Chapter 27: Mu Ling’s Dance Shakes the Capital, Mu Fuxing Faces Another Humiliation

No one expected Mu Fuxing to stand up again. She first glanced shyly at the Crown Prince before bowing respectfully to the Emperor, her voice soft and delicate.

“Your Majesty, this humble girl wishes to present a dance in celebration of His Highness the Crown Prince’s complete recovery and to pray for Your Majesty’s longevity and eternal prosperity.”

The Crown Prince found her pretentious voice so nauseating he nearly gagged. The Emperor was utterly speechless at her display, while the Empress looked at her with nothing but disdain.

Seeing that no one was paying attention to Mu Fuxing, the First Prince lightly cleared his throat and said with a smile, “Father, today is a joyous occasion. Since Miss Mu wishes to perform, why not let us enjoy the show? What do you think—”

If the Crown Prince hadn’t requested to bait out the mastermind, the Emperor would have strangled this rebellious son on the spot. Now, seeing him speak up for Mu Fuxing again, his annoyance was nearly uncontrollable. He was about to refuse outright when—

The Empress suddenly smiled and spoke first. “This is a good thing. Since Miss Mu wishes to perform, let her perform. The Crown Prince’s recovery is a joy to us all! How about this—anyone who wishes to perform may do so today. At the end of the performances, I will award this phoenix hairpin to the one who impresses me the most. Your Majesty, what do you think?”

The Emperor naturally agreed. “Good! Since the Empress has a reward to offer… Eunuch Ming, go to my study and fetch a set of the Four Treasures of the Study*—I shall add to the prize pool as well.”

(*The Four Treasures of the Study: brush, ink, paper, and inkstone—highly prized writing tools.)

The crowd was stunned.

The Empress’s phoenix hairpin! The Emperor’s personal writing set!

These were practically on par with an imperial pardon!

For noble daughters, talent was never in short supply. From childhood, they were trained in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting for the sole purpose of one day rising to prominence.

Mu Fuxing was the first to perform. As the great hope of the Marquis’s household, Su San had invested heavily in her education. Not only was she proficient in the four arts, but her skills were considered among the finest in the capital.

But that was only by ancient standards. After watching what Mu Fuxing considered a “flawless” performance, Mu Ling could barely hold back her laughter. This? She had the nerve to perform this in front of everyone?

“Royal Sister-in-law, look at that fake,” Princess Wanqing Wanqing whispered. “She keeps staring at you. I feel like she’s up to something bad again.”

Mu Ling raised a brow. “Fake? Princess, are you talking about Mu Fuxing?”

Jun Wanqing nodded rapidly. “Yes, that fake! Look at her eyes right now—don’t they remind you of a venomous snake? Royal Sister-in-law, do you think she’s plotting against you again?”

Mu Ling chuckled. “Is she? You don’t understand her well enough. If I’m not mistaken, she’s figuring out how to set me up as we speak.”

Princess Wanqing clenched her tiny fists. “Don’t be afraid, Royal Sister-in-law! I’ll protect you! If she dares to scheme against you, I’ll beat her until she forgets where north is!”

Mu Ling shook her head. “Princess, as the Crown Princess, if she requests me to perform, can I refuse? I represent the dignity of the Eastern Palace. She knows I can’t decline. So… just wait. She won’t miss any chance to humiliate me.”

“Then what should we do?” Princess Wanqing was worried.

Mu Ling patted her head with a smile. “What’s wrong? Don’t you trust me?”

Right! Royal Sister-in-law was amazing, and she even had space abilities. How could she possibly lose to that fake?

As they whispered among themselves, another noble girl had just finished her musical performance and stepped down. Seizing the opportunity, Mu Fuxing rose again.

Mu Ling turned to Princess Wanqing. “See? Was I wrong?”

Princess Wanqing’s eyes sparkled with admiration. “Royal Sister-in-law, you’re amazing! You can predict everything!”

“It’s not that I’m amazing. I just know her too well.”

Sure enough, Mu Fuxing didn’t disappoint. She raised her voice and spoke confidently.

“Your Majesty, Your Highness the Empress, this humble girl believes that if anyone should be happiest about the Crown Prince’s recovery, it should be my sister. Moreover, I have heard that my sister has learned many skills during her time at the Grand General’s residence. I wonder… would she be willing to perform for us so that we might learn from her?”

The Crown Prince’s face darkened as he glared at the Marquis of Loyalty. His warning was crystal clear: If you can’t control your daughter, then I will.

The moment Mu Fuxing spoke, the Marquis of Loyalty felt a chill in his heart. He knew—this wretched girl was about to bring another storm upon their household.

Now, seeing the Crown Prince’s murderous gaze, the Marquis had only two words running through his mind—

We’re doomed.

But the storm he had expected never came. Instead, Mu Ling whispered a few words to the little princess before gracefully walking to the center of the grand hall. She bowed slightly to the emperor and empress seated above, her voice crisp and sweet as she spoke:

“Your Majesty, I offer this dance. First, may our emperor enjoy robust health and endless joy. Second, may Her Majesty remain in good health and youthful forever. Third, may the people of our great land be free from calamities and enjoy prosperity. Fourth, may the Dayan Dynasty stand strong and flourish for generations to come.”

The emperor and empress were so moved that they stood up at once. The empress exclaimed, “Good, good, good! Child, having you as the crown princess is Han’er’s fortune, my family’s fortune, and the fortune of our entire Dayan Dynasty!”

It wasn’t just the imperial couple who were touched—every minister present was deeply moved.

At that moment, the music began. But this melody… it felt as if it transcended time, telling a distant and sorrowful story. Sometimes ethereal, sometimes murmuring; sometimes filled with struggle, sometimes with liberation…

At the center of the hall, the girl in red danced as though she were rising from fire. Like a phoenix, she endured agony and struggle within the flames. There was love… and there was hate. Her figure resembled a shattered soul, wandering in pain and despair.

Suddenly, as the music soared, the girl leaped into the air, like a bird breaking free from its cage, flying towards Jun Mohan.

At that moment, Jun Mohan’s heart tightened. No one understood the meaning behind this dance better than him. Ling’er wasn’t merely performing a dance—she was telling the story of her past life and present.

She was flying toward him… Without a moment’s hesitation, Jun Mohan leaped into the air. In midair, the two embraced tightly, spinning before landing gracefully together.

The music gradually faded, its once-passionate rhythm retreating like the ebbing tide until it vanished into silence. Only a lingering echo remained, gently reverberating through the grand hall.

The girl remained nestled in the man’s embrace. At this moment, her expression was serene and peaceful—no longer sorrowful, no longer resentful. Instead, she radiated the clarity and hope of someone reborn through fire. Her gaze was bright, as if holding the vastness of the stars and seas, reflecting an unshakable calm and determination.

Mu Ling gently pushed Jun Mohan away. The two exchanged a smile, one filled with deep understanding and silent emotion. In that instant, the world seemed to consist of only the two of them. Their gazes met, conveying a love that needed no words—a silent promise, an acknowledgment of past pain, and a hope for the future.

The once-silent grand hall erupted into applause, loud as thunder, shattering the brief stillness and echoing off the towering dome.

“Heavens, this isn’t just a talent performance—it’s a baptism of the soul!” someone couldn’t help but exclaim.

“Why do I feel so heartbroken after watching the crown princess’s dance?” one young lady murmured, her eyes red with emotion.

“Have you all noticed? The crown prince and crown princess are such a perfect match. They look like an immortal couple from the heavens!”

“I heard the crown princess was actually a substitute bride. The original fiancée was the second miss of the Marquis’ household—the fake blessed star!”

“Thank goodness the crown prince didn’t marry that fraud. Otherwise, how could we have witnessed such a perfect pair?”

“Exactly! If that fake had married the crown prince, who knows if his illness would have ever been cured?”

The crowd buzzed with discussions, their words falling upon the ears of everyone from the Marquis’ household. Mu Fuxing clenched her fists so tightly that her nails nearly dug into her palms.

“Come here, Ling’er.” The empress, filled with tenderness, beckoned. Though she didn’t know what hardships this child had endured, she had understood the story told through that dance. She had seen a girl struggling bitterly against fate. Ling’er must have been dancing her own life’s pain.

Mu Ling had already composed herself. She smiled as she knelt before the empress, allowing her to personally place the phoenix hairpin in her hair.

“Child, from this moment on, I am your mother. No matter what difficulties you face in the future, you must never be afraid, and you must never bear them alone. Remember, you have the emperor, you have your mother, and you have Han’er, who loves you dearly. We are a family. No matter the hardship, we will face it together. Do you understand?”

The always-strong Mu Ling could no longer hold back her tears. “I understand. I will remember it.”

“Mother, thank you.”

The empress wiped away Mu Ling’s tears with a gentle smile. “Silly child, there’s no need for thanks between a mother and her daughter.”