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The banquet began, and a group of graceful mermaids entered, accompanied by the sudden sound of musical instruments.
Because it was the Flower Festival, the young ladies were exempt from veils and screens, allowing them to freely showcase their charming faces to those they admired, while the young men could fully appreciate the diverse beauty of the capital's ladies.
During this time, there were not a few who exchanged flirtatious glances, with lovers frequently expressing their affections across the dance floor.
Su Peijiu sat in her seat, feeling the overly eager and shadowy gaze from the prince opposite her, as if sitting on needles. This time he did not succeed, but there would surely be a next time. She absolutely could not be alone with this unpredictable prince again.
As for Qi Mo... she slightly raised her eyes to glance at him. He wore a faint smile, holding a wine cup to his lips, his gaze fixed on the dancers in the dance floor, with a hint of peach blossom in his eyes. Yet he exuded an inexplicable sense of distance, contradictory and complex. He would not refuse any woman's goodwill, nor would he be stingy with his tenderness towards them, but he would not easily give any one lady his exclusive favor.
What a bad man... Su Peijiu thought coldly.
She reached for the wine cup on the table but paused as her shoulder wound tugged at her. Her water-like eyes narrowed slightly, revealing no emotion. However, at that moment, the man opposite her threw her an ambiguous smile before looking away.
As one dance concluded, Princess Gui Rong spoke up: "Every year’s Flower Festival is a great opportunity for everyone to showcase themselves. Today’s young gentlemen and ladies should come up and perform something to liven up the atmosphere!"
When the princess spoke, someone was bound to respond; those who had long wanted to show off were even more eager now.
A flamboyantly dressed woman stood up gracefully: "I shall take today’s first performance."
"I wonder what Daughter of the Minister wishes to perform?" Princess Gui Rong asked.
Daughter of the Minister? Su Peijiu paid a bit more attention and looked up to find that this woman was indeed the one who had warned her to stay away from the Desolate King by the rockery earlier.
This woman was somewhat known to her; it seemed she was Zhang Xiaoliu, renowned as one of the Capital's Best Talented Women alongside Su Xingyan. She excelled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. However, it always made Su Peijiu uncomfortable that she was ranked equally with Su Xingyan, who came from a courtesan background. Now that Su Xingyan was absent, Zhang Xiaoliu likely intended to vent her frustrations.
Zhang Xiaoliu first cast a loving glance at the Desolate King; after receiving a smiling response from him, her triumphant gaze swept over Su Peijiu.
Upon receiving that look, Su Peijiu's heart sank; sure enough...
"I have long heard that Su Xingyan's Second Sister Su Peijiu is also a talented beauty. Today’s meeting is truly astonishing! I wonder if after Xiao Liu's performance is over, I could have the honor of watching Sister Pei Jiu's performance?"
Zhang Xiaoliu was indeed venting her resentment towards Su Xingyan onto herself. Coupled with Qi Mo's previous provocation, she feared she had already become a thorn in this esteemed lady's side.
All eyes turned towards her—some were eager for entertainment, some were mocking, and others held ambiguous meanings... Amidst these gazes, Su Peijiu chuckled lightly and stood up: "Then allow me to embarrass myself."
Zhang Xiaoliu concealed her triumphant smile. She had heard about Su Xingyan, her sister who was utterly useless, possessing nothing but a passable face and being weak and foolish.
Upon seeing her today, she couldn't help but criticize Su Xingyan. Was Su Peijiu's face merely passable? It was a face that could drive even women to madness with jealousy, not just something to be considered acceptable. It seemed that Su Xingyan only had this little skill with words. If she had such a beautiful sister who was not favored, the first thing she would do is mar her face!
Reining in her thoughts, Zhang Xiaoliu caught a glimpse of the Desolate King shifting his gaze back to Su Peijiu, and the hatred in her eyes deepened. "Xiao Liu brings a tune on the flute to entertain everyone."
After speaking, she took her jade flute from the maid and gently placed it to her lips, playing the first note.
As expected of the capital's top Talented Woman, the flute played softly and melodiously, expressing a daughter's affection for her lover perfectly, stirring feelings of spring within people's hearts. However, even though it was the Flower Festival, this was still a relatively serious dynasty, and Zhang Xiaoliu's piece felt somewhat decadent and unrefined.
Princess Gui Rong appeared to smile on the surface, but there was a hint of mockery in her eyes. A daughter who does not cherish herself is truly shameless. The Minister must be getting old and confused to raise his daughter this way.
Shangshu Young Master Zhang Quansheng's expression darkened upon hearing his sister play such a piece. He wanted to rush up and pull his embarrassing sister down but feared the crowd, so he could only maintain a cold expression while standing there giving Zhang Xiaoliu a pointed look.
Unfortunately, Zhang Xiaoliu was completely oblivious to her brother's repeated glances; all her affection was directed at the Desolate King. At that moment, she was expressing her feelings toward that god-like man, seeing no one else but him.
When the piece ended, the men whistled and cheered. Zhang Xiaoliu's face turned slightly red as she turned to Su Peijiu. "Pei Jiu sister, please go ahead; I am extremely looking forward to what kind of performance you will present."
Su Peijiu elegantly adjusted her dress and walked toward the main hall with an appropriate smile. "Pei Jiu has nothing exceptional to offer; I can only dance for everyone."
Crown Prince Qi Rong spoke up at this moment: "I wonder what kind of dance Second Sister will bring us?"
Su Peijiu lowered her gaze. "I learned this from a wandering person some time ago; Pei Jiu is not very clear on what kind of dance it is."
"Do you need accompaniment?" Qi Rong scanned the women in the audience before saying this. Even if it went against his nature, this woman had her merits—she was neither arrogant nor hasty and was extremely beautiful; indeed, beauty can be a source of trouble.
"Flute music will suffice."
Qi Rong did not know how to play the flute; even if he did, it would not be permitted under these circumstances. Qi Mo sat in his seat, his peach blossom eyes fixed on his wine cup, lost in thought. Originally, Su Peijiu wanted to ask the musicians for help but did not expect Prince Qi Che to suddenly smile and come down from his seat.
"This King happens to have some knowledge of the flute; may I have the honor of accompanying the beauty?"
Su Peijiu quickly lowered her head in greeting. "Prince Huai is too kind; I appreciate your assistance."
"Please."
Not long ago, the Princess of Great Yan, Qin Ge, once captivated many with a dance during a sacrificial ceremony. Notable figures were astonished by her performance. However, Qin Ge only danced this once, and after that, she never performed it again, leaving those present at the time feeling quite regretful. Due to the extreme difficulty of learning the dance and the few who knew it, the name of this dance by Princess Qin Ge was known to many, but few had the fortune to witness it.
This dance is called — Soul of the Samurai.
Su Peijiu had Prince Qi Che play the very music that was performed during the sacrificial ceremony.
While everyone present was enchanted by Su Peijiu's dance, there was one person who was in a state of extreme shock. That person was Mo Wang Qi Mo!
No one understood better than him how Qin Ge danced Soul of the Samurai; this dance was performed for him! After this dance, he was secretly sent back to Yuan Cang by Qin Ge.
But... Princess of Great Yan had clearly... been laid to rest by his own hands.
Yet in this world, besides Qin Ge, who else could perform this Soul of the Samurai?
Qi Mo's eyes began to fill with azure. He stared unblinkingly at the woman dancing below, watching her soft waist twist and turn like that young girl from years ago. The complexity of his feelings was something only he knew.
This woman named Su Peijiu... how did she learn this Soul of the Samurai?
How did she learn it? The dancing Su Peijiu had an unshakeable chill in her eyes. This dance was something she had improvised back then, merely for him. Soul of the Samurai, she used Soul of the Samurai to send him back home, but after his return, he killed the soul of Great Yan. Now seeing this dance of Soul of the Samurai... Qi Mo, what do you feel in your heart?
...
After the Flower Festival, news about a stunning beauty emerging from the Prime Minister's Residence quickly spread across the continent. Her dance during the Flower Festival became a hot topic among people. The once-silent Legitimate Daughter of the Prime Minister's Residence finally stepped out and became known to all.
Silver Dove poured a cup of hot tea for the beauty leaning against a soft cushion and then spoke: "Today, my lord sent away quite a few suitors. Sister is now a hot topic in the capital; everyone is discussing your dance at the Flower Festival."
"Oh, really?" Su Peijiu set down her book, sat up slightly straighter, and brought the tea to her lips for a gentle sip.
Silver Dove smiled and said: "Yes indeed! I have a curious question; does your dance have a name?"
Su Peijiu paused her hand that was stirring the tea leaves. She turned to look at Silver Dove with a faint smile on her lips: "This dance... is called Soul of the Samurai."
The night was deep and dark. After returning from the Flower Festival, Su Peijiu washed up and lay down to rest. However, in the middle of the night, she began to feel increasingly breathless. When she opened her eyes, she saw a handsome man looking at her coldly, one hand gripping tightly around her neck.
"Awake?" The man did not loosen his grip.
Fortunately, she could still speak. She remained calm and chuckled lightly, "Desolate King, are you not afraid of being gossiped about for intruding into a woman's chamber at night?"
Qi Mo tightened his grip on her neck, leaning forward to press against her. His voice was somewhat hoarse but carried an undeniable sensuality. "This King thought Second Sister had become so broad-minded that she no longer cared about anything."
Su Peijiu scoffed coldly, "Pei Jiu would never dare to compare herself with the Desolate King."
"This King has killed countless people; you know the consequences of arguing back." He began to apply more pressure, his smile gentle yet his words chillingly sinister, with a hint of azure in his eyes.
Su Peijiu felt discomfort from the grip around her neck, tears starting to well up in the corners of her eyes. She looked defiantly at the man above her. "Is the Desolate King here in the dead of night just to choke Pei Jiu?"
Qi Mo leaned closer to her ear, his breath warm against her skin, creating an ambiguous atmosphere. "This King does not have that much patience. At tonight's Flower Festival banquet, where did you get the Soul Dance?"
"You better confess honestly; this King does not appear as gentle as he seems." He placed a kiss behind her ear and then suddenly tightened his grip. Su Peijiu nearly lost consciousness and instinctively reached out to claw at his large hand.
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