Chapter 301: Chapter 301: Impossible
Upon seeing the National Master’s attention fixed on her, Xie Pan’Er felt a wave of panic, hurriedly taking her seat and nervously lowering her head.
"Master! What are you looking at?" Li Yanyan, sitting next to the National Master, softly questioned him. She couldn’t grasp why her master would be gazing at a young lady so intently.
The National Master withdrew his gaze, a smile playing on his lips, though he said nothing. Motherly virtue personified... this girl must be the eldest daughter of the Xie Family, right? Why is she with the Ji Family? Could it be some scheme by the Ji Family? His mind raced. The one who had given him the Xie family girl’s birth chart was Ji Youzhi. And when he reported it to His Majesty, Ji Youze had been present! His face hardened. If the Ji Family dared to use him, he would make them pay!
As the National Master brooded, the Palace Banquet was already bustling with performances. The melodious sound of silk and bamboo instruments resonated. Performers from the Music Bureau initiated the opening, and everyone broke out in applause. Girls of thirteen or fourteen years began performing one after another, under the promptings of their parents.
The Empress Dowager was holding Xiaosuisui, critiquing one performer after another. Every now and then, she’d ask Xiaosuisui, "What do you think of this young lady?"
The performer at that moment was Lin Xile, the concubine-born daughter of Lin Xichang of the Detective Agency, also the cousin of Xie Yingying.
"What do you mean?" Xiaosuisui popped a piece of preserved fruit into her mouth. The food in the Palace was too refined for her liking. She felt unsatisfied and kept stuffing herself with preserved fruit.
Hearing Xiaosuisui’s retort, the Empress Dowager suddenly remembered. This is just a four-and-a-half-year-old child. What could she possibly understand? Nonetheless, she responded to Xiaosuisui, "Imagine if she were to marry in the future. Do you think she could deliver several lovely and pretty treasures like Xiaosuisui?"
The Empress Dowager was desperate! The young Emperor’s inner court was desolate, with no progeny yet!
Xiaosuisui stole a glance—the young woman was performing a solo dance on the stage, with a waist only slightly thicker than her own thigh. "Grandma, this sister is so skinny!"
The Empress Dowager, taken aback, asked, "Xiaosuisui, do you think this sister is skinny?"
Xiaosuisui, served a bowl of soup by a Palace Maid, took a sip. "Grandma, why isn’t this sister’s tummy filled out? Has she not eaten? Look at Xiaosuisui’s stomach, it’s so full! I ate so much!"
Hearing this, the Empress Dowager burst into laughter. She gently patted Xiaosuisui’s little stomach, which was rounded from eating. It seemed she hadn’t shortchanged herself at today’s Palace Banquet.
She didn’t speak further, and by then, Lin Xile’s performance had already concluded. The Empress Dowager was busy chatting with Xiaosuisui and didn’t notice that Lin Xile had finished dancing. Caught in limbo, Lin Xile was bewildered, unsure whether to remain standing or to exit the stage.
Only after the Empress Dowager’s Nanny subtly hinted did she exclaim, "Reward!" Then she spoke again, "Miss Lin’s dance was quite fine. Who’s next? Any other young ladies from noble families wish to showcase their talent?"
Just as the Empress Dowager finished her words, a familiar voice announced, "Reporting to the Empress Dowager. I, Xie Yingying, would like to perform a piece on the harp entitled ’The Thaw of Spring’. I implore Your Majesty the Empress Dowager and His Majesty the Emperor to critique my performance!"
Upon hearing Xie Yingying’s name, the National Master was taken aback slightly. So this is the true Xie Yingying, the eldest daughter of the Xie family. Then who was the girl from before? That bearing of a future empress... could it be that His Majesty’s marriage might involve deposing an empress or appointing a successor empress?
As the National Master pondered, he turned his gaze towards the stage. By now, Palace Maids had already brought and arranged the harp. Xie Yingying had gracefully made her way to the stage and settled herself comfortably. She lifted her hand gently and began to pluck the harp strings.
The National Master’s eyes widened, and he couldn’t help but mutter to himself, Impossible! How could this be? Where did it all go wrong?