Chapter 78 Debut

  The flower appreciation banquet is in full swing.

  Mrs. Xü and Zheng Shi sat together, whispering and laughing. Mrs. Zheng also sat beside them, with a smile on her face, but upon closer inspection, it was clear that the smile only floated on the surface, with even a hint of bitterness.

  As she watched the girls one by one confidently showing off their talents and receiving rounds of applause, Zheng's wife couldn't help but think of Gu Xi Yu hiding in the pavilion, refusing to see anyone. Her heart felt like an overturned condiment box, a mix of emotions, with all sorts of flavors.

  Next was Ye Qingning's turn.

  Ye Qingning rose slowly, her lotus steps light and gentle, her skirt almost motionless as she walked. This elegance and poise, cultivated through strict training in the etiquette of a noble lady's boudoir, was an essential skill for a young woman from a noble family. Moreover, Ye Qingning's beauty was exceptional, her crimson dress shining brightly in the sunlight, setting off her pale skin like jade and her lively spirit.

  Mrs. Xü looked at Ye Qingning with a hint of a smile and nodded almost imperceptibly.

  Mr. Zheng glanced at Mrs. Xue's satisfied expression, and his heart felt extremely relieved. Subconsciously, he looked at Mrs. Zheng for a moment, and in that instant, he felt an unspoken pride and arrogance.

  Ye Qing Ning slowly sat down, her slender fingers gently pressing the strings, and then a string of melodious and moving music sounded. The crowd suddenly applauded silently in their hearts.

  Ye Qingning seemed to be deliberately showing off her piano skills, her slender jade hands skillfully plucking the strings, her expression extremely focused, radiating dazzling beauty.

  Mrs. Xu couldn't help but praise: "Ning's piano skills are really great."

  Zheng smiled humbly: "Sister-in-law is overpraising. Today, among those present, there are many who excel at playing the zither. Ning'er still has a long way to go! Not to mention others, just take Shen Ce Fei for example, back then she was truly famous in the capital with her music."

  Shen Qiuyu had been living in the Dingguo Gongfu for many years, and Zhengshi and others were all very familiar with her. Moreover, Shen Qiuyu was also present today, so it came naturally to their lips.

  Madam Xü glanced at Madam Zheng and smiled faintly, saying: "In my opinion, Ning's daughter is not necessarily inferior to Shen Qiuyu back then." She directly called out Shen Qiuyu's name, her tone without much respect.

  Although Shen Qiuyu is now a noblewoman, she was once just an orphan living in the Dingguo Gongfu. In the eyes of these aristocratic women, she doesn't count for much. Moreover, Gu Xiayear's persistence in not marrying has also made many relatives feel uncomfortable. When mentioning Shen Qiuyu, it's only natural that their tone is somewhat unpleasant.

  Mrs. Zheng was calm and composed, even smiling slightly at the corner of her mouth.

  Only she didn't know her emotions at this moment, whether they had really calmed down like the surface.

  It's strange to say, Shen Qiuyu has been low-key and rarely appeared in such occasions since she married into the Crown Prince's mansion. Why did she suddenly appear at the British Embassy today?

  Zheng looked at the figure sitting not far away and asked in a low voice, "Big sister. Has she spoken to you since she came?" She also knew some of the inside story about what happened back then. Because of Gu Xianning's sake, no one in the Dingguo Duke Manor dared to mention Shen Qiuyu's name. As time went by, even they rarely mentioned it.

  Mrs. Zheng's eyes flashed. She replied lightly: "She was very polite, and as soon as she saw me, she greeted me and called me Auntie just like before."

  Zheng and her sister had known each other for many years, so she naturally understood her temper. Seeing that she didn't want to say more, she tactfully shifted the topic back to Ye Qingning.

  Ye Qingning had already played more than half of the melody, and by the lotus pond, only the sound of the guqin could be heard. Almost everyone was intoxicated by this intoxicating music. Zheng's face glowed with a bright light, and her smile grew even thicker.

  Although not intentionally showing off, Zheng's wife was deeply stimulated. Her smile was somewhat stiff, her fingers clenched into fists in the wide sleeves, and her long fingernails pinched her palm, causing a dull ache.

  If my own daughter could also appear in such an occasion with poise and confidence, that would be great. Unfortunately, this is destined to be just a luxury...

  Mrs. Zheng's eyes flashed with a hint of melancholy, and she couldn't help but let out a soft sigh.

  At this moment, two figures took advantage of everyone's attention on Ye Qingning and quietly slipped over from the back row.

  Ye Qinglan walked in front, Gu Xiyu followed behind her with his head down, all the way not daring to look up at anyone, trying hard to hold back the urge to turn around and run.

  So many people, so many voices...

  Her mind was a complete blank, and she couldn't even hear what people were saying. She only felt her breathing getting more and more urgent, fine beads of sweat appearing on her forehead, and her tightly clenched palms were slippery with cold sweat.

  Ye Qinglan's soft voice came over: "Xi Yu sister, don't be afraid, just a few more steps and we'll arrive."

  Gu Xiuyu murmured a vague agreement, but her footsteps slowed down even more. Ye Qinglan saw that things were not going well and instinctively grasped Gu Xiuyu's hand.

  Gu Xiyu's hand was slippery and cold, while Ye Qinglan's hand was dry and warm.

  Gu Xi Yu's footsteps came to an abrupt halt, and she hastily lifted her head. She had always disliked it when others drew near to her, and being touched casually was a major taboo. If it were someone else who dared to do so, she would probably have already let out a shrill cry by now.

  But now the person holding her hand intimately is her only friend...

  Ye Qinglan's eyes were warm and firm, her voice soft and low: "Believe in yourself, you can definitely do it. Now listen to me, take a deep breath, then slowly exhale. Then straighten your chest, look forward."

  That voice seemed to carry a mysterious magic, and Gu Xiuyu unconsciously followed suit. Taking deep breaths, again and again. It was strange to say, but the tense and anxious heart slowly calmed down.

  The moment she summoned up courage to lift her head, she met a pair of disbelieving and astonished eyes.

  Mrs. Zheng could hardly believe her eyes, staring blankly at the frail girl not far away, and after a while, she trembled and opened her mouth: "Yu'er..."

  She, how did she end up here?

  Zheng and Madam Xue were also startled, but quickly reacted and simultaneously opened their mouths to say: "Xiuyu, come over quickly."

  Facing several familiar faces, Gu Xiuyu gradually relaxed and smiled shyly, but didn't move her feet.

  Mrs. Zheng was both surprised and excited, for a moment she didn't know what to say.

  Ye Qinglan smiled brightly and helped Gu Xiuyu out of the situation: "Xiuyu sister, let's not stand here, lest we block other people's view." As she spoke, she pulled Gu Xiuyu forward.

  Gu Xi Yu reluctantly followed Ye Qinglan as she walked away.

  Mrs. Zheng only then noticed the two hands clasped together, and couldn't help but be shocked again. Mrs. Zheng and Mrs. Xu also noticed the intimacy between the two, and were secretly shocked in their hearts.

  Gu Xi Yu was notoriously reclusive and eccentric, yet earlier she had such an intense reaction when accidentally touched by Zheng Min. But now, why was she willing to let Ye Qing Lan hold her hand? It was truly too strange...

  Ye Qinglan ignored the astonished glances of the crowd, smiling as she pulled Gu Xiyu down to sit, then naturally let go of her hand and turned to smile at Zheng Furen: "I saw that Xiyu jiejie was feeling stifled in the pavilion, so I advised her to come over and join in the fun. Auntie shouldn't blame me for taking liberties, okay?"

  It's not just unbelievable, it's simply too exciting!

  Mrs. Zheng had never been so grateful to a young girl, her smile more sincere than usual: "I really didn't expect Xiuyu and you to get along so well. She's actually willing to follow you here." Even she, as Xiuyu's mother, couldn't persuade her like that!

  Ye Qinglan smiled and didn't take credit: "Auntie said this, I really don't dare to accept. It's because of Xī Yù's bravery." While speaking, she winked at Xī Yù. The little secret between the two was naturally unspoken.

  Gu Xi Yu felt a warmth in her heart and her lips curled up slightly.

  Mrs. Zheng felt an indescribable excitement and joy in her heart, but her face remained calm. She smiled at Ye Qinglan and didn't say anything else. However, she secretly made up her mind that since Gu Xiyu liked Ye Qinglan so much and was willing to listen to her, she would have to think of a way to keep Ye Qinglan by Gu Xiyu's side for the long term...

  Zheng's mood was somewhat subtle.

  She was delighted with Gu Xiuyu's transformation, but also felt a little uneasy. Zheng Junyan and Ye Qingning's marriage had not been formally settled, and if Gu Xiuyu suddenly became better, it would be troublesome...

  As expected, Mrs. Xü was delighted to see Gu Xiuyu willing to appear in front of the crowd and her heart suddenly became more lively again, chatting with Gu Xiuyu for a few sentences with some familiarity.

  Of course, Gu Xiuyu still said very little, at most just nodding or humming a response, but at least her expression was relatively calm. She had always been born with a good temperament, and now she sat quietly there, her hands placed calmly on her legs, looking like a beautiful ink painting.

  Mrs. Xu's attitude became increasingly warm and gentle.

  Zheng's smile didn't diminish, but his eyes dimmed slightly.

  Just then, Ye Qingning finished her song and stood up to bow to the crowd. Immediately, a round of applause and cheers erupted. Ye Qingning tried her best to hide the pride and arrogance in her heart, but the sparkle in the corners of her eyes and eyebrows couldn't be concealed.

  Ye Qinglan smiled and applauded. Ye Qingning had been practicing diligently every day, and the effect was remarkable. The piano piece she played earlier, although she had heard it countless times, still gave her a sense of astonishment today. One could imagine what kind of feeling those who heard it for the first time would have.

  Zheng saw his daughter making a big splash and a smile returned to his eyes.

  At this moment, someone suddenly spoke out: "Sister Ye's piano skills are indeed extremely good, but I heard that Concubine Shen was famous for her piano skills in the capital before she married. I wonder who is better at playing the piano between the two?"

  Ye Qingning's smile paused for a moment.

  Ye Qinglan was also curious about the girl who suddenly spoke up and couldn't help but take a peek. Only then did she realize that it was the same delicate-looking girl who had been playing the flute at the beginning.

  This girl was obviously jealous of Ye Qingning's outstanding performance and came up with such a sentence. Coincidentally, the Shen Ce Fei in her mouth was also present. After hearing this, she naturally couldn't sit still.

  Then a gentle and pleasant voice said: "Qingning's sister's piano skills are superb, much better than mine when I was young."

  Book number: 2690274

  A brief introduction: I've traveled through time, suffered a tragic fate! Reborn, I'll rise again! To those who wronged me, don't think you're off the hook. This life, we'll settle the score. And to those I wronged, I'm sorry, I'll take responsibility!