The Farm Girl's Charismatic Fortune-Chapter 353 - 349 Princess Kangyi Relieved

"Alright then! Since everyone wants to see the Feathered Garment Dance, let’s perform the Feathered Garment Dance!" Princess Kangyi had originally planned to perform the Feathered Garment Dance, and now that everyone had voiced their interest, she took the opportunity to go along with it.

"However, I haven’t practiced this dance for a long time, and the four of us have not practiced it together, so please don’t hold it against us if we don’t do well."

The other three talented ladies echoed similar sentiments.

Naturally, everyone said they wouldn’t mind.

Princess Kangyi continued, "As we dance, I wonder if anyone would like to come forward to play the music? Princess Wuyou, would you like to play the zither? We have never heard Princess Wuyou play before, have we? I’ve heard that Princess Wuyou learns music pieces very quickly. After studying for less than ten days, the Master said he had nothing more to teach her, and everyone who has learned the zither with Princess Wuyou says her skills are exceptionally high; why not let us witness it today?"

Ruo Xuan: "No."

Princess Kangyi: "Why not? Let’s all have fun together!"

Ruo Xuan: "I’m afraid it will make my hands hurt."

Everyone: "..."

Princess Kangyi: "..."

To death with frustration, anyone who didn’t know better would think she was a delicate princess who couldn’t bear the slightest discomfort. Little did they know, she was nothing but a country bumpkin who grew up playing in the mud.

In the end, Princess Kangyi couldn’t persuade Ruo Xuan to join in.

She had no choice but to pick a few ladies with decent zither skills to play the music.

As Princess Kangyi and the others went off to change into their dance attire, Ruo Xuan sought out Xuanyuan Que: "Brother Xuanyuan, hurry and bring Empress Dowager Grandmother to save me, someone is trying to frame me!"

Xuanyuan Que glanced over: "Solve it yourself."

Ruo Xuan: "I can’t, my integrity isn’t taking a day off today. Hurry up! If you won’t come, at least let Empress Dowager Grandmother come. But I’d still prefer you to see this; I noticed a gentleman opposite who is quite handsome, somewhat resembling a fox spirit brother I knew in my previous life."

Xuanyuan Que: "..."

She knew a female fox spirit, and now she claims to have known a male fox spirit too?

Just as the four great talents of the Capital City were about to perform, an announcement "The Empress Dowager has arrived!" startled everyone in the garden.

All present respectfully greeted her: "Your servants/concubines greet the Empress Dowager, may the Empress Dowager live in peace and prosperity."

The Empress Dowager smiled: "No need for such formalities!"

Ruo Xuan didn’t perform any greeting rituals; instead, she ran up to the Empress Dowager and held her arm: "Empress Dowager Grandmother, you’re here!"

The Empress Dowager patted Ruo Xuan’s arm: "Were you waiting long? Blame your Brother Xuanyuan for not reminding me."

Xiaojiu had only just told her that Xuanbao had invited her over to the Duke Residence to enjoy the lotus flowers.

At this time, there were no lotus flowers to admire, and the Duke’s people were up to who knows what!

The Empress Dowager, fearing that they might harm Xuanbao, had immediately left the palace once she heard.

Princess Kangyi looked on jealously as Ruo Xuan affectionately held onto the Empress Dowager’s arm.

When she was younger, she used to hold onto the Empress Dowager’s arm in the same way, but after Ruo Xuan came into the picture, the Empress Dowager seemed to lose her fondness for her.

The Lady of the Duke Residence stepped forward with a smile: "Empress Dowager, please come and sit in the pavilion. Kangyi and the others are just about to dance."

It had been over a decade since the Empress Dowager returned to the Duke Residence; her visit today was both unexpected and delightful for them.

The Empress Dowager nodded and patted Ruo Xuan’s hand: "Xuanbao, you play here, Grandma will go sit over there."

Ruo Xuan nodded her head.

The Empress Dowager then addressed Xuanyuan Que: "Xiaojiu, you also go sit over there! Your Seventh Prince brother is there too."

Today’s event was not merely attended by young ladies but also men, though they were separated by a not-so-large pond.

Xuanyuan Que walked over.

"What fox spirit brother?" He just had a pair of fox-like eyes and a somewhat sharp nose, giving off a dashing appearance at a glance.

The taste of that flower certainly had some issues; is this what they call handsome?

Xuanyuan Que walked over, casually chose a seat, and then all the men in the room dared not make a sound, quieter than the early morning court.

And although he did not sit in the main seat, the Seventh Prince did, everyone unconsciously turned slightly towards him, and the area where he sat invisibly became the place of honor.

Even though the Seventh Prince was dissatisfied with these people’s behavior,

he was a bit afraid of this Imperial Brother, even more so than of the Emperor Father. He feared Xuanyuan Que more.

Princess Kangyi watched Xuanyuan Que’s figure, unable to shift her gaze.

Cousin Xiaojiu was just Cousin Xiaojiu; he didn’t need to do anything—his very presence exuded the aura of the ruler of the world.

Her heart pounded fiercely; she had liked Cousin Xiaojiu since childhood and hoped to become his consort when she grew up. But ever since Ruo Xuan appeared, Cousin Xiaojiu hadn’t glanced at her anymore.

It was all Ruo Xuan’s fault!

Zhou Jie quietly tugged at her sleeve, "Shall we continue the dance?"

Princess Kangyi came back to her senses, "Alright."

Cousin Xiaojiu had arrived, and she must dance well.

She was determined to show Cousin Xiaojiu and the Empress Dowager her peerless grace.

Princess Wuyou might look a bit prettier, have whiter skin, a better figure, and blacker hair, but her temperament was so annoying. She often slept during lessons in the palace, showing no respect for the Master or the teachings, and Princess Kangyi couldn’t understand what the Empress Dowager and Cousin Xiaojiu found likable about her.

As the beautiful melody started, the four most talented women from the Capital City began their graceful dance.

They moved as smoothly as a dragon and as swiftly as a startled swan.

In an instant, they captured everyone’s attention with their elegant and moving dance movements.

The stage was at the center of the pond, thus allowing men and women to have a clear view across the water.

Someone from the men’s side shouted, "Excellent!"

This was an improved version of the Feathered Garment Dance, with elements of fairy-like flower sprinkling added. As the four dancers moved, they would occasionally scatter handfuls of flowers.

Pink petals fluttered down from the sky, giving their dance an ethereal, dreamlike quality, as if surrounded by an immortal aura.

At the end of the piece, the men’s side erupted in thunderous applause.

The Seventh Prince couldn’t help but fix his gaze on a certain pink figure.

With the dance over, it was time to start the banquet.

The Lady of Duke Residence smiled and addressed the crowd, "Today’s lotus appreciation banquet is not actually for admiring flowers, but for you to taste the freshly-dug lotus roots. Today, our Duke Residence’s chef has prepared an entire menu based on lotus roots. The Empress Dowager enjoys eating lotus roots, so all the lotus roots in our Residence’s pond were cultivated for her, as are those from every farmstead of the Duke Residence, ensuring that Her Majesty can always enjoy fresh lotus roots. Your Majesty, please taste and see if the chef’s lotus roots bring back the flavors of your youth."

The Empress Dowager smiled faintly, "You’re so thoughtful."

Had it been before, the Empress Dowager might have been moved, but she knew the family of the Duke Residence all too well.

Everything they did for her had a price, and they would expect the Empress Dowager to repay them doubly in the future.

The Empress Dowager’s affection waned!

The highlight approached! Ruo Xuan tasted each dish carefully.

Seeing that Ruo Xuan ate from every dish, Princess Kangyi felt assured!

After today, anyone who has watched the performance and eaten the lotus roots won’t be thinking of participating in the talent show in two days.