My Lady is well

Qiongyan Pavilion, as the name suggests, is a place used to set up banquets and entertain guests.

The exquisite and luxurious square pavilion, with carved beams and painted buildings, shines with gold and green, dazzling the eyes and ears.

Suddenly, scarlet silk gauze fell from the sky, forming a stage.

The center of the platform is facing the dragon and phoenix throne of the emperor and empress, and there are three steps below the throne.

The Crown Prince and Crown Princess sat below the Emperor and Empress, and the next level down were the princes and princesses.

Finally, the concubines from each palace sat on both sides according to their ranks. Several concubines from the East Palace were ranked behind the concubines in the palace, and there were also some noble ladies from aristocratic families behind them.

The dancers walked with light steps, holding up their long sleeves, floating past Shen Yueyao and going to the center of the stage. Their sleeves fluttered, and their postures and movements were full of indescribable charm and elegance.

An endless stream of palace maids walked back and forth with lotus steps, carrying plates of delicacies and respectfully serving the distinguished guests.

Shen Yueyao stared at the dancers intently. She didn't understand dancing, but that didn't stop her from looking at the beauties.

Everyone loves beauty, and she also likes to look at beautiful women.

"Oh, so Sister Shen likes to watch dancing. If a beauty like Sister Shen could go up and dance for a while, she would definitely outshine all the other beauties."

Yang Li glanced at her with a hint of sarcasm.

Shen Yueyao was brought back to her senses by her words and smiled gently.

"Concubine Yang is really good at joking. I can't dance, but I just like to watch."

Yang Li sighed tenderly, "It's such a pity for my sister's figure. The prince won't be able to see her."

Shen Yueyao ignored her provocation and just smiled faintly.

"Not more talented than my sister."

Yang Li picked up the wine cup with a forced smile and took a sip.

Shen Yueyao turned her head and her eyes fell on Li Ning's cold and elegant face.

She frowned subconsciously, and Li Ning met her gaze coldly, then looked away calmly.

After the dance, the man on the throne shouted loudly.

"Okay, there's a reward!"

The dancers kowtowed and thanked him, "Thank you, Your Majesty!"

She stood up, lowered her head and walked away.

The emperor did not look well and was breathing heavily when he spoke.

Another group of people came on and played a song, which Shen Yueyao thought was also good.

The person playing the music was quite pretty. Shen Yueyao looked up and saw the Crown Princess whispering in the Crown Prince's ear.

I guess this person is the Crown Princess’ cousin, Song Yayuan.

However, Jing Ruzhang did not look at her. When he raised his eyes, his gaze met Shen Yueyao's. Shen Yueyao was stunned for a moment, then lowered her head, took a piece of chestnut cake and put it into her mouth.

Jing Ruzhang's eyes darkened slightly and he snorted coldly from his nose.

Song Yuanyi didn't understand and thought that he was dissatisfied with Song Yayuan, so she didn't say anything more.

When Shen Yueyao raised her eyes again, she saw a dress of soft white silk embroidered with a few orchids, and her long black hair was half tied up and half hanging down.

Her eyes are full of spring water, her gaze is bright, her waist is slender and her steps are light, her temperament is gentle, just like a solitary orchid in a valley.

Everyone in the pavilion looked at her with mostly jealous eyes. Yang Li's handkerchief was almost torn to pieces.

It seemed as if fire could spit out of his eyes and burn people to death. Shen Yueyao subconsciously moved her body to the right, fearing that the fire would burn herself.

"I, Wen Xueshu, pay my respects to His Majesty the Emperor and His Majesty the Empress. My father is Wen Chenyu, a scholar in the Cabinet. I know a little about music, and I would like to present a song for His Majesty the Emperor and His Majesty the Empress."

Shen Yueyao's hand trembled slightly, and half a piece of cake in her hand fell onto the nanmu table.

Her eyes were a little dull as she looked at the floor, and her pearly teeth were slightly biting her lower lip.

Her heart was in turmoil, and it took her a long time to calm down before she looked up at Wen Xueshu.

The Emperor and the Empress looked at each other and nodded with satisfaction.

"So she is the daughter of Cabinet Scholar Wen Aiqing, great!"

The Queen: "Someone, go get me my zither."

She looked at Wen Xueshu and said gently, "A few years ago, I happened to get a zither. Miss Wen, please play it."

Wen Xueshu is a graceful and blessed person.

Shen Yueyao looked at Jing Ruzhang who was sitting upstairs. His face still had a cold and distant expression, and he could not tell much emotion.

"What? Do you know me?"

Li Ning saw that her eyebrows were twisted into a knot and asked indifferently.

Shen Yueyao's brows suddenly relaxed, and she turned her head to look at her, wanting to say something but stopping herself. She just slowly picked up the wine cup and drank it all in one gulp.

"Just say whatever you want to say, don't be so fussy."

Shen Yueyao thought for a while and asked cautiously.

"Does what you said before still count?"

Li Ning then looked at her straight in the eye and said in a cold voice.

"Which one?"

Shen Yueyao looked at her cold expression, wanting to say something but stopping herself from speaking.

He drank another glass of fruit wine, hoping to dispel the fear in his heart.

"My word is my bond."

Shen Yueyao buried her head, and when she suddenly heard these words, her heart moved and the corners of her mouth curled up slightly.

The uneasy mood gradually calmed down, and he looked up at Wen Xueshu.

The corners of her eyes were slightly drooping, her brows were elegant, her skin was as white as jade, and her white fingertips were dancing on the guqin.

As the fingertips rise and fall, the sound of the piano is melodious and graceful, like the clear and ethereal gurgling of a stream, touching the heart.

There was a hint of admiration in Jing Ruzhang's eyes, and Shen Yueyao smiled sadly.

The two fell in love at first sight at the palace banquet, and Wen Xueshu entered the Eastern Palace shortly afterwards.

There are a lot of gossips around the protagonist, so she wants to stay away from him.

After the song, Wen Xueshu stood up and bowed towards the hall.

The emperor was greatly impressed.

"Good! Good! Good! The music is so melodious, and the sound lingers in my ears."

The Queen also praised: "Good boy, come forward."

Wen Xueshu walked forward gracefully, with her brows lowered and a gentle smile on her lips.

The queen nodded repeatedly, very satisfied, and immediately took off a glass jade bracelet from her wrist.

"This bracelet was given to me by the late Empress Dowager when I entered the palace. It has been with me all these years. Today, I give it to you. I like you, so consider it a token of my appreciation."

After saying that, he took her snow-white hand and put it on her.

The Crown Princess's face looked a little gloomy. When Song Yuanyi first met the Queen, she also received a hairpin. She knew the Queen's intention.

It seems that Song Yayuan's entry into the Eastern Palace will be delayed.

Halfway through the palace banquet, the emperor's body could no longer hold out.

The queen hurriedly helped the emperor back to Qinxin Palace to rest, leaving the palace banquet affairs to the prince and the princess.

Jing Ruzhang did not do anything but just sat in the hall. Instead, the Crown Princess said a few words to everyone to ease the atmosphere.

After the palace banquet, he kindly led everyone to visit the Imperial Garden.

Wen Xueshu showed up in front of the emperor and the queen today, surrounded by many young ladies from aristocratic families.

Shen Yueyao didn't want to stay with her. To her, Wen Xueshu was like a piece of porcelain in a museum, which could not be touched. She couldn't afford any bumps or scratches on her.

The best way is to stay away from her.