Crowned Consort in Golden Age-Chapter 25. Being used as a human shield
25. Used as a Shield
After nearly four hours of competition, the winners of the various skills finally emerged. Ye Ying’s results were somewhat inferior to last year’s. Although she later strenuously performed a Fairy Dance, she barely managed to tie with Princess Qixia for first place. However, her qin playing was rejected by Third Young Master Feng, renowned as the Capital City’s finest qin player, and she lost to Liu Ruyun, the young lady of the Liu Family, thus ranking second. Afterwards, she also achieved third place in poetry, but it was difficult to conceal Ye Ying’s aggrieved and defeated expression. In contrast, Princess Qixia, despite being an outsider, shone brilliantly in the subsequent competitions, achieving third place in qin artistry, first in calligraphy, and second in chess. Consequently, with two first-place, one second-place, and one third-place finish, Princess Qixia became the champion of this Hundred Flowers Festival.
Eldest Princess Zhaoyang was clearly very satisfied with this outcome, and the several judges on the viewing platform also showed increased appreciation for this foreign princess. Just as Lord Elder Su was about to announce the results of the Hundred Flowers Festival, Princess Qixia leaned in and whispered a few words into Princess Zhaoyang’s ear. Then, she stood up, gave Lord Elder Su an apologetic curtsy, and turned to look at the dejected Ye Ying below the stage, a cold sneer flashing across her brow.
"I ask for everyone’s understanding. I, Qixia, request a rematch of the dance with Fourth Miss Ye," Princess Qixia proclaimed loudly, and the venue immediately erupted into an uproar.
Feng Zhiyao leaned back lazily in his chair, looking at Princess Qixia with a smile. "To be able to witness the dance artistry of the Princess and the Capital City’s most beautiful woman again, I believe everyone present would be delighted. However... I wonder why there is a need for a rematch?"
Princess Qixia raised her head proudly. "Don’t you people of the Central Plains say, ’In literature, there is no first; in martial arts, no second’? Although this dance is not those martial arts, this princess is not accustomed to sharing a rank with others." As she spoke, she shot a disdainful glance at Ye Ying, all but explicitly stating that Ye Ying was unworthy of being ranked alongside her. Below the stage, Ye Ying’s face instantly turned deathly pale, her slender figure swaying precariously. Seeing this, many in the audience couldn’t help but feel Princess Qixia was bullying her excessively. Princess Qixia, however, paid no mind to others’ opinions, merely staring intently at Ye Ying.
Feng Zhiyao’s languid, phoenix-like eyes swept over Mo Jingli, who sat to one side with a somber expression, and he chuckled. "Your Highness Prince Li, what are your thoughts? After all... Fourth Miss Ye is your fiancée."
Mo Jingli glanced at Ye Ying below the stage, a flicker of emotion in his otherwise indifferent eyes. He said faintly, "Is Princess Qixia dissatisfied with Yaoji’s judgment?"
Yaoji smiled enchantingly, instantly radiating a hundred charms. "If Princess Qixia has an even more beautiful dance, Yaoji would naturally be willing to appreciate it. I just wonder if I will have that honor."
Mo Jingli remained silent. Although not particularly knowledgeable about dance, Mo Jingli naturally knew from Yaoji’s previous judgment that Ye Ying’s and Princess Qixia’s dance skills should be on par. However, dance was an art form appreciated visually. Even if their foundational skills were similar, Princess Qixia’s passionate and moving style was obviously more captivating than Ye Ying’s graceful yet aloof performance. This situation might be described as a case of ’too highbrow to be popular’. If Ye Ying were to lose to Princess Qixia again... Mo Jingli’s handsome, sword-like eyebrows gradually furrowed.
Seeing him remain silent, Eldest Princess Zhaoyang, seated in the foremost position, frowned with displeasure, her elegant eyebrows knitting. "Jing Li."
"Ah..."
A low cry echoed from below the stage, followed by the crisp sound of porcelain shattering on the floor. Everyone followed the sound with their eyes. Ye Ying’s maid was prostrating on the ground, begging for mercy, while Ye Ying, her face pale, clutched her left arm. Her left sleeve was soaked; the maid had clearly spilled tea on Ye Ying just moments before.
"Ying’er..." Mo Jingli rose, leaped down from the viewing platform, gathered Ye Ying into his embrace, and kicked away the kneeling maid. "Get lost!"
On the dais, the Eldest Princess’s face turned livid; the maid Mo Jingli had kicked belonged to her Eldest Princess’s Mansion. "Someone, summon an imperial physician to treat Miss Ye."
The young ladies present were rather stunned by this sudden turn of events. Although each tried to maintain her composure as a well-bred young lady, they couldn’t help but exchange opinions privately in various ways.
"Tsk, Ah-Li, you need to be careful. That sister of yours is ruthless enough," Murong Ting remarked. After several hours of sitting idly, Murong Ting’s way of addressing Ye Li had evolved from ’Miss Ye’ and ’Ye Li’ to the more intimate ’Ah-Li’. If anyone were to claim the maid accidentally spilled tea on Ye Ying, Murong Ting wouldn’t believe it, not even if she wagered her own brain—which she wasn’t fond of using for studies anyway. How could it be such a coincidence that just as Princess Qixia proposed a challenge, Ye Ying got scalded?
Hua Tianxiang frowned. "I don’t know why, but I have a bad feeling about this."
Ye Li raised an eyebrow. Before she could speak, she heard Ye Ying, nestled in Mo Jingli’s arms, say to Princess Qixia in a weak and regretful voice, "Princess, my sincerest apologies. Ye Ying is afraid she cannot compete with you. Since the Princess is dissatisfied... why not ask my elder sister to take Ye Ying’s place for this one time? My elder sister is the legitimate daughter of the Prime Minister’s Mansion; surely she will not bring disgrace upon the Princess. Elder sister, don’t you agree?"
Hearing this, Ye Li’s usually calm expression darkened. How could Ye Ying not know that she couldn’t dance? If she lost, it would be she, Ye Li, who disgraced the Prime Minister’s Mansion, not Ye Ying for being inferior to Princess Qixia. She had cleverly avoided the possibility of losing to Princess Qixia herself and had successfully set Ye Li up to lose face at her first social gathering. Truly a well-calculated move.
"Do as Ying’er says!" Mo Jingli commanded impatiently. Without waiting for the imperial physician to arrive, he directly lifted Ye Ying and prepared to leave the venue.
Watching Mo Jingli’s unhesitatingly departing figure, the Eldest Princess’s eyes grew somber. After a long pause, she said gravely, "Since it has come to this, let Third Miss Ye take Fourth Miss Ye’s place."
Ye Li was speechless. Does no one intend to ask me if I can even dance?
Nearly everyone’s gaze fell upon Ye Li. Qin Zheng and the others also looked at her nervously. Although they had earlier egged Ye Li on to compete for a ranking, they had no real intention of forcing her. Not only were they newly acquainted friends, but even considering Qin Zheng’s future relationship with Ye Li, they couldn’t bring themselves to harm her.
Princess Qixia was seething with anger due to Mo Jingli’s departure with Ye Ying, clearly favoring her. And it just so happened that Ye Li, whom Mo Jingli had pushed forward as a substitute, was his former fiancée. Consequently, Princess Qixia directed the full force of her anger at Ye Li. Raising her exquisitely shaped eyebrows, she said, "Miss Ye, you first, please."
Ye Li stood up helplessly. Meeting Princess Qixia’s resentful gaze, she thought for a moment before speaking, "I concede defeat."
Everyone, including Princess Qixia, looked utterly stunned. It took Princess Qixia a good while to recover. Glaring at Ye Li, she demanded, "Are you looking down on this princess? This princess does not need your concession!"
Ye Li shook her head helplessly. "I am not making a concession out of pity, Princess. I am sincerely admitting defeat."
"Admitting defeat before even competing—even if this princess were to win, it would be a hollow victory."
And forcing someone who can’t dance to compete is hardly a display of martial prowess, is it? Ye Li sighed softly, looking earnestly at the almond-eyed, furious Princess Qixia above. "Princess, I cannot dance." So, Ye Ying played you.
"Haha, to have someone who cannot dance act as a substitute, His Highness Prince Li and the future Princess Consort Li are certainly creative," Feng Zhiyao’s lazy voice chimed in, filled with schadenfreude.
Princess Qixia was also taken aback. "Why can you not dance!"
"Because dancing is not a compulsory subject for young ladies of Great Chu. I believe many young ladies present cannot dance," Ye Li replied, her tone firm and justified. Not being able to dance was not shameful. In fact, very few well-born young ladies in Great Chu specifically learned to dance, unless they had a particular fondness for it or their families intended to send them into the palace.
Since Ye Li had already stated clearly that she had never learned to dance, insisting she do so now would be unreasonable. Princess Qixia also understood now that Ye Ying had played her, so she could only suppress her anger for the time being. She stared at the composed young lady in green, a faint, elegant smile on her lips, her own eyes glinting as she said, "We did not see Miss Ye take the stage earlier. Since Fourth Miss Ye has such confidence in her sister, then please, Miss Ye, demonstrate your talents in another area. Or perhaps..." She looked at Ye Li with a smile that wasn’t quite a smile, paused, then raised her voice, "Perhaps Miss Ye has no talents whatsoever?"
Ye Li lowered her head in silence for a moment, then lifted her gaze to meet Princess Qixia’s. "In that case," she said calmly, "I shall make a poor show of it."
