Chapter 58: It’s Here, the Plot Has Arrived.
But watching is one thing; truly experiencing it firsthand is entirely different. Gan Qiongying rubbed her hands together in anticipation, eagerly looking forward to the sparks that would fly when these people collided.
However, there was one condition: Gan Qiongying had to avoid making a fool of herself at this grand feast and ensure she wouldn’t be completely despised by Princess Hui’an.
She had to break the deadlock.
But where should she start?
Gan Qiongying turned her gaze to the left, smiling brightly as she stared at Wen Xueling.
Of course, she would start with the female lead.
Gan Qiongying’s gaze was downright eerie, sending chills down Wen Xueling’s spine. Wen Xueling turned and glared at her before deliberately turning to converse with the person on her other side, never looking back again.
The venue was packed, with everyone seated in advance. The musicians were checking their instruments, afraid of making even the slightest mistake. The maidservants tasked with enlivening the atmosphere were quietly practicing their dance moves.
Gan Qiongying was in the mood to tease the little white flower. Seeing that Wen Xueling was ignoring her, she deliberately laughed to draw attention. When she noticed Wen Xueling’s stiffened back and tense profile, she laughed even louder.
She truly resembled a shameless rogue.
Suddenly, a crowd surged at the entrance. Princess Hui’an was slowly escorted in by her maidservants. Once she was seated steadily, Aunt Wumei beside her nodded to the people below.
As the eldest son of the birthday celebrant, Qu Chi, Princess Hui’an’s eldest son, who held the position of Vice Minister of Personnel, drew his bow and shot a flaming arrow. The arrow soared into the sky with a trail of fire, carrying a blazing intensity as it struck the fuse of the fireworks. Instantly, countless fireworks bloomed across the sky.
Everyone rose to their feet and congratulated Princess Hui’an in unison, “May Princess Hui’an enjoy longevity and eternal youth, like the pine and the crane.”
Under the dazzling display of fireworks, everyone took their seats again. Maidservants filed in, carrying trays of exquisite delicacies, while the music of strings and pipes began to play. The feast officially commenced.
Princess Hui’an’s eldest son, Qu Chi, took to the stage with his wife and daughter. Their congratulatory gift was so heavy that it required several strong men to lift it together.
It was a whole section of pinewood, carved by skilled craftsmen into the shape of a pine tree. When the men carried it onto the stage and set it down, it kicked up a cloud of dust, a testament to its immense weight.
Princess Hui’an’s second son, Qu Li, who served in the Ministry of Rites, had painstakingly collected a set of calligraphy and paintings from various places, much to Princess Hui’an’s delight.
Everyone praised these two gifts, and the atmosphere was lively and harmonious.
Next, a young girl took the stage, estimated to be around thirteen or fourteen years old. It was clear that she was deeply cherished by Princess Hui’an, who gazed at her with adoration from the moment she stepped onto the stage.
Gan Qiongying remembered this young girl. She was the youngest daughter of Princess Hui’an’s second son, Qu Li, and was about to come of age. One of the reasons for hosting such a grand birthday feast and inviting so many guests was to facilitate finding her a suitable husband.
However, after careful consideration, it seemed the son of the Vice Minister of Revenue had won Princess Hui’an’s favor the most.
There were too many people presenting gifts, and it was impossible for everyone to take the stage. A servant with a booming voice announced the gifts brought by the guests.
“From the Regent, a piece of South Sea coral and a pair of jadeite bracelets.”
“From Prince Kangguang, a white jade statue of Guanyin and a white jade pot.”
“From Princess Duanrong, a handwritten copy of a sutra…”
While Gan Qiongying was still marveling at the lavish gifts from the noble sons and daughters, Wen Xueling beside her deliberately let out a scornful laugh.
She turned to look and saw Wen Xueling’s eyes filled with disdain, clearly sneering at the gift she had brought.
Gan Qiongying muttered to herself, what does that little brat know?
Wen Xueling had earlier been speculating about what grand gift Princess Duanrong would present, never expecting it to be just a sutra. She wanted to see the birthday girl’s reaction and was about to mock Princess Duanrong when she noticed Princess Hui’an’s eyes welling up with tears.
For every congratulatory gift, Princess Hui’an had nodded in approval, glanced briefly, and moved on. Only the gift from Princess Duanrong remained in her hands, held for a long while without being set down.
The calligrapher of the sutra was an old bosom friend from many years ago. After losing her husband and son early in life, she refused to remarry, shaved her head to become a nun, called herself Liaochen Jushi, and wandered the world, leaving no trace ever since.
Princess Hui’an had been searching for her all these years, but she was troubled by her friend’s lack of a fixed abode. She had thought she would never hear from her again in this lifetime.
Princess Hui’an didn’t know how Gan Qiongying had managed to find Liaochen Jushi, but this birthday gift, coupled with the incident earlier in her courtyard where she stood until she fainted… she knew this child had truly realized her mistakes and put her heart into it.
Now, learning that her old friend was healthy and still remembered her from thousands of miles away, how could she not be moved?
Princess Hui’an blinked rapidly, raised her hand to cover her face and quickly composed herself, then whispered to Wumei standing beside her.
Then, under Wen Xueling’s stunned gaze, Duanrong was invited by Wumei to sit beside the Grand Princess.
Before leaving, Gan Qiongying even threw a flirtatious wink at Wen Xueling.
“Wen Xueling, daughter of Jingxi Wang, presents a pair of golden square vessels and twelve golden hairpins.” The attendant finished announcing the gifts and closed the list.
Wen Xueling was furious with Gan Qiongying but couldn’t delay the important matters.
She had deliberately bribed the attendant to have her name placed last, just for the chance to strike up a conversation with Princess Hui’an. She had practiced diligently for days, all to perform a dance today.
Princess Hui’an, always one to help others fulfill their wishes, kindly granted her request with a serene expression.
Upon receiving permission, Wen Xueling immediately performed a grand bow, kowtowing repeatedly in gratitude.
Several backup dancers quickly formed a circle, spreading their sleeves to shield her. Moments later, Wen Xueling crouched in the center of the dancers, like a delicate flower bud about to bloom.
Here it comes, the plot is still unfolding.
Gan Qiongying sipped her wine, scanning the crowd. Sure enough, she spotted Liuli in the midst of the guests, her face swollen from being slapped. Liuli was clearly prepared to cry and plead for her mistress at any moment, her cheeks puffed up but her gaze resolute.
Just like in the plot.
It was as if everything had been cast under a spell of fate, unavoidable.
Even though Gan Qiongying had disrupted the plot earlier, everything had still circled back around.
But Gan Qiongying refused to accept fate.
Having died once already, could anything be worse than that?
She burned paper offerings for herself on the fifteenth day of the seventh month—she wasn’t even afraid of real ghosts, so why fear these fake ones?
So she smiled faintly, tapping her fingers on the table, waiting for the right moment.
When the musicians were all ready and Wen Xueling had assumed her pose, Gan Qiongying suddenly stood up, causing the table in front of her to crash loudly and drawing everyone’s attention.
Then, with a look of shock on her face, she exclaimed, “Huh? Didn’t Princess Xue’e break her leg when her carriage overturned in a mountain gully on the way to the birthday banquet?”
“You’re that badly injured, and you’re still dancing?”