Chapter 58: Solo Dance
The crowd chimed in with praise, and for a moment, the Exquisite Boat was filled with admiration.
Jiang Susu's delicate face flushed red as she returned to her seat.
The Fifth Prince narrowed his eyes at Jiang Susu, unable to suppress a flash of amazement in his gaze. "The Second Miss Jiang possesses not only striking beauty but also unparalleled talent."
"Truly a woman of grace and intellect," Ye Li remarked with rare praise.
The Fifth Prince glanced at him. "Eighth Brother, if you fancy her, why not ask His Majesty to arrange a marriage?"
Ye Li shook his head. "Admirable from afar, but not to be trifled with."
"The Second Miss Jiang is the foremost beauty in the capital," the Fifth Prince said. "If you don't secure her while she's young, someone else might snatch her up. A woman like this—just gazing upon her in your chambers would bring endless satisfaction."
Princess Rongya laughed. "After Second Miss Jiang's performance, my sisters and I are utterly outshone. We’d be too ashamed to show our faces."
"You tease me, sister," Jiang Susu demurred. "The others only indulged me because I'm young and they didn’t want to see me embarrassed."
"Look at her," Princess Rongya covered her mouth with a smile. "Such sweet words! We didn’t go easy on you—your skill was simply unmatched. But with playing like yours, the next performer is at a disadvantage. Who’s next?"
The noble ladies on the Exquisite Boat exchanged glances, but none spoke up. As the silence stretched, Jiang Susu suddenly tilted her head and looked at Jiang Ruan. "Da Jiejie, didn’t you dance exceptionally well? Since this is your first Lantern Festival since returning to the capital, why not let everyone get to know you better and showcase your skills?"
The attention that had gradually settled on Jiang Susu now shifted back to Jiang Ruan.
On the Evergreen Pine Boat, Mo Cong frowned in confusion. "Huh? Why is Second Miss Jiang asking her rustic elder sister to dance? Isn’t this just setting her up for humiliation? She might be pretty, but she probably never learned the refined arts."
Jiang Ruan turned her head, her lips curving into a faint smile as she met Jiang Susu’s eyes. "Dance?"
Indeed, the boat rocked slightly as it moved along the river. Though spacious, dancing on an unsteady surface made it easy to lose balance and fall into the water.
In her past life, Jiang Susu had made the same "innocent" suggestion for Jiang Ruan to dance. Naive and unaware of noble society’s customs, Jiang Ruan had believed her rustic dance would suffice. She performed before the crowd, but the boat’s swaying made her movements clumsy and laughable. Then, someone stepped on her skirt, sending her tumbling into the water in a humiliating spectacle. When she was fished out, soaked and disgraced, a handkerchief embroidered with a man’s love poem fell from her robes.
A complete and utter joke.
Now, was Jiang Susu trying to recreate that farce?
Under Jiang Ruan’s piercing, upturned eyes—seductive yet sharp—Jiang Susu felt as if her intentions had been laid bare. She instinctively shrank back. "Da Jiejie?"
The next moment, Jiang Ruan’s smile returned, her tone casual. "I’m not much of a dancer, but since Second Sister wishes to see, I’ll perform for you alone. How about that?"
The words were baffling, yet her demeanor was audaciously bold. Unlike Jiang Susu, who inspired pity, Jiang Ruan’s beauty was fierce and unyielding.Many were drawn to her demeanor, and on the Evergreen Pine Boat, Xiao Shao heard her voice and slowly turned his gaze toward her.
Jiang Ruan stood with effortless grace, rising to her feet as she spoke, repeating with a smile, "Since Second Sister is so eager to see it, I shall dance a piece for her. It’s no trouble at all."
The noble ladies around them whispered among themselves, "Is she out of her mind? Why would she willingly embarrass herself?"
"Perhaps she’s spent too long in the countryside and doesn’t know her limits, truly believing she can captivate with a single dance." The mockery in their words was palpable.
Behind her, Lianqiao and Zisu exchanged uneasy glances. Having grown up with Jiang Ruan, they knew full well whether she could dance or not. Though servants might see their master’s every move as flawless, Lianqiao and Zisu, being servants, understood the rules of noble society all too clearly. They feared Jiang Ruan was falling into Jiang Susu’s trap, risking disgrace before the capital’s elite.
On the Evergreen Pine Boat, the Fifth Prince narrowed his eyes. "Beautiful, but a fool."
"Why do you say that, Fifth Brother?" Ye Li smiled.
"Second Miss Jiang’s talents are unmatched in the capital. Yet First Miss Jiang seeks to outshine her? Impossible. A girl raised in the wilderness—what could she possibly know?" His tone dripped with disdain.
For a moment, murmurs spread across both boats, all agreeing that Jiang Ruan was overreaching, foolishly trying to compete with Jiang Susu. A flicker of triumph flashed in Jiang Susu’s eyes, but her face remained gentle as she said sweetly, "Then Su Su is fortunate. Please, Elder Sister, dance for us all."
Dance for us all. Lin Zixiang frowned. Jiang Susu’s seemingly innocent words made Jiang Ruan sound like a mere entertainer, there for their amusement. Snickers erupted around them.
Jiang Ruan didn’t even blink, as if she hadn’t heard Jiang Susu’s words at all. In her past life, Jiang Quan and Ye Li had forced her to dance to win imperial favor, to survive the cutthroat palace environment. Dance for us all —such words had often come from the high-ranking consorts. She had been nothing but a clown, exhausting herself with elaborate performances, only to earn the shameful title of a seductress.
Jiang Ruan nodded and walked to the bow of the boat. The Exquisite Boat was uniquely designed—its bow was broad and flat, perfect for admiring the moon during the Lantern Festival, and now convenient for dancing. She reached up, casually pulling the hairpin from her coiled chignon. Instantly, her raven-black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, reaching her waist, shimmering with an alluring sheen. She placed the twin-sectioned hairpin between her lips, her enchanting eyes sweeping over the crowd on both boats before her lips parted slightly.
The hairpin was, in fact, an exquisitely crafted whistle. Under the glow of the moon and lanterns, her red lips released the first clear, melodious note.
At first, the music seemed plain, like bland porridge—utterly dull. And yet, she stood motionless, not even beginning to dance. Smirks of derision appeared among the onlookers, as if confirming that the newly returned eldest daughter of the Jiang family had nothing to offer, yet still dared to boast about dancing.Ye Li's expression stiffened slightly. He knew the young lady was playing "Guangling San," a piece that depicted the story of Nie Zheng from the Warring States period avenging his father by assassinating the King of Han. It was a tale of vengeance. On this night of blooming flowers and a bright moon, with everyone in high spirits, why had the eldest daughter of the Jiang family chosen such a martial and combative melody?
The first two sections seemed ordinary, and most would assume her skills were mediocre. But Ye Li knew the undercurrents surging beneath those sections—only someone with true depth of feeling could play them. In this melody, he heard what seemed like centuries of solitary endurance.
(End of Chapter)
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