After the divorce, the reborn emperor seduced me into his arms

Chapter 146 Talent Show

The atmosphere suddenly became dull.

But the eldest princess was very happy.

Gu Huaizhou previously lived in the Yan Mansion and was good friends with Yan Qing. She did not forget that Gu Huaizhou also played a role in killing the prince consort.

Whether it was Gu Huaizhou or Yan Qing, she would be very happy as long as she could make them unhappy.

Queen Wang seemed to be oblivious to Gu Huaizhou's undisguised emotions. Instead, she looked at Yan Qing with a smile and said, "No wonder His Majesty wants to make Miss Yan the Princess. You are indeed quite clever. Even I am beginning to like you."

Yan Qing said modestly, "Your Majesty, your compliments are too kind."

"Okay, all of you, please step aside."

Queen Wang waved her hand to signal the dancing singers to withdraw, then slowly spoke to the ladies present: "I will not say anything more. Ladies, what talents do you have? Show them all today. If you perform well, perhaps the Fourth Prince will notice you before the end..."

The noble ladies felt shy.

Although Gu Huaizhou is currently just a prince with no power, anyone with some insight in the court can see that the fourth prince who just returned to the palace is deeply loved by His Majesty.

So before attending the banquet, he instructed his wife to make sure his daughter performed at her best!

Moreover, when he was still in Yan's Mansion, Gu Huaizhou had already become famous for his talent and was treated as a guest of honor by Prince Jing.

The most important thing is that he has a good appearance.

Handsome and gentle, with eyes as bright as lacquer.

In terms of appearance alone, he is even better than the King of Qi.

So some of the ladies who didn't care about the factional disputes were already blushing, and even secretly glanced at the first seat of the male guests...

However, Gu Huaizhou didn't take these women seriously at all.

A palace maid replaced the wine cup for him.

The man grabbed the wine cup and filled it up, drinking one glass after another without even paying attention to the noble lady who was performing hard in the middle of the stage.

The King of Qi was sitting next to him, so he naturally took in all his expressions. Seeing that Gu Huaizhou was already drunk, he smiled gently and said, "Fourth brother, today's banquet was specially prepared for you. Why are you not happy?"

Gu Huaizhou glanced at him and asked, "Do you like me giving it to you?"

The King of Qi hurriedly said, "I dare not. Today is your big day. I believe that in the near future, I will have a fourth brother and sister-in-law..."

Gu Huaizhou ignored him completely.

He lowered his head and continued to drink.

The King of Qi was not annoyed, but instead looked at Yan Qing opposite him meaningfully.

He curled his lips.

It seems that the Queen Mother did the right thing!

He had felt before that Gu Huaizhou and Yan Qing had an unusual relationship, and now it seemed that there was indeed something unusual between them. Now that Gu Huaizhou had been arranged to marry by his mother, even if he didn't want to get married, he couldn't be with Yan Qing.

Besides, he saw it clearly just now.

When Yan Qing also agreed to Gu Huaizhou's choice of concubine, Gu Huaizhou looked like he wanted to kill someone.

These two people must be sulking over the issue of selecting a concubine, and they thought that Gu Huaizhou and Yan Qing were really a close group.

The selection of a concubine caused a rift between the two.

What a brilliant idea!

Now, Gu Huaizhou can forget about getting on board the General's Mansion. He said that if he can't get it, no one else can either!

At this time, several noble ladies had already come forward to perform.

Some performed piano skills, some displayed painting skills, and some performed dancing... The skills that the women in the boudoir had hidden for eighteen years were displayed vividly in front of the Empress and all the nobles.

All those who came to the banquet today were high-ranking officials in the court, including many children of powerful officials.

Even if she is not chosen as the Fourth Prince's wife, it would be good if she is noticed by the son of a nobleman.

With this idea in mind, the ladies performed very hard.

"Good good!"

After one of the noble ladies finished her performance, Queen Wang clapped her hands and laughed, "I never thought you ladies would raise your daughters so well. I'm almost jealous!"

The ladies immediately stood up and said, "The Empress is the one who taught us well. The Princess is the most noble lady in Kyoto."

"Yes! I envy your Majesty..."

"If my daughter could learn even half as much as the eldest princess, I would go to the ancestral temple to burn incense for our ancestors..."

The ladies' compliments, whether true or false, made the Queen and the Princess very happy.

Queen Wang held her handkerchief tightly, covered her mouth with her handkerchief, and smiled, "Madam, you are all too modest..."

"Where, where..."

The ladies flattered her again.

When it was almost time, Queen Wang looked at the stage and said, "Who's next to perform?"

Yang Xuan, who had been sitting with the women for a while, suddenly became nervous.

It's finally her turn!

She had watched carefully when the other noble ladies were performing just now. The eldest daughter of the Zhang family was an excellent painter, and the eldest daughter of the Li family was a first-class musician. Yang Xuan was very jealous.

If she were a legitimate daughter, she would definitely learn better than them.

It's a pity that all the resources of the Prime Minister's Office were tilted towards Yang Ying, and he has never properly learned the arts of music, chess, calligraphy and painting!

When Yang Xuan was sitting down and watching just now, she was still a little worried.

But upon hearing the Queen's words, she immediately stood up and said, "Your Majesty, it is now your turn to perform."

So what if others performed well?

She has the support of the Queen.

Isn't it the Queen who has the final say on who speaks first?

Yang Xuan immediately gained confidence and stepped forward, bowing slightly to the Queen and saying, "Your Majesty, I will be performing a colorful dance."

Queen Wang praised, "Everyone thought only the legitimate daughters in the Prime Minister's Mansion were outstanding, but I didn't expect that even the concubines' daughters were so beautiful. Not bad, not bad."

When they heard Queen Wang praising Yang Xuan, all the ladies' faces changed.

What does this mean, Queen?

Are you interested in Yang Xuan?

He didn't take a fancy to so many legitimate daughters before, but instead took a fancy to the concubine's daughter of the Prime Minister's Mansion?

But Yang Xuan hasn’t performed anything yet?

All the noble ladies glared at Yang Xuan with hatred!

However, the courtier on the male guests' side seemed to have noticed something. His gaze stayed on Yang Xuan for a moment, and then fell on Gu Huaizhou.

Then they all looked at King Qi.

Then he looked at Gu Huaizhou.

Then he shook his head.

I originally thought that Gu Huaizhou had just returned to the palace and had picked up a bargain, but I didn't expect that the Queen would get there first.

Yes, although Gu Huaizhou has no power at the moment, he is still a prince after all, and as a prince, he is qualified to compete with the King of Qi for the throne.

The Prime Minister's legitimate daughter was the Queen's chosen Consort for Prince Qi, and the Prime Minister's Office had long been on the same boat with the Prince of Qi.

Now the Empress is going to marry the Prime Minister's concubine's daughter to the Fourth Prince. It seems that she wants to grasp the "crisis" of the Fourth Prince in her own hands in advance.

Alas, the Fourth Prince’s wife is gone!

Many ministers who wanted to marry their daughters to Gu Huaizhou shook their heads and sighed.

Yang Xuan doesn't have Yang Yin's talent.

She only knew the basics of music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, wine, flowers and tea, but dancing was what she was best at.

Yang Xuan went backstage to change her clothes.

When she appeared again, she was wearing a fiery red dance costume, like a red butterfly, dancing to the music in the hall.

In between dances, she kept looking at Gu Huaizhou.

Yang Xuan had practiced this dance countless times, and he believed that no man could resist it. As long as the Fourth Prince looked at her, he would definitely be fascinated by her dancing.

However, she walked around the hall several times until her legs were tired, but Gu Huaizhou didn't even look up at her.

Yang Xuan was somewhat unwilling.

She had made careful preparations for today, how could she not let him see it?

Although the Queen Mother said that she would fulfill her wish, she still hoped that the Fourth Prince would truly love her.

Yang Xuan gritted her teeth, turned around, and suddenly turned towards Gu Huaizhou.

Bitch!

The ladies opposite were very angry.

Yang Xuan is such a scheming woman!

But she had just been praised by the Queen Mother, so even if someone was dissatisfied with her, they would not dare to make trouble for her in front of the Queen Mother.

At that moment, pairs of fiery eyes stared at Yang Xuan.

However, Yang Xuan really enjoyed the feeling of being envied, because Yang Ying was often envied by others, and now she was almost the same as Yang Ying.

Thinking of this, Yang Ying was not angry, but turned even more happily and faster.

Gu Huaizhou seemed not to notice.

He continued to drink in silence.

One step, two steps, faster...

Seeing the distance between her and the Fourth Prince getting closer and closer, Yang Xuan was filled with excitement. Finally—she found an opportunity and fell down with a perfect posture...

"Humph!"

Just as Yang Xuan was imagining falling into the arms of the Fourth Prince, the man who had just finished the wine in his glass snorted coldly and flicked his fingertips.

The wine glass made of pure gold flew out.

It hit Yang Xuan's waist right on the spot.

"what!"

Yang Xuan screamed in pain and suddenly fell backwards.

The King of Qi, who was sitting in the first seat below Gu Huaizhou, looked at the woman falling towards him, his eyebrows jumped violently, and he subconsciously retreated.

"Bah!"

Everyone witnessed Yang Xuan falling heavily to the ground.

The air suddenly became silent.

An eerie silence.

"Puchi-"

Suddenly, an inappropriate laugh was heard.

Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw Yan Qing covering his mouth with a smile on his face: "Sorry, I couldn't help it."

She really didn't expect Gu Huaizhou to be so direct.

How unkind to women!

The eldest princess cursed: "Idiot!"

The Queen Mother had already said she would help her, but she still did something unnecessary. It turned out that a concubine's daughter is a concubine's daughter, not worthy of being in public!

Yang Xuan never expected this result.

She was filled with shame and indignation, but she didn't even dare to look at the others. She crawled to her knees in the hall and kowtowed to the ground: "Your Majesty, please forgive me! Your Majesty, please forgive me!"

Queen Wang didn't expect her to be so useless.

He waved his hand and said disdainfully, "You go down first."

If the Wang family hadn't had any girls of marriageable age, a concubine wouldn't have had a chance...

On this side, Yang Xuan went down trembling with fear.

Gu Huaizhou, however, acted as if nothing had happened. He suddenly looked at Yan Qing drunkenly and said, "Since the princess is so happy, why don't you perform too?"

Yan Qing: “…”

What talents can she perform?

Her talent is painting.

She wasn't bragging. With the painting skills she had accumulated in her previous life, no one in Kyoto could match her, at least not yet.

If she performed painting in front of Queen Wang, wouldn't that steal the limelight from Yang Xuan?

Can Queen Wang tolerate it?

Obviously, Queen Wang couldn't tolerate it.

"Nonsense!"

Before Yan Qing could even think of a way to refuse, Queen Wang couldn't wait to scold her, "What kind of status does a princess hold? How can you perform for everyone here? Fourth Prince, I see you've had quite a bit of wine just now, and I think you're drunk."

Come, the Fourth Prince is drunk, help him down."

When Yan Qing was still in the boudoir, she was famous for her painting skills. If she was allowed to shine at the banquet, wouldn't that be shooting herself in the foot?

So Queen Wang resorted to the same old trick again.

Without further ado, he ordered the palace maid to take Gu Huaizhou away.

Gu Huaizhou did not struggle. His face was flushed and his eyes were slightly drunk. It was obvious that he was really drunk.

Yan Qing didn't care at first.

After all, this is the Fourth Prince's residence. Even if Queen Wang wants to do something, it won't be that easy.

And she felt that Gu Huaizhou was not drunk.

Maybe he just didn't want to stay here and watch the ladies perform, so he was thinking of a way to escape.

Yan Qing sat down calmly.

I thought I would go and coax Gu Huaizhou after the banquet was over.

He seemed really angry just now...

As a result, when she turned her head, she saw the nanny beside Queen Wang quietly walking to Yang Xuan.

Yan Qing was stunned, and then she heard the nanny say something in Yang Xuan's ear. The dejected Yang Xuan suddenly showed a surprised expression.

Then, Yang Xuan left the banquet under the guidance of the nanny.

Yan Qing was in a trance for a moment.

What did Yang Xuan do?

"Are you worried? Jealous?"

Suddenly, a vicious voice sounded in Yan Qing's ears.

Yan Qing turned around suddenly, only to meet the enlarged face of Princess Shu Ning.

Yan Qing: “…”

She distanced herself and said coldly, "What is the princess talking about? This princess doesn't understand."

"Can't understand?"

Shu Ning sneered and said calmly, "Do you want to know what Nanny Wang said to Yang Xuan?"

Yan Qing said subconsciously: "I don't want to."

She really didn't want to know.

But how could a lady let her have her wish? The more Yan Qing didn't want to know, the more she wanted to tell him.

"Madame Wang said to Yang Xuan: The Fourth Prince has been drinking, and the Empress has asked Second Miss Yang to go and serve him, so as not to neglect the Fourth Prince."

"Bah!"

The wine glass on Yan Qing's table was knocked over.

Shu Ning smiled complacently and said, "Why? Did it hurt the princess's heart?"

Yan Qing calmly lifted up the wine glass and said expressionlessly, "Princess, you're being overly suspicious. It was just an accidental touch."

"Humph!"

Not noticing Yan Qing's panicked expression, Shu Ning's face instantly turned gloomy. She said coldly, "Yan Qing, do you think you can be alright if you act like you don't care? I might as well tell you that the room where the Queen Mother took Gu Huaizhou has already been prepared with incense..."

She suddenly moved closer to Yan Qing and spoke in a voice that only the two of them could hear: "That kind of fragrance...you know it!"

Yan Qing's fingers under his sleeves suddenly clenched.

Queen Wang came prepared as expected.

Shu Ning continued, "My Queen Mother is determined to keep Gu Huaizhou in her clutches. Today, I'm hosting a banquet, and the entire Fourth Prince's Mansion is run by my Queen Mother. Do you think your Gu Huaizhou can escape?"

This princess has heard that the fragrance is extremely strong. Gu Huaizhou must be feeling very uncomfortable right now. If Yang Xuan goes there now, it would be simply..."

"enough!"

Yan Qing suddenly stopped him in a stern voice.

Shu Ning said sarcastically, "You can't listen to this anymore? Yan Qing, when you killed my husband, you should have thought this day would come. I will make you feel the pain of losing your love!"

Yan Qing stood up and wanted to leave.

Shu Ning suddenly grabbed her and said, "Want to save Gu Huaizhou? Do you think you can get away?"

Sure enough, when Yan Qing was about to break free from Shu Ning's hand, Queen Wang suddenly said, "What's wrong with you, Princess? Don't you like the banquet I'm hosting?"

Yan Qing tried her best to calm herself down: "Your Majesty, I feel a little unwell and would like to go get some rest."

Queen Wang smiled and said, "Let Nanny Wang accompany you there."

Nanny Wang, who had already returned to the banquet, immediately came forward with two imperial guards and said with a forced smile, "Princess, please come in!"

Yan Qing took a deep breath.

Turning back, she said to Queen Wang again, "Your Majesty, I am suddenly feeling better again."

She had a feeling that if she left with Nanny Wang, she might not be able to see Gu Huaizhou tonight.

Queen Wang smiled meaningfully and said, "In that case, then continue to watch the performance with me."