.
Upon stepping out of the grand hall, Mo Xuanjing laughed wildly, though the sound carried an endless, boundless sorrow. He suddenly began to run, because he wanted to see Zha Muxi right this instant.
And Zha Muxi, as if sensing something, bolted the door shut tight.
Until Mo Xuanjing stood outside the threshold, his voice hoarse as he said, "Xier, I want to see you."
Zha Muxi remained completely unmoved. "Prince, calm down first."
Yet Mo Xuanjing suddenly sank to his knees, weeping silently as if to fend off the onslaught of pain. He hated the Emperor for wounding and harming her so, and hated himself even more for failing to protect her sooner.