Chapter 25
His eyes appeared exceptionally deep in the candlelight, with two dark flames flickering within them, clearly reflecting her somewhat bewildered image.
His gaze, filled with undisguised admiration and a burning desire, slowly moved from her slightly flushed cheeks to her chest, which rose and fell gently due to her slightly rapid breathing.
He raised his other hand, not touching her, but very close, almost at a distance where he could feel her body temperature, lightly brushing against the tassels of her hair ornament. The cool beads swayed slightly, refracting fragments of light.
“Today,” he said, his voice lower, his breath brushing lightly against her temple, “you are beautiful.”
The heat, carrying the scent of wine, caused a slight itch when it touched the skin.
Qi Nian'an felt her heart skip a beat, and her breath caught in her throat.
He was too close.
She was so close that she could count his lowered eyelashes and see his Adam's apple bobbing gently as he swallowed.
His fingertips finally fell, but did not touch the hairpin. Instead, they brushed against her sensitive earlobe with extreme lightness, like a feather.
In an instant, a tiny electric current shot out from that point, striking her heart directly, causing her body to tremble slightly, and a surge of heat uncontrollably rushed down to her lower abdomen.
She subconsciously pursed her lips, feeling her throat go dry.
Shao Sizhi could clearly feel her subtle trembling.
The darkness in his eyes deepened, and the hand covering the back of her hand tightened slightly. His thumb began to gently scratch the inside of her wrist, intentionally or unintentionally, with a teasing rhythm, where her pulse was pounding wildly out of control.
Her lips were slightly parted, glistening with moisture, and looked delicate and alluring.
He was momentarily stunned, unconsciously drawn in, and slowly lowered his head.
The air was thick with the scent of alcohol, and the tense, ambiguous atmosphere caused the temperature to rise silently in the room. Even the slightest touch sent shivers down our spines, like sparks igniting dry tinder.
Just before his lips were about to touch hers, Qi Nian'an suddenly found the strength to turn her head, and his kiss, hot and passionate, landed on her equally burning cheek.
The touch was soft and moist, lingering for a moment.
Shao Sizhi paused, but did not immediately back away. Instead, he chuckled softly in that position. The laughter, accompanied by the vibration of his chest, reached her ears with a hint of understanding, stirring up her suppressed desires.
"Afraid?" he asked, his voice hoarse.
Qi Nian'an could feel her cheek burning where his lips had touched hers.
She didn't dare turn around, but took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. Her voice trembled slightly: "Tch, bring it on. I'll wait until you, you old rogue, bully this mad illiterate and give birth to a litter of illiterate babies for me to be angry with every day."
Upon hearing this, Shao Sizhi laughed and bent over, finally stepping back a little to give her some breathing space.
But he didn't let go of her hand; his thumb continued to caress the softest part of her wrist, neither too light nor too heavy, with an undeniable force and a silent provocation.
Okay, Jinjiang won't let me write anymore, so let's move on to the next scene.
Consort Chen enjoys the Emperor's favor and is at the height of her power. Especially with the title "Chen," her special status in the Emperor's heart is obvious to anyone with eyes that aren't blind.
How could a powerful family sit idly by and watch a concubine with no background rise to the top?
Not to mention Consort Yi's side, Consort Jia's family alone went to great lengths to send someone in again, and Consort Ming often complained that her father, who was from the Dali Temple, insisted on sending in maids from her family who were good at singing and dancing.
Qi Nian'an remained silent, focusing solely on their relationship and ignoring Li Xiaoran's advice to break up.
I used to say she wasn't ambitious, but now that we're actually dating, she's not happy about it.
well!
A few days later, the Ningguo Duke's Mansion used Qi Nian'an's birthday as an excuse to send their second eldest daughter, Ning Yuran, who was only sixteen years old, into the palace.
Not wanting to break off relations right now, Shao Sizhi simply bestowed upon her the title of Noble Lady Ning, and Consort Yi arranged for her to reside in Lanyue Pavilion, not far from Shao Sizhi's palace.
Consort Ning came prepared. She was an expert in both singing and dancing, especially skilled in the nearly lost Rainbow Feather Dance. It is said that her dance was graceful and charming, and from a distance, she appeared to be a fairy in the heavens.
His purpose in entering the palace was self-evident—to gain favor with the emperor.
She was young, with a beautiful and radiant appearance, and possessed the pride and innocence unique to noble ladies. She was quite active as soon as she entered the palace, and unlike Consort Su, she did not openly frame others. Instead, she frequently visited Qi Nian'an under the guise of seeking advice and exchanging ideas, always choosing times when Shao Sizhi was present.
Qi Nian'an was actually not in the palace most of the time; Consort Ling's Zhengyang Palace was more like her home.
Classical dance wasn't her forte either. Every time Consort Ning came to see her, Qi Nian'an was too embarrassed to tell her that she was better at K-pop and jazz dance, and also knew a little street dance.
In response, Li Xiaoran sternly warned her not to teach Consort Ning street dance when she had nothing better to do.
"Isn't this terrifying?"
"It's just youth!!"
At a small banquet in the palace, Consort Ning, dressed in a flowing dance gown, danced gracefully to a beautiful song. Her movements were light and her smile sweet, but her eyes would occasionally drift to the emperor at the head of the table, revealing the shyness of a young girl's admiration.
She gently greeted Shao Sizhi with a slight bow, and then, in front of all the concubines, she swayed her hem and smiled sweetly as she addressed Qi Nian'an: "I have long heard of Consort Chen's exceptional dancing skills, and her rendition of 'Li Bai' has made her famous throughout the palace. I have been learning to dance since I was a child and I admire you greatly. I wonder when I will have the honor of being able to broaden my horizons and learn from your spirit."
Qi Nian'an held his teacup, blew away the foam, and said lightly, "They all say I'm a mad dog, but forget it. It's just that I've been busy assisting His Majesty in organizing the military reports and maps submitted from the border, so I'm afraid I won't have any free time."
"If my sister likes to dance, then go and dance. The Imperial Garden has a beautiful view, it's just right."
The smile on Consort Ning's face froze instantly.
Shao Sizhi wasn't present, and she didn't know whether or not it was allowed to talk about it.
But to be honest, she was just using the excuse of organizing maps to look at the geography of this country, and also to see if she would get into any big trouble if she really pestered Shao Sizhi.
Li Xiaoran, listening from the side, was quite impressed and whispered to Qi Nian'an, "Consort Ning is a bit more cunning than Consort Su; she knows how to play the innocent victim. How do you plan to deal with her?"
Qi Nian'an said casually in a low voice, "I was just feeling bored."
The opportunity came soon.
With Shao Sizhi's birthday approaching, the palace is preparing a grand celebration.
Consort Ning volunteered to perform the "Rainbow Feather Garment Dance" at the birthday banquet to celebrate the Empress Dowager's birthday.
Shao Sizhi approved.
Approved.
Qi Nian'an narrowed her eyes and remained silent, preparing to tear Shao Sizhi apart.
On the day of the birthday banquet, Consort Ning indeed made ample preparations.
She was dressed in a specially made seven-colored feather robe, adorned with necklaces and pendants, sparkling with jewels.
As the music began, she began to dance gracefully, her movements delicate and intricate, truly like a flying apsara descending from the Dunhuang murals, breathtakingly beautiful.
Many people at the banquet were captivated by the sight, praising the Ningguo Duke's family for their excellent upbringing of their daughter and the ethereal beauty of Consort Ning.
After the dance ended, thunderous applause erupted.
Consort Ning breathed slightly, looked at Shao Sizhi with a smug expression, and then glanced at Qi Nian'an provocatively.
Qi Nian'an finally couldn't sit still any longer. He slowly stood up and bowed to Li Xiaoran, whose expression was strange, and Shao Sizhi, who turned his head away guiltily, saying, "May Your Majesty be blessed with longevity and peace."
"Sister Ning's dance is exquisite; I am truly impressed."
"On the occasion of your birthday, I have prepared a small gift. It is not a dance, but a newly composed piece called 'Hakimi North and South Green Beans,' which uses the guqin, chime bells, and xun. The score was composed by me after consulting ancient books and combining Buddhist music with folk prayer sounds. It symbolizes longevity and happiness, and springtime in the world. I wish to present it to Your Majesty, Consort Ling, and everyone else for their enjoyment."
Compared to dance, music is clearly more elegant and proper, especially music that blends Buddhist music and ancient rituals. Playing it on a birthday celebration is of extraordinary significance.
Upon hearing this, Shao Sizhi became interested and repeatedly agreed.
Qi Nian'an calmly walked to the musical instruments that had been prepared in the hall.
She wasn't wearing a gorgeous dance costume, but rather a simple and elegant palace dress, exuding a calm and composed aura.
With delicate hands gently caressing the strings, clear and melodious music flowed forth, followed by the deep and solemn sound of the chime bells, interspersed with the desolate and melodious sound of the xun, and the ancient prayers of Buddha.
The perfect blend of several timbres creates a solemn and peaceful picture, as if one can see the eternal stability of the country and the long-lasting blessings.
This piece of music is not only technically superb, but also excels in its conception and scope.
Compared to Consort Ning's dance, which was purely a display of her personal dance moves, the difference in quality is immediately apparent.
The smile on Consort Ning's face completely vanished.
Her meticulously prepared dance, with its flowing robes and feathered garments, suddenly seemed petty and insignificant in the face of this magnificent music; it was merely a performance to amuse the king.
Qi Nian'an's song instantly reduced her previous dance moves to nothing more than a warm-up act for entertainment.
She gripped her sleeve tightly, her nails almost digging into her palms.
The gazes that had been praising her just moments before were now all focused on the woman in red playing the zither in the center of the hall, filled with amazement and awe.
Shao Sizhi's gaze remained fixed on Qi Nian'an from beginning to end, his eyes overflowing with admiration and pride.
Only when the last note faded and its lingering melody echoed in the hall did he slowly clap his hands.
"Excellent! This music should only exist in heaven; how often can it be heard on earth!" He praised her generously, rising from his throne and personally walking to Qi Nian'an, helping her up. "Consort Chen is very kind. This music deeply touches my heart; it deserves a great reward!"
He surveyed the crowd, his voice clear and resonant, carrying an undeniable favoritism: "Consort Qi, intelligent and virtuous, possesses both talent and virtue. She has presented this auspicious sound on my birthday, which pleases me greatly. I hereby bestow upon her a bushel of pearls from the East Sea, two pairs of coral trees, and a set of red gold headdress. Furthermore, I will grant all the newly presented ice silk satin to Consort Qi to make new clothes."
Qi Nian'an looked back at Shao Sizhi with a somewhat strange expression.
"Stop wearing that bright red coat of yours. I can't even come up with a few words to praise you and match the melody."
Shao Sizhi said this.
...
The generosity of this reward is astonishing.
Especially the priceless ice silk satin, which is cool and light as a cicada's wing when worn in summer. In previous years, the concubines in the harem would each receive a small amount according to their rank, but this year it was all given to Consort Chen.
Consort Ning's face turned deathly pale, and she swayed slightly, almost unable to stand.
She had put in so much effort and practiced dancing diligently for many years, yet she couldn't beat the opponent with just one song.
The Imperial Noble Consort Yi, who had been sitting quietly at the head of the table, gently put down her teacup, wiped her mouth with a handkerchief, and spoke in a gentle, smiling voice that clearly reached everyone's ears: "Sister Chenfei is indeed exceptionally talented. Not only is she a wonderful dancer, but she is also so proficient in music. It is truly admirable. Sister Ning's Rainbow Feather Dance was also extremely beautiful, but unfortunately... the timing was not quite right, and it was overshadowed by Sister Chenfei's lofty and profound piece."
Her words added fuel to the fire of Ning Guiren's anger.
A casual remark, "The timing wasn't right," extinguished all her hopes and hard work.
How could I accept this?
Consort Ning suddenly looked up, her eyes no longer showing any feigned kindness, but only cold jealousy.
Upon hearing this, Shao Sizhi glanced at Consort Yi with a slightly cold look in his eyes, but said nothing more. He simply took Qi Nian'an's hand and said gently, "Come, accompany me back to rest."
Qi Nian'an shrugged indifferently, and even gave a provocative smile as they walked away together.
Everyone in the hall saw it clearly.
Shao Sizhi, holding Qi Nian'an's hand, ignored the grim-faced Consort Ning and the various concubines' expressions, and left the banquet hall in full view of everyone.
Li Xiaoran watched their departing figures, then glanced at Consort Ning, who was trembling with anger, and Consort Yi, whose face held a smile but whose eyes were icy cold. She shook her head and muttered to herself, "Well, this feud has gotten really big. Qi Nian'an, Qi Nian'an, let you show off..."
Qi Nian'an turned her head to look at the resolute profile of the man beside her. The warmth of his palm seeped through her skin, carrying a reassuring strength.
Boring days? Looks like those days are over.
She slightly curved her lips into a smile and gripped his hand tightly in return.
If a storm is brewing, then let it come.
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