One Lifetime Is Never Enough

1.52 Aging of a Beauty (2)

It was YuLan's request to sing the song – titled ["Aging of a Beauty"] - as the opening act of their performance. Because even though there was only so much she could do or say, words spoken through a song was the only thing she could think of, to be able to slightly represent her uneasiness. It was to also give voice to Ji LanBai's and Wu JianRui, even to a certain extent – Hai FenChu – 's silence in their grievance.

Initially, HeShan and SunChen were going to join them on the podium straight after the song, for their normal repertoires.

However, before the two scholars could make their way to the podium to join her and LanBai, the Empress slowly lifted her hand as she waved it slightly, causing her heavily embroidered silk robe's sleeve to sway.

Everyone currently present did not dare to breathe as the female regarded as the Phoenix slowly stood, her slim stature looked imposing as she directed her gaze towards the stage.

"Zhi gong-gong(1)," she said clearly and slowly, summoning her personal attending eunuch who was always present within close vicinity of herself,

"Who might be these two talented young ladies who have just graced us all with their beautiful performance?"

She merely asked for formality and idle question, as she had already been informed of the whole performers that were going to perform that day – at least for their names only. After all, she had to give her final approval, as these performers were going to display their talents in front of the Emperor, herself, and a lot of other important personages. Although the nature of the performances was already briefed to her, way before the day - such as "poetry", "dance", or "musical" – the content of the performances was secrets only to the performers themselves.

That did not mean the two young ducklings – from the Ji clan – had not given her a surprise. It was the first time for her to see the young daughter of Ji ChanFang – the Emperor's sworn brother. However the ones that appeared were two women – still mere children in her eyes - of more or less similar age. One of the two, irked her. Therefore, she had to know.

"To report to niang-niang(2)," the old eunuch stepped forward and bowed his body, "Those are Young Miss Ji LanBai, and Young Miss Bai YuLan. Both hail from the Ji clan."

"So one of them is definitely Ji ChanFang's daughter and also the future official wangfei for the Yong Prince...", she thought, "The other... is called Bai YuLan?"

She fixated her sharp gaze towards the taller young woman of the two, on the stage.

"She... is not a Jing?"

"How can there be such a coincidence?"

"General Ji," she tilted her head towards the Ji family's platform, while still not breaking eye contact from the central stage. At least, the two young women on the platform were still bowing their heads, hence she could scrutinize them all she wanted.

The general audience from the public already had cold sweat on their bodies that were layered by their lavish garments.

"Which one of these two is your lovely daughter?" her voice was calm and melodious, unlike the turbulence in her mind. She already knew the answer to that question as well, just by looking at that one's face.

The one called Bai YuLan.

Although Ji ChanFang was Zhang SongWang's sworn brother, that oath happened before the latter ascended the throne. In all propriety, Zhang SongWang that had become the Emperor - and hence the Empress as well, were his superior.