Best friends dressed up in ancient times to become mistresses? You run, I run too!

Shen Ningzhu is indiscriminate in her speech, always getting straight to the point; her mouth seems to have been blessed.

She had a calm and collected demeanor, but she always managed to refute the other party from a unique angle. Her little mouth would chatter on and on, and in just a few rounds, Wang Zilin would faint from anger.

The Wang family members, their faces grim, helped her down to see the imperial physician next door.

The other noble ladies looked at each other, wanting to teach Shen Ningzhu a lesson, but none of them dared to take the lead, fearing they would lose face and be embarrassed later.

But there are also those who don't believe in superstition, such as Jiang Qingyi.

"Perhaps everyone has misunderstood. Miss Shen is not without any talents. Just a few days ago, I heard that Miss Shen plays the zither very well, even better than I do."

Everyone looked incredulous.

Everyone knows that Princess Qingyi's zither skills are superb, and no one in the entire capital can compare to her.

Shen Ningzhu sneered.

I knew this little white lotus was going to harm her, and sure enough...

The fact that the original owner couldn't play the zither was common knowledge throughout the aristocratic circles of the capital. A year ago, at a flower-viewing banquet, the original owner played a piece called "Phoenix Seeking its Mate" in front of everyone in order to attract the attention of the Crown Prince.

Her wood-sawing-like piano skills made her the laughingstock of the entire capital overnight.

But Shen Ningzhu knew that it was a piece of music that the original owner had spent three months practicing every day, leaving thick calluses on her fingertips, before she finally learned it.

She truly has no musical talent and is extremely gifted.

But she is not the original owner of this body now, and she has been learning the guqin since she was a child, so Jiang Qingyi's plan can only be in vain.

The Empress quickly spoke up.

"Oh? Is that so? Now that you mention it, I'm quite curious. I wonder if Consort Shen would do me the honor of playing a piece for me and everyone else, to liven things up?"

Shen Ningzhu narrowed her eyes.

This empress seems to be different from what she imagined.

Jiang Qingyi said, "Your Majesty, you flatter me. How could Miss Shen refuse? It is her blessing to be able to play for you. She is overjoyed. Why would she be unwilling? Miss Shen, am I right?"

Shen Ningzhu looked at that gentle smiling face and clenched her palms tightly.

I really want to slap her twice.

"Your Highness's response was so smooth. I was momentarily distracted and almost thought it was you who was going to perform."

Everyone:...

Jiang Qingyi almost lost her composure when she heard Shen Ningzhu say,

"Your Majesty, this humble concubine is willing to entertain everyone, but I would like my maidservant to accompany you on music. Is that alright?"

The Emperor laughed heartily, "Granted."

Shen Ningzhu turned to look at Liu Zhiyi not far away. The two smiled knowingly and walked towards the center together.

Jiang Xuan Yan's sword-like eyebrows furrowed slightly.

What's wrong with this woman? Doesn't she know her own limitations?

He didn't want to hear about sawing wood.

However, the moment the music started, he froze on the spot.

Others at the scene were also stunned.

Shen Ningzhu, dressed in a lotus-pink gauze gown, sat calmly in the center of the banquet hall. Under the bright moonlight, her slender, pale fingers danced nimbly. The flowing, melodious notes, like a gentle stream, flowed from her hands as she played the duet with Liu Zhiyi.

Not far to her side, a maid named Liu Zhiyi, whose aura was no less than hers, calmly played the jade flute in her hand, dressed in a light green maid's dress.

The two complement each other perfectly.

The two were playing a tune he had never heard before; the melody was strange, yet surprisingly beautiful.

It's not just pleasant to listen to; it also possesses a power that strikes the deepest part of one's soul, making one feel a lump in their throat and an urge to cry.

Tears? He had never shed a tear in his life.

My father once said that he was a monster without feelings and without joy.

But today... how is that possible?

Jiang Xuan Yan narrowed his phoenix eyes, his expression momentarily dazed.

Before we knew it, the music had ended.

The scene was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. It took a long time for everyone to come back to their senses from the beautiful melody.

Several civil officials looked excited and began to whisper among themselves.

"Wonderful! Absolutely wonderful. This piece has a beautiful melody and sincere emotions, truly moving. I doubt an ordinary person could play it. It must have been poured with deep feelings to be able to express such a sentiment."

In my opinion, this music should only exist in heaven; how often can it be heard on earth?

"The lingering sound resonated for three days."

"I never imagined Shen Ningzhu was so skilled. Even Princess Qingyi back then probably couldn't match her zither skills by eight points. You really can't judge a book by its cover!"

"To have such talent at such a young age is truly a once-in-a-century achievement; the younger generation is indeed formidable!"

The Empress was overjoyed and said "good" several times. She then asked Shen Ningzhu what reward she wanted.

Without a second thought, Shen Ningzhu asked for money.

The Empress was stunned for a moment, but the Emperor was the first to react. He laughed heartily and praised Shen Ningzhu for her true nature.

With a wave of his hand, he rewarded each of them with one hundred taels of gold. Upon hearing this, Shen Ningzhu finally showed her first genuine smile of the night.

The Empress, still savoring the moment, said, "I never expected you to be so talented. By the way, what's the name of this piece? I've never heard it before."

Shen Ningzhu accepted the reward with a smile and said, "Your Majesty, this song is called—'To Whom Do Pieces of Longing Be Given?'"

"To whom do I entrust these fragments of longing? Well, what a beautiful line, 'To whom do I entrust these fragments of longing?'"

The Empress repeated the name, her gaze involuntarily turning to Jiang Xuan Yan.

She sighed inwardly, realizing that the rumors were true; Shen Ningzhu truly loved Jiang Xuan Yan deeply, otherwise she wouldn't have been able to play such a moving piece.

Moreover, I've never heard this piece before; it might have been composed by her personally for Jiang Xuan Yan.

Ah, he's so lucky to have met a woman who loves him so much. But his poor child...

The Empress's eyes stung with tears, and she hurriedly lowered her head to hide her emotions.

Jiang Qingyi was so angry that she twisted the handkerchief in her hand so tightly that her fair fingertips turned red, and the handkerchief was almost torn to shreds.

The noble ladies who had initially been waiting to make a fool of Shen Ningzhu were now speechless with shock.

The banquet proceeded as planned.

As is customary, it was time for the noble ladies to perform next.

This segment is usually the most anticipated, with the eligible ladies eager to go on stage.

Young ladies and gentlemen of marriageable age in the capital would also take this opportunity to showcase themselves and secretly admire each other.

Today, however, they were all in low spirits, and some were even absent-minded. Their performances were mediocre, and they made frequent mistakes.

They all blamed Shen Ningzhu for their anger. They felt it was because she played so well that they were completely captivated by her playing, which also made them feel inferior.

As a result, not only were they less skilled than their opponents, but they also underperformed, causing them to lose face terribly.

In an instant, everyone hated Shen Ningzhu.

Shen Ningzhu had no interest in what they thought, so she made an excuse and secretly slipped out with Liu Zhiyi.