Chapter Seven: The Legend of Zhen Huan - Xia Dongchun (Part 6)

The remark was deliberately vague. Anyone with even a little sense would immediately realize that she was sidestepping the main point: she admitted the first half, then quietly shifted the blame for the second half onto Xia Dongchun.

Yet the blame had been passed so skillfully that it all depended on how the listener chose to interpret it. In any case, she had merely led the conversation. Even if the truth were uncovered someday, it would be because Shen Meizhuang had misunderstood, and it would have nothing to do with her.

What was more, if the other woman ended up regarding Xia Dongchun as a scheming and deeply calculating person, then that would only mean one of them was foolish and the other unlucky.

Clearly, this young lady, raised with every effort her family could muster, possessed only the outward air of dignity and a face that merely looked intelligent.

So, with her already thickened bias and the affection of years of friendship, Shen Meizhuang did not doubt her in the slightest. Instead, she looked at her with sympathy. "I had no idea she was like this. Don't be afraid, Huan'er."

A certain young lady standing nearby: "..."

What an idiot.

~

Xia Dongchun went into the room and happily rummaged through her little bundle. Fortunately, her Foam had been farsighted enough to say that someone might be jealous and try to cause trouble, so the item she had spent a fortune on was here after all.

Heh heh.

Heh heh heh.

Once they stepped outside, everyone reacted the same way: those with decent self-control paused for a moment and then left; those with less composure lingered in their daze a few moments longer before going.

Xia Dongchun was quite satisfied with this. Just then she heard her own name being called, and she instantly straightened up, chin high, chest out, hips swaying with magnificent bearing as she walked forward.

Inside Hall of Vital Harmony, Xuan Ling sat high above, idly turning a string of prayer beads in his hand.

The Empress Dowager: "..."

She was helpless, but still had to advise him. "There is no guarantee of perfection in such matters. Your Majesty must consider the imperial heir."

Since it was his own mother's words, courtesy and filial duty left Xuan Ling with no choice but to listen, and he lifted his eyes in great irritation.

Then he froze.

Below stood a row of young ladies, and at a single glance he fixed on one of them.

She was breathtakingly beautiful.

The eunuch below the dais, quick-witted as ever, skipped past the girl who had already been called once without any reaction.

"Xia Dongchun, daughter of Bao Yi Zuo Lin, sixteen years of age."

He also shot Shen Huan a contemptuous glance. What on earth was this? The palace had seen every sort of oddity imaginable, so what was she putting on such an act for? Anyway, even if she were exposed, it would not be his fault. It would simply be her own bad luck for running into the one beside her, whose brilliance was completely overshadowed. Even if he refused to show her face, that was perfectly reasonable.

"This humble daughter, Xia Dongchun, pays respect to Your Majesty and Your Majesty the Empress Dowager. May Your Majesties enjoy boundless blessings and eternal peace."

After entering, Xia Dongchun appeared properly obedient on the surface, but her little eyes were darting happily left and right without a moment's rest.

So naturally she also saw that pretentious fool at the side pretending to be proper again. She had clearly heard the recitation but was still acting as if she had not, her hands clenched into fists. Did she think Xia Dongchun was stupid?

Hmph!

Another piece of dirt she could expose later. She would make sure to blow it wide open in the future.

Hee hee.

Xuan Ling raised an eyebrow slightly. "An interesting name."

Xia Dongchun: "How is that supposed to be answered? There wasn't anything about this in the draft. Let me think..."

"Thank you for Your Majesty's praise."

The Empress Dowager: "..."

Xuan Ling: "..."

Xuan Ling burst out laughing at once. He had not expected her temperament to be so unusual.

In the end, there was no suspense: her name card was kept.

The selection rate for these young ladies was extremely high.

Naturally, this included the girl who was finally called again at the end, Shen Huan.

Strangely enough, no one had paid her much attention at first. But Xia Dongchun clearly saw her subtly lift her chin, and then, for some reason, the Empress suddenly brought her up, circling round and round until her earlier matter was neatly brushed aside.

Given how blatant her earlier behavior had been, it had already counted as a breach of etiquette. It was fortunate she had not been punished, and yet now she was even given another chance.

Most important of all, that woman had even recited some line of poetry, something like, "Huan Huan, a slender beauty with the waist of a Chu palace maiden." Hmph!

Xia Dongchun was secretly planning to investigate it later. She wanted to see just what sort of poem had made the emperor laugh the moment he heard it, and laugh so happily at that.

This truly startled Xiaoxia again. She did not bother to hide it and let her expression fall on the spot.

Of course, with her head bowed, no one could see it, except for Xuan Ling, who suddenly laughed above.