Chapter 313: Respectable, winning without playing (1/2)

Chapter 313: Respectable, winning without playing

Han Yunxi was very satisfied upon seeing the empress dowager’s look of surprise verging on tears. She originally thought that the Medicine Fan wouldn’t need to show its face, but it ended up being useful after all! She lazily straightened up to lean against her seat, the fan in her hands waving languidly as it reveal glimpses of the medicinal plants embroidered on each side. The empress dowager’s eyes followed Han Yunxi’s every movement as if afraid she’d seen the wrong thing. As if, a single missed glance would cause the Medicine Fan to disappear entirely!

The empress dowager liked getting gifts, but that was simply her enjoying the feeling of respect from her guests and surprises from unexpected presents. Compared to that, she had a serious need for Han Yunxi’s fan! Chu Qingge was still standing in the same spot, waiting for the empress dowager to speak. But after stopping mid-sentence, the woman had ignored her completely. She had no idea why the old empress dowager had blanked out!

Han Yunxi and Long Feiye had caused enough trouble at the birthday banquet, so the old empress dowager should treat them ruthlessly. If she couldn’t best Long Feiye, how could she ever let Han Yunxi off? Why wasn’t the empress dowager seizing her chance?

“Esteemed Empress Dowager, Qin Wangfei’s such a bully. You have to be the judge and support my case!” Chu Qingge’s words turned even more blunt.

“Aiya, Miss Chu, everyone was watching. How did I ever bully you? When did I agree to anything?” Han Yunxi’s unperturbed mood was enough to anger a girl to death.

Chu Qingge was a woman with high aspirations. She didn’t want to waste words with a hoodlum like Han Yunxi, but kept her gaze on the empress dowager. If this was before, the empress dowager would’ve long forced Han Yunxi to come forward even without Chu Qingge’s urging. But now she was irresolute. Her mind was wholly absorbed in thinking of ways to get the Medicine Fan from Han Yunxi. Han Yunxi was a woman who was open to persuasion, but not coercion. It wouldn’t do to take the fan by force. What if she made Han Yunxi unhappy and the latter burned the fan instead? Where would she find another one?

She had to take it slowly and strategically!

At a time like this, thought the empress dowager, it’s better not to provoke Han Yunxi. They were already as incompatible as fire and water. If she gave Han Yunxi another reason to hold a grudge, even strategic schemes to win the fan might prove ineffective.

Everyone in the hall was silent. Chu Qingge kept waiting until she felt like she was singing her own tune in a one-woman show.

Say something, old Empress Dowager! If you don’t speak up, where am I supposed to put my pride?

Finally, Chu Qingge couldn’t take it anymore. So what if she was supposed to be some proud and haughty ice queen? Angry and impatient, she made a Grand now at the empress dowager and cried, “Empress Dowager of Tianning, everyone is watching! Please support Qingge!”

Finally, the empress dowager turned to look at her. “Miss Chu, please rise.”

Chu Qingge took a deep breath before she straightened up and resumed her arrogant expression. As long as the Empress Dowager cooperated with her, it’d be useless no matter what Han Yunxi said.

But who could’ve guess the empress dowager’s next words? “It’s true that Qin Wangfei never agreed to play a song. That was a joke at most, so Miss Chu shouldn’t take it seriously.”

What?

Chu Qingge was thunderstruck. Her eyes turned blank as her entire body stiffened. Did I hear the wrong thing? What did the empress dowager say?

“Esteemed Empress Dowager is wise and brilliant! As this wangfei sees it, Miss Chu’s qin skills are truly exceptional. How about she play another piece to accompany us and our wine?” Han Yunxi covered her smile with the Medicine Fan as she spoke, looking quite coy.

‘Accompany us and our wine?’

If Han Yunxi hadn’t compared her work to that of a servant, this comment wouldn’t have elicited much reaction. But Han Yunxi had clearly stated that she wasn’t some servant, so she wouldn’t seek public attention in such a blatant manner. Now she was telling Chu Qingge to not only amuse the guests, but accompany their drinks with her music!

Who does she think I am?! Even if her status wasn’t as high as Qin Wangfei, she was still the eldest daughter of Western Zhou’s Chu Clan, the most respected family after the imperial clan! Chu Qingge had a haughty personality. Now she was so angry that her face was red and nearly on the verge of tears. She glared hatefully at the empress dowager, unable to fathom why the woman had spoken such words. The empress dowager was stuck in a tight spot as well. She didn’t want to offend Han Yunxi, but neither did she wish to hurt Chu Qingge. She was trying to figure out a way to calm down the dispute so Chu Qingge could return to her seat when Han Yunxi spoke up lazily again.

“Esteemed Empress Dowager, have Miss Chu play another piece, won’t you? She played so well that I still want her to continue!” As she spoke, she purposely laid the Medicine Fan on the table and tapped it a few times.

That movement… The empress dowager grew alarmed! Could it be that Han Yunxi already knew she’d been desperately searching for this fan for ages? Was the girl aware of her insomnia? Thinking back, she realized that the Duke of Qin was well in the know. In that case, it wouldn’t be strange if Han Yunxi knew, either. It was even possible that he’d given Qin Wangfei the fan himself!

Is she threatening me? Damned girl! The empress dowager cursed silently, but she couldn’t resist the temptation of the Medicine Fan. Suffering sleepless nights for over twenty years was a fate worse than death! It was enough to make her give up all the resentment she held in the past.

If Han Yunxi’s really threatening me, then that means I still have a chance at that fan. Mhm, I can’t be rash. I have to do this strategically!