Chapter 59: She Is Niohuru Duanrong.
As soon as Gan Qiongying finished speaking, the hall fell into dead silence.
The music that had just begun came to an abrupt halt. The musicians lowered their heads to check their strings, as Princess Duanrong’s sudden outburst had nearly caused several of them to snap their strings.
At the men’s table, Lihua was wide-eyed with shock, his fingers curling and his heart rising to his throat. He feared Gan Qiongying might stir up trouble, but seeing Princess Hui’an’s calm expression, he felt slightly reassured.
Zhongli Zhengzhen also looked toward Gan Qiongying. He didn’t know what Princess Duanrong was up to this time, but he assumed she was, as usual, looking for an opportunity to pick on Wen Xueling. He poured himself a cup of wine and settled in to watch the spectacle.
All eyes in the hall first gathered on Gan Qiongying alone, then shifted to Wen Xueling.
Wen Xueling stood frozen in place, her face and neck flushed with heat.
After several attempts to compose herself, she moved her stiff legs with difficulty, stepping out from the circle of her dance companions. Once in the open space, she immediately knelt and bowed.
“Grand Princess, Xue’e’s leg is fine,” Wen Xueling said, her voice trembling but her words rapid. “This dance is called ‘Magus Presents Longevity.’ Xue’e rehearsed it specifically for Grand Princess’s birthday banquet, hoping only for Grand Princess’s enduring fortune, longevity, and good health.”
She raised her head, awaiting permission, and bowed once more to Princess Hui’an.
How could Gan Qiongying let her have her way so easily? Before the Grand Princess could speak, she quickly interjected!
A smile curled at the corner of her lips as she addressed Wen Xueling. “Princess Xue’e is truly thoughtful.”
Her smile was gentle, like that of a caring older sister. “But dancing with an injury could lead to lasting harm. Aunt has always been kind and generous, doting on us younger ones. Your intentions are enough—you should rest.”
Stay put!
Gan Qiongying sat right beside Princess Hui’an, leaning toward her with an expression full of admiration for her elder, almost coquettishly. “Aunt, Princess Xue’e has injured her leg. Duanrong would like to ask for a favor on her behalf—let her dance after her leg heals.”
Princess Hui’an hadn’t been keen on watching any dance in the first place.
She had thought Duanrong’s sudden outburst was another foolish move. She had long known Duanrong had targeted Princess Xue’e multiple times, but she never expected her to plead for her today.
Parents always view their own children through a filter as thick as bulletproof glass.
Princess Hui’an thought of Duanrong’s determination to apologize earlier in the day and her consideration for Xue’e’s injury now, speaking up to dissuade her. She took it as a sign that Duanrong had finally matured.
A hint of a smile even appeared on her face, and she breathed a slight sigh of relief. Naturally, she nodded along with Gan Qiongying’s words and said, “Princess Xue’e, your intentions are noted. Since your leg is injured, focusing on recovery is the priority.”
But Wen Xueling was truly unwilling. She had prepared for this dance for so long.
She had practiced this dance for years!
Gan Qiongying could actually understand her quite well, because this part of the plot was nothing short of epic in the book.
Wen Xueling would captivate the world with her dance today and simultaneously win the hearts of her five wild men.
That was precisely why Gan Qiongying would never let her dance.
Without the dance, how could she captivate the world?
It would be best if she withdrew on her own. If she didn’t, Gan Qiongying would simply take off her outer robe and step up to perform a cha-cha-cha to “My Heart Has Only You, No One Else”!
Let these people witness what it truly means to be an epic shit-stirrer.
After all, her persona was that of a madwoman—might as well treat it as a colorful performance to entertain her elders.
Wen Xueling stood there in her dance costume, resentment simmering in her heart, refusing to step back.
She subtly moved her hands behind her back and crooked a finger toward the crowd.
Suddenly, a maidservant from the crowd pushed aside the guards maintaining order and swiftly darted through the musicians, catching everyone off guard. With a “thud,” she knelt beside Wen Xueling.
“Your humble servant, Liuli, pays respects to Princess Hui’an. May the Grand Princess live a thousand years in boundless health and eternal prosperity!”
Everyone was startled. Gan Qiongying recognized Liuli, and her eyelids twitched uncontrollably.
The plot had already derailed to this extent, yet she still managed to force her way into the scene?
As the maidservant barged into the birthday banquet, Wumei stepped forward, about to order her removal. But the maidservant, who called herself Liuli, raised her head, revealing a face swollen and bruised, her cheeks so puffed up they seemed covered by only a thin layer of skin that could burst at the slightest touch.
Gan Qiongying winced in sympathy. What had Manyue been eating to develop such strength in her hands?
“Your humble servant deserves death ten thousand times over, but as a servant, it is only natural to devote oneself entirely to one’s master.” Despite her face being swollen beyond recognition, Liuli’s words flowed smoothly, not missing a beat as she lodged her complaint.
“I simply cannot bear to see my own master bullied to such an extent by Princess Duanrong! Yet, due to Princess Duanrong’s arrogance and tyranny, I have repeatedly sought justice to no avail!”
“I have heard that Princess Hui’an is virtuous and esteemed, with a heart as clear as a mirror. I beg the Grand Princess, in consideration of my mistress’s plight—far from home in the Imperial City, with no relatives to protect her—to uphold justice for her!”
This maidservant certainly knew how to spin a tale.
Gan Qiongying sat in her seat, propping her chin on her hand as she watched. She had to admit, there was a reason why the original Princess Duanrong had fallen victim to this Liuli.
No wonder Wen Xueling had humbled herself earlier to protect this little maid’s life.
Gan Qiongying settled in comfortably, ready to listen to her fabrications.
Princess Hui’an’s expression darkened. How dare a mere maidservant disrupt her birthday banquet? Where was the dignity of the royal family?
Though Princess Hui’an was known for her kindness and compassion, she was, after all, a product of feudal society, steeped in imperial authority. How could she tolerate such insolence from a lowly servant?
Moreover, she had just forgiven Duanrong. Even if Duanrong had truly torn a hole in the sky, could her own seasoned experience navigating the corridors of power not patch it up?
But she was put on the spot, with so many people watching. She couldn’t simply have the maidservant executed without hearing her out.
Thus, with a stern face, Princess Hui’an cast a cold glance at Wen Xueling, who stood beside the maidservant pretending to be pitiful, and said, “Since you are here to plead your master’s case, I shall acknowledge your loyalty as a servant and allow you to explain in detail.”
“Thank you, Grand Princess!”
Liuli began, “This morning, my mistress’s carriage, carrying birthday gifts, happened to encounter Princess Duanrong’s carriage on the official road. The carriage was moving along smoothly when, unexpectedly…”
Liuli recounted the events of the morning, embellishing the details. It had to be said, she truly had a talent for this.
Not a single word explicitly accused Duanrong of deliberate harm, yet every sentence implied it.
After roughly finishing her account, Liuli kowtowed once more to Princess Hui’an and said, “Princess Duanrong sought to have me beaten to death, refusing to allow any defense. She ordered her own maidservant to slap me until I was dizzy and disoriented, and even threatened to have me beaten or strangled to death.”
“Thanks to the Princess’s kind and merciful heart, who could not bear to see this servant die without cause, she humbled herself and pleaded for mercy before Princess Duanrong. That is how this servant managed to survive.”
By the time Liuli finished speaking, murmurs had already spread through the banquet hall.
Though the voices were low, they were clear enough for Gan Qiongying to hear—every word was about her.
Given her past arrogance and ruthless methods, everyone silently accepted this as truth, believing the words of the little maid Liuli.
Liuli even understood the art of leaving space for imagination. She paused for a moment, allowing the murmurs to rise before once again kowtowing to Princess Hui’an, pleading for forgiveness with sorrowful cries for her pitiful mistress. She had all the pretty words lined up.
The wounds on her face were ironclad proof.
Gan Qiongying could easily imagine that if this were the real Duanrong, she might have flown into a rage before even hearing the whole story.
Having the little maid beaten to death on the spot would have been the least of it. In a fit of anger, she might even have taken matters into her own hands.
This would only further confirm her violent and unrestrained nature, completely ruining the Grand Princess’s birthday banquet and earning her disdain.
Looking at it this way, the plot was truly fucking reasonable.
But unfortunately, the Duanrong seated at the banquet today was no longer the Duanrong of old.
She was Niohuru Duanrong.
Having listened to this brilliant piece of slander aimed at her, Gan Qiongying showed not a trace of anger.
Princess Hui’an looked toward Gan Qiongying, who scratched her head, appearing somewhat awkward as she said, “Aunt, it is true that we encountered her on our way here.”
As soon as Gan Qiongying finished speaking, the murmurs in the banquet hall grew louder.