The Runaway Bride in a Substitute Marriage 33

The long-sleeved dance that had just concluded ended at some point, and in the brief interlude before the next act, Xue Bailing, the censor's daughter, suddenly rose from her seat. Gracefully, she curtsied to the emperor and empress seated at the head of the hall, and said in a soft voice, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Empress, I, Bailing, wish to offer a piece of music to celebrate the full moon of the Mid-Autumn Festival."

The emperor and empress exchanged a smile, and the emperor nodded in approval. "Since Miss Xue is so inclined, We and the Empress grant your request."

A clear, melodious sound of the guqin rose slowly, like silk threads weaving through the air, lingering and sweet. It reached the ears like an orchid in a deep valley, or a clear spring in a mountain ravine—enchanting and resonant.

Chen Yao took another small sip of the sparkling wine in her hand and nodded inwardly. It truly sounded pleasant.

As the piece concluded, Xue Bailing rose and curtsied elegantly again. "I have made a fool of myself in presenting this."

But in the end, her gaze couldn't help but land on the man who had paid attention solely to the young woman beside him throughout, never once looking at her. She quickly lowered her eyes to conceal her disappointment, then continued in a meek tone, "I venture to make one more request, and I hope Your Majesty and the Empress will grant it."

The emperor, in good spirits, was as lenient as could be toward Xue Bailing, whose age was close to his youngest princess and whose musical skill was indeed commendable. "What other request? Speak."

Then, in the next moment, Chen Yao found herself unexpectedly called out.

"Bailing has heard that the young Madam Xie is also exceptionally skilled in the qin, and I have long admired her from afar. Unfortunately, she rarely attends banquets, so I have never had the chance to hear her heavenly music. Today, with such a rare opportunity, I truly cannot bear to miss it." Her face wore a gentle smile, her tone sincere and bright, seemingly genuinely eager. "I hope Your Majesty will grant this."

Since the arts of qin, chess, calligraphy, and painting were basic accomplishments for noble ladies, the emperor didn't think much of it. He took it as a young girl's competitive spirit, wanting to shine before the crowd, and cheerfully agreed.

However, the empress, who sat by the emperor's side and had been picking food for him, slightly raised her eyes, a meaningful glint passing through them.

Chen Yao: "..." Did anyone even care about her, the one actually involved?

Pingyuan Hou and Lady Pingyuan were naturally present at the banquet. Hearing that the censor's daughter actually claimed their daughter was excellent at the qin, the Marquess looked at his wife in slight confusion. "Yao Yao is also good at playing the qin?"

The Marchioness didn't bother to respond, but frowned, her gaze fixed on Xue Bailing, who was deliberately targeting her daughter.

Behind them, Jiang Lingxuan also looked up.

Her lips pressed into a firm line, and she noticed that the censor's daughter's gaze subtly kept drifting toward her brother-in-law, Xie Qingyan.

Feeling the gazes from all directions on his wife beside him, Xie Qingyan's handsome face had long since turned expressionless. His brows lowered as a thought struck him, and he glanced toward Madam Xie's seat, only to see the faintly satisfied curve at the corner of her mouth.

"What a misfortune befalling me," Chen Yao said in her mind to System 04. "Was there such a scene in the plotline?"

She was puzzled; she didn't know this censor's daughter at all. Why was she being targeted?

"Of course not," System 04 replied sympathetically. "Even if there were, it would be aimed at the female lead. You're the vicious supporting female character; why would you get so much plot spotlight?"

"Exactly! This should have been the face-slapping scene for the female lead," Chen Yao sighed long.

So now, this cannon fodder character—who in the original plot envied the female lead for being able to marry the male lead by chance—was now targeting her because Xie Qingyan's wife was her?

But the female lead was skilled in many things and didn't worry; Chen Yao, on the other hand, was truly a good-for-nothing.

Chen Yao felt a bit speechless and annoyed. The more she thought about it, the more she felt that Xie Qingyan was the one who had dragged her into this. So, she couldn't help but reach under the table to grab the man's hand and viciously pinch it.

Who told him to go out and attract all these romantic entanglements?

But on second thought, for such an occasion as the Mid-Autumn moon viewing... She certainly couldn't play the qin, but when it came to other talents, she had a unique skill that could absolutely crush the ancients—an exclusive skill of a transmigrator.

—Let's go with that! The legendary transmigrator anthem, "Prelude to Water Melody"!

Thinking this, Chen Yao felt a bit more confident. She was about to speak up to agree, and Xie Qingyan was also preparing to interrupt.

Just then, Jiang Lingxuan, who was sitting a bit further away, abruptly rose and said in a respectful, slow tone, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Empress, please forgive Lingxuan for being presumptuous. I believe my qin skills are also not bad, and they were all personally taught by my elder sister when she was at home. Therefore, I ask to perform before Your Majesties on behalf of my elder sister, to offer a tune. I hope you will grant my request."

"Haha, of course we can. We grant it!" The emperor laughed, slapping his leg.

Indeed, the young were spirited. It added a bit of liveliness and excitement to the otherwise dull palace banquet.

The emperor was getting on in years, and at palace banquets, he enjoyed playing matchmaker for the younger generation. He thought: Since Jiang Chenyao was already married, such opportunities to showcase talent should naturally go to the unmarried young ladies. And a younger sister taking the place of her elder sister, with the virtue of respecting her teacher, would also be a fine tale.

Chen Yao was slightly startled, looking at Jiang Lingxuan in surprise, only to see her give her a gentle smile from afar, her eyes curving slightly.

TL Note:

face-slapping (打脸) = a trope in Chinese web novels where a character is publicly humiliated and shown up.

transmigrator (穿越者) = a person who time-travels or is reborn into another world, a common protagonist in Chinese web novels.

cannon fodder (炮灰) = a minor character who exists only to be disposed of, often to serve the plot.

Prelude to Water Melody (水调歌头) = a celebrated Song dynasty poem by Su Shi, often used by transmigrators as a 'borrowed' talent.