Chapter 150 - One-Trick Pony
Chapter 150 One-Trick Pony
After Qiao Jinniang opened her eyes, she looked at Tong Yingying suspiciously and said, “Isn’t Da Mian Lanling the tune “Lanling on the Battlefield”‘? Is there another Da Mian?”
Lu Chen applauded slowly and said, “The popular tune “Lanling on the Battlefield” has been adapted by the late emperor in Chang’an and is softer than the original one, and the dancers who perform the tune are mostly women, different from the brave and valiant Warrior Lanling in legend. “Miss Qiao played it very well. Her performance is superb.”
Qiao Jinniang breathed a sigh of relief. This was the only tune she was proficient in.
The zither teacher in school liked this tune the most, so Qiao Jinniang only learned this tune.
If she played any other songs, she might not be able to play them well. She was so familiar with this tune since she was a child that she could play it even with her eyes closed.
Everyone echoed the Crown Prince’s sentiment and began to flatter Qiao Jinniang.
Hearing the flattery, Qiao Jinniang felt a bit embarrassed.
How could Tong Yingying be reconciled? But the “Lanling on the Battlefield” adapted by the late emperor was too soft. Even if she played it again, she couldn’t beat Qiao Jinniang.
She would only lose face even if she played it again.
But she didn’t want to admit defeat just like this!
If Qiao Jinniang was really proficient in zither, why did she need to tune the zither just now?
Fulu smiled and said to Qiao Jinniang, “I didn’t know you can play a zither! You’re really out of our league.”
Qin Miaomiao said on the side, “It’s good you know that.”
Fulu snorted. “I’m just being polite, okay? I remember you were defeated by Tong Yingying, and Tong Yingying can’t even compare with Jinniang. Doesn’t it mean that you are beaten by her?!”
Completely speechless at the two of them, Qiao Jinniang went to Qiao Ruoyi’s table with Little Lu Xi.
Since Consort Huai had performed a dance, many men and women performed after that, most of whom were unmarried. Qiao Jinniang had to exclaim that Chang’an was really full of talents. There were not a few women with excellent dancing skills like Consort Huai, especially the daughter of the sixth-rank Deputy Minister of Penalty whose Zheyao Dance amazed everyone.
Her waist was so tender and slender…
Noticing Qiao Jinniang’s amazed look, Fulu said, “Hey, why the look? She has performed this Zheyao Dance countless times, and she can only do this dance.”
“Many people laughed at her behind her back!”
Qiao Jinniang, who could only play Da Mian:
It seemed that she still needed to take time to learn some more tunes, at least to be proficient in two more tunes. Otherwise, she would be laughed at too.
While the people of Duke Wu Mansion weren’t paying attention, Zhou Sisi went up to the stage and said, “Let, let me perform a show for
you.”
Zhou Siming hurriedly said, “Be good, Sisi. Come down quickly.”
Zhou Sisi took out a knife and a piece of wood from her arms. “I’d like to perform a carving for you.”
There were regrets in everyone’s eyes. In terms of appearance and family background, Zhou Sisi was definitely one of the tops among the noble girls in Chang’an, but sadly, she was mentally disabled.
Zhou Sisi had a knife in her hand, so no one dared to touch her.
Everyone was looking at her carving the piece of wood. No one could deny that the scene of a gorgeous young girl carving a piece of wood was extremely beautiful.
When the banquet was about to end, Zhou Sisi handed the piece of wood in her hand to Lu Chen. “Brother, Sisi carved you.”
Zhou Siming looked at Lu Chen pleadingly, so Lu Chen took the piece of wood in the end.
After accepting it, he walked to Qiao Jinniang and gave the wood carving to Qiao Jinniang. “When you miss me, take it out and take a look.”
Qiao Jinniang looked at the wood figurine that wasn’t carved very well, and then looked at the little pigeon demon who was about to cry.
She returned the figurine to Lu Chen and said, “It won’t be long before I can see you every day. Why do I need this piece of wood? Just keep it yourself!”
The little pigeon demon carved this piece of wood for nearly half an hour. If she really cried, it would be embarrassing.
Seeing that Qiao Jinniang was not angry, Lu Chen kept the carving.
After the banquet, the guests went to the street in twos and threes in the afternoon, and someone suggested going to the Jewelry Pavilion.
Qiao Jinniang went to the Jewelry Pavilion with Little Lu Xi.
The Jewelry Pavilion had expanded, so it was not crowded with more than 20 noble ladies in
it.
The manager took out the gems that Qiao Jinniang had just bought not long ago. As Qiao Jinniang guessed, there were many women who loved gems. When they heard that they could customize jewelry with the gems, they became more interested.
Those who were doted on at home directly placed an order without asking their family.
Many noble girls even hurriedly went home to invite their mothers over.
Passing by the door, Tong Yingying said to a few scholars who were following and complimenting her, “These girls only know how to have fun, and the money they spend on a hairpin is enough to sustain a poor family for a lifetime, alas…”
“Miss Tong, you’re so benevolent. These superficial girls are incomparable to you.”
Being touted by the men, Tong Yingying looked at the beautiful hairpin in Tong Xuan’s hand and suppressed the desire to get it. Wisdom in hold, elegance in mold. His Royal Highness would definitely not like superficial women.
He accepted Qiao Jinniang just because of responsibility and the power of Duke Anyuan.
He would definitely not like Qiao Jinniang, a woman who spent money like water!
And she, Tong Yingying, would not be as superficial as these women who only knew jewelry and beautiful clothes.
Even if they wore the most fashionable dresses, they couldn’t match the temperament she built up with wisdom.
Little Lu Xi picked out a crystal-clear red gemstone and handed it to Qiao Jinniang. “Mommy, this one is beautiful. Xi’er will buy it for you!”
Qiao Jinniang smiled and rubbed the little bun on Lu Xi’s head. “Where did you get the money?”
Little Lu Xi said cutely, “I secretly keep the money given by Grandpa and Grandma. I won’t give the money to Daddy. I’ll just use it to buy rouge and jewelry for Mommy.”
Fulu looked at Qiao Jinniang with her cheeks cupped in her hands. “Your son is really interesting.” Little Lu Xi held Qiao Jinniang’s hand and looked up at Qiao Jinniang pitifully. “Mommy, I’ll give you my money. Can you not abandon me?”
Qiao Jinniang pursed her lips and hugged Little Lu Xi in her arms, saying,
“Okay, if your father fails me in the future, I will take you with me when I leave.”
After everyone had left, Qiao Jinniang calculated today’s earnings of the jewelry store, which far exceeded her expectations.
It seemed that by just relying on the Jewelry Pavilion, it was just around the corner for her to become the richest woman in Chang’an.
Manager Lin came in and said, “Boss, a girl surnamed Mu has come frequently, saying that her hometown is abounded with green jade, and she wanted to talk to you in person.”
“Surnamed Mu?”
Hearing that a girl was doing business, Qiao Jinniang wanted to help. “Did she leave any samples?”
Manager Lin shook his head and said, “Miss Mu is pregnant. It is not easy for her to do business while pregnant.” Qiao Jinniang said, “Then next time she comes, you can make an appointment with her, and I will talk to her.”
“Yes, Boss.”
In Prince Huai’s mansion, which had been lively for a day, Mu Qianqian, wearing a black cloak, entered the study of Prince Huai from a secret passage. Taking off her cloak, she went to hug Prince Huai and said, “Your Highness.” Prince Huai frowned, but thinking of the child in Mu Qianqian’s belly, he simply said, “Qianqian, you really disappointed me. “I asked you to enter Duke Anyuan Mansion to gain Duke Anyuan’s favor and serve as my spy, but you were driven out of the mansion by Duke Anyuan.
“Then I asked you to investigate who the boss of Jewelry Pavilion is. It has been so long. Have you got any information?