Chapter 48: Renowned Throughout Kyoto

It was only after the music had faded for quite some time that the assembled guests seemed to awaken, as if emerging from a dream. Realizing the performance had ended, they returned from their reverie, gazing in some confusion at the extraordinary young woman on stage.

Madam Han’s eyes shone with pride and excitement.

Jiang Lin was stunned, torn by conflicting emotions, his gaze alight with a strange brilliance, as if he had glimpsed some rare and precious treasure long concealed.

Princess Jing’an looked utterly incredulous.

Both the Emperor and Empress could not conceal expressions of admiration in their eyes.

The Empress Dowager, her eyes moist, dabbed at the corners gently. “Who would have thought that Second Young Lady Shen, so young, could already have such understanding and artistry in her playing? Listening to her brings back memories of my own youth. Wonderful, truly wonderful!”

The rest of those present snapped back to themselves, offering enthusiastic applause and praise that echoed through the hall.

Shen Qingyun, hearing the chorus of cheers, smiled softly.

When a beauty smiles, how many young men lose their hearts?

“Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty,” she said, “and may you be blessed with fortune as boundless as the Eastern Sea, and longevity as enduring as the southern mountains. May your days be bright as the sun and moon, and your years as evergreen as pine and crane.”

“A good child, a good child indeed.” The Empress Dowager smiled warmly, while the Empress herself bestowed a generous array of gifts upon Shen Qingyun.

With Shen Qingyun’s stirring performance lingering in their hearts, even the brilliant acts that followed failed to have the same breathtaking impact.

As the gathering was drawing to a close, Jiang Lin approached Shen Qingyun with a complicated expression and said, “Qingyun, if you ever regret your decision, I can give you another chance.”

Shen Qingyun could not even be bothered to spare him a glance, only wishing to put as much distance as possible between herself and this harbinger of misfortune.

The Emperor watched her departing figure thoughtfully, then turned to Prince Li. “So, these are the kind of women you favor—truly remarkable and gifted. Shall I arrange a marriage for you?”

Prince Li’s expression was unreadable, his voice cold: “There’s no need for Your Majesty to concern yourself over today’s events. The young lady of the Shen family only drew Jing’an’s ire because of me.”

Still, he hadn’t expected Shen Qingyun to play such a moving piece. For a moment, he even considered gifting her the instrument itself, but thought better of it. She had already drawn enough attention for one day.

The Emperor pursed his lips. “You never cared when Jing’an tormented others before now.”

For days after the banquet, the city’s nobility could talk of nothing but Shen Qingyun’s masterful performance.

And so the Shen Marquisate became the talk of the capital, boasting not one, but two celebrated young ladies.

However, the eldest and second daughters could not have been more different—one low as earth, the other high as heaven—defying everyone’s expectations.

Upon returning home, Shen Sisi rushed straight to Yan Song Hall. Seeing her granddaughter’s eyes swollen like peaches from crying, the old matron was startled and hurried to ask what had happened.

But Shen Sisi would not say, weeping until she nearly fainted, crying, “I’m too ashamed to face anyone. I might as well cut my hair and become a nun.”

This broke the old lady’s heart—her dearly beloved granddaughter, what could have happened at such a grand banquet to cause such misery?

Only after much patient coaxing did Shen Sisi sob out, “Today, I ate only the pastries my sister gave me, and during my performance… during my performance…” She choked, unable to continue, and at the memory of her embarrassment and the crowd’s disdain, her vision darkened and she truly fainted away.

The Shen residence was thrown into chaos.

When Shen Zhifeng arrived, he found Shen Sisi lying pale and frail in the old matron’s arms, tears streaming uncontrollably down her cheeks, as forlorn as a fallen leaf in autumn wind.

His anger dissipated at once, and he sighed. “Sisi, what happened? At such an important occasion, how could you lose your composure like that?”

The old matron, frantic, questioned her from every angle until she finally understood the situation, only to be left stunned herself.

They had all assumed that Shen Qingyun would be the one to disgrace herself, yet it had turned out to be their dearly cherished Shen Sisi. Even Shen Zhifeng could not lift his head in shame!

How could this be?

The old matron smashed a teacup in frustration. “Go, bring that troublemaking Shen Qingyun here at once!”

Before long, Shen Qingyun arrived, with Madam Han at her side.

“Grandmother, you summoned me?”

“Kneel!” the old matron thundered.

Madam Han’s expression darkened. “What is the meaning of this, madam?”

Shen Qingyun frowned, about to speak, when—

Smack!

Without a word, Shen Zhifeng strode forward and slapped Shen Qingyun hard across the face, the sound ringing through the room and silencing everyone—even Shen Sisi’s sobbing ceased.

The blow came so suddenly that Shen Qingyun, unsteady, was knocked to the floor, her delicate frame crumpling.

“Qingyun!”

“My lady!”

Pearl and Madam Han rushed to help her up.

Shen Qingyun gently touched her cheek, now swollen and burning painfully. Shen Zhifeng had not held back.

She looked up at him—her father. In her eyes, there was no anger, nor pain; she had long since steeled herself. Yet her heart could not help but ache with a thousand tiny wounds.

Shen Zhifeng, momentarily stunned by his own actions, found his pride as a father would not allow him to speak a word. Meeting her icy gaze, an inexplicable fear flickered in his heart, which only fueled his anger. “We share the same family name—how could you be so heartless as to harm your own sister! I should never have brought you back!”

“Shen Zhifeng, enough!” Madam Han shielded Shen Qingyun, calling him by name for the first time, unable to bear his cruel words.

Shen Sisi lowered her head, hiding a fleeting smile before raising it again, her face a picture of sorrow. “Mother, don’t blame Father. He only acts for the sake of our family, swept up in anger…”

“This is not your place to speak,” Madam Han cut her off coldly.

Shen Sisi trembled, forcing a bitter smile. “You’re right; it should be me who leaves. I am unworthy to remain in this house. Father, it is all my fault.”

Seeing Shen Sisi’s tears, Shen Zhifeng thought of Yueniang, of all the years he had suppressed his resentment, and his anger blazed anew. “You are my daughter, and today, no one will dare drive you out!”

His words carried a deeper meaning. Madam Han’s face paled, and she unconsciously gripped Shen Qingyun’s hand tighter.

Feeling for her mother, Shen Qingyun stepped forward. “Father, you struck me today without question, accusing me of harming my sister. On what evidence do you base this?”

“Are you questioning me? Is this how you speak to your father?”

Shen Sisi wept, “Father, say no more. Today my sister shone brilliantly; from now on, the household will depend on her.”

Shen Zhifeng, recalling Xiao Jue’s accusation that he was a useless man living off women, looked at Shen Qingyun’s cold and mocking eyes and roared, “If Sisi hadn’t pleaded for you, do you think you’d have ever come back? You’d have spent your life in that remote mountain village, and still you show no gratitude!”

Shen Qingyun suddenly fixed Shen Zhifeng with a piercing gaze. What did he mean by that?