The princess regretted it.

Chapter 284 Lin Qian Dances

After three rounds of drinks, the banquet hall was filled with the aroma of wine, and the laughter of the crowd echoed, as if a grand and enthusiastic piece of music was being played passionately.

At that moment, as cups clinked and everyone immersed in the joyful atmosphere, they never expected that the melodious music would suddenly and without warning come to a halt. In an instant, the entire banquet hall seemed to have hit the pause button. Everyone was stunned, their glasses frozen in mid-air, and the sound of conversation instantly faded, leaving a pin drop in silence.

The graceful dancers reacted very quickly, stopping their previous graceful dance moves and lightly retreating to the entrance, like nimble butterflies returning to their nests, and in the blink of an eye they formed a tight circle.

In the banquet hall, everyone, from the emperor who sat high on the dragon throne and controlled the world, to the ministers who had their own thoughts and were cautious, had a look of astonishment on their faces, and they all cast their inquiring eyes towards the entrance, trying to solve the mystery of this sudden change.

However, among all the people full of doubts, only Jin An seemed to know everything in advance. The corners of her mouth rose slightly, she pursed her lips gently, with a smile in her eyes, and she sat in her seat with graceful manner. Her calm and composed appearance made her even more unfathomable.

"Boom, boom, boom", a burst of passionate and heart-stirring war drum music rang out, like a sharp battle order, breaking the brief silence in the banquet hall.

The dancers at the entrance seemed to be instantly injected with infinite power. Their bodies were agile, and the dancing movements of their hands and feet had completely lost their previous soft and gentle feeling. Instead, they were replaced by strong and powerful rhythms. Every time they raised their hands and kicked their legs, it seemed as if they carried a thousand pounds of force and whistled in the wind.

As if propelled by an invisible hand, the circle they formed slowly moved to the center of the banquet hall, a dazzling halo that captivated everyone's attention. Then, like well-trained warriors, the dancers, each agile and swift, bent backwards in unison, their movements perfectly synchronized, like a row of willows swaying in the wind, displaying astonishing flexibility.

At this moment, a woman appeared in the middle of the circle as if by magic. She was wearing a tight-fitting dress that perfectly outlined her slender yet powerful waist. Her figure was graceful and exquisite, with curves that looked like a work of art carefully carved by God.

She had a thin veil on her face, making it difficult to see her true features, but it aroused everyone's curiosity even more.

As the dancers in the circle shifted formation and dispersed, it became clear that the woman in the center had a small waist drum tied to her waist. Her shoes were also specially made, with a tip that made a "ta-ta" sound when kicked. She seemed to be one with the passionate drumbeats, her feet lightly tapping the ground to the rhythm of the drums.

As her feet rotated left and right, her body swayed in unison, and her hands gently tapped the small drum at her waist. The "dong dong dong" sound of the drum echoed with the gentle "da da" of her toes tapping the ground. Their coordination resembled the beat of a charging drum and the clatter of soldiers' footsteps on a battlefield, a rhythmic and vibrant one that stirred the heart. Each strike and tap carried the might of a vast army, heightening the heated and exciting atmosphere in the banquet hall. Her veil fluttered gently with her vigorous movements, occasionally revealing a pair of bright, deep eyes, like twinkling cold stars in the night sky, emanating an air of mystery that beckoned a deeper glimpse.

As the dance progressed, she seemed to unleash her inner passion, her movements becoming increasingly unrestrained and heroic, like a female general commanding a vast army, forcibly dragging everyone's thoughts into a blood-soaked, smoke-filled battlefield. The surrounding dancers coordinated seamlessly, their movements synced. Some bent like lurking cheetahs, poised for action; some kicked like swift crossbows, piercing the sky; some leaned sideways like nimble horses, dodging. Their movements evoked the majestic aura of a charging army, creating a scene of war unfolding across the banquet hall.

Just as the drums reached their climax, the woman abruptly turned, planted her feet, raised her arms high, and swung the small drum at her waist with all her might. The drum traced an arc through the air, landing steadily in the hands of a waiter who had already prepared it. Simultaneously, she moved with graceful steps, stalking towards the front of the banquet hall. As she walked, the surrounding dancers quickly dispersed to the sides, retreating like a tide, leaving a wide passage. Under everyone's gaze, she reached the center of the hall, slowly stopped, gently raised her right hand, and gracefully removed her veil.

In an instant, a stunningly beautiful face was revealed, with eyebrows as dark as distant black, eyes as clear as autumn water, lips as cherries, and skin as white as snow. It was none other than the newly-promoted noblewoman, Lin Qian. Her eyes were full of smiles as she first glanced around, then, with light, graceful steps, she walked towards the Emperor.

Arriving before the Emperor, she knelt gracefully, bowed her head, and spoke softly but firmly, "Your Majesty, Lin Qian, respectfully wishes our Emperor long live! I have specially choreographed this dance today to pay tribute to the brave and fearless border soldiers of our Great Jin Dynasty. They risked their lives and fought bloody battles on the battlefield, bringing peace and prosperity to our dynasty today. Although I am a woman, I am willing to use this humble effort to cheer on the soldiers and pray for our dynasty. May the military might of our Great Jin Dynasty remain forever, our country be forever secure, and our people live and work in peace and contentment!"

It was obvious that Lin Qian's appearance was a painstaking effort, but it truly amazed the entire audience. Minister Lin looked at the astonishment of the people in the hall, and his face was also full of satisfaction.

The emperor was also very satisfied with Lin Qian's performance. He nodded slightly, with approval in his eyes. He raised his hand to signal her to stand up and said gently, "My beloved concubine is thoughtful. Hurry and stand up."

Lin Qian respectfully thanked the emperor and slowly rose. The well-trained eunuchs and palace maids beside her had already swiftly arranged a seat for her next to Jin An. As Lin Qian gracefully walked to her seat, her gaze flickered towards Jin An, a grateful smile playing on her lips as she gracefully bowed. Her gentle movements and sincere expression betrayed her deep gratitude. Others might not know that tonight's stunning dance performance was made possible thanks to Jin An's skillful maneuvering and meticulous planning. Without Jin An's assistance, Concubine Ling would never have allowed Lin Qian, a newly appointed concubine, this precious opportunity to shine before the emperor.

Due to Concubine Cen's health, she couldn't attend the banquet tonight; and Concubine Zhang wanted to come but couldn't, as the Emperor hadn't lifted her house arrest. Jiaoyu, in turn, said her mother, Concubine Zhang, was unwell, and she hadn't come to accompany her. Mainly, she knew the guests at the banquet would be members of the Mu family, and she didn't want to see Jin'an's smug expression. So she told the Emperor she was worried about Concubine Zhang being alone and wanted to take care of her. This way, out of sight, out of mind, she also earned the reputation of filial piety from the Emperor.