“Cough, cough!”
Zhao Xing was munching her favorite hawthorn cake the moment her half-sister brought her into the conversation. The poor transmigrator had predicted the this sort of scheme would happen, but she couldn’t help but slightly be shocked. She almost choked to death from the desserts!
Zhao Xing hatefully clenched her jaw. Zhao Qing... she will naturally pay her back tenfold! Who told that wretched half-sister of hers to pick a fight with her? They were at a banquet for goodness sake!
As a person who reads transmigration novels almost daily, Zhao Xing naturally understood that palace banquets, birthday banquets, or other occasions with ‘banquet’ endes up as a place full of traps. Snakes and vixens often use this opportunity to utilize their scheming skills. Thus, Zhao Xing had prepared herself so she could save herself at the end of the day.
“Oh?” Emperor Wucheng lifted his eyebrows, a hint of interest flashed across his face. “Since we still have so much time, Zhen[1] is afraid Zhen has to trouble the second miss to liven our banquet even more with her talent.”
Zhao Xing felt like a bucket of cold water was being poured down on her. She was frozen at her place for a moment. When she managed to recollect herself, people already turned their heads at her direction. Since it was the emperor’s order, how could did she dare decline it?
Smiling awkwardly, the girl whispered to her maid, “You already brought my xiqin[1], right? Let’s go!” Zhao Xing took a deep breath and stood from her seat, made a cross sign before bravely marching to the battlefield. As soon as her eyes clashed with Zhao Qing, she inwardly scoffed. She will definitely get her retribution by the end of this banquet!
The transmigrator respectfully kowtowed the emperor as soon as she reached the stage, worshiping him and prayed for his health, wishing him to live a long life. On the other hand, the banquet guests wondered what kind of talent she had to perform... what was that thing in her hand?
Emperor Wencheng nodded in satisfaction. His prime minister was indeed lucky to have a pair of beautiful and talented daughters. “Child, can you tell Zhen what kind of musical instrument is that?”
“Answering to Your Majesty, this object is called xiqin. This instrument originated from the northeast plains,” Zhao Xing answered as she tried to control her heart. She wasn’t so afraid of the emperor, but she was anxious to perform in front of her idol ah!
In the modern world, Zhao Xing was familiar with erhu and xiqin. Almost every evening, the girl played it for her grandparents. It can be said playing erhu was one of her hobbies... besides sleeping, eating, and reading novels of course. Thus, as soon as the transmigrator came to this ancient world, she painstakingly asked a musician in the village near Fenglong Mountain to make this xiqin—as a xiqin was quite rare in her kingdom.
“Good, very good!”
Zhao Xing bowed her head and unsealed her cherry-lips, “Your Majesty, today our kingdom is celebrating the founding day. However, sometimes we forget the soldiers who have paid for our freedom with their lives. In this official’s daughter’s point of view, the real heroes were the ones who know that death was awaiting for them, but still donned on their armor and raised their swords give us a peaceful and happy life. Please allow this minister’s daughter to dedicate this song for our soldiers.”
The emperor clapped his hand and nodded in agreement, “Good! Granted!”
With the sovereign’s permission, Zhao Xing placed her fingers on the xiqin’s strings as her right hand began to hold the bow. Soon after, the melodious sounds of xiqin and Zhao Xing’s sweet voice echoed throughout the imperial hall.
They fought south of the Castle, they died north of the wall.
They died in the moors and were not buried, their flesh was the food of crows.
The waters flowed deep and the rushes in the pool were dark.
The riders fought and were slain: their horses wander neighing.
Was it south, was it north? The harvest was never gathered.
How can we give you your offerings? You served your nation faithfully,
I think of you, faithful soldiers; Your service shall not be forgotten.
For in the morning you went out to battle and at night you did not return.
The young lady’s voice wasn’t the best indeed, but combined with the gentle strumming of her xiqin, it was created a perfect, harmonious combination. Zhao Xing had a peerless beauty to begin with, and now when she poured all her feelings and mind in her song, she appeared more breathaking. The guests’ hitched their breaths and felt like they were witnessing a goddess from the nine heavens playing her musical instruments. Her slender, jade-like fingers danced gracefully along the xiqin’s strings. It was so delicate and fragile, almost like it could be broken with only a gush of wind. When she sang, her eyes twinkled dazzlingly and her lips were curved in an enchanting smile, making everyone in the imperial hall bewitched completely.
But little did they know, that small glimmer of passion in her eyes wasn’t one of happiness... it was filled with mockery and held a tinge of hatred. She quietly sneered at Zhao Qing’s face, who turned pale at the sight of her half-sister who seemed to have performed even better.
Zhao Xing’s smile grew even wider at the sight.
That’s it, keep looking. Did you honestly think you could berate me? Take a good look, aren’t you the fool yourself? This pathetic child of a concubine, how pitiful indeed! If only she hadn’t provoked Zhao Xing then she wouldn’t have to suffer like this silently.
While Zhao Xing enjoyed the sight of Zhao Qing’s turmoil, the people were already used to see Zhao Qing’s performance. Even though her skills were first-rated, there was nothing new in her performance. Thus, it felt a little bit bland and monotonous, even boring. But seeing the second miss’ performance was different. It was both fresh and captivating. Her skills in xiqin was rare to begin with, and added with her sweet voice and heartfelt song, it created a sort of addiction that they couldn’t hear enough of.
The imperial hall suddenly fell into a deafening silence as soon as Zhao Xing finished her performance, which made the girl mentally panic. Did she focus on Zhao Qing too much to notice her bad performance?
But right before Zhao Xing could open her mouth, the emperor give her an upstanding applause. His action was followed by Empress Hu and the royal family. The next second, the imperial hall was filled with the thunderous sounds claping.
Zhao Xing was stunned at the sight, but quickly placed a gentle smile as she lowered her instrument. And then she looked up at the royal family, seemingly relieved they were more than satisfied with her.
But there was one person in the royal family who couldn’t help but be awestruck by the girl. The second prince, Gao Wei, has been watching her every move during the performance, not daring to even blink his eyes in case he missed something. In fact, he couldn’t stop staring at the girl, which made Zhao Xing slight alarmed. But then the girl gave a polite smile to him, and that seemed to snap the second prince out of his trance. He looked away, embarrassed for being caught.
On the sidelines, Zhao Qing almost collapsed in fright as she witnessed the scene. She could hardly believe the man who she had been chasing for so long... was actually interested in Zhao Xing than her!
Seeing her half-sister turn pale as a ghost, Zhao Xing’s gentle smile turned even more brilliant. Not bad... perhaps she had some use to that second prince.
Zhao Qing, do not blame this sister of yours for being so ruthless. If you hadn’t dared to scheme against me in the first place, this sister wouldn’t have to bite back!
“Well done! Outstanding! This Emperor has never seen such a performance before! How come We never saw you perform for Us in the past?”
Zhao Xing lowered her head as she spoke, “This official’s daughter was sent away to the mountains by my dear sister’s mother, Concubine Yun. It was to treat my sickness since this daughter always had such a frail body, if this was in the past then this daughter wouldn’t have enough strength to lift this instrument! This official’s daughter was truly worried about performing since this daughter has never been to any banquets before, and this daughter recently came back from the mountains so this one lacks the proper manners. But since Elder Sister praised my talents then this official’s daughter just had to perform for Your Majesty! This daughter is happy to receive such praise from Your Majesty the Emperor!” As she kneeled, she slightly flinched and awkwardly kowtowed, as if performing for too long had actually pained her.
Everyone in the banquet was immediately taken aback. And then the whispers began, the harsh stares, and the vicious stares... they were all thrown to Zhao Qing!
Zhao Qing trembled once more under the heated stares of everyone, looking in disbelief at the girl who was still kneeling under the darkened expression of the emperor.
All the members of the imperial family were deeply troubled. But before they could speak, the emperor raised his hand rather frantically and gently replied, “Quickly get up! You must’ve suffered during such a time in the mountains, and you have only just gotten better! Miss Zhao Xing shouldn’t kneel for too long unless your body can’t handle it! It was this Emperor’s fault.”
“This official’s daughter is happy Your Majesty likes my performance, please don’t mind my state!” Zhao Xing carefully got up and smiled, still lowering her head.
In the end, the emperor sent her off with a troubled smile. Zhao Xing once again bowed and left the stage, not noticing the piercing stare that belonged to the second prince.
Although she sat back down with her family, everyone still talked amongst themselves about Prime Minister Zhao’s concubine, and how unruly it was for Zhao Qing to send her half-sister up to the stage. Didn’t she just return from the mountains? Didn’t that mean her body was still weak? How come Zhao Qing wanted her to go up, is it because she truly hated her instead? My, such a vicious woman! What a devil!
The very whispers made Zhao Qing shrink back in fright as Prime Minister Zhao’s face grew a bit pale, immediately regretting how rash his decision was to send Zhao Xing off to the mountains so quickly. Even the imperial family seemed to be troubled by these matters, having such a weak person perform for them, didn’t that make them seem like tyrants? Even the second prince’s gaze grew colder at Zhao Qing, and that stung the most to the daughter of a mere concubine.
Zhao Xing sighed with a lovely smile as Xiao Yi stifled her laughter. The transmigrator’s eyes grew wicked at the sight of Zhao Qing suffering under those rumors. Not only did she drag her down, but that mother of hers as well. If she dares to go against her again then she’ll make sure the both of them pay the price for it!
As Zhao Xing happily munched on her treats, there was only one person who didn’t seem affected by her performance.
However, even though he appeared cold and aloof, the general felt his heart thumping rather wildly. For the first time in his two lifetimes, he felt moved by a girl. He felt like his frozen heart melted a little bit as an unfamiliar warmth enveloped his whole being. The general never met such a considerate girl that thought about the soldiers and heroes who defended their homecountry. A girl that grew up in the boudoir and was sent off to the mountains because of her sickness, could made this kind of heroic verse and song. It was the first!
The young general didn’t realize how affected he was because of her. Not even noticing, he already locked his gaze at that petite figure for so long...
Author’s Note:
[1] The way an Emperor refer himself, or ‘I’
[2] The xiqin (Chinese: 奚琴; pinyin: xīqín) was a bowed string musical instrument. It is perhaps the original member of the huqin family of Chinese and Mongolian bowed string instruments; thus, the Erhu and Morin khuur and all similar fiddle instruments may be said to be derived from the xiqin.[1] The xiqin had two silk strings and was held vertically.
