Section 1

Seeing her easily absolve herself, the guests were astonished, and even Xiao Qi was taken aback

Yan Chuye also approached Xiao Qi to bid farewell: "May the Duke and his wife grow old together in harmony"

The gauzy fabric lightly wraps around her, with a gold-trimmed bustier partially exposed, and her waist adorned with various ornaments. Her cloud-like high bun is embellished with countless golden and emerald hairpins and flowers. Beneath this enchanting exterior, there is a hint of composure, comparable to that of a palace concubine, almost creating an illusion that only she can bear such splendor without appearing vulgar

Seeing that General Wu and General Zhao Heng showed no signs of distress, Xiao Qi regained his composure and slowly nodded: "Your Highness, please."

The goose calmly said: "Why does the king not first inquire about the origins of the common woman?"

Only the Southern King curled his lips and said to Yan Chu: "I did not expect there to be such a wonderful person in the residence, the Duke is indeed fortunate."

The common woman is able to dance because there are those who appreciate it. To receive a glance from Your Excellency is the lifelong wish of a common woman. The dancer said slowly, "Moreover, this cup of wine is first offered to the esteemed guest, as it would be impolite otherwise"

Xiao Qi stared at her without making a sound, his hand gradually tightening in his sleeve

At last, the dancer paused before him, holding a wine cup, swaying gently, her phoenix-like eyes slightly raised

The white veil obscures her face, revealing only a pair of enchanting phoenix eyes. On her forehead, the golden ornament is adorned with a single ruby, resplendent as blood.

Xiao Qi coldly reprimanded, "Withdraw at once!"

The dancer replied: "This humble woman is Yan Chu."

Having finished speaking, he reached out to take the wine and drank it all in one go, then played with the empty cup while smiling and asked the dancer, "What is your name?"

Yan Chu said without hesitation: "If Yan Chu is lost, Your Highness will surely regret it"

Before the crowd could react, the dancer gracefully swept out of the dance floor and landed before Xiao Qi, holding up the wine jug in front of him with both hands. Her demeanor transformed from seductive to suddenly dignified and generous. She retreated back to the center of the dance floor, where the other dancers collectively supported a tray, presenting only an empty cup. She then raised the wine jug high, executed a backward kick with her jade foot, and the sparkling wine poured from the jug, tracing a beautiful arc in the air, accurately falling into the cup above her head without spilling a single drop. This was indeed the most difficult wine offering dance of the Flame Kingdom.

The wild goose has initially turned south: "The wild goose has no master, and Your Highness need not worry."

In an instant, the style of the music changed abruptly

Prince Nan stood up and smiled at the group, saying, "I have disturbed you all for half a day; it is time for me to return."

Xiao Qi was also taken aback and ceased his laughter and conversation

Xiao Qi's expression was not good: "The people in the residence are disrespectful, causing His Highness to be embarrassed."

Your Highness, if you do not mind, it may also serve as a goose by your bedside

Once these words were spoken, all the guests understood. Such high-ranking dancers seek a place to settle down while they are still young and beautiful. Although the Prince of the State is admirable, his life is extremely disciplined. The Southern Prince, however, is different. It was unexpected that she would publicly offer herself as a bedmate and even dare to bypass the host, which was indeed rather bold.

As soon as these words were spoken, all the guests were filled with anticipation, eager to see the stunning beauty hidden beneath the veil, one that could cause even Yunze Xiao Qi to lose his composure.

At the first sight of her, everyone fell silent in unison, silently marveling in their hearts

Prince Nan laughed heartily: "The King of Ding is hospitable, and even the dancing girls in your residence are perceptive. In that case, I shall not stand on ceremony. Please, go ahead."

The dance instructor hurriedly came forward to explain: "Your Majesty, please do not be angry. The lead dancer, Miss Yi Qiu, accidentally injured her foot, and Miss Yan Chu was invited as a temporary replacement from outside, not someone from within the residence"

The commoner woman only agreed to enter the residence to perform a dance, but regarding other matters, she regrettably cannot comply. Yan Chu directly refused, stating, "Currently, the commoner woman belongs to His Highness, the Southern King. If the Duke wishes to see her, he must wait for His Highness's consent"

The wild goose has just arrived? Hmm—" The Southern King set down his wine cup, seemingly lost in thought, "Awakening from drunkenness, the lonely pillow, the wild goose has just arrived, what a good name.

At first, Yan was taken aback, but then she lowered her gaze and smiled lightly: "Your Highness"

All the guests echoed in agreement.

The dancer discarded the pot onto the tray, holding the cup as she danced. At times, she leaned and kicked her feet, and at other times, she spun and fell to the ground, yet not a single drop of wine was spilled from the cup. Her dance was exceptionally beautiful and enchanting, and even the Southern King seated above did not hide his admiration, smiling as he raised his elegant brow at her and lifted his cup in a gesture of acknowledgment.

A brief moment of eye contact left Xiao Qi increasingly shocked, and he suddenly stood up

The Southern King seemed to have taken an interest, propping his elbow on the table and leaning forward to look at her: "What a thick-skinned woman you are. Your dance is indeed good, but this king does not necessarily have to have it. You should provide a reason for that."

The dancer's eyes sparkled with a hint of amusement, playfully gliding past him to stop directly in front of the Southern King, raising her wine cup high and gracefully bowing.

"Remove your veil," Xiao Qi suddenly interrupted her.

The Southern King was also taken aback, thinking that her sudden visit could not have been deliberately arranged by Xiao Qi, and thus began to scrutinize her closely

The Southern King is adept at appreciating songs and dances, and his charm is well-known to all.

The Southern King did not accept the wine, but instead asked her with interest: "Since the Ding King is so pleased, how can this king take the lead?"

Being in the residence of the Duke of Ding, she unexpectedly showed deference to the Southern King in person, which caused the guests to secretly lament her simplicity of mind. They feared that she would likely face severe punishment, and could not help but reveal expressions of pity.

"I seek Your Highness's favor." The voice was smooth and round like pearls, cascading down from beneath the veil, each word clear and distinct

The Southern King laughed and said, "In that case, I cannot afford to miss you, can I"

As everyone was in high spirits, they assumed that this cup of wine was meant to toast the host. To their surprise, he acted so out of character that they were utterly astonished, and even the Southern King looked at him in disbelief.

The Southern King cast a sidelong glance at Xiao Qi: "Is it true?"

The exquisite dance skills concealed the shortcomings of a slender figure, as the delicate waist swayed gently, rotating slowly in harmony with the music, while the long sleeves danced silently in the sunlight, faintly dispersing a subtle fragrance

The renowned artist responded, the dancer's eyes flickered with a hint of both reproach and joy, as she held the cup of wine and turned before each guest. The sight left everyone dazzled, each secretly hoping the cup would land in front of them. However, everyone was also acutely aware that this cup of wine would certainly not belong to them, inevitably revealing expressions of disappointment.

Nan Wang gazed at her for a moment, and finally extended his hand, but instead of taking the wine cup, he deftly grasped her snow-white wrist and pulled her whole person into his embrace

The words and actions of the two individuals already carried a hint of flirtation, yet such an occasion was inherently meant for the entertainment of men, and the exchange of beautiful courtesans was quite normal. The guests felt a sense of melancholy and raised their glasses in congratulations: "The Duke of Ding is overjoyed, which has inadvertently facilitated the beautiful affair of His Highness the Southern King."

Only Xiao Qi, seated in the main position, displayed an inexplicable sense of unease, which ultimately transformed into a particularly grave demeanor, his gaze becoming increasingly uncertain and suspicious

The wild goose did not respond at first, so I poured another cup of wine and offered it again

The music gradually became more urgent, and pieces of dance attire flew about. Amidst the vibrant hues of purple and red, a patch of white captured all attention, gliding gracefully across the pond, resembling a white butterfly flitting among flowers, or the lightness of falling snow. The fluttering garments stirred the air above the pond, lifting the sheer veils, revealing a visage that was both elusive and enchanting, like observing flowers through mist or gazing at willows in the rain, hazy yet mysterious, evoking boundless imagination.