After everyone had finished exchanging pleasantries, a solemn sound of bells and drums came from outside the hall. Immediately afterwards, a palace attendant announced loudly, "The Emperor and Empress have arrived!"
The hall fell silent immediately, and everyone rose to their feet and bowed respectfully.
Emperor Lu Nancheng and Empress walked slowly into the main hall.
The emperor wore a bright yellow dragon robe, exuding a majestic aura, while the empress wore a phoenix robe, dignified and elegant.
The two walked side by side, seemingly a match made in heaven, inspiring awe in all who beheld them.
The emperor walked to the head of the table, raised his hand to signal everyone to rise, and then said in a loud voice: "Today is the Spring Festival. The empress and I have specially prepared this banquet to celebrate with all of you. May our country be prosperous and peaceful, and may the weather be favorable!"
His voice was deep and powerful, echoing throughout the hall, prompting everyone to echo in unison: "May Da Gan bring peace and prosperity to the nation, and favorable weather for crops!"
As the emperor finished speaking, the banquet officially began.
The drumbeats suddenly began, the rhythm brisk and powerful.
Immediately afterwards, two graceful dancers slowly entered the main hall.
They were dressed in light gauze dance costumes, their clothes fluttering, like fairies descending to earth.
As the music began, the dancers danced gracefully, their flowing sleeves moving lightly as if they were alive, weaving and swirling in the air.
At first, the two dancers moved in perfect unison, their movements seamless, as if they were of one mind.
The flowing sleeves sometimes roll like waves, and sometimes move as gently as ribbons, making one feel as if they are in a dream.
However, as the music intensifies, the dancers' steps begin to change.
Their movements, which started out as a tacit cooperation, gradually became confrontational, as if they were engaged in a silent battle.
The water sleeves fluttered in the air, sometimes stabbing out like sharp swords, sometimes spinning like whirlwinds, dazzling the eyes.
The atmosphere of the banquet reached its climax, with everyone holding their breath and watching the spectacular dance battle intently.
After a long while, the dancers gradually slowed their movements, and finally ended the entire performance with an elegant gesture.
The hall was silent for a moment, then erupted in thunderous applause and cheers.
Everyone praised the exquisite beauty of the dance, and even the emperor nodded slightly, showing his approval.
Wang Xiuxiu was also deeply moved by the dance and remained in a daze for a long time.
She had never seen such a wonderful performance before. It wasn't until Lu Jinnian tugged at her sleeve that she snapped out of her daze and joined the others in clapping.
Although the following performances were also wonderful, including singing, dancing, musical instruments, and acrobatics, with the "beauty" of the dance battle preceding her, Wang Xiuxiu's mind was no longer drawn to the other performances.
Although her gaze remained on the stage, her mind had already wandered far away, constantly replaying in her mind the image of the two dancers' flowing sleeves.
Just then, I heard a hushed murmur behind me.
As Wang Xiuxiu listened, a sense of curiosity arose in her heart.
Although she disliked scheming and intrigue, she found these gossips quite interesting.
"How beautiful! Such a top-notch dance battle is a sight to behold, a spectacle that is truly a once-in-a-century event!" A noblewoman in fine clothes couldn't help but murmur her praise, her eyes filled with amazement.
The other lady beside her smiled slightly, gently waving her round fan, her tone filled with nostalgia and pride: "It is indeed beautiful, but to say it is a once-in-a-century event is a bit of an exaggeration. You didn't see the dance battle between Princess Jing and that princess from the Western Regions back then, that was truly breathtaking!"
"Really?" Upon hearing this, the noblewoman's eyes flashed with regret. "That year, as a newlywed, I went back to my ancestral home with my husband to visit relatives. I missed witnessing that dance battle. I regret it terribly every time I hear people talk about it!"
"That's a real pity." The lady fanning herself sighed, her gaze distant, as if she had returned to the scene of that year. "That princess from the Western Regions came with the intention of provoking us, claiming that no one in our Great Xi could match her dancing skills. But when our Princess Jing appeared, she amazed everyone with her performance of 'Breaking the Formation'! Although the princess from the Western Regions was also extraordinary, she was ultimately inferior to the princess in front of her. That dance not only brought honor to our Great Xi, but also made the princess from the Western Regions completely convinced and dare not be arrogant and rude again."
“Yes, yes!” another lady couldn’t help but chime in, her tone full of emotion. “It’s a pity that ever since the Princess Consort married Prince Jing, she has stopped dancing. She doesn’t even participate in the sacrificial dance at the Dragon Head Festival every year. So, we people are naturally no longer able to witness that kind of spectacle.”
Wang Xiuxiu heard every word of the ladies' conversation.
Hearing them talk about Su Yingxue's dance moves back then, I couldn't help but feel a surge of imagination.
The dancer's performance had already left her in awe, and she could hardly imagine how stunning and unparalleled Su Yingxue's dance must be.
I couldn't help but feel even more admiration for that gentle and dignified princess.
Thinking this, Wang Xiuxiu's gaze involuntarily fell on Lu Jingze, who was not far away.
He sat upright at the table, his expression indifferent, as if he didn't care about the noise around him at all.
A sudden surge of dissatisfaction rose in Wang Xiuxiu's heart, and she couldn't help but glare at him, muttering to herself, "It's all his fault! He must have been the one who dragged Princess down, that's why he wouldn't let her dance anymore!"
Lu Jingze was intently watching the performance on stage when he suddenly felt a chill beside him.
He tilted his head slightly, his gaze sweeping across the table, and happened to meet Wang Xiuxiu's reproachful eyes.
He was stunned for a moment, "How did I offend her this time?"
After thinking it over carefully, it seems that I didn't have any interaction with her today, let alone upset her.
But her eyes clearly held a hint of resentment.
He shook his head slightly, thinking to himself, "This girl's thoughts are really hard to fathom."
When Wang Xiuxiu saw Lu Jingze looking at her, she quickly lowered her head and pretended to focus on the snacks on the table, but she was still a little resentful.
She secretly resolved that once she returned to the manor, she would definitely find an opportunity to ask her sister, the Princess Consort, just how wonderful that dance battle was back then.
If possible, I would like to muster up the courage to beg Su Yingxue to dance again, even if it's just to dance for her in private.
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