Nan Zhiyun felt a little embarrassed, but Yu Jingchen found it quite amusing, so he spoke up.
"What does Consort Shu think of Prince Yuncheng and Consort Yuan's sister?" Yu Jingchen asked with a smile in his voice.
"I think it's fine." Nan Zhiyun felt a little uncomfortable. She wasn't used to so many people looking at her. She might have been used to such gazes before, but now she always felt somewhat uneasy.
"What does the Imperial Concubine think?" Yu Jingchen asked Imperial Concubine Yan again, though his tone was much calmer than before.
"I think it's wonderful. They are a perfect match, and if they can get married, it will be a beautiful story," Consort Yan replied.
"What about Consort Yuan? After all, you are the eldest sister." Yu Jingchen asked Consort Yuan.
Consort Yuan smiled gently: "Your Majesty's grace is a blessing for your concubine and sister." Consort Yuan was always like this, never vying for anything, and always agreeing with what others said. Of course, she also had her own pride.
After this minor incident passed, it wasn't mentioned again. Nan Zhiyun had already eaten a lot, and now that she couldn't eat anymore, she just sat there in a daze. She had always disliked attending these kinds of banquets because they were really boring, and she could only sit properly.
In the past, whenever she attended such banquets, she would tell the Empress Dowager that she wanted to go out for a walk to get some fresh air. The Empress Dowager knew she was bored and would let her go, even covering for her. But now she was Consort Shu, and she couldn't leave easily; there were many people watching.
The songs and dances in the palace were all the same, and Nan Zhiyun was getting tired of them. Yu Jingchen found it amusing to see Nan Zhiyun's lifeless expression, and whispered something in Xinglai's ear. Xinglai glanced at Nan Zhiyun before leaving.
Just when Nan Zhiyun was about to give up, several large drums appeared on the stage. They were placed in the middle, but supported by brackets around them.
Nan Zhiyun was curious; her drowsiness slowly disappeared. Not only her, but everyone else was also filled with curiosity. Consort Yan's gaze first fell on Yu Jingchen, then shifted to Nan Zhiyun.
This program was specially arranged by His Majesty, just two days ago, to be precise, on the day Nan Zhiyun and Yu Jingchen returned from outside the palace, so it's quite obvious why Yu Jingchen did this.
He never paid attention to these things, not even once during the entire banquet, yet this time he insisted on adding this program, and even specially invited someone from outside the palace. Yan Qing had always clearly seen that this Consort Shu was completely different from His Majesty.
Nan Zhiyun's attention was drawn to the stage decorations, and then she saw a woman descend from the sky, dressed in red with flowing sleeves, landing gently on the drum in the center like a fairy.
Nan Zhiyun's interest was immediately piqued; she envied this "flying fairy."
Seeing Nan Zhiyun's enthusiastic expression, Yu Jingchen's lips curled slightly. He discreetly observed Nan Zhiyun's movements. The Empress Dowager's gaze lingered on him and Nan Zhiyun for a moment, lost in thought.
The girl on the drum moved gracefully, slightly turning, and then began to dance. Her flowing sleeves struck the drumheads around her, like a candle dragon holding a flame to warm the remaining snow, or a drum urging flowers to bloom in the imperial garden.
Nan Zhiyun was completely captivated. How could she strike the drumhead with her sleeve and still be so stunning? She was genuinely watching the performance, but the other concubines were different; they were all worried that this dancing woman might catch His Majesty's eye.
After the performance ended, the dancers went to the center to bow and leave, while Nan Zhiyun watched longingly, still wanting more.
"Wait a minute," Yu Jingchen called out to Nan Zhiyun when he saw that she was interested.
The other concubines were on tenterhooks. Could she really have been chosen? What a vixen!
"This humble woman greets Your Majesty," the dancer said, bowing again.
"What did Consort Shu think of her dancing? Did you like it?" Yu Jingchen looked at Nan Zhiyun.
"I rarely see this kind of performance, so I find it novel and quite enjoyable," Nan Zhiyun said truthfully.
"If you're willing, why not let her stay in the palace? You can watch her anytime you want later." This time, Yu Jingchen only asked Nan Zhiyun.
Unlike just now, when he asked so many people, since it was Luo Yuncheng just now, asking her directly might have aroused speculation. But now he's only asking her, which is a way of showing his attitude.
"This..." Nan Zhiyun didn't react for a moment. Stay?
"It's up to you. If you want to, then stay. If you don't, it's fine too," Yu Jingchen continued.
"Your Majesty, I didn't mean that. I just found it a bit novel. There's no need to go to such trouble." Nan Zhiyun didn't intend to keep the person.
"I saw how curious you were just now, and I thought you were interested in this. Your eyes were glued to it." Yu Jingchen did not insist.
"I just think she's amazing. Most people couldn't have done what she did," Nan Zhiyun replied.
"Consort Shu may not know this, but His Majesty specifically asked me to add this, presumably because you like it," the Imperial Concubine said at the opportune moment.
Nan Zhiyun was somewhat surprised to hear this. Because of her? She suddenly remembered the river performance they had seen together when they left the palace before. Nan Zhiyun looked at Yu Jingchen. Was it because of that that that it was arranged?
"I arranged this last time because I saw you were interested in these things. If you like it, that's fine. If you don't want to keep her around, then forget it." Yu Jingchen looked at the dancer: "Give her a reward."
"Thank you, Your Majesty, thank you, Consort Shu." The dancer knew that she had benefited from Consort Shu's influence.
"Step down," Yu Jingchen said.
"Yes, this humble woman takes her leave." The dancer obediently withdrew, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief, thankful that His Majesty hadn't kept her. But... she was actually invited specifically for Consort Shu? This made them envious again. Why?
His Majesty used to dislike Consort Shu so much, how come he suddenly favors her? And he's so indulgent and attentive to her.
"Yun'er still likes these things; she hasn't changed much," the Empress Dowager said at this moment.
“These are quite interesting, and they are really amazing,” Nan Zhiyun said.
"When Yun'er was little, she said she wanted to learn martial arts, but she gave up after only two days," the Empress Dowager said with a smile.
"Your Majesty, you were the one who said it wasn't necessary." Nan Zhiyun took the Empress Dowager's arm.
"Ah Su, look, this child is even shifting the blame onto me." The Empress Dowager looked at Nan Su with a smile on her face and patted Nan Zhiyun's head.
"That's because Your Majesty the Empress Dowager spoils her," Nan Su said with a smile.
"If I don't spoil the precious child I raised, who will? I can't bear to see her suffer." The Empress Dowager's words were pointed.
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