69novels Chapter 970 Banquet, dance, news about Chen Ping!
Chapter 970 Banquet, dance, news about Chen Ping!
Therefore, it was an unspoken rule in dance choreography and costumes to maximize the feminine beauty, charm, and even provocativeness of women. The daring movements, revealing clothing, and erotic atmosphere of some dances would shock even in today's open-minded world, easily labeling them as extravagant and licentious. The flutter of sleeves could be a tentative invitation; the twist of the waist could conceal a deliberate teasing. This was the bloody reality of the ancient imperial court, a sensual feast cloaked in the exquisite guise of art, enjoyed exclusively by those at the top of the ladder of power.
At this moment, at the Gaoyao banquet, these dancers performed with all their might. Their fate, to some extent, was similar to that of the other women in the imperial harem—all of them were vulnerable groups, dependent on the supreme power, striving to demonstrate their own value in the hope of gaining favor and a living space.
Lü Zhi watched the singing and dancing before her, but her gaze seemed to penetrate those graceful figures and fall on the table opposite where Yu Shu and the others were sitting. She saw the glances they occasionally exchanged, and saw the tacit understanding between them that needed no words.
As the night deepened, the atmosphere within the palace grew increasingly lively, shrouded in fine wine, delicious food, and the incessant sounds of stringed instruments. Following the professional dancers' final graceful pirouette, their graceful exit like willows in the wind, the spotlight naturally shifted to the night's true protagonists—the wives of Gao Yao.
This was originally a segment to liven up the family dinner, but it also subtly became a silent contest. The ladies' strengths and weaknesses began to be revealed on this small stage.
First up was Lü Zhi. She sat behind her pre-prepared guzheng, her posture graceful and her demeanor composed, still the demeanor of the elder woman who oversaw the backyard and the Chamber of Commerce. She played a rather elegant piece, her fingering seemingly expert, the notes flowing freely.
However, upon closer listening, one could detect sluggishness and omissions. Many syllables were unclear, the rhythm was sometimes fast, sometimes slow, and there were even a few obvious mis-notes. His level was not only inferior to everyone else's, but even to the musicians who had just accompanied the dancers.
Lu Zhi's face remained calm, yet a subtle tinge of embarrassment and helplessness lingered within her. This wasn't a deliberate attempt to be perfunctory; it was simply a matter of sheer incompetence. Recalling her days as a young lady in the Lu family, while she wasn't proficient in all the arts, she practiced regularly and even played the guzheng with some skill.
But since following Gao Yao, her life trajectory has changed dramatically. Initially, she helped Gao Yao gain a foothold in Nanhai Commandery, handling various complicated affairs. Later, as Gao Yao's power expanded, she became more of a pillar of support for the inner court, coordinating the relationships between the ladies and managing the huge expenses of the inner court.
Even when Gao Yao occasionally ignored her, she felt bored and alone, completely devoid of the graceful grace of playing the zither. Over the years, her skills naturally became rusty. This rustiness of her skills, to some extent, reflected the shift in her life's priorities: from a lady pursuing personal talent to a hostess focused more on practical power and family management.
Next up was Lü Su. Gentle and uncompetitive, she chose a conventional dance. Her movements were simple and fluid, her clothes flowing freely. While not spectacular, she was refreshingly charming, like a newly blossomed flower under the moon, possessing a tranquil beauty. She wasn't seeking to impress, merely to complete the performance, appropriate to the occasion and respectful to the occasion.
However, when Yu Shu, Natasha, and Nazha, ladies from foreign lands, appeared on stage, the atmosphere suddenly became lively. Their dance, quite different from the graceful and subtle style of the Central Plains, was full of exotic charm and vitality.
Yu Shu's dance embodies the vastness and gentle beauty of the grasslands, while Natasha's steps embody the passion and unrestrained spirit of the Western Regions. Even more remarkable is their mutual learning, blending diverse dance elements to create a more diverse and colorful performance. Compared to the formulaic performances of professional dancers, their dances reveal a truer expression of emotion, with bolder, more expansive movements, imbued with a raw energy that is both pleasing to the eye and inspiring.
Nazha's dance was particularly captivating, arguably the highlight of the evening. Unlike the other women, she chose a flowing long skirt with flowing sleeves, instead donning a modified, exotic dance dress. The hems of the dress were not sewn shut, but cleverly opened, adorned with light gauze and intricate beading.
As she twirled and leaped to the rousing and joyful hu music, her long, straight, perfectly sculpted legs appeared and disappeared beneath the fluttering hem of her skirt. Her twisting waist and swaying arms outlined an incredibly alluring curve. This wasn't just a dance; it was a silent tease and the ultimate allure.
Most crucially, her eyes seemed to speak. They flickered, alluring, sometimes boldly gazing at Gao Yao in the main seat with an undisguised invitation; sometimes half-closed, revealing a languid yet dangerous savagery. Each glance seemed like a hook, firmly tugging at the attention of every male guest present, leaving Gao Yao's mouth dry and his appetite twitching.
Gao Yao leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping lightly on the armrests, his gaze fixed on the flaming figure in the arena, and he couldn't help but sigh. In the art of dance, even Concubine Qi, known for her seductive charm, whose every frown and smile could captivate hearts, and whose words and demeanor could captivate people, seemed slightly inferior to Nazha at this moment.
Qi Ji's charm is restrained and penetrating, relying on her own style and active offensive; while Nazha's charm at this moment is extroverted and direct, it is the primitive attraction that bursts out purely through body language and the characteristics of the dance itself, with more visual impact and instant sense of conquest.
This also made Gao Yao suddenly realize that he was so busy fighting for dominance and managing his power that he seemed to have really neglected the treasures hidden by these women in the backyard. They always brought him such special and strong surprises when he least expected it.
Just as the singing and dancing were in full swing and the atmosphere was gradually reaching its climax, a maid in palace dress came to Gao Yao in a hurried but respectful manner.
She leaned over and whispered a few words in Gao Yao's ear, simultaneously presenting a sealed letter with both hands. This little interlude didn't attract much attention, but Gao Yao's lazy smile faltered slightly upon hearing it, then transformed into a deeper, more ambiguous arc. He waved his hand, signaling the song and dance to continue, then leisurely opened the letter and, in the bright light beside him, began to carefully examine its contents.
The letter contained news about Chen Ping, another person whom he had been secretly following and determined to get.