973 Birthday (6)
As she was thinking, she heard an official say, “Since everyone is here, let’s toast Prince Rui together.”
Everyone raised their glasses to toast Xie Jingxing. Xie Jingxing smiled and finished the cup. A madam said, “Speaking of which, Madam Ye has just found Miss Ye and Young Master Ye. Miss Ye is so beautiful and talented. She’s also Prince Rui’s savior. Miss Ye, why don’t you show us your talents to liven up the occasion.”
It was a little disrespectful to ask a rich young lady to perform talents for others in front of so many people. Moreover, Ye Mei was raised by a merchant family. Who knew what kind of talents she was taught? This madam was obviously here to cause trouble. The Ye family had many political enemies in Long Ye.
Ye Ke looked unhappy. Just as Madam Ye was about to retort, she heard Ye Mei say with a smile, “I would like to, but I’m afraid my talents are too unpresentable, so I don’t want to embarrass myself.”
The madam who suggested it couldn’t wait for Ye Mei to embarrass herself. She immediately smiled and said, “Don’t worry. No one will laugh at you. Prince Rui, am I right?”
Xie Jingxing raised an eyebrow and glanced over. The corners of his lips curled up and he said with a faint smile, “Perform what you wish.”
His tone was casual, as if he was instructing a servant.
Ye Mei stood up. She first bowed to Shen Miao and said, “Since everyone is in such a delightful mood today, I won’t spoil the fun. I’m willing to make a fool of myself to make everyone happy.”
“I once learned a water sleeve dance from my adoptive mother in Qinzhou. Please bear with me if my dancing is unskillful,” she said.
Shen Miao lowered her head slightly, a cold smile flashing across her lips.
Water Sleeve Dance was the kind Ye Mei was best at. She was good at the Guqin, chess, calligraphy, and painting. There was naturally a reason why she was favored so much by Fu Xiuyi. When she danced, she would stain her sleeve with ink and draw on the paper. After a dance, the painting would be completed. It was elegant and unique.
Every time Shen Miao saw this dance, it hurt her tremendously.
Back then, when the Xiongnu came to ask for a marriage alliance, Fu Xiuyi wanted to marry Wanyu over. Shen Miao used both soft and hard methods and even used the Shen family to threaten Fu Xiuyi. However, Fu Xiuyi was unmoved. Wanyu thought for a long time and came up with an idea. She learned a song and played it for Fu Xiuyi.
Everything Wanyu wanted to say was in the song. She just hoped that Fu Xiuyi wouldn’t be so ruthless as to give her away.
That day, Shen Miao invited Fu Xiuyi to the Palace of Earthly Tranquility and asked Wanyu to play for Fu Xiuyi. Just as she finished playing, she saw Fu Xiuyi seemed to be wavering. However, to everyone’s surprise, Consort Mei came uninvited. She smiled and said as if no one was around, “Your Majesty, I learned a new dance today and want to dance it for you. Since Her Majesty is here, you can watch it too.”
She danced charmingly, and Fu Xiuyi looked at her affectionately, completely forgetting about Wanyu and Shen Miao, who were still waiting. Shen Miao would never forget the disappointment in Wanyu’s eyes.
The next day, Wanyu came to her and said, “Mother, don’t waste your effort on me. I agree to the marriage alliance.”
Perhaps Wanyu felt that even if she had to marry someone she didn’t like, it was better than staying in the palace and being surrounded by schemes.
Shen Miao would never be able to let go of this hatred.
The snow-white sleeve on Li Mei’s clothes fluttered, but Shen Miao felt that the sleeve was not stained with ink, but with Wanyu’s blood.
