Chapter 315: Chapter 313: Your Highness Cares About Her
The Golden Hall fell silent, with everyone immersed in the dance for quite some time.
Lu Yu broke the silence with a loud cheer: "Perfect! Perfect! Truly deserving of being the Shen Family girl!"
Only then did murmurs of discussion fill the hall. Most were praising the intricacy of the dance, commenting that the Yan Country clearly could not compare to the Great Zhou in bearing the airs of a great nation. Yan Country, they said, was undeniably a petty, provincial state, unable to keep composure.
Shen Yinning stared directly at Yan Zheming. "Crown Prince, do you think our Great Zhou’s dance is superior or inferior to that of your country?"
As she envisioned, Yan Zheming ought to have been humiliated and angry.
But instead of fury, a smile faintly crept onto his lips: "Miss Shen, your beauty is peerless. Today’s dance could be called one that captivates an entire city."
Gan Tangwei gracefully curtsied, timely and composed: "I concede defeat. Miss Shen’s dance and musical talent are exquisite. If you ever have leisure to spare, I hope you will not hesitate to give me your guidance."
Shen Yunxi clenched her handkerchief tightly in frustration.
What was this? Shen Yinning won just like that?
She couldn’t help but mutter under her breath, "All she knows is flaunting herself and seducing men. It’s just a dance; even I could perform one. What’s so special about it? Performing in front of so many men—what kind of propriety does that show for a lady of stature?"
Fearful that Lu Ying might be swayed, she nervously and timidly looked his way. "Your Highness, do you think cousin’s dance was beautiful too?"
Lu Ying paid her no attention.
Anyone with eyes and a sense of aesthetics could see that Shen Zhaozhao’s dance was of the highest caliber.
What’s more, her performance on the pipa was outstanding.
Noble Consort Zhang, known for her profound musical expertise, had even been entranced moments ago, emerging from her reverie with an expression of self-abasement.
Lu Ying toyed with the Moyu Ring on his finger.
When he was young, his father had doted solely on Noble Consort Zhang, who loved playing the qin and was often lauded as the woman who best understood music in all the world.
Meanwhile, he had been left alone beside his mother’s sickbed, watching her sallow, wan complexion as she battled illness. Night after night, he listened to the music wafting from the neighboring palace—melodies that, though ethereal and beautiful, seemed to weave into fatal cords tightening around his mother’s throat.
The tunes also felt like a towering mountain, suffocating him as a young child.
On the rare sunny days when his mother’s health improved slightly, she would invite piano masters to the palace to teach her how to play.
But having come from a military lineage, she had trained with weapons since childhood and struggled to master the piano no matter how hard she tried.
She could never capture his father’s heart as Noble Consort Zhang effortlessly had.
Holding him, she would cry sorrowfully, lamenting that even if she practiced the piano for another lifetime, she could never rival Noble Consort Zhang.
But as Lu Ying reflected on it now, in truth, Noble Consort Zhang’s skill wasn’t particularly remarkable.
She couldn’t even compare to Shen Zhaozhao, this young girl.
The catastrophe that had loomed like a mountain over his mother and him had been nothing more than a slightly exceptional piano-playing woman.
It was only because they had been so powerless at the time that Noble Consort Zhang had seemed unconquerable.
Shen Yunxi, noticing his silence, couldn’t help but shake his arm. "Your Highness, why aren’t you speaking to me?"
Lu Ying sipped his wine.
The shadows of his past, extending like tendrils from his youth, crept up to cover his heart in this very moment.
Suddenly, he realized that he could not follow his father’s example and favor his concubines over his wife.
No matter how dearly he cherished Shen Zhaozhao, he could not allow her to surpass the Crown Princess Consort and repeat the tragedies of the past.
Absolute rationality dominated his thoughts as he replied coolly, "You are different from her. You are the Crown Princess Consort, and all you need to do is manage the Eastern Palace well. You do not need to compare yourself to her in such matters, nor must there be any contest to determine who is superior."
Shen Yunxi froze for a moment.
As she studied Lu Ying’s aloof profile, she realized he was trying to reassure her.
Indeed, she was the Crown Princess Consort, and her duty was simply to fulfill her responsibilities.
There was no need to compete in such trivialities with Shen Yinning, that lowly woman. As long as she made no mistakes and as long as the Shen Guogong Mansion stood firm, she would forever remain the Crown Princess Consort. No matter how Shen Yinning might try to rise above her, she could never surpass her position.
Her Highness still cared for her.
Shen Yunxi’s nerves eased, replaced with a surge of affectionate tenderness.
When she looked again at Shen Yinning, the flames of anger and jealousy in her eyes had vanished, leaving only disdain and mockery.
Shen Yinning had scored one victory, and Lu Yu, delighted, immediately ordered her to compete with Gan Tangwei in calligraphy and chess.
Everyone has weaknesses. Yet Shen Yinning seemed like a versatile warrior, capable of excelling in any challenge thrown her way.
Gan Tangwei stared at the chessboard, the piece in her hand poised but unmoving.
Though she was merely a lonely orphan of Yan Country’s Music Bureau, her aptitude for learning was unparalleled. Throughout her life, she had been celebrated and admired for her talents, never experiencing defeat in any endeavor. Even the Yan Imperial Family had broken protocol to invite her to the palace, requesting her instruction for the Princesses. She had even earned the title of "The First Talented Woman Under Heaven."
She had carried this pride with her as she accompanied Yan Zheming to the Central Plains, aiming to challenge the women there.
But she had never imagined that such an extraordinary and brilliant girl could exist in the world.
Shen Yinning...
The girl across from her, named Shen Yinning, was stunningly beautiful—a formidable individual who seemed capable of anything.
The outcome was clear. The defeat was irrevocable.
Gan Tangwei placed her chess piece down and stood with composure. "I admit defeat."
The Golden Hall erupted with cheers.
Lu Jiazhe cheered the loudest, and if not for Shen Yinning’s identity, he would likely have rushed forward to embrace her.
Lu Yu stroked his beard with hearty laughter, utterly delighted.
When he had laughed enough, he smugly glanced at Yan Zheming. "The culture of the Central Plains is vast and profound. It’s not something your country’s women can master simply by studying for a couple of years. And now, look at this—trying to show off their skills only to make a laughingstock of themselves."
Yan Zheming smiled without speaking, his gaze carrying an elusive hint of intrigue.
His eyes briefly swept over Shen Yinning, laden with inexplicable meaning.
As the banquet continued, Shen Yinning spoke in a crisp voice, "Your Majesty, you just mentioned that if I won the competition, you would confer the title of Commandery Princess upon me and reward me with the Red Book Iron Certificate. The Crown Prince of Yan and everyone present can attest to it; you cannot renege on your word."
Shen Yunxi frowned and rebuked, "How audacious! Shen Yinning, you’re forcing His Majesty to grant you rewards in return for your favor!"
"I would never dare. However, Your Majesty’s golden words should not be taken lightly. Surely they wouldn’t come to nothing?"
Lu Yu rubbed his forehead, feeling the headache coming on.
What Commandery Princess and what Red Book Iron Certificate? It had been a spur-of-the-moment suggestion, driven by the eagerness to defeat Yan Country.
He had originally intended to gloss over this matter, but who would have expected this Shen Family girl to raise the issue outright?
Forced to face it, he coughed lightly before announcing, "I am a man of my word; how could I renege? Your contributions today are significant. I will hereby confer upon you the title of Princess Zhaoning. As for the Red Book Iron Certificate, such matters carry immense gravity and will have to wait until negotiations between the two nations are finalized. Only then can it be granted as a reward."
After speaking, he made it clear he wished to drop the topic, waving his hand for the banquet to continue.
Shen Yinning could say no more.
She sat down, a mocking smile playing on her lips.
In the end, he was an old fox, cunning to the bone. After all, a title conferral was inconsequential; without any real power, even ten or twenty Commandery Princesses posed no threat to anyone.
But the Red Book Iron Certificate was different—it could absolve one of the death penalty.
She was determined to obtain it.
"Emperor of Great Zhou," Yan Zheming suddenly spoke, "Tomorrow, I wish to tour the Capital. Would it be possible to invite Princess Zhaoning to accompany me?"