Chapter 207
Chapter 207: My Dear Majesty, Please Let Go (37)
Translator: Guy Gone Bad
In the Imperial Garden of the palace .
The empress dowager nodded at those beautiful girls who were either fat or slim to different disagrees . Some of them were ice-cold . Some were cute . Some were sexy . When they gathered around, it was a magnificent view, more beautiful than the flowers in the garden .
But which one of them was the one the emperor liked?
Two days ago, the emperor came to her palace in person and took one invitation card away to give it to the girl .
The empress dowager was more dissatisfied by how much he cared about that girl . She was so determined that she would torture that girl once she found out who she was .
The best scenario would be that she could drive that girl away so that the emperor would give up marrying her as his queen .
Although she was making such an evil plan in mind, she still put on a smiling and elegant face .
Except for Xia Liang, the other girl on her mind was Zhu Ruodie because she was the most outstanding girl among all . She was satisfied with that girl .
The girl was Baili Xi’s love . She was definitely the most outstanding girl of all . And she was the daughter of head of Ministry of Revenue, a decent family background . She was qualified to be married to Baili Xi as his official wife .
“Your highness, we have found out the only one invitation card that hasn’t been registered before belongs to Xia Liang, the first daughter of Xia Yuanzheng, the Minister of Revenue . ” A maid whispered to the empress dowager .
“Xia Yuanzheng’s daughter? Which one?” The empress dowager frowned a bit, scanning all the girls sitting down in the hall and her eyes got cold .
“She is on your left, last but one . ” The maid answered immediately as she had investigated thoroughly before .
The empress dowager gave Xia Liang a look .
Xia Liang was looking down with her head hanging down, which made it difficult to see her face . But it was easy to feel the coldness and indifference from her, unlike other ladies .
Was cold beautiful woman emperor’s type?
The empress dowager frowned slightly and smiled as she remembered her plan, “I am very happy today to enjoy the flowers with so many girls . The flowers are beautiful, but boring alone . I know that you are talented and noble ladies . You must be very good at playing musical instrument, chess, painting and drawing . Why don’t you impress me today?”
The girls of course got the hint that it was the cue for them to show their talents .
They knew it very well that they came here not to enjoy the flower view but to be chosen as future imperial concubines . And talent show was a must . Therefore, every girl was well prepared for this .
Now that the empress dowager mentioned, some of them couldn’t wait to show off their talents .
As empress dowager finished talking, eunuchs and maids started to prepare ink, paper, writing tools, Zheng and Guqin .
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The empress dowager also kept an eye on Xia Liang and observed her as she talked .
However, other girls were either excited or upset, reacting to her words .
Xia Liang had no reaction at all . She was emotionless .
Was she too cold-hearted or stupid? Thought the empress dowager .
Soon a brave and proactive girl volunteered to play a song .
The empress dowager approved .
Although the girl played very well, almost no one was paying attention to her music because some of them were expecting the emperor and the rest were worrying about their performance .
The only one who listened to her music probably was Xia Liang . She was being bored and Zhu Ruodie was not up to anything . Therefore, she listened to her music to kill time .
After the girl finished playing, the empress dowager smiled and praised her, “well played . ”
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Before the next performer, a maid jogged toward the empress dowager and whispered to her, “your highness, his majesty is coming near . ”
The empress dowager put on her nerve at the news . Looking at Xia Liang, she said, “I am told that Minister Xia’s daughter is a talented girl . And you are excellent at all sorts of skills, especially musical instruments . Do I have the honor to listen to your music?”
Xia Liang frowned on the empress dowager’s command . Playing musical instrument? She didn’t know how to play because the original Xia Liang didn’t .
Xia Liang stood up genuinely and curtseyed to the empress dowager before she said calmly, “sorry that I don’t know how to play musical instrument . I am afraid that you must have heard it wrong . ”
As she finished her sentence, everyone looked at her .
Some of them were surprised . Some couldn’t believe what they heard . Some looked at her as if she was a fool . You could tell their different facial expressions on their faces .
But their faces were not like the empress dowager’s face . She was shocked as if she had swallowed a fly .
Her smile froze in shock on her face as she heard Xia Liang and deep in her eyes there was great anger, twisting her facial expression .
She looked ridiculous .
Taking a deep breath and exhaling gently, the empress dowager finally got her facial expression under control and said stiffly, “oh? Is that so? What are you going to perform to impress me?”
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Xia Liang, how dare you! Do you think you are brave or ignorant to talk to me like that? You are looking for death!
You make me mad!
Xia Liang stood still and gave it a serious thought and finally confirmed that none of her talents were appropriate to show here .
Fighting skills? No!
Medical skills? Another no!
She may read a poem of others .
But before she said anything, a girl was giggling . Her giggle was beautiful . Xia Liang looked over and saw Zhu Ruodie was smiling .
Although Xia Liang hadn’t seen her before, when she laid eyes on her for the first time at the garden, she knew that she must be Zhu Ruodie .
The sparkling halo around her was too bright . And it was hard to ignore how beautiful and pure she was .
“Your highness, Miss Xia is being honest to tell us that she doesn’t play musical instruments . She must know skills more excellent than musical instrument . Otherwise, she wouldn’t be so confident . As we know, it’s kind of embarrassing to admit it . ” Zhu Ruodie smiled .
Zhu Ruodie’s explanation sounded like she was helping Xia Liang but in fact was pushing Xia Liang into a corner .