Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 583 Amidst the sound of the pipa, a sword dance adds to the festivities.

Even the Emperor, seated on his throne, looked up at Meng Shu. He had been with her for so many years, and upon reflection, he realized he had never heard her play the zither. In that instant, a sense of anticipation arose in his heart.

However, before the Emperor could speak, Consort Chun said first: "Consort Jin has just recovered from a serious illness. If she wants to listen to music... there is no need to trouble her. I heard that Consort Lin learned the qin in her early years and later specialized in the pipa. Why don't you perform a piece for the Emperor and all the ladies present?"

When Consort Yun heard this, she was stunned for a moment. She wanted to get up and speak, but when she looked up and met Consort Chun's cold gaze, she quickly lowered her head and dared not move.

Lin Cairen reacted differently; her fingertips curled slightly, and a flash of joy crossed her eyes amidst her surprise.

She had been practicing the pipa diligently, hoping to display her talent before the emperor and curry favor with him. Consort Chun's words were exactly what she wanted to hear.

"Your Majesty, I obey! It is my honor to perform for Your Majesty and the Imperial Concubine."

Meng Shu blinked at Consort Chun, a slight smile unconsciously curving her lips. In truth, if Consort Chun hadn't intervened, she wouldn't have minded "treating" everyone present with a good "reward" for their ears.

Despite the current arrangements made by Consort Chun, she did not want Consort Lin to truly steal the spotlight.

So she turned to Zhao Baolin, who was not yet seated in the hall, and said, “Speaking of entertainment, it would be a bit monotonous to only hear a solo pipa performance. Zhao Baolin comes from a prestigious family and must have practiced dance. Why don’t we invite Baolin to also show her skills and perform a dance for His Majesty and the Imperial Concubine?”

Zhao Baolin's expression froze slightly. She wasn't stupid; she could clearly see that this wasn't what Consort Yun had said earlier—that Consort Jin had no intention of playing the pipa at all. She subconsciously glanced quickly in Consort Yun's direction out of the corner of her eye, and seeing the other woman's evasive gaze, a sense of displeasure welled up in her heart.

However, she came from a military family and possessed a certain tenacity. To refuse under the watchful eyes of everyone would appear cowardly and disgrace her family.

She took a deep breath, straightened her back, and bowed with her hands clasped: "I am honored by the favor of Consort Jin, and I will naturally comply. However, the dance I have learned is more vigorous than the gentle dance of ordinary people. Today, I will perform a sword dance to add to the fun. I hope that Your Majesty and Consort Jin will not mind."

Upon hearing this, Consort Shun and Consort Mu exchanged a glance, both showing a hint of interest. Consort Shun even clapped her hands and smiled, "A sword dance to add to the festivities is quite unique. The Imperial Music Bureau should have wooden swords as ceremonial implements; I wonder if His Majesty would approve?"

"Granted. Bring the sword." The Emperor gestured with his hand.

The eunuch quickly responded and soon came forward with a simply decorated wooden sword, handing it to Zhao Baolin.

Seeing this, Lin Cairen on the other side secretly rolled her eyes.

Having finally gotten a chance, she had originally planned to perform a solo and enjoy the limelight before the emperor. But now she had to cooperate with Zhao Baolin's sword dance and had to pay attention to the dance steps and adjust the rhythm at all times... But the emperor's mind was made up, and she dared not refuse. She could only suppress her dissatisfaction and sit down on the soft cushion on the side of the hall.

Yun Meiren composed herself slightly, still pondering how to explain to her cousin later, when Mengzhu had already walked up to her.

She turned slightly to the side, subtly blocking the view of the others, and said in a low voice, "Is Your Highness feeling unwell? The Imperial Concubine noticed that you looked tired and specially instructed me to escort you back to Ganlu Palace to rest."

Yun Meiren paused, then asked, "...?"

Once outside the main hall, a night breeze made Consort Yun's face unusually pale. She twisted her handkerchief, fuming, and said, "I was clearly thinking of my cousin... why doesn't she appreciate it? Consort Jin... she's not without support now. As the mother of the eldest prince, her family's influence in court is gradually growing. If we really let this go unchecked, what will happen in the future..."

Mengzhu interrupted coldly, "Your Majesty, please be careful with your words. The Noble Consort and the Lady see some people and matters more clearly than you. I hope Your Majesty will refrain from acting on your own initiative in the future. I have another piece of advice for Your Majesty—"

She leaned close to Consort Yun's ear and whispered, "Consort Jin was quite shrewd when she was in the manor. If you didn't have the connection with the Marquis's manor, you probably wouldn't have the chance to stand before me today."

Yun Meiren was taken aback by the chilling tone in those words, and her lips trembled slightly.

"Guiqiu, escort your master back."

Mengzhu gave a few instructions to those behind her, then turned and went back into the hall.

Inside the main hall, Lin and Zhao were already ready.

Zhao Baolin stood with her sword in hand, her figure graceful and elegant. Her crimson palace dress was very fitting, so she did not change into another dance costume.

As the clear and melodious sound of the pipa began, Zhao Baolin raised his wrist and began to move, his sword flashing like a dragon soaring in the sky, a sight to behold.

Not only the Consort Chun and other concubines, but even the Emperor's eyes lit up, his admiring gaze falling on Consort Zhao. Meng Shu's gaze, however, swept past the graceful figure in the hall, and fixed intently on Consort Lin's fingertips.

At first, the music and dance moves were in harmony, with the pipa playing in sync with the swordplay, the transitions smooth and fluid. However, after a few sections, Consort Lin noticed the Emperor's gaze fixed on Consort Zhao, and a sense of resentment began to rise in her heart.

A sly glint flashed in her eyes, and her fingers moved faster, the music suddenly becoming more urgent. She wanted to see if Zhao Baolin could keep up with the rhythm; if she messed up her steps and embarrassed herself, it would save her the limelight.

Unexpectedly, Zhao Baolin did not panic at all. Instead, he turned around and stepped forward, and his swordplay became even more fierce. He even incorporated the rhythm into the dance, adding a touch of the clanging of weapons.

Everyone in the hall watched intently, seeing only the fluttering crimson robes and the flashing swords. Most were too busy watching to notice the subtle meaning behind the pipa music.

As the piece was about to end, Lin Cairen, seeing that her opponent had not made any mistakes, grew increasingly anxious. She pressed her hand a little too hard and accidentally played a high note incorrectly.

The Emperor and Consort Chun's eyebrows twitched slightly. The two were well-versed in music, and although the mispronunciation was only for a moment, it did not escape their ears.

Just then, Zhao Baolin's sword dance reached its final move.

She suddenly spun around and swung her sword, intending to strike a graceful finishing move. However, perhaps because she had spent too much energy dealing with the music, her wrist suddenly went slightly weak as she finished, and the wooden sword in her hand flew out with a "clang" and flew straight towards where Lin Cairen was sitting, about to hit her face!