Emperor Shen's charming wife

In order to enhance the friendship between the two countries, an unprecedented welcome banquet was held in the palace. Envoys from various countries came one after another, and the whole palace was crowded with people, laughter and joy, and the atmosphere was very lively. At this banquet, several arrogant old nobles took advantage of the wine and ridiculed Ning Yao's unique "book-crossing" background. Their words were sharp and sarcastic, and their eyes were full of contempt and disdain, as if Ning Yao was an insignificant little person. However, Ning Yao always maintained an elegant and decent smile and responded to their provocation calmly. On the side, Shen Yu had a calm face, seemingly calm, but in fact he silently recorded the bad words and deeds of these old nobles one by one. In order to resolve the awkward atmosphere at the moment, Ning Yao generously proposed to perform a guzheng for everyone. She raised her jade hand lightly and plucked the strings. The melodious sound of the guzheng flowed out like water, instantly making the whole audience fall into silence. Everyone was intoxicated by the beautiful music, and Ning Yao also showed her outstanding talent and extraordinary demeanor. Shen Yu took the opportunity to solemnly announce at the banquet that all nobles would be strictly evaluated, and those with excellent performance would be retained, while those with bad conduct and insufficient ability would be exiled. This decision was undoubtedly a powerful response to the contemptuous attitude of the old nobles. After the banquet, Ning Yao visited the envoy privately. During the conversation, she won the other party's deep respect with her intelligence and broad knowledge, and successfully saved the face of the empire. Just as the banquet was about to end successfully, an inconspicuous little maid accidentally knocked over the wine glass. This was a trivial mistake, but it became the object of a new round of ridicule by the old nobles. Their harsh laughter was endless, and the little maid was trembling with fear. Ning Yao keenly sensed the injustice, she frowned slightly, and made up her mind to help. Ning Yao always maintained an elegant smile. Facing the difficulties of those old nobles, her expression did not show any ripples. "Dear envoys, today we are gathered together, everyone should relax a little." Ning Yao said with a smile. She knew very well that in such occasions, she must remain calm and composed to deal with it with ease. "Miss Ning is really generous. I heard that you came from a book. I guess you are not from a big family, right?" An old noble said with a sneer on his face. His words instantly caused a burst of laughter from the people around him. The shrill laughter seemed particularly abrupt in this lively banquet. Ning Yao still smiled and said calmly: "You are joking. I am the eldest daughter of the Ning family. I have received a good education since I was a child. I dare not slack off." Her answer was neither humble nor arrogant, which made those who had originally laughed at her embarrassed and stopped laughing. Shen Yu sat aside and observed all this calmly. He knew very well that Ning Yao was an extremely intelligent woman. With her agility, she did not need his help for the time being. "Everyone, today's banquet, just enjoy yourself, don't let these little things hurt the harmony." Shen Yu said lightly, his voice was not loud, but it carried an irresistible majesty. The old nobles bowed their heads after hearing this, and dared not speak nonsense again. "Your Majesty, I heard that the Guzheng skills of the neighboring country are very superb. I wonder if Your Majesty can let me see it?" Ning Yao said with a smile, her eyes fell on an envoy from a neighboring country. Shen Yu nodded and said, "Of course." The envoy from the neighboring country stood up and said with a smile, "In that case, then I will show my ugliness." He walked to the center of the stage, carefully took out a beautifully made Guzheng from his arms, sat down gently, and flicked his fingers, and the melodious sound of the piano suddenly poured out like flowing water. The whole audience was silent for a moment, and everyone was intoxicated by this wonderful music. At the end of the song, the whole audience burst into warm applause. "Good, good!" Shen Yu said with a smile, his eyes fell on Ning Yao, full of praise. Ning Yao smiled and said, "Your Majesty, I would like to perform a song for you, too. May I?" Ning Yao stood up gracefully and walked to the center of the stage. She took out a unique guzheng from her bosom, sat down elegantly, and plucked the zither with her jade fingers. The melodious sound of the zither sounded again. The whole audience was silent, and everyone was immersed in this moving music again. At the end of the song, the whole audience applauded again. Ning Yao smiled and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your praise." Shen Yu took the opportunity to solemnly announce at the banquet: "Everyone, I have something to announce at today's banquet." Although his voice was not loud, it contained an irresistible majesty, which made everyone present raise their heads and focus their eyes on him. "I have decided to conduct a comprehensive assessment of all nobles. Those with both moral integrity and talent will remain in office, and those with bad conduct and insufficient ability will be demoted." Shen Yu said in a resounding voice, and his eyes swept across the crowd sharply, making those who had ulterior motives unconsciously lower their heads and look guilty. "Your Majesty, this..." An old noble stood up hurriedly and tried to defend himself. "I have made up my mind, no need to say more!" Shen Yu said coldly, and then his eyes turned to Ning Yao, and he instantly became very gentle. Ning Yao smiled and responded: "Your Majesty is wise." Shen Yu nodded slightly and said: "Okay, the banquet continues." After the banquet, Ning Yao visited the envoy privately. In the elegantly decorated reception room, Ning Yao was dressed in gorgeous clothes, with a dignified manner, and talked with the envoy. She won the respect of the other party with her own intelligence and broad knowledge, and successfully saved the face of the empire. "Miss Ning, seeing you today really broadens my horizons." The envoy of the neighboring country said with a smile, and his eyes fell on Ning Yao with admiration. Ning Yao smiled and said, "Your Excellency, you are too kind. I only know a thing or two." The envoy from the neighboring country nodded and said, "Miss Ning, you are too modest. I sincerely admire your talent and demeanor at today's banquet." Ning Yao smiled and said, "Your Excellency, you are too kind. I am just an ordinary woman." The envoy from the neighboring country continued, "Miss Ning, I have a presumptuous request. I don't know if I should say it or not." Ning Yao smiled and replied, "Please go ahead, Your Excellency." The envoy from the neighboring country said sincerely, "I would like to invite Miss Ning to come to our country and play a song for our subjects." Ning Yao smiled and said, "Your Excellency, you are too kind. I am just an ordinary woman." The envoy from the neighboring country nodded eagerly and said, "Miss Ning, I am well aware of your outstanding talent and I believe you will not let me down." The envoy from the neighboring country nodded again and said, "Miss Ning, I know you are a talented woman and I believe you will not let me down." Just as the banquet was about to end successfully, an inconspicuous little palace maid accidentally knocked over the wine glass due to a momentary negligence. In an instant, she became the target of a new round of ridicule by the old nobles. "How do you do things, little maid? You are so careless, why don't you kowtow and apologize to His Majesty and the envoys!" An old noble shouted with disgust, sneering, and his sharp words instantly caused a burst of laughter from the people around him. The harsh laughter seemed particularly abrupt in this gorgeous palace. The little maid was so scared that she trembled all over, her face was as pale as paper, and tears rolled in her eyes. She knelt down and begged for mercy, and her forehead hit the ground heavily, making a "bang bang" sound. Ning Yao frowned slightly, and a trace of pity flashed in her beautiful eyes. She stood up gracefully and said, "Everyone, she is just a little maid, why do you have to embarrass her so much?" "Miss Ning, what do you mean? We are just teaching her how to do things so that she won't make the same mistake again in the future." The old noble glanced at Ning Yao and sneered, and the contemptuous tone made Ning Yao unhappy.