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‘I don’t even know how to dance. Everyone would notice me,’ Liu Jin Yu thought. She grasped the hands of Lady Gu Yen and started to plead with her.

“My Lady, I was never in the center during the dance performance. What if I ruined the performance? The entire royal family would be present. The King might punish all of us if I make any mistake. I beg you to reconsider my request.” Liu Jin Yu knew that Gu Yen would not like to receive any such punishment from the King, Gu Yen, would not let her be the center dancer.

“Fine,” Gu Yen said, “however, since you are beautiful, you must remain at the front with the other dancers.” She allowed her not to be at the center, but with a condition. She glanced at her hands which Liu Jin Yu still held.

Promptly, Liu Jin Yu withdrew her hands and stepped back. She went back to her place. While Gu Yen instructed them on how to begin the dance, Liu Jin Yu lost her thoughts.

“The masks are here,” a young lady came with fifteen masks and showed them to Gu Yen.

“Distribute them,” Gu Yen said. Liu Jin Yu was slightly happy when she found that she had to cover her eyes using the mask. She quickly wore it. However, it was heavy.

“Each mask is made of precious metal silver. So, return them after the performance gets over,” Lady Gu Yen already warned them. Liu Jin Yu was internally cursing the royal family to organize such dances and a huge event when it could work for the betterment of the people.

But the rich never cared about the poor!

.....

Liu Jin Yu was told to stand in the second place on the left, and after a while, they went to the grand courtyard. She copied the steps of the other young ladies around her and tried to walk elegantly. That heavy mask was making it difficult to even keep the head straight, she wondered how the other dancers had their heads straight.

‘It all happened because of that man. May Heaven break his neck!’ she could not prevent herself from cursing him.

The dancer in front of her stopped. Her eyes widened to see the grand courtyard. Her head spun upon seeing so many nobles. She tried to take a peek at the front and saw the small figures of the King and the Queen seated on the thrones on a high rising platform.

It was her first time seeing them and it thrilled her. The rarest sight of the King and the Queen was difficult for commoners like her. She lowered her head as she saw the young lady in front of her start to walk. Liu Jin Yu went after her and they stopped upon reaching the center.

All the young ladies formally greeted the King and the Queen first before starting the dance.

Qiu Zedong liked the curtsy of the dancers. Eunuch Gao Bing smiled as the King looked happy. He whispered something in the ear of his Queen, who smiled and agreed with him.

The mask dance started. Liu Jin Yu was good at copying people from a young age, so it was not difficult for her to match their steps. Also, earlier, she asked one of them to teach her the steps. She was suspicious of her, but then Liu Jin Yu convinced her that she was also a part of that group. She made a good excuse saying her sister’s leg twisted a day before this performance.

The long sleeves of their dresses moved in rhythmically as their hands swung in the common direction. An important part of the mask dance was that the movement of the face and arms were indispensable.

While dancing, Liu Jin Yu realized as a woman she always wanted to do dances. However, her responsibilities were huge, so she lost a part of herself where she could truly act like a woman.

On the high-rising platform, Xiaoming looked anxious. He kept thinking about the lie his mother told along with Cha Ying.

“Your Royal Highness must focus on the dance,” Eunuch Lishi whispered in Xiaoming’s ear before straightening himself. Eunuch Lishi had noticed that the Noble Consort Xiuying had her gaze on the Crown Prince.

Xiaoming looked toward the ground and saw the dancers swirling in circles. The music played was good. But presently, he was not enjoying it.

At that moment, his eyes caught something interesting. He recognized Liu Jin Yu even through that mask. A broad smile carved on his lips. It surprised him that she knew how to dance. Upon keen watching, he found out that Liu Jin Yu’s steps were not as refined as the other dancers. But it was barely noticeable.

He understood everything. The moment he lost Liu Jin Yu, the group of dancers came from the front. She had hidden among those dancers.

Xiaoming tilted his head a little. Eunuch Lishi bent down and widened his eyes when Xiaoming ordered him to bring one of the dancers to his chamber. However, he wanted Eunuch Lishi to be careful.

“Don’t make any mistakes. I will replace you if you make the slightest of mistakes. Also, tie her with ropes, especially her hands and feet. Keep your eyes on her all the time. Don’t move an inch from your place.” Xiaoming gave careful instructions to him.

Eunuch Lishi quietly sneaked away to take Liu Jin Yu as soon as the dance was over. Xiaoming turned happy again. Heaven was so good to him that he brought Liu Jin Yu on her own to him.

Soon the mask dance was over and the dancers bowed before leaving the place. The opening of the event with such a dance indeed delighted the King. He looked towards the vacant seat for the Sixth Prince. He missed his presence. For two years, Lóng Wei couldn’t celebrate this day with him.

“It was a great performance, Your Majesty, wasn’t it?”

Qiu Zedong agreed with Zhu Liling’s words and smiled.

Liu Jin Yu took a breath of relief and decided to run away before she would get into any more trouble. She removed the mask and handed it back to Lady Gu Yen. She looked around and found that lion dancers were ready for their next performance. While Gu Yen was praising themselves, she took backward steps while lifting her skirt a little.

“Run, Liu Jin Yu!” She told herself and turned when she saw Eunuch Lishi with two soldiers with him. Immediately, she lowered her head, not wanting to get into his eyes. The people present in the tent house were surprised to see him and bowed.

Liu Jin Yu got nervous when Eunuch Lishi stood before her. He gestured to the soldiers and Liu Jin Yu’s both arms were caught tightly. She lifted her head and before she could protest, she was dragged away by those soldiers.

She was thrown to the floor and tied with the ropes as the Crown Prince had ordered. “What are you doing? Leave me!” Liu Jin Yu protested but it was of no use. Eunuch Lishi put a band of cloth around his mouth to prevent her shouts from going out.

“You should not have troubled my master, young girl!” Eunuch Lishi said and smiled.

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