Chapter 26: The Crippled Young Lady (Twenty-Six)

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Chapter 26: The Crippled Young Lady (Part 26)

One could only wonder if, with Su Kui acting as a butterfly effect in this lifetime, history would still follow the same trajectory.

At a command from the young Emperor Yuan Chen, the banquet commenced.

The long, glass-tiled corridors were bathed in the soft glow of fading lanterns. Palace maids dressed in pale pink flitted back and forth like butterflies, while the melodious sounds of strings and flutes filled the air. On the stage, dancers in resplendent attire swayed with graceful, fluid movements.

Suddenly, the leisurely melody quickened into a frantic tempo, accompanied by the rhythmic thumping of drums. A group of beautiful young maidens rushed onto the stage, spinning in rapid, dizzying circles.

They scattered like petals caught in a breeze, then gathered close, before slowly dispersing from the center outward. Where there had been empty space, a pair of enormous, flowing water sleeves were suddenly unfurled.

The sheer, gauze-like sleeves billowed like cascading water, trailing the elegant movements of the dancer. A veil covered the maiden’s face, yet her beautiful eyes sparkled with a charming, coquettish smile.

The "Dance of the Startled Swan" was performed to perfection. Every emotion—love, hate, tenderness, and petulance—was woven into her serpentine body and the limpid, autumn-water depths of her eyes.

How could one not be mesmerized by such a novel entrance and such a breathtaking, exquisite dance?

Perhaps what intrigued the audience even more was the identity of the maiden who moved across the stage like a dragon in flight.

Among those present, the few who remained unbewitched by the performance were likely only Su Kui, the Matriarch, Feng Zheng, and Jun Mo, who sat just below the young Emperor.

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In all fairness, Feng Qingqing was indeed a talented dancer. She was beautiful, intelligent, and ruthless enough to have driven the original Feng Yanran to such a miserable end.

But now, she was no longer the original owner of this body, waiting to be slaughtered.

Su Kui offered a faint smile. As someone sitting at the same table as the Matriarch, her status was naturally significant. Seeing the tea cup before the Matriarch was empty, Su Kui picked up the purple clay teapot and poured with gentle, graceful movements.

The Matriarch snapped out of her reverie and patted her hand with a loving smile. "Yan'er is truly a good girl!"

Su Kui merely pursed her lips and smiled, offering no reply.

Observing the shy girl with her sweet dimples, who appeared so perfectly well-behaved, many of the ladies and noblewomen who had finally regained their composure were filled with disbelief. Was this really the eldest Miss Feng, whose reputation throughout the capital was notoriously foul?

How did she appear—

Even more poised than a royal princess? Still as a virgin, swift as a hare; every gesture she made possessed an indescribable, charming grace.

The Matriarch watched the scene before her and nodded to herself. She took a sip of tea and, gesturing toward the person still dancing on stage, asked, "Yan'er, can you tell who that is?"

Naturally, she could!

Su Kui nodded honestly. Ever since she had entered this body, she had been eager to witness this legendary "Dance of the Startled Swan," which was said to be capable of toppling kingdoms.

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To an outsider, Feng Qingqing’s performance was so stunning that there was no doubt she would take the top honors of the night.

Looking at the Emperor, who sat at the highest position, one could see he was already enchanted. His pupils followed the maiden in the water-red dress as she moved across the stage, rarely even blinking.

Su Kui knew what would happen next: the young Emperor would become interested in Feng Qingqing, and the two would hit it off instantly, like a turtle meeting a green bean.

Even the most beautiful piece of music must come to an end. If he did not want to let the heroine leave, the best opportunity to keep her was right now.

And so, Emperor Yuan Chen cleared his throat, trying his best to look imposing. "Which family’s daughter are you?"

As Feng Qingqing looked up and met Yuan Chen's gaze, she reacted as if stung, her face flushing crimson as she lowered her head.

This gesture sent a ripple through Yuan Chen's heart, and his voice softened involuntarily. "Are you also a candidate for the imperial selection?"