The music from the strings and pipes grew increasingly melodious. Xiang Wan danced to Yuan Feng's rhythm, when she inadvertently caught a glimpse of a pink dress fluttering by. Upon closer inspection, she noticed the dress's owner's cheeks were slightly flushed, and she was whispering to her dance partner. Looking closer, she realized it was Xiang Xia! Unexpectedly seeing her sister's shy side, Xiang Wan couldn't contain her curiosity, her eyes constantly glancing towards Xiang Xia, not even noticing when the dance had stopped.
"You're really naughty!" A hand gently pinched her chin, turning Xiang Wan's head around.
With a "smack," Xiang Wan slapped the hand away, saying with displeasure, "Don't you know you can't just pinch a girl's chin like that?"
“Your dance partner is here. I don’t like women who are fickle.” Yuan Feng’s voice deepened, making Xiang Wan feel an invisible pressure.
"You...don't use idioms if you don't understand them!" Xiang Wan glared at Yuan Feng and said, "I think I saw my sister dancing too."
"Oh, so concerned? Even you have a dance partner, how could your sister fall behind you? Or is it that—you need to decide your sister's dance partner?"
"Cough cough," Xiang Wan was startled by Yuan Feng's words and almost choked on her saliva. "No, I was just a little bit curious, that's all!"
"Why don't you take a look at your lovely younger sister? She's much more romantic than you."
Yuan Feng gestured for Xiang Wanchao to look to the side, where Qin Rong had somehow entered the dance floor and was dancing with a tall, masked man. Her eyes were filled with hope and adoration, evoking a sense of pity. The man dancing with her smiled, his gaze fixed intently on her, as if she were the only person in his world. Qin Rong certainly had the looks: a beautiful figure, delicate features, and a gentle demeanor. Moreover, she was adept at using her strengths; often, a single glance or movement was enough to captivate anyone.
The pleasure she derives from ousting Qin Rong earlier has long since vanished, forcing Xiang Wan to re-evaluate Qin Rong, elevating her status as Qin Rong's rival to a new level. It seems Qin Rong's leading lady role isn't for nothing; one slip and she could turn the tables.
"What are you thinking about? Planning to learn from her?" Yuan Feng teased.
"If you like her type, go ahead and go find her. But I have to warn you, Qin Rong isn't as harmless as she seems."
Xiang Wan's earnest reminder not only failed to appease Yuan Feng, but also made his expression turn somewhat unpleasant.
"If I wanted to find someone else, you wouldn't be involved. What, are you trying to use this to shirk the favor you owe me?"
"I'm not that kind of person, I mean it!" Xiang Wan hurriedly explained.
Yuan Feng's eyes were deep and unfathomable. He leaned down and whispered in Xiang Wan's ear, "You can't escape!" Then he let go and left the dance floor, leaving Xiang Wan anxiously wondering what was wrong with Yuan Feng, as if he was afraid she would renege on her promise. Helpless, she also retreated to the side.
The music gradually faded, and everyone in the dance hall stopped. A group of attendants brought over numerous musical instruments, writing brushes, inkstones, and chessboards, placing them in the center of the hall. As everyone looked on in confusion, an attendant beside the king explained, "His Majesty has decreed that the ball is informal and informal. All the ladies are welcome to showcase their talents. The order will be determined by drawing lots from the container beside the table, and the winner will be decided by the chips thrown by the masked princes. The winner may make a reasonable request to His Majesty."
As soon as the words were spoken, many girls were eager to try, especially the foreign princesses, whose determination was quite evident in their eyes. The young men had already taken their seats nearby, with maids attending to them.
"Xia'er, Wan'er, go upstairs and draw lots in a bit, then show what you're best at."
The Queen Mother pulled the two women aside and gave them instructions. Seeing Qin Rong silently following behind, she also gave her a few words of advice. Then she asked them to go up and draw lots.
The young women who came here were all prepared. Many, after drawing lots, reacted with a mix of joy, excitement, anxiety, and nervousness. Qin Rong was no exception, holding her lot in her hand, looking at it again and again, glancing frequently at the piano and the dance floor, seemingly hesitant about which to choose. Xiang Wan remained calm; her only skill was painting, which conveniently saved her the trouble of choosing. Xiang Xia frowned, lost in thought.
"Sis, what number did you draw?" Xiang Wan leaned closer and asked in a low voice.
Xiang Xia handed the bamboo stick in her hand to her, with a big "1" on it.
"It can't be such a coincidence, can it?" Xiang Wan said in disbelief. "The first one to go on stage is at a huge disadvantage. How about this, I'll switch with you."
Without a word, Xiang Wan took Xiang Xia's signature and stuffed her own into her hand, saying, "You know how capable I am, sister. Anyway, I can't get first place, just not last place is fine. But you, sister, your piano skills are outstanding, you can't embarrass us."
Seeing that she couldn't argue with her, Xiang Xia stopped refusing and started thinking about the program she would be performing later.
Xiang Wan kept an eye on Qin Rong, noticing her quietly approaching a nearby maid, seemingly to give her some instructions. A moment later, the maid returned with a pair of comfortable ballet shoes. Sure enough, Qin Rong had chosen a performance that best showcased her figure.
After the draw, it was Xiang Wan's turn to go first. She took a deep breath, strode to the table with brushes and ink, introduced herself, and began to paint.
Just before walking to the drawing table, she hadn't decided what to paint. After looking around, she saw Xiang Xia, whose eyes were full of encouragement. Suddenly, she remembered the scene of seeing her picking willow branches by the river. So she picked up her brush, dipped it in ink, and sketched the graceful figure of a woman breaking off a willow branch. The willows were swaying, the river was still, and there was a figure facing her from behind.
This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
