Transmigrated as the Villainess, Troubled by the Cuteness!-Chapter 240 - 180: Song Yan Busy with Breaking Off the Engagement

Chapter 240: Chapter 180: Song Yan Busy with Breaking Off the Engagement

Song Yan spoke, and then somehow retrieved an ancient zither from her person.

This zither was gleaming white like jade, emitting a lustrous glow. It didn’t seem particularly imposing, yet it inexplicably drew one’s gaze.

Because it was, simply, too beautiful.

Just like a princess.

Song Yan placed the zither on the table and softly said to Shen Jingxian, "This zither was specially made by the Piano King for the Princess. Would Your Highness like to try it?"

Hmm?

Piano King?

Though Shen Jingxian didn’t know who the Piano King was, the name sounded incredibly impressive, so she quickly scampered over excitedly.

Yet she felt something was off—could a ten thousand taels of silver zither really break so easily?

But she recalled Song Yan’s skills which she had witnessed personally. Her doubts faded in an instant.

Song Yan, being the heroine, had a character with clear loves and hates. She had no enmity with the Second Prince and couldn’t have damaged the zither he’d gifted intentionally. It must be that the piece "Bell Chime" was so difficult that she accidentally broke it.

Thinking of "Bell Chime", Shen Jingxian’s head throbbed anew. Could she really play this piece?

She didn’t have Song Yan’s dexterity with her hands!

"Your Highness?" Song Yan called again, and Shen Jingxian finally sat beside her, extending her hand to begin playing.

Though she played slower than Song Yan, she had memorized most of the tune through sheer repetition.

Song Yan remained silent throughout, yet once Shen Jingxian finished playing, she adeptly pointed out her mistakes.

This part was too fast, this part was too slow, the fingering here was incorrect and shouldn’t be used this way, there was an issue with the pitch here and it needed adjustment.

Under Song Yan’s guidance, Shen Jingxian corrected herself bit by bit. As she played again, she found it flowed much more smoothly.

Though she couldn’t match Song Yan’s intense speed, she could play through it with only occasional stumbles.

Shen Jingxian breathed a sigh of relief.

As long as she could play it, that was enough.

With her tense heart now relaxed, Shen Jingxian felt less anxious and couldn’t resist chatting with Song Yan, "Sister Song Yan, what are you up to these days?"

Song Yan’s expression didn’t change as she replied, "Sorting out documents."

Her position in Internal Affairs Bureau was at the secondary fifth rank, and her daily work involved organizing the Emperor’s decrees and disseminating them to other officials.

Frankly, Song Yan felt her abilities extended beyond that, although she was the top scorer in all six examinations, as a newcomer in the Internal Affairs Bureau, heaving such errands was expected. Complaining was out of the question, lest rumors spread unchecked.

Such as, the top-scoring female scholar with her nose in the air thinking little of secondary fifth rank positions.

Every move of hers was scrutinized.

Shen Jingxian intuitively sensed Song Yan’s low spirits. Having been an office worker herself, she easily guessed the cause of Song Yan’s dilemma.

She idly plucked discordant notes on the zither and remarked, "Achieving instant fame is great, but there aren’t big tasks every day. It’s endless smaller jobs. Ah, if I were as great as Sister Song Yan, just doing one big task and I wouldn’t need to sit here practicing the zither..."

Though she seemed to lament herself, Song Yan knew the Princess was actually advising her.

Despite her already considerable reputation, not every day offered grand opportunities. It was even more crucial for her to handle the minor daily tasks well.

A thousand miles begins with a single step.

She had become the top scholar by progressing step by step.

It was her vanity over being the top scorer in all six examinations that had led to her current distress.

The Princess, through her words, had enlightened her.

To stand by the Princess, how could she afford to be so impatient?

Song Yan chuckled lightly and murmured, "Your Highness is already famous throughout the realm but still has to practice the zither."

Shen Jingxian: "Are you calling me names again?"

Song Yan: "Please play it once more, Your Highness."

Shen Jingxian: "Alright."

Song Yan continued to come linger for three more days, then vanished.

The Empress mentioned that Song Yan was busy disentangling a betrothal arrangement with Shen Ming, so she couldn’t come for now.

Song Yan’s reason for calling off the engagement now was due to catching Shen Ming in bed with Song Yun, who had now changed her name to Du Yun.

Shen Jingxian: ?

Preposterous, though Shen Jingxian knew Song Yan no longer cared for Shen Ming—and Shen Ming’s affairs didn’t matter—how could Song Yun still be hopping around?

She thought the plot had altered and didn’t expect Song Yun to be unsinkable.

She had been enslaved—enslaved!—and Yunyi Country only had less than a hundred slaves total, existing in the utmost isolation.

How did Song Yun reconnect with Shen Ming?

Shen Jingxian couldn’t figure out Shen Ming’s thoughts—if he loved her so much, he wouldn’t have ignored Song Yun then. But to say he didn’t love her, yet now the two were entangled again.

Ludicrous.

"How did Song Yun and Shen Ming meet up again, wasn’t the place of reformation far from the capital?"

Lounging with her head in the Empress’s lap, Shen Jingxian asked moodily while the Empress cleaned her earwax.

"The Song Family was secretly funding her, and she used the money to bribe the meal deliverer, spiking the food with knockout drug to disable the guards and then ran into Shen Ming," replied the Empress.

"What a coincidence?!" Shen Jingxian, from the discomfort of the Empress’s cleaning, wanted to squirm a bit as a reminder, but the Empress mistook it for her acting coy and promptly kissed her cheek twice.

Alright then...

Thankfully this was the current era—in her former world, she’d definitely plaster her mother’s face in powder.

"Nothing is a coincidence, merely calculations," the Empress said nonchalantly.

Judging by her tone, she had no intention of aiding Shen Ming.

Though Shen Jingxian was concerned for Song Yan, fearing she’d be wronged, she thought of bestowing the rank of Duke upon her. But upon further contemplation, she reconsidered.

Having just established herself through her own efforts at court, what Song Yan needed was opportunity, not immediate rewards. Conferring a Duke title now would overshadow all of Song Yan’s original hard work, defeating its purpose.

Nonetheless, Song Yan wouldn’t suffer a loss, that’s for certain.

If anything, Shen Jingxian was eager to witness Song Yan’s retaliation—would it adhere to the original story? Probably not.

The Empress seemed to notice Shen Jingxian’s musings and abruptly stated, "Until you’ve mastered the zither, you’re not allowed to go anywhere."

Realizing her intentions had been seen through, Shen Jingxian slumped and attempted to negotiate, "Sister Song Yan isn’t here, and ’Bell Chime’ is so hard. How can I practice, mother?"

Subtext: Release me to watch the drama unfold.

"Your mother has found another tutor who can also play ’Bell Chime’ for you."

Subtext: Stay in Yi Fen Palace and focus on practicing the zither, you’re not permitted to go anywhere.

Shen Jingxian: ...

Darn it! Weren’t there supposed to be only a few people who could play "Bell Chime"?!