Flowers Bloom from Battlefield

Tian Ni is also one of the girls invited by the empress. She was already older than these girls thus she deemed that it's unworthy to talk with them. They are not someone important to her life and she doesn't like them. She is only here to pass her boring time since Nanglong family didn't allow her to get inside their residence anymore.

The empress takes them to view the garden and the girls are all whispering with each other. Some of them talk with the empress to impress the woman while the other just followed and giggled from time to time.

"It's Tian Ni, right? She's already 20, but still looks young."

"What do you know, she's General Soujin fiancée."

"Right, they are paired as the most stunning couple in the whole Ming Kingdom."

"Yes, too bad that General Soujin hadn't tied the knot yet. I heard she had just returned to Ming Kingdom."

"Really? Is that the real reason for the delay?"

"Shush, stop talking about her. She might hear you from this distance."

Jun Hua feels bored, but hearing the girls talk, she knows who they mean. There is one single girl staying a bit further than them. At first, Jun Hua only thought of her as someone who's not comfortable talking with other people. Only now did she realize the true reason, she was older than them all.

Looking at her from here, Jun Hua knew that she's a pretty girl. Soujin didn't tell them anything about her, but hearing their surname makes Jun Hua knows why this girl only returned to the capital now. She might not know about their past, but she knows that Tian Ni is not someone well accepted in Ming Kingdom because of her surname.

Tian family comes from Kai Kingdom many years before due to some dispute that the public never finds out. In this war era, it's quite common for people to move from one kingdom to another kingdom. The young master of Tian Family married with a noble in Ming Kingdom thus getting a daughter named Tian Ni. Years ago, they lived in Ming Kingdom, but when the situation worsened, they go back to Kai Kingdom. Now, they come back.

Jun Hua looks at that girl in secret. She must have been waiting for Soujin, but that young man instead looks at her. On the other hand, Jun Hua hadn't finished her revenge, so she can't stay in this kingdom for long. This matter has grown complicated.

"My lady, this girl wish to play you a song," a lady step forward, she was asking for permission to play a song.

The empress nodded. "Please."

This is the time for her to show off her talent and that girl hurriedly picks a zither and starts playing. Her finger danced on the string beautifully as the sound come out pleasantly. The melodies are exceptional and many ladies here didn't have the same level of skill as her. They are all praising her when she finished.

The empress also satisfied and beckoned her servant to give reward for the lady. She accepted with a smile.

Looking at the competitive atmosphere, Jun Hua knows that they are trying to show off their talent. On the other hand, she doesn't feel any needs to do that because she doesn't want to aim for the emperor (She would rather slash him with sword rather than impress him with her beauty). She cannot play zither that well too. Not going off tune is already good enough. Seeing them so excited makes Jun Hua even bored, she wished to read her books instead of staying here.

Another girl comes forward and gives the empress a present of poetry. They are all worthy of being called noble lady, even their knowledge are something. Jun Hua had to admit once again that she is at the bottom level if it comes to poetry.

The Empress sweep the ladies and found two people not as enthusiastic. She knows that Jun Hua is not proficient, if not for that, the tag of the most useless lady won't be attached to her, as for Tian Ni, does she thinks she is that good?

"I think there is someone who can play really well. What about you, Tian Ni?"

Hearing the Empress calls her, Tian Ni eyes turned to look at the empress. Her lips pursed into a slight arc, but she still stands up slowly. Her move is elegant and she exuded the aura of a noble lady. Her eyes look straight to the front with slightly raised head, showing a dignified look. There should not be anyone disrespecting her is what her aura tells them.

Many girls already looked away, but Jun Hua didn't really feel anything dangerous from her. With Jun Hua capabilities in martial arts, she knew that the other party won't harm her physically.

"If Empress is willing, Ni'er will present a song for Your Highness," TIan Ni said in her soft voice.

The Empress nodded her head. "Please."

Tian Ni walks to the front and put the zither into her hand before starting to play the zither. Her play is excellent and she could balance the feeling of the audiences, makes those who hear it feels comfortable.

"Lady Ni is always seeking for perfection. The tune is really amazing."

"Yeah, she wants everything to be perfect and reject those with imperfections."

Another girl sneered. "There is nothing that can be called really perfect here. She will just invite doom to herself."

Despite them talking about Tian Ni like that, they have to admit that the girl is really amazing. She is truly worthy of her reputation as an excellent lady who is blessed with good looks and talent. Before long, the girls are all entranced by the sound and fall into a daze.

Jun Hua shakes her head lightly, this method of affecting people is scary, and that is if they had never learned martial arts. Jun Hua knows that she won't get affected, but others will. This girl seems to be really talented in the arts for women and she knows how to use them very well. She is really interesting.

When the song is over, Tian Ni looks at the empress. "Does this satisfy Your Highness?"

The empress nodded and gives her a reward. Looking at the girls who are being partially awake because of that song, she sighed slightly. It is then she noticed one different girl, Jun Hua, who is silently stays calm.

'This girl is interesting.'

"Jun Hua, what about you, do you have something to present?"

Jun Hua is obviously stunned. Why the empress suddenly calls for her? She only stays here and be a good girl, but the empress is not satisfied. If you want to make these ladies present you with something, there are a lot of them who can do better, must you involve me?

"Your Highness, I'm afraid that I will make your ear hurt."

"It's alright, you can try."

Jun Hua sighed and step forward. It has been some time since her last time touches a zither, but she still knows how to play it. She picks a rather fast song, but she goes off tune in some place making the girls frowned. Hearing the bad play of Jun Hua, most of them already busy talking with each other and no longer under the spell of Tian Ni.

Tian Ni looks at the girl on the stage. Despite her playing is somewhat awful, she successfully dispelled the effect she made to the girls before. It seems that from playing something that hurt the ears, it will make them awakes sooner.

However, that way of playing is truly an eyesore. Does she think that with this talent there will be anyone looking at her direction? Somehow, Tian Ni truly despises the girl because her play is really poor. For someone who strives for perfection like her, it is really annoying.

Jun Hua finished playing. "Your Highness, sorry for that."

The empress laughed, this girl hadn't realized that her song had made those who are enchanted awake? She's quite something. The empress still chooses to reward her despite the bad play and Jun Hua got no choice but to accept them.

Going back to her seat, Jun Hua knows that Tian Ni had gotten her attention to herself because of that song. Somehow Jun Hua feels regret playing it and now she hoped that the banquet over soon, so she could get back home.