Chapter 21 PART 1
For a moment, the hall was silent.
All the officials kept their heads down without saying a word; no one had the right or courage to speak in this situation.
A few bolder ones looked back and forth between His Highness the Crown Prince, the consort, and the Bei Qi regent. No one knew how things had developed to this point; however, the Bei Qi regent’s reputation was far-reaching; seeing the consort’s appearance, it seemed explainable.
Who wouldn’t want to see a beautiful person dance? But the consort was the Crown Prince’s man; I wonder if the Crown Prince would be willing…
“Yes.”
As everyone was thinking their own thoughts, a clear and crisp voice rang out, breaking the silence.
As Song Beiyao stood up, Pei Ji’s hand slightly rose, wanting to press him down; as if remembering something, he clenched his fist and retracted his hand.
“I can agree to the regent’s request, but I also want to ask His Highness to agree to one request,” Song Beiyao looked towards the Bei Qi envoy’s seats, saying slowly.
He Lian Zhuo sat in the main seat, wearing a crimson purple loose-sleeved robe, his posture casual. Looking at his appearance, he could be considered a handsome man; however, his expression was too dissolute; his eyes seemed hazy as if from excessive indulgence; his eyes stared straight at Song Beiyao, as if he wanted to use his gaze to peel off those clothes one by one.
“Say it,” he licked his lips.
Song Beiyao walked to the center of the hall in a few steps and said slowly, “Princess He Yi has always been good friends with me; I don’t want her to marry into a foreign country. If the regent agrees not to marry Princess He Yi, I will offer a dance as a return gift.”
As soon as these words came out, the hall fell silent again. Pei Ji looked at Song Beiyao’s slender back, his eyes flickering slightly.
In the seats, Pei Ruo Yi, who had been tightly clutching her handkerchief, feeling uneasy, suddenly looked up and looked at the brother and sister-in-law she had never met before.
In her heart, the Crown Prince was the most intelligent, valiant, and gentle man in the world. Her mother died early; she grew up alone in the palace; the Crown Prince had taken care of everything for her, so she wouldn’t be bullied or neglected.
She had never imagined who the man like the Crown Prince would marry; she couldn’t imagine what kind of person would be worthy of the Crown Prince.
Until she saw this prince who was rumored to have come for a political marriage today, she realized that there was indeed someone standing beside the Crown Prince, and he would not be overshadowed.
“How can the Crown Prince’s consort decide this?” At this moment, the Empress’s slightly sharp voice rang out; then she changed the subject and said to He Lian Zhuo, “Princess He Yi has been preparing for today’s dance for a long time; if the regent doesn’t even look at it, wouldn’t it disappoint Princess He Yi’s efforts?”
She also had a marriageable princess. There were few marriageable princesses in the Great Zhou; she had pleaded with His Majesty for a long time before he agreed to let He Yi dance.
Whether the regent had taken a liking to her or not, He Yi had already appeared in front of everyone; she would speak nicely later, and the political marriage would be settled.
Now that there was a sudden problem, if He Yi chose a clean break, her own daughter would be unlucky!
The Empress’s sharp eyes swept over Song Beiyao, resentment rising in her heart.
On the envoy’s side, He Lian Zhuo raised his wine cup and took a sip, raising his eyebrows, seeming conflicted: “Princess He Yi is beautiful and delicate; it is indeed reluctant for me to give her up. How about the Fourth Prince agrees to accompany me for a stroll in Li Du City tonight, and I’ll agree to your request; how about that?”
“I agree,” Song Beiyao agreed without hesitation, not giving others a chance to speak. “The regent has come a long way; as the consort of the Crown Prince of the Great Zhou, I have the obligation to receive him. So that’s settled; Regent, a deal is a deal.”
“Good.”
Song Beiyao turned to the top of the main hall, “Your Majesty, Your Majesty, may I use the music prepared for Princess He Yi?”
Then, he stepped back a few steps.
The Empress clenched the handkerchief in her hand; she wanted to say something else when she heard the Emperor’s hoarse voice: “Granted.”
The sound of the guqin (ancient Chinese zither) sounded, distant and long.
Song Beiyao took off the red silk ribbon from his outer robe and tied it to his eyes, tying it tightly at the back of his head. With the sound of the guqin, he performed a graceful turn, perfectly blending into the music, gently following the rhythm, gradually unfolding.
Everyone in the hall cast their gaze on the young man in red in the center of the hall.
In the early part of the piece, the guqin’s tone was extremely slow; the young man’s every movement fell on the notes, gentle and natural, completely integrated with the sound of the guqin.
After a while, after a flute sound, the drum beat rhythmically, and the young man performed a perfect side somersault. The melodious sound of the erhu (two-stringed bowed instrument) accompanied the drums; the style of music instantly changed, like a gust of wind passing through the forest, creating thousands of waves in the forest.
The young man’s movements also became more forceful with the momentum. A forward aerial cartwheel, followed by a forward roll, and landing in a stretch; his dark red robes fluttered; his movements were sharp and beautiful, like dancing in the clouds, not like an ordinary person.
Later, the sound of the guzheng (Chinese zither) was added; the music blended softness, elegance, and magnificence; the young man’s movements were sometimes gentle and sometimes explosive. Later, it gave people a sense of controlling the music.
At this moment, it seemed that he wasn’t dancing but conversing with the music using his soul and body.
Everyone in the hall couldn’t help but hold their breath, afraid to make any noise that would disturb the celestial being.
He Lian Zhuo watched Song Beiyao’s figure, his gaze becoming increasingly fervent and crazed. He then looked at the Great Zhou Crown Prince across from him.
Pei Ji was also watching Song Beiyao intently; feeling the gaze from this side, he turned his head; on his cold and hard face, his dark eyes were full of warning.
Oh? Interesting. He Lian Zhuo raised his eyebrows, returning a provocative look.
He had always heard that the Great Zhou Crown Prince was strict with himself and did not involve himself in matters of love. It seems that this is not entirely true.
Even heroes fall for beauty; however, he had decided to have this owned beauty today.
The music ended, and Song Beiyao ended in a side-lying position. He had run out of energy halfway through; the latter half was all supported by willpower.
Lying on the cold ground, his breathing was rapid; he coughed heavily several times and actually coughed up blood.
The officials who were closer couldn’t help but exclaim upon seeing this scene. But they saw the young man curl his lips, chuckle softly, turn his head, his black hair falling down, and kiss the cold ground.
No one knew what he was doing; only Song Beiyao knew. His heart was beating violently; his blood was boiling; his soul was trembling, crying, burning.
After so many years, the dance was still as good as ever.
In the hall, a tall and handsome figure in black got up and walked over, squatting down, slowly lifting his head, untying the red silk.
Song Beiyao looked over with hazy eyes; there seemed to be something unreadable in Pei Ji’s deep eyes.
“My husband,” he weakly called out.
Warm fingertips touched his cold lips, wiping, then wiping away the blood at the corner of his lips.
Pei Ji picked him up and walked towards the seats; Song Beiyao weakly leaned against his chest.
“Good! Good!” After Pei Ji returned to his seat, He Lian Zhuo praised loudly, “This dance is only found in heaven!”
The people in the hall who were fascinated and still immersed in the consort’s dance finally came to their senses; they looked at each other, their eyes full of amazement and shock.
In the seats on the front side of the hall, Fifth Prince Pei Ming’s sinister gaze was fixed on the young man from beginning to end.
They had exactly the same appearance, but they were completely different people. When was Song Beiyao, such a dull person, able to dance like this?
