"Let's use this one, Yaoyao. I have every confidence in you."
Jiang Yourning smiled at Zhen Yueyao with genuine affection.
For some reason, Zhen Yueyao felt a chill down her back. After telling herself to stay calm, she smiled and nodded.
"Sure, let's begin."
"Mm."
Bowing toward the seats of honor, Jiang Yourning cleared her throat forcefully, then put the suona to her lips with an air of solemn ceremony.
The first high note caught everyone present off guard, piercing their ears painfully.
Unprepared, Zhen Yueyao's legs buckled, and the movement meant to begin her dance turned into a kneel on one knee.
"Hehe, I was just testing the sound. Are you all right, Sister Yaoyao?"
Jiang Yourning immediately filled her eyes with concern.
Just watch me torment you to death.
"I... I'm fine."
The next instant, the musicians Zhen Yueyao had arranged began playing, and she danced lightly to their rhythm.
Just as Zhen Yueyao lowered her raised leg, Jiang Yourning's suona burst into the music.
Zhen Yueyao lost her balance and dropped straight into a full split.
"Ah!"
Zhen Yueyao screamed in agony, but the sound of Jiang Yourning's suona drowned her out completely.
Gritting through the pain, Zhen Yueyao got up and continued dancing, only to discover that the musicians' rhythm had fallen into complete chaos. One female zither player had even snapped a string, and blood dripped from her fingertips onto the bluestone paving.
Jiang Yourning paid none of that any mind. She played with tremendous gusto.
Everyone present felt as though the tops of their skulls had been blasted off, while dense goosebumps rose all over their bodies.
"Rong'er, when... when did your sister learn to play the suona? Why... why do I feel such a chill down my back?"
Lin Xiangyin turned to look at Jiang Wanrong, who was listening attentively at the table behind her, her voice trembling.
Yet Jiang Wanrong gazed at Jiang Yourning with eyes full of fond indulgence and spoke slowly.
"Mother, I actually think Ningning's piece is very interesting. It's lively and festive."
At one particular moment.
Qing Qianxue suddenly sprang up and landed beside the ancient zither below the stage that no one dared touch.
The mellow, ancient strains of the zither blended surprisingly well with Jiang Yourning's suona, each complementing the other.
A gust of wind swept past, and even the emperor and empress could not help shivering.
"Mother... why do I feel like this Miss Jiang wants to send us all off to the next world?"
Listening to the music, Chu Lange could not bear to look away, yet her heart kept prickling with unease. She even forgot that the person she idolized had actually stepped down to accompany Jiang Yourning.
"Ahem... what nonsense are you saying, child? I find this piece quite interesting."
The empress gave an awkward smile.
The melody clearly was not a funeral lament, yet somehow she heard a trace of desolation in it.
When Monkey Show ended, Jiang Yourning cast a sidelong glance at Qing Qianxue and switched to Double Happiness.
The gentle, lingering melody gradually drew everyone into the music, letting them savor its nuances.
Zhen Yueyao finally found a little of the rhythm, too, and began dancing along with reddened eyes.
At one point, the suona fell silent amid the absorbing melody. Qing Qianxue obligingly played on, sending out notes like a gently flowing stream.
"I truly never imagined that a suona could produce such beautiful music..."
The emperor had only smilingly finished half his sentence when Jiang Yourning began playing again. The pitch suddenly soared, knocking everyone's souls clean out of their bodies.
"Brother, did you see that? I think our mother is waving to us up ahead."
Qian Yan rubbed his arms, his teeth chattering.
Qian Miao gave Qian Yan a disdainful glance, then turned back toward the stage with a doting auntie's smile.
"What do you know? Isn't the real point that our master hasn't touched a zither in years, yet was willing to step down and accompany this Sixth Miss today?"
"Hmph! Impossible!"
Qian Yan turned his head away and simply clapped both hands over his ears, even closing his eyes.
When the piece ended, Jiang Yourning slowly lowered the suona. Qing Qianxue rose once more, returned to his place, and sat down without a word.
"My skills are lacking. Forgive my poor performance."
"Hehe, what are you saying, child? What pieces did you just play? Why have I never heard them before?"
Cui Zhao'an straightened in her seat and struggled to squeeze out a reasonably composed smile.
"In answer to Your Majesty, Ningning played two pieces in all. Both came from rare scores my brothers found while away on business. It's perfectly natural that Your Majesty hasn't heard them."
"I see. Your Majesty, what did you think of Miss Jiang's suona performance with the Imperial Preceptor's ancient zither?"
She then turned her gaze toward the emperor beside her.
The emperor dearly wanted to reward Jiang Yourning with a beating to soothe his soul, which had only just drifted slowly back. But even his Imperial Preceptor had joined in. What could he say?
"Excellent. She certainly deserves a reward!"
"Then... I shall bestow that Jade Ruyi upon Sixth Miss Jiang."
I'm getting a reward? Your Majesty, I hereby declare that from now on, you're the woman I'll cherish at the very tip of my heart.
???
Chu Wenzong frowned. Now he understood, too.
There probably was no celestial voice. Something was wrong with this Jiang girl.
Zhao'an was his lawful wife, whom he had married with the three letters and six rites. What need did she have to be cherished at the tip of some little girl's heart when the girl hadn't even grown all her hair yet!!!
Watching the young girl below the stage whose heart was blossoming with joy, Chu Wenzong suddenly gave a dangerously benevolent smile.
"No need. I have a better reward for Sixth Miss Jiang."
Jiang Yourning immediately lifted her gaze, her eyes lighting up.
Something bigger?
"Bestow upon Sixth Miss Jiang-ten thousand taels of gold."
Delight instantly flooded Jiang Yourning's eyes. "Yourning thanks Your Majesty for your gracious reward!"
Love it, love it! I'll never have to worry about food or drink again.
Since you've been so good to me, I've decided. Until the right time comes, I'll be sure to take good care of... like hell I will!!!
Before you continue