16 she is only a child
Dilina glares at them and stomps off to give orders to the musicians for the song.
The music rises.
Their bodies rise too.
Clarita's ribbons are not yet opened, but Dilina's are already in the air, whirling.
Same dance moves, they leap, their arms swing, their softbacks arc, their necks stretch.
All together at the same beats.
At the chorus, they spin, Clarita's ribbons slowly open, the spins making as if her ribbons are growing longer and longer... By now, most of the attention is on Clarita and her ribbons.
Clarita's aura changed, from graceful to a deathly vibe.
Her moves are getting sharper and faster.
The drums beating as if on the audience's hearts.
"Damn it!"
Dilina's mind is no longer concentrated.
"Ahhh!"
"Dilina!"
The music ends.
The dancer kneels, ribbons slowly falling down.
"Well, Zhen is sure the winner is clear, is Zhen right? General Dong."
"Yes, of course, Your Majesty is wise."
Aron Quint clenches his teeth.
Wise?
Just you wait, Damien Dong.
"Wow, that old Dong is not scared at all huh, he still dares to challenge Father." Liliando sneers as he gulps down another cup of wine.
"Don't worry, Dong will not last long. He is only fish on land. Especially..."
"Especially when the land is fertile." Liliando bursts into laughter at his own joke.
"Stop drinking so much, I will make sure no one will send you back to your palace afterwards." Devyn frowns, snatching his cup away.
The ladies and the princesses challenge each other for a few rounds.
As if they have forgotten the returned princess.
"Dilina Dong wishes to challenge Princess Ruthless!"
"Oh look, little frog wishes to challenge my sister."
"Ruth, you will win."
"Ruthless accepts your challenge, what does Ms Dong wants to challenge Beng Gong for?"
Ruthless will not hide her ability this time.
This time, she must shine.
And glow.
Dilina fell down and sprained her ankle just now, so she chooses instrument playing.
Ruthless picks a harp, Dilina picks zither.
With the same song.
Harp has a short and mellow sound. Zither has a spidery and distinctive sound.
In this song, the zither has a higher advantage as it is more cheerful and bright.
It will really test Ruthless's skills in this song if she wants to win.
Ruthless's long pale fingers working very fast on the strings. That you can barely catch sight of her fingers staying on one string for more than half a beat.
Like softwood hitting an empty wood. Her music is soft and calm, a happy song but she has turned it to a peaceful song. A wave of chill wind that soothes the audience's hearts and minds. Their troubles all thrown away.
The zither, long forgotten.
The trick when playing music is not to melt into the song. But to change it.
Their fingers rest and stop.
The emperor claps, the others follow suit.
"Zhen's daughter." The emperor nods his head and smiles proudly.
Southern Lasombra has been losing to that Flower Vine Kingdom's Crown Princess Anya. With Ruthless, Southern Lasombra can finally gain back the face!
"Indeed, this music deserves to be on the heavens!"
"No wonder, bloodline of the royalty."
"Ms Dong has embarrassed herself twice already and lost the face of Southern Lasombra and still so arrogant!"
"Well, she is the beloved granddaughter of Grand General Dong, they have the authority."
More people challenge her.
Drawing, chess, dance, instrument playing, literature, martial arts, history.
Even the First Beauty, Crown Princess Anya has been defeated.
"Therefore, the winner is..."
"Princess Ruthless!"
"Thank you, Father, Ruthless will still continue to improve herself."
"Hehe, little Ruth is so skilful! You are my idol!" Lilando's arm pulls her shoulder closer to him.
"Female and male have differences, please respect her innocence." Devyn pulls his arm away.
"See, Dev will always help me." Ruthless slaps Lilando's arm.
"I am so hurt..." Lilando sniffs and wipes the corner of his eye.
"Princess Ruthless, Pince Lilando, thank you for helping Clarita earlier." Princess Clarita brisk walks over and bends her knees.
Ruthless nods, Lilando ignores her and pulls the both of them away.
And return to their palace.
"Master," a dark shadow appears in the mirror.
"Blackey, do you think they are trusted?" The young girl combs her long hair patiently.
"Master is only a young girl, even if things go wrong, please use Black One too. Black One will always be at Master's side." Black One takes her comb and combs her hair carefully.
"Blackey..."
The young girl sighs.
Everyone seems to have forgotten.
But she is only, only a child.
The moon reflects the eerie silver of her hair.
Silver.
-------------------
"Your Majesty, Diana has brought some soup for you."
"Diana."
"Yes, Your Majesty?" Noble Consort Diana Dong kneels before the emperor.
"Once upon a time, there is a dragon."
"The dragon is the Lord of the Waters. But his servant, the snake is known better among the waters."
"The snake keeps challenging the authority of the dragon"
"My beloved Diana, what will the dragon do?"
The emperor leads Noble Consort Diana to the bed.
What will he do?
Next Morning.
"By the blessings of heaven, the Emperor's decree, Princess Ruthless is of a perfect example for the other ladies. Therefore, Zhen shall grant her the title of Imperial Princess, allowed to attend court matters. And grant her thousand silk and thousand gems."
"Ruthless receives the decree." Ruthless kneels before Eunuch Li and receives the gold cloth where the decree is written on.
"Congratulations, Imperial Princess."
"Thank you Eunuch Li, here are some gifts for you." Ruthless passes a pouch of gold to him.
"Imperial Princess, manage it well. Is hell or heaven, is under your hands."
"Thank you Eunuch Li. Have a safe journey back."
"Ruth, Aron Quint wants to use you to suppress the Dong Family."
"Yes, Mother, I know, I am too, using him. One day, he will realise this mistake. He gave me such power, and allow me to pluck out Dong's influence and allow me to grow my wings. By the time he wants my power back, it will be too late."
"Yesterday's incident gave him enough reasons and he is very threatened. Ruth, you have done well."
"Hehehe, of course, Mother, look whose daughter she is." Ruthless hugs her mother's frail arm.
"I have prepared your favourite eight treasure congee in the morning for you."
"Wow, thank you, Mother, you are the best!"
