Chapter 174: Palace Change 18

had lost weight, his eyes were full of heartache.Although he knew his mother-in-law's situation was her own arrangement, seeing how much weight she had lost still made his heart ache.When the news of...Shen Yun finished her piece, and looked at Feng Lingxi. A beautiful smile still lingered on her exquisite face.

"Fourth Royal Wife, I have finished playing. Did you understand everything"

Feng Lingxi came back to her senses and flashed a smile at Shen Yunlu, "Miss Shen, you played beautifully. I almost got lost in the music."

"Then, please begin, Your Highness the Fourth Princess."

Feng Lingxi responded and looked at everyone staring at her. Some people, seeing her hand on the strings, were already covering their ears.

Shen Yun, seeing this, just watched without saying a word.

"Your Majesty, this lowly servant dares to present herself."

Feng Lingxi finished speaking, her fingertip touching the strings produced a rough sound. The Empress frowned slightly, "Start, Fourth Princess."

獨孤城 watched as Feng Lingxi was about to begin. He nervously clenched his fists. He wasn't afraid of Xi'er playing badly; he was afraid they would laugh at her later. Xi'er would be sad, and this deliberate humiliation, he couldn't bear it. Let alone it being Xi'er, he knew she would be terrified.

Feng Ling Xi looked at the strings, her mind filled with every detail of Shen Yun's playing. She took a deep breath and gently placed her fingers on them, drawing them across the strings. A discordant sound resonated, causing the audience to cover their ears, fearing that the rough noise would damage their hearing.

The sound of the qin rose, not as rough as they had imagined, but rather a melodious flow of notes. Shen Yun's smile gradually disappeared, her face filled with disbelief as she watched Feng Lingxi play seriously. Those fingering techniques, that tone of the qin... it was almost identical to hers, even more mellow in detail, and even more comfortable to listen to.

Dugu City was also taken aback by Feng Lingxi's performance. Looking at her completely absorbed playing, it seemed as if there was only her in the world. That state of being lost in the music shocked him. Could she possibly be a skilled musician

Watching her finger movements and actions, she didn't seem like someone who had just started learning. Dugu Cheng looked at Feng Lingxi's eyes, and his expression suddenly became complicated. Could it be that Xi'er had been hiding her true abilities all along

It's just that she burned her brain with a high fever, how could she know everything

Not only was Dugu City shocked, but even Dugu Yan, who had spent many years with Feng Lingxi, was astonished by her. The fact that she could copy her father emperor's calligraphy already made him unbelievable, and now that she could play such a complex piece of music, he truly felt that the Feng Lingxi in front of him was completely different from the one he knew.

Her hidden edge, now blooming forth, pierced his eyes and filled him with fear.

Feng Lingxi was a stranger that made him stop and look.

"I didn't expect Xier to have such talent"

The Emperor's eyes were filled with shock as he spoke.

Shufei looked at the Empress's ashen face and smiled, "Your Majesty, Xi'er was young when she suffered a fever that damaged her brain. Now that she is better, she will naturally turn misfortune into blessing. Heaven won't mistreat Xi'er; this must be what people call 'learning instantly'."

Shu Fei's words made the Empress' face even more unsightly. Besides the Empress, there was also Shen Yun, her pale face staring at Feng Ling Xi. If it weren't for the maid beside her supporting her, she would have almost collapsed.

Feng Lingxi's qin music was more delicate than Shen Yun's, playing the mood of the piece to perfection. After the song ended, everyone was still immersed in it and couldn't recover.

Feng Lingxi stood up and walked to the center, bowing respectfully. “Your Majesty,” she said, “this humble servant offers her respects.”

"Fourth Royal Wife, are you truly playing for the first time"

Shen Yun walked to her face, unable to believe it. Looking at the confusion in her eyes, she clenched her hands tightly.

"Miss Shen, this is my first time playing. Miss Shen, what's wrong"

"Fourth Princess, you just watched Yun'er play it once and memorized the whole thing"

The Empress also voiced the doubts in her heart. Don't even mention Shen Yun, she couldn't accept it either.

Feng Lingxi played it, and she played it better.

Feng Lingxi's eyes were resolute. "Reporting to the Empress, this servant is indeed playing for the first time. When I was in the General's Mansion, after recovering from my illness, I never touched the qin. After marrying into the Fourth Prince's Mansion, I never even touched it."

"How could you play it"

The Empress was also losing control of her emotions. She had wanted to properly curb Feng Lingxi's arrogance and take the opportunity to suppress Dugu City, but she didn't expect it to make her shine.

Feng Lingxi looked at Shen Yun, "This servant has been watching Miss Shen play the qin. I have memorized her fingering techniques so that I could play it myself."

"You memorized everything after just one look"

Shen Yun's voice trembled slightly. Seeing Feng Lingxi nod, her face became even paler.

I had intended for her to practice that piece until she was utterly humiliated on stage, but in the end, it backfired and ended up with her completely losing face.

After recovering from my illness, I developed the ability to memorize anything I see.

Feng Lingxi's explanation made everyone silent, even Dugu City was annoyed by her words.

He didn't even know these things.

Feng Lingxi knew that besides doing this, there was no other way to appease them. She had already exhausted all other options to explain her behavior today.

"In that case, wouldn't the Fourth Royal Consort learn to do everything"

The Empress's words caused Feng Lingxi's face to change color, and she hurriedly said, "Empress..."

"Your Majesty, you've had Xier play music and write characters. I see she is tired from it all. This photographic memory also requires dedication. Let her rest, we shouldn't delay the performances of others."

The emperor spoke, and Feng Lingxi couldn't help but let out a breath of relief. At the crucial moment, only the emperor could help her get out of this situation.

"The Fourth Princess, please rest well. This birthday gift greatly pleases this Palace. This Palace will reward you handsomely."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Feng Lingxi thanked him and returned to her seat. Dugu Cheng hurriedly helped her sit down, took her hand, but was startled by her icy cold hand.

"Xi'er, why are your hands so cold"

Feng Lingxi, watching the dance and music already in motion, whispered, "Of course it's to scare them."

Dugu Cheng held her hand tightly and rubbed it to warm her up.

"Your Highness, you are amazing! I was astounded by your skills."

"Xiao Li, don't speak."

Ye Xi reminded, now everyone's eyes are on the princess, her every move will be watched. It's safer to go back.

Xiao Li hurriedly poured wine for the princess. Feng Ling Xi was holding chopsticks and eating vegetables. After tossing around for so long, her stomach was starving. This birthday banquet was just a way to make things difficult for her. She just didn't know if she could sit here until the end of the banquet.

獨孤雁's eyes kept glancing at Feng Lingxi. This marriage arrangement hadn't been successful, it seemed her mother wouldn't just give up.

As Feng Lingxi had anticipated, even if she tried to hide and eat her vegetables, trouble would inevitably find her.

"The Fourth Royal Wife, I'm sure your dancing skills will come easily. As the most beautiful woman in the capital, your grace would certainly add luster to the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet."ng Lingxi excitedly held Xiao Li's arm, looking at her innocent expression. Xiao Li couldn't smile though; she didn't like the current princess at all. She was too frightening, just like when she was...