Chapter 56: Su Yue’s Humiliation

Note: Don't Forget to join my Patreon.com/flokixy to get access to +40 Advance Chapters I have to stop if there is no support Seated in the corner, Ji Huaizhou clicked his tongue twice and remarked, "Her Majesty the Empress is growing anxious. Even if we lose, we can still obtain the living bone flower. Why is Her Majesty in such a hurry?" Wei Yuanling snorted coldly. "Are you planning to steal it from the embassy?" "Who else understands me but you, Yuanling?" Wei Yuanling shot him a sidelong glance. "Do you think the people of Beiyan are fools? If we push them too far, they might destroy the herb out of desperation. Wouldn’t that be a loss for the Crown Prince?" Ji Huaizhou shrugged. "Alright, pretend I never said anything." Jun Mo glanced at the two of them, and the corner fell silent once more. Zhao Jingxian and Su Yue, pale-faced, stood up and replied in unison, "Your servant is here." The Empress spoke gently. "Come forward, both of you." Suppressing her anger, she forced herself to appear as calm and composed as possible. Zhao Jingxian and Su Yue approached nervously, bowing deeply before the Emperor and Empress. The Empress continued in a soft tone, "Indeed, both of you are beautiful and talented young women—a blessing for Tianqi. One of you should try playing the zither. Even if you lose, there will be no punishment, only rewards." Internally, the two thought, This isn’t about winning or losing anymore—it’s about risking ourselves. One wrong move, and we’ll ruin our reputations. Zhao Jingxian discreetly glanced toward her parents. Prince Zhao stepped forward. "Your Majesty, as you know, my daughter Jingxian gained her reputation through poetry, not music. Her skill with the zither is hardly refined. Even without falling into an illusion, her performance would pale in comparison to Princess Seven of Beiyan." Why risk destroying my daughter when the outcome will still be a loss? The Empress did know this much. Her niece was indeed rather dull-witted, spending her days composing poems and rarely practicing the zither. This wasn’t a trivial contest. Though desperate, the Empress couldn’t afford to take unnecessary risks. Her gaze shifted to Su Yue. Su Yue trembled under the weight of the Empress’s stare, frantically looking to her father for help. Though Su Shangshu wanted to speak on her behalf, he struggled to find an excuse. The fault lay with Su Yue herself. She had always loved being in the spotlight, attending every banquet and showcasing her talents—whether playing the zither or singing—drawing attention to herself. The Empress noticed these subtle gestures and grew irritated, but she maintained her composure. "Miss Su, I know you excel in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. This task falls to you now. If you win this challenge, I will personally request an imperial decree from His Majesty to grant you the title of County Princess." Su Yue’s eyes lit up. County Princess! That was the noble status she had always dreamed of. With such a title, even Su Li would have to bow to her! Glancing at the zither in the center of the hall, she clenched her teeth and declared, "Your servant dares to give it a try!" Fortune favors the bold! As long as she reminded herself not to fall into the illusion, everything would be fine. "Your Majesty, I have one request." The Empress smiled warmly. "Speak." "If I fall into an illusion, I beg Your Majesty to wake me immediately, regardless of what I say or do, and absolve me of any wrongdoing." The Empress nodded. "Very well. I promise." With the Empress’s assurance, Su Yue steeled herself and approached the zither. As the music began, everyone watched intently, their expressions tense. Halfway through the piece, Su Yue showed no signs of abnormality. The Empress’s face brightened, and the Emperor exhaled in relief, gazing at Su Yue with admiration. The ministers murmured praise for Su Shangshu’s daughter. Only Princess Seven of Beiyan remained calm, a faint smile lingering on her lips. As Su Yue played, her excitement grew within her. I’m about to become a County Princess! I’ll rise above everyone else. When that happens, I’ll make Su Li... The elegant melody continued, and just as everyone believed Su Yue would succeed, it suddenly changed. "Hahaha! Su Li, you wretch! Kneel down and kowtow to me!" "Hahaha, Su Li, this is your end! Wretch, I’ll kill you! You have a prestigious maternal family, and Father dotes on you. Without virtue or talent, how dare you surpass me?" The crowd gasped in shock. The Empress’s eyes filled with disappointment. They had thought Su Yue would win the challenge, but instead, she had humiliated herself completely. The Empress coldly observed Su Yue, making no move to awaken her. Finally, it was the Emperor who, noticing the mocking glances of foreign envoys, ordered someone to snap her out of the illusion. When Su Yue regained consciousness, her face turned deathly pale. Those around her looked on, some with indifference, others with ridicule. She quickly turned to her father. When Su Shangshu heard the words she had spoken in the illusion, he could scarcely believe his ears. The daughter he had always thought of as sweet and obedient harbored such resentment in her heart. She despised her elder sister and wished death upon her stepmother and stepsister. Despite showering her with love, he realized she harbored deep grievances. Seeing her father’s shocked and disappointed expression, Su Yue panicked. Shaking her head vigorously, she muttered, "It’s not like that... It’s not like that..." Su Li felt a pang of disappointment. In the illusion, Su Yue had been dreaming of becoming a County Princess, revealing little beyond her hatred for Su Li and her curses against her. But even that was enough. At the very least, Su Yue had lost favor with their father. The nobility of the capital now knew her as someone disrespectful to her stepmother and stepsister. The Emperor ordered her removed from the hall. Wanyan Xue stepped forward, remarking, "I never expected the noblewomen of Tianqi to be like this... Tsk, tsk." Her words ignited a deep hatred for Su Yue among the noblewomen of Tianqi. The Empress interjected, "Princess, your words are mistaken. Su Yue is merely a lowly concubine-born daughter; she cannot represent the noblewomen of our capital." Wanyan Xue replied haughtily, "If that’s the case, then find a true noblewoman to compete with me." The Empress’s eyes gleamed with excitement. This was an unexpected opportunity. Her gaze swept over the noblewomen of the capital. Suddenly, Meng Zhiyun stood up and said, "Your Majesty, I believe there is one person suited for this challenge." The Empress’s eyes sparkled. "Who is it?" Meng Zhiyun smirked. "I’ve heard that during the Hundred Flowers Festival, someone won first place with a single performance, earning a famous zither. Moreover, this person has remained secluded for years, untouched by worldly affairs—truly a blank slate." As Meng Zhiyun finished speaking, Wei Yuanyao nearly rose to berate her. Su Li quickly pulled her back, shaking her head silently. In the corner: "This sounds so much like my cousin," Wei Yuanling frowned. Ji Huaizhou chuckled. "Who else but your cousin could win a famous zither? What a grand spectacle this is turning out to be." Upon hearing Meng Zhiyun’s words, the Empress grew even more excited. "Who is this young lady?" Meng Zhiyun turned her gaze toward Su Li. "Su Li!"