Meili walked onto the stage. She was not at all anxious, having performed many times for her family. In fact, she really loved performing.
She felt as though she was a different person when she danced, transported away as she watched her audience being entertained by the music and pretty movement that told a story.
This was a medium where she knew her power. Her dancing, singing and music always seemed to mesmerise her family. She suddenly hoped it wasn't just because they loved her.
The music started and Meili came to life, like a lively kitten chasing a feathered stick.
Her fan fluttered like it was a living thing, her graceful arms swinging prettily in the sassy opening steps which she imbued with attitude, like she truly was a village girl sauntering past the local lads, tormenting them with her cheeky walk.
Li Fengfeng frowned. It was instantly clear she was a very talented dancer.
The music continued and the dance progressed to the part where Meili swung her hips to and fro, as though sashaying down the main street of a small village.
The three young men in the audience were each in a reverie, overlaying the dance with their memories from a not-very-far-removed dawn morning on a rooftop.
The men stared unabashedly, all unconsciously leaning forward in their seats.
Oh no, thought Tan Bowen, who knew this dance well, now comes the part where she poses like a swan and slides her pretty feet to match the pose, followed by the full split arabesque and the leap where the toes touch the back of your head.
Sure enough, the elegant poses showed off her figure to best effect, and those jumps played havoc with the male imagination.
Who chose this dance? thought the prince in alarm. Probably her mother was unaware any men would be present in the audience… At a flower viewing afternoon, that would usually be accurate.
He wiped his brow as sweat started to bead at his temples.
Bai Li now wore an instinctively predatory look. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat and the princess glanced over at him.
Oh dear, she thought. The commander looked like he might eat Miss Mei alive. Or perhaps kill anyone in the audience who got between him and his prey. She looked furtively at her brother. His face told her he was already too far gone to ever be recoverable.
Her anxiety started to grow. She peeped over at Tan Bowen. Oh lord, the man was mesmerised, sweat pouring down his forehead, mouth slightly ajar. She motioned to Tan Wentian, who nudged her brother to close his mouth.
A breeze blew across the lake, adding to the beauty of the dance as the silk square and fan blew delicately, and Meili's long hair fanned out behind her like a mythical mermaid.
Unfortunately, the breeze lifted her veil and blew it right off her ears. She had no chance to catch it as her hands were otherwise occupied.
The show must go on. She had been drilled to carry on under any manner of circumstances, so she didn't miss a beat.
The veil fluttered in the breeze, coming to rest high in a plum blossom tree. It was as though that very moment had been planned as part of the whole ethereal performance.
Tan Bowen, who was very susceptible to aesthetics, groaned in delicious agony. This was his fate, so he would not try to fight it.
The girl's face, now on display, drew audible gasps from across the audience. A hidden beauty! It seemed that the Mei family had been raising a beauty in their inner courtyards.
Li Fengfeng narrowed her eyes in anger. This little chit better not get in the way of her plans to marry the second prince!
Now that you could see her face, the deliciously uncomfortable position for the three men became infinitely worse.
Meili danced with a gentle and naive grace, combined with a confidence and joy in her performance that mesmerised her audience. Her face bore a delicate small smile.
The smooth leaps, arabesques and high leg kicks showcased her strength, flexibility and acrobatic ability.
Tan Bowen had never seen a dance performed so perfectly and with so much emotion, like one of the great opera performers. It was astonishing, and he'd seen some very good performances.
Sweat had started to drip into his eyes, and he wiped them in annoyance, scared to blink and miss any of the spectacle.
The princess looked very concerned now. She hoped the three old friends would not fall out over a woman. Even she was seduced by Mei Meili's beauty, so she couldn't fathom how the young men would be faring. Actually, looking across at Tan Bowen, it was clear that the answer was 'not very well'.
Thankfully the dance drew to a close, with a delicate game of peekaboo from behind the fan.
Tan Bowen swallowed hard.
That was the most perfect innocent seduction he had ever seen performed.
He didn't dare look at the prince or Bai Li for fear of what he would see in their eyes.
If they weren't in trouble before, they were in so deep now, there was no wading out.
The audience were startled by what they'd seen, and for too many seconds, no one said a word, no one clapped, no one moved.
Meili didn't know how to take this. She thought she had done well, and she had loved every minute of the performance. Her hand touched her face absently, and she remembered that her veil had fluttered off.
Tears sprang unbidden to her eyes. Her face! That would be the cause of this silence. Well, the secret was out now, she thought sorrowfully.
She dropped her belongings and fled from the stage into the garden, running fast and searching blindly for the exit through blurry vision.
Manni called after her, but she neither heard nor stopped. The little maid ran as fast as she could after her mistress. Meili's palace eunuch was also on her tail.
"Miss Mei, Miss Mei, slow down please," he shouted, but she ran without stopping, heedless of their cries.