She Holds the World After Being Reborn
Chapter 145: Princess Anping, Reduced to a Foil

Chapter 145: Chapter 145: Princess Anping, Reduced to a Foil

Zhang Lanyi frowned slightly as she looked at Yan Wanqing.

Given the Emperor’s presence, it wasn’t appropriate for her to speak directly.

Princess Anping had always been seen as frail, and if she should dance the sword today in front of such a large assembly, given the Emperor’s suspicious nature, he would certainly act.

Zhang Lanyi was somewhat puzzled.

But she chose to do nothing and watched quietly.

Because she knew that every action Yan Wanqing took had been carefully considered, and if she intended to reveal herself, then she had at least a thousand ways to vindicate herself.

Thinking so, Zhang Lanyi turned her head to the nursemaid beside her and said,

"Go and bring me my Jinghong."

After Yan Wanqing tidied herself, her eyes curved in a sudden glance towards Li Chengyuan.

"Miss Li is exceptionally talented, a toast poem from her stirs the blood, bringing to mind scenes from past battles..."

Yan Wanqing’s words made Li Chengyuan lift her chin proudly, "Princess flatters me, it’s merely a modest piece, not worthy of mention."

What an understatement.

With a deeper smile in her eyes, Yan Wanqing remarked, "Miss Li truly is a wonderful person."

By then, the nursemaid had already handed Yan Wanqing the Jinghong Sword.

Yan Wanqing did not refuse, slightly drawing the Jinghong, only to realize it had never been sharpened.

Seeing her dressed boldly, wielding a long sword... was she about to dance?

"I’ve long heard that the Princess’s Green Snake Sword Dance is unrivaled, holding the long sword today, do you intend to recreate the past?" Li Chengyuan couldn’t help asking.

She had noticed that ever since Xiao Hongshen shifted his seat closer, his gaze had frequently drifted to the opposite side.

Upon seeing Yan Wanqing nodding, she quickly thought of a strategy.

"Just dancing might be somewhat dull, might I offer to play accompaniment for the Princess?"

Yan Wanqing gave her a meaningful look but did not refuse, "Unexpectedly, Miss Li can also play the zither, that’s very good."

Li Chengyuan slightly coyly curled her lips, "As long as the Princess doesn’t mind."

The exchanges between the two were overheard by everyone around.

The Emperor, who had been drinking heavily, perked up when the Concubines whispered in his ear that Yan Wanqing was going to dance the sword.

"Oh? Is Anping finally drawing her sword?"

Yan Wanqing faced the Emperor and saluted with her sword, "Your highnesses must be tired from your performances, Miss Li’s ’The Yellow River’s Waters Reach the Sky’ stirred Anping deeply, prompting my eagerness. I hope Your Majesty grants Miss Li’s accompaniment for my performance."

"It’s been so many years." Reminiscing flashed through the Emperor’s eyes as he held his cup and sighed softly, "Five or six years, I suppose, and this is your first time performing the sword dance in public."

"Granted!"

With a grand wave of the Emperor’s hand, a Palace Maid promptly brought up the pipa that Li Chengyuan had requested.

The crowd was startled as they saw Yan Wanqing and Li Chengyuan step onto the stage.

Li Chengyuan glanced around and scoffed inwardly.

Dance the sword?

She would make this Princess Anping understand what it meant to be a mere backdrop.

Li Chengyuan slowly sat down, holding the pipa partially covering her face, her posture exquisitely graceful.

Yan Wanqing also veiled her face. At the instant the pipa sounded, the scabbard sprung forth, with the Jinghong Sword tracing an elegant arc through the air like a spirit snake.

It must be said that Li Chengyuan’s pipa playing was of a very high standard.

If the previous poem had stirred the spirited ambitions of the crowd, then the pipa’s sound now, melancholic and isolated, mixed with the feel of an autumn military muster cutting through the swooping desert sands, instantly transported everyone to the battlefield!

The sound cut sharply off!

It rang piercingly into the ear!

This music was unprecedented, and the audience was filled with tears, deeply immersed in the pipa’s song, even Xiao Hongshen who had initially been resistant to Li Chengyuan, now furrowed his brows, fixated on her.

Just at the last moment, the pipa string snapped, punctuating the climax, that snapping sound echoing over the stream, lingering long in the ear.

Dead silence...

Li Chengxiang in the crowd, his eyes wide with shock, stared at Li Chengyuan on stage as if he had never known her.

My younger sister... when has she ever studied these things?

Not only the previous poem about the Yellow River coming from the sky, but also this piece about the broken pipa strings, she had never heard that Li Chengyuan was capable of.

Looking at Li Chengyuan on the stage, unable to hide the arrogance in her demeanor.

Li Chengxiang pursed her lips, her hands turning cold at that moment.

She is not my younger sister...

This thought exploded in Li Chengxiang’s mind instantaneously.

Perhaps sensing Li Chengxiang’s gaze, the woman on the stage followed the line of sight back to her.

Li Chengxiang clearly saw the red lips under that veil curl up into a sinister smile!

A chill instantly crept up her entire spine.

Though it was the peak of summer, she felt as if she was in the depth of winter.

Her younger sister... was not her sister!

She must tell her father about this!

Li Chengxiang stifled the tears welling up in her eyes, struggling to breathe and calm herself as the crowd also slowly recovered and began praising Li Chengyuan incessantly.

After today, Miss Li’s reputation as a talented lady will spread throughout the entire Capital City.

The Emperor, with enthusiastic eyes, applauded and exclaimed in amazement.

"Did you compose this piece yourself?" the Emperor asked.

Li Chengyuan, seeing that the Emperor asked her first and not even glancing at Yan Wanqing who stood beside her, nodded complacently, "In response to Your Majesty, it was improvised just now."

"To improvise such divine music?" the Emperor marveled.

Li Chengyuan’s cheeks reddened, "This humble girl is not proficient in her art; it was the Commandery Princess’s sword dance that drew me into such a desolate sentiment, allowing me to accidentally play this piece. I’m embarrassed by my modest skills."

Reminded by her, the Emperor then noticed Yan Wanqing standing beside her.

The young woman, veiled in white, stood upright like a sturdy pine tree, calm and composed, unaffected even though she had just been made a mere accompaniment to the performance, with no ripple in her eyes.

The Emperor coughed softly, saying, "Princess Anping’s martial strength in sword dancing is indeed as remarkable as ever."

Zhang Lanyi couldn’t help but glance sideways at the Emperor, her voice coquettishly cheerful, "The Princess’s sword dance truly could be described as if a beauty gliding brilliantly, this Jinghong Sword, I shall bestow upon you."

Yan Wanqing received the sword with thanks, "Thank you, Empress, for the gift of the sword."

"Since the Empress has rewarded Anping, then I shall bestow upon this Miss Li; with such talent, I grant a thousand acres of good land, the title of Princess Yaochi, and ten thousand taels of gold."

With a sweep of his hand, the Emperor announced the rewards.

Those present were nearly sobered by the announcement.

With just one poem and one pipa performance, Li Chengyuan had won the title of a princess.

It left no point for the other noble ladies to continue competing to become the Prince’s Imperial Concubine.

The Emperor clearly had a high regard for Li Chengyuan.

"Thank you for your majestic grace! Long live, long live, forever live the Emperor!" Li Chengyuan put down the pipa, knelt on both knees, and thanked him excitedly.

The Emperor, overjoyed, directed the palace maids to serve fine wine again, and the atmosphere of the banquet heated up once more.

"A country always has its talented figures emerging, indeed terrifying the next generation; a young lady with such talent, I heard you have recently been assisting the Seventh Prince with some military matters," the Emperor cheerily asked Li Chengyuan after she had returned to her place.

This statement caught Xiao Hongshen by surprise.

What did Father Emperor mean by this?

"Father Emperor, Miss Li is only—"

Initially clouded by alcohol, the Emperor’s gaze sharply turned to Xiao Hongshen, who instantly fell silent.

"I asked Miss Li."

Xiao Hongshen swallowed.

Wanting to prove her capabilities, Li Chengyuan naively nodded, "Yes, recently I have been helping His Highness the Seventh Prince study the Flaming Stone; when finished, it can be used in military matters, and with just a small tube, it can kill a hundred people."

As she spoke, she distinctly felt the pressure around her drop slightly.

When she secretly glanced at the Emperor’s expression, she again felt that he had a gentle demeanor, resembling a grandfather, which made her feel warmly comforted.

"A small tube, do you have the specifics?" the Emperor asked Li Chengyuan with a smile.

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