"Greetings, Princess."
With the crowd, Qi Nanxue knelt down, and everyone in the room was prostrated at the feet of Princess Fengyang.
"Rise."
Princess Fengyang said softly.
Only then did everyone rise to their feet.
After getting up, Qi Nanxue noticed that the person beside him was so nervous they were breaking out in a cold sweat.
Princess Fengyang had already sat down by now. Her gaze swept over the sowhat ssy dressing room: "The Queen Mother has already set the ti, to perform at 7:30 AM. The songs you submitted before have also been reviewed by the Queen Mother, who thinks they’re very good, so just perform as planned."
Lv Changhe quickly replied, "Thank you for the reminder, Princess."
Princess Fengyang smiled, stood up briskly, and turned to leave. When she reached the door, she suddenly turned around, her gaze sweeping over Qi Nanxue with a hint of tension at the corners of her mouth, then she walked away decisively and neatly.
Qi Nanxue felt sowhat disappointed.
He had hoped the Princess would stay a little longer, but she left after saying just two sentences.
Subsequently, he sat back in the corner with a self-mocking smile.
In a place like this, how could the Princess possibly stay any longer?
Such a noble person, even spending a mont more with them would be unbearable.
Lv Changhe returned, clapping his hands, "Did you hear that, everyone? There’s just one more hour until we take the stage. Get ready now and keep your spirits up. If we ss up, see how I’ll handle dealing with you lot."
Qi Nanxue set aside his feelings of disappointnt, quickly tidied himself up, and went to change and apply makeup.
As the ti approached, Palace Attendants brought in so food.
Of course, there wasn’t much, just a little to tide them over, but certainly not enough to make them full or bloated.
Qi Nanxue ate just a bit and then started contemplating how to perform the play perfectly, how to enhance his singing.
The Fengqi Palace was quite crowded today, even Princess Le Yang, who was already married, was called to attend.
Also present were the Hui Family and the Yuan Family, along with Mrs. Li, Mrs. Geng, Mrs. Liu, and even Madam i and Mrs. i were invited by Anning.
When Princess Fengyang arrived, Anning was conversing with Madam i.
She smiled and said, "The child will arrive soon. When he does, let him greet Auntie first. I’ve been busy lately, so if Auntie has the ti, please help guide him."
Madam i nodded in agreent.
She also wanted to see the character of the heir Anning found for Imperial Censor Xie, naturally wanting to observe at ho for a while.
Princess Fengyang went over to pay respects to Madam i and Mrs. i.
The two ladies dared not accept the gesture, side-stepping it, and attempted to rise to pay respects to Fengyang, only for Fengyang to quickly support them: "You are my elders, there’s no reason for elders to pay respects to the younger generation. Old Madam, please sit, and Auntie also, please sit."
Speaking affectionately, addressing her as "Auntie" made Mrs. i feel exceedingly comfortable and valued, filling her heart with warmth, "I see the Princess has grown even more radiant lately, and she seems to have grown taller too."
Anning chuckled, "She’s just afraid she won’t grow, drinking milk all day, claiming it helps her grow taller, and she’s made all sorts of dairy products. Look, she really did grow taller, though she seems a bit brawny now."
Fengyang pouted, "Mother, what do you an brawny, I’m tall and slender."
"Alright, alright." Anning laughed, "Sit down now. You’re always like a little monkey, impossible to find when I want to see you."
Fengyang obediently sat down, and Princess Le Yang next to her handed her a fruit, which Fengyang took and started nibbling on.
Then Mrs. Li turned to talk to Anning, "Prince Xin is not young anymore, shouldn’t it be ti for him to marry? Does the Empress have any plans to select a consort for Prince Xin?"
Another lady inquired, "Does Princess Zhaoyang have any plans to choose a Prince Consort?"
Anning smiled and replied, "I’m quite eager for them to marry soon, but the children are not keen. You know how doting His Majesty is towards them, letting them have their way, so one by one they all feel like they’re still three to five years old. Why rush to marry? I also think they’re just kids, why marry at all? Whether they take a wife or get married themselves, wouldn’t it make the Princess and Prince Consort beco child-rearers? That wouldn’t be good, so there’s no rush. We’ll wait until they’ve matured."
No one else pressed the issue after Anning said this.
Everyone with insight could tell the Empress didn’t want the Princes and Princesses to marry early, and speaking too much might touch on sensitive subjects.
Fengyang quickly said, "Mother, it’s almost ti. You, Old Madam, and the ladies should move to the opera house."
Thus, a large group of people grandly moved to the opera house.
Once there, Anning invited Madam i to choose an opera. How could Madam i choose first when Anning was the Empress? Anning showed her respect by asking her, but Madam i couldn’t overstep due to seniority.
After so polite refusal, Anning took the librettos and chose a lively opera to start with.
She knew the ladies present were quite bored recently, so she wanted to begin with sothing lively to stir up the atmosphere.
Afterward, Madam i chose the play "Reviving a Dream in the Garden."
Then Princess Duan and Princess Consort Yi each picked a performance as well.
As they were selecting plays, the perforrs backstage were already getting into costu, and soon the gongs sounded for the start.
The first was the lively "Five Daughters Offering Birthday Felicitations," chosen by Anning.
This opera involved many perforrs and was very lively, with dramatic peaks and a happy ending. It’s a favorite among noble ladies.
After this opera, servants began laying tables for a feast. Anning led the group to re-seat themselves, enjoying wine while watching the next performance.
The second performance, "Reviving a Dream in the Garden," was when Qi Nanxue took the stage.
Princess Fengyang sat beside Anning.
Initially focusing only on her food, when Qi Nanxue took the stage, Princess Fengyang was left stunned.
She was never much a fan of opera. After all, in modern life, with so many entertainnt options, are gas not fun? Or are web dramas not captivating? Or cody shows lacking humor? Naturally, people were not very fond of traditional opera, which often seed slow and sotis incomprehensible. It’s a bit like music that’s too highbrow for the average taste.
Princess Fengyang had never grasped the allure of opera.
Yet, as soon as Qi Nanxue took the stage and opened his mouth, Princess Fengyang’s attention was completely captured.
Qi Nanxue’s appearance was truly stunning.
He was already good-looking, and dressed in female costu, he was enchanting beyond compare, with unparalleled elegance. His voice was excellent, and his stage presence was flawless.
Princess Fengyang couldn’t find words to praise, only thinking it was incredibly good.
Qi Nanxue’s singing was entrancing and indescribably captivating. His mannerisms appeared delicate and gentle, portraying a young lady in a deep boudoir so vividly that it was even more womanly than a real woman.
Princess Fengyang couldn’t even focus on her food; she watched intently for a long ti.
She leaned slightly towards Anning, "Mother, that’s it."
Anning also thought Qi Nanxue sang well.
Having traveled through countless worlds and seen many perforrs, Anning herself had sung opera and once even led an unmatched opera troupe. Her appreciation skills far surpassed Fengyang’s.
She could tell at a glance that Qi Nanxue was truly talented and hardworking. Although he couldn’t compare with her as a troupe leader, given ti, he wouldn’t fall short. With proper nurturing, he could beco a legendary perforr, akin to the movie stars of the modern age, attracting countless fans.
"Not bad at all."
Anning comnted fairly, smiling at Fengyang, "If you wish to support a perforr, you can."
Princess Fengyang was overjoyed, smiling as she poured a cup of wine for Anning, "If Mother doesn’t object, it shall be him."
Princess Fengyang was actually quite anxious.
She worried Anning might look down on Qi Nanxue’s background or prevent her, or even worse, hurt Qi Nanxue due to her actions.
But she hadn’t expected Anning to be so open-minded, actually encouraging her to support a perforr, which was truly...
Princess Fengyang felt once again fortunate. She believed her luck was incredible; in this lifeti traversing the ancient world, she seed to have everything—with parents who cherished her, a close bond with siblings, real support she could rely on. She didn’t have to do much, as her parents had paved the way for her, making her a genuine Golden Branch Jade Leaf.
Her siblings also cared for and protected her, ensuring she lacked for nothing.
Most importantly, her parents loved her enough to let her do whatever she wanted, disregarding societal norms.
Princess Fengyang felt her effortlessly successful life was too wonderful, too joyous.
She again blissfully glanced at Qi Nanxue, still performing on stage—what a splendid figure, such a delicate waist. Wasn’t it even slimr than hers? And those eyes were truly bewitching.
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