The carriage rattled gently as Jin Yue, Lin Zhao, his wife Madam Wang, and Jin Yue's sisters were led into the heart of the palace grounds. The towering walls and grand structures loomed above them as they entered the lavish courtyard, the evening sky casting long shadows over the royal pavilion where the banquet was to be held.
Jin Yue glanced around as they approached, her eyes landing on the line of other noble families already arriving. Daughters of ministers, high-ranking officials, and military generals stood alongside their parents, each wearing exquisite gowns and jewelry, their faces painted with delicate smiles that barely masked the undercurrent of competition.
As they were led toward their designated seats within the pavilion, the air buzzed with hushed whispers and sideways glances. Her sisters, Lin hua and Lin Mei, chattered quietly, both of them glancing enviously at the other ladies in attendance. Jin Yue remained silent, keeping her expression calm as they approached their seats near the front, thanks to her father's position as an imperial advisor.
Soon after, a grand announcement echoed through the pavilion. The emperor had arrived, accompanied by the empress and several of his consorts.
All the guests rose from their seats and bowed low as the royal entourage entered, their presence instantly commanding the room. The emperor was a tall, imposing man, his robes flowing around him like a river of gold. Beside him walked the empress, her face serene yet sharp, and behind them trailed a few of his favored consorts, each one beautiful and adorned with jewels that glittered under the pavilion lights.
The emperor and his companions took their seats on the raised platform at the front of the pavilion, and the air of anticipation thickened as the banquet officially began. After a few formalities, the emperor addressed the ministers present.
"Advisors, generals, ministers," the emperor began, his deep voice carrying through the room, "I am pleased to see you all here tonight. This banquet is a celebration of the continued prosperity of our kingdom, and it is a chance to honor those who have faithfully served us."
He exchanged pleasantries with several ministers, nodding in approval at their accomplishments. As he did so, Jin Yue noticed a few of the younger noblewomen around her casting furtive glances in her direction, their eyes alight with envy and curiosity. It was no secret that Jin Yue had been recently betrothed to the Third Prince, the last unmarried prince of the imperial family.
Just as Jin Yue felt the tension rise, the emperor's gaze shifted toward her.
"Ah, Lady Jin Yue," he said suddenly, a warm smile spreading across his face. The room seemed to still as he spoke, eyes turning toward her with surprise. "It is good to meet you again. I trust you've been well since our last encounter?"
Jin Yue bowed gracefully,"Your Majesty," she replied softly, her voice steady despite the curious stares from all around, "it is an honor to be here."
The emperor's smile lingered as he continued, "You will be meeting the Third Prince tonight. It is a good opportunity for the two of you to become acquainted."
Whispers rippled through the pavilion as his words settled. Several noble daughters exchanged looks, their eyes flashing with jealousy. Jin Yue could feel the weight of their gazes, particularly from one corner where Lady Li Jing, the minister's daughter, was seated with her family. She had always been vocal about her interest in the Third Prince, and now her smile was thin, her eyes glinting with bitterness.
Before Jin Yue could think of how to respond, the emperor turned to her father, Advisor Lin Zhao. "Advisor Lin, I must commend you . You have always provided wise counsel to the court and also managed to raise such an outstanding daughter. "
Lin Zhao bowed deeply. "Thank you, Your Majesty. I am honored to serve."
Madam Wang, Lin Zhao's wife, who sat beside him, appeared outwardly calm but was clearly simmering beneath the surface. Jin Yue could sense her stepmother's frustration. Perhaps it was the emperor's attention toward her that ruffled the Madam's feathers, or maybe it was simply because Jin Yue was being publicly acknowledged. Regardless, Madam Wang didn't hide her thinly veiled anger as she spoke next.
"Your Majesty," Madam Wang interjected, her voice a touch too sweet, "we are deeply grateful for your kind words. Jin Yue is indeed fortunate to be betrothed to the Third Prince. She is a talented girl, exceptionally skilled in many areas." She glanced toward the emperor before adding, her eyes narrowing slightly, "Especially in dancing."
The empress, who had remained quiet up until this point, finally spoke, her voice carrying an icy undertone. "Is that so?" she asked, her eyes drifting toward Jin Yue with measured interest. "Then perhaps Lady Jin Yue should perform a dance for us tonight, as a way of showing her talents."
The empress's suggestion wasn't a simple request. It was a veiled command, one laced with thinly concealed displeasure. It was no secret within the palace that the empress had long hoped to secure the Crown Prince as a match for jinyue sinceheridentityasasaint. The fact that Jin Yue,had been betrothed to the Third Prince was a point of contention. Many in the court knew that the empress had wanted jinyue to marry her son, but all the princes were already married. And the emperor did not deem it fit for jinyue, with her saint identity, to be a concubine.The Third Prince was the last one left to secure a political alliance, and now Jin Yue had become the target of envy.it is also one of the reasons the emperor arranged this banquet with mostly girls, one is to placate the empress in hope of finding the Crown Prince a concubine from a prominent family to further solidify his position. But of course, whether it is truly the emperor's true intention or not remained hidden.
Jin Yue's heart raced, though she maintained her composure. She knew the empress was setting her up for something...perhaps hoping to embarrass her in front of the court or to see if she could falter under pressure.
The emperor glanced at the empress, his expression unreadable, but he did not object. "A dance, you say? Well, that could indeed be entertaining."
Several guests exchanged surprised glances, clearly intrigued by the unfolding drama. A few of the young women, particularly Lady Li Jing, stifled smug smiles. They seemed eager to see Jin Yue humiliated.
Jin Yue, however, remained calm. She took a deep breath and straightened her posture, the earlier whispers and mocking now forgotten. If they wanted to test her, she would rise to the occasion.
"Your Majesty, Your Highness," Jin Yue said smoothly, bowing slightly toward both the emperor and empress, "if it pleases you, I would be honored to perform."
Madam Wang's lips curled into a satisfied smile, but Jin Yue could see the subtle flicker of malice in her eyes. She wasn't just being set up by the empress...her own stepmother was complicit as well.
As the musicians prepared, Jin Yue glanced around, noticing how many eyes were on her. She was no stranger to performing, but this was no ordinary audience. She would need to be careful, yet bold. She could sense that tonight's banquet was not just about a dance...it was about proving her place in the court.
As the first notes of the music floated through the air, Jin Yue stepped into the center of the pavilion, all eyes locked on her.
The soft melody of the instruments filled the air, creating an almost dreamlike atmosphere in the pavilion as Jin Yue stepped gracefully into the center of the gathering. All eyes were on her now..noble families, ministers, and even the emperor himself watched with bated breath. The empress leaned back in her seat, her expression unreadable, but her sharp gaze stayed fixed on Jin Yue. Madam Wang, meanwhile, had a tight, almost forced smile plastered across her face.
As the music swelled, Jin Yue began to move, her body flowing in perfect harmony with the rhythm. Her arms glided through the air like silk, her steps as light as a feather. But it wasn't just her grace that held the audience captive...it was the breathtaking precision of her movements, an elegance that came not just from dance but from years of acrobatics.
With a delicate leap, she soared through the air, her body twisting in mid-flight before landing softly on her feet as though gravity itself had no claim on her. Gasps filled the pavilion, followed by murmurs of admiration.
Jin Yue's movements became more intricate, her body bending and stretching in ways that seemed impossible, each motion as fluid as water. She spun gracefully, her gown fanning out like the petals of a blooming flower, her hair flowing behind her like a silken banner. Every leap, every spin, every delicate step had the audience entranced.
Her final move came as the music reached its crescendo...a dramatic leap followed by a backflip, landing in a low, elegant bow that left the crowd in stunned silence for a heartbeat.
Then, the applause erupted.
The entire pavilion rang with the sound of clapping, the nobles rising from their seats in awe of what they had just witnessed. Even the emperor's face was lit with approval, a rare, genuine smile on his lips as he nodded to Jin Yue.
"Remarkable," the emperor said, his voice loud enough to carry through the crowd. He turned to one of his attendants. "Bring her the jade bracelet from my personal collection. Such a performance deserves recognition."
The attendant bowed deeply and hurried off to fulfill the order, leaving the nobles whispering excitedly amongst themselves. Jin Yue stood gracefully, bowing once more in thanks, though her heart was racing.
Madam Wang, who sat just to the side of Lin Zhao, could no longer maintain her false smile. The sound of her teeth grinding together was almost audible as her expression darkened. She had been counting on this dance to be a disaster, to humiliate Jin Yue. But instead, the girl had captivated everyone....including the emperor.
Jin Yue,observant, noticed the flash of anger in her stepmother's eyes as she quietly seethed. She's not done yet, Jin Yue thought. There's more to her plan.
As the emperor's attendant returned with the bracelet, offering it to Jin Yue with a bow, Madam Wang's movements were subtle but deliberate. She pretended to adjust her gown, her hand slipping toward the table where Jin Yue's cup of wine sat. In a smooth, practiced motion, she poured a tiny vial of liquid into Jin Yue's drink, her expression composed as if nothing had happened.
Jin Yue, ever vigilant, noticed this too but showed no sign of alarm. She smiled sweetly at the emperor as she accepted the bracelet, clasping it onto her wrist with a deep, respectful bow.
"Thank you, Your Majesty. I am honored," Jin Yue said, her voice carrying a note of sincerity. She returned to her seat gracefully, ignoring the tension brewing between the empress and the rest of the court. The empress's eyes narrowed slightly as she observed the emperor's generous gift, clearly displeased, though she said nothing.
As Jin Yue sat down, she allowed herself a moment to assess the situation. The wine has been tampered with. But how do I counter this without drawing suspicion? she thought quickly. Her eyes darted to her sisters, seated beside her. Lin Hua, her elder sister, was too engrossed in watching the court's reaction to Jin Yue's dance to notice anything, while Lin Mei, her younger sister, sat with a smug expression, as if enjoying the attention shifting away from her.
Then, an idea struck Jin Yue. With a flick of her wrist, she caused her bracelet to slip slightly, letting it clink against her wine glass. The soft sound was enough to draw a few eyes toward her, just as she intended. In that moment, she created a small distraction...a delicate movement with her fan that caused the corner of the tablecloth to shift, as though a gust of wind had blown through.
"Ah!" Jin Yue gasped, pretending to be flustered by the minor disturbance. Her sisters turned to her, along with several of the nearby guests, curious about the commotion.
While everyone's attention was briefly diverted, Jin Yue acted swiftly. With a smooth, practiced motion, she switched her wine glass with Lin Hua 's, ensuring that no one noticed the exchange. She then resumed her seat, her expression calm, though her heart pounded in her chest.
As the attention of the court returned to normal, Jin Yue feigned embarrassment, covering her mouth with her hand as if to hide her blush.
"Forgive me," she murmured softly, "how clumsy of me."
Without missing a beat, she lifted her wine glass...now filled with untouched, safe wine...and took a delicate sip, her eyes scanning the room for any reactions.
Madam Wang, who had been watching intently, let out a small, satisfied smirk. She clearly believed that Jin Yue had just consumed the poisoned wine. Lin Hua, on the other hand, remained completely unaware that her drink had been swapped.
The room buzzed with conversation once more, but Jin Yue stayed alert, waiting for the next move. She had successfully dodged one trap, but the night was far from over.