After walking through a long corridor and a spacious courtyard, they finally arrived at the hall where the ball was to be held, led by a maid.
After stopping at the door, the Queen Mother took a deep breath and pushed it open. Xiang Wan followed behind. As the intricately carved doors slowly opened, dazzling lights shone in from within, almost blinding her. Once her eyes adjusted, she could finally see the grand hall she was about to enter; its luxury and grandeur far exceeded her expectations.
The group slowly entered. Facing the main entrance were portraits of past kings, with the current monarch, Yuan Yunlie, in the center, his expression dignified and his stature imposing. Above the portraits were several rooms veiled by deep red curtains, with eaves extending outwards and surrounded by an ivory-white cylindrical railing. As Xiang Wan looked over, the curtains trembled slightly; she guessed that someone was observing from behind them.
The hall was incredibly spacious, probably about half the size of a basketball court. The tall wooden windows were inlaid with stained glass, some even carved with intricate designs. The high, domed ceiling was also adorned with exquisite carvings, though the dim lighting made them difficult to see clearly. Near the top of the hall, at intervals, were embedded luminous pearls. A huge, round chandelier hung from the center of the ceiling, layered with white candles. Below the candles hung countless crystals, refracting and reflecting the light to create a bright yet mesmerizing effect. Xiang Wan couldn't help but remark that the royal family's decor was, as always, unexpectedly luxurious and grand.
In the center of the hall was a very large dance floor, surrounded by two tiers of steps, with tables piled high with all kinds of food and drinks.
After Xiang Wan followed the Queen Mother in, she first bowed to the portrait of the King, just like everyone else, and then walked to the side to wait for the ball to begin.
Qin Rong was probably tired. After telling the Queen Mother, she ran to the window and found a chair to sit down. Xiang Wan couldn't stay still either. She had finally come to the palace, so she had to look around and have some fun. After explaining to the Queen Mother, she pulled Xiang Xia to walk around.
Most of the people here are young women, who follow behind their elders and don't dare to move around freely. Xiang Wan, however, couldn't stay still and dragged Xiang Xia around the hall, eating quite a bit of food as they looked around, greatly satisfying her appetite. Ever since she saw the food, her mind and eyes were completely focused on the delicious dishes, and she hadn't looked up once.
"Sis, this is delicious, you should try it!"
Xiang Wan picked up a dish of almond and pine nut milk and handed it to her without turning her head.
"It is indeed delicious."
The plate was taken away, but the response was not from Xiang Xia.
Xiang Wan looked to the side in surprise and saw a man wearing a half-mask standing next to her, holding the plate she handed him, with a smile on his lips.
"Ah, sorry, sorry, I mistook you for someone else." Xiang Wan was a little embarrassed. As she spoke, she tried to take the plate from him, but the man dodged her.
"Don't you recognize me again? You should be punished!"
The man's voice sounded somewhat familiar. Xiang Wan was a little stunned when she first heard this. Then she thought about it and realized that the only man she knew was Yuan Feng. Who else could say such a thing to her but him?
"Oh, you are..."
Shh! Come with me.
After Yuan Feng finished speaking, he took Xiang Wan's hand and quietly walked past the wall, entering a passageway in a corner.
"What are you doing? You've even put on a mask?"
After seeing Yuan Feng close the door, Xiang Wan reached out to take off his mask, but Yuan Feng grabbed her wrist.
Are you sure you want to take off my mask?
Yuan Feng's face slowly approached Xiang Wan's, staring directly at her. His eyes gradually deepened, and his masculine aura wafted over her. His deep voice, like the strings of a zither, resonated in Xiang Wan's heart, making her ears burn.
Xiang Wan was stunned for a moment, suppressing the panic in her heart. She tried to pull her wrist away, but couldn't. Instead, the grip tightened. She dared not move again, feeling that Yuan Feng seemed a little dangerous at this moment.
"Heh, heh heh, what game are you playing? Why are you wearing a mask out of the blue?"
Xiang Wan didn't dare to look directly at Yuan Feng, and turned her head to ask seemingly casually.
Yuan Feng didn't say anything. Seeing Xiang Wan looking around and her eyes darting around, he knew she was up to something again. He couldn't help but chuckle and let her go.
Do you know why a dance is being held here?
Yuan Feng leaned against the wall and spoke lazily.
"Hmm?" Xiang Wan didn't expect him to bring this up and asked curiously, "Isn't it to choose a wife for the prince?"
"Hehe, you're not wrong about that."
Yuan Feng's voice sounded a bit low, which puzzled Xiang Wan.
"What's wrong? Is there some hidden story? But what does this have to do with me? Why are you telling me all this?"
"Are you really not clear, or are you just pretending?"
Yuan Feng stared straight at Xiang Wan, making her feel immense pressure.
"Well, how could a mere woman like me know these things? You think too highly of me."
Xiang Wan smiled awkwardly. She had a vague premonition that if she found out about this, something beyond her expectations would probably happen. Instinctively, she didn't respond to Yuan Feng's words, avoiding the topic if possible.
Yuan Feng was silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled and said, "I seem to remember that you still owe me a favor. And what about the time you disturbed my fishing? I wonder how that should be settled?"
Upon hearing this, Xiang Wan felt a chill run down her spine. She hadn't expected Yuan Feng to bring this up at this time. It seemed she would have no choice but to help him with what he wanted to do.
"I am honored that you think so highly of me, sir. I wonder what I can do for you? Please tell me!"
Since the honorifics were already used, Yuan Feng could easily understand Xiang Wan's reluctance. However, he didn't intend to take it slow; time was too tight, and he couldn't afford to delay any longer.
"Don't be afraid, it's not a big deal. I don't need you to do anything else. Just cooperate with me in a play, and what you owe me will be wiped clean."
Hearing this, Xiang Wan breathed a sigh of relief. While she might not be good at much else, she was certainly adept at using her words to deceive people. After all, she was a seasoned modern television fan, and all sorts of palace intrigue, mystery-solving, and pretentious characters were her favorites. She could easily imitate seven or eight tenths of any character, so she readily agreed to Yuan Feng's request. Little did she know, she would soon regret it terribly.
These are all things for later. At this moment, Xiang Wan felt extremely excited. Opportunities to act alongside the prince were rare. Although she didn't know why Yuan Feng hadn't told her his identity yet, she was familiar with the plot and, taking advantage of this, she was eager to play and look forward to the big show to come.
Yuan Feng looked at Xiang Wan, whose expression kept changing, and a smirk appeared on his lips, a strange light flashing in his eyes.
The upgraded 007 shuddered and then silently pretended to freeze again.
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