Wei Yingya immediately understood: “Dongwu, you may step back.”
She was extremely excited.
Ning Jieyu actually wanted to tell her something confidential; this was the first step in successfully accepting her into her small group!
“Last time, Wei Meiren presented His Majesty with a snack called egg pastry. It looks like your handiwork…”
Ning Wanyin looked at her and got straight to the point.
Wei Yingya gritted her teeth in hatred at the mention of Wei Meiren.
“That’s egg tart! She forced the recipe out of me!”
“This is a crime of deceiving the Emperor.” Ning Wanyin interjected.
Wei Yingya gave a bitter smile: “But His Majesty didn’t pursue the matter…”
These pastries, so different from the cuisine of the Great Yan Dynasty, were unique.
His Majesty must have noticed, but he didn’t pursue the matter.
“Because pursuing it would be troublesome, and His Majesty doesn’t like to meddle. If she insists she made the pastries herself, what evidence do you have to prove your innocence?” Ning Wanyin asked.
Wei Yingya was taken aback, then shook her head.
“Therefore, if you want her to be punished, you need irrefutable evidence.”
Ning Wanyin looked at Wei Yingya and said: “Would Ying Meiren be willing to team up with me for a game?”
“Of course, I’m willing! Ning Jieyu, what’s your idea? Tell me quickly, and I’ll definitely do as you say!” Wei Yingya was overjoyed.
She didn’t know that Li Rao was from the Wei family. She only guessed that Wei Meiren had offended her by forcing Ning Wanyin to write a poem today, so Ning Wanyin wanted to take Wei Meiren’s life.
“Ying Meiren is skilled in poetry. Could you perhaps write me half a poem?” Ning Wanyin asked.
Although Wei Yingya was puzzled as to why she only needed half of it, a timeless masterpiece immediately came to mind.
‘When will the moon be clear and bright? How can it compare with the human world?’
Wei Yingya picked up her brush and wrote half of Su Shi’s ‘Prelude to Water Melody: When Will the Moon Be Clear and Bright?’ and handed it to Ning Wanyin.
“Ying Meiren’s talent is astonishing! A casual stroke of your pen produces a stunning poem.”
Ning Wanyin picked up the Xuan paper, looked at the half-finished poem before her, and exclaimed in admiration.
Wei Yingya smiled somewhat embarrassedly.
Master Su was indeed amazing! I was just a copyist.
…
The following day, at nightfall.
Helian Qi entered Lingxue Pavilion and saw the young woman, dressed in a nightgown with her black hair loose, sitting at the desk, her delicate brows slightly furrowed, her pretty face showing a hint of distress.
The candlelight illuminated the beautiful woman’s furrowed brows, making her appear delicate and endearing.
“What’s troubling you, my beauty?” Helian Qi asked.
Ning Wanyin snapped out of her reverie and quickly curtsied, “This concubine was so lost in thought that I failed to greet Your Majesty…”
“It was I who ordered them not to disturb you…”
Helian Qi reached out and helped her up, leading her to sit down on the soft couch. He then noticed the half-finished poem on the table.
“This is a poem that Ying Meiren composed yesterday. She wrote the first stanza and asked me to write the second stanza, but alas, my talent is limited. After thinking for a whole day, I still couldn’t come up with one.”
Ning Wanyin sighed, looking at Helian Qi with eyes full of anticipation: “I wonder if Your Majesty could write half a poem for me?”
It was common for scholars to exchange poems and lyrics.
Seeing the poem’s stunning quality, Helian Qi felt a surge of appreciation for her talent and was willing to compose a matching stanza.
He then picked up a brush from the side of the desk, dipped it in ink, and wrote the second half of the poem.
After finishing writing, Helian Qi shook his head, somewhat dissatisfied.
“My response isn’t good. Let Ying Meiren write the other half herself, so as not to waste this fine poem.”
“Your Majesty’s writing is far better than mine! Ying Meiren will surely be delighted to see it!” Ning Wanyin immediately flattered, her face beaming with smiles.
*****
Translator’s Comment:
Ning Wanyin: Do you think I am soft-persimmon? You just wait for my revenge!!!
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acatia On WMMMWF Chapter 22