A clear and melodious zither melody slowly rose, and with the music, the figures of the three women gradually began to move. They stood in a triangular formation, facing each other in pairs. Just as the zither rang out with a sharp note, they raised their right legs and began to dance with ease and grace. Their long sleeves rose and fell with the music, forming a flowing shape, like a fluttering ribbon.
Their movements were incredibly light and nimble; every leap and spin was perfectly executed. It was as if they were flying, yet walking; as if they were standing gracefully, yet leaning precariously. Like three beautiful butterflies, fluttering their wings among the flowers, indulging in their delicate fragrance.
Compared to the Phoenix Soaring dance we just saw, this dance, though slightly less difficult, showcased a far superior mastery of music and dance. Their movements were not only precise, but their understanding of rhythm was truly breathtaking; their fluid movements were executed with remarkable precision and without a trace of slackness.
They seemed to understand every beat perfectly, and then let that beat guide them in performing the dance.
This effect cannot be achieved simply through training; it relies on a perception of rhythm...
However, very few humans can perceive musical rhythms, because every musical rhythm is different; it's just that most humans cannot hear it.
"Great...great, that was a truly wonderful dance!"
The applause rang out continuously, even louder than before.
Although the three women did not choose the most difficult dance to perform, everyone understood from their dance moves that it wasn't that they couldn't dance, but that they didn't want to!
Those light dance steps, those graceful turns, every gesture was a beautiful experience.
The fairy was brought by Xi Xizhi. Hearing such encouraging applause, she was overjoyed. She chirped at An Honghan and clapped her hands in time with the rhythm of the music.
"Not bad, you've done me proud this time." Seeing how happy Xiao Diao was, An Honghan also gave a fitting compliment.
Xi Xizhi was so happy she was completely overjoyed.
The beautiful dance continued, and the melodious piano music never ceased.
The courtiers below were already in an uproar, all discussing the three stunningly beautiful women dancing tirelessly in the center of the hall.
To the right, seated below, were four or five young men dressed in dark green court robes. One of them, lecherously stroking his chin, exclaimed, "Beautiful! Beautiful! Even more beautiful than the top courtesan of 'Gentle Paradise'! Brother Zheng, are you tempted?"
He nudged the man next to him with his arm, his face lewd, staring intently at the beauty in the center of the hall.
"Haha, I think it's you, Officer Liu, who's taken a fancy to me, isn't it? How about it? Are you interested? Or... shall we wait a bit..." This person's eyes were frivolous, with a hint of flirtatiousness, as he winked at the others, his meaning all too clear.
"I...I'm interested!" Liu Fei stared at the dancing woman, his mouth almost watering at her slender waist.
Another man at the nearby table interjected, "Those are dancers from the palace. Aren't you afraid of being punished by His Majesty if he finds out...?"
"What are you afraid of! Only a coward like you would be afraid. We have people backing us up. She's just a lowly dancer, not an imperial concubine. Why are you so afraid?" The man on the far side of him was burly and looked like a military officer.
"Fan Yuwei, let me tell you, either don't go, or shut up with all this nonsense. We've dealt with dancers before, and we've always handled them perfectly. Only you're such a coward, afraid of this and that," Zheng Xu cursed as soon as he opened his mouth.
Unable to tolerate this, the man retorted, "Who said I'm scared? I'm just giving you a few pointers."
"Do you want to go?"
“Go, why wouldn’t we go?” Fan Yuwei said.
The main hall was so noisy that the conversation of the men was completely drowned out.
...
Xi Xizhi pushed a pear from the jade basin, held the smaller pear tightly with both paws, revealed her white teeth, and bit off a piece of fruit to chew.
With her eyes fixed on the fairy's dance, Xi Xizhi felt particularly proud. Who said fairies were inferior to humans!
Her delicate silk robes fluttered in the wind, her long, flowing sleeves crisscrossing left and right, dancing and spreading out in an endless stream.
They attracted everyone's attention, who stared at them intently.
After a short while, the dance was drawing to a close. Their beautiful movements were graceful and ethereal, their agile movements as swift as the wind. Like butterflies fluttering in the air, they leaped through the air, and then… an unbelievable scene unfolded!
As they twirled and leaped, waving their clothes, swallowtail butterflies and pink butterflies gradually flew in from afar, fluttering around the three women. As if to cheer them on, the butterflies circled around them, some high and some low.
"Look...so many butterflies!"
"She looks just like a fairy in the forest!"
"This is true graceful dancing!"
As the story was nearing its end, Xi Xizhi pushed away the pear in her arms, her azure eyes fixed intently on what lay below, not daring to miss a single detail.
Even An Honghan, who was usually uninterested in anything, watched intently, and finally guessed the true identities of the three women. Since they could summon so many butterflies, there was no doubt that they were butterflies in disguise.
Countless butterflies gathered one after another, and everyone watched their movements carefully until finally... the butterflies took the form of flowers, like blooming blossoms.
Three beautiful women nimbly approached the butterfly-shaped flowers, their expressions one of pure bliss. They bent over, like three butterflies lingering, reluctant to leave, captivated by the fragrance of the flowers.
"Wow...wow...it's so beautiful!"
"To attract even butterflies, what incredible dancing skills!"
"Butterfly Loves Flowers, Butterfly Loves Flowers, this is the real Butterfly Loves Flowers..."
A series of applause erupted.
An Honghan clapped three times, saying, "A dance like this is truly a rare find."
If it weren't for Xiao Diao's help, these people would probably never have seen such a beautiful dance in their entire lives.
Dongfang Youyu stared in a daze. Even if he lost this time, it would be a worthwhile defeat. He probably couldn't find a woman with such exquisite dancing skills anywhere in the world.
"Is Your Highness satisfied?" An Honghan turned his gaze to Dongfang Youyu, his icy eyes capable of freezing everything.
Dongfang Youyu accepted his defeat wholeheartedly. "I am very satisfied. Such a beauty and such a stunning dance. I'm afraid everyone here already has their own opinion on who is better. Even if I wanted to refuse to admit defeat, I couldn't."
Everyone's eyes were very clear. Dongfang Youyu's frank admission of defeat actually earned him the admiration of many.
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