Chapter 226 Caught Off Guard

Xie Zhenrong looked at Chen Yian and said, "Chen Zhaoyi, have you prepared any talents for me?"

Chen Yian, who had been sitting quietly, stood up and bowed.

"I have prepared a sun and moon dance for the Empress. May the Empress be as constant as the moon, as rising as the sun, and as long-lived as the Southern Mountains, never collapsing or crumbling."

Xie Zhenrong raised his eyebrows happily when he heard this.

She looked at Yan Shixu and asked, "Your Majesty, have you ever seen the Sun and Moon Dance?"

Yan Shixu picked up the wine glass and took a sip, a faint smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.

"No, I will take advantage of the Queen's birthday today to take a good look at this novel dance."

Xie Zhenrong turned to Chen Yian and said, "Since that's the case, please get started, Zhaoyi Chen. I'm also looking forward to it."

Chen Yian stood up and moved lightly to the center of the hall.

As the melodious music sounded, she tapped her toes, spread her arms, and tilted her head back, revealing her beautiful and slender jawline, instantly attracting everyone's attention.

The beauty shows off her figure, her long sleeves fluttering as she dances gracefully.

Chen Yian's figure was like a graceful wild goose, dancing lightly in the hall.

Every time she turned around and raised her hand, she was soft and agile with just the right amount of grace, and her eyes were full of elegance.

Her body was so soft that it seemed as if she had no bones. When she leaned back, she supported herself on the ground with her arms, and her movements were natural, smooth and graceful.

The curve of her body was just like the scorching sun visible in the sky.

Immediately afterwards, Chen Yian opened her mouth and a pleasant song rang out as she stood up lightly.

I've never heard the lyrics before, but they fit in with the theme of her Sun and Moon Dance.

She stepped lightly, spun and moved, her body moving like a swimming dragon and forming a crescent moon, naturally and smoothly without any sense of incongruity.

Everyone gasped when they saw this.

This waist, which is as slender as a hand, twists gently, bringing out endless charm.

As the singing rose and fell, her dance moves kept switching between the sun and the moon.

Everyone was fascinated by the sight, and even the concubines who regarded her as a competitor couldn't help but show admiration in their eyes.

Yan Shixu's originally casual expression also became focused, and he was quite surprised.

It is said that the third daughter of the Xuande Marquis's family is proficient in music, chess, calligraphy and painting, and is especially good at dancing.

It seems that the rumors are true.

Xie Zhenrong looked at the emperor's reaction and was secretly delighted.

As expected, which man in the world could not like a stunning beauty like Chen Yian?

Plus, she is versatile and can be a great addition to a man's wardrobe.

As for Wen Li'er, Xie Zhenrong had never heard of any talents she had.

Even if he is good at something, he is certainly not as good as Chen Yian.

As Chen Yian's dance came to an end, she leaped lightly, landed steadily on the ground, and then slowly knelt down to salute.

The whole audience was silent for a long time before bursting into warm applause, and Yan Shixu also clapped twice.

Xie Zhenrong said, "Chen Zhaoyi's Sun and Moon Dance is truly exquisite."

After praising him, she looked at Yan Shixu and said, "Your Majesty, what do you think? Should I reward him?"

Yan Shixu smiled and said, "Of course I deserve a reward."

He then said, "I will give you ten East China Sea pearls, ten pieces of Western Region brocade, ten gu of premium bird's nest, a set of gold wine vessels, a pair of jade ruyi (ruyi-shaped ornaments), a pair of mutton-fat white jade bracelets, a pair of coral ornaments, a golden crown, a Tianyu screen, a Western chiming clock, and a peacock feather fan. I will also grant you permission to establish a music studio in Qichun Palace. You can invite musicians and purchase various musical instruments for Chen Zhaoyi to practice singing and dancing."

As he finished speaking, the entire hall fell silent.

When the other concubines saw this, a hint of jealousy flashed in their eyes.

Even the dignified smile on Xie Zhenrong's face could not be maintained and began to crack.

Chen Yian just danced once, but the reward she received was even greater than the birthday gift the emperor gave her.

Isn't this a slap in her face in front of all the concubines?

Chen Yian glanced at the queen's expression and felt a little terrified.

She bowed gracefully and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, I am deeply grateful for your grace. However, this reward is too generous, and I feel unworthy to accept it."

Yan Shixu asked with great interest, "Oh? Why did you refuse? Is it possible that my reward is not worthy of Chen Zhaoyi's approval?"

Chen Yian quickly knelt and explained, "Your Majesty has misunderstood. Today is the Empress' birthday, and I was originally here to congratulate her. I performed to please her. I have only done my humble part, and I feel unworthy to receive such a generous reward."

Seeing that Chen Yian was quite tactful, Xie Zhenrong's displeasure dissipated a little.

She pretended to be angry and said, "What are you talking about, Chen Zhaoyi? The emperor's reward is a recognition of your dancing skills. Just accept it with peace of mind."

Chen Yian wanted to refuse, but the emperor waved his hand and asked her to leave.

"Chen Zhaoyi's dance today captivated the whole city. She deserves this reward."

After saying this, he stood up and left without caring about the concubines' reactions.

A storm about the emperor's generous reward to Chen Zhaoyi quickly swept the entire palace.

The palace people were secretly saying that the emperor had taken a fancy to Chen Zhaoyi, and the days when the imperial concubine was the most favored in the six palaces were probably gone forever.

No one in Bixi Palace dared to tell Wen Lier about this.

The palace maid came in person to convey the message to Nanny Qin.

If any palace servant talks too much, just cut him off directly without mercy.

Although Nanny Qin was also worried that Wen Li'er's favor would be taken away by someone, she quickly adjusted her mindset and gave a good scolding to all the palace servants serving in the Bixi Palace.

However, just when everyone thought that the emperor would summon Chen Zhaoyi to sleep with him tonight, the emperor actually summoned someone no one expected.

That person was Wen Wanqin, who had just been promoted to the fourth rank of a groomer.

This really caught the concubines off guard.

Not only was everyone puzzled, Wen Wanqin herself was also shocked and confused.

She has been in the palace for so many years, but the emperor has never summoned her once.

Could it be that she was just a supporting role among the flowers today, attracting too much attention? That's why the emperor noticed her?

Wen Wanqin paced back and forth in her bedroom, her hands clenched tightly under her sleeves.

She always felt that the luckiest thing about her entering the palace was that the old emperor did not touch her, and the current emperor did not touch her either.

She thought she could remain innocent forever and die of old age in the palace.

But why did God play such a joke on her?

She regretted her behavior today so much that she wanted to kill herself.

But on second thought, I felt something was not right.

If the emperor could notice her, he would have noticed her long ago.

After all, although the emperor had not summoned her alone in these years, he had seen her many times at palace banquets of varying sizes.

Why didn’t I take a fancy to her before, but I took a fancy to her after a new person came into the palace?

Moreover, she saw the emperor's favor for the imperial concubine. It was a love from the heart, and his eyes were full of her among all the flowers.

Just like the way that man looked at her.

So, how could the emperor fall in love with other women so quickly?

Even if he really fell in love with someone suddenly, it would only be the stunningly beautiful Chen Yian. How could it be her?

Thinking of this, Wen Wanqin's nervous heart slowly calmed down.

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