Chapter 138: Overflowing with Praise

Beside her, the other maidens danced with long, flowing sleeves, while countless delicate petals fluttered through the air. Amidst this rain of blossoms, she moved with a grace that seemed ethereal and otherworldly. Her broad sleeves opened and closed, shielding and revealing her form, further accentuating her myriad charms and stunning beauty.

A sweet smile danced perpetually on her delicate face, as elegant and pure as a lotus in midsummer. With a slender waist and an enchanting gait, she spun with such captivating allure that her skirt billowed like a water lily swaying in the breeze. Her long, dark hair became delightfully disheveled in the dance, making her appear as breathtaking as the moon goddess Chang’e. At the end of the piece, she performed a final turn, and as she cast a lingering, mesmerizing glance over her shoulder, her every expression was filled with infinite charm. As the music faded, she stood up, breathing slightly, and brushed a strand of hair from her ear. She curtsied gracefully to the Emperor and the Empress Dowager on the throne, a gentle smile blooming with myriad fascinations. "Guli presents this dance as a gift, specifically to wish the Empress Grandmother a life as long as the crane and deer, and a joy that remains ever-blooming, filled with boundless blessings and longevity."

"Good, good, good!"

The Empress Dowager was beaming from ear to ear, filled with pride and comfort for her precious granddaughter. "I thought it was heartfelt enough that you hand-copied Buddhist scriptures for me, but to think you also choreographed a dance as a gift—I am truly overwhelmed and overjoyed. Guli, you have truly grown up; you know how to be considerate and filial to your elders."

At these words, the civil and military officials in the hall naturally chimed in, rising one after another to offer endless praise.

The Duke of Dingguo smiled and took the lead. "Princess Danqing possesses a beauty that could topple cities, peerless and magnificent. Not only is she a master of both calligraphy and painting, but her dance is truly 'a performance known only to the heavens, seldom heard of in the mortal realm.'"

"Indeed, indeed, indeed!"

A host of court officials nearby rose in succession, cupping their hands and laughing. "The Emperor and Empress Dowager are truly blessed. The Crown Prince is virtuous and talented, as refined as jade, and Princess Danqing is peerless in appearance and grace. They are truly a dragon and phoenix among men, a great fortune for the Emperor, the Empress, and the Empress Dowager."

The stream of praise became incessant, and the hall was filled with voices of admiration. Zhou Siyuan sat by his table, listening to his father lead the accolades, his gaze fixed intently on the graceful, alluring woman standing in the center.

She had revealed yet another unique and stunning facet of herself.

He had thought that the mischievous, lively, and adorable girl of his childhood was enough to keep her etched in his memory forever. Later, her playfulness and wit in Suoluo Town had delighted him endlessly, and now he realized she possessed this side, so rich in varied charms.

How many more surprises did she hold that he had yet to discover?

Zhou Siyuan suppressed his racing heart, feeling that he had truly returned too late, missing far too much time to know and be with her.

Besides Zhou Siyuan, had Lie Chang'an's gaze ever shifted from Guli?

She was so beautiful—her slender waist swayed with every step, and her porcelain wrists emerged from the light silk. Her eyes held the shimmering ripples of spring water, her skin was as delicate as jade, and her features were more vibrant than any flower. Her fingers were like carved scallions, her lips like vermilion, and every blink and smile stirred the soul.

She was so flawless, so unearthly, as if she did not belong to this mortal world.

Lie Chang'an listened to the waves of praise, feeling both joy and comfort; she was so outstanding, and it was precisely that excellence and uniqueness he loved—a brilliance that no one else could match.

Yet, he also felt a pang of bitterness.

He noticed the look in Zhou Siyuan's eyes across the hall—focused and infatuated, unconstrained, as if she were already his wedded wife, a prize he was determined to claim.

Lie Chang'an's heart was filled with unbearable bitterness. He had watched her for so long, unwilling to tear his gaze away, until he felt a look of warning and authority pierce through him.

Lie Chang'an looked up abruptly to see the sovereign of the nine-five sitting on the throne, staring at him with a chilling intensity that seemed as if it could condemn him to a thousand cuts.

It was the Emperor.

Lie Chang'an was startled. He suppressed his roiling emotions and calmly averted his gaze.

The hall remained filled with adulation and flattery, and the Emperor laughed heartily, his face glowing with pleasure.

But Guli could not discern any genuine sincerity in the words. Having grown accustomed to such scenes since childhood, she maintained a veneer of elegance and decorum, though her peripheral vision could not help but drift toward the man sitting on the right side of the hall.

He kept his head bowed, drinking in silence, not even glancing at her once.

Guli lowered her eyes in disappointment.

Why? Was her dance not beautiful?

Why was he unwilling to spare even a flicker of attention for her?