CHAPTER 24: CHAPTER 3: DANCING PRINCESS (3)

Li Shuning, however, ignored them and returned to her room by herself.

She knew why Lou Ge said those words today; it was to make the other dancing girls exclude her.

When Lou Ge moved closer to her, the others would isolate her, and she feared her relationship with Lou Ge would strengthen, leading to total trust without any suspicion.

Since childhood, Li Shuning had been learning dance skills. It’s said she was abducted and became a dancing girl in the palace at the age of thirteen. Though her childhood experiences made her mature early, she remained kind and innocent.

She has been in the palace for seven years. For the first six years, she continuously studied, immersed in the world of song and dance, absorbing all useful skills. She seldom communicated with others and never maliciously imagined people. Those who treated her well, she naturally reciprocated.

This year she began to show her talents, thus attracting the attention of the Empress Dowager.

Three days later was the birthday of the Empress Dowager.

The Emperor would host a banquet in the Imperial Garden, inviting officials of the fifth rank and above to enter the palace to congratulate her, along with the families of officials of the third rank and above.

During this season, it was neither cold nor hot. Hosting a banquet in the Imperial Garden was quite pleasant. Even when night fell, beautifully crafted lanterns were ready, ensuring that the garden was as bright as day.

The Empress Dowager and the Emperor sat at the forefront, with ongoing performances, and Li Shuning also presented a dance.

This dance, which she had rehearsed for a long time, was specifically performed for the Empress Dowager.

It included many difficult moves, but Li Shuning executed them all with dedication.

After the dance, her clothes were slightly damp with sweat, accentuating her lithe figure.

Although the officials dared not be too blatant with their gaze, knowing that the dancing girl was favored by the Empress Dowager, underlying evil thoughts were still present.

After all, despite the Empress Dowager’s favor, she was just a dancing girl.

Such extraordinary beauty, if possible... hehe.

Li Shuning had met many people, and she was keenly aware of the desire hidden in their eyes.

The Empress Dowager and Prince Yu naturally noticed it too.

Prince Yu said a few words to the little eunuch serving him, and the little eunuch quietly slipped away. Except for the ever-attentive Li Shuning, no one noticed the absence of that little eunuch.

The Empress Dowager felt uncomfortable, knowing she felt guilty towards Shuning. The looks from those people upset her, but she was powerless. Does retribution truly exist in this world?

After finishing her dance, Li Shuning withdrew, needing to change her clothes. The Empress Dowager had told her to visit the Empress Dowager’s Palace after the banquet ended.

Li Shuning, along with the other dancing girls, headed towards Yunfei Pavilion.

Halfway there, Lou Ge suddenly pulled another dancing girl aside, "Sister Xiaoqian, I need to use the bathroom. Will you come with me? I’m a bit scared."

The place they passed happened to have an abandoned palace.

Lou Ge and Xiaoqian held hands and walked towards the palace.

Another dancing girl also followed them.

This left Li Shuning and four others, along with a lantern-carrying eunuch.

Without pausing, they continued towards Yunfei Pavilion.

They encountered several noble ladies walking together.

The pomp of those young ladies suggested they had significant backgrounds, especially the one leading the group.

Li Shuning, however, recognized her; she was the eldest daughter of the Minister of Rites, engaged to Prince Yu.

However, this young lady got engaged to Prince Yu at fifteen and was still unmarried at nineteen, which, in this world, was considered an "old maid."

But being betrothed to the royal family, and with Prince Yu claiming he would marry after the Emperor’s wedding to avoid conflict, the Gu Family had no choice.

Gu Youran saw the group approaching and a sharp look flickered in her eyes.

Especially the radiance unique to Li Shuning, which filled her with envy.

Moreover, at the banquet, when Li Shuning performed her dance, someone’s captivated gaze made Gu Youran want to tear her apart.

Although Li Shuning and the others were dancing girls of rank, Gu Youran and the noble ladies did not require them to show courtesy.

In the scenario Li Shuning was aware of, this encounter was pre-calculated.

Li Shuning did not bow at that time, but slightly turned, making way for them.

However, Gu Youran, being foul-tempered and easily incited, reacted negatively even when Li Shuning was already being quite courteous, leading to a moment of humiliation before letting her pass.

Now, Li Shuning let out a cold laugh.

Li Shuning looked straight ahead, not sparing a glance at Gu Youran, and continued walking forward.

Gu Youran’s face flushed red, unable to hold back a scold, "Stop right there, just a group of dancing girls daring to be so disrespectful."

Several noble ladies were also displeased, feeling uncomfortable with being ignored.

Gu Youran stepped forward aggressively and pulled at one of the dancing girl’s clothes, sneering, "Dressed so immodestly, truly a disgrace to women, serving with looks is shameless."

Yet Li Shuning seemed oblivious, continuing to walk forward.

Gu Youran suddenly rushed up, blocking Li Shuning’s path, and then staggered, as if unable to keep her balance, falling towards Li Shuning.

But Li Shuning quickly sidestepped.

Gu Youran, flustered, managed to steady herself before hitting the ground, but couldn’t escape the embarassment.

Gu Youran promptly stood up, "What’s your name? Such audacity, merely calling you didn’t stop you, you even dared to push me."

"Are you the eldest daughter of Mr. Gu’s family? Miss Gu, this is the Imperial Palace, not your backyard. I was walking properly, and you rushed up; how does that become me pushing you? We are indeed dancing girls, not matching your noble status, yet you might have good fathers, however, we are not ones to be recklessly humiliated."

"Today is the Empress Dowager’s birthday; although family members of officials of third rank and above are allowed to enter the palace, it doesn’t mean you can wander freely. You want to throw a tantrum here, fine, why not let’s explain it clearly in front of the Empress Dowager?"

Li Shuning mocked Gu Youran with a glance; what a brainless woman, with a bad temper. No wonder Prince Yu went to great lengths to annul this engagement, even using Li Shuning to orchestrate such a scene, leading the Empress Dowager to reconsider whether Gu Youran should marry Prince Yu.

Gu Youran was taken aback, not expecting the dancing girl to be so gutsy, but then she laughed, "So you know I’m the eldest daughter of the Gu Family and hence should know I’m Prince Yu’s fiancée, right? Moreover, seeing me, not giving courtesy, ignoring us, and even pushing me, even before the Empress Dowager, a mere dancing girl would likely face severe punishment. However, I’m not heartless; today if you kneel before me, knock your head and admit your mistake, I’ll spare you this once."

"Miss Gu is quite authoritative indeed, not even a princess consort yet, forcing us to bow? Today is the Empress Dowager’s birthday, proposing that she’d have us beaten to death and blood seen on her birthday? Truly, one wonders what intentions Miss Gu harbors."