Pampered Consort of the Fragrant Orchard Chapter 72.2

Eastern Li's Third Princess (2)

Have to say, this Han Ming Ze has quite a way with words. With these few words, he had the atmosphere stirred up. Everyone all stood up and downed the wine in their cups. And after the Emperor sat down, everyone finally sat back down again.

Because the rewards were already given previously, the bestowment ceremony thus didn't go underway this time, directly starting tonight's talent performance. However, the first to warm up the stage wasn't some family's young lady, but rather a theater troupe. When the theater troupe's performance ends, it'll then be the young ladies' turn to perform. 

Speaking of which, this show also had the implication of finding a marriage match as well. Because the entire upper class nobles, for the most part, were all present. Those who see someone to their liking can then develop into the next step afterwards. 

Because this didn't have much to do with herself, Du Xiao Li, who'd seen all kinds of concerts and performances before in her past life, had her attention shifted onto the delicacies before her. She'd already watched the Spring Festival Gala for that many years, so no matter how good this talent performance was, it still couldn't compare, no?

(T/N: Spring Festival Gala is the Chinese New Year's program specially broadcasted annually on the eve of Chinese New Years.)

Unexpectedly the first young lady to perform was Chen Yue. Tonight's order of performing was decided through a lottery draw. Don't know whether to say her luck was good or bad. 

Chen Yue's performance was a dance. Du Xiao Li took a few glances and said, "Can't even compare to half of big sister Jiang Zhuo's abilities." Following which, she returned to concentrating on her delicacies. 

Because below the place where the members of the imperial family sat was also a platform, their seats were a little higher than the officials below. Furthermore, everyone's heads were mostly all turned towards the direction of the stage, thus Du Xiao Li's eating appearance stood out and very easily attracted everyone's attention.

Han Ming Yi has always been very low-key, and towards the things in the surroundings, he didn't care for very much. Even this kind of setting couldn't attract his interest. Rather, a certain woman's appearance while gorging herself with food made the corner of his lips unconsciously go up. 

"To actually only know how to eat, really a person from the countryside, never seen the world before!" Ren Wang also noticed Du Xiao Li's appearance, but those table manners of hers, in his eyes, was just an uncultured wild girl who only knows to eat.

Then again, normally in this kind of situation, no one would have their attention placed on the food. Food, in this kind of setting, was just a side character.

Han Ming Yuan was originally bored anyways, only using the food and drinks to pass the time. Hearing Ren Wang's words and thinking that he was talking about himself, he lifted his head wanting to argue back, yet discovered that he actually wasn't talking about him. He followed Ren Wang's line of sight and saw an already full Du Xiao Li currently jabbing the food before her.

"Pfft....." Han Ming Yuan instantly laughed out.

This laugh of his drew the attention of the Emperor.

"Did Ming Yuan think of something funny? Come share it with us." Han Ming Ze asked with a smile, "Or does this performance make you feel amused? Or, the person performing make you feel happy? Ming Yi and Ming Hong's wangfeis have already been settled, how about this emperor also set an engagement for you?"

(T/N: Every Emperor's favorite pastime----matchmaking.)

"Pffft---" The wine in Han Ming Yuan's mouth completely sprayed out. Fortunately, in the last moment, he turned to the side, thus sparing the delicacies before him. 

"Emperor, you're joking, right?" Han Ming Yuan said with a scared look, plotting inside that if this Emperor really does bestow him a marriage, then he'll just leave the palace and never return!

"What do you think?" Han Ming Ze said with an ambiguous smile.

"Emperor definitely must be joking, hehe." Han Ming Yuan lowered his head and took a sip of wine, thinking that when tonight's banquet ends, he'll leave immediately, definitely can not stay any longer, else what to do if the Emperor, in a moment of impulse, bestows him a marriage?

Du Ke Xin's performance was the tenth one. Her performance naturally was playing the zither, and the piece she played was precisely the piece taught during Du Xiao Li's first day at school. Didn't know that she could play it this well now. Those difficult parts were all played very smoothly by her. However, Du Xiao Li evaluation of her performance was still 'plenty of skill but not enough emotion'.

By the time Du Xiao Li was more or less done with eating, it was already almost time for Ji Liu Xia and the others' performance. She gazed over towards the stage, just happening to see a nervous Ji Liu Xia standing behind the stage with both hands tightly clenched. Thus she said a word to Du Yun Han and quietly went to the resting area. 

Du Ke Xin looked to her retreating figure with a pensive look. 

"Xiao Li, Xiao Li, what to do, I'm nervous!" Ji Liu Xia saw Du Xiao Li and grabbed her hand at once.

"You have to believe in yourself! You can do it!" Du Xiao Li grasped her hand and said.

"But I don't believe in myself! I keep feeling that I'll mess up this performance." Ji Liu Xia said.

"You might not believe in yourself, but do you believe in me?" Du Xiao Li asked.

Ji Liu Xia nodded, "I believe you, I've always believed in you." Although Du Xiao Li was younger than all of them, but in their subconscious minds, the four of them all very much believed in her.

"Then I say you'll be fine, and this performance of yours will also be fine. You all will definitely be the best tonight!" Du Xiao Li softly said with a smile.

"Really?" Ji Liu Xia asked in uncertainty.

"Of course! Think about it, who arranged this perform of yours? Who taught you this dance?" Du Xiao Li asked back.

"All you!" Ji Liu Xia deeply inhaled a breath and said, "You're right, we've spent a lot of time and thought on it. It'll definitely be fine! However......"

"However what?"

"However, if we perform well, then you have to make good food for me as a reward!" Ji Liu Xia shamelessly said.

"Pfft------alright, if you can perform smoothly, then I'll invite you all for a feast!" Du Xiao Li said. 

Meng Jiang Zhuo and the others just happened to walk out at this moment. Hearing Du Xiao Li's words, she said, "We all heard! A certain someone said, if our performance tonight goes smoothly, will invite us for a feast!" 

"How are your preparations?" Du Xiao Li looked to the already dressed few and asked.

"En, we've checked everything." Fu Ya Lan said with a nod, "After this performance finishes, it'll be our turn."

"Alright, good luck!" Du Xiao Li cheered them on with a smile.

"Even if it's just for the sake of that grand meal of yours, we'll still do our best!" Meng Jiang Zhuo smilingly said.

"Hehe, I'll be waiting for you all to come slay me! Alright, their performance ended, it's your turn. I'll go to the side to watch you all!" Du Xiao Li encouragingly nodded at them and then headed to the lateral side of the stage, perfectly standing behind the osmanthus flower tree, blocking everyone else's line of sight. 

"Next is the last performance, collectively prepared for everyone by Imperial Tutor Meng family's Miss Meng Jiang Zhuo, General Ji's daughter, Miss Ji, Elder Fu family's Miss Fu Ya Lan, as well as Princess Changle.

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