Chapter 164: Dancing

Lin Wan Yi lazily leans on the Noble Consort's couch, slender fingers leisurely peeling crystal grapes, listening to a palace maid vividly describing the legendary dance attire.

She snorts, contemptuously spits the grape seed into a golden cup: "So what if it's all flowery?"

"Can't even see the Emperor's face; could you possibly intend to dance alone in that garment?"

She rises, stretches her waist, the water‑red gauze dress slips down, revealing a segment of snow‑white wrist: "The Emperor loves watching my green‑waist dance; for the past month, every night he has demanded I dance for him."

With her fingertip she ties a deft knot, "No matter how splendid the clothing, if worn on an unremarkable body, it is still a waste of treasure."

From outside the hall, rustling murmurs suddenly arise.

Lin Wan Yi furrows her brows, gives a signal; the palace maid hurriedly reports: "They say the sound of silk and bamboo comes from the Xitang Courtyard; Lady Wan seems to be practicing a dance."

"Ugly people cause mischief!"

Before Lin Wan Yi finishes speaking, Li Defu suddenly rushes in in a fluster: "Hey, my little ancestor!"

"Why are you still idling here?"

"The Emperor just finished reviewing the documents, heard the silk‑and‑bamboo sound and went to the Xitang Courtyard!"

Lin Wan Yi suddenly overturns the fruit tray, grapes scattering across the floor: "How could that be? The Emperor clearly said he would be with me tonight, telling me to wait here for him."

"Absolutely true!" Li Defu stamps his foot anxiously, "The Emperor heard the melody of the 'Feathered Garment' and got up before even finishing his tea!"

Lin Wan Yi twists the handkerchief, turns and sits back on the couch, spitefully kicking her embroidered shoes aside: "The Emperor himself said not to let me go to the Xitang Courtyard because I'd be an eyesore, and now he makes me go to intercept people?"

"I wouldn't go bother with that boring thing!"

Li Defu's flattery smile vanishes instantly, wrinkles crawling across his gloomy face like poisonous snakes.

He suddenly clamps Lin Wan Yi's chin, his nails digging into her delicate flesh: "Lin Wan Yi, what do you think you are?"

"If the Xiao Family hadn't pulled you out of the hook rail, your face would have long been slashed by brothel clients!"

Lin Wan Yi's eyes water from the pain, yet she dares not struggle.

Li Defu pushes her away, pulls out a handkerchief and leisurely wipes his hand: "The Empress sent you into the palace to be an obedient dog, not to bare your teeth at the Master."

Lin Wan Yi's tears roll down, plaintively saying: "So I have no face to keep?"

He suddenly slams the handkerchief onto her face, "Your skin? Ha… the Xiao Family could give you this face, and could also peel it off to feed a dog!"

Lin Wan Yi trembles as she climbs down from the couch, even putting her embroidered shoes on backwards.

Li Defu spits at her staggering silhouette: "You lowly bone! Do you really think you're a master?"

He suddenly raises his voice: "If you can't bring the Emperor tonight, you can expect to go back and follow your mother Yang!"

The last three words make Lin Wan Yi shudder sharply.

No!

Such a life, even just recalling it, makes one shiver all over.

Inside the Xitang Courtyard, lanterns blaze, Wan Tang dressed in plain white soft‑silk dance attire, gracefully dances to the silk‑and‑bamboo music.

In the Langxia, the palace staff watch intently, even the perching birds on the branches stick out their heads.

Chu Yunzheng, at some unknown time, stands beneath the Moon Gate, the bright yellow robe's hem fluttered by the night wind, his eyes reflecting candlelight and that graceful silhouette.

"Good!" At the end of the piece, the Emperor cannot help but clap his hands in praise, "Tangtang's dance truly surpasses the Moon Palace fairy in charm."

He strides forward, grasps Wan Tang's slightly cool hand, "Since you became pregnant, I have not seen you dance; you have been on my mind."

Wan Tang's cheeks flush, breath slightly shallow as she leans into his embrace: "The Emperor knows how to coax."

"I fear that at tomorrow's banquet I might be awkward and lose face for you…"

Before she finishes, Chu Yunzheng lightly taps her vermilion lips with his fingertip.

"Nonsense."

Chu Yunzheng tucks her sweat‑damp side‑burns behind her ear, "My Tangtang, even standing still, is the most beautiful scenery in the world."

Wan Tang suddenly tiptoes, whispers into his ear: "Tomorrow, Emperor, you must watch me closely."

"Watch! Of course I will watch!" Chu Yunzheng laughs heartily, pulling her close, "I will let everyone know, this is my great meritorious official, my Tangtang."

The night wind sweeps the scent of osmanthus, causing the palace lanterns throughout the courtyard to sway gracefully.

When Lin Wan Yi rushes in, she sees the Emperor lifting Wan Tang's hand for a gentle kiss, the lingering intimacy stabbing pain into her heart.

She suppresses the surging jealousy, smooths her slightly disheveled side‑burns, sways her waist and coquettishly calls: "Emperor, you make it easy for me."

At this moment, Chu Yunzheng's gaze is fixed entirely on Wan Tang; he pays no attention to Lin Wan Yi's arrival.

He calls out twice, sees Chu Yunzheng ignore Lin Wan Yi, and Li Defu's eyes gradually take on a threatening hue.

Just one glance makes Lin Wan Yi shiver.

She truly does not want to go back…

Looking at the people around, Lin Wan Yi lowers her eyes briefly, then grits her teeth hard.

She deliberately lets her gauze slip off her fragrant shoulder, revealing an ambiguous red mark on her neck.

Her whole body, as if fragile and boneless, presses against Chu Yunzheng: "I have newly learned a Hu spin dance, far fresher than some people's stale clichés."

While speaking, she boldly pulls the Emperor's hand to her waist, completely ignoring the palace staff's contemptuous gazes.

Earlier everyone was still immersed in Wan Tang's dance.

In that instant, even the eunuchs were startled and quickly turned their faces away.

Noble Lady Jing remains the master; they cannot speak, nor look.

Chu Yunzheng indeed is drawn by her unrestrained posture, his fingertips unconsciously caressing her slender waist.

Lin Wan Yi smugly glances at Wan Tang, ruby lips close to the Emperor's ear: "Kunning Palace has prepared deer‑blood wine; it's the most nourishing."

Chu Yunzheng's face shows a hint of deep meaning.

A smile at the corner of his eye, indeed a look of anticipation.

Wan Tang takes everything in with her eyes.

Li Defu, standing beside Wan Tang, whispers in a voice only they can hear: "Lady Wan, did you see?"

"Our Emperor is a man of exclusive devotion; yet it is only this face he devotes himself to," Li Defu said, his words layered.

Wan Tang heard the words and was not upset.

Her finger lightly brushed across the face, and she smiled, "Grandfather is right; whether the Emperor is only devoted to this face, I am not sure."

"However…" Wan Tang squinted at Li Defu, her scrutinizing gaze full of contempt: "The Emperor is a man."

"Men always have moments of passion."

The remark, like a bolt of thunder, struck Li Defu.

He gaped in shock, his eyes instantly filled with anger and hatred.

Since the Emperor was nearby, he could not erupt again.

The Master is the Master; what one does behind the scenes matters not, but openly, one still dares not.

Wan Tang watched with satisfaction, though she could not stand their petty self‑importance.

She stepped forward as well.

"Emperor," Wan Tang suddenly whispered, interrupting, her fingertip catching the imperial robe sleeve, "I have obtained a set of dance attire and wish to ask you to see whether it fits."

She lowered her eyes and smiled faintly, warm and graceful, charming yet not bewitching, intoxicating.

Chu Yunzheng immediately released Lin Wan Yi: "Tangtang has always danced at heart; I have never seen you in a specially made dance skirt."

Speaking, he walked toward the inner chamber, completely forgetting that a half‑undressed beauty still stood behind him.

Lin Wan Yi hurriedly reached for the dragon robe: "Emperor! That deer‑blood wine…"

"Consider it a reward." Chu Yunzheng, without turning his head, waved his hand, "Tonight I will accompany Tangtang to try on the garments."

Wan Tang leaned against the door, turned her head, and gave Lin Wan Yi an extremely faint smile.

The night wind carried her whisper: "Sister, if you like deer‑blood wine, I can have more prepared."

"But sister, being so delicate, can you really drink it?"

When the pearl curtains fell, they covered the latter half, leaving only the mocking gaze etched in Lin Wan Yi's eyes.

Lin Wan Yi clenched both hands tightly.

Only after the lights were out did Li Defu step forward.

He snorted in displeasure, "Aren't you leaving?"

"The lights are out!"

"And you still talk about innate allure; it's nothing special to look at."

Li Defu gave her a disdainful glance, then smiled slowly, "But your beauty is truly fine."

"I, too, like it very much!"

Li Defu said, his finger brushing Lin Wan Yi's face.

Lin Wan Yi's whole body broke out in gooseflesh; she quickly stepped back, hurriedly saying, "I am the Emperor's person."

"Heh, soon it won't be."

Li Defu laughed coldly, "When the day comes that you're useless, I will also cherish you properly…"