CHAPTER 81: CHAPTER 76: CONSORT XI’S COMPOSURE IN THE FACE OF DANGER

As Yun Jiao appeared, the entire audience’s gaze focused on her.

Even standing next to Concubine Li, famed for her unparalleled beauty in the harem, she was not overshadowed in the slightest.

The concubines wanted to see just how capable the greatly favored Consort Xi really was—indeed, she was very beautiful, with delicate and lovely features, and even more captivating with makeup. Yet, hers was not a seductive allure, but a beauty that appealed to all, regardless of age or gender.

Even the Empress Dowager, who harbored some prejudice against her, could not bring herself to dislike her.

"Is the piece Concubine Li is going to play composed by Consort Xi? I had no idea Consort Xi had such talent," said Concubine Jiang with a tone of surprise as if discovering a new world.

"Of course, you didn’t know. You never know anything, not even that your birthday painting has been stamped by the Emperor."

Concubine Wei also laughed.

Concubine Jiang fell silent, giving her a glare.

However, the Empress Dowager didn’t pay attention to their little exchange; her gaze shifted between Consort Xi and her own son.

When Consort Xi took the stage, Xie Zhixing unconsciously adjusted his posture.

He had watched Concubine Jiang dance in a relaxed manner, but at the appearance of Consort Xi, he became tense.

"Is the Emperor so concerned because of Consort Xi or Concubine Li?" the Empress Dowager asked with a smile.

"I wouldn’t say concerned," Xie Zhixing replied. "It’s just that Consort Xi isn’t very clever, and I fear she might make mistakes and spoil Mother’s mood."

The Empress Dowager chuckled softly again.

"Why is Mother laughing?"

"The Emperor’s current demeanor reminds me so much of how I felt every time I brought you before the late Emperor for your lessons. Worrying that you might make mistakes due to lack of dedication, yet unwilling to hear harsh criticism of you, always pleading on your behalf with the late Emperor."

Men are always enchanted by beauty, and to a beauty, nothing seems flawed.

Yet, sometimes, when you like someone, you might think she is clumsy and unfit for great duties, that any fault must be someone else’s doing. She is purely just a bit naive—simply put, like a protective parent standing behind an unruly child.

"Mother must be mistaken,"

The Emperor dismissed any such connection to himself completely: "I have always been diligent, never making mistakes before the late Emperor."

The Empress Dowager thought for a moment and realized it was true.

No matter how the late Emperor raised the difficulty, attempting to stump him, as long as he had time to prepare, there was nothing he couldn’t accomplish, leaving her worried in vain every time.

"If Consort Xi were me, Mother would probably have endless worries."

He spoke with an unnoticed smile.

At that moment, Concubine Li struck the first notes on the instrument. Everyone was prepared for her skill, yet they were still taken aback by this unprecedented, fervent rhythm of Yan Chi. It wasn’t about how elegant and refined the music was, but it made you want to tap your foot along to it.

As for Yun Jiao’s dancing skills?

To be fair, they couldn’t compare to Concubine Jiang’s earlier performance.

After all, the theme was to entertain the Empress Dowager, and Yun Jiao positioned herself as if bringing a touch of the comic-book world to the elderly in a nursing home.

The silver bells on her dress tinkled as she moved with grace, yet without seductive allure, nor did she intentionally cast coquettish glances in the direction of the Emperor. Her face beamed with a vibrant smile, and although many of her movements were overtly energetic, she was fully immersed in the music.

Even though she seemed like an ordinary little fish, dancing revealed a super cute side.

This was something her past self could never achieve.

Now, she could unabashedly blend modern motifs into a formal occasion, bringing a slight sensation of otaku dance to the imaginary dynasty.

"How could this..."

Concubine Jiang was about to critique sharply when her own palace maid quietly reminded her, "Mistress, look."

The Emperor, seated at the top, was watching Yun Jiao with a gaze full of admiration.

A huge question mark slowly rose above Concubine Jiang’s head.

The Emperor certainly wasn’t this attentive while watching her dance earlier!

"The music is original, but Consort Xi’s dancing seems rather mediocre," Concubine Jiang said begrudgingly, trying to belittle Yun Jiao.

"Is it?"

Without a moment’s hesitation, Xie Zhixing retorted, "The performance in the Imperial Garden was organized hastily, and Consort Xi didn’t have much time to practice. To dance as she did is already extraordinary; I recognized her effort."

—You have no idea how hard Consort Xi worked!

Only I do.

Wasn’t the hurried arrangement of the Imperial Garden performance a critique on Concubine Jiang’s poor organization? Concubine Wei had a hard time stifling her laughter; she nearly burst out when she saw Concubine Jiang’s expression.

Concubine Jiang glared at her, "What are you laughing at?"

"Consort Xi danced so well, I couldn’t help but smile from my heart."

"Heh."

"The Emperor is also smiling, why don’t you ask him why?"

Concubine Jiang refused to respond, and the Emperor didn’t press the matter.

They didn’t know this was the result of Yun Jiao practicing three hours every day.

Just as Yun Jiao was about to finish her dance successfully, a cat suddenly leapt from the bushes, wildly pouncing in her direction, scratching her before she could dodge. The cat’s claws tore her dance dress, and in an instant, blood flowed freely.

"Where did this cat come from!?"

"Save Consort Xi, summon the Imperial Physician!"

Yun Jiao, enduring the intense pain, returned to the beginning of the dance.

This saved state was originally to prevent mishaps during her performance, yet it proved useful in the face of an unexpected event.

This time, her mind was racing, pondering how to deal with the frenzied cat, and whether it was accidental or orchestrated.

Recovering from the shock, Xie Zhixing raised a brow slightly, and a discreet little eunuch approached him to receive orders, then moved closer to the stage to respond swiftly to any incidents.

Xie Zhixing was also curious to see how she would handle the situation upon a second attempt.

The second time, treating it as a trial and error, she didn’t finish the dance but gestured for Concubine Li to stop, "In ten breaths, from the southeast direction, a frenzied cat will burst out to attack me. Who is behind this?"

After taking note of everyone’s immediate facial reactions, Yun Jiao roughly determined the range of suspects and then reloaded the save.

At the same place, at the same time, in the same direction, the same cat sprang from the bushes.

This time, Yun Jiao suppressed her instinct to dodge and observed what item on her might have attracted the cat.

The third attempt, the cat bit at the bells on her dress.

The fourth attempt, before taking the stage, Yun Jiao removed the bells, tying them to the end of her flowing sleeves instead.

This time, as if she anticipated the threat, when the frenzied cat pounced, she happened to swing the end of her sleeve at a farther distance, simultaneously spinning in dance. The snowy white cat chased the bells like a charm on a pet leash, dancing alongside her.

Yun Jiao’s composure was so seamless that everyone was stunned for three seconds until the Emperor shouted, "Hurry and capture that frenzied cat!" They awoke from their dream-like state to realize this was not part of the performance but an accident!

Consort Xi’s ability to adapt on the spot, her calm demeanor in crisis, elevated this performance to a level beyond its original intent.

Everyone was filled with a sense of awe.

It turned out Consort Xi was not as simple as she appeared.