Chapter 90 Butterflies Fly and Birds Chirp

He shook his head and seemed as if he was in a tough spot. He kept looking at Zi You, trying to gauge her reaction.

Shangguan LingRan grabbed the two scrolls. He loudly said, "Of course fourth meimei won. I can't even read what Mu Xiaojie wrote. Taizi, can you read it?"

Read your a*s! But I can't say that I can't read it! You think everyone's a fool like you and unafraid of being laughed at?!

Taizi glared resentfully at Shangguan LingRan and did not speak.

Zi You secretly smiled. She loudly said, "Just conclude that I lost this round. There are three more rounds remaining. Don't be embarrassed, Taizi. Let the heavens decide."

Taizi gently nodded. "Good. Mu Xiaojie is indeed a descendant from a military family: very straightforward. Then the second round is won by Fourth Gongzhu. The next round is to create a chrysanthemum painting. Whether the chrysanthemum can attract butterflies, it depends on you two."

Zi You waved the brush and ink. Soon, a painting of chrysanthemums appeared. But no one noticed that beore the ink dried, she secretly poured some specially-made pollen underneath her brush on top of the chrysanthemums. Then she quietly put her brush down and waited.

At this time, Shangguan Lingluo's painting was not completed. Everyone was looking at the gongzhu and did not notice that Zi You's eyes turned a mysterious and enchanting deep purple color again. After a while, colorful butterflies flew towards her and stopped at her body and the chrysanthemum painting.

When the butterflies flew over, Zi You felt a burst of ecstasy. It seemed like her spiritual power could summon insects and small animals. It was great! She was one step closer to her goddess mother who could summon wind and rain and raise the dead.

This moment in the garden was indeed extremely beautiful. All sorts of colored and breeds of butterflies flew and surrounded a stunning woman. Some even landed on Zi You's body and painting, unwilling to leave.

The stunning woman's face had a rippling smile, like like a blooming peony flower: outstandingly beautiful and overflowing with fragrance.

Everyone was stunned by this scene until their mouths dropped open. Everyone's gazes were drawn to Zi You and no one paid attention to Shangguan Lingluo. Their eyes only saw this little standing, proud, and fairylike woman who was surrounded by butterflies.

Shangguan Lingluo's painting wasn't finished but she threw the brush away after seeing this scene. She stamped her feet in anger. "Forget this round. The next round is dance. Bengong doesn't believe that Bengong will lose to you."

Her dancing stood out in the imperial family. The Emperor must have her dance during every major holiday. Her Phoenix Dance was famous, so the Emperor conferred to her the name "Great Yan Phoenix."

Shangguan Lingluo had someone rushed back on horseback to retrieve her multicolored dancing costume. The Yu Meilian of the noble xiaojies surrounding her deliberately exclaimed, "Heavens! Fourth Gongzhu is the real fairy. How can the cheap and lowly southern Mu Zi You compare?"

"That's right. She's actually unwilling to bow her to head to Gongzhu. Gongzhu must teach her a lesson." Yu Lanxuan was scolded by Zi You and was filled with anger. So now she desperately added fuel to the fire with Shangguan Lingluo. She wished that Shangguan Lingluo would be furious and put Zi You to death.

Shangguan Lingluo was surrounded and flattered by a group of xiaojies. She smiled vainly while putting on makeup. "Just wait. Bengong will definitely not lose to her in dancing and zither. She's just a cheap southern barbarian's daughter. It would be strange if she can dance and play the zither."

As a crowd escorted Shangguan Lingluo out, Zi You was calmly and leisurely standing in the garden. She did not change into a costume or make any preparations.

Seeing Shangguan Lingluo come out, Zi You secretly sneered. You dared to dishonor my mother? I'll have you humiliated. If I don't see you make a fool of yourself, I'm a descendant of a goddess in vain.

The zither sounded clear like spring water. Shangguan Lingluo started dancing to the music that her Fourth Wangzi gege was playing…

To be frank, Shangguan Lingluo's dancing skills were very high. She was very flexible and her dancing moves were excellent. Zi You took once glance and knew she didn't put in just a day's effort.

In particular, that multicolored phoenix costume enhanced her dance by a lot.

Shangguan Lingluo looked around the garden and saw that everyone's gazes were longer on Zi You, but on her. Her heart grew prouder. She started dancing faster. The multicolored phoenix costume turned into the colorful plumage of a phoenix tail. The beauty was dazzling.

But no one thought that the accident would happen at this time. The belt of the multicolored costume suddenly broke.

Shangguan Lingluo was still twirling. She accidentally stepped on the skirt and heard a tearing sound. The skirt tore and Shangguan Lingluo's goose yellow underpants and white calf were clearly exposed to everyone.

Shangguan Lingluo was stunned silly. This sudden change made her unable to respond. She stood there until her gege Shangguan Botao rushed up. He wrapped her in an overcoat and carried her away.

The people in the garden started whispering. Zi You's heart secretly rejoiced. How satisfying!

You dared to insult my mother? Would I, Mu Zi You, let you off? I said it already. In this lifetime, only I can bully people. I won't allow people to bully me. Whoever dares to bully me, I will certainly retaliate! I won't be merciful!

Today is a small lesson: revealing your underpants. The next time you dare to mess with me, I will reveal your fat buttocks! I don't care if you're some crappy blue-blooded nobility!

As Zi You was being a black belly [outwardly kind, but inwardly evil], she heard someone secretly transmitting a message to her. "Idiot! Don't use your spiritual power. You'll be found out."

Who? Who found out I used my spiritual power? Who was so kindhearted to warn me? Zi You's clear purple eyes swept around the garden. She only saw Taizi slightly smiling at her with a gentle expression. Shangguan LingRan fiercely bared his teeth at her. Third Wangzi was standing and Second Wangzi was sitting. Both were deep in thought. After looking everyone over, she did not see who warned her.

Could it be Taizi? But why would he help me and not his meimei?

Or was it that dandy? Don't be fooled by his hooliganism. He must be a profound and enigmatic martial artist. But he was always at loggerheads with me. And Shangguan Lingluo was his tangmei [younger female patrilineal cousin]. He shouldn't have a reason to help me?

Moreover, the person who warned her not only had profound martial arts skills, but he must certainly practice other top-secret skills. Otherwise, he definitely wouldn't have found out that she used spiritual power.

Then I will give up this round of dancing. I will win against Shangguan Lingluo playing zither and use my spiritual power for the last time.

Zi You slowly and calmly said, "Although Gongzhu's costume is torn, her dancing skills are admittedly above Chennu's. Chennu admits her loss this round. Asking Taizi to proclaim Gongzhu the winner."

Everyone was in an uproar. Their eyes looking at her were filled with admiration again. She dared to straightforwardly admit her loss. It was more respectable than those sore losers.

Shangguan Lingluo was originally crying in shame. But Shangguan LingRan suddenly ran in. Panting and out of breath, he said, "Fourth meimei, quickly go out for the zither round. That smelly yatou Mu Zi You gave up in the dancing round."

Shangguan Lingluo's cries came to an abrupt end. She stared in disbelief at Shangguan LingRan. "You're speaking the truth?"

Shangguan LingRan joyfully nodded. "En, en. She said your skirt tore, but admitted that your dancing skills are stronger than hers. She then gave up. Fourth meimei, work hard. You must win!"

Shangguan Lingluo normally looked down on Shangguan LingRan. She thought that although he was handsome, he was a dandy and a waste. Compared to Taizi gege's talents, he was too inferior. But she found out today, that this dandy looked flawless. He was handsome than Taizi gege by who-knows-how-many more times.

Fine. Since he had been helping Bengong today, if Bengong is happy in the future, Bengong will give him a smile.

Shangguan Lingluo randomly thought. She smiled brightly at Shangguan LingRan. She said sweetly and cutely, "Rest assured, Ling gege. Fourth meimei won't let you guys down."

This gongzhu was quite valiant. Just like this, she forgot all about the embarrassing incident completely. She changed clothes and put on makeup. Then she went out to prepare for the zither contest.

Shangguan LingRan secretly sneered, but he had a flattering expression on his face. He strutted out behind Shangguan Lingluo.

Seeing Shangguan Lingluo come out energetically, many gongzis and xiaojies couldn't help but sigh. She was indeed a gongzhu from the imperial family. Even her skin was thicker than most noble xiaojies. After such a disgraceful thing happened, she still dared to swagger out. How bold!

But everyone only dared to sigh and think in their hearts. Outwardly, they still needed to flatter her. Let's hear what Liu Ruixue said. "Gongzhu is really admirable! No arrogance in victory and no despair in defeat. Ruixue really prostrates herself in admiration."

The next sentence was on the tip of her tongue but swallowed down. "I'm really shocked by your thick skin."

Shangguan Lingluo did not know her reputation had plummeted to the bottom. After vainly walking around the garden, she looked at Zi You. Insufferably arrogant, she asked, "You first or Bengong first?"

Zi You slightly smiled and said, in a neither overbearing nor servile tone, "You are a gongzhu. Of course Gongzhu goes first. If Gongzhu can attract one hundred birds, Zi You will immediately accept her loss and be at Gongzhu's disposal."

Shangguan Lingluo mockingly looked around. "What if neither you nor Bengong can attract one hundred birds?"

Zi You sneered. She replied calmly, "How can we know the results before we compete? Gongzhu should settle her heart and start playing the zither."

Shangguan Lingluo got angry. She glared fiercely at Zi You. She swept her skirt and sat down in front of the zither. The beautiful melody of "Lotus Charm" immediately spread throughout the garden.

Shangguan Lingluo had originally played this song countless times. It could be said that she was very skilled at it. But she could not play her best today because she was distracted. She was hoping one hundred birds would fly over to worship her: the real golden phoenix. So, she played worse than she usually did.

Taizi deeply frowned and shook his head imperceptibly. His fourth meimei was really disappointing today. The contest hadn't even started and she lost her confidence already.

But that Mu Zi You was really impressive. He didn't think that she would have this ability at such a young age.

Taizi wasn't in the mood to hear if his imperial meimei was playing well or badly. He tuned her out and thought incessantly. The sitting Shangguan Lingluo was like ants on a hot fire, restless, and sweating like rainfall.

The song was almost at the end. Not to mention one hundred birds, but not even a little sparrow flew over. She cried out. How could she endure this?!

She was a dignified gongzhu. But today she was embarrassed by a darned yatou two years younger than herself! If she knew earlier, she wouldn't have suggested a competition. She should have just directly hit her. What could the darned yatou do about it?

While Shangguan Lingluo was immersed in regrets, the song ended. She forcefully said to Zi You, "Your turn. Bengong doesn't believe you can attract one hundred birds over. If you can't, Bengong will tell Fuwang. You'll be guilty of deceiving the monarch!"

Zi You slowly walked over to the zither and sat down. She looked at Fourth Gongzhu and coldly said, "Please speak cautiously, Gongzhu. The Emperor is the only monarch of the world. You are also just a subject. Chennu did not deceive the monarch. Please do not arbitrarily place a crime on Chennu's head."

Then, she no longer paid attention to anyone. She reached out her jade-like soft hands and lightly strummed the silver strings. She drew a beautiful curve on top of the zither. "Phoenix Song" started playing. Suddenly, the clear sounds like a phoenix's song resounded.

Everyone only saw jade-like slender fingers moved at times slowly and at times rapidly. They were like a butterfly dancing on top of the zither. Accompanying the music, Zi You's soothing voice started singing. "The phoenix dances, rises and falls; the phoenix sings, solemnly and tragically; the phoenix dances again; the phoenix sings again; a flock of ordinary birds fly over from the sky…"

A voice like kingfishers playing in the water and yellow warblers singing spread throughout. The beautiful singing voice had everyone mesmerized and little animals emerging from their nests.

Gradually, with the sounds of her zither and singing, all kinds of birds flew over to the garden. There were sparrows, magpies, thrushes, swallows, parrots, and finally, two peacocks: one white and one green.

Everyone was shocked. They looked at Zi You as if they saw a fairy descended from the nine heavens. They started discussing in liveliness.

"Heavens! I've only heard about such a thing. I thought it was made up. I didn't expect it to be true. She looks so beautiful. Can she really be a fairy descended to the mortal world?"

"Yes. I thought it was strange when the butterfly landed on her earlier. Now it's even more shocking. A peacock! Isn't a peacock a phoenix?"

"Mother! Can you pinch me? Am I seeing things? Did she really bring one hundred birds over?"

At this moment, the garden really had one hundred birds chirping. All kinds of birds flew over Zi You and chirped in pleasant sounds. Some were flying next to her, incessantly chirping at her.

This strange scene in the garden had not only the gongzis, but the xiaojies madly and crazily crowding each other to watch Zi You. Even a lot of adults were alerted and started coming to the garden.

Old General Mu and Mu YingYi were also alerted. The two took a look and knew what was going on. You'er used her spiritual power.

The two were startled and scared. The looked at each other and rushed to separate the crowd of people.

At this time, Zi You's song ended. She slowly stood up with a languid smile. She looked at the little birds flying around her and her smile grew wider into an outstandingly beautiful peony flower: charming and striking.

Old General Mu looked anxiously at her. His tiger eyes looked around and he asked softly, "What is it? You'er, did someone bully you?"

Zi You shook her head and smiled comfortingly at her grandfather. Then she looked at Shangguan Lingluo and said, in a neither overbearing nor servile tone, "Would Fourth Gongzhu please comply with the bet and apologize to Chennu's mother?"

Old General Mu and Mu YingYi immediately understood what was going on.

Just looking around the garden, they knew that this yatou used her spiritual power. But You'er was not someone who loved being in the limelight. If she was not forced, she wouldn't easily use her spiritual power.

Fourth Gongzhu must have said some insulting words about Dier that made You'er angry.

Old General Mu immediately got angry. He looked at Taizi and asked gloomily, "Taizi, shouldn't you give this subject an explanation? Why does this subject's granddaughter want Gongzhu to apologize to You'er's mother?"

Old General Mu led an army for many years. He naturally had an aggressive and imposing aura. Even if Taizi was the heir apparent to the throne, Taizi would still not overdo his actions.

Seeing that Old General Mu was angry, Taizi hurriedly explained. "Please don't be angry Old General Mu! This matter was indeed fourth meimei's fault. She shouldn't have spoken nonsense. This Taizi hereby apologizes on her behalf to You'er and her mother!"

Zi You looked at the Fourth Gongzhu hiding behind Taizi. She coldly said, "A person is responsible for his own actions. Taizi did not insult Chennu's mother. Why do you need to apologize? Pardon Chennu for not accepting your apology. Fourth Gongzhu, it can't be that you can't afford to lose, right? Didn't you use your blood to write the bet down? If you break your word, you will be cursed."

Shangguan Lingluo was so angry her eyebrows almost turned vertical. Her large eyes were wide and her temples throbbed in pain. She almost lunged forwards.

She didn't think today would end with such results. Now, she was being forced to this degree. She really threw her face far away today. She didn't know how she would be laughed at by everyone.

But what if she did not apologize? She already wrote it in blood. Taizi gege was the middleman. He would also be ridiculed.

Shangguan Lingluo looked at her favorite Taizi gege. Her tearful eyes were filled with grievance. She viciously glared at Zi You. "I'm sorry! Bengong shouldn't have insulted your mother."

Her tears streamed down her face. Her lips were about to bleed from her biting them. She hated that she couldn't tear Zi You into pieces.

She secretly swore to herself, 'Cheap yatou! Bengong will never let you go. See how Bengong will take care of you!'

Yu Lanxuan's double-lidded phoenix eyes looked at Shangguan Lingluo and then at Mu Zi You. She was so excited that she hated she couldn't cheer out loud. It was great! They formed a grudge. It was best to have a life or death struggle until they both died. That would suit her taste…