Chapter 157 Dance

There was a slight rustle of cold wind outside the house, and fresh breeze blew in through the window.

No one noticed that there was a hole poked outside the window. An eye was quietly looking inside through the hole in the window paper.

Only after seeing the person inside clearly, a clear gasp was heard in the dark night.

Late at night, a skinny little eunuch ran out.

There were dark clouds overhead, and the young eunuch's heart was pounding as he thought about the scene just now in the room.

He did not stop for a long while, and followed a small path all the way to Fengming Palace.

"Your Majesty!" The young eunuch strode forward, without looking back, and rushed back into the palace and knelt on his knees.

"Did you see it?"

Inside Fengming Hall

The sound of stringed instruments gradually came from afar. Concubine Shu sat on a chair, listening to the faint sound. She turned her head and looked at the person kneeling in front of her and asked:

"Have you seen how that bitch is dressed?" Chen Fu will dance on her behalf? !

What a joke, what the hell is she? Is she worthy of it?

There were few valuable items left in Fengming Palace after it was smashed, and broken porcelain was scattered all over the room.

The young eunuch knelt farther away on purpose, but there was still a broken blue and white porcelain brush washer in front of him.

He ran all the way back, his face and forehead covered with sweat. After hearing what Concubine Shu said, the young eunuch still looked confused and didn't even raise his head:

"Look, I see."

Concubine Shu was extremely anxious. Listening to the faint sounds outside the window, she wished she could get up and go over right away.

"What's going on? That bitch Chen Fu has started to jump." Concubine Shu was angry and anxious, sitting on the couch looking uneasy.

"Not... not yet." The young eunuch knelt on the ground in a daze, obviously not yet coming to his senses.

Nong Qiu, the senior palace maid behind Concubine Shu, noticed something was wrong, so she stepped forward and patted Concubine Shu on the back to comfort her.

He squinted his eyes and looked at the eunuch below: "You should be more serious. Are you so confused that you saw something you shouldn't have seen and got scared? Are you scared?"

This little Jinzi is usually very smart, but now he seems to have lost his soul.

Nong Qiu shouted sharply, and Xiao Jinzi was frightened and stood up suddenly: "No... No..."

How could he be scared? He was clearly shocked by Concubine Shen's compelling beauty.

Even though he had heard it countless times from everyone and knew that Concubine Shen was beautiful, he could not recover for a long time when he suddenly saw that vivid scene, even though he was a little eunuch.

"I am not frightened." He clenched his palms and regained his senses.

Xiao Jinzi then told everything that he had just secretly witnessed.

"Your Highness... Concubine Shen is like this... I'm afraid that His Majesty will definitely like it when he sees it."

Xiao Jinzi didn't know how to describe it, but just from the one glance he took, Miss Chen Fu was so alluring.

Even a servant like her is like this. When Concubine Shen performs a dance later, it doesn't matter whether she dances well or not.

Just looking at the way she is dressed today, I’m afraid even His Majesty would find it difficult to control himself.

"How...how could this happen?" Concubine Shu was about to fall, and Nong Qiu quickly supported her from behind: "My lady."

"Nong Qiu..." Concubine Shu turned around and grabbed her arm. Her flamboyant and dazzling face was clearly filled with panic.

"Tell me, what should I do now?"

She hates!

He hated Chen Fu. He hated her for causing him to only be able to listen to the music here. He couldn't even go there and take a look at it, let alone go there.

She hates it even more! She hated Chen Fu even more for performing the dance in her place. Ever since she came into being, His Majesty had treated her differently than before.

Before, she had only seen favor in the eyes of the Emperor. Who in the entire harem didn't envy her? But now, His Majesty is looking at Shen Fu in the same way.

"After having Concubine Shen, His Majesty no longer has room for me. She has taken away the favor that originally belonged to me, and even more so, the favor of His Majesty."

Nong Qiu looked at Concubine Shu's tearful face and said, "Your Majesty, now is not the time to cry."

“If Concubine Shen succeeds in performing a dance tonight and wins His Majesty’s favor, I’m afraid there will only be Concubine Shen and no Concubine Shu in this palace in the future.”

This is why Concubine Shu was favored in the past. She knew better than anyone how affectionate and ruthless His Majesty was.

"What should we do?" The proud Concubine Shu now looked pale and didn't know what to do.

Why is His Majesty so cruel?

When Concubine Shu thought of this, she felt as if tears were rolling down her heart.

Your Majesty is well aware of how important today is to him.

She was just a minor noblewoman back then, and it was because of her dancing that she caught the eye of the Emperor.

From then on, there came into being the Shufei.

This day every year is unique to Concubine Shu because she will be with the Emperor at this time every year.

But, she never expected that His Majesty would be so cruel as to let someone else replace her.

"Your Majesty must still have feelings for the Empress." Nong Qiu pinched Concubine Shu's arm: "Before, he was just angry with the Empress."

After all, Concubine Shu is used to being domineering. She has been rampant in the harem for many years, and the Emperor knows more or less what she has done.

It’s just that His Majesty usually turns a blind eye to this, which is enough to show how indulgent His Majesty is to Concubine Shu.

Besides, His Majesty has spoiled her for so many years, it is impossible for him to let her go just like that.

"Now, as long as the queen can find a way to make His Majesty feel sorry for him, His Majesty will surely remember the queen's kindness once his heart softens."

"Feeling bad?"

Concubine Shu came to her senses and looked out the window at the dark clouds.

The corners of his mouth were bitter: "Yes, it's time to make His Majesty feel distressed."

**********

At the banquet

There was singing and dancing in the hall, but the Emperor seemed a little absent-minded and looked down several times.

Following His Majesty's gaze, Concubine Rong immediately saw the empty seat behind Concubine Xiang. Concubine Shen, who was originally sitting on top, now had an empty seat.

His Majesty really takes it seriously.

Concubine Rong stroked the wine cup in her hand, her eyes showing helplessness but not seeming that surprised.

From the time Chen Fu left until now, His Majesty had no idea how many times he had looked there.

Concubine Rong saw this and felt helpless. She only knew that the Emperor favored Shen Fu, but she didn't expect that he cared about her so much.

I'm afraid that Shen Fu had just left, and the Emperor's heart followed her.

Concubine Rong's lips curled up with a hint of sarcasm. The moment she put down the wine cup, she turned her head and looked to the side: "Where is Concubine Shen?"

The nanny beside her bent over and pretended to make her some wine. The moment she lowered her head, her voice became low: "Concubine Shen went to the side hall to change her clothes."

At this banquet, everyone in the harem was under the control of Concubine Rong.

As soon as Shen Fu left, Concubine Rong naturally got the news.

"I went to change clothes." Upon hearing this, Concubine Rong just shook her head and smiled.

His Majesty is so concerned about changing clothes.

Such favor was rare even for Concubine Shu before. And how long has Shen Fu been in the palace? It was so easy to make His Majesty so concerned...

Concubine Rong looked at the dancing girls below, and the gentle expression on her face gradually changed.

His Majesty treated Concubine Shen even better than the previous Concubine Shu.

It’s just that Concubine Shu climbed up step by step. By the time she discovered it, she had already grown into a towering tree.

But Shen Fu is different. She is young and beautiful, and her family background does not have that many advantages.

Her favor enabled her to compete with Concubine Shu in court and break the previous situation where Concubine Shu's family was the only one in power.

Shen Fu's face is really a very useful knife.

When Concubine Rong thought of this, the corners of her eyes curved. She looked at the empty seat in front of her and estimated that Shen Fu didn't dare to come.

Yes, Concubine Shu’s dance was famous in Kyoto at that time, and the Emperor loved it for many years because of this dance.

With Mingzhu in front of her, Shen Fu naturally didn't dare to challenge easily. Even if she had the opportunity to perform a dance, she would not have dared to compete with Concubine Shu so openly.

"Your Majesty, it's getting late." Concubine Rong spoke to His Majesty in a gentle voice.

"It's time for today's dinner to end."

It didn't matter whether Concubine Shen came or not, the successful conclusion of this banquet was her main responsibility as a noble concubine.

As for what she had said before about letting Concubine Shen dance, Concubine Rong naturally didn't care about it at this time.

Chen Fu replaced Concubine Shu's role as the dancer, and her purpose was to let Concubine Shu know that it was Chen Fu who replaced her.

As for Chen Fu, whether she jumped or not in the end, and how she jumped, no matter what the ending was, it made no difference to her.

As long as Chen Fu bears the reputation of taking away Concubine Shu's opportunity, with Concubine Shu's temper...

The two have been mortal enemies all their lives.

"It's time to end." Xiao Yu's eyes moved away from the empty seat. He looked for so long, but he didn't know where Chen Fu had gone.

If it wasn't inconvenient to leave in the middle of the banquet, he would have gone to look for it in person.

"Today's dinner..." Stroking the jade ring on his thumb, Xiao Yu stood up from the chair thoughtfully.

Just as he was about to speak after he had hesitated, the sound of stringed instruments was heard in the hall.

A gentle and soft flute sound was heard, followed by a lingering and sad pipa sound.

Everyone heard the music and looked towards the door. There were a dozen dancers among the crowd, dancing in the hall.

There were more than a dozen dancers, wearing plain long skirts. Her light steps spun around in the hall, and her flowing sleeves were like clouds in the sky.

"This..." Someone in the underground couldn't help but say: "Where did this come from..."

However, just as he finished his words, he saw the group of dancers scattered like petals.

Revealing the woman in the center.

The dozen or so dancers in front were already beautiful in terms of their figures and expressions. As soon as the woman in the middle appears, it is impossible to take your eyes off her.

The woman was wearing a plain long skirt, which was as thin as a cicada's wing, and it clearly showed off her graceful figure.

But the woman had half her face covered with a veil, so her appearance could not be seen clearly. Only a pair of smoky eyes were exposed.

Her eyes were filled with tears, and she seemed to want to speak but hesitated.

Just showing a pair of eyes is enough to bewitch people.

But, she is dressed so simply. Her three thousand black hair were tied up with just a jade hairpin, and her whole body was simple and elegant.

But the next look...

The above is extremely simple and elegant, just like a goddess. But the skirt is embroidered with large patches of peonies from the waist to the hem.

The colors are dazzling and eye-catching. The woman was barefoot, revealing her ankles as white as jade.

On the bony ankle, there was a red string tied with a string of bells, which rang softly with every movement.

She walked barefoot on the carpet in the hall, with her toes raised like a crescent moon.

The beauty is breathtaking, and every move is filled with endless charm.

Seeing everyone moving like this, Shen Fu knew that this opening was enough.

She faced the Emperor in front of her, and through the veil, she looked at him with eyes as charming as water.

As the music plays, the graceful figures dance lightly. With every step he took, his ankles made clanging sounds under the sound of the music.

Pleasant sounds came from the hem of the skirt, and when everyone looked carefully, they discovered the golden bell tied around the ankle.

"She..." Hu Wanyi saw it first and couldn't help but point at the crowd and said, "She even has a string of bells on her ankle."

"Foxish magic..." Concubine Wang had just received a reward from His Majesty and was now feeling very proud of herself.

Seeing this scene, his eyes turned red with anger.

She thought she could win the first prize at today's banquet, but she didn't expect that a dancer who came from nowhere could easily steal her limelight.

"I don't know where this despicable bastard came from. She specifically looked for this opportunity to perform in front of His Majesty." Concubine Wang stared at the veil on the woman's face, her eyes red with jealousy.

"Miss Zhou, don't you think so?"

Wang Mei asked the people around her angrily, while Zhou Shuyun beside her seemed to be stunned.

She stared straight ahead, her eyes falling on Shen Fu.

Zhou Shuyun knew that this dress was beautiful. From the first moment she got it, she knew that this dress was stunningly beautiful.

She tried it, more than once.

But I never expected that this dress would have such an effect on Shen Fu.

Charming and alluring, with a natural and beautiful appearance.

The person in front of me is so beautiful that she seems to be another world. Even the slightest gestures she makes are breathtakingly beautiful.

Beauty, these two words flashed in Zhou Shuyun's mind for a moment, so much so that she was stunned for a moment.

"Sister Zhou?"

Lady Wang asked again, and Zhou Shuyun trembled and moved her eyes away from Chen Fu's dress.

She took a deep breath, but her hands in her sleeves clenched together without her noticing: "Yes, yes."

This skirt is so beautiful.

No, it’s not the skirt that is beautiful, it’s the person wearing the skirt that is beautiful.

After that, no one cared about the dancing anymore, and no one spoke in the hall except for the sound of stringed instruments.

Amid the glittering light, the woman was as light as a swallow, her dance was graceful, and her figure was slender and boneless.

Chen Fu danced happily until the music stopped.

She gradually stopped.

The candlelight in the hall flickered slightly, but everyone's eyes were looking in the same direction.

Chen Fu didn't look at anyone, her eyes were fixed on the Emperor in front of her from beginning to end.

She walked out from the crowd, taking small steps, the bells on her ankles jingling slightly, and her steps were like lotus flowers until she arrived in front of His Majesty.

Shen Fu bent her knees, and the veil on her face fell off.

She raised her head, revealing black hair, red lips, and a pair of sparkling eyes.

That face was radiantly beautiful, and full of charm.

Someone in the hall couldn't help but gasp.

Shen Fu raised her eyes and fell into the burning eyes of His Majesty.

Her red lips curled up, and she looked at His Majesty with seductive eyes and said:

"I, your concubine, am here to see Your Majesty."