Chapter 156
Chapter 156
Following Weiqing Song’s instructions, Shengsheng Zhou finally deigned to move her noble backside when Imperial Mother sent someone to hurry her for the third time.
“Xiaosui, you shouldn’t come. Stay here for now,” Shengsheng told the parrot watching her with his head tilted.
Having a pale-yellow parrot perched on her shoulder felt a little…
How did that line go? Right–Wanwan resembles my beloved.
Xiaosui had no objection and nodded obediently. *Senior, take care.*
But after Shengsheng left, Xiaosui darted out while the young eunuch guarding the door was not looking and disappeared into the night.
Shengsheng reviewed Weiqing’s script repeatedly in her head, then abruptly stopped.
The attendants following her also halted in confusion.
Shengsheng drew a deep breath.
In the past, she had directed Zhiyu Jiang while hiding behind the scenes.
It was all right, Shengsheng. You were good at this.
Tonight was merely the first appearance of your disguise, so naturally you felt nervous.
Good. From this moment on, enter the role.
For the ultimate actress, a performance began when her very aura changed.
Cui’er, walking nearest to Shengsheng, was the first to sense that change.
Cui’er opened her mouth but ultimately said nothing.
Why did the princess suddenly seem… less intelligent?
Princesses traditionally possessed formal titles. Mosheng Song’s was Nanmo.
“The sun shines clear and bright today; on the southern road, saddles glow warm.”
“Princess Nanmo arrives!!” The eunuch’s cry successfully silenced the drinking and merriment inside the hall. Every gaze turned unconsciously toward the door.
There were many guests today. Besides the men, great crowds of noblewomen from every kingdom filled the seats.
This was Shengsheng’s first time standing beneath the “spotlight.”
Whether because of her background, the favor she received, or even her beauty–
It could not be denied that for once in her ordinary, gray life, she finally received the treatment of a protagonist.
Her heart pounded, but the smile on her face remained flawless.
Have no doubt. She had practiced it for a long time.
As she advanced with graceful steps, every gaze followed instinctively.
Amazement, desire, envy, jealousy, and countless other emotions all fell upon her.
Her lotus-pink, cross-collared dress was trimmed at the sleeves with gauze thin as cicada wings, revealing glimpses of slender white wrists. Gems at her waist scattered motes of light.
Those who recognized them silently marveled at Zhen Kingdom’s wealth. What outrageous waste! These were Moonlight Stones, priceless treasures worthy of becoming family heirlooms, yet they had been squandered as decorations on a woman’s dress.
But the instant they saw her face, those thoughts scattered with the scent of wine on the wind.
The same thought entered every mind–
The *Book of Songs* had not deceived them.
A woman truly could exist who shone like spring blossoms and glowed like the autumn moon.
Every step seemed to land upon their hearts. No matter how beautiful the dancers had appeared moments before, they now dimmed instantly.
“Greetings, Imperial Father, Imperial Mother, and Crown Prince Brother.” After secretly exchanging a look with Weiqing beneath the emperor, Shengsheng smiled sweetly.
Sweetly, but not very intelligently.
The empress clearly noticed something unusual but did not show it. She smilingly told Shengsheng to rise, then fondly chided her for arriving so late.
To prevent further trouble, the empress beckoned Shengsheng to sit beside her so she could not do anything strange. This made the princes and princesses crowded below fiercely envious.
Shengsheng nodded obediently and walked over.
Her daughter, who had behaved like a wild monkey for days, had suddenly become meek and sensible. The empress felt uneasy and secretly touched her forehead while no one watched.
She did not have a fever…
Shengsheng Zhou sat obediently beside Imperial Mother, eating whatever the empress offered in tiny bites and looking exceptionally well-behaved.
The empress understood even less. Had the sight of so many outstanding young men made her shy and reserved?
That made sense. This was Sheng’er’s first banquet of such scale. Naturally, she would feel lost.
At the thought, the empress’s heart ached again.
Shengsheng held her teacup in both hands, appearing fascinated by the leaves inside and playing the pure, innocent rabbit. In truth, her heart was about to leap from her chest.
I truly have to thank you. Which towering genius arranged these seats?!
Siran Ming opposite me and Fusheng Duan beside me–which scheming bastard did this?!?
Heaven knew that when the empress beckoned, Shengsheng would have dropped to her knees if her innocent-fool act had not sustained her.
Why! Was! The man in red beside the empty place next to the empress sitting among all the women?!?
Were all of you blind? Today, he had not even bothered with an androgynous disguise!!!?
Shengsheng withdrew her gaze after only a hurried glance, failing to notice the scrutiny in Fusheng’s eyes.
When Shengsheng made her dazzling entrance, the only people not captivated were Weiqing Song, who had seen her already; Siran, who lacked interest; and Fusheng, who had examined her from the beginning.
Nothing about this woman, from head to toe, resembled the person in his heart.
Coming from the same place did not guarantee the same personality after all.
Watching her nibble like a squirrel, Fusheng considered how to confirm whether she was the person he sought.
“Imperial Mother, if you aren’t eating that, can I have it?”
Unable to endure the naked stare beside her, Shengsheng pretended to reach for a pastry on the empress’s plate and took the opportunity to breathe.
Damn it, Fusheng Duan. Aren’t you normally immune to beautiful women?
What is this? Is my beauty so devastating that for the first time, a woman has successfully attracted your interest? Planning to move seamlessly onward after I died?!
Fusheng’s stare was so obvious that even the empress watching the performance beside Shengsheng noticed.
“My youngest daughter is rather gluttonous. I hope the Noble Consort will forgive her lack of manners.” The empress smiled gently and chided her.
At the words, Shengsheng put down the pastry and followed Imperial Mother’s gaze, smiling innocently.
And so, beneath the bright lights, she saw Fusheng’s face again after so long.
“Oh, child, how could you be so careless?”
Only when warm liquid flowed across her hand did Shengsheng realize she had knocked over her teacup.
“I… This elder sister is simply too beautiful. I became distracted.” Shengsheng stuck out her tongue in embarrassment and looked apologetically at Fusheng.
The man in red calmly said it did not matter, though profound meaning entered his ink-dark eyes as he watched Shengsheng.
That reaction was interesting.
Others had reacted similarly upon seeing his face before.
But why would a little princess whose own beauty surpassed mortals react so violently?
Could she… have seen him before?
Or perhaps she knew him.
Everything investigators had reported about her conduct since regaining her senses differed from how she behaved today.