Chapter 12: A Dance That Bewitches the City

With Long Zhan’s assistance, I felt that the matter was almost certain to succeed.

The next day, while I was still sweeping the courtyard, a group of people passed through the palace gates.

Xiao Luzi and Lan Yan hurried out, saying, “Those are the young ladies entering the palace. Let’s take a look and see what they’re like.”

The two of them peeked through the doorway, and Lan Yan waved at me, urging me to come over as well. I approached and glanced out, only to spot a familiar face.

It was my elder sister, Xiao Ruo.

She had caught the emperor’s eye?

Those young ladies were entering the palace for the first time, their curiosity evident as they looked around. When I saw Xiao Ruo turn her head to look, I quickly hid. At this point, she had no idea I was already in the palace, masquerading as a eunuch. If she saw me now and cried out, it would be disastrous. Yet she was my sister, my only family in the palace. I had to find a way to meet her and inform her of the current situation.

Xiao Ruo’s arrival meant I had a relative here, something I ought to be happy about. But I had only been here a few days and already witnessed the struggle between the empress and Lady Zhang. Xiao Ruo, so innocent, entering such a place—perhaps it was not such a good thing after all.

“Xiao Xiaozi, what’s wrong?” The group had already passed, and Lan Yan turned to see my uneasy expression.

“Ah, nothing, nothing. I’m just a little envious of the new mistresses.”

Lan Yan glanced at me, then covered her mouth and burst out laughing. “You, a eunuch who’s neither fully male nor female, envying them? Xiao Luzi, don’t you agree?”

Xiao Luzi replied awkwardly, “Yes, yes…”

I said nothing more to Lan Yan and resumed sweeping.

Not long after, Yun Qing returned.

Lady Zhang had been dancing, but upon seeing Yun Qing come back, she stopped at once and asked, “Well, how did it go?”

Yun Qing replied, “I’ve found everything out. The emperor selected sixteen young ladies: ten to be attendants, four as talents, and two as noblewomen.”

“Sixteen… The emperor kept sixteen?” Lady Zhang’s expression immediately fell. “Sixteen, all surely young and beautiful. What’s the point of my dancing then?”

Seeing her ready to give up, I hurried forward, knelt, and said, “Your Grace, do not fret. However young and beautiful they may be, they are still newcomers. None can serve the emperor as attentively as you do.”

Yun Qing nodded, “Xiao Xiaozi is right. You must keep your composure, Your Grace. There’s still an opportunity tonight.”

Lady Zhang nodded and asked, “Tell me, how many of them are relatives of the empress?”

“Not a single one.”

Lady Zhang stood up, astonished. “Not one?”

Yun Qing nodded. “Among the young ladies, there were certainly some from the empress’s family; she recommended them to the emperor, but he didn’t choose any.”

Lady Zhang laughed heartily. “This is wonderful news. Perhaps the emperor is still angry about what happened with Eunuch He last time!”

Her words made me realize why the affair with Eunuch He had preceded the selection of the young ladies. Perhaps that was the emperor’s true intention: he did not wish the empress’s influence in the harem to grow unchecked.

“By the way, who are the two noblewomen?”

“One is a merchant’s daughter, named Lin Tanwei. The other is the youngest daughter of Prime Minister Lin, named Lin Lanzhi.”

“The emperor still granted Prime Minister Lin some face. As for the merchant’s daughter, she’s hardly worth mentioning. When you arrived, had they all gone to rest?”

“They returned to their respective palaces, but a few have already prepared gifts to visit the empress.”

Lady Zhang slapped the table in annoyance. “They certainly know how to curry favor.”

“No need to be angry, Your Grace. They are all newcomers, and upon arrival, only know that the empress is the most powerful in the harem. With time, they’ll learn there are others not to be trifled with.”

“That’s true. Very well, I’ll go practice my dance. I must give a good performance tonight. Yun Qing, make some nourishing soup for me this afternoon.”

“Rest assured, Your Grace. I know what to do.”

As Lady Zhang departed to practice her dance, I called out to Yun Qing. “Aunt Yun Qing.”

“What is it? Something on your mind?”

I had intended to ask if she knew whether a young lady named Xiao Ruo had been bestowed a title, but I swallowed the words. If I asked now, she would surely suspect some connection between me and Xiao Ruo.

“It’s nothing. I’m just a bit anxious about tonight, hoping nothing goes awry.”

Yun Qing said, “You had best pray to the gods. If anything goes wrong tonight, Your Grace will not forgive you.”

“Yes, I understand.”

At dusk, the emperor held a banquet for the consorts and concubines of the harem.

Lady Zhang brought only Yun Qing with her. Since I had managed the preparations, Yun Qing insisted I come and keep watch. I retreated to a corner, out of the light, feeling nervous nonetheless. I wondered whether Long Zhan’s arrangements were all in order.

After all the greetings and formalities had finished, I suddenly saw Xiao Ruo, dressed in white, graceful as an immortal, step forward and kneel before the emperor. “Your Majesty, I have a performance to present.”

Before the emperor could respond, fireworks suddenly burst overhead, brilliant and dazzling. As everyone looked up, a beauty appeared to soar through the air.

She wore red, her long flowing sleeves like ribbons waved by a celestial maiden. The bells at her waist, wrists, and ankles sang crisply in the night wind.

This was the act I had prepared for Lady Zhang and the emperor.

For this aerial dance, Long Zhan’s martial prowess was indispensable in helping Lady Zhang accomplish it.

When Lady Zhang landed lightly, the fine wire coiled around her waist was silently withdrawn by Long Zhan.

Barefoot upon the carpeted stage, Lady Zhang held in each hand a five-meter-long red silk ribbon.

This night, though moonless, lanterns illuminated the entire palace.

Her figure was light and graceful, ribbons fluttering. Dancing beneath the lanterns, the swaying lights cast blurred halos around her, making her seem like a flower fairy fallen to earth—beautiful, ethereal, dreamlike, too exquisite to disturb.

She spun barefoot, the bells chiming ever more clearly with her rapid turns, dazzling all who watched. With a perfect landing, she brought the dance to a flawless conclusion.

Fortunately, Lady Zhang possessed a solid foundation in dance.

As she finished, the emperor rose in astonishment, his gaze fixed solely upon her.

“Your Grace, I dared to perform a dance before Your Majesty. Please forgive my impudence,” Lady Zhang curtsied, eyes coy, voice sweet and shy.

“Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful… My beloved, you are truly stunning tonight. Come, come, sit by my side.” The emperor beckoned her over; Lady Zhang, both proud and a little nervous, took her place at his side.

At last, the weight in my heart was lifted. The result was as I had hoped.

The empress, however, looked displeased and turned to the still-standing Xiao Ruo. “Didn’t you say you had a performance as well? What is it?”

Xiao Ruo replied hesitantly, “I am to dance.”

A concubine interjected, “You’re going to dance as well? Tonight is all about dancing. Don’t tell me you’re also doing the ribbon dance. After seeing your elder sister’s performance, no other dance can compare.”

“Tan Noblewoman, do you have a performance to offer?” the emperor asked.

So that was Lin Tanwei, the newly appointed noblewoman.

Lin Tanwei was momentarily speechless and replied, “I have none, Your Majesty.”

“Then speak less.”

“Yes.”

“Very well, Xiao Changzai, you may withdraw. All dances tonight, nothing really new.”

“Yes.”

Xiao Ruo retreated, her face full of disappointment. Guilt gnawed at me; I hadn’t expected her to dance tonight as well. I had suggested Lady Zhang perform the ribbon dance because I’d seen Xiao Ruo practice it as a child and had been deeply impressed. Yet, this inadvertently blocked her path.

Sister, I will have to apologize to you another time.

That night, the emperor did not summon anyone but stayed at Cuiwei Palace. The next morning, Lady Zhang was elevated to the rank of Zhaoyi.