Chapter 411: Summoning a Hundred Birds Has Flavor

Chapter 411: Chapter 411: Summoning a Hundred Birds Has Flavor

Meanwhile.

The imperial luncheon in the palace was drawing to a close.

During the meal, the Emperor was very approachable.

Ye Shangyi wasn’t particularly reserved. Thanks to Grand Tutor Ye, she had met the Emperor a few times before.

Lu Shaoyuan was a little stiff, but he was bold enough to answer when spoken to.

Xu Jingxi listened quietly the entire time, only speaking when the Emperor addressed him directly. His answers often left the Emperor marveling at his talent, remarking that he was far more mature and outstanding than others his age.

In time, when he grew up, he was sure to become a pillar of the state.

The Emperor was deeply impressed by Xu Jingxi.

He even turned to the eunuch beside him and said with a smile, "Is it because I miss that child, Ningning? Looking at this Mr. Xu, I can’t help but feel he resembles someone from the Xie family."

The eunuch followed the Emperor’s lead. "Aiyo! Your Majesty, this servant was just thinking the same thing! It seems that intelligent and blessed people all share certain similarities."

Xu Jingxi remained silent, his calm and composed demeanor earning him another internal nod of approval from the Emperor.

Xie Yuanjiu, who had been sipping her tea quietly, sensed the time was right and stood up.

"Your Majesty, before I leave the palace, this subject wishes to present a special performance for you."

The Emperor looked at her and chuckled. "Ah, I remember now. Princess Consort Qi did recommend you for this, saying you could summon a hundred birds to fly around you."

Ye Shangyi raised her eyes, looking at Xie Yuanjiu with a touch of disdain.

’Xie Yuanjiu is definitely up to no good!’

Since ancient times, legend said that only a phoenix could summon a hundred birds.

’What are Xie Yuanjiu and Princess Consort Qi trying to pull with this act?’

Xie Yuanjiu’s posture was graceful. Her every move had clearly been practiced for a long time.

She smiled faintly. "Her Highness praises this subject too highly. It is but a minor trick. I offer it to Your Majesty today to bring a little joy to this dreary winter, and more importantly, to pray to the heavens for a bountiful harvest next year."

The Emperor clapped his hands. "Good! Then let’s see it. If you do well, I will reward you with the title of County Lord."

A sharp glint flashed in Xie Yuanjiu’s eyes. "Yes, Your Majesty."

She invited the Emperor, Lu Shaoyuan, and the others to follow her outside the hall.

The sky was vast and clear, a brilliant, cloudless blue.

Ye Shangyi and Lu Shaoyuan watched with cold detachment.

It was only then that they noticed Xie Yuanjiu’s attire was also quite unusual.

Her seemingly ordinary Purple Luo Skirt had cuffs embroidered with silver thread depicting a hundred birds and flowers. As she moved, the threads caught the sunlight, reflecting a dazzling glow.

Xie Yuanjiu began to wave her hands, her movements graceful and elegant. It was obvious she had practiced at home.

As she performed her dance-like motions, a faint, almost unnoticeable sound, like tiny bells, could be heard. In the distance, birds began to fly over, perching on the nearby branches.

The eunuch pointed to the branches in pleasant surprise. "Oh! Your Majesty, look! So many magpies and songbirds."

The Emperor saw it with his own eyes and marveled at the sight.

He ordered, "Have all the Palace Attendants and Concubines in the Imperial Palace come and see this extraordinary spectacle."

A hundred birds circled in the sky, a truly magnificent sight.

As everyone rushed over to look, they all tilted their heads up, and a continuous stream of amazed praise could be heard.

The smile on Xie Yuanjiu’s lips grew wider, becoming harder and harder to conceal.

Of all the people present, only Ye Shangyi and Lu Shaoyuan looked annoyed. Xu Jingxi, meanwhile, remained expressionless.

Just as everyone was exclaiming in wonder, the sound of a dry thunderclap suddenly echoed from the sky.

"CRACK—"

The ground itself seemed to tremble.

The noisy crowd froze for a moment, then fell into a deathly silence.

Not long ago, a thunderclap just like that had struck, and Princess Consort Qi had been hit!

Realization dawned, and a chorus of screams erupted as people scrambled for their lives.

Everyone was terrified of becoming the next Princess Consort Qi.

However, before they could reach safety, the sky suddenly filled with dark clouds, and a torrential rain began to pour down.

The hundred birds, startled, let loose a shower of white droppings as they fled in a panic.

"Aiyo!" the eunuch cried out. "Quick, escort the Emperor!"

"AHHH—!" One of the concubines shrieked, followed immediately by her furious, indignant cursing: "It fell in my mouth!"

"Damn it all! Is this rain or a rain of bird shit!" someone cursed.

Xie Yuanjiu was surrounded by people scrambling to escape.

Xu Jingxi immediately pulled Ye Shangyi and Lu Shaoyuan back under the eaves of the hall.

Lu Shaoyuan’s eyes went wide as he watched the white bird droppings fall with a SPLAT, SPLAT, SPLAT, mixing with the raindrops to hit everyone who hadn’t escaped in time.

"Xie Yuanjiu really is something else. With one wave of her hand, she summons a flock of birds to come take a dump," Lu Shaoyuan said, stunned. Realizing how crude his words were, he quickly clamped his mouth shut.

Just as Xie Yuanjiu was about to run for cover, someone gave her a vicious shove.

She fell heavily to the ground.

"Ah!" Xie Yuanjiu let out a wretched scream, and in the instant before she could shut her mouth, something fell into it.

Her face turned green.

When the farce finally ended, the imperial guards, Palace Attendants, and Concubines hiding under the eaves were all a sorry sight.

Xie Yuanjiu was in the worst state, covered in bird droppings and dry-heaving on the ground, unable to vomit.

When she lifted her head, she saw the Emperor’s face, dark as a thundercloud.

"’Birds bearing auspicious signs? A bountiful harvest next year?’"

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, please listen to my explanation! I don’t know where that thunder came from either!"

"I truly overestimated you." With that, the Emperor angrily flung his sleeve. "Guards! Throw Xie Yuanjiu out of the palace for me! And send someone to ask Princess Consort Qi just what kind of person she recommended!"

The Emperor stormed away in a rage.

Xie Yuanjiu burst into frightened tears. She didn’t understand how this could have happened. What went wrong?

Princess Consort Qi had given her a bell, saying that tying it to her waist and dancing would attract the birds.

But how could she have ever expected a sudden thunderclap to frighten the birds into having diarrhea!

Ye Shangyi and Lu Shaoyuan walked past her, pinching their noses.

"How frightening. Summoning a hundred birds to use the latrine with a wave of her hand. Good thing I was quick to hide," Ye Shangyi said sarcastically, then walked away.

Lu Shaoyuan didn’t want to say a single word to her, afraid he might throw up.

The other Concubines also came to resent Xie Yuanjiu.

The Emperor had summoned them to witness a wondrous spectacle. Who would have thought Xie Yuanjiu would make them suffer such a humiliation? Some had their expensive silks stained with bird droppings, while others were splattered on their faces and hands.

After making such fools of themselves, how could they possibly compete for favor? From now on, whenever the Emperor saw them, would his first thought be the smell of bird droppings?

Xie Yuanjiu had ruined them!

Everyone who walked past her couldn’t help but spit in disgust.

Sobbing, Xie Yuanjiu was driven out of the court by the imperial guards. She reeked of a sour stench, so much so that even the coachman couldn’t help but hold his breath and frown.

She felt completely broken. Instead of taking the carriage, she simply walked on, letting the rain soak her as she followed the road.

Finally, she reached a secluded, empty alley. She ducked inside, and only then did she dare to sit down, bury her head, and cry.

’Why does the rain always have to ruin everything for me?’

’That time I was helping Princess Consort Qi sun the scriptures, it rained. Now, I was this close to being named a County Lord, and the rain ruined it again!’

’It must be Shen Ningning...’

’Only she has the power to summon the wind and rain.’

’Shen Ningning must have known I was in the palace, so she deliberately ruined it for me!’

Xie Yuanjiu’s nails dug into her palms. She wished she could tear Shen Ningning to pieces right then and there.

Just then, she heard voices talking not far away.

"You should take the Jade Pendant back. It’s no use to me."

The voice sounded familiar to Xie Yuanjiu, so she hid around the corner and peeked out.

It was Xie Ming’an and Xu Jingxi!

Xie Yuanjiu stared intently. In Xie Ming’an’s outstretched palm lay a half-moon shaped Jade Pendant!

Xu Jingxi said coolly, "I once tried to pawn this Jade, but no shop dared to take it. They all said it belonged to the Xie Mansion. So even if you give it back to me, I have no use for it. Second Young Master Xie can do with it as you please."

Xie Yuanjiu clapped a hand over her mouth, her eyes wide with shock.

’How could Xu Jingxi possibly have the crescent jade pendant that symbolizes the continuation of our Xie family line!’