Chapter 27: Talent Show Part One

  Daiyu suddenly smiled and dazzled the people around her, then she turned to Lin Ruhai, "Ama, you will always be my closest person, as for Huang Ama, he can only be considered second Ama." Daiyu thought in her heart, Second? Is Kangxi's move really a bit fitting for this word?

  Kangxi's face turned black, this world was all his, yet he couldn't even manage to be the first in line to do something as simple as being an Ama, and had been relegated to second place. Kangxi felt a strong sense of frustration, why did he always lose his dignity in front of Daiyu? Why did looking at Daiyu always make him feel a chill in his heart?

  Upon hearing Daiyu's words, the younger Xiangxiang could hardly contain himself. He was forcing a smile on his face and was clearly about to burst into laughter. However, he didn't dare laugh, for if Emperor Father were to see him, he would surely be scolded.

  Yin Ruo furrowed his brow, looking at Dai Yu. Such a stubborn and unruly little girl, really want to take her as his own? Moreover, Lin Ruohai and his uncle's family had such deep contradictions. Yin Ruo hesitated in his heart.

  In Yan Zhen's eyes flashed a fiery passion, such a girl conquered would be more satisfying for his heart.

  Yinxi lowered his head, the earlier awkwardness had dissipated somewhat. After all, Daiyu dared to defy even the Emperor and Empress Dowager, let alone himself, an unranked prince.

  Daiyu ignored these glances and turned to Kangxi, "Your Majesty, the talent show has already begun on stage."

  Daiyu's words also gave Kangxi a step down, he nodded and turned his gaze to the performance stage. On the stage, dozens of zithers had been set up, and ten young women with veils were led by maidservants to go on stage. Daiyu watched them with great interest, each one like a commodity waiting to be chosen, yet they all seemed so enthusiastic. What a sad fate for women in this era.

  Yin Zhen kept looking at Dai Yu, and also saw a thread of pity in her eyes. It turned out that this cold girl still had another side, and she was not without feelings for the world, nor did she completely leave the secular world behind. Dai Yu felt Yin Zhen's gaze, and her eyes returned to their usual calmness, coldly observing everything, which made Yin Zhen feel a little disappointed.

  "Reporting to Your Majesty, all the women are ready." King Pigsy said, kneeling on the ground.

  "Let's begin." Kangxi gave a nod, and Li Dequan stepped forward to instruct.

  The woman with the slender hands played first, and the sound of the zither rose up. Daiyu furrowed her brow, indeed it was a decadent melody, didn't she know that the Manchu people were a nation that rose to power on horseback? How could they possibly like this kind of music? But why did some of the tunes seem so familiar? Daiyu's guess was not wrong, several of the princes showed signs of impatience. Kangxi, however, seemed completely uninterested, the same tune played by different people evoked different feelings. One was very uplifting, while another made one feel anxious and annoyed. Kangxi's thoughts drifted away, remembering that year when under the peach blossoms, two beautiful women discussed a melody together.

  Lin Ruhai also fell into reminiscence, recalling the first meeting with Jia Min under the blooming peach blossoms. Jia Min's single glance back then had sealed a lifetime of entanglement and also sealed her tragic fate. Thinking of this, Lin Ruhai furrowed his brow, feeling sorrowful once again. Suddenly, he felt a small hand covering his own, and without thinking, he knew it was Daiyu. Lin Ruhai gave Daiyu a reassuring smile, but didn't realize how difficult it looked.

  "Stop!" Daiyu stood up and shouted loudly, her voice cold and clear, with an uncontrollable rage hidden beneath her words.

  The woman playing the zither was startled, and the strings snapped in an instant. Frightened, she cried out and glared at Daiyu with indignation, for she had interrupted her performance, which was simply too much.

  "Yu'er!" Lin Ruhai looked at Daiyu with concern.

  "Jade earrings, what's wrong?" Kangxi, who was lost in thought, was also startled by Daiyu's voice and looked at her with some confusion.

  "Your Majesty, Daiyu thinks she ruined the song." Daiyu looked at Kangxi, "Daiyu is not talented, willing to play a new song for Your Majesty and Mother." The original Daiyu knew some piano, paired with her own modern songs, that's enough.

  The woman who was interrupted sneered at Daiyu, "Well, well, look at you, so young and yet so arrogant. You've interrupted me, now let's see how you'll make a fool of yourself."

  Kangxi looked at Daiyu in surprise, didn't she say she couldn't play the piano? Why did she suddenly want to play the piano again? Kangxi turned his head to look at Lin Ruhai and suddenly understood the reason. He felt jealous in his heart. Although Lin Ruhai only had one daughter, she was really considerate of him. Why wasn't his own daughter so considerate?

  "Your Majesty!" Daiyu exclaimed, finding Kangxi somewhat stunned.

  "All right, let my imperial sister and princess show off a bit." Kangxi nodded in satisfaction, and Li Dequan naturally led the way to make arrangements. Daiyu did not bring out her zither, so she would have to borrow someone else's or go back to get it.

  "Please, Princess, use this qin." A girl with a face like a red apple handed over her own qin and gave Daiyu a friendly smile. She didn't know that what she said would change her fate.

  "Thank you." Daiyu nodded, and Zi Juan took over the zither, placing it on the table. Daiyu bowed her head to Kangxi, then walked down from the viewing platform and onto the display platform. As a Manchu woman, she didn't wear a veil, so her stunning beauty was exposed for all to see. This sparked great interest in many people, but considering Daiyu's current status as a high-ranking princess, many people dismissed their thoughts. Of course, some still held onto them, such as Xue Bao, who had come from afar.

  Daiyu took a deep breath, tested the strings with her fingers, and found that the qin was not bad at all. It had been well-maintained, indicating that it belonged to someone who loved music. Daiyu smiled at the round-faced girl, moved her slender hands, and smooth music flowed from her fingertips.

  At first, you and I were carefree and innocent, our fates intertwined in the mortal world by chance, or perhaps due to some karmic debt from a past life.

  All life's gains are not worth exchanging for a moment of yin-yang interaction, and it is difficult to count the number of decades spent wandering in the mortal world.

  It's hard for scattered things to gather again, but your heart should belong to you.

  It still guards my chest tightly, for it is only for that worldly changing face behind the stormy weather...

  Rolling red dust

  As Daiyu sang softly, Kangxi and Lin Ruhai were both stunned. How could a seven-year-old girl like Daiyu understand their emotions so well and express them in song lyrics?

  Daiyu sang while paying attention to the reactions of the two, actually she herself had also unintentionally heard this song before, but for her who was desperate about love, she didn't have such a deep feeling, however she just knew that this song would touch the hearts of Kangxi and Ama.

  People living in the world, even if they live in seclusion, are still very close to worldly affairs and far from nature, because of human desires and unwillingness to let go.