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

"If Your Majesty does not despise me, I am willing to perform a solo dance of my own composition, 'Moonlight Dew,' to wish Your Majesty good health, longevity, and boundless happiness."

All eyes were once again focused on them.

The woman knelt where light and shadow intertwined, her figure graceful and her face serene. Despite the shock she had just experienced, she showed no sign of panic or confusion, but rather an air of detached composure.

The Empress and the Emperor exchanged a glance, and the Emperor nodded.

Although the Empress was still displeased, seeing that Yun Nian had behaved properly and volunteered to salvage the situation, her expression softened slightly, and she said, "Granted. Yun family girl is very thoughtful."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Yun Nian kowtowed again and calmly rose.

Yun Nian nodded slightly in the direction of the musicians and made a simple gesture.

The music leader understood, paused for a moment, and then a melodious and ethereal sound, like moonlight flowing, slowly rose from the strings.

As the music played, Yun Nian slowly raised her arms.

With a gentle sway of her wide sleeves, two nearly ten-foot-long snow-white gauze sleeves suddenly slid out from the cuffs of her moon-white dance dress.

Her water sleeves were as thin as cicada wings and as soft as flowing clouds. They wrapped around her wrists and then fluttered open with her movements, shimmering with a soft, pearly luster under the candlelight in the hall.

She lightly touched the ground with her toes, her body moving in sync with the music.

Without intense spins or difficult jumps, her dance was gentle and fluid, like a fairy walking alone under the moon, or like a Udumbara flower quietly blooming in the still night.

Her snow-white long sleeves were an extension of her body, sometimes fluttering around her like flowing wind and swirling snow.

Sometimes it appears like a white rainbow piercing the sun, bursting forth from the sky.

Sometimes it droops gently, as if embracing the moon.

As her long sleeves fluttered, a cool breeze stirred up, seemingly washing away the heat and awkwardness that had just filled the hall.

It was during that one turn of her head, her eyes sparkling, that she seemingly unintentionally met the pair of phoenix eyes that had been watching her intently from below the stage.

Qin Jiuchen had put down his wine glass at some point, his gaze fixed intently on the moon-white figure in the center of the stage.

His face remained expressionless, but his usually calm eyes now clearly reflected amazement and appreciation.

Yun Nian caught the glint in his eyes.

Her heart stirred slightly, and though she didn't stop dancing, in the next gentle spin, she used her long sleeves to partially cover her face, and with a slight lift of her eye, she sent a glance toward him.

Her gaze was both shy and timid, seemingly intentional yet unintentional.

Qin Jiuchen's gaze suddenly sharpened, and his fingers tightened slightly as he held the empty wine glass.

As the music ended, Yun Nian slowly gathered her sleeves, bowed deeply, and was slightly out of breath.

Fine beads of sweat glistened on her forehead, sparkling under the light, adding to her genuine and touching tenderness.

The hall was silent at first, then someone started to applaud enthusiastically.

The Empress finally smiled with satisfaction: "What a fine performance of 'Moonlight Dew'! The Yun family girl is indeed intelligent and talented, with exceptional dancing skills. I award her."

Yun Nian expressed her gratitude, lowered her eyes, and stepped off the stage.

She returned to her seat among the women of the Prime Minister's residence.

As soon as I sat down, a sharp pain shot through my back, followed by a wet sensation that quickly spread across my clothes.

Yun Nian had a bad feeling.

It must be because the movements were too vigorous while dancing, which aggravated the still-healing cane wound, and the wound has probably reopened.

The burning sensation on my back became clearer and clearer, and I could even feel warm liquid slowly flowing down my spine.

She whispered to Madam Xie beside her, "Mother, I'm feeling a little unwell and would like to go to the changing room to tidy myself up."

Upon hearing this, Xie glanced at her and nodded indifferently, "Yes, go and come back quickly."

Yun Nian got up and left Qianqiu Palace.

As soon as she stepped out of the palace, a cool night breeze greeted her, and she quickened her pace toward the corridor leading to the changing room.

The corridors twist and turn, and the palace lanterns sway in the night breeze, casting flickering shadows.

Reaching a relatively secluded corner, Yun Nian stopped and couldn't help but turn around to check what was happening behind her.

In the dim light, the moon-white dance costume indeed cast long, winding lines.

"Qiluo?"

She called out.

However, all was quiet, and there was no sign of Qiluo.

"Qiluo? Are you nearby?"

She called out again, and was about to turn around to check when...

My forehead bumped into a broad, sturdy chest unexpectedly.

Yun Nian was knocked back half a step and looked up in surprise.

How could it be him?

Qin Jiuchen had silently appeared behind her without her noticing.

Yun Nian hurriedly lowered her eyes and curtsied, "Nian'er greets Your Highness. Your Highness, why are you out here too?"

Qin Jiuchen's gaze swept over the dark marks that were faintly visible on her moon-white dress.

He frowned slightly.

"Trying to be strong again."

He suddenly spoke.

Yun Nian was taken aback, not immediately realizing what he meant.

Qin Jiuchen said no more and turned to leave.

As he walked, he said, "Follow me."

Yun Nian bit her lower lip and followed after him.

The two arrived at a secluded side hall, one after the other.

Qin Jiuchen pushed open the half-closed door and went in first.

Yun Nian stopped at the doorway and looked inside with some hesitation.

A lone man and a lone woman, alone in a room late at night...

Qin Jiuchen turned around and saw her standing motionless outside the door.

He said calmly, "Come in."

Yun Nian went inside and closed the door behind her.

Qin Jiuchen gestured with his chin towards the bed: "Sit down."

Yun Nian did as instructed and sat down sideways.

Her fingers unconsciously twisted her sleeves as her mind raced, calculating all the possibilities.

Qin Jiuchen took out a slender-necked porcelain bottle from his sleeve and handed it to Yun Nian.

"Apply the medicine," he said succinctly.

Yun Nian looked at the medicine bottle, then looked up at him.

Helpless, she said, "Your Highness, the wound is on my back, I... I can't get up by myself."

Qin Jiuchen's gaze swept across her face, and he seemed to realize the problem only then.

He paused for a moment, then asked, "Where is your maid?"

"Qiluo?"

Yun Nian also looked puzzled. "After dancing just now, it seems that I was called away by a palace maid. I don't know where she went."

She took the medicine bottle. "Thank you for the medicine, Your Highness. It's alright, I'll apply it when Qiluo returns. I wouldn't dare trouble Your Highness."

As she spoke, she was about to stand up.

However, a cool but strong hand pressed down on her shoulder.