The intricate music hung in the air, shattering the silence that gripped the night. Vivid notes flowed from the young woman's pale, thin fingers. It brought to mind the poignant play of moonlight on water, the merry bubbling of a running stream. It brought to mind the sweet chime of jewelry on a jade plate, the gentle rustling of a breeze through a bamboo forest.

When the song ended, everyone was still. The young woman giggled and rose from her seat to make a deep curtsey. "Greetings, I am Jiang Zhaorou of Funan. Long live the emperor."

"Jiang Zhaorou? The renown songstress of Funan?" muttered Yan Ran while poking Shao Zitang, who was besides him.

"If she's not lying, then yes, that's the right Jiang Zhaorou."

"So it's her then. I heard that this Jiang Zhaorou is a very proud woman. Many a rich merchant and nobleman in Funan would give a fortune to hear her play but a single song, but she spurns them all. She haughtily turns them away at the door, but it only incites more young noblemen to try," Yan Ran said, smiling, but there was a hint of ridicule in his eyes as he drained a cup of rice wine on the table.

"No matter how proud, she's still just a whore. There's no point in pretending to be noble and virtuous when you've fallen to prostitution. Her slender jade arm has been a thousand men's pillows, her vermillion lips have been tasted ten-thousand times. Is she still hoping for a chastity memorial or something?" Shao Zitang glanced at the charming woman still on the pavilion with loathing. He looked away quickly as if disgusted. "If she's so virtuous, then why does she act so seductive? Playing qin? Hah, I think she's not here to play qin, more like here to play men."

"Xiao Tangtang is right. Tsk tsk tsk, looks like Prince Rui's turning senile in his old age. Does he really think that by bringing this songstress to court, Our Majesty will be bewitched by such a vulgar little slut? So naive. Even if Our Majesty liked women, there's plenty of noblewomen at court. Why would he fall for a tramp like her? Even that girl from the State of Xia is better than her by...."

"What's wrong?" Shao Zitang was gratified by his rant, but he had no choice but to pipe up when Yan Ran suddenly stopped. He was a little baffled.

"Even though she's a weirdo, it looks like she isn't totally indifferent to Our Majesty. Look over there."

Shao Zitang looked suspiciously in the direction Yan Ran indicated. He was stunned. The girl nibbling on osmanthus cake besides Feng Tingye was glaring so hard at the slowly descending woman that her eyeballs were about to ignite.

It wasn't only Yan Ran who had noticed Xia Yuqing's open glare, Feng Tingye had too. At first he was shocked, then he couldn't help but preen. Although she was always abusing him, somewhere in her heart, she still felt something for him. Tut tut tut, so she really does care about me. Look at that glare that's about to burn a hole through that amorous songstress. If so, then....

But in reality....

BIIITCH! She hated bitches! Especially the ones that acted all weak and pitiable, while hiding a bellyful of venom! You're going to turn cross-eyed with all those flirtatious glances you're throwing! And Seme-sama! Sobsobsob, stop staring at that bitch! Your poor ukes are gonna cry! They're gonna be heartbroken!

Prince Rui's gaze darted between Jiang Zhaoro

u and Feng Tingye, who was staring intensely at her. Delight flashed through his eyes. "Cough cough, Your Majesty...." He coughed lightly to caution Feng Tingye.

Feng Tingye glanced at the still kneeling Jiang Zhaorou again. He laughed, "We've heard of Miss Zhaorou of Funan's amazing qin skills, and now we see that it's truly well-deserved. Rise. Someone, give her a seat."

Yan Ran was downing cup after cup of wine, when he heard Feng TIngye. A mouthful sprayed out. "Pfft—hahaha. Tingye that fellow is playing with fire; look at her face! We haven't come tonight for nothing. This is going to be fun." Luckily, Shao Zitang dodged just in time. Otherwise, he would take revenge on Yan Ran.

Shao Zitang sneered at the wet stains and the glee of his compatriot. He narrowed his almond-shaped eyes, staring at Xia Yuqing. A sliver of interest flickered in his eyes.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Jiang Zhaorou revealed a shy smile. As she got up, she even peeked bashfully at Feng Tingye in a super affectionate manner.

Bam—The maid serving wine watched in horror as Consort Qing, gnashing her teeth, singlehandedly snapped her ivory chopsticks. Sobsobsob, the world is such a scary place. I wanna go back to sweeping.

"Your Majesty, on my way back I passed through Funan and met Miss Zhaorou. She was so charming and considerate that I adopted her and brought her back to the capital, since Your Majesty still has no partner despite coming of age. I hoped that she would please Your Majesty, thus–"

"Your Highness Rui needn't have worried. His Majesty might not have hundreds of beauties for company, but he has me. I'm not spectacularly beautiful, nor am I seductive, but I am the princess of a country. At the very least, I am presentable in public, no?" Xia Yuqing chuckled coldly, standing. She glanced loftily at the bitch, who met her challenging stare silently. Don't take me for Hello Kitty just 'cause I'm a pacifist! Imma beatcha at your own game today!

"You...." Prince Rui was stunned. He hadn't expected that Xia Yuqing would jump out and shame him. Just as he was about to reply, he was interrupted by her again.

"Your Highness, since you are my elder, I didn't want to argue with you. But I have no choice since this concerns the prestige of the imperial family. As His Majesty's Third Uncle, your position is different from the rest of the imperial household. You are the representative of the imperial house, but you suddenly adopt a random whore as an imperial daughter. Those who hear of this brothel songstress' rise into a junzhu of the State of Ye will laugh at Your Highness's sappiness, and those who don't, well, they'll be lucky to not hear how ugly it'll get. If this matter gets out, I'm afraid it won't just harm the imperial family's prestige, but Your Highness's reputation as well...."

Xia Yuqing watched as Prince Rui's handsome face abruptly sank. She continued, smiling, "It's because I cared that I risked the offense of going against my elders to warn Your Highness. Your Highness won't blame me, I hope?"

"I..." Prince Rui was left tongue-tied and choking with rage.

"Your Highness...." Jiang Zhaorou had always been adored by her noblemen customers. She'd never experienced such humiliation before. Her eyes immediately reddened. She grabbed Prince Rui's sleeve, looking pitiable and pathetic.

Xia Yuqing glowered at her. She didn't want to put up with any more of this coquetry, so she decided to use her ult. She put on a selfless and refined smile and said, "Miss Jiang is indeed an exquisite beauty that puts me to shame, and as Your Highness says, charming and considerate. Unfortunately, His Majesty doesn't need her. I've heard that in all your years on the battlefield, Your Highness has yet to find a lady love. If Your Highness pities Miss Jiang so much, then let me borrow your words: since Your Highness has no partner, wouldn't this be the best of both worlds if you let Miss Jiang enter your household?"

Everything became dead silent in the imperial gardens.