Chapter 72: The Beauty’s Dance

Chapter 72: The Beauty's Dance

The Empress's Ingenuity

Su Jiaojiao's head, which had been lowering, suddenly stopped, and she looked up in surprise, not expecting the Emperor to address her in front of everyone.

The Emperor's tone clearly indicated he had seen through her nervousness and was deliberately teasing her.

She cautiously observed the Emperor's expression and saw a hint of mockery in his eyes. When his gaze met hers from across the room, it seemed he was both amused and exasperated.

So, it was indeed because the nightgown she had gifted was too unsightly—

Su Jiaojiao sheepishly lowered her head and softly said, "Your Majesty is discerning. How could Jiaojiao not wish to see Your Majesty? I am overjoyed."

Shen Huai lazily smirked, not wanting to make her stand out too much in front of so many people. He simply hummed and said, "Let the Empress preside."

Seeing that he had let her off so easily, Su Jiaojiao also breathed a sigh of relief.

From this, it was evident that the Emperor was not truly angry with her; he merely thought her embroidery skills were lacking.

After discerning the Emperor's thoughts, Su Jiaojiao became even more composed.

Who said a woman must excel in everything to be liked by men? Even without mastery of the six arts, she remained the most favored concubine in the entire palace.

Moreover, among the many highly skilled concubines, Su Jiaojiao's clumsiness and naivety added a unique charm.

If not for this, given her abilities, she might have lost the Emperor's favor the moment he saw the nightgown. Why else would the Emperor deliberately address her in such a grand setting as the Liangyi Hall, reminding her of her morning's mistake?

Outwardly, it was a reprimand, but inwardly, it was indulgence.

With just a few exchanged words, the room's atmosphere subtly shifted. The concubines present cast glances their way, each with different hidden meanings in their eyes.

The conversation between the Emperor and Consort Zhen was naturally clear to all.

During this period, with the Crown Prince poisoned and court affairs demanding, the Emperor had not visited the inner palace for half a month. Finally, at the New Year's Eve banquet, everyone eagerly hoped for the Emperor's favor.

Yet, Consort Zhen stood out. On such a day, the Emperor's first glance was for her. She was already highly favored; could it be that she wouldn't release the Emperor even today!

The Empress, ever virtuous, gently acknowledged and deliberately paused before speaking, "Today is the New Year's Eve family banquet. We are all sisters here. If I have overlooked anything, please inform me. Though the royal family is not ordinary, today is also a day of joy."

"I heard that the Imperial Music Bureau has a new musician who plays the guqin with extraordinary skill. Let's start with her."

Hearing that it was a skilled guqin player, Shen Huai also showed some interest and turned his head to ask, "It has been a while since the Imperial Music Bureau was summoned to the palace."

"Empress, you are busy. When did you find out about this?"

The Empress smiled and said, "I am in charge of the New Year's Eve palace banquet and naturally hope that everything is done to the best of my ability. Your Majesty has been busy with state affairs and has not visited the inner palace for half a month. I know you have been working hard, so I wanted to make sure you could relax today."

Her words were reasonable and considerate, and Shen Huai's recent dissatisfaction and doubts towards the Empress unconsciously lessened. He softly said, "The Empress has put in a lot of effort."

The palace servants quickly prepared the venue, and under everyone's gaze, the doors opened, and a graceful beauty dressed in light green gauze entered.

Her hands were clasped together, and she walked as if swaying like a willow in the wind. Despite it being winter, she was dressed very lightly, as if she was not afraid of the cold.

In the middle of winter, this was clearly a blatant attempt at seduction.

Without the Empress's approval, how could a musician from the Imperial Music Bureau dare to dress so lightly on such an important occasion as the New Year's banquet? The concubines present immediately understood the Empress's intentions.

Su Jiaojiao saw this but was not particularly surprised. Consort Shu, sitting beside her, sneered, "The Empress knows you are favored and has cleverly chosen someone similar to you to compete for favor."

"True beauty lies in one's bones, not just the skin. My favor isn't just because of my looks. If the Empress wishes to share my favor, the key does not lie in appearance."

Su Jiaojiao took a casual sip of her tea and glanced at the woman in the hall.

The beauty in the hall spoke softly, gracefully bowing to all sides, saying, "This humble servant, Xue Yuexi, a musician from the Imperial Music Bureau, greets Your Majesty and the Empress."

Shen Huai gave a slight nod, and Xue Yuexi walked to the qin placed by the palace servants. She lifted her delicate wrist and plucked the strings.

A beautiful melody flowed from her fingers, clear and lingering.

Though Su Jiaojiao wasn't much of a musician herself, she could tell that Xue Yuexi played exceptionally well, with a calming effect. Immersed in the music, the faint restlessness in her heart seemed to dissipate slightly.

Her eyes downcast, she sipped her tea and glanced toward the Emperor, indeed seeing a trace of admiration in his eyes.

At the New Year's Eve banquet, she had long anticipated such a scene—whether it was a newcomer or an old face, it would not waste the Empress's meticulous planning.

People naturally favor the new over the old, let alone the Emperor, who rules over the three palaces and six courtyards. It was only natural.

After the performance, Xue Yuexi stood up and curtsied, "This humble servant has embarrassed herself. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."

Though veiled in light gauze, Xue Yuexi had a pair of enchanting, watery eyes, exuding charm and a pitiful allure.

She bore some resemblance to Consort Zhen.

But Consort Zhen had a more aloof and subtly seductive charm, captivating in an intangible way, while this musician's charm was skin-deep, her gaze a bit too obvious.

"Take off the veil."

Shen Huai tapped the table and said indifferently.

Xue Yuexi lifted the veil with her delicate fingers, revealing a delicate face beneath the gauze.

She was indeed beautiful.

But for some reason, Shen Huai felt no attraction upon seeing her face and instead instinctively glanced at Su Jiaojiao.

Her eyes downcast, she sipped her tea.

Shen Huai gave a nod and said, "You played well."

The Emperor's praise made Xue Yuexi's eyes light up, and her heart filled with joy.

Thanks to the Empress's careful planning, she played her best piece and was the first to perform, aiming to astonish everyone and capture the Emperor's heart.

She looked up happily, ready to thank him, when she heard the Emperor pause for a moment, leaning back lazily, and say indifferently, "Reward her with five bolts of silk and a box of pearl hairpins."

"You may go."

Xue Yuexi's smile stiffened.

But the rules of the Imperial Music Bureau were strict, and she understood them well. She quickly hid her disappointment and smiled, curtsying. "This humble servant thanks Your Majesty for your kindness."

As she rose, she briefly exchanged a look with the Empress before turning and exiting the Hall of Two Powers. Two palace servants followed, carrying her qin. The people in the hall watched her go, exchanging confused glances.

Xue Yuexi's appearance had been eagerly awaited, clearly orchestrated by the Empress to position her as a potential consort. Yet, no one expected the Emperor, who had seemed quite interested earlier, to change his mind after seeing her face.

Xue Yuexi was undeniably beautiful, so why—

But the confusion did not last long. The Empress, unfazed, smiled and said, "The next performance will surely be familiar to Your Majesty."

Shen Huai raised an eyebrow and glanced at her, tilting his chin slightly to signal the Empress to continue.

The Empress smiled mysteriously, and Yu He beside her clapped her hands twice.

Palace music began to play in the hall, and from both sides of the gate of the Liangyi Hall, twelve stunning women adorned in flowing silk dance attire filed out, waving silk ribbons in their hands to the rhythm of the music. They arranged themselves into three rows and four columns before Shen Huai, bowing in unison.

"Your humble concubines greet Your Majesty and the Empress."

Humble concubines?

Shen Huai looked over them; the twelve beauties in the hall were quite unfamiliar, yet there was indeed a hint of familiarity.

The Empress explained with a smile, "There are many concubines in the palace, and those in the inner palace are even less likely to see Your Majesty. In the bloom of youth, at just fifteen or sixteen years old, they have no chance to serve Your Majesty. I thought to give them an opportunity, so I had them prepare a dance to present. If Your Majesty finds any to your liking, you could bestow a rank upon them and move them out of the inner palace to serve by your side."