After the replacement marriage, I was forced to fight at home

Meng Wan gently held Hu's arm and responded with a smile as tenderly as possible, so that to outsiders, they looked like a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law with a harmonious relationship.

"I just hope she doesn't embarrass herself today. All the ladies who have the opportunity to perform at this palace banquet today are noble ladies." Mrs. Hu was still a little worried. She had just watched the female officials invite the young ladies who needed to perform tonight to the left side room, and she had been feeling uneasy.

Performing at the Fifteen Palace Banquet is a royal tradition. Usually, several people are selected in advance to prepare for the performance, showing various skills. It is not easy to be chosen to perform at such an occasion.

It took Mrs. Hu a lot of effort and money for Zhou Yingning to win this honor. Zhou Yiheng thought it was not a big deal. His daughter didn't need to show off in such an occasion and could still find a good son-in-law.

But Mrs. Hu didn't think so. On the one hand, she wanted everyone to know how excellent Zhou Yingning was. On the other hand, she also wanted to create conditions for Zhou Yingning to quickly gain a foothold in the circle of noble ladies in the capital after she got married. So, the opportunity for the most distinguished families in the capital to know and praise Zhou Yingning was to show her talents at the palace banquet.

Of course, today's performance was just to liven up the atmosphere. There were eight ladies performing, including Zhou Yingning who played the piano, the guzheng, the pipa, and the flute. In addition, there were four other ladies, two of whom wrote and two of whom painted.

Therefore, this is a great opportunity for the noble ladies who are selected to perform at the palace banquet to shine. Every year, the noble ladies who strive for this opportunity have to fight for their chance, but unfortunately there can only be eight people to perform.

A second whip sound was heard in the distance, and the Imperial Concubine, the Virtuous Concubine, and the other princesses walked to their seats.

After the third ring, everyone stood up, and heard a voice, and the Queen arrived.

The queen changed into a new dress, which was more dignified than the one she wore at noon. It should be the queen's formal dress, which was very grand. The gorgeous phoenix crown made the not-so-pretty queen look more majestic.

There was another round of kneeling and the Queen said a few auspicious words as usual. After someone outside reported that the banquet had started in Chengtian Hall, the Queen waved her hand and the palace maids filed in. Dishes were placed on the small table in front of everyone.

To be honest, there was nothing delicious at the banquet in the palace. No matter how good the delicacies were, they would have been cold when brought over from the imperial kitchen.

Meng Wan looked at the greasy dishes, just holding the wine glass and smiling, until the fruit snacks came up, then he took two bites and felt better in his stomach.

After the first round of toasts, the talent show of the ladies began. Meng Wan had no musical talent, and even her singing was off-tune, so she had no idea how anyone played or how accomplished they were. She could only say, "Not bad."

The performances of the ladies were arranged very reasonably. After each round of dishes, a performer came out, and the calligraphy and painting were separated from the musical instrument. After three rounds, Zhou Yingning had not come out yet. Meng Wan thought to herself that the Hu family had invested a lot of money, and they put Zhou Yingning in the finale.

After everyone finished appreciating the last set of calligraphy, the palace maids first set up the music stand and then placed the seven-stringed music stand that Zhou Yingning brought from home on it.

Mrs. Hu looked across proudly. When Mrs. Meng saw the piano, she was stunned at first, then she showed a look of understanding.

Mrs. Hu was relieved. Judging from what happened tonight, whether it was her deliberate approach or Zhou Yingning's behavior, Mrs. Meng could no longer pretend to be confused. She would wait until the first month of the year was over and then pass on the news. If they discussed it this year, it would be a good idea to get married in the spring or summer next year.

Zhou Yingning also changed her clothes. She bowed deeply to the queen, then bowed to everyone else, and said, "I am honored to present my humble service."

The hands painted with red nail polish gently touched the strings of the piano. She lowered her head slightly and lightly stroked them with her right hand. The melodious sound of the piano spread throughout the Kunning Palace.

Mrs. Meng knew that Zhou Yingning was playing "Xiao Xiao Shui Jian" just by listening to the prelude. She looked up with a little surprise because she had played this song when she was a girl.

You can guess what the Hu mother and daughter mean by their behavior today. From the perspective of family background, they are a good match, but the court is ever-changing, and the youngest son has always been very opinionated since he was a child, so he has to marry someone he likes.

Mrs. Meng felt Hu's gaze and narrowed her eyes slightly, pretending to listen.

For a moment, there was no noise in the hall. The sound of the piano was like silk and bamboo, soft and long, making people intoxicated.

Meng Wan looked at Zhou Yingning's graceful movements and pretty face. To be honest, with the status and family background of the Prince Shen's Mansion, it would be easy for her to find a husband. Thinking about how Madam Meng was surprised and understood at first, and then she simply narrowed her eyes, Meng Wan thought that the Duke Zhong's Mansion might not really look down on Zhou Yingning, and the efforts of the mother and daughter might be in vain.

Zhou Yingning's hand speed became faster and faster, her brows were furrowed tightly, and the music entered a high-pitched stage. Meng Wan glanced at the two princesses and the young ladies from noble families sitting opposite Zhou Yingrong, and sighed in his heart, wondering who the unlucky one would be.

Mrs. Meng, who was squinting, suddenly felt something was wrong. She opened her eyes and looked at Zhou Yingning. To be honest, Zhou Yingning's playing was far inferior to hers. It was obvious that she didn't have enough strength in her hands and was hastily instructed by someone. Several beats were covered by long notes, and she didn't express the feeling of being immersed in the gurgling stream. It could only be said to be acceptable.

Entering the final climax, after a burst of rapid beats, there should be a pause, then slow down, and finally the ending. But the movement in Zhou Yingning's rapid beat just now was not right. It was not that she played it wrong, nor that her hand strength was not enough to press the string. In short, it was not right.

When Mrs. Meng was thinking of this, Zhou Yingning had already played to the last static beat. She pressed the strings with her delicate hands, and just as she was about to exhale, there was a cracking sound, and a string plucked out with a "buzz".

This silence requires a heavy beat to give people a feeling of "sudden stop", so that there can be a clearer contrast between the previous passionate part and the following ending. Therefore, Zhou Yingning used some force when she pressed the beat.

Princess Fanghua was poking at the small desserts at the last round of the palace banquet with a silver fork out of boredom. Ever since Zhou Yingning came on stage, she had been thinking about the meaning of what Meng Wan had just said to her.

Princess Yong'an also complained about her meddling in other people's affairs, asking the palace maid to compare her piece of fabric.

Thinking of this, Fanghua felt that she was being used. She thought about how Zhou Yingning always followed Yongan every time she came to the palace, and how she always praised him and only gave him superficial greetings. She even almost slipped into the pond because of Yongan's cat.

Moreover, Zhou Yingning always tilted her head when she looked at herself. At first, she thought it was Zhou Yingning's habit, but later she saw that she never looked at others like that. After a few times, she realized that the side where her head tilted was the side where her lame foot was.

She had never taken Zhou Yingning seriously before, firstly because she didn't come to the palace often and they didn't have much interaction, and secondly because she still held the hope that she might marry Zhou Yu.

Fanghua poked at the dessert and looked up at Zhou Yingning. What's so great about the Prince Shen's Mansion that they actually used me. She thinks she is not as easy to bully as her mother, so why doesn't she use Yong'an?

Just wait, I will find a chance to show you something. Thinking this way, she leaned forward unconsciously, and heard a "buzz" sound, and something brushed across her forehead fiercely.

For a moment, Kunning Palace was in chaos. Hu and Zhou Yingning stood there stupidly, not knowing what to do. Meng Wan also stood up, with just the right amount of surprise and worry, but in her heart she gave Meng Qi a thumbs up.