“What words is Second Miss Jiang speaking?” Princess Rongya still wore a pleasant smile: “Everyone knows your qin skills are unparalleled. Why don’t you play a piece for us today? Back then, Madam Jiang’s seven-stringed qin was renowned throughout the capital, but unfortunately we never had the chance to witness it. If you play a piece today to broaden our horizons, would that be acceptable?”

Xia Yan had also been the capital’s foremost talented lady back then, playing the seven-stringed qin with divine skill. Now that she had passed this seven-stringed qin to Jiang Susu, who already had widespread fame for her talents, it was undoubtedly adding flowers to brocade. Princess Rongya was not without jealousy, but she had always been tactful, understanding that men did not like to see the hideous appearance of women’s jealousy, so it was better to appear magnanimous. Moreover, Jiang Susu’s talents were indeed incomparable, so this year’s rabbit lantern would surely and steadily fall into her hands.

The surrounding noble ladies all chimed in agreement – some wanting to watch the excitement, some offering false flattery, and some genuinely wanting to hear what a seven-stringed qin sounded like. Wen Feifei frowned: “Does she really know how to play the seven-stringed qin? Sister Ruan, have you ever heard your second sister play?”

“Never,” Jiang Ruan said with a smile: “But it should be like celestial music entering the ears, making one feel as if floating in heaven.”

Lin Zixiang snorted disdainfully: “Nothing but affected pretense!”

Dong Ying’er smiled helplessly at Jiang Ruan, who remained noncommittal.

Originally, it should have been the Lantern Festival several years later when Jiang Susu’s seven-stringed qin piece had lofty artistic conception, pure and unparalleled beauty, truly captivating in grace. Combined with her own wretched state as contrast, the two daughters of the Jiang family – one like celestial snow, pure and untainted, the other like earthly mud, filthy and unbearable – such rumors had quietly spread among the capital’s nobility.

At this moment, Jiang Susu wore white robes with light makeup, making her plain little face appear particularly beautiful, possessing a unique purity among all the colorfully dressed ladies. She bloomed with a smile: “Since everyone says so, I shall embarrass myself, only hoping not to pollute everyone’s ears.”

Her humble attitude immediately stirred another wave of praise from everyone. Then a maid brought over an elegant and precious seven-stringed qin. Jiang Susu sat before the seven-stringed qin, closed her eyes, and began burning incense.

Everyone’s gaze on the Qingsong Boat gathered on this stunning beauty. Mo Cong nudged Xiao Shao: “That’s the legitimate daughter from Minister Jiang’s residence. In all of the capital now, you couldn’t find a first match for her talent and beauty. What do you think?”

Xiao Shao glanced indifferently toward the Linglang Boat, his expression remaining cold. Mo Cong met with disappointment and awkwardly turned his head to continue watching Jiang Susu’s performance.

With a “zheng” sound, the qin music broke through the air like a sharp sword being unsheathed. Jiang Susu opened her eyes, her slender jade fingers dancing on the strings like a snow-white butterfly, as pleasing qin music flowed into everyone’s ears. She was playing “Secluded Orchid.”

The qin sound was melodious and graceful, flowing without the slightest pause. The more quiet and distant the music became, the more she seemed, dressed in white today, to make everyone feel they were seeing an elegant and pure secluded orchid in an empty valley, expressing its faint melancholy and resentment, involuntarily arousing people’s pity.

This piece was brilliantly chosen – firstly, it highlighted Jiang Susu’s noble and fairy-like temperament, and secondly, it made everyone think more highly of her. Who wouldn’t like such an untainted woman?

Xu Ruoxi frowned slightly. Everyone was immersed in this secluded orchid qin music, but only Jiang Ruan leaned against the window, looking at the flowing water by the riverside outside.

Jiang Susu was indeed achieving capital-wide fame as in her previous life, but she wondered if she could bear such great praise.

Indeed, when the piece ended, young masters on the Qingsong Boat led the applause: “Such music should only exist in heaven, rarely heard several times in the human world!”

Everyone echoed in agreement, and for a time the Linglang Boat was also full of praise.

Jiang Susu’s pretty face reddened as she returned to her seat.

The Fifth Prince squinted at Jiang Susu, his eyes unable to suppress a flash of amazement: “Second Miss Jiang has such beautiful features and such exceptional talents.”

“Indeed a woman of orchid-like heart and nature,” Xuan Li rarely offered praise.

The Fifth Prince glanced at him: “Eighth Brother, if you like her, just have Father Emperor arrange a marriage and take her home.”

Xuan Li shook his head: “She can be admired from afar but not approached intimately.”

“Second Miss Jiang is the capital’s foremost beauty,” the Fifth Prince said: “If you don’t secure her early while she’s young, someone else might get there first. Such a woman – even just keeping her at home to look at would be satisfying.”

Princess Rongya laughed: “With Second Miss Jiang’s performance, my sisters and I have been completely outshone. We’re too ashamed to show our faces.”

“Sister is teasing me,” Jiang Susu said modestly: “The sisters are all considering my young age and being reluctant to let me embarrass myself, so they’re being supportive.”

“Look, look, look,” Princess Rongya covered her mouth and laughed: “What a sweet mouth you have. We weren’t going easy on you – you truly played magnificently. But with qin skills like yours, the next person will be at a disadvantage. Who comes next?”

The noble ladies on the Linglang Boat looked at each other, none speaking up. During the standoff, Jiang Susu suddenly turned her head toward Jiang Ruan: “Elder Sister, don’t you dance extremely well? Today is your first Lantern Festival since returning to the capital. Why don’t you let everyone get acquainted and display your dance skills? How about it?”

Everyone’s gazes, which had gradually returned to Jiang Susu, immediately shifted back to Jiang Ruan.

On the Qingsong Boat, Mo Cong said puzzledly: “Hey, why is Second Miss Jiang asking her country-raised elder sister to dance? Isn’t this embarrassing? Although she’s quite beautiful, she probably never learned music, chess, calligraphy, and painting.”

Jiang Ruan turned her head, looking at Jiang Susu’s eyes with a half-smile: “Dance?”

Yes, the boat was traveling on the river water, occasionally swaying. Although the boat was spacious, if one danced on the boat, with the vessel rocking back and forth, it would be easy to fall from the boat into the water.

In her previous life, Jiang Susu had also innocently suggested that Jiang Ruan dance. Pitifully, she had been completely ignorant of the rules among the capital’s noble circles, truly thinking that country dances could be presented on stage, so she had danced in front of everyone. With the boat’s swaying and rocking, the dance was a miserable sight to behold, causing everyone to laugh mockingly. Finally, someone had stepped on her dress hem, causing her to slip and fall, creating a huge joke. When she was pulled from the water soaking wet, a handkerchief with a man’s love poem had fallen from her body.

It was truly a complete and utter joke.

Now, did Jiang Susu want her to repeat this joke?

Jiang Susu only felt that being stared at by Jiang Ruan’s upturned seductive eyes made her inner thoughts seem to have nowhere to hide. She subconsciously stepped back: “Elder Sister?”

The next second, Jiang Ruan had already resumed her smile, saying casually: “I don’t dance well. Since Second Sister wants to watch, I’ll dance for Second Sister alone to see. Would that be acceptable?”

These words were inexplicable, yet her attitude was incomparably arrogant. Compared to Jiang Susu who inspired pity, Jiang Ruan’s stunning beauty had an aggressive quality.

Many people were attracted by her attitude, and on the Qingsong Boat, Xiao Shao heard her speaking voice and slowly turned his gaze toward her.