Chapter Fifty-Six: There’s Always Trouble at Banquets

This matter was thus laid to rest. What followed was the annual gala, which to Su Jingluo felt no different from an elementary school party—each family sent a representative to perform, whether reciting poetry, composing couplets, playing instruments, or dancing. Most of these representatives were unmarried young women, for among those present, any unmarried men belonged to the imperial kin or nobility. Should a performance be outstanding, the girl might be summoned to the palace and rise to glory overnight. And, as is customary in novels and dramas, someone was bound to seize this opportunity to stir up trouble.

Among the performers, Lin Wanwan stood out most impressively: her supporting dancers were formidable, their costumes extravagant, and the music heavenly. Her flowing azure water sleeves fluttered gracefully, captivating every man in the hall—it was evident she had prepared meticulously. Su Jingluo wondered if she had drunk too much, for Lin Wanwan’s gaze was not fixed solely on Xiao Jingxuan; she kept stealing glances at Song Yunmo as well.

When her dance ended, applause filled the hall. The Emperor, delighted, bestowed upon her a celestial silkworm dance robe. Su Jingluo had no idea what this garment was, nor its value, but the collective gasp made it clear it was priceless.

After thanking the Emperor, Lin Wanwan looked toward Xiao Jingxuan’s side and, with earnest humility, said, “I am but a humble willow; my younger sister Feifei’s dancing at home is truly remarkable, often praised by our stepmother and father. Your Majesty ought to witness her talent.”

At these words, Lin Feifei’s face turned ashen. Everyone knew her dancing was inferior to Lin Wanwan’s, she lacked mastery in music and song, and Lin Wanwan’s claim was pure mischief. In previous galas, Feifei had simply gifted the women present with expensive beaded trinkets made by servants—nothing dazzling, but at least not embarrassing. This time, she feared she could not muddle through; inwardly, she was cursing her fate. Then, a sly smile crept onto her lips as a sudden idea struck.

“Sister, you jest. Who in the Prince of Jing’s residence does not know the Princess Consort is the true radiance of sun and moon? I am but a flickering candle, unworthy of such a stage. Besides, the Princess has never performed before—why not let her take the spotlight?” Lin Feifei turned Lin Wanwan’s words onto Su Jingluo, knowing that Su Jingluo, aside from some medical knowledge, was reputedly incapable of all else, and so would surely be humiliated.

Xiao Jingxuan frowned, fixing Lin Feifei with a displeased gaze.

“I asked you to dance—what right have you to push the Princess forward? Do you think you can command her?” Xiao Jingxuan, his mood foul, rebuked Lin Feifei sharply.

His words made Lin Feifei’s face alternately pale and flushed; biting her lip, she was nearly in tears. At the same time, Xiao Jingxuan’s defense of Su Jingluo left Lin Wanwan with a tinge of melancholy.

“Cousin, I too have never seen the Princess’s talents and would like to witness them,” Lin Wanwan added, sensing Lin Feifei’s move was not well-intentioned, so she decided to lend her support.

The Emperor and Xiao Jingxuan were both well acquainted with Su Jingluo. Where others expected much, they expected nothing; indeed, they were vaguely worried she might be put in an awkward position. They knew her well: aside from her obsession with herbs and medicine, she was hopeless with embroidery and needlework, incapable of poetry or couplets, and inept at every artistic pursuit.

Both the Emperor and Xiao Jingxuan frowned—Xiao Jingxuan, mainly because he did not wish Su Jingluo to be shamed, and the Emperor, because he did not want another incident after the Empress’s earlier episode. He would rather not have the festive banquet devolve into a compendium of royal jokes.

“Very well, I shall do it!”