Chapter 222 - Strange Atmosphere between Two Gorgeous Boys (1/2)

However, Ling Mingfeng didn’t retort. His eyes were fixed because he could only see her bright eyes and white teeth. She was young now, but in a few years, how beautiful would she turn into?

He stayed silent, while You Yuecheng snorted. “What’s good with a good look? n.o.ble masters and misses should be talented. I wonder what talent this pretty Third Miss Mo possesses!”

He was deprecating Mo Xuetong. Luo Wenyou darted a displeased look toward him and was about to talk. In the meanwhile, Mo Xuetong had started to play the Qin.

If Ling Fengyan’s piece was as lively as flower’s whisper in spring, then Mo Xuetong’s carried a cold feature, which suited the winter. The audience couldn’t help getting lost in the music. Suddenly, the music sped up like a storm. Between the fierceness are clangs of weapons and horseshoes rang.

Bai Yihao considered himself a Qin master, but now, he involuntarily fixed his eyes on the girl opposite, who was as delicate as a blossom. Such a fierce and aggressive piece was actually played by such a girl. He found it hard to believe that between those delicate fingers rang a splendid military piece not a decadent one. It sounded so beautiful and sad…

Feng Yuran slightly frowned and also fixed his eyes on the pair of nimble fingers on the Qin strings. His eyes somehow darkened. “It sounds so sad and so angry. Is that what she trying to say deep down in her heart? What has she been through to bear such sadness? And for that, she plays such an aggressive piece?”

Though You Yuecheng didn’t like Mo Xuetong, he couldn’t help feeling touched at the moment. He fixed his cold eyes on her and seemed lost in thoughts.

When the piece ended, the silence was everywhere.

Mo Xuetong rose and politely bowed to Princess Royal. Only then did everyone come to their senses and burst into a round of applause.

Mo Xuetong knew that from now on, the reputation she bore in Cloud City that said she was untalented and weak finally faded away. No one here would believe that rumor anymore. A smile registered by her lips. “Father must love the things they say about me now.”

Princess Royal beamed and awarded a pair of jade bracelets to the two respectively. “Third Miss Mo and Second Miss Ling are both talented girls. It’s my pleasure to have heard both of you play.”

Ling Fengyan rolled her beautiful eyes. Glancing at Mo Xuetong, she mildly smiled. “Third Miss Mo’s talent is impressive. I rarely find someone worth appreciating.”

Mo Xuetong lightly smiled and freely admitted her weakness. “Second Miss Ling has overestimated me. I can’t play many pieces, so I played such a piece, though it’s unsuitable for girls to play. I hope Second Miss Ling don’t mind it.”

It was true. Mo Xuetong’s piece was not so famous, and Ling Fengyan really hadn’t heard it before. However, on occasion like this, it was indeed a little inappropriate for a girl to play it. Ling Fengyan couldn’t help smiling a bit. Exchanging a glance with Mo Xuetong, Ling Fengyan didn’t say anything more.

Since Mo Xuetong had revealed her intention to lose, they were on a par. Moreover, the audience couldn’t exactly say who won or who lost, so Ling Fengyan didn’t need to say anything more.

Princess Royal had been listening and secretly nodded. “She’s really broad-minded to have admitted her weakness. And she still played it when she knew it was a losing piece. She apparently had thought about it before. She doesn’t want to win, which is both generous and wise of her. When she competes against the hyped Ling Fengyan, she only needs to tie the game, because if she really wins, the Empress won’t like it.

“Soon, the Empress will select consorts for the crown prince and she’s been hyping Ling Fengyan as a candidate. How can she bear to know someone has surpa.s.sed Ling Fengyan? Mo Xuetong has been so wise to hide her talent before Ling Fengyan so as to suppress the latter’s anger down. It’s not something every young miss is capable of doing.”

Fifth Princess was keen on finding fault with Mo Xuetong and wasn’t happy with Mo Xuetong receiving any praise, so she had to remind everyone of her opinion. “I still think Second Miss Ling is better. What Third Miss Mo played sounded so out of place on occasion like this.”

If she said this while Mo Xuetong was admitting her own flaws, the audience would think the Fifth Princess was quick to react. However, now, they would only see this royal princess as a narrow-minded person.

Even if some wanted to suck up to Fifth Princess, they couldn’t come up with any flattering words after hearing Mo Xuetong’s modest statement.

“Since Third Miss Mo has admitted defeat, Xueyu needn’t trash her anymore.” Princess Royal didn’t take it to heart, just turned around, and asked Yunruo by her side. “Have you prepared the lot pots?”

Yunruo courteously answered, “Your Highness, I’ve had them ready.”

“Then let’s get started!”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

A line of fancily-dressed royal maidservants presented the lot pot on the desk before Princess Royal. All the misses fixed their nimbly eyes on the lot pot, wis.h.i.+ng they could draw the names of the people on their minds. They hoped they could talk to the ones they liked and impress them. After thinking about the possibility, their faces all flushed and their hearts flipped.

King Chu, Feng Yuxuan, presided over the male guests’ tables. He first drew a name from the lot and casually flung it to a eunuch by his side.

When it was Mo Xuetong’s side, she picked one and stepped back without looking at the name.

“Cousin Tong, I actually picked my brother. Yuck! I’ve seen every one of my brother’s talents. Who did you pick? Let me see.” Sullenly carrying a stick, Luo Mingzhu came back. She swung it in her hand and looked downcast. Suddenly, she saw the name stick in Mo Xuetong’s hand. Just after she finished, she s.n.a.t.c.hed the stick from Mo Xuetong.

Mo Xuetong did nothing but smilingly let go of the stick.

The moment Luo Mingzhu saw the fancy handwriting on the stick, she fell speechless. “Wow, Cousin Tong. You actually picked King Xuan. No way. Who dares to… challenge him?”

King Xuan, Feng Yuran, wasn’t someone easy to handle. People said he was so willful and unreasonable that he had even thrown out Ling Fengyan’s portrait. No one wanted to mess up with him, because they knew there would be consequences. No one knew for sure if he would hold his temper to help Princess Royal save face.

Mo Xuetong didn’t expect to pick Feng Yuran’s name either. She nimbly rolled her bright eyes and took over the stick to have a closer look.