Chapter 460: Not to one"s tastes
Xia Yu Yan and Liu Wan Ting covered their mouths as they laughed. When their laughter entered Wu Yue Er"s ears, it was as sharp as needles.
"Ding Yuan Princess, this one really likes your lake"s intriguing map, can you give it to this one?"
When Wu Yue Er was filled with hate and anger, she suddenly heard Mo Chuan"s melodious voice ring out.
What?
The emperor actually spoke out, asking for the Ding Yuan Princess" painting that one couldn"t see through?
Wu Yue Er almost did not dare believe her own ears.
Her eyes opened wide as she desperately stared at the painting in Chen Ning"s hands. Just what was so good about this painting?
Chen Ning was also stunned, but then gave a casual laugh.
"This was just something I made randomly. If the emperor likes it, then you can have it."
"This one likes it very much."
His words made Empress Dowager Zhou"s face sink even more and made Chen Ning"s face fill with a slight blush.
Xiao Si took the painting from her hands and carefully rolled it up. He held it like it was a precious treasure.
Wu Yue Er became more unhappy the more she saw, with angry tears almost falling down.
"Empress Dowager, Yue Er is not satisfied. Please give us your opinion. Is Yue Er"s painting better or is the princess" painting better?"
Wu Yue Er had tears in her eyes, looking very delicate and charming as she knelt down in front of Empress Dowager Zhou.
She saw that the emperor"s heart was completely focused on Chen Ning which was like a bucket of cold water to her heart. The only hope she had was that she could win the Empress Dowager"s appreciation and support.
How could Empress Dowager Zhou not understand her meaning?
"Yue Er, stand up. In terms of painting, you far surpa.s.s the Ding Yuan Princess, but in terms of painting moods, you can"t compare, so you are considered about even. This widow likes both of them. Su Jin, take out three blue jade hair pins from this widow"s jewelry box and give them to these three girls as a reward."
"Yes, Empress Dowager." Su Jin quickly left after replying and quickly came back with three beautiful hair pins.
"Yue Er, come, this widow will personally put it on for you. You were born with such a pair of skilled hands for painting, you will definitely marry a fine gentleman in the future. I don"t know which family"s son will be blessed enough to marry a girl with a kind heart like yours."
Empress Dowager Zhou helped Wu Yue Er put on the hair pin while speaking in a gentle manner.
Wu Yue Er"s face turned whiter than a piece of paper. Her body began to tremble as her heart lost all hope.
The Empress Dowager"s meaning was that they didn"t like her. Her desire of entering the palace to become a concubine had disappeared into smoke!
"Yue Er……thanks the Empress Dowager for her reward." She bit her lips and almost began to cry. However, she forced out a smile and thanked the Empress Dowager.
Xia Yu Yan saw her smile that was uglier than her crying and her heart filled with satisfaction. She secretly scolded, "You deserve it!"
Just her, Wu Yue Er wanted to climb the branches and become a phoenix? In her dreams!
Liu Wan Ting just felt joy descending from the heavens.
Xia Yu Yan"s poem had embarra.s.sed her and Wu Yue Er had been abandoned by the Empress Dowager, only leaving her. The blessing of entering the palace to become a concubine had fallen on her head.
Her heart continued to beat and she was so nervous that she almost couldn"t breathe. Her eyes eagerly looked at Empress Dowager Zhou and was waiting for her to call her name.
In order to impress, she had specially brought the zither that she normally used. This was an ancient zither with a clear sound that was very expensive.
"Wan"er, come here." Empress Dowager Zhou beckoned to her with her hand.
Chapter 461: Heart"s yearning
Liu Wan Ting first looked at Xia Yu Yan and Wu Yue Er with a look of pride before walking in front of Empress Dowager Zhou with a beaming expression. She raised her delicate face and looked at Empress Dowager Zhou with a bright smile.
"Empress Dowager, Wan"er has prepared a special song for the Empress Dowager named «Bird Song Flower Fragrance». It is a long lost song and it"s said that one will be able to smell the fragrance of flowers and can attract the birds to sing along. Wan"er has practiced this song for a long time."
As soon as she said this, Xia Yu Yan and Wu Yue Er pursed their lips and revealed a look of disdain.
Looking at her trying so hard to please, the Empress Dowager did not find her pleasant either!
Empress Dowager Zhou smiled as she held Liu Wan Ting"s hands. She stroked her hair before placing a hair pin through it as well.
"Good child, this widow knows your concern, only this widow is tired right now. We"ll change the day for you to come to the palace and play for this widow.
Liu Wan Ting"s eyes went wide and she was stunned.
The Empress Dowager was not even going to listen to her well prepared song?
"Empress Dowager……." How could she be willing to give up this rare opportunity. She wanted to say something.
Su Jin first cut her off, "Miss Wan"er, it is getting late and the Empress Dowager has just recovered from her illness, so she needs to rest at this hour every day. If you want to play the zither for the Empress Dowager, there is still a chance. The Empress Dowager will call you into the palace again, so why the rush?"
Liu Wan Ting"s face turned completely red and she was stunned.
Xia Yu Yan reminded her, "Little sister Wan"er, you still haven"t thanked the Empress Dowager for her grace."
"Wan"er thanks the Empress Dowager." Liu Wan Ting"s nail dug deep into her palm, almost vomiting blood.
Empress Dowager Zhou waved at Xia Yu Yan and also placed a hair pin in for her. She said with a smile, "This widow is tired, this widow cannot compare to the energy you young girls have. Ding Yuan Princess, help this widow send these three girls out of the palace."
After saying this, she slowly stood up from her chair and said, "Emperor, you can send this widow home."
The depth of Mo Chuan"s eyes sparkled, "Yes, mother."
He supported Empress Dowager Zhou as they walked into the Peaceful Life Palace.
The three girls behind them were reluctant to see his tall back disappear from their sights. They were excited when they entered the palace, but it all disappeared without a trace and it was replaced with a sense of lost.
They wished to enter the palace to serve the emperor, but that did not happen.
"Three misses, please."
Chen Ning knew that Empress Dowager Zhou had something secret to talk to Mo Chuan about and didn"t want her to hear, so she sent her away.
Hearing this, Wu Yue Er and Liu Wan Ting couldn"t help glaring at her, feeling hate in their hearts.
Although they knew Chen Ning"s ident.i.ty, they couldn"t help feeling jealous of her.
Especially after they saw the emperor continue to stare at her. Their hearts were filled with all kinds of emotions and all kinds of emotions that could not be described.
However Xia Yu Yan was much more friendly to Chen Ning, especially after hearing Chen Ning"s mountain climbing poem. What she felt towards Chen Ning could be described as "admiration".
Just like yearning for a level one cannot reach.
"Princess Consort, Yu Yan has said offensive words before, I hope you don"t mind them."
"Miss Yu Yan, just call me by my name in the future. I should be a year older than you, so if you don"t mind, you can just call me big sister Ning." Chen Ning smiled as she grabbed her hand.