The people of these few countries were all staring at them covetously. With her poor ability to act, she feared that the Danfeng Kingdom would not be much better.
Her actions undoubtedly pushed Danfeng to the highest point of controversy, but that was none of her concern. As for now…
Mu Hen, standing below, saw the Crown Princess of Danfeng Kingdom put his daughter in a difficult position. Moreover, even the Empress Dowager had spoken. The Emperor actually looked on as if watching a good show, let alone the Emperor; many people below also had the same expression.
Mu Hen grew anxious, fearing his daughter would suffer. Just as he was contemplating how to help her, Mu Qingyao, seated on the high seat, spoke.
"I am the Empress of the Xian Yue Kingdom, not an actor, nor a dancer, nor a servant for people's entertainment. If the Crown Princess lacks even this much discretion, I deeply doubt the royal upbringing of your Danfeng Kingdom."
Her icy words echoed through the hall, piercing everyone's hearts like ice.
The crowd agreed. The Crown Princess of Danfeng Kingdom was truly indiscreet. She was an Empress, yet she wanted her to engage in a public competition of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. One would have to be willing for that.
Everyone looked towards Crown Princess Ji Feng. Ji Feng's face immediately flushed red, then turned pale and unsightly.
She hadn't considered this point. She had lost her composure just now and hadn't expected this woman to be so calm. It seemed she had underestimated her.
At this moment, facing the suspicious gazes of everyone, she didn't know whether to advance or retreat. Queen Consort Ji Xue, who had been sitting beside the Crown Princess, immediately stood up and respectfully apologized to Mu Qingyao.
"Ji Xue apologizes to the Empress of Xian Yue Kingdom on behalf of her elder sister. My sister has always been straightforward and very curious about the customs and talents of Xian Yue Kingdom, which is why she dared to seek guidance from the Empress."
Queen Consort Ji Xue spoke gently. Those who were clever heard the implied meaning of her words. While openly extricating her elder sister from the situation, she subtly carried another intent.
She implied that Xian Yue Kingdom dared not directly accept the Crown Princess's challenge. Many shifted their gaze from the Crown Princess to Queen Consort Ji Xue.
This Queen Consort, though of above-average appearance, was far more cunning than the Crown Princess. This silent provocation was much more skillful than the Crown Princess's.
Mu Qingyao certainly understood the meaning of this woman's words, but it was impossible for her to make a move.
As she herself had said, she was not an actor, nor a servant, nor someone for others to entertain. If she competed with Ji Feng, it would benefit those who enjoyed the spectacle. Moreover, it would make her appear to be as foolish as Ji Feng. However, if she used her authority to suppress the matter, others would still have unspoken reservations.
Furthermore, the thought that the old woman beside her was actually siding with outsiders made her want to curb their arrogance. Not only her, but also the faces below that were enjoying the show, all made her feel malevolent.
Therefore, she had to make a move, to strike the bamboo to frighten the monkeys, and let these people best not have any ideas about her.
"Since it is a matter of seeking guidance, if I were to completely ignore it, I fear rumors would spread that I am using my authority to suppress others. Then…"
Mu Qingyao paused here.
At this moment, all eyes in the hall were on her. There was curiosity, amusement, and those who were waiting to see her make a fool of herself. Amidst the feasting and revelry, an even more sinister atmosphere arose.
"Good," Right Prime Minister Chu Fengyu was the first to shout, and the ministers in court all nodded in agreement. However, upon catching the eye of Left Prime Minister Mu Hen, their momentum immediately weakened.
As Chu Fengyu's voice fell, the Empress Dowager on the high seat curved her lips into a sinister smile. "I also want to see what skills the Empress has to show?"
The arrow was already on the bowstring and had to be shot. Mu Qingyao's delicate and beautiful face was covered with a layer of cold frost. The shimmering light in her dark pupils surged, and she spoke word by word in a faint, measured tone.
"I will paint a portrait. If the Crown Princess can identify what it is, I will perform a talent for everyone. If the Crown Princess cannot identify it, then the Crown Princess will perform a talent. Is that acceptable?"
Mu Qingyao's serene gaze fell upon Crown Princess Ji Feng. That woman had already recovered from her earlier embarrassment. Thinking that this woman had put her at a disadvantage, she was determined to regain the upper hand in this round. Today, she must make this woman perform a talent publicly. Wasn't she self-righteous? Didn't she say she wasn't an actor? Today, she would make her an actor.
Ji Feng, who believed there was nothing in the world she couldn't identify, thought, "This Miss Mu of the Mu family is merely the daughter of a Prime Minister, while I am the Crown Princess of the royal family. What have I not seen? As long as she can draw it, I will recognize it?"
Ji Feng moved her body and thought of standing up. Ji Xue beside her reached out and pressed her elder sister's hand, wanting to act on behalf of the Crown Princess.
The Empress of Xian Yue Kingdom was not to be trifled with; she was very formidable.
Ji Xue feared her elder sister would suffer and wanted to represent her. Unfortunately, Ji Feng didn't appreciate her younger sister's intentions. In her mind, her younger sister clearly wanted to take this opportunity to stand out, and she wouldn't give her any chance.
"Good," Ji Feng agreed, sealing the deal with a bang.
Mu Qingyao on the high seat pursed her lips and smiled faintly. Her smile was cold, her luminous eyes shot out a chilling light towards Emperor Xian Mu Rong Liu Zun. The Emperor Xian waved his sleeve and gave a steady command, "Summon brush and ink."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Ah Jiu immediately accepted the order, swiftly brought the incense table to the center of the hall, laid out the writing implements, and respectfully retreated a step.
The scene was now very peculiar. On the surface, it was a contest between two women, but everyone knew that this was a public exchange between Xian Yue and Danfeng. Who would be the one with the higher strategy? Dark glints flashed in everyone's eyes.
Mu Qingyao stood up with a composed and elegant posture. Wearing a simple palace dress, it nevertheless outlined her graceful figure. Her cloud-like black hair was neatly piled up, with a sprig of cold plum blossoms slanted in her dark hair. The entire person exuded a fresh and elegant aura, emanating a subtle fragrance, like a branch of cold plum standing proudly in the ice and snow before everyone, refreshing the heart and mind.
Mei Xin and Mo Chou stepped forward to support their mistress and walked to the incense table in the center of the hall. The two maids released their mistress. Mei Xin stepped forward to wash her hands, burn incense, and grind ink, while Mo Chou spread out the finest Xuan paper and placed the wolf-hair brush. When everything was ready, the two maids stepped back and spoke respectfully in unison, "Your Majesty, please proceed."
The hall was silent. Not to mention the proud demeanor of the Empress, but just watching the calm and steady actions of the two maids by her side, one knew that her performance would surely be extraordinary.
Several piercing gazes were fixed on the woman in the center of the hall. With her brows lowered in concentration, she seemed like a small boat adrift in a vast ocean, lonely yet at ease, overlooking the people and events around her.
Mu Qingyao glanced around the hall. A fleeting ruthlessness flashed in her beautiful, gem-like eyes. She moved, the wolf-hair brush in her hand, and her strokes were as swift as lightning. With just a few strokes, she threw down the brush and her clear, cold voice resounded throughout the entire hall.
"It's done. Your Highness the Crown Princess, please take a look at what I have painted."
As soon as her words fell, let alone Crown Princess Ji Feng, everyone in the grand palace craned their necks to look, all wanting to see what the Empress of Xian Yue had painted. She had only used a few strokes to sketch an object. Was her painting skill amazing, or was it completely worthless?