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All eyes turned to Su Li, as her mother nervously grasped her hand.

Whispers began to ripple through the crowd.

"How is this possible? Isn't Su Li supposed to be talentless? How could she possibly play the zither?"

"Exactly! Isn't this a joke? Did Miss Meng make a mistake?"

"Wait, I heard that someone actually saw Su Li play at the Hundred Flowers Banquet. She even won the famous zither 'Lüqi'!"

"How can that be? Isn't Su Li known for being both ugly and untalented?"

...

A glint of cunning flashed in Meng Zhiyun's eyes. She had assumed Su Li was talentless, but when Su Yue whispered in her ear that Su Li was an exceptional zither player, Meng decided to let her embarrass herself.

The Right Minister, realizing his daughter had pointed out Su Li, suddenly felt as though two burning gazes were about to bore holes into him.

Su Li's father and Wei Xiyong glared daggers at the Right Minister.

The Right Minister wiped his sweat, knowing he was in the wrong, and bowed his head, pretending to take a sip of wine.

Su Li felt her mother trembling and gently patted her hand, silently comforting her.

The Empress glanced toward the women's seating area and asked, "Su Li? The elder sister of Su Yue?"

Meng Zhiyun nodded. "Precisely. Among all the women present, none may match Su Li's skill in playing the zither. Even Su Yue, who is highly regarded in Tianqi, doesn't come close to Su Li's talent."

Inside, Su Li sneered.So they're elevating me this high.

From above, the Emperor expressed curiosity. "Oh? I've never heard of such a person before. Who is this Miss Su? Come forward."

With the Emperor's command, Su Li had no choice but to rise.

Amidst the worried gazes of her mother and Lady Wang, she gracefully stepped forward.

The Empress observed the young woman—her attire simple yet exuding an air of elegance.

"Why do you wear a veil?" the Empress inquired.

Su Li replied softly, "Your Majesty, I've recently caught a cold, so..."

Before she could finish, Meng Zhiyun interrupted.

"Your Majesty should know, Miss Su's face has long been disfigured. She wears the veil to hide her ugliness."

The Empress studied Su Li, noticing her clear, bright eyes visible beneath the veil. Despite having her disfigurement pointed out in public, Su Li showed no trace of shame or avoidance, which earned her some favor in the Empress's eyes.

The Empress spoke gently, "Child, how skilled are you with the zither?"

Su Li replied humbly but confidently, "I am passable."

Wanyan Xue stepped forward and circled around Su Li, inspecting her.

Su Li remained unperturbed by her rudeness.

Wanyan Xue remarked, "Among the women of Tianqi, this one seems tolerable. Let her try."

The Empress looked at Su Li and asked, "Are you confident?"

Su Li glanced at the eerie zither in the center of the hall, then back at the Empress. She saw the urgency in the Empress's eyes.

Beyond her title as Empress, she was also a mother. With the herb capable of alleviating the Crown Prince's illness within reach, how could she remain calm?

Su Li sighed inwardly.

Very well. Consider this repayment for her kindness in my past life.

In her previous life, when Sima Qin came to rescue her, he revealed that Jun Hui intended to kill her father and grandfather. At the time, despite the risks, the Empress Dowager had bravely advised Jun Hui against it.

Though her efforts ultimately failed, Su Li still felt grateful.

After all, the Empress Dowager's position had been precarious. Though she held the title, she wasn't Jun Hui's birth mother. Fearing public criticism, Jun Hui honored the former Empress as Empress Dowager after ascending the throne, while his biological mother became the Western Empress Dowager.

Recalling these memories, Su Li nodded. "I will do my best."

Meanwhile, Su Li's mother was pacing anxiously. Her daughter could play the zither, but not nearly as masterfully as Meng Zhiyun claimed. Clearly, Meng intended to ruin her.

She was about to rise when Lady Wang quickly pulled her back, whispering, "Sister, stay calm. Li isn't reckless. Let's wait and see."

Su Li's mother knew rushing forward wouldn't change anything and might even provoke the Emperor's wrath.

Fine. I'll act according to the situation.

If her daughter fell into the zither's illusion, she would rush forward and wake her immediately.

At the same time, Su Li's father and the Wei family shared similar thoughts.

The Emperor chuckled. "If Miss Su succeeds in this challenge, I shall reward her generously!"

The Empress added, "Indeed. As promised earlier, if you win, I shall request an imperial decree to grant you the title of County Princess."

Su Li bowed gracefully. "Thank you, Your Majesty."

The Empress nodded. "Go ahead."

Su Li bowed again and walked toward the ominous zither.

Dressed in a flowing green gown with cascading black hair, Su Li's figure radiated an aura of serene beauty, despite her veiled face.

Her gaze lowered to the zither, concealing her emotions.

She extended her hands, her fingers dancing across the strings. Instantly, a cascade of enchanting melodies filled the air.

The music was tender and captivating, like a bubbling spring or birdsong in the forest, evoking deep emotion with every note.

The crowd was stunned.

This supposedly talentless, disfigured woman truly concealed extraordinary skill.

Her mastery of the zither wasn't merely good—it was unparalleled in Tianqi.

Liang Xuanting, holding a wine cup, tapped its rim in rhythm with the music, occasionally glancing at the performer with curiosity.

The Empress watched Su Li, paying no heed to the beauty of the melody. Instead, she silently prayed that Su Li wouldn't fall into the zither's illusion.

Su Li's parents and the Wei family were tense and astonished.

Unaware of the gazes—whether surprised, nervous, curious, or admiring—Su Li's fingers continued their intricate dance.

Suddenly, the melody shifted. The music became bold and resolute, like crashing waves against rocks or rivers surging into the sea, stirring the hearts of everyone present.

Time seemed to blur. Eventually, the music softened and faded, yet its echoes lingered, lingering like the fragrance of dew on orchids or the shattering of jade.

The first to regain composure was the Empress. Overwhelmed with excitement, she nearly forgot her station and almost rushed down from the dais.

"Miss Su truly deserves the title of Tianqi's First Talented Woman!"

Cloud Consort clenched her fists in silent fury.

That Su Li! If she hadn't interfered, we'd have obtained the Bone Regrowth Flower.

Without it, the Crown Prince would merely cling to life.

From the corner, Ji Huaizhou exclaimed in astonishment, "She wasn't affected by the illusion! Incredible!"

To pass the zither's test, one must either possess extraordinary willpower or be pure of heart. Given Su Li's youth, most assumed the latter.

Su Li rose elegantly and bowed to those above.

"I apologize for my humble performance."

The Emperor laughed heartily. "Excellent! Excellent! The daughter of Minister Su is no ordinary woman! Reward her! Lavishly reward her!"

The ministers promptly forgot Su Yue's earlier embarrassment and congratulated Su Li's father.

Such a scene brought glory to Tianqi.

At this moment, the Chancellor of Beiyan stood up and said, "Though she wasn't ensnared by the illusion, it doesn't prove she has defeated our princess. Only if her skill surpasses our princess's can she claim victory!"

Cloud Consort's lips curved into a smile, but before she could speak, Wanyan Xue interjected, "I admire the zither and can discern that this young lady's skill surpasses mine. I concede defeat."

Su Li turned to Wanyan Xue, clad in fiery red robes like the blazing sun. Though sharp-tongued, this woman was straightforward and honorable.

Sensing Su Li's gaze, Wanyan Xue turned and met her eyes, offering a friendly smile.

Su Li nodded slightly.

The Empress beamed. "I keep my word. I shall request the Emperor to bestow upon you the title of County Princess."

People like Meng Zhiyun seethed with envy, never expecting Su Li to possess genuine talent.

As the Emperor prepared to speak, Cloud Consort interjected, "Your Majesty, though Miss Su deserves reward, the competition isn't over yet. The zither is only the first of the four arts. We should wait until all trials are complete before granting titles."

The Empress considered this and nodded. "You're right. Let's wait until the end. Miss Su, please return to your seat for now."

Su Li nodded and returned to her seat.

As soon as she sat down, her mother clasped her hand tightly.

Su Li could feel her mother's trembling.

She whispered softly, "Don't worry, Mother. Everything will be fine."

Her mother had countless questions but knew this wasn't the place to ask. Suppressing her curiosity, she simply held her daughter's hand tightly.