The carriage got stuck in traffic some distance from the palace gate.
Madam Su had no choice but to get off the carriage with her two daughters and walk over.
As Su Ruojin got out of the car, she suddenly felt a gaze on her.
She looked in the direction of her gaze and saw a figure flash by in a corner not far away, quickly disappearing back into the shadows.
Su Ruojin smiled slightly, turned around and helped Madam Su walk inside.
*
The banquet programs in the palace were nothing more than the same: either the courtesans of the Imperial Music Bureau dancing, or the young ladies of noble families performing.
Today is the day to select a consort for the Prince Qin, so the performances by the young ladies from noble families have naturally become the highlight.
Compared to the usual competition among the young ladies, today they were all dressed in an extremely elegant manner, and their performances were mediocre at best, just going through the motions, all for fear of attracting the attention of the Prince.
Wei Yinshuang danced as usual, but it was far less stunning than her previous amazing dance, the "Stunning Drum Dance".
Yao Lan smiled as she watched Wei Yinshuang dance, “I have heard that Princess Fengxi is skilled in dancing. Her dance, ‘The Drum Dance,’ once made her famous throughout the capital. I wonder if I will have the honor of witnessing her dance today?”
Upon hearing Yao Lan's words, Empress Dowager Wei glanced at her indifferently, her eyes showing a hint of displeasure, while Wei Ying Shuang's expression instantly changed.
She bowed to Yaolan and replied, "Your Highness, I did not prepare a dance costume today, and Yinshuang is feeling unwell, so I am unable to perform the 'Flying Swan Drum Dance.' I hope Your Highness will forgive me."
"Oh, Princess Fengxi, are you looking down on me?" Prince Qin, who had been drinking without saying a word, said coldly.
The moment the words "Loyal to the King" were spoken, the room fell silent.
Wei Yingshuang's face paled slightly, and she looked at Empress Dowager Wei with a pleading expression.
"King Qin..." Empress Dowager Wei was about to speak up for Wei Yinshuang when King Qin interrupted her.
"Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, in our Northern Li, we always entertain guests from afar with the finest liquor, the best lamb, and the most beautiful dances. I have traveled thousands of miles to Great Chu, but I never expected that I couldn't even see a dance. It seems that it's better if we are not on good terms."
Upon hearing this, both Empress Dowager Wei and Xiao Chenyi's expressions turned somewhat unpleasant.
It's just a dance; if I don't dance, it will displease the King, which is really not worth it.
Empress Dowager Wei could only say, "Your Majesty, what are you saying? You have come from afar, and Great Chu will certainly treat you well. Princess Fengxi, please go and make preparations."
Now that things had come to this, Wei Yingshuang knew she couldn't avoid it any longer, so she had no choice but to go downstairs to change her clothes.
Empress Dowager Wei glared at Yao Lan resentfully. If it weren't for her, none of this would have happened.
Yao Lan picked up the wine in front of her and drank it, as if she hadn't seen Empress Dowager Wei's gaze at all, and didn't care at all.
After Wei Yinshuang changed her clothes and finished her dance, Qin Wang's eyes showed a hint of interest.
The princess that Xiao Lan'er prepared for herself is quite interesting.
"Princess Fengxi's dancing skills are indeed well-deserved; she truly deserves the saying that one dance can captivate a city," Prince Qin exclaimed.
Many young ladies from noble families have performed, but Wei Yinshuang is the only one so far to have received praise from the Prince Qin.
The implications of this made many people ponder, and their gazes toward Wei Yingshuang became more playful.
Wei Yingshuang gripped her skirt tightly, trying to control her expression, and smiled as she bowed, "Thank you for the praise, Prince Qin. Great Chu is full of talented people, and there are countless skilled dancers. Feng Xi is far inferior to them."
“Princess Fengxi is too modest. Guards, come here!” Prince Qin called out.
A maid from the Northern Li Kingdom came up carrying a tray with a jade pendant on it.
“I am very pleased with Princess Fengxi’s dance, so I will give this to Princess Fengxi.”
Wei Yingshuang's expression changed, and her body swayed slightly.
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