Chapter 9: Impersonation

Damn it, it must be Meng Nanyi playing; if she outplays me, all the work I've done today will be for nothing.

At that moment, a burst of chatter and laughter came from not far away.

Meng Qingrong's heart tightened; it's over, it must be the Crown Prince and his entourage.

At this time, Chi Nan Yi had already spotted the Crown Prince's figure.

That bright yellow robe—she had seen it in her memory for many years.

In fact, she didn't need to see the person's face at all, nor hear his voice; just listening to his footsteps was enough to gauge his mood.

In her previous life, the original host was sincere toward him.

Otherwise she wouldn't have practiced the zither for him, nor painstakingly studied military strategy; everything she did was only to make herself worthy of him, to enter his heart.

Knowing her humble origins, she thought to compensate in other ways.

She never imagined it would end in such a tragic fate.

Men—none of them can be relied upon.

Thinking that, the music from her zither took on a sharp, cold edge reflecting her mood.

That melody made the Crown Prince's steps pause.

Such a soulful tone… she hadn't heard in ten years.

Could it be that…

His eyes brightened, and he hurried toward the source of the music.

【7】 As the footsteps grew nearer, Chi Nan Yi suddenly withdrew her hand, and the music abruptly stopped. At that moment, the Crown Prince's party arrived right in front of the Pavilion.

As the footsteps drew nearer, Chi Nan Yi suddenly withdrew their hand, the music broke off, and just then the Crown Prince and his entourage happened to arrive at that Pavilion.

There, several layers of sheer gauze fluttered over the Pavilion, and a graceful figure flickered in and out of view.

Seeing this, the Crown Prince stepped forward quickly: "Miss, are you…"

Meng Hui hadn't seen who was behind the veil, but he knew the Jiang Clan's plan. Seeing the Crown Prince's eager expression, Meng Hui felt pleased, walked slowly to the Crown Prince's side, and said with a smile, "My apologies for making the Crown Prince laugh; I, a humble girl, am overstepping my bounds before the hall, please forgive me, Your Highness." After that, he addressed the person inside the Pavilion, "You've collided with the Crown Prince, why are you still standing there? Come forward and pay your respects."

"Yes, Father."

Hearing that voice, Meng Hui was startled.

This… where is Nanyi?

This is clearly Qingrong!

What's going on?

How could it be her?

Meng Qingrong stepped out from behind the veil, having specially dressed for today: a white, gold‑embroidered peony, double‑breasted floor‑length gown; a dangling hairpin atop a high bun, its golden bead strings swaying with each step, exceedingly playful and cute, sparkling brilliantly in the light.

Anyone looking would never think she were a concubine‑born daughter.

Even the princess of the Wang Mansion would dress like this.

Meng Hui's face darkened as he stared at her attire.

You fool!

"I, Meng Qingrong, present myself before the Crown Prince."

Her voice was gentle and melodious, enough to make one's bones tingle.

Chi Nan Yi, leisurely watching her from the Pavilion behind, went "tsk tsk tsk", knowing she was the Minister's Residence miss; those unaware might think she had entered a brothel—what a voice, truly soul‑stirring!

Had I known she had such a voice, why bother with the zither? She could just sing a passage outright.

Cai Pin, seeing her being cut off, grew anxious: "Miss, what shall we do? The Crown Prince never came to our place."

"Then what can we do? I can't just rush forward now and claim I'm the star of this segment; after all, we're all children of the Minister's Residence, and whoever gains the Crown Prince's favor is the same." She rubbed her forehead: "I'm weary; help this Miss return."

"But…"

"But what? Do you need me to repeat this morning's words again? I am the master; remember your status."

"Yes, Miss."

Chi Nan Yi didn't care how Meng Qingrong convinced the Crown Prince that the piece was her own playing; she only knew that her desired goal had been achieved.

In this life, she doesn't wish to enter the palace, doesn't want to marry the Crown Prince, and doesn't want to become a stepping stone for the Meng Family to pave the way for Meng Qinghe.

She wants to forge her own path.

Today is the first step to overturn all this.

Except today, it might not be easy!

Sure enough, just as she returned to the courtyard, before she could even take a sip of water, Jiang Mama whisked her away to the Jiang Clan's courtyard.

Upon entering, she saw Jiang Clan sitting on a seat with a furious expression.

"Speak, what happened today?"

Chi Nan Yi lifted her head, and tears instantly fell.

"Mother, you already know."

"Why are you crying?"

"I, Yi'er, am indeed angry. I followed Mother's instructions to play the zither in the courtyard, but unexpectedly Second Sister also went to the Rear Garden. Mother, are you uneasy about me? Or did you deliberately have me play, pretending it was Second Sister who played?"

"What nonsense are you spouting? How could Mother do such a thing? Tell me the details of today, let me hear."

"How can I explain? When I arrived at the Pavilion, Second Sister was already there. I intended to make her leave, but the Crown Prince had already entered the garden. I could only place the zither in the Pavilion behind, and, following Mother's instructions, I played the piece. Yet the Crown Prince stopped in front of Second Sister, so I had to leave. Should I claim the piece was mine? If I did, the Crown Prince would know this was Father's deliberate arrangement, and he would grow resentful toward Father."

Jiang Clan nodded upon hearing this.

It indeed makes sense.

"Meng Qingrong, how could she know about this?"

Chi Nan Yi shook her head, saying with apparent certainty, "Did Mother tell anyone about this? We only discussed it today; how did it reach Meng Qingrong's ears?"

Tell others?

Jiang Clan's eyes flickered; besides herself and Yi'er, only the Lord and those around them knew of this.

Could it be that...

Jiang Clan clenched both fists, eyes full of anger.

Could it be that the master wants the child of that lowly Liu Clan woman to be favored by the Crown Prince?

Besides the master, who could tell this to Liu Yiniang?

Initially, that Liu Clan woman was the master's childhood sweetheart; I inserted myself, took a liking to Meng Hui who had topped the imperial exams, and forced marriage to him, thus establishing that affinity. After marrying myself, within two years, as his official rank gradually rose, he brought that lowly Liu Clan woman into the household. At that time, the Liu Clan woman was already pregnant, while I had yet to bear a child. Later, she used means to abort the Liu Clan woman's unborn child; the Liu Clan woman was injured in body and for several years could not bear children, whereas I, in those same years, gave birth to the Meng Family's heir.

From then on, her position as senior lady of the household was secured.

Thinking of these, Jiang Clan became more certain; it must be Meng Hui who told Liu Yiniang.

"Mother, what's wrong?"

Jiang Clan shook her head: "Nothing."

"Mother, if there's nothing else, I'll take my leave first." Chi Nan Yi rose to leave, but before she could move her feet, she heard Jiang Clan whisper: "When you return, you must diligently study and practice the zither every day. On the fifteenth of the first lunar month each year, the Palace holds a banquet; officials of rank four and above may bring their families into the Palace to attend. At that time, you must certainly play the zither at the banquet and make a stunning debut. Do you understand?"

"Yes."