The Fourth Lady novel Chapter 140

When Qingyan followed this voice and gazed over, she just happened to see a familiar figure. This young girl was precisely the Empress's paternal family, the Xu Family's, eldest legitimate daughter. She also just happens to be the Empress's blood related niece. Her name seems to be--Xu Yarui.

When the Empress saw someone from her paternal family stand out, naturally there was a smile on her face. Although the Empress liked this niece very much, Hongjia Emperor seemingly afraid that the Empress's family would gain too much power, thus didn't agree to the Crown Prince marrying Xu Yarui.

"So it's the Empress's niece." Hongjia Emperor looked to Xu Yarui standing below and clearly spoke, "What are you going to perform? If it's not good, this Emperor will be punishing you."

Xu Yarui looked to Hongjia Emperor grinning, "This subject-daughter is skilled in dancing. Today, I will be performing a 'Fan Dance' for everyone."

Hongjia Emperor knew that this 'Fan Dance' was the Xu family's specialty. That year, when he took a fancy to the Empress, it was precisely because of her temperament. But once he met Qilian Yuran, he found that all the beauties of the world couldn't possibly compare to Qilian Yuran's appearance.

"Alright." Hongjia Emperor looked to the Xu Yarui and replied with a powerful and resounding voice.

Xu Yarui can be considered one of the top beauties in Bogu Hall. But because of Su Qingyuan and Su Qingwen's existence, her beauty was instead suppressed. However, even if she's the Empress's blood related niece, this young girl at most can be considered a bold but not very astute person.

Xu Yarui finished changing her clothes and came out holding a fan. Her dance was very rhythmic, and in addition, attracted the eyes of the majority of the young men present.

And when she casted her sight towards Xuanyuan Yuzhe, she found Xuanyuan Yuzhe staring at her to the point where he didn't even notice his saliva leaking out from the corner of his mouth. Although Su Qingyan was already aware of the fact that Xuanyuan Yuzhe frequented brothels, she didn't know it was already to such an disgusting degree.

After Xu Yarui's performance ended, she received continuous praises, even Hongjia Emperor gave out a satisfied expression. After seeing Xu Yarui's brilliant performance, the other young ladies all eagerly wanted to try one after another.

They all thought in their hearts that even if they only received a verbal praise from the Emperor, it was also considered good. And Hongjia Emperor watched these performances all with a warm admiration.

Su Qingwen played a piece of [High Mountain Running Water]; Cui Hanxue similarly performed a dance. And the other ladies more or less performed various similar talents. It was just, who performed well, who performed poorly, and who received Hongjia Emperor's reward*.

(*T/N: The sentence awkwardly ends here in the original text and I'm unsure where the author was going with it...)

Just then, a lofty voice sounded, "Your Majesty, this subject-daughter has heard that the General's daughter, Su Qingyan, is a multitalented person. Why hasn't she come up and performed today?"

This voice successfully directed everyone's line of sight towards Su Qingyan. Su Qingyan followed this voice and gazed over. She found that it was precisely Ning Siyao's blood related niece----Ning Yuelan.

Hearing Ning Yuelan's words, everyone below also all chimed in. Qingyan knew that this was everyone all waiting to see her make a fool of herself. After all, that Dragon Gate Banquet three years ago, made her successfully become the whole capital's laughing stock.

And everyone's behavior now was nothing more than assuming that she will repeat the past and become a laughing stock again. Or even become the Diqiu commoner's leisure time gossip material.

"Your Majesty, this subject-wife has also heard Yufan mention that this General Su's daughter is a person of many talents." Yi Consort saw the crowd's display and delightfully hooked the corner of her lips. Afterwards, she casted her sight onto Su Qingyan, but who knew that Su Qingyan was actually so disdainful.

"Oh!" Hongjia Emperor looked to the young girl who was still motionlessly sitting in her seat, his voice engrossingly sounding, "Previously, imperial aunt also once mentioned in front of this Emperor that beloved official Su's daughter was a girl of many talents. Yet why are you unwilling to come up and perform for everyone now?"

Qingyan knew that Hongjia Emperor couldn't stop halfway now, and just when she was planning to stand up, she heard another familiar voice sounding, "Xuanyuan Hong, since when have you started to actually help Lu Jiayue* bully an underage young girl, how come I didn't know."

(*T/N: Assuming this is Yi Consort's actual name.)

When Hongjia Emperor heard this voice, he turned his head and saw a red clad Qilian Yuran leisurely approaching. Today's Qilian Yuran chose a red outfit, a color she normally disliked the most. Precisely for the purpose of proving to everyone that she, Qilian Yuran, even if she doesn't met with Hongjia Emperor, is still fully deserving of the Imperial Noble Consort title in this palace.

"Ranran, how come you're here?" Hongjia Emperor looked to Qilian Yuran intimately calling her by her nickname, "Quickly come sit next to this Emperor."

Qilian Yuran directly sat down at a nearby empty seat, and Hongjia Emperor could only inwardly shed a tear. He didn't know that Qilian Yuran would appear at this time!

Qilian Yuran looked to Su Qingyan and said with a smile, "I assume you must be General Su's beloved daughter, Su Qingyan. Today this consort will help you, if these people bully you, this consort will give order for their entire clan to be extinguished."

Su Qingyan knew very well in her heart that Qilian Yuran hated seeing this kind of happening the most. She faced Qilian Yuran with a smile and spoke, "Many thanks Imperial Noble Consort for the deep fondness."

Qilian Yuran listened to Su Qingyan's words and nodded in satisfaction, "Since that's the case, this consort believes that you wouldn't mind performing for this consort once. If you perform well, then this consort will certainly heavily award you."

Su Qingyan just knew that Qilian Yuran would pull this, but it doesn't matter. She originally was waiting for Qilian Yuran's arrival anyways. After all, that dance, only Qilian Yuran and Liushang have seen before.

Just when everyone assumed that Su Qingyan would refuse, they instead heard Qingyan's cheerful voice sounding, "This subject-daughter is willing to perform a 'devastating dance' for Imperial Noble Consort."

Everyone all looked to Qingyan with a mocking look. There were even those who spoke with a laugh, "This Su Qingyan is not afraid of losing face. Could it be that she's forgotten the embarrassment from the Dragon Gate Banquet three years ago?"

"Right, right, although Su Yun is noble as general, he was able to give birth to this kind of idiot daughter. It really is a worldly miracle." The nearby noble women whispered to one another.

Qingyan simply didn't care about these people's looks, but she was able to keenly detect Su Yun and Luo Bing's gaze that casted over. She knew that Su Yun and Luo Bing wasn't concerned with them becoming the capital's laughing stock. They only had Su Qingyan this one daughter. They were afraid that Su Qingyan's spirit would receive a blow.

"Your Highness, Imperial Noble Consort, this subject-daughter has a presumptuous request." Qingyan looked to Qilian Yuran and softly spoke.

Qilian Yuran looked to her contemplating appearance with her head lowered. She inevitably thought of many years ago, there was also once such a little girl before her, using a soft voice calling her aunty.

When Qilian Yuran thought of this, she lifted her head and looked to Su Qingyan in front of her, "Speak, if it's within this consort's permitted range, I will definitely allow it."

Qingyan faced Qilian Yuran and properly saluted. She turned her gaze towards a white clad man sitting in the crowd, her clear voice sounding, "This subject-daughter has heard the imperial musician plays a good qin. Moreover, it's evaluated as 'such tune only exist in the heavens, rarely is it heard in the mortal realm.' Thus, this subject-daughter hopes the imperial musician, Liushang, can play the qin for this subject-daughter. I wonder whether your Highness will allow it."