Jun Molin brought the two children to their seats and gently helped them sit down.
This demeanor was completely opposite to his usual cold and aloof personality. His gentle appearance seemed to make him even more captivating.
"Are these two children His Highness the King of Northern Cold's children?"
"Of course! Look at that young prince, he's practically a carbon copy of His Highness the Prince of Beihan."
"It is said that children born to concubines are at most considered to be the eldest sons and daughters of concubines, and are not qualified to be called princesses or heirs."
"Well, if the King of Northern Cold is willing to address me that way, then we can only address him that way. Who would dare to disobey His Highness the King of Northern Cold?"
"His Highness the Northern Cold King dotes on the young princess and the young prince so much, he must also dote on the children's mother."
"But we haven't heard any news about the young princess and the young prince's mother. Is it possible that she's already gone?"
"The young prince looks like His Highness the Prince of Beihan, and the young princess definitely looks like their mother. The young princess already has the air of a peerless beauty, and their mother must also be a stunning beauty."
...
Yun Qingran listened intently, catching most of what everyone was saying, but she didn't hear anything useful; in fact, she knew even more than she did.
The young princess and the young prince's mother is probably not dead, but Jun Molin has not been able to find her.
"Ranran, how did you come to know His Highness the Prince of Beihan?" Ning Jitang asked Yun Qingran in a low voice, full of curiosity.
First-hand gossip!
I peeked at him taking a bath, fell into his family's hot spring pool, and saw him completely naked. That's how we met.
"Well, we got to know each other because we admired each other's talents," Yun Qingran replied without batting an eye.
Ning Jitang pursed her lips. Well, what else could she do if her sister didn't believe her?
As the two sisters were talking, the palace banquet performance had already begun.
The first performer was Consort Zheng, and the four of them played "Wild Geese Descending on the Sandbank" together. The melody was gentle and beautiful, making people feel as if they could really see wild geese playing and frolicking by the lake at dusk, and then resting in the reeds.
"Amazing!" Yun Qingran led the applause.
These noble ladies and concubines, as expected of those who have studied music, chess, calligraphy, and painting since childhood, are truly extraordinary.
"Luckily, we took the flattery route." Ning Jitang swallowed hard.
Compared to them, the three of them are complete noobs!
"Hmm." Consort Ning nodded as well. Luckily, Ranran had come up with a unique idea and took the route of flattery, otherwise she would have been thoroughly humiliated.
The second concubine also played a musical instrument, and the effect was excellent.
Thirdly, it was the turn of the Imperial Noble Consort's group. A large group of people walked forward, some carrying musical instruments and others wearing dance costumes, which was quite a sight.
When the Emperor saw the Imperial Noble Consort, he exchanged a smiling glance with her from afar and nodded encouragingly.
The Imperial Noble Consort's eyes were filled with affection, her cheeks slightly flushed, and she smiled shyly, biting her lip.
The program began with half of the noble ladies playing music and the other half dancing. Among the musicians, Liang Jingxue sat in the center, holding a pipa. Among the dancers, the Imperial Noble Consort stood in the center, with Yun Xiyue to her right, dressed in a red dance costume and with exquisite makeup.
"No wonder she's the most beautiful woman." Someone said.
Upon hearing this, Yun Xiyue raised her head even higher, revealing her slender swan neck, like a swan about to take flight.
Yun Song looked at Yun Xiyue with immense pride, then looked at Yun Xiao and smiled smugly from afar.
It's as if it's saying, "So what if you're the legitimate son? Your daughter is a wicked woman that everyone hates, while my daughter is the most beautiful woman with exceptional talent."
Yunxiao understood Yunsong's meaning and couldn't help but roll her eyes, as if to say...
Fuck you!
Yun Song was furious at Yun Xiao's attitude. Just you wait and see how Yue'er will torment Yun Qingran.
Liang Jingxue plucked the strings first, and then the other noble ladies followed suit.
As the music started, the dance began.
The dancers tiptoed, their jade-like arms rising slightly, the light veils draped over them cascading down. Their movements were graceful and lithe; as the music rose higher, they twirled and leaped, their agile forms resembling fledgling phoenixes spreading their wings.
Finally, the music grew louder and louder, the dancers spun faster and faster, the light veils on their arms fluttered with their movements, and their proud heads were held high, like a phoenix spreading its wings and soaring into the sky.
As the music ended, the dancer's movements gradually slowed down, finally settling into a graceful pose.
"Good," the Emperor immediately exclaimed.
The others joined in the applause and cheers. Perfect! It was a truly perfect dance!
The Imperial Noble Consort smiled with an air of certainty, and even gave the Empress a provocative look.
The Empress touched her black hair and returned a slight smile.
The Imperial Noble Consort silently snorted in her heart, "The Phoenix Throne will be mine sooner or later."
After such a stunning performance, the rest of the show seemed rather dull and bland, and everyone felt somewhat bored and drowsy.
Finally, we've reached the last one.
"Ranran, Auntie, you can definitely do it." Ning Jitang encouraged the two of them, while feeling a little regretful at the same time.
"Mm." Yun Qingran nodded and followed Consort Ning to the center of the hall.
"Yun Qingran is really fat. How could she be so fat?"
"The red spots on her face were a bit scary."
"If you're ugly, you shouldn't come out. You're disgusting."
...
Everyone looked at Yun Qingran with disdain and disgust.
Once I regain my looks, I'll dazzle you ignorant fools.
"Sister is awesome!" Just then, Jun Yanyan stood up and waved her little hand to cheer Yun Qingran on. She looked very small in the whole hall, but she was very eye-catching.
"Mmm." Yun Qingran felt a tiny bit touched and clenched her fist at Jun Yanyan to show that she had received it.
Although Jun An'an didn't speak, her gaze was fixed on Yun Qingran, and she seemed very nervous for her.
Looking at his two children, Jun Molin had a slight doubt in his heart. Yan Yan and An An were always wary of people and found it difficult to open up to others.
They've only met Yun Qingran once, and they already like her so much? That's strange.
The performance began, with several eunuchs setting up a screen over three zhang tall, painted with magnificent landscapes.
Yun Qingran sat behind the screen, while Consort Ning stood in front of it holding an unsharpened longsword.
"The northern landscape is a scene of ice and snow, stretching for thousands of miles. Looking beyond the Great Wall, only vast expanses remain; the Yellow River, both upstream and downstream, has lost its roaring flow. The mountains dance like silver serpents, the plains gallop like wax elephants, vying with the heavens in height. Wait for a sunny day, and behold the scene of red adorned in white, exceptionally enchanting."
Yun Qingran recited poetry, while Consort Ning danced with her sword.
Yun Qingran's voice was expressive and powerful; Ning Pin's sword dance was heroic and graceful.
No one had ever seen this kind of performance before, and their initial bewilderment vanished as they watched the two performers intently.
"The land is so beautiful, attracting countless heroes to bow down. Alas, Qin Shi Huang and Emperor Wu of Han were slightly lacking in literary talent; Emperor Taizong of Tang and Emperor Taizu of Song were somewhat inferior in poetic flair. Genghis Khan, the proud son of heaven, only knew how to bend his bow and shoot eagles. All have passed away; to find truly remarkable figures, look to the present."
After reciting the poem, Consort Ning performed a final somersault, ending her performance with a split.
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