Yes, I Do(n't)

Chapter 42: The finale [2]

"A beauty? Imperial mother is indeed correct. When third imperial sister-in-law and the two young misses are getting ready. I have had the opportunity to look at the Eldest Miss Shen. She is indeed beautiful. I have to applaud her decision to keep it hidden after all these years, imperial mother."

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Fifth Princess Nangong Baixue (20-year old)

Fifth Princess Nangong Baixue smiles at Empress Mu Jianrui. She is the daughter of the late Noble Consort Irgen-Gioro Xuehua (who died 15 years ago during the war with another neighbouring Kingdom) and raised by Imperial Noble Consort Li Meigui after the death of her birth.

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The late Imperial Concubine Irgen-Gioro Xuehua

The relationship between the three princes is quite strained due to their differences. When it comes to the Third and Fourth Princes, their relationship is (somewhat) beyond repairable. For the princesses, their relationships with each other are quite harmonious and continue to be so even after some of them are married to their respective husbands. The First, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh and Eight Princess are famously known for their filial conducts towards their birth mothers including the current Empress and their close relationships with each other. The oldest princess is born on the same year as the three princes while the rest of the princesses are born a year after another with the Fifth Princess is a 20-year old and so forth. The Sixth and Seventh Princesses are already married to the Princes from the Kingdoms of Khan and Gioro respectively. Fifth and Eight Princesses are still unmarried and without any promised engagement whatsoever.

Crown Prince Nangong Yingjun looks at the Fifth Princess before he looks at his former betrothed who by now is staring at him back. When someone coughs several times, she turns her head to look at that very person, Crown Prince Beitang Moran.

"Your Royal Highness, your jealousy astounded me. There is no need for you to act like that." Shen Baiyu said as she calmly walks to the centre of the hall. Crown Prince Beitang Moran lazily rest his chin using his left hand as support as his gaze follows Shen Baiyu’s every move.

"Imperial uncle. Imperial aunt. Baiyu will be performing with Her Royal Highness and little dump... I mean... Second Miss Xiao."

Princess Hong Meigui and Xiao Ke Ai suddenly show up as both of them calmly walk and each of them stands next to Shen Baiyu. Moli and Xingxing are each standing behind their respective mistresses with Moli holding onto a guzheng. Two young servants are standing behind Princess Hong Meigui as both of them are carrying a huge drum. Several servants then show up to put the guzheng stand and a wooden stool in the middle of the hall. Moli calmly and carefully puts the guzheng on its stand before wiping the wooden stall clean before she walks towards the area where the rest of the Shens are. Xingxing too walks towards the area where the Xiaos are currently sitting. The young male servants put the huge drum down on the floor with the sticks on top of it.

"Both Eldest Miss Shen and I will be the first one to perform with the musical instruments. The second performance will be performed by Second Miss Xiao and Eldest Miss Shen."

Third Prince Nangong Zhixiang is watching his wife which is still a complete stranger to him even after years of marriage. He completely ignored her at the beginning of their marriage but then she moved out from the main residence and rarely make any contact with him and the other concubines. This wife of his is an enigma to him. It was as if she is two different individuals in the beginning of their marriage and after he was healed by her. The current her is warm towards others but cold towards him. She treated him then as a mere patient of hers. Thinking more into it... Since when did his wife is an expert in medicine?

Princess Hong Meigui simply turns her head to watch her 'husband' deep in his thoughts as he stares at her. This man is getting more creepier these days. Need to get away from him soon she thought to herself... Wait a minute. She smiles as she thought that she can crash at her first imperial sister-in-law for a few days. She softly laughs to herself only to notice that both her so-called husband and former boss are looking at her, one with a curious gaze while the latter with a knowing gaze.

"We shall start... Your Royal Highness, it is time."

With that short sentence by Shen Baiyu, Princess Hong Meigui takes her place before the prepared drum. Shen Baiyu then calmly sits on her designated seat as Xiao Ke Ai stands slightly behind her with a smile on her face. On her seat, Shen Lianhua is smiling too as she sneakily brings out a small wooden block and a pair of wooden chopsticks.

From across the hall, Bai Zhishi sees what she has done but he just smiles and turns his attention to the three young ladies who will be performing soon. His fiancée is obviously doing something to accompany the performance later. He saw that Moli passes something to her earlier. Eldest Miss Shen is definitely a strategist, a strong one to boot. Her mind is definitely never to be belittled by anyone and Crown Prince Beitang Moran realizes her 'worth' and intends to make her his future Crown Princess and the future Empress of his precious Kingdom. A move that will be a loss for the Kingdom of Nangong but will also benefit their own Kingdom in a long-run. That Mu Heli is indeed one thorough schemer. Finding such a man to protect his cousin sister and Kingdom of Nangong as well.

Seeing a nod from Shen Baiyu made Princess Hong Meigui start hits her drum with such confidence that even her husband stares intently at her. Gracefully she hits the drum with a smile on her lips as the sound of it travels through the hall and out of the hall. Everyone wonders how she can look so beautiful even when she is hitting the drum with such strength and speed. Then Shen Baiyu strums the guzheng slowly at first before she speeds the tempo of her tune. Everyone just stops to hear and watch the performance with such awe in their each of their expressions.

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"Husband... I do know that our Baiyu is an expert guzheng player. But..."

General Shen Jilie replies, "I know, Xiyin... She never plays with such strength before. Not even once. She is never this lively... She is never this bold. With such changes, she will attract many... I do hope that the neighbouring Crown Prince will be able to protect her."

"But... I do have a feeling that she does not need anyone's protection, husband. Still... Knowing that someone is sincere towards her made me happy."

General Shen Jilie smiles gently as he continues to watch the performance together with Concubine Li Xiyin by his side. Shen Lianhua softly chuckles before she hits a small wooden block before her with a pair of wooden sticks on it as both Princess Hong Meigui and Shen Baiyu look at her as they let her play with her instrument before they too continue to play with theirs.

Crown Prince Beitang Moran proudly smiles while Crown Prince Nangong Yingjun feels a sliver of regret deep inside his heart but the damage has been done. All he can do is not to repeat the same mistake towards Second Princess Beitang Xing. She has helped him so much when he was in the war with her older brother's battalion of armies. Maybe it is fated for him not to be with his 'odd' cousin sister. Maybe it is better this way for all of them.