Seeing that her little scheme was about to be exposed, Gu Zhengwan quickly changed her mood. A thin layer of mist gradually covered her eyes, and even her voice took on a slight sob. "Zhengwan saw Sister Jiangyue's disfigurement and just wanted to dance a dance to cheer her up. How could Sister Yimiao say such things about me? If Sister doesn't like it, I won't dance."
There was endless grievance in Gu Zhengwan's eyes. She deliberately looked up at Qin Anjie with her moist eyes and pretended to return to her original position, not planning to dance anymore.
Seeing Gu Zhengwan aggrieved, Qin Anjie got anxious immediately. His eyebrows knitted together, and his voice was full of dissatisfaction.
"All of you are sisters. Why is Miss Yimiao being so aggressive? Moreover, Miss Gu hasn't said anything. After all, this is Miss Gu's coming - of - age ceremony. Isn't it even more inappropriate for Miss Yimiao to make such assumptions and ignore others?"
Qin Anjie looked righteous, and his words sounded nice, but there were loopholes as soon as one thought carefully.
Wasn't it Qin Anjie himself who had ignored Gu Jiangyue first?
Gu Jiangyue almost burst out laughing. She originally just wanted to watch them fight like dogs biting dogs quietly, but they actually dragged her into it.
"I've heard that Miss Jiangyue is good at playing the zither. Why don't the two ladies cooperate? One is good at the zither and the other is good at dancing. Wouldn't that be even better?"
The one who spoke was a woman in yellow clothes. She was sitting with Gu Zhengwan. Her head was held high, and her expression was arrogant. Now she was looking at Gu Jiangyue with a gloating expression. This was none other than Miss Lin, the younger sister of Lin Yeran, Lin Qianshuang.
Back then, she was happy for a long time when she heard that Gu Jiangyue was disfigured. She didn't know what spell Gu Jiangyue had cast on her brother, making him insist on marrying her. Today, seeing that Gu Jiangyue was really wearing a veil and dared not show her true face, she felt a lot more at ease.
Gu Zhengwan liked Xie Chengrui, and Xie Chengrui had a close relationship with the Lin family. Gu Zhengwan didn't want to deal with Lin Yeran, so she got along with Lin Qianshuang instead. With Gu Zhengwan's initiative, the two smoothly became friends.
Both of them disliked Gu Jiangyue. Before the banquet started, Gu Zhengwan casually mentioned to Lin Qianshuang that Gu Jiangyue's zither skills were not as good as her dancing skills. Unexpectedly, Lin Qianshuang remembered this and was so eager to see Gu Jiangyue make a fool of herself.
If it were in her previous life, Gu Jiangyue's zither skills really weren't at the level to accompany Gu Zhengwan's dance. But in this life, everything had changed. She was no longer the old Gu Jiangyue. Her zither skills were extraordinary, even more wonderful than Gu Zhengwan's dance.
Lin Qianshuang's suggestion was indeed a good trick. When the zither and dance were performed separately, hardly anyone would deliberately judge which was better or worse. But when they were put together, it would be obvious who was more skilled. Even those who didn't understand could easily tell the difference.
Xie Chengrui wanted to say something to help Gu Jiangyue out, thinking that maybe Gu Jiangyue would change her attitude towards him and be like before.
Xie Jiuan beside him noticed his expression. The corner of his lips curled up into a playful smile, and he let out a soft tsk.
"Why should Your Highness the Crown Prince get involved in other people's affairs?"
Other people.
These two words hit Xie Chengrui hard. Although he and Gu Jiangyue were engaged, the emperor had never paid much attention to him and didn't even bother to care about him. Moreover, Gu Jiangyue was the daughter of a military general. Whether their marriage would exist or not was just a thought of the emperor.
Even if Xie Chengrui was stupid, he could feel that the relationship between Xie Jiuan and Gu Jiangyue was definitely not ordinary. But he could do nothing. He could only clench his fists, his eyes shining with unwillingness.
Seeing Xie Chengrui furious, Xie Jiuan thought he should be in no mood to disturb him from watching the show. Then he focused on Gu Jiangyue again, looking forward to how she would resolve this crisis.
He was so curious about what this little girl would do.
After Lin Qianshuang's suggestion, some people thought it was an interesting thing and agreed, while others kept silent. But their eyes were all fixed on Gu Jiangyue.
It was only at this moment that she truly became the protagonist of her own coming - of - age ceremony.
The old matriarch was watching all this on the side and didn't intend to stop it. Now that Gu Jiangyue's face was disfigured, it meant that her value had disappeared. The old matriarch shifted her focus to Gu Zhengwan. If she could sacrifice Gu Jiangyue to pave the way for Gu Zhengwan and let her be seen by more people, it might not be a bad thing.
"My zither skills are not good. I'm afraid I'll spoil everyone's fun."
Gu Jiangyue frowned slightly. Her eyes exposed outside the veil were full of entanglement.
If she readily agreed now, even if she defeated Gu Zhengwan later, she might still be criticized by everyone. Instead, she could use their strength against them. If she was forced to play and happened to defeat Gu Zhengwan, then these people would have nothing to say.
Anyway, she didn't want to accompany Gu Zhengwan's dance at first. It was them who forced her to do it.
Seeing that Gu Jiangyue was so hesitant, Lin Qianshuang was extremely happy in her heart, but put on a confused expression on her face.
"Miss Zhengwan doesn't mind. Could it be that the rumors are false? Is Miss Jiangyue's zither skills really that bad?"
There was a murmur in the crowd, just as Lin Qianshuang had expected.
As long as Gu Jiangyue refused, in the eyes of everyone, she would be completely outshone by Gu Zhengwan and be no different from a useless person. Lin Qianshuang was forcing her into a dead end.
If she agreed, there would still be a glimmer of hope. If she refused, it would be a dead end. If she refused, once today was over, the favorable rumors about Gu Jiangyue would completely disappear. She would become the object of everyone's ridicule, and Gu Zhengwan would be highly praised.
Gu Jiangyue frowned even deeper. She closed her beautiful almond eyes and then took a long breath, as if she had made some important decision.
"I'm not good at the zither. Sister Zhengwan really doesn't mind, right?"
Seeing that Gu Jiangyue was about to take the bait, Gu Zhengwan raised a sweet smile on her lips, and her words were full of understanding.
"How could I mind? It's just for fun. As long as everyone has a good time, Sister doesn't need to feel pressured. Just play casually. It's Sister who shouldn't laugh at me."
Gu Zhengwan gained a good reputation for being gentle and considerate in the eyes of everyone.
Seeing that they had almost reached an agreement, everyone began to persuade Gu Jiangyue, telling her not to worry.
Gu Jiangyue sneered silently in her heart. Play casually. It was Gu Zhengwan who had personally asked her to play. Then she wouldn't be polite.
"In that case, I'd better obey. Zhiyuan, bring my zither."