The Empress was slightly stunned. "Not skilled" but "not incapable"—what was she meant to understand by that?
Was Su Jinhuan determined to bite the bullet and perform?
Regardless, she would lose face in public either way; forcing a performance wouldn't change the outcome. It was merely the last struggle of a spent force.
Yet, she let her smile soften. "It seems I was remiss. Very well, let Princess Changning present her dance to everyone."
Ji Wantang and the others were also momentarily dazed, but they quickly recovered, likely sharing the Empress’s assessment. They assumed Su Jinhuan was merely trying to save face by pressing ahead, and they paid her no further mind.
Su Jinhuan rose from her seat with grace and poise, but instead of taking the floor, she headed toward the men’s seating area. "May I ask who among you has brought a sword? Could you perhaps lend it to Jinhuan for a moment?"
The Empress blinked. To borrow a sword—what was the meaning of this?
Noble Consort Yu was equally bewildered. *Huan’er said she would dance, so why borrow a sword?*
Most of the gentlemen present were from noble families; although some came from military backgrounds, they naturally did not carry swords to a palace banquet. Seeing Su Jinhuan’s expectant gaze, they could only offer apologetic looks.
Shen Shiheng shook his head as well. Although he practiced swordsmanship, he was not in the habit of carrying his blade on his person. He quickly turned, however, and instructed a young eunuch beside him to fetch it.
He just wasn't sure if it would arrive in time.
Su Jinhuan turned back with a touch of disappointment; without a sword, the effect of her dance would be greatly diminished.
Just then, a crisp, clear male voice rang out from not far away: "I have my sword with me; I would be honored to lend it to Princess Changning!"
The voice arrived before the man himself. Su Jinhuan looked up as the man reached her, though he first bowed to offer his apologies.
"Yunqian pays his respects to the Empress, Noble Consort Yu, and Noble Consort Shu!"
"And greetings to the First Prince, the Third Prince, the Fourth Princess, and the Fifth Prince."
"I have been at the training grounds assisting my father with the troops, which is why I am late. I beg the Empress to forgive my transgression!"
The man before them had sharp, sword-like brows and eyes as bright as stars; his nose was as straight as a peak, and his thin lips curled into a smile that carried a hint of unrestrained, dashing charm. Dressed in black with his hair tied high in a ponytail, he exuded an exuberant, youthful spirit.
This late arrival was none other than the Young General Mo, Mo Yunqian!
The Empress shook her head, her smile maternal. "I invited everyone here to enjoy the flowers and have a pleasant time. How could I hold a grudge over such a thing?"
"Besides, since the General of Zhenyuan is soon to lead troops to Nanjiang, you are simply sharing in the burden of the state. How could I possibly blame you?"
That the Empress would not punish him was well within Su Jinhuan’s expectations.
At present, the First Prince and Heng’er were the strongest contenders for the succession. The First Prince relied on the support of the Grand Marshal’s estate, while Heng’er relied on the Chancellor’s estate. Should a confrontation arise, it would be difficult to predict a victor. The only variable that could tip the balance was the General’s estate—or, more precisely, the military power held by the General of Zhenyuan.
Mo Yunqian cupped his hands. "Many thanks, Empress!"
He then turned to Su Jinhuan. "I happen to have my sword with me; you may borrow it, Princess."
With that, he unbuckled his sword and handed it over. Su Jinhuan took it, noticing the thick calluses on Mo Yunqian’s palms. She had heard many rumors in the capital, claiming the Young General was an uneducated wastrel. It seemed those rumors were far from the truth.
Mo Yunqian returned to the seat that Su Jinhuan had noticed was vacant earlier.
Su Jinhuan gripped the sword. It was slender, its blade silver and luminous like moonlight, the tip glinting with a cold light. The word "Tianya" was carved into the hilt. It was a magnificent weapon. Perhaps because it had just been unbuckled from his waist, the hilt still held the warmth of its owner, and as she held it, she felt a faint, lingering heat.
Su Jinhuan bowed. "Your Majesty, I am ready."
"Proceed!"
As the music flowed, Su Jinhuan began to dance, moving with the melody. With every turn and leap, her movements were as light as a bird in flight, sweeping across every corner of the hall. A flash of silver light accompanied her, the sword pulsing with a sharp, murderous aura that seemed to ripple through the air. The energy of the blade appeared to have a life of its own, swirling freely around her.
As her robes fluttered, she created the illusion that she might simply ride the wind and vanish into the heavens. Her feet barely touched the floor; she was as light as a wandering cloud. Yet, this sword dance lacked all frivolity; while it was a dance, every thrust was imbued with the power of a warrior, showcasing the grand and somber spirit of the blade to perfection. At the same time, the girl’s lithe, willow-like figure infused the performance with grace. Strength and softness were perfectly balanced.
The guests were utterly mesmerized.
Seated at his table, Mo Yunqian watched the girl with genuine interest, a flicker of curiosity in his eyes. *Interesting.* A few days ago, he had heard some harmless gossip in the capital, claiming that the Chancellor’s Princess Changning had been speaking his name, implying a deep connection between them. He had thought to find an opportunity to meet this Princess and see for himself, as such rumors were truly a piece of unmerited trouble for him.
He had not expected to encounter the subject of these rumors at today’s banquet. The girl in pink, standing at the center of the hall, had a look of quiet loneliness about her eyes—she looked terribly aggrieved. He had acted on a momentary whim of kindness to lend her his sword. But this sword dance was truly heart-stirring; it was a trade he did not regret.
Lu Jin’an watched Su Jinhuan from his seat, feeling both astonished and confused. In his past life, Su Jinhuan had never known how to use a sword, let alone perform such a fluid dance. Moreover, why did these sword forms feel so similar to the ones he practiced, yet slightly different?
When the dance concluded, the guests remained entranced, lost in the memory of her movements. It was not until Mo Yunqian began to clap that the audience snapped out of their trance, erupting into applause and cheers.
"Who would have thought? Not only does Princess Changning know the sword, but her footwork is so fluid—it truly makes one look at her with fresh eyes!"
"Song Xiangwan was right—the Princess’s dance is indeed unforgettable!"
"She is truly worthy of being the daughter of the Chancellor’s house. She possesses the true bearing of a noblewoman. Chancellor Su has indeed raised her well!"
Naturally, there were some who spoke without thinking, lacking any sense of tact:
"I used to think Song Xiangwan’s dancing was peerless, but after seeing Princess Changning’s performance, my eyes have been opened!"
"In my opinion, only Princess Changning is truly deserving of the title of 'Talented Lady'!"
Every word fell squarely into Song Xiangwan’s ears. Her face turned ghastly; the gazes that had once been fixed upon her now felt like silent mockery. She had praised Su Jinhuan’s dance earlier only to set her up for failure, never imagining that Su Jinhuan would actually stun the entire assembly.
Now, thanks to this dance, everyone had promptly forgotten her own earlier performance, and she had ended up losing face. The title of the capital’s "Talented Lady" would likely change hands.
More importantly, she noticed that even when she had finished her own dance to the astonishment of the crowd, Lu Jin’an had not looked at her once. From start to finish, his eyes had been fixed solely on Su Jinhuan.
It was a total loss—she had gained nothing and lost everything.