Everyone in the hall had the same thought: the Ming Sisters who haven't even the debut, would have their first public appearance a failure. Although they didn't know why an Imperial Princess would purposefully hurt a second rank officer's daughters, they knew that the Emperor heavily doted this daughter of his, so they started to rack their head to see if it was more profitable offend the Emperor or the General that backed the Minister of Justice. No one at the hall believed that any of the young girls could surpass the piece played by the Princess since she was known to be the most talented in the Guqin in their kingdom.
Like them, Ming Yunning also heard the rumors saying so. That's why she had an odd expression on her face now.
'Is that it?'
Is not like she wanted to brag, but even she could surpass the level played by the Princess, let alone her Jiejie. She looked at her sister in search for an answer: was she suppose to play below their skills so they didn't offend the Princess or should she play like always?
In response to her sister, Ming Shu only shrugged her shoulders. They weren't the ones to issue the challenge or the ones to want to perform first. No to mention that if they perform later to different from today suspicion will arise and they can be charged as lying to the Emperor.
"Meimei, just remember to be humble and say that your talent can't surpass the Princess' but you will play your best and hopes that the Imperial Family can forgive you if you don't fulfill Princess expectations. Do you understand?"
Yunning nodded. She knew it was right to ask her sister. With a smile, she walked to the same place that the Princess was before.
Ming Shu saw her sister introducing herself and repeating the same words that she just told her. Instead of having her sight on Yunning, Ming Shu observed the Princess. Once the introduction was done, she could sera smug expression in the Princess's face. As she thought, the haughty Princess just want to teach them a little lesson for them don't be too conceited about their 'little' talent. 'The frog on the well doesn't know the vastness of the sky' or something along the lines. Ming Shu could only shake his head inside her mind. Alas, the frog was most likely not them.
To prove her words right, Yunning played a spring themed song with skills that were equal, if not superior, to that of the Princess. Once she finished the ministers applauded and complimented the performance with: 'even though it wasn't as good as the Princess you..'. The Princess in the other hand had a surprise face once the performance was over but quickly reverted to the smugness Of before after hearing the compliments gave to Yunning.
As her Meimei left the center of the hall, Ming Shu made her way there.
"This subject is the daughter of the Minister of Justice, called Ming Shu. Although my skills can't compare to the Princess I beg the Magnanimous Imperial Family to forgive me if I can't fulfill the Princess expectations"
Sorting in front of the Guqin, Ming Shu actually didn't know if she should display her real skills. Yunning didn't have a problem since her skills were somewhat similar to the Princess, but hers... well, let's just say that if she played her outmost the Imperial Family would surely lose face and this wasn't a consequence that the Ming Family could handle well. But just as she was about to start she inadvertently saw her Grandfather nodding to her with a silly grin. If her backing says is okay then it should be okay. Nodding back to her Grandfather, Ming Shu closed her eyes and played a piece of music that she had just composed to this week's assignment.
The music called 'Fairy' and had a sing part that describes the ascension to the higher realm. The ethereal song encompassed all those present there and seemed that it took them to a higher realm that everyone present hoped, even if just a little, to achieve. Once the performance was over the entire hall had a pin-drop silence. At first, it was because they were still immersed in the ethereal feeling that the music gave but after they 'woke up' they didn't know what to do. Although the music was splendid it was not enough for them to offend the Emperor who had an ashen complexion.
The Emperor was about to open his mouth after seeing the pale complexion on his favorite daughter when booming applause echoed on the hall. Looking menacing at the one who started to applaud, the Emperor quickly reverted to an impassive face. Sigh. How could he forget that this little girl was the crazy old bastard's granddaughter? He can't punish her without a proper cause and even though the Imperial Family just lost face, it wasn't exactly her fault.
Ming Shu saw that the situation was clearly deteriorating, and even with her Grandfather's guarantee, she didn't want to cause too much of a ruckus.
"This subject ask for forgiveness if her music offended the Imperial Family. I'm incomparable to the Princess who has talent, beauty, and a noble birth"
With a few words, Ming Shu dispelled the anger felt by most of the Imperial Family. She was right, she only has a little talent in music, whilst Princess Jinghua was talented in many subjects, was one of the beauties of her generation and was an Imperial daughter birthed by the Empress, why should they be brand petty to reprimand a little girl if the Princess was clearly superior?
With a new grin on his face, the Emperor stopped the oppressing aura that he was emitting, which made those ministers close to him sigh.
"Zhen is impressed that Minister Ming has such talented daughters. Award them. For Ming Yunning give her five bolts of the East Hu silk. As for Ming Shu award her with the chance of being Princess Jinghua's study partner and a bolt of the special cloth of the Kin Kingdom"