Chapter 46: A Dance That Astounded All

At this birthday banquet, the number of young lords and ladies in attendance was considerable, already surpassing the scale of previous years. It was clear that, apart from celebrating the birthday, there was also the unspoken intention of selecting suitable matches for the princes.

Sure enough, after a short while, the Empress spoke, “Simply sitting here and chatting may not be lively enough. Why don’t we watch the performances the young ladies have prepared for the Empress Dowager?”

The Empress Dowager smiled benevolently. “Let it be as the Empress suggests.”

The chief palace maid at her side immediately clapped her hands, signaling for the music and dancing to pause for the time being.

A hush fell over the hall. The Empress glanced around at everyone before continuing, “Let us follow the old custom. If any young lady has prepared a performance, signal to the palace maid beside you. She will then draw a numbered token at random to determine the order. I hope you will all display your talents today. Whoever can delight the Empress Dowager will receive a generous reward from me.”

At once, the noble ladies and daughters below were stirred with excitement. Many of them had spent as much as half a year preparing for their performances, all hoping to seize this opportunity to shine—ideally, to attract the attention of one of the princes.

These daughters of great families were usually kept secluded, rarely granted the chance to display themselves, and even less often to interact with people of such rank. At this moment, all shyness was cast aside. Those who had prepared to perform looked boldly and eagerly toward their favored targets.

If gazes could become flowers, Shen Qingyun thought, then the princes on the dais would surely be submerged in a sea of blossoms.

Yet, amidst this profusion of blooms, one figure stood out as entirely out of place.

He sat slightly behind and to the side of the Emperor, appearing eighteen or nineteen years old, tall and lean, an air of chill austerity about his brow. His eyes held a cold, forbidding sharpness, as if warning others to keep their distance. His dark pupils seemed to harbor the brewing of a storm. The high bridge of his nose and the pale thinness of his lips only deepened the unapproachable, icy aura that surrounded him.

Even with such strikingly handsome features, as if sculpted by the gods, no young woman dared approach or so much as steal a glance at him.

This must be Prince Li, Shen Qingyun mused.

The current Emperor’s own brother, Si Molí, who had gone to war at fifteen, repelled invaders, achieved countless military exploits, and struck such fear into the barbarians that his name alone could make them quail. He had greatly stabilized the dynasty, enjoyed the Emperor’s especial favor, commanded the army, and was someone not even the princes would dare provoke. The phrase “second only to the Emperor” fit him perfectly.

A venomous glare shot over from Princess Jing’an’s direction, and Shen Qingyun realized she had been staring at Prince Li lost in thought. Quickly, she reined in her wandering mind.

She hadn’t expected that, even after being reborn, she couldn’t shake her weakness for handsome faces. Shen Qingyun felt a bit embarrassed.

Thinking of her previous life, she had fallen for Jiang Lin largely because of his bright, moon-like features.

But now, she realized there was always someone more extraordinary out there, and that her horizons in her last life had been far too narrow.

Princess Jing’an, seeing that Shen Qingyun was no longer gazing at her brother, suppressed her inner fury and quietly asked the maid beside her, Xiaotao, “Is everything arranged?”

“Rest assured, Your Highness. Everything is in place,” Xiaotao replied.

At that moment, the daughter of the Minister of Revenue, Lin Xueying, took the stage. Her performance was painting. With a few deft turns of her brush, a large, vibrant peony appeared on the pristine canvas.

In no time at all, she skillfully rendered a scene of a hundred flowers in full bloom, offering her blessings to the Empress Dowager—may her fortune be as enduring as these blossoms, forever flourishing.

The Empress Dowager chuckled in delight. “This child’s skill is impressive and thoughtful. What do you think, Empress?”

The Empress immediately praised her as well. “Reward Miss Xueying with a pair of white jade bangles.”

The chief palace maid presented a tray, on which a pair of lustrous jade bangles lay upon blue silk. Lin Xueying’s eyes sparkled with joy at the sight. She thanked them with a bright smile and offered a few more words of good fortune before stepping down.

The ladies below looked upon Lin Xueying with envy.

After all, she was the first to receive a reward from the Empress today.

The Minister of Revenue stroked his beard, his face alight with pride as he shared a drink with his colleagues.

“Who will be next?” the Empress Dowager inquired, anticipation in her tone.

A palace maid checked the list and called out, “The young lady from the Duke Shen’s household, please come forward to perform.”

The drawing of lots had been organized by household rather than by individual, for ease of identification.

As the eldest daughter of the Duke Shen’s family, Shen Sisi was naturally first to take the stage.

She thought to herself, If I dazzle the capital with my dance and capture everyone’s attention, when Shen Qingyun goes up, she will only seem dull and lackluster by comparison.

With dignified composure, Shen Sisi stood and bowed gracefully to the Empress Dowager before ascending the stage. She spoke softly, “I have prepared a dance performance.”

She did not go down to change into special dance attire, but instead spun lightly in her moonlight-colored, water-patterned skirt, striking a beautiful pose. The musicians had been forewarned, so as the strings and flutes rose, she spun again, her skirt billowing out, giving her a languid, natural air.

From afar, Jiang Lin could not take his eyes off the dancing Shen Sisi, feeling she was like a fairy descended to the mortal realm.

He could not help but think, to win such a beautiful wife as Sisi, what did it matter if she brought a smaller dowry than Shen Qingyun’s vast trousseau? He and Sisi would surely enjoy a blissful life together, far better than a loveless marriage with Shen Qingyun.

Shen Qingyun, too, watched the dance appreciatively. In her past life, Shen Sisi had indeed become famous in the capital with this very Dance of the Rainbow Garments, her supple figure capturing the hearts of countless young lords.

But what about this life?

The most captivating part of the dance came at its climax, when the music faded and the dancer spun twenty times in succession, focusing all eyes upon her.

Yet as Shen Sisi bent low on stage, she suddenly felt a sharp, twisting pain in her abdomen.

Shen Qingyun’s keen eyes caught the slight furrow in Shen Sisi’s brows. Was it time?

As the music cut off abruptly, Shen Sisi gathered her strength for a final spin. Her skirt blossomed like a flower, rippling like water—a breathtaking sight.

But then—

A series of odd, discordant noises rang out. Before anyone could identify the source, an unpleasant stench filled the air, growing stronger with the dancer’s movements.

“What’s that smell? It’s horrible!”

“Heavens, what’s happening?”

“Ugh!” cried a little princess in the front row, retching and shouting, “Stop dancing!”

Everyone was stunned.

That smell—familiar, yet strange—could it be?

Did Miss Shen spin herself around so hard she soiled herself on stage?

The crowd immediately burst into whispers, many covering their noses.

Shen Zhifeng’s face turned as black as the bottom of a wok.

Shen Sisi, in this moment, truly shocked the entire hall with her dance!