The maid set up the qin table and carefully placed the precious Taiyi Qin upon it.
“Miss, everything is ready.”
The maid curtsied, and as she passed by Li Mengyao, she subtly gave her a meaningful glance. Li Mengyao’s eyes flickered slightly, casting an almost imperceptible look toward Su Leyun.
Su Leyun observed the interaction between the two, remaining inwardly vigilant. She could not understand why Li Mengyao harbored such deep animosity toward her, both in her past life and now. She had never knowingly harmed or offended her.
Li Mengyao placed her ten fingers upon the strings. The maid returned to her seat, standing behind the table with a freshly warmed pot of apricot blossom wine.
Slender fingertips glided across the strings, producing a clear, lingering melody. The joyful tune of Phoenix Seeks Phoenix gradually filled the air.
As soon as the music began, Princess Anle, for some reason, suddenly changed her expression. Using the excuse of needing to sober up, she slowly exited the rear hall. When her personal maid offered to accompany her, she declined.
The other noble ladies were engrossed in the music and paid no attention to Princess Anle’s departure. Only Su Leyun found it strange. Phoenix Seeks Phoenix was a romantic and cheerful tune, and Princess Anle, at the tender age of sixteen, was precisely at the age of longing and admiration. How could she not like it…
As the piece ended, its lingering notes seemed to hover in the air. The audience remained entranced, still lost in the melody.
Su Wan’er was the first to rise and applaud, welcoming Li Mengyao back to her seat.
“Sister Mengyao truly lives up to her reputation as the foremost qin player in the capital. Both your skill and the emotion conveyed in your music are beyond our reach.”
Li Mengyao smiled with pride, yet modestly replied, “You flatter me, sister. The capital is full of talented individuals; how could I dare claim to be the best?”
Though her words were humble, her tone was filled with self-satisfaction.
She had practiced the qin diligently since the age of three. As the legitimate daughter, she dared not slack in any aspect, all to earn a bit more favor for her mother in her father’s eyes.
Due to her rigorous practice, her fingernails had fallen off multiple times, and her fingers had been injured. Yet she paid no mind to these hardships, never giving up regardless of the season. Finally, at the Spring Banquet, she performed a piece and won the Emperor’s praise.
She was recognized as the foremost qin player among the noble ladies of the capital and was even granted a marriage arrangement.
Thinking of this, the coldness in Li Mengyao’s eyes suddenly softened. The maid standing beside her bowed to pour wine, but accidentally bumped into her mistress’s elbow as she raised her hand to pick up food.
The heated wine pot flew out, landing squarely on Su Leyun’s table. The silver pot clashed with the dishes, splattering sauces and wine everywhere. Though Su Leyun stood up promptly, the hem of her skirt was still stained.
“Clumsy girl! Apologize to Second Miss Su at once!”
Li Mengyao set her wine cup down on the table with a deliberate thud, scolding the maid.
The maid trembled as she knelt on the floor, kowtowing in Su Leyun’s direction.
“Second Miss Su, please forgive me! I beg you to spare me this time!”
Su Leyun gestured for the maid to rise, casting a calm glance at Li Mengyao. Deliberately dirtying her dress to embarrass her publicly—such petty tricks no longer fazed her.
“Sister Mingyan, my dress is soiled. I must excuse myself for a moment.”
Su Leyun stood up and curtsied toward the host’s seat. Seeing that she was unharmed, Zhao Mingyan waved for a maid to take her to the back hall to change into clean clothes.
“Find the newly made dress I haven’t worn yet for Sister Yun’er. Do not treat her with any neglect.”
As the host of the day, Zhao Mingyan still had to attend to the other noble ladies attending the banquet. Unable to accompany Su Leyun personally, she sent her capable senior maid along instead.
“Miss Yun’er, this way, please.”
The maid led the way ahead, her clever mouth spouting pleasing words.
“My young lady has taken a liking to you, Miss Yun. You must come to our residence often in the future.”
“This servant has never seen a noble young lady as radiant and captivating as Miss Yun. Only upon seeing you did I understand what it means for a celestial being to descend to the mortal world.”
Su Leyun couldn’t help but smile at the sweet-talking little maid before her, yet a wave of sorrow suddenly washed over her.
In her past life, it was this very maid who, through tears and sobs, revealed the reason why Elder Sister Zhao had leaped from the high platform.
As she was lost in thought, an unfamiliar little maid hurried over and grabbed the one leading the way.
“Sister Cui’er, the young lady’s red coral bracelet is missing. She asks you to return and help search for it.”
Upon hearing about the red coral bracelet, Cui’er’s expression changed. She glanced at Su Leyun with a troubled look.
The red coral bracelet… So Elder Sister Zhao had already met and pledged her love to that scholar.
“Go back and help your young lady search for her item. Let her lead the way instead.”
Su Leyun sent Cui’er back and casually pointed to the little maid who had come looking for her to lead the way to change clothes.
She was only thinking about the matter between Miss Zhao and that ill-fated scholar, overlooking the occasional glint of cunning in the little maid’s eyes.
Cui’er curtsied and ran off. The little maid walked ahead of Su Leyun, leading the way. Somehow, after passing through the covered corridor, the path grew increasingly remote, gradually distancing them from the sounds of music and laughter.
Su Leyun frowned slightly at the unswept fallen leaves on the ground. Just as she was about to call out to the maid, she looked up and saw the little maid’s figure flash twice before disappearing behind a tree, lost from sight.
“What can they achieve by luring me here?”
If it were her from her past life, she might have panicked. But now, she only needed to find a servant to ask for directions back. Surely, in such a large Zhao residence, she wouldn’t be unable to find a single servant.
Recalling the layout of the Zhao residence, Su Leyun deduced that this should be the rear garden. Perhaps the servants, preoccupied with the birthday banquet, had neglected to clean this area.
“But is it the Second Young Lady Su?”
Suddenly, a dignified woman’s voice called out to her. Su Leyun turned and saw a flash of crimson skirt from behind a plum tree.
“Princess Anle? Why are you here?”
Su Leyun looked up and immediately noticed the large tear in the shoulder of the princess’s outer garment, faintly revealing her fair, jade-like skin.
“I was taking a stroll in the garden earlier and accidentally tore my clothing. Could you fetch an outer garment for me?”
Princess Anle looked displeased, covering her shoulder.
Su Leyun frowned, took out a handkerchief from her sleeve, and covered Princess Anle’s shoulder with it. Then, she placed her hand over the handkerchief, appearing intimate as she walked with the princess along the corridor toward the outside.
She saw clearly that Princess Anle’s face was turning blue from the cold; she could not stay outside any longer.
“This subject will first escort you to a side room to rest, then fetch a change of clothes for you afterward.”
Princess Anle nodded, her eyes carrying a hint of gratitude.
Born into the imperial family, she valued her reputation above all else. No matter what, she could not let anyone see her in disheveled clothing.
Her elder brother had been preoccupied with court affairs lately; she could not trouble him further.
“Thank you.”
“You are too kind, Princess.”
Pushing open the door to a secluded side room and settling the princess inside, Su Leyun, not minding the dirt on her own clothes, hurried toward the front courtyard.
“Today’s events are quite peculiar.”
Walking forward along the corridor, she encountered a line of maids carrying trays toward the banquet. Su Leyun stopped one and said gently, “I came from the banquet ahead and have soiled my dress. The maid who was leading the way earlier got lost. Please have someone bring two sets of clothing for me.”
The little maid handed the tray to another and led Su Leyun towards Zhao Mingyan’s inner chamber in the rear hall.
“Please follow me, Miss.”
The little maid explained the reason to the senior maid guarding the room, who then fetched two sets of garments and helped Su Leyun change out of the soiled outer robe.
“Miss has such a lovely complexion—this lake blue shade suits you perfectly.”
This maid was as sweet-tongued as Cui’er, and she brought out another outer robe in tender willow green.
“Was there another young lady at the banquet whose dress was soiled? This servant can go and attend to her.”
“No need. Just hand the garments to me.”