HRPM – Chapter 255 The Rival Has Arrived (2)

“Tch, who exactly is looking down on whom?

Talking about winning right from the start—as if she had already secured victory.”

Jin Luoluo knew very well that Yang Ruoyao’s performance this time had truly been breathtaking. That was why she had captivated so many people.

If she wanted to surpass her, she would have to seize the audience’s hearts completely and make their emotions rise and fall along with her dance.

After pondering for a while, she finally came up with a brilliant idea to add an extra spark to her belly dance.

“Miss, your singing was wonderful! Everyone seemed utterly mesmerized. This time, you’re definitely going to win first place,” her clever maid immediately congratulated her as soon as Yang Ruoyao stepped off the stage.

Yang Ruoyao herself was very confident in her performance. She felt that the championship was practically already in her pocket. She knew exactly how capable the young ladies of the capital were, and she was certain that she surpassed them all.

The only uncertainty was Yaoji. She did not seem to be from the Chu Yun Kingdom, and Yang Ruoyao did not know enough about her abilities.

As for Jin Shuang’er, whom Prince Luo had been enthusiastically supporting—hmph. The woman spoke frivolously and arrogantly; she surely had little real talent. Yang Ruoyao did not regard her as a threat at all.

“Since I’ve come to compete, naturally I won’t settle for second place.”

“Miss, we received the most gifts today. Even if you combined all the gifts received by the other young ladies, they still wouldn’t match ours. Many young masters have fallen for you because of it.”

Yang Ruoyao smiled disdainfully.

“Mm. Make a record of all those young masters who sent gifts. I’m not interested in them, but they may still be useful.”

“Yes, Miss. Look, that Yaoji has taken the stage.”

If Yang Ruoyao’s singing represented unparalleled perfection, then Yaoji’s zither performance was another pinnacle altogether.

With a pair of delicate hands, she skillfully plucked the seven-stringed guqin. Guided by her almost magical fingers, the ancient strings seemed to come alive, as though they possessed souls of their own.

Notes filled with life were born from the strings and grew beneath the bright moon and gentle breeze.

The music was like a pair of seductive hands quietly stirring the most fragile emotions of the listeners. It guided the audience’s feelings toward a tranquil mountain valley, making them seem to behold the scene described in Wang Wei’s poem:

“As osmanthus blossoms fall, no one is about;
In the stillness of night, the spring mountains lie empty.
The rising moon startles birds among the hills;
From time to time, their cries echo through the spring stream valley.”