Gu Qingtong carefully raised her head, glanced at her, and then lowered her eyes again.
“Hmm, indeed quite good-looking, much more pleasing to the eye than that Liang Luoxian.”
“Thank you for the princess’s praise.”
Princess Wan’qiu laughed lightly, “Say one nice thing, and you really think this princess is praising you?”
Gu Qingtong’s just-curled mouth immediately drooped, laughing awkwardly.
“Besides the marriage trial, what else can you do?”
“This servant knows a few musical instruments.”
Here’s the edited version of the article with irrelevant content removed:
Princess Wan’qiu suddenly became interested, calling to a matron nearby, “Li Nanny, go fetch my xun and let her play it.”
Gu Qingtong thought she would be asked to do something else. Fortunately, it was playing the xun, which was easier for her compared to the xiao.
Unexpectedly, Gu Qingtong was happy to receive the instrument and immediately played a tune. Most xun melodies are ancient, lingering, and heroic, evoking nostalgia. Princess Wan’qiu disliked ethereal, plaintive tunes and only loved joyful sounds, so she waved her hand and had Li Nanny bring a suona instead.
Holding the suona, Gu Qingtong was speechless: this princess’s taste was truly unique.
“Princess, the Crown Prince has arrived.”
Just as she was at a loss, someone announced the Crown Prince’s arrival, and Gu Qingtong felt an indescribable sensation.
The Crown Prince Yuan Hongren entered the hall, and Gu Qingtong turned to bow deeply, but he stopped her.
Before she could speak, the Crown Prince addressed Princess Wan’qiu, “Wan’qiu sister, is this the famous Gu Qingniang?”
“Yes,” Wan’qiu responded casually, unsure of his intentions.
“Isn’t the ceremony tomorrow?”
“Mm.”
“Then there’s probably nothing to do today. May I borrow her to play for a while?”
The princess’s face immediately darkened, but Xin Guifei was an Imperial Noble Consort, one rank higher than her mother, the Virtuous Consort. Moreover, she was not particularly favored, so in front of the Crown Prince, she did not dare refuse: “If the Crown Prince wishes to borrow her to play, but she must be returned tomorrow.”
“Yes, thank you, Wan’qiu sister,” the Crown Prince was extremely respectful, but had already instructed a matron to take Gu Qingtong away.
