Chapter Forty-One: Truly a Celestial Maiden Descends to the Mortal World

Although the envoys were inwardly dissatisfied and bored to the extreme, they still begrudgingly gave some face and sat down with reluctance. However, there seemed to be little anticipation for the upcoming performance. Instead, they gathered together, whispering among themselves, smugly boasting about the dance their own people had just performed.

“Can you believe that in such a grand kingdom as Fengling, they don’t even have a single person skilled in singing and dancing? It’s truly laughable.”

“Indeed, a place like this still dreams of conquering our nation. I can’t imagine what sort of nonsense their emperor is thinking...”

Their murmurs, though no louder than usual, carried just far enough to reach Jun Yeli’s ears.

“These people are simply outrageous, daring to speak of His Majesty like that!” Eunuch Li grumbled resentfully under his breath, but only very quietly.

After all, it was their own idea to hold this social gathering, supposedly to awe the vassal states. Who could have foreseen it would only bring shame upon themselves? At this point, how could they summon the dignity to argue back, when it would only be offering themselves up for ridicule?

Just as Jun Yeli felt a silent fury beginning to build within him, a light, melodious voice drifted over from somewhere unknown.

“The ruler’s heart is kind and gentle, the nation safe and at peace, as the sun sets behind the eastern hills, and rises from the west...”

The exquisite, lilting voice was like that of a nightingale, stirring the spirit in an instant. Jun Yeli forgot his earlier vexation, sat up straight, and glanced about, trying to locate the source of that enchanting song.

But before he could find it, the melody suddenly swelled and spread through the air. The song began gently, then surged into a stirring crescendo, invigorating all who listened. The lyrics continued to echo through the hall.

“What’s happening? Who’s singing? Show yourself at once!”

To the uninitiated, it might have seemed as if some ghost had appeared in broad daylight. Some were dazzled by the voice, while others grew uneasy, unable to shake a rising sense of wariness.

Just then, a swing in the distance began to sway.

A woman in long sleeves, as ethereal as an immortal descending from the heavens, appeared. Her hair was styled high in a flowing cloud bun, adorned with a vivid red peony, so striking that she could easily be mistaken for a celestial being.

“Where has this fairy come from? She is astonishingly beautiful!” someone exclaimed.

The touch of a blossom at her brow was the finishing touch, lending her an air of brilliance that left the crowd stunned. As the swing decorated with fresh flowers drifted closer, the song washed over the audience—now gentle, then soaring—singing of the harmonious prosperity of the nation with such spirit it moved every heart.

Suddenly, a cry rang out, “Look! Isn’t that Consort Rong?”

A murmur of amazement swept through the hall. Jun Yeli had already recognized her and sat transfixed, his gaze never leaving the swing. The woman moved with the wind, her skirts a dazzling blend of red, yellow, blue, and green, vibrant and radiant.

At a glance, she seemed a rainbow arcing through the sky, swaying with the breeze, so beautiful it was impossible to look away.

“How can there be such a beauty in this world? Is this the grand finale His Majesty spoke of? It is simply too breathtaking!”

Even the envoys, who had waited to mock the proceedings, were so stunned that their spectacles nearly fell from their faces. One by one, they stared in utter disbelief, unable to tear their eyes away. Some even stood, arms around each other’s shoulders, trying to get a better look—if they dared go further, they might have rushed onto the swing itself.

Exclamations of wonder rose in waves. The ministers, who had nearly fallen asleep from the earlier dull performances, were instantly captivated by this unprecedented spectacle, each one marveling in admiration.

“Beautiful, truly beautiful—this is what it means to possess a beauty who could topple kingdoms!”

Standing high above, Huarong could just barely hear the chorus of praise, though her legs were trembling with fear. “Heavens, if it weren’t for wanting to make an impression, I’d never put myself through this ordeal…”

Fortunately, she had watched many palace dramas in the past and simply borrowed the eye-catching tricks of those time-traveling heroines. She hadn’t expected the effect to be so immediate and dramatic.

Now, weren’t they all gazing at her as if she were a celestial maiden? The only thing missing was for them to kneel and worship on the spot!

As the song came to an end, Huarong still perched gracefully atop the swing, and as if performing a magic trick, a flurry of petals suddenly fell from her sleeves. What had been a chilly, stark hall was instantly transformed into a world of scattered blossoms—redder than fireworks, breathtakingly beautiful, like a scene from a fairyland.

It was as if both goddess and paradise had gathered in this very place.

“Your Majesty, this is simply too beautiful! No wonder you so eagerly anticipated Her Ladyship’s performance—there is truly none like her!” Eunuch Li could not help but sigh in admiration. In all his years at court, he had seen countless spectacles, but never before had he witnessed one who could sing and dance aloft in such a manner.

Huarong gripped the swing’s rope, winding one leg around it, lifting her other foot from the swing in a pose like a fairy ascending to the heavens. As she floated through the air, she performed a series of novel feats, so mesmerizing that not a single person dared to look away, each one enthralled by her unparalleled beauty.

Yet, from a distance, Noble Consort Wen watched the scene, grinding her teeth in fury.

“Huarong, what trickery have you used to be called up next?”

Noble Consort Wen clenched her delicate, manicured fingers tightly, her nails digging into her palm until blood welled up. Seeing this, the palace maids beside her grew anxious and hurried to comfort her, “Your Ladyship, your hand is injured. Please, try to relax!”

As they spoke, one reached out to examine her hand, but Wen, in her anger, shoved the maid aside with a fierce scolding, “Out of my sight! Who gave you permission to touch me?”

The maid fell to the floor in shock. She had never imagined the usually gentle Noble Consort Wen could display such a violent temper, and she looked up, her face pale with fear and grievance. “Your Ladyship, I was only worried about you…”

Hearing this tone, Wen’s heart softened slightly. She took a deep breath and snapped, “Why are you still sitting there? Come and help me take off this makeup!”

Dressed in her painstakingly prepared finery, Noble Consort Wen now felt like nothing more than a clown. All the consorts had performed, and she had planned to outshine them all, yet she had been blindsided and overshadowed.

She, the dignified Noble Consort, the highest-ranking woman in the harem, had been utterly eclipsed by a mere consort!

The more she thought about it, the more aggrieved she became.