With her delicate face and slender waist, the royal uncle lost control.

She turned to Qiluo and whispered, "Take our own."

Qiluo understood and quickly walked to an inconspicuous cabinet in the corner of the room.

That was something Yun Nian had Qi Luo secretly place beforehand.

Qiluo took out a set of dance costumes that were folded neatly from inside.

Upon closer inspection, the color, style, pattern, and even the sheen of the fabric were exactly the same as the set Qin Jiaxue had prepared on the table.

This was something Yun Nian had secretly ordered someone to make when she learned that she needed to be Qin Jiaxue's dance partner. The materials and embroidery used were even more solid and exquisite.

"Miss, I have also taken care of the other matter you arranged."

Qi Luo helped Yun Nian change her clothes while keeping her voice down.

Yun Nian looked in the bronze mirror and straightened her clothes and cuffs.

Upon hearing this, a charming smile slowly bloomed on her beautiful face reflected in the mirror.

-

When they returned to the main banquet hall, Qin Jiaxue was already waiting behind the curtain.

She was dressed very formally today as the lead dancer.

She wore a bright red, gold-embroidered, soft silk dance dress with wide sleeves that trailed on the ground. The skirt was embroidered with peacocks with outstretched wings in gold thread. Under the bright lights, she was dazzling and incomparably beautiful.

In contrast, Yun Nian's moon-white dance dress, though exquisite, became an inconspicuous supporting role next to Qin Jiaxue's attire.

Qin Jiaxue's gaze fell on Yun Nian, and she saw that she was indeed wearing the prepared moon-white dress.

A fleeting glint of smugness and ruthlessness flashed across her eyes, before she flashed an impeccable sweet smile and affectionately took Yun Nian's arm.

"Sister Yun Nian, you've finally arrived! It's our turn to go on stage."

Yun Nian let her hold her arm, her expression calm, and nodded slightly: "Thank you for waiting so long, Sister Xue'er."

The two, one in red and one in white, one bright and one aloof, walked side by side from the side curtain to the stage in the center of the hall.

The clamor in the hall fell silent as countless eyes suddenly focused on them.

Yun Nian lowered her eyes, her posture respectful.

But the moment he looked up, his gaze unexpectedly met that figure, as striking as ice and snow, standing to the side of the main seat on the high platform.

Qin Jiuchen sat not far below the emperor.

Dressed in a black prince's robe with a jade crown binding his hair, he still exuded a cold aura that kept strangers at bay, even on such a festive occasion.

He toyed with a white jade wine cup in his hand, his slender fingers casually turning the rim of the cup, but his gaze was cold and indifferent as he looked over and landed right on Yun Nian.

His eyes were unfathomable, as if all the noise and splendor in the hall were irrelevant to him; he was simply watching a good show about to unfold.

Yun Nian's heart trembled slightly. She quickly lowered her eyelashes, and a blush of shyness rose just right on her face as she avoided his overly piercing gaze.

Qin Jiaxue stepped forward, bowed gracefully, and said in a clear, melodious voice, "Your subject, Qin Jiaxue, together with Miss Yun Nian from the Prime Minister's residence, presents the dance 'Amazing Beauty' for Her Majesty the Empress's birthday, wishing Her Majesty good health and lasting blessings."

The Empress sat regally on her phoenix throne, a graceful smile appearing on her face, and said gently, "Thank you for your thoughtfulness. Let's begin."

The sounds of silk and bamboo instruments arose gently, beginning with a clear and melodious flute melody, like a spring breeze brushing across the lake.

Qin Jiaxue danced gracefully.

Her dancing skills were indeed superb; her figure was supple and her steps were light. Her red figure twirled and stretched in the hall, like a burning flame or a proud peacock, attracting everyone's attention.

Yun Nian was behind or beside her, coordinating with her main dance moves, which were small in scale but precise and accurate.

The moon-white figure, like the bright moonlight, perfectly complements the "flame," neither stealing the spotlight nor appearing clumsy.

As the dance progressed, the music became more urgent and exciting.

Qin Jiaxue touched the ground with her toes, stretched out her body, and prepared to complete a beautiful leap into the air.

"Bang bang."

A sound like a thread snapping rang out.

Qin Jiaxue was overjoyed, eagerly anticipating the spectacular scene of the moon-white dress suddenly tearing apart and the cold beauty losing her composure.

However, the expected exclamation from Yun Nian and the uproar from the crowd did not occur.

Instead, she suddenly felt a chill on her body.

"Splash!"

The exquisite gold-embroidered outer garment, along with the light gauze petticoat underneath, seemed like a magnificent curtain that had lost its support, suddenly slipping off and scattering from Qin Jiaxue's body as she landed.

Qin Jiaxue only felt a flash of red before her eyes, and her body suddenly felt much lighter. Then came the biting cold and the sudden burst of gasps and uproar from the audience.

She stared blankly down at the ground.

What came into view was her own snow-white body, clad only in a bright red peony-embroidered bodice and silk trousers.

Large areas of skin are exposed to the air.

"what!"

A piercing scream burst from Qin Jiaxue's throat.

She suddenly crouched down, frantically trying to pull up the scattered pieces of her dress to cover herself.

The more panicked you are, the more pathetic you become.

Her snow-white arms, slender waist, and long legs were faintly visible through her tattered red dress, adding to the unsightly ambiguity.

"Good heavens! This...this is outrageous!"

In the women's section, an older lady covered her face with her sleeve and whispered her rebuke.

"The Qin family's daughter is so shameless?"

Whispers spread like a tide.

"Tsk tsk, that undergarment is quite brightly colored..."

Among the male guests, there were many malicious sneers and whispers.

On the high platform, the smile on the Empress's face had vanished completely; her brows were furrowed, and her eyes revealed undisguised annoyance and displeasure.

The emperor's expression was also somber, clearly extremely displeased with the unexpected disruption to the birthday banquet.

Qin Jiuchen paused, his hand holding the wine glass stilled, and his gaze fell on Yun Nian.

His eyes darkened slightly, a hint of glint flashing across them.

Qin Senyao was the first to react.

His face turned ashen.

He ripped off his black cloak, rushed onto the stage, and wrapped it tightly around Qin Jiaxue without saying a word.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Empress, please forgive me."

Qin Senyao knelt on one knee and said, "It was my sister who made a mistake while preparing the dance costume, which disturbed Her Majesty's birthday banquet. We deserve to die."

Only after he wrapped Qin Jiaxue in his cloak did she regain a sliver of consciousness from her extreme shame, anger, and terror. She then knelt on the ground, sobbing uncontrollably, "This subject...this subject deserves to die a thousand deaths, please forgive me, Your Majesty..."

Looking at the chaotic scene below the stage, the Empress felt that the birthday banquet had been tainted with bad luck, and she was extremely disgusted.

She took a deep breath, barely maintaining her composure as the Queen Mother, and waved her hand. "Never mind, it must have been an accident. Prince Qin, take your sister downstairs to tidy up."

"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty."

Qin Senyao felt as if he had been granted a pardon. He quickly helped the limp Qin Jiaxue up and hurriedly dragged and carried her off the stage.

At this moment, the moon-white figure who had been standing quietly to the side took two light steps forward and gracefully bowed in the center of the stage.

Yun Nian's voice was clear and steady, like jade striking each other, "Greetings to Your Majesty the Empress. Originally, we were going to perform a dance to celebrate Your Majesty's birthday, but an unexpected accident has occurred, disturbing Your Majesty's and everyone's enjoyment."

"This humble woman, Yun Nian, dares to humbly..."

She paused, then raised her bright eyes.