Upon hearing this, Feng Wu drew her sword, but Xue Xingyue quickly stopped her.
Feng Wu looked at Xue Xingyue in surprise. Xue Xingyue shook her head.
Feng Wu bit her lower lip hard. To make Her Highness dance, wasn't that humiliating Her Highness?
Meng Jiangming also understood quickly, a surge of anger rising in his heart.
His clenched fist tightened, veins bulging on his hand. Qi Yu Ming's words to him had only brought shame, but hearing him insult Princess Xing Yue now, this anger could not be quelled.
"Does the Second Prince truly wish to see?" Xue Xingyue looked up and coldly at Qi Yu Ming.
Qi Yu Ming clasped his hands. "Yes. I know this is asking a lot of Your Highness, but I chanced to glimpse your grace that year and have been unable to forget it. May I humbly request Princess Xing Yue to bestow this favor upon me and perform once more?"
"No..." Meng Jiangming's words were interrupted by Xue Xingyue. "Since the Second Prince wishes to see, I shall perform. However, I cannot perform alone; I require another person."
Meng Jiangming was stunned. He didn't know how to dance.
"If Your Highness does not mind, I am willing."
Xue Xingyue looked up and saw a man in a moon-white brocade robe.
His handsome and stern face was graced by eyes that were exceptionally clear and cold as frost.
His tall, slender figure and the elegance in his every move astonished everyone present.
"Greetings, Your Highness Second Prince, Princess Xing Yue."
"Good, it will be you, Young Marquis Ji." Xue Xingyue said.
As the words fell, she drew her sword. Her supple body and the hem of her skirt fluttering in the breeze made the dance exquisitely beautiful.
Ji Wu Ran's participation added a touch of stern strength to the delicate movements.
For a moment, all present were filled with admiration.
The sword in Xue Xingyue's hand was like falling rain, scattered and graceful, clear as frost, carrying a sense of sorrow and lament, stirring indignation in their hearts.
Ji Wu Ran's sword, however, was like a thousand arrows poised to fly, powerful and resonant, awaiting only a command to be unleashed.
After the dance, Qi Yu Ming applauded for a long time. "Princess Xing Yue and Young Marquis Ji's dance has truly left me speechless. I hope to see it often in the future."
Meng Jiangming's gaze was furious. Once was enough; he actually wanted to see it often?
"Second Prince, once is enough. If it's often, I fear you cannot bear it," Xue Xingyue said indifferently as she sheathed her sword.
Qi Yu Ming smiled at her words. "What does Princess Xing Yue mean by that? If Princess Xing Yue were to become my honored guest, wouldn't I be able to see it every day?"
Shameless, Meng Jiangming thought to himself. Despite his anger, he knew he had to endure and not bring shame to Princess Xing Yue.
Xue Xingyue chuckled softly, then raised her head, her gaze clear and cold. "Is that so? I thought the Second Prince knew the origin of this dance. It seems you do not. Ignorance, then, is not a crime."
"What does Princess Xing Yue mean by that?" Qi Yu Ming asked.
Xue Xingyue's gaze was as cold as frost, her beautiful face exceptionally serene. "Does the Second Prince not know that this dance was performed by me to mourn the souls of the one thousand, two hundred and eight soldiers who fell by the Second Prince's sword that year?"
"Princess Xing Yue... you actually performed such a dance for the Second Prince. This seems inappropriate," an official beside Qi Yu Ming said to Princess Xing Yue in surprise.
Xue Xingyue continued to sneer. "Your Highness the Second Prince, you cannot blame me for my rudeness. It was you who insisted on watching the dance of the departed souls. After repeated inquiries, you agreed before I began."
Qi Yu Ming's eyes flickered with inscrutable emotion, deep and strange. Then he smiled. "Indeed, Princess Xing Yue is not to blame. It was I who overstepped."
"Your Highness is too kind. The dance of the departed souls back then was merely a hasty affair. To be able to perform it before the Second Prince now, does it not bring solace to the souls of those soldiers who died by the Second Prince's sword?" Xue Xingyue said coolly.
Qi Yu Ming chuckled softly, his expression unreadable. "I am a bit tired. I will retire for now."
With that, he stood up and left.
The officials behind him also rose and departed.
Only Xue Xingyue and her companions remained.
Meng Jiangming looked at the dejected Xue Xingyue and stepped forward. "Your Highness, what is past is past. What lies ahead is most important."
Xue Xingyue looked up at Meng Jiangming, a hint of sorrow hidden in her clear eyes.
Meng Jiangming's heart skipped a beat. He didn't know how to comfort her.
Zhao Yan Luo, seeing this, was about to withdraw to give Meng Jiangming and Princess Xing Yue some space, when he saw Ji Wu Ran standing there.
He stepped forward and said, "Let's go!"
Ji Wu Ran glanced at him, his gaze cold. Zhao Yan Luo said in a low voice, "You standing here is like..."
"Like what?" Ji Wu Ran asked, looking at him.
"Young Marquis Ji, thank you for today." Xue Xingyue, hearing Zhao Yan Luo and Ji Wu Ran's conversation, remembered that there were outsiders present. She had inadvertently revealed her emotions in front of them, which was not right.
"Your Highness, everything from the past was for better decisions now. What needs protection is the present. Otherwise, the sacrifices of the past would be in vain."
Xue Xingyue was stunned by his words. Looking into Ji Wu Ran's clear eyes, she nodded. "I understand. Thank you, Young Marquis Ji."
"Young Master, I need to speak with you." Saying this, Ji Wu Ran left first.
Meng Jiangming said, "Your Highness, please rest well. I will be back shortly."
Xue Xingyue nodded.
Feng Wu stepped forward and knelt on one knee. "Your Highness, your subordinate almost ruined everything. I request Your Highness's punishment."
"You did nothing wrong, because I almost lost control of myself at that moment as well." Fortunately, Ji Wu Ran appeared, making her realize that the sacrifices of the past were not for drawing swords against each other again today.
Back in his room, Qi Yu Ming summoned his confidant. "Go and find out the identity of this Young Marquis Ji."
This person was not mentioned in the intelligence he had received prior to his arrival. Today, he realized this person was not simple.
And he had never paid attention to him before, which made him somewhat interested.
However, Qi Yu Ming smiled slightly. Princess Xing Yue indeed gave him a feeling of stunning beauty.
He remembered that the eighth day of the month was the wedding day of Princess Xing Yue and that useless young master.
Princess Xing Yue? The initial stunning impression in his mind made his blood faintly stir with excitement.
"Wu Ran, you were a bit careless today. If the Second Prince discovered anything, it would be difficult to handle."
Ji Wu Ran looked at Zhao Yan Luo and said, "I trust your disguise skills."
Zhao Yan Luo was somewhat helpless. Fortunately, he learned his disguise skills from Medicine King Valley; otherwise, he wouldn't dare experiment on Ji Wu Ran's face.
"Wu Ran, I see the Second Prince seems to have a great interest in Princess Xing Yue. Do you think something might happen on Princess Xing Yue's wedding day with the young master?"
Ji Wu Ran glanced indifferently at Zhao Yan Luo. "You ask me, how would I know? Even if something happens, it would be the young master Meng Jiangming's misfortune."
Misfortune? Zhao Yan Luo found it somewhat laughable.
"However, we still need to keep an eye on Qi Yu Ming. This man is ruthless."
Zhao Yan Luo nodded. "Don't worry, I've already made arrangements. You can rest assured."
Ji Wu Ran nodded and looked up at the sky. It was overcast, a calm before the storm.