"Wouldn't a banquet be rather dull if we just enjoyed the flowers and fruit? Which young lady would be willing to dance for me to liven things up?" Empress Dowager Du smiled and looked around at everyone. Although her tone was light, it carried an undeniable air of authority.
As soon as the words were spoken, the noble ladies, who were prepared and had their own thoughts, could no longer contain themselves. They secretly straightened their clothes, their expressions showing a hint of eagerness.
Today's flower-viewing banquet is a great opportunity for them to show off, especially in front of many princes and ministers as well as Xie Yizhi. If they can perform a stunning dance, they will surely become famous.
A tense undercurrent filled the air, instantly livening up the atmosphere in the room.
"This humble woman is unworthy, but I would like to offer a song to Your Majesty to relieve your fatigue." Lu Anrou's voice was clear and crisp, filled with confidence and anticipation, as she stood up without hesitation.
Her gaze swept over the crowd with a hint of elegance and smugness, clearly indicating that she was ready to make a performance.
This move quickly attracted the attention of everyone present, and also made the other noble ladies secretly nervous, and they all began to prepare to deal with it.
Lu Anrou changed into a bright red dance costume, the hem of which swayed gently with her steps, like a blooming red lotus.
She slowly walked to the center of the banquet stage, her gaze carrying a hint of arrogance, as if her entire being was made even more dazzling by the fiery red color.
As the melodious sound of drums filled the air, she slightly bent her knees and gracefully began her dance.
Her sleeves flowed like clouds, and her skirt spun, radiating a brilliance like flames. Every movement she made was just right, showcasing both the elegance of a well-bred lady and a captivating beauty.
The entire audience fell silent, all eyes captivated by her dance.
Xie Yizhi's gaze remained fixed on Jiang Luoluo, and he couldn't even look away from Lu Anrou's passionate red-clad dance.
He raised his glass across the crowd, a hint of expectation in his lowered eyes and gentle smile, wanting to meet Jiang Luoluo's gaze.
However, Jiang Luoluo's eyes were almost glued to the stage at this moment, staring unblinkingly at Lu Anrou's dance moves, as if she had forgotten how that person had just made things difficult for her.
When the dance ended, she was the first to stand up and applaud, cheering and applauding, her expression showing no resentment, only appreciation and joy.
Lu Anrou's smugness grew even stronger. Next, it was Jiang Yunjiao's turn to perform. However, with Lu Anrou as the shining star, Jiang Yunjiao's dance seemed rather weak and bland. She tried several times to attract Xie Yizhi's attention, but she never received a response.
Jiang Luoluo picked up her wine glass and took another sip of fruit wine, secretly sighing to herself that Lu Anrou's character wasn't great, but she had to admit that her dancing was truly exceptional.
The stage was bustling with activity. In addition to the noble ladies performing dances, young gentlemen also took the stage to showcase their skills, whether it was sword dancing or playing the zither. Their superb skills drew continuous applause.
Jiang Luoluo always had fruit wine in hand and pastries in a continuous stream. Jiang Luoluo thought to herself, "Everyone else is here to find a match, but I'm the only one here to eat at the banquet."
While the young masters were performing, she kept her bright, sparkling eyes fixed on them, as if afraid of missing a single detail of the performance.
When the performance reached its most exciting part, she even stood up excitedly, clapping and cheering. She even clapped along with Xiao Yunwei, attracting the attention of onlookers!
Xie Yizhi thought to himself, "Jiang Luoluo, you big jerk! You lose your mind when you see a handsome young man. If the Empress Dowager hadn't been there, she probably would have said in a grand manner, 'Guards, give this young lady a good reward!'"
Xie Yizhi composed himself, took a sip of wine, but his gaze couldn't help but drift back to the woman who was laughing so happily, and his feelings became inexplicably complicated.
When everyone had finished performing, Lu Anrou suddenly stood up, gracefully walked to the center of the stage, gave a slight curtsy, and said in a loud voice: "Your Majesty, Jiang Luoluo, the eldest daughter of the General's Mansion, has specially prepared a unique performance for you to express her filial piety."
Before she finished speaking, a commotion erupted. Everyone turned their gaze to Jiang Luoluo, some curious, others with a hint of anticipation.
At this moment, Jiang Luoluo was leisurely holding a piece of pastry, taking a bite with a smile on her face.
Upon hearing Lu Anrou's words, she paused, a look of surprise flashing in her eyes. "Prepared on purpose?" A chill ran down her spine, and she gritted her teeth inwardly. What were Lu Anrou's intentions? She actually dared to set her sights on me!
Jiang Luoluo maintained a polite smile, but her mind was racing, trying to come up with a solution.
The gazes around her were too intense. She knew that if she refused, she would be at a disadvantage and become a laughing stock.
With mixed feelings, he looked up at Xie Yizhi, only to see Xie Yizhi holding a wine glass, looking at Jiang Luoluo with a half-smile, his lips moving slightly, his mouth clearly saying: "I also want to see Luoluo perform."
Jiang Luoluo's heart skipped a beat, but she calmly finished chewing the pastry in her mouth, then raised her glass and took a sip of fruit wine to moisten her throat. She coughed lightly, her eyes calm as still water, and stood up with composure, walking gracefully to the center of the stage.
She gave Empress Dowager Du a graceful curtsy, her tone gentle yet confident: "Your Majesty, it is indeed true. Today, I, your humble servant, have specially prepared a song for you."
This song is dedicated not only to the Empress Dowager, but also to the soldiers who guarded the border regions and sacrificed their lives for the Great Qi.
Several noble ladies who were on good terms with Lu Anrou began to whisper among themselves, their tone full of contempt and sarcasm.
"Tch, what kind of show is making such a fuss?"
"Isn't Jiang Luoluo a notorious good-for-nothing in the capital? She can't play any of the traditional arts!"
"That's right, how dare they speak so arrogantly in front of the Empress Dowager! Let's see how she embarrasses herself in public!"
Yao Shiyu and Jiang Yunjiao listened to these discussions with great pleasure, their lips involuntarily curving upwards, unable to conceal their smugness.
Lu Anrou could hardly hide the joy on her face, as if she could already see the moment when Jiang Luoluo would make a fool of herself.
At this moment, they all held their breath, waiting to see Jiang Luoluo make a fool of herself.
Empress Dowager Du had recently heard many rumors about Jiang Luoluo, and her impression of the woman had plummeted.
She has always despised frivolous and flamboyant people, let alone Jiang Luoluo who dared to try to seduce Xie Yizhi.
Xie Yizhi was inherently cold and aloof, never wavering in his stance for anyone. However, since becoming close to Jiang Luoluo, he has started to act out of character, openly contradicting his mother on several occasions.
Empress Dowager Du's displeasure grew, and she vaguely felt that Jiang Luoluo's existence was like a malignant tumor, which, if allowed to continue to develop, might shake the foundation of the royal family.
At this moment, looking at Jiang Luoluo standing on the stage, her eyes couldn't help but show a hint of coldness.
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