As soon as she sat down, Jiang Xuan looked across at the people sitting diagonally opposite her. They were from the Prince of De's Mansion and the Prince of Chen's Mansion. She then looked at Ouyang Yue, who was talking to someone with a faint smile on her lips and a calm expression, yet she seemed to be a radiant being. She said, "That is Xuan Yuan Yue."
Jiang Qi, who was standing close to Jiang Xuan, naturally heard this and nodded, saying, "That's right, it's her." Then, he lowered his voice to a very low level, "Don't go too far. Don't forget the mission Father Emperor came here for. Now is not the time to be her enemy."
Jiang Xuan glanced at him briefly, a strange expression appearing on her beautiful face: "Even my eldest brother doesn't know why Father sent us to get close to Xuan Yuan Yue?"
Jiang Qi's eyes flickered slightly as he said, "Yes, Father didn't explain." But Jiang Xuan noticed the fleeting look in Jiang Qi's eyes, and her own eyes flashed as she smiled faintly as always, "In any case, this princess will try out this Xuanyuan Yue first."
"Emperor of Great Zhou, to be honest, this princess has come to Great Zhou this time because of someone I admire." As soon as she sat down, Jiang Xuan spoke, immediately attracting the attention of everyone present. Emperor Mingxian asked in surprise, "I wonder whose reputation Princess Jiang Xuan has come to admire?"
"I heard that in the beauty pageant on Langya Continent, Xuan Yuan Yue from the Great Zhou Dynasty was unparalleled in her talent, and was truly both literary and martial. I admired her greatly. Princess Chen is excellent in dance, painting, and horse racing. I wonder who is better than me?"
As soon as Jiang Xuan finished speaking, several gasps rang out in the hall. The dance painting involved dancing with ribbons around one's hands while simultaneously composing and painting in a national style. It not only tested one's skills but also consumed a great deal of physical and mental energy. The horse race was an even more strenuous activity. Originally, it would have been fine for Ouyang Yue to compete with Jiang Xuan, but the key issue was that Ouyang Yue was currently pregnant. Doing such strenuous exercise would be extremely dangerous. Jiang Xuan was clearly deliberately provoking her, but if Ouyang Yue didn't accept, she would lose. If she accepted, there was a high possibility of problems. Jiang Xuan had not given Ouyang Yue any chance to refuse.
At this moment, Jiang Xuan laughed, her expression beautiful, but her eyes held a hint of mockery: "Princess Mingyue, Princess Consort Chen, do you have the guts to accept this princess's challenge?!"
Everyone in the hall held their breath, watching Ouyang Yue's reaction with a mixture of tension and anticipation...
☆, 227, earth-shattering changes! (Seeking company annual meeting tickets)
Everyone awaited Ouyang Yue's reaction, while most of them thought to themselves that this princess was far too bold and direct. After all, this was still the territory of the Great Zhou Dynasty. She had only just arrived and hadn't even settled in yet, and she was already provoking people. It was really arrogant. But would Princess Chen agree to it? Princess Chen was pregnant, and her safety was more important than her reputation.
Ouyang Yue's expression remained unchanged. She simply smiled at Jiang Xuan and chuckled, "Is the Great Princess used to make these kinds of jokes? They're quite amusing."
Today, Ouyang Yue wore a delicate pink dress embroidered with twin lotus blossoms and silver threads. Her belly was already prominent enough to be ignored, and sitting there, her waistline was noticeably fuller, her figure more voluptuous. Yet, no one could ignore her, and therefore, no one found her unattractive. Ouyang Yue possessed a very distinguished air. It was as if Princess Jiang Xuan had openly come to provoke her, intending to suppress her. However, Ouyang Yue's eyes were curved in a smile, her clear eyes revealing a pure and innocent heart. Because of the numerous supplements she had taken during her pregnancy, her skin was so flawless it seemed to drip with moisture, fair and rosy, even with a bright glow. Although her body was getting fuller, her face hadn't changed much. Her delicate features became even more defined, exuding a gentle and approachable aura, composed and reserved, like a lotus flower emerging from the water, otherworldly and refined.
Ouyang Yue's beauty was originally on par with Jiang Xuan's, only slightly different. Now, although her figure has become slightly out of shape, her outstanding temperament makes her stand out. Her calm demeanor makes Jiang Xuan seem like an aggressive nouveau riche, which puts her at a disadvantage.
Seeing Ouyang Yue's confident demeanor and hearing her words, Jiang Xuan's competitive spirit was further ignited: "Princess Consort Chen, you're mistaken. I'm not joking at all. I'm challenging Princess Consort Chen. What, Princess Consort Chen, don't want to accept?"
Ouyang Yue placed her hand on her stomach, her eyes slightly smiling. Baili Chen frowned and said, "The Princess Consort is pregnant and should not engage in strenuous exercise. Please forgive her, Princess Da Gan." If they weren't in front of everyone, and if they could still maintain appearances, Baili Chen would have already cursed her.
Jiang Xuan smiled faintly, looking at Baili Chen, her eyes flickering slightly.
Wearing the same white embroidered silver robe as Ouyang Yue, but adorned with a dragon-patterned attire and a tightly bound white jade crown, Baili Chen appeared even more elegant and handsome. His captivating eyes, now gleaming with a deep black, held an extremely dangerous light as he narrowed them menacingly at Jiang Xuan. Though Jiang Xuan felt a slight unease under his gaze, a slight smile played on her lips. Baili Chen truly deserved the title of the most handsome man in the Great Zhou Dynasty. Sitting with Ouyang Yue, they were indeed a perfect match, a match made in heaven.
Ouyang Yue sensed Jiang Xuan's gaze and glanced at her, but found no ulterior motives in her eyes, only pure admiration. This reassured Ouyang Yue slightly. This Jiang Xuan wasn't just here for Baili Chen, as people speculated. What was the purpose of Fen Yan's previous actions? Was she deliberately putting pressure on her and trying to plant someone in her hands? What was her purpose? Was it because she had leverage over Jiang Xuan and now wanted leverage over her too, so they could keep each other in check? If it was for survival, that would be understandable, but if she didn't want it, no one else could take advantage of her.
Jiang Xuan had already looked away: "Princess Consort Chen is truly accomplished in both literature and martial arts. How could such trivial matters be difficult for her? I, the princess, have come from afar because I have long admired Princess Consort Chen's reputation and have come specifically to learn from her. As the saying goes, guests are always welcome. Surely the Great Zhou Dynasty is not so ignorant of hospitality that it cannot even meet this small request of mine? Wouldn't the friendship between our two countries be nothing but a joke?"
Jiang Xuan was clearly just making excuses. It was merely a talent competition, not a matter between two nations. Yet, even knowing this, no one could say anything, since it had nothing to do with them. If Ouyang Yue won, it would bring honor to them and the Great Zhou Dynasty, and they would only benefit a little, without much personal gain. If she lost, it would be a disgrace to the Chen Prince's Mansion, and being punished by Emperor Mingxian would be irrelevant to them. Moreover, if the Chen Prince's Consort were to lose face or be disliked by the Chen Prince, their own daughter might be able to compete with her. Either way, there was no harm in it; most people would just be watching the show.
Only a few people who were on good terms with Ouyang Yue were now filled with righteous indignation. This Jiang Xuan had gone too far! Knowing that Ouyang Yue was pregnant, any strenuous activity could affect her pregnancy, potentially leading to a miscarriage, which is extremely harmful to her health. It seemed that Jiang Xuan wanted to use this opportunity to suppress Ouyang Yue and then try to rise in status? If she won the competition and there was no way to stop her from entering the Prince Chen's mansion, she might use this to force Ouyang Yue to become her concubine. It was utterly despicable and shameless!
Ouyang Yue smiled faintly, but there seemed to be a hint of mockery in her eyes: "I have long heard that the princess of Da Gan Kingdom is both beautiful and talented, and enjoys attending various banquets. I just didn't expect that the princess of Da Gan Kingdom also enjoys showing off her talents at banquets and letting the court officials of Da Gan Kingdom appreciate her elegance. This is truly rare." Ouyang Yue's voice was very gentle, and every word was full of praise. So much so that as soon as she finished speaking, no one understood the hidden meaning in her words.
Jiang Xuan sensed something was amiss, and after a moment's thought, her expression changed: "Princess Consort Chen, what do you mean by this? Are you trying to insult this princess?" A woman should always be well-educated, gentle, virtuous, and understanding. True noble families are most averse to being overly assertive and attention-seeking. As a princess of the Great Gan Kingdom, even if you do nothing, you are already the center of attention. If you were to compete for glory, it would not only seem tactless but would likely invite annoyance. Besides, as the most noble prince of the kingdom, who is worthy of her performing for him? Those who perform at state banquets are dancers and courtesans. Historically, these people have had a very low social status. Although they earn a living through their skills, their reputation is no better than that of prostitutes in brothels. If she were to angrily go down to perform and compete, wouldn't she be no different from those lowly dancers? Wouldn't this be degrading a noble princess to the same level as the lowest of the low? If word got out, the whole world would laugh at her!
Jiang Xuanbai's jade-like hand clenched instantly, and Jiang Qi also had a sullen face, but said in a low voice: "Don't be impulsive. Don't forget the purpose of our trip. It is not advisable to make an enemy of Xuanyuan Yue now."
Jiang Xuan sneered: "Of course I won't forget. I originally just wanted to test her, but this Xuan Yuan Yue is too arrogant. She insulted me like this. If I just let it go, wouldn't I be even more ridiculed? If I don't give her a warning, how can things get done?"
Jiang Qi was about to say something, but Jiang Xuan's words made some sense. Looking at the mocking expressions on the faces of the entire Great Zhou Dynasty, he also felt deeply humiliated. How could the eldest prince of the Great Zhou Dynasty accept such treatment? He nodded slightly and said, "Then let's not go too far."
Jiang Xuan said calmly, "From the moment she sat down, Ouyang Yue's hands were almost always on her stomach in a protective posture. This shows that she has a strong sense of vigilance against external stimuli and will desperately protect her stomach when facing danger. This is an instinctive reaction. So if she competes with me, there might be a risk of miscarriage. She herself is aware of this. Once I provoke her into going on stage, she will be extremely careful to protect the fetus in her womb, prioritizing the protection of her stomach. Therefore, the possibility of miscarriage is very small, and the probability of her losing is 100,000%."
Listening to Jiang Xuan's logical analysis, Jiang Qi said nothing more. Jiang Xuan may appear to be just the eldest princess of the Da Gan Kingdom, with an extremely noble status and unparalleled beauty and talent, but in reality, her intelligence is even more outstanding. Sometimes, when the emperor and his elder brother, the emperor, encounter difficult decisions, they will ask Jiang Xuan for her opinion. Although she doesn't change their choices, it is enough to show that Jiang Xuan has the talent to govern a country. It's a pity that she is only a woman, otherwise she would be the biggest obstacle to Jiang Qi's ascension to the throne. However, now she has become his help.
Faced with Jiang Xuan's accusations, Ouyang Yue remained calm and said, "Princess Da Gan has misunderstood my meaning. Every word I said came from the bottom of my heart. I admire your talent, Princess."
When Ouyang Yue said this, those who had also realized what was going on felt something was wrong. Wasn't this just adding insult to injury? Even if Ouyang Yue was the powerful Princess Consort of Chen, if she angered Jiang Xuan and it damaged the diplomatic relations between the two countries, it would be a disaster for both nations. Ouyang Yue couldn't bear such a responsibility.
Seeing this, the Empress smiled coldly, then said softly, "It is good that Princess Consort Chen sincerely praised Princess Da Gan, but her words were slightly ambiguous and caused misunderstandings."
Ouyang Yue smiled and nodded, "Yes, Your Majesty, I understand." But there was a hint of sarcasm in her smile. Her own family was being bullied at their doorstep, and this person still had the nerve to criticize them. Was she really stupid or just pretending to be naive? Was she going to stay silent while being pointed at and insulted?
Emperor Mingxian lightly tapped the wine cup in his hand, and the Empress immediately shut up. The Empress smiled at the Emperor, but a hint of coldness lingered at the corner of her mouth.
Jiang Xuan's voice grew even colder: "I am a princess of the Great Gan Dynasty, born into a noble and extraordinary family, utterly incomparable to those lowly dancing girls. Who dares to compare me to such despicable people? Aren't they afraid of committing a capital offense! I am grateful to Princess Chen for considering my well-being, but I came here today because of Princess Chen's reputation. If I don't have a match today, I will be filled with anxiety day and night. Princess Chen is kind-hearted; surely she wouldn't remain indifferent to my suffering. My intention was merely to exchange skills. I believe Princess Chen, with her widespread fame and status as the most beautiful woman in the Langya Continent, wouldn't lack even this much courage."
Jiang Xuan's words completely shut down Ouyang Yue's arguments. "This princess wants to compete. You say she's no different from a courtesan? But based on their backgrounds alone, the two are worlds apart and incomparable. Even if they were to compete, who in this hall would dare compare her to a courtesan? They'd be courting death!" Ouyang Yue didn't want to compete because she was afraid that the title of the most beautiful woman in Langya Continent was just an empty boast. If Jiang Xuan contracted some disease because of her insistence—no, even if Jiang Xuan contracted some disease in the future, it would all be attributed to her being ill from unrequited love—and if Ouyang Yue wasn't satisfied, she would blame her for any illness or disaster Jiang Xuan might suffer in the future. Ouyang Yue would have plenty of trouble. This forced Ouyang Yue to compete.
"Bang!" Baili Chen slammed his hand on the table. Just as he was about to stand up, Ouyang Yue grabbed his other hand: "Your Highness, don't be angry. It's not worth it."
Princess Shuangxia's face was already cold, and Xuanyuan Chaohua couldn't help but clench his fist and put it at his waist, but then he remembered that the weapons in the palace had been confiscated. He looked at Jiang Xuan with a cold and sullen face.
Even Emperor Mingxian, the Empress Dowager, and the Empress all looked at Ouyang Yue, waiting for her reaction. This matter was originally aimed at the two of them. Emperor Mingxian, whether as the ruler of a country or as an elder, could not easily admit defeat to Daqian, it was also inconvenient for him to interfere in the affairs of the two juniors. It was strange how Ouyang Yue would react.
The people in the main hall were becoming increasingly strange. Everyone knew that a woman's foundation lay in her children, the male heirs who would carry on the family line. Anything that could affect safe production should be eliminated and prohibited. This was not the time to act impulsively; it was not worth it.
However, when everyone thought Ouyang Yue would refuse, she replied, "Alright, this princess agrees."
Upon hearing this, several gasps rose in the hall. Even Emperor Mingxian's expression darkened as he looked at Ouyang Yue, who, however, only gazed at Jiang Xuan.
Baili Chen exclaimed in surprise, "My wife..."
Ouyang Yue turned her head and gave him a look that said "keep calm." Baili Chen looked at the cunning look in the latter's eyes and suddenly calmed down. Instead, he was very much looking forward to it. Princess Shuangxia next to him said, "Yue'er, don't be impulsive. Your health is important."
“Yes, little sister,” Xuan Yuan Chaohua quickly replied.
Ouyang Yue shook her head: "Grandmother, brother, don't worry, I know what I'm doing."
Ouyang Yue stood up and looked at Jiang Xuan: "Princess Da Gan has challenged me. No matter what happens, I, the Princess Consort, should not refuse. This represents the dignity of the Great Zhou Dynasty. The Great Zhou and Da Gan have always been evenly matched, and the royal family should not be afraid of a little difficulty. Therefore, I, the Princess Consort, must accept this challenge. Otherwise, if Princess Da Gan goes back and laughs at the Great Zhou Dynasty for having no one to rely on, then I, the Princess Consort, will be a sinner for all eternity." Ouyang Yue's words were laced with sarcasm, and Jiang Xuan's face was cold. If Ouyang Yue had refused outright, Jiang Xuan would indeed have said the same thing.
Emperor Mingxian glanced at Baili Chen, who looked like he was watching a good show, and at Ouyang Yue, who looked confident. He felt a bit of anticipation in his heart. Naturally, everyone in the hall had the same thought. Whether they wanted to watch the show and see Ouyang Yue make a fool of herself, or they hoped that Ouyang Yue would win, it didn't matter.
Ouyang Yue spoke softly: "As a daughter-in-law of the Great Zhou royal family, I also bear the heavy responsibility of producing offspring for the royal family. I am pregnant, and I must be responsible not only for myself, for the child, for the prince, but also for the royal family. If I harm the royal offspring because of external affairs, then it is my fault."
Jiang Xuan raised an eyebrow. Was she trying to move him with her emotions?
Ouyang Yue curled her lips and said, "Princess Jiang Xuan, as a princess of the Great Zhou Dynasty and also a member of the royal family, naturally understands the importance of royal offspring. If you insist on competing and end up harming my unborn child, I'm afraid you cannot bear the responsibility of maliciously harming a member of the Great Zhou Dynasty's royal family. You would be a sinner for all time in terms of the diplomatic relations and peace between the two countries!"
"You!" Jiang Xuan couldn't bring herself to utter the insult. Ouyang Yue's accusation was far too much for her to bear. She was momentarily speechless, her anger suffocating. Ouyang Yue's sharp tongue was truly formidable. It was just a competition; she knew she was pregnant and would inevitably lose, yet she tried to use that as an excuse to refuse the competition, all while making it sound so high-sounding. It was truly despicable.
Everyone thought Ouyang Yue was trying to refuse, but no one expected her to change her tone: "This competition must go on."
The Empress couldn't help but ask, "Princess Consort Chen, it's understandable that you don't want to compete for the sake of your unborn child. There's no need for you to force yourself." Since Ouyang Yue had already put it this way, if someone forced her to compete, wouldn't that be an attempt to harm the royal offspring? Naturally, the Empress had to advise her.
Ouyang Yue turned her head and gave a slight bow to the Emperor, Empress Dowager, and others, saying, "Father, Empress Dowager, a true university is one that can cultivate a vast amount of knowledge and also educate people of great virtue throughout the world. In fact, this is true of every profession. Throughout history, there have been many outstanding figures and extraordinary talents. Each of them, if they had emerged early, would have been enough to amaze and envy the world. But a truly great talent is one who is also highly learned and can also teach people who are learned and versatile and can do good for the country and the people. Such people are truly worthy of being called great scholars. Your subject dares not compare with such great scholars. My trivial skills are not of great use. However, as a principle for promoting friendly development between the two countries and promoting peaceful coexistence and friendly competition, your subject is willing to accept the challenge of the Princess of Daqian, despite being pregnant."
Upon hearing Ouyang Yue's words, Miao Jiang Holy King Yu Xiaoyao raised an eyebrow, his expression somewhat strange. It wasn't just Yu Xiaoyao; most people in the hall felt the same way, a sense of wanting to say "Damn it!" This Princess Chen's mouth was truly baffling. She had initially only accepted Princess Jiang Xuan's provocation, but now she accepted the challenge with such righteous indignation and generosity, talking about the friendly development of both countries—it sounded so good, leaving no room for criticism. She even acted as if she had no choice but to accept it, but it was all for the country and its people, making her seem selfless and instantly elevating her image. Even if Ouyang Yue lost, no one could find fault with her words. After all, she carried a heavy responsibility, daring to risk her life for the country's interests while pregnant. To say she was heartless would be too much.
These words truly silenced all discontent. Emperor Mingxian was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, glancing at Ouyang Yue with surprise. Of course, he wouldn't admit that he felt comfortable listening to these words, because Jiang Xuan and Jiang Qi's faces were now dark. Jiang Xuan's coercion and Ouyang Yue's righteous actions had both suppressed Da Gan, causing him to lose the advantage of discourse. This showed the magnanimity of the Great Zhou and its contributions to peace and the people, while Da Gan's actions were all driven by selfishness, which was despicable.
Ouyang Yue sighed: "Therefore! I propose that I and Princess Daqian each select one palace maid with poor dancing skills from the palace maids present in the main hall today, teach them on the spot, and then have these two palace maids compete. Whoever can teach the palace maid to dance in the shortest time and win the competition will win!"
"ah……!"
Everyone inwardly cursed. After all that talk, Princess Chen's words, so magnanimous and righteous, turned out she didn't even have to participate. Her words had clearly secured her position; even if she lost, no one would blame her. In the end, she was just rambling. It wasn't her who was going to participate. If she won, everyone would be happy; if she lost, her words wouldn't be used to blame her. She was truly invincible. How did she develop such a brain? How could her mouth be so sharp?
Jiang Xuan was also taken aback, and suddenly the corner of her mouth twitched. However, she had started the competition, and if she refused now, it would seem that she was acting without any sense of propriety and that she had been too aggressive earlier. Now that things had come to this point, she really couldn't refuse. Gritting her teeth slightly, Jiang Xuan said, "Alright, we'll follow Princess Chen's method."
Ouyang Yue smiled and said, "Alright then, let's start selecting palace maids who can't dance or whose dancing skills are very poor in this hall now."
“Wait, this princess wants to choose the palace maids that Da Gan brought.” Jiang Xuan said, gesturing with her hand.
Ouyang Yue nodded: "Princess Jiang Xuan is right. Then the Great Zhou and the Great Qian shall each select one palace maid to test their dancing skills in front of everyone. Then Princess Jiang Xuan and I, the Queen Consort, will teach them. The time will be one incense stick's time."
Jiang Xuan nodded and said, "Okay, let's do it that way!" Then she looked at the palace maid who had come with her.
Baili Chen smiled and said, "Who will you choose, my wife?"
Ouyang Yue smiled confidently at him, then turned to Emperor Mingxian and said, "Father, I would like to ask the Grand Eunuch Fushun to introduce me." If Ouyang Yue were to randomly choose someone, wouldn't it seem like she was too familiar with the people and things in the palace, thus attracting unwanted attention?
Emperor Mingxian nodded and said, "Fushun, you must help Princess Chen choose someone she likes."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Fu Shun bowed and then walked lightly toward Ouyang Yue: "Princess Consort Chen, I wonder how to choose this person."
Ouyang Yue nodded and said, "Eunuch Fushun is the chief eunuch of this inner palace. He is extremely familiar with every plant and tree in this palace. I would like to trouble Eunuch Fushun to point out the palace maid with the worst dancing skills in this hall for me, the princess."
Fu Shun was taken aback: "The worst? This... Princess Consort Chen, although these palace maids come from poor backgrounds, they are all of good character, and many of them have learned various talents since childhood, and some of them are quite skilled in dancing."
Ouyang Yue shook her head: "No need, this princess wants the worst one, that way there will be a contrast effect."
Fu Shun listened in a daze, but in the end, he didn't dare to refuse. He saw that Prince Chen was already glaring at him. If there was anyone in the palace who dared to scold or beat him, besides the Emperor, it was this seventh prince, Prince Chen. Fu Shun knew how Emperor Mingxian treated Prince Chen. Since he couldn't win Emperor Mingxian's favor, Prince Chen had given up all hope. Others would try to please Emperor Mingxian and accept his favor, but Baili Chen wouldn't. And the Emperor wouldn't really kill him either. So Fu Shun knew that Prince Chen was the one person in the palace he couldn't afford to offend, so of course he obediently went to choose someone.
Soon, three people were brought over. They were all about the same size and had decent looks. One was pretty, one was charming, and one was delicate. To call her delicate would be an understatement. In fact, in this harem full of beauties, she was just an ordinary-looking one. Ouyang Yue looked her over and asked Eunuch Fushun, "Which of these three has the worst dancing skills?"
Eunuch Fu Shun pointed, and it was indeed the palace maid with an ordinary appearance. Ouyang Yue nodded: "Alright, that's her."
"Huh?!" Eunuch Fu Shun and the three palace maids were all stunned. How could the least likely one be chosen? Although the two palace maids were dissatisfied, they dared not say anything. Fu Shun waved his hand and retreated.
At this moment, Jiang Xuan had also chosen a palace maid. She was a pretty and energetic palace maid with a calm and gentle temperament, comparable to some young ladies from wealthy families.
"Alright, let's begin." Ouyang Yue waved her hand, and the two of them went up first. Jiang Xuan looked at the ordinary-looking palace maids that Ouyang Yue had chosen, and saw that they seemed timid in front of everyone. She really couldn't figure out what Ouyang Yue was trying to do.
"How do we compare them?" Jiang Xuan asked.
Ouyang Yue said, "A formal competition will require further instruction from me and Princess Jiang Xuan. For now, let's have them do some spinning to test their skills."
"Alright, let's begin." Jiang Xuan waved her hand, and the busy palace maid stepped forward, spread her arms, and began to spin on the ground. Although her posture was slightly off, her movements were correct. She spun around twice in a row, which was quite good considering she had no dance skills.
However, the palace maid from the Great Zhou Dynasty made a fool of herself when she stepped forward. This palace maid had clearly never learned anything. She tried three times in a row but couldn't even turn half a circle. She even stumbled and almost fell. In addition, her appearance was so ordinary that everyone shook their heads when they saw her. Judging from this, it was clear that this palace maid from the Great Zhou Dynasty was bound to lose.
Jiang Xuan laughed: "Princess Consort Chen, I didn't deliberately choose a better one. This palace maid is indeed the worst dancer in my entourage this time." Because Jiang Xuan couldn't use people from the Great Zhou Dynasty, otherwise, when the competition actually happened, the Great Zhou Dynasty palace maid could deliberately perform poorly, and Jiang Xuan would have no way to retaliate. Naturally, it was safer to choose palace maids from her own country. However, Jiang Xuan was exceptionally talented, and these palace maids who followed her, although they had no dance background at all, were still better than those who truly had no martial arts background due to being influenced by what they saw and heard.
Looking at these two tests, everyone already understood that Princess Chen was likely to lose this time.
Ouyang Yue remained calm and beckoned. The palace maid from the Great Zhou Dynasty approached, her face showing a tearful expression. She was already nervous facing so many people alone, and seeing their disappointed and dissatisfied looks only made her heart clench. Sweat beaded on her forehead as she walked up to Ouyang Yue, her head bowed, not daring to look up. Ouyang Yue smiled and asked, "What's your name?"
The palace maid became even more nervous, trembling as she said, "This...this servant is Xiang'er..."
"Xiang'er, your name is very beautiful, just like you, making people feel very comfortable." Xiang'er raised her head in a daze, somewhat incredulous, and saw Ouyang Yue smiling gently. Her appearance was the most beautiful she had ever seen in all her years of serving in the palace. Her brows and eyes were gentle, and her eyes were as bright and dazzling as stars. Just one glance was enough to steal one's heart and soul. Even as a woman, Xiang'er couldn't help but feel her heart beat faster and become somewhat infatuated.
Ouyang Yue waved her hand, and Chuncao walked over. She said, "Go, we need to prepare the dance costumes for the dance later. Go and get them ready. I'll have a chat with Xiang'er."
Although Chuncao was puzzled, she obeyed the order attentively and prepared the dance costume as Ouyang Yue whispered. Meanwhile, Baili Gan pulled Baili Chen aside and asked curiously, "What do you think my cousin's wife is trying to do? They've already started teaching the dance steps over there, and she's still chatting here. Does she know she's lost, so she's not in a hurry to prepare?"
Baili Chen's dark eyes turned to him, making Baili Gan shudder: "Can you stop scaring people like that? You're terrifying people."
Baili Chen snorted coldly, "Yue'er would never fight without preparation or certainty. She must have some sudden inspiration that will lead to an unexpected victory."
Baili Gan snorted: "That's right. Even if she loses, you'll say that she's calm and composed, doesn't care about winning or losing, and is an extraordinary person. Is there anything wrong with her in your eyes?"
Baili Chen actually thought about it very seriously. Baili Gan was even more surprised and waited expectantly. After a while, Baili Chen stopped thinking, looked at Baili Gan seriously, and opened his mouth slightly to say, "No!"
"You!" Baili Gan almost stumbled and fell over upon hearing this. He looked at Baili Chen with deep resentment, his lips twitching and his face turning black.
After chatting with Xiang'er for a while, Ouyang Yue said slowly, "When you go to dance later, you don't need to be nervous. Just express all the movements you imagine in your mind and dance with your greatest confidence. No one will blame you whether you dance well or badly. As long as you really dance and feel that it is your best dance, just dance with confidence."
"But...but...this servant really doesn't know how." Xiang'er looked distressed and was almost crying, but Ouyang Yue smiled and patted her shoulder gently: "Confidence is not given by others, but by yourself. As long as you think it's good, there will definitely be no problem. Trust me."
Seeing Ouyang Yue's firm and serious expression, Xiang'er couldn't help but nod.
Jiang Xuan had finished teaching the two palace maids, and they went to change into their dance costumes to prepare for the real competition. However, when Jiang Xuan heard that Ouyang Yue had only chatted with the palace maids and had not taught them any dance techniques, her expression changed, and she said angrily, "What does she mean by this? She was the one who suggested this competition, but she doesn't take it seriously at all. Is she trying to humiliate me?"