Chapter 92: Who’s the Most Beautiful
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Seeing Jiang Shanshan always gave Mingzhu a headache. She was racking her brains to find an excuse to evade her when Jiang Shanshan kindly patted her hand and went to pay her respects to Empress Dowager Min.
An Xiaogu covered her mouth with the fan and whispered in Mingzhu’s ear, “Strange, why is she always able to please everyone? Look, how amiable the Empress Dowager is to her? Oh, even that Wusun princess is smiling at her!”
Mingzhu looked over and indeed saw the Wusun princess smiling at Jiang Shanshan, obviously very familiar with and fond of her.
“I’ve seen it before.” Mingzhu remembered Jiang Shanshan’s expression when she mentioned the Wusun princess before, feeling a bit puzzled. Was Jiang Shanshan also someone who liked to join in the fun and happened to become friends with the Wusun princess by chance?
But seeing Jiang Shanshan finish her courtesy, Empress Dowager Min called her to the front. “Come here, sit next to our esteemed guest, and relay to the princess what we’ve discussed. Whatever the county princess wishes to say, you can also convey it to us.”
Jiang Shanshan understands the language of the Wusun? Mingzhu couldn’t help but be stunned. An Xiaogu was also greatly surprised. “Huh, when did she become proficient in Wusun? Who taught her?”
Seeing her unabashed surprise, Mingzhu pulled her aside and whispered, “She has been a well-known talented woman in the capital since she was young. She could recite poetry and speak Wusun language from an early age, so what’s so rare about that?”
But deep down, she felt a bit disheartened. Compared to her, she was indeed a talentless big loser.
Meanwhile, Jiang Shanshan humbly said, “Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness. There’s no place for Shanshan to sit in front of you and the distinguished guest. Just let Shanshan stand aside and serve.”
“Tsk. Look, she’s more capable than you,” An Xiaogu sneered. “You only dare to say you won’t dare to sit on the Phoenix Seat. If asked to sit next to that county princess, you would definitely do it without hesitation, right?”
Mingzhu remained silent. That was a certainty. If Min Baoyun dared to sit, she would dare to sit too. There was no way she was inferior to Min Baoyun. She was even a generation older than Min Baoyun.
An Xiaogu could tell what she was thinking from her expression. “I guessed it right.”
“Shh…” Mingzhu pressed her fan against An Xiaogu’s lips, signaling her to be quiet and just watch the show.
Jiang Shanshan continued to refuse to sit, but Empress Dowager Min smiled and said, “Don’t refuse. In terms of status, you’re no worse than anyone else here. Your family has been a hereditary noble for several generations, the Marquis Changxing’s Mansion. You’re also engaged to Ying Wang. In the future, you’ll be Ying Wang’s proper consort, with few others here having a higher status than you. I told you to sit, so you shall.”
Mingzhu wondered if she was imagining it, but she felt that Empress Dowager Min deliberately glanced at her when she said those words, with a somewhat domineering meaning.
Embarrassed, Jiang Shanshan gave a courtesy to Empress Dowager Min and then gracefully sat down next to the Wusun princess. After the princess said something to her, she smiled and said to Empress Dowager Min, “The princess says thank you for Your Majesty’s gracious hospitality. Today, she feels truly enlightened, seeing so many beauties all at once. She doesn’t know how to praise it enough.”
Empress Dowager Min laughed proudly, “The county princess is also a beauty. On the first meeting, she made quite an impression on me. But to be frank, what the princess said just now is true. We have many beauties in our empire.” With a twinkle in her eye, she glanced at Mingzhu and continued, “According to the princess, who among those present is the most beautiful?”
The Wusun princess didn’t understand the implication and truthfully replied, “Today, in terms of costume, Princess Funing is the most beautiful. In terms of looks, it’s that Miss Mingzhu just now.”
Princess Funing was initially proud, but upon hearing the latter part of the statement, she couldn’t help but glare fiercely at Mingzhu. Others had no objections; after all, it was widely known that Mingzhu was beautiful. The only strange thing was that Mingzhu hadn’t dressed up specially to surpass Princess Funing today.
Empress Dowager Min burst into laughter, “It’s said that the Wusun people are straightforward, and it seems to be true. This statement hits the nail on the head. I’ve always felt that Mingzhu is the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen.” As she spoke, she reached out her hand towards Mingzhu, “Come over here.”
Mingzhu felt clouded by their harmonized singing, vaguely sensing that something was amiss but unable to grasp the key point. And because Empress Dowager Min was being so overtly friendly, she felt cornered, with no place to hide. She had to stand up and walk over to Empress Dowager Min’s side. Before she could even settle in, Empress Dowager Min grabbed her hand and pulled her down forcefully, causing her to lose control and nearly fall towards Empress Dowager Min. After steadying herself, Empress Dowager Min gently pushed her to sit next to her, holding one hand of Baoyun and the other hand of Mingzhu, saying, “Now it’s complete.”
At this point, Mingzhu could only pretend to be sincerely fearful and say, “Empress Dowager, spare me. How can I sit here?” Without warning, she met Baoyun’s resentful gaze and couldn’t help but reveal her true feelings, casting a provocative glance at her.
Baoyun’s face flushed with anger, but she dared not say a word, only lowering her eyes to stare at her own toes in frustration. Mingzhu, victorious, withdrew her gaze, still wearing a nervous and uneasy expression.
Then she heard Jiang Shanshan relay to the Wusun princess, “The county princess is interested in making friends with Miss Mingzhu. Would Miss Mingzhu be willing?”
Mingzhu turned to look at the Wusun princess and saw her gazing at her with great interest. Taking the opportunity, she stood up and bowed to her, saying with a smile, “It would be Mingzhu’s honor.”
The Wusun princess smiled warmly at her and asked Jiang Shanshan a few questions in a low voice. Jiang Shanshan looked embarrassed, and Empress Dowager Min asked, “What’s going on? What did she say?”
Jiang Shanshan glanced at Mingzhu, then whispered, “The county princess asked, which noble family does this Miss Mingzhu belong to?”
Mingzhu cursed inwardly. What was the big deal about that? Just asking about her background, did she need to look so embarrassed? It made people think the Wusun princess was talking behind her back.
Then Empress Dowager Min replied very seriously, “The county princess did not look wrong. Miss Mingzhu’s background is indeed noble. She is the only niece of the Great Empress Dowager and the legitimate daughter of the Prime Minister. She is also a close cousin of our Emperor. When the late Emperor was alive, he personally intended to confer upon her the title of county princess, but the Great Empress Dowager and the Prime Minister declined out of humility.”
Mingzhu was taken aback. The late Emperor wanted to confer upon her the title of county princess? Which late Emperor was it, her deceased imperial uncle or her cousin? Why didn’t she know about this?
Before she could figure out what was going on, Empress Dowager Min continued to praise her, “She is skilled in horseback riding and archery, proficient in singing and dancing, open-minded and lively, straightforward and bold. She is a rare good girl in the capital.”
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