Chapter 168
Chapter 168: Jiang Peihuan Dancing
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
“Yes.”
Jiang Peihuan stood up, and with a single bound, she leaped.
At this moment, two soldiers immediately stepped forward and raised the small hand drums they were holding.
As Jiang Peihuan gently landed, her feet stepped directly onto the drum heads held by the soldiers.
Everyone who saw this was completely astonished.
Then, the soldiers who had previously formed a circle knelt on one knee and also raised their drum heads.
Jiang Peihuan twirled and stood, and at the same time, she flung her long sleeves. As the “water sleeves” lashed out, they struck the drum heads perfectly.
Throughout the performance, Jiang Peihuan’s legs stood on the drum heads. Whether leaping or spinning, her feet never left the drums.
And the water sleeves in Jiang Peihuan’s hands constantly changed with her movements. Every time they were flung out, they would hit the drum heads.
The entire banquet hall was dead silent, with only the sound of drums ringing out, playing a rhythm that sounded like a war song.
Jiang Peihuan, standing on the drum heads, had a solemn look in her eyes, and there was also a touch of faint sadness.
In her previous life, she indeed knew nothing of music, chess, calligraphy, or painting. However, after being with Xiao Junhao, she had learned all of these diligently to win his favor.
She was skilled with a whip, and since the water sleeves dance shared similarities with a whip, she learned this dance as well.
The palm-sized drum heads, Jiang Peihuan stood firmly on them, continuously leaping, her figure as light as if she had no weight.
Her water sleeves’ motions grew wider, and listening to the drumming, everyone felt their heartbeat quicken.
Just when the crowd felt like their hearts would stop, the drum sound gradually softened.
When the drumming stopped, all the soldiers rushed forward, some standing, some kneeling on one knee, arranging their drum heads into a staircase shape.
Jiang Peihuan, standing at the very back, stepped down one by one, then gathered her water sleeves, and bowed to the princess.
The Eldest Princess, stunned, looked at Jiang Peihuan in her red dress, her eyes expressing more than just astonishment.
It took her a long time to react. The Eldest Princess finally picked up a jade pendant from the table, “Miss Jiang, your dance is truly unparalleled in the world.”
The Eldest Princess didn’t even bother to watch the next performance and directly handed the jade pendant to Jiang Peihuan.
Lin Mengyao, who was supposed to dance after Jiang Peihuan, looked on with a very unpleasant expression in her eyes.
Hearing the Eldest Princess words, Jiang Peihuan spoke softly, “Your Highness is too kind, thank you for your reward.”
She reached out and took the jade pendant from the Eldest Princess.
“Please take your seat.”
“Thank you.”
Jiang Peihuan sat back down next to Xiao Nanye, and as soon as she sat down, the man immediately opened his cloak.
Ignoring the surprise of the people around, the man personally tied the ribbon around her neck.
As he was tying the ribbon, he whispered to her, “From now on, you can only dance this dance for me alone.”
Hearing this, Jiang Peihuan unconsciously looked up, only to see the undisguised passion in the man’s eyes.
Seeing her staring at him in a daze, Xiao Nanye pinched her fingertips, “Did you hear me?”
Everyone saw Xiao Nanye talking to Jiang Peihuan but couldn’t hear what they were saying.
Jian Peihuan nodded helplessly.
Seeing her nod, the man’s expression softened. Soon, a small plate was brought to Jiang Peihuan, “You like the desserts, don’t you?”
Lowering her head, Jiang Peihuan found that the plate that she had emptied earlier was full again.
“Yao Er, isn’t it your turn to perform next?”
At this moment, the Eldest Princess smiled at Lin Mengyao.
Lin Mengyao nodded reluctantly.
Lin Mengyao’s performance was also a dance, right after Jiang Peihuan’s.
Originally, she had arranged it this way to show everyone how much better she was than Jiang Peihuan.
But now, thinking about Jiang Peihuan’s dance, Lin Mengyao felt her steps heavier.
But with everyone looking at her, Lin Mengyao still confidently walked to the center.
Dressed in white, elegant in posture, all eyes fell on her.
Fairly speaking, Lin Mengyao’s dance was good, but with Jiang Peihuan’s extraordinary performance preceding it, the audience’s interest was somewhat lukewarm.
During her dance, Lin Mengyao’s eyes inadvertently looked towards Xiao Junhao.
But she was startled to find that his gaze was constantly directed behind her.
As she was spinning, she realized that Jiang Peihuan was right behind her.
Xiao Junhao was looking at Jiang Peihuan.
Coming to this conclusion, Lin Mengyao’s eyes showed a touch of panic. With this panic, her foot slipped, and she fell to the ground.
“Yao Er?”
Seeing Lin Mengyao on the ground, the Eldest Princess was momentarily stunned before she hurriedly said, “Yi Yun, call the doctor.”
“Ypur Highness, there’s no need, I’m fine.”
Lying on the ground, Lin Mengyao heard the Eldest Princess’s words and quickly spoke up.
Biting her lip and getting up from the ground, Lin Mengyao said with a smile, “Your Highness 1 am a doctor myself, 1 know my condition well, 1 really am fine.”
“If you’re fine, that’s good.”
Seeing Lin Mengyao’s insistence, the Eldest Princess didn’t say anything further.
“Forgive me for causing a scene.”
Although she had fallen, Lin Mengyao’s graceful composure still made some people in the crowd show a hint of approval.
Quickly, Lin Mengyao returned to her seat, but she then raised her wine glass towards Jiang Peihuan, “Miss Jiang, you are truly talented and beautiful. I’m not your match. This glass of wine, I toast to you.”
Hearing Lin A/Iengyao’s words, Jiang Peihuan furrowed her brow.
At that moment, a maid came forward and poured a glass of wine for Jiang Peihuan.
The Eldest Princess noticed this and looked over as well.
In front of the Eldest Princess, Jiang Peihuan had no choice but to pick up the wine glass. As she did, she smelled it carefully.
There was nothing wrong with the wine.
Jiang Peihuan looked up and saw Lin Mengyao’s smile, filled with hidden meaning. Could she be overthinking it?
“I’ll drink first to show my respect.”
As Jiang Peihuan looked over, Lin Mengyao had already emptied the glass of wine.
Seeing Lin Mengyao’s overturned glass, Jiang Peihuan lowered her eyelids and picked up her glass. But just as she was about to drink, the wine glass was taken from her hand.
“I will drink this glass for her.”
It was Xiao Nanye.
As he spoke, he had already drained the glass.
Seeing Xiao Nanye’s action, Lin Mengyao showed no surprise. Her smile, however, deepened. Looking at Xiao Nanye, she said with a smile, “King Cheng, when drinking on behalf of someone else, you must drink three glasses.”
“If that’s the case, then I will drink three glasses.”
As he spoke, Xiao Nanye picked up the wine jug from the table.
Seeing him take the jug, Lin Mengyao’s eyes flickered.
After Xiao Nanye had drunk two glasses in a row, Lin Mengyao poured herself another glass, “King Cheng, your ability to drink is impressive. Mengyao admires you.”
As Xiao Nanye sat down, Jiang Peihuan immediately grabbed his pulse..