A Forbidden Happiness

Chapter 32

Jiayi flinched as flames erupted from the fire breather's mouth. The New Year's banquet was well underway, the courses flowing in and out like water, and each performer was more talented than the last. Xiang pin laughed happily, clapping and cheering. The other guests were just as entertained, eyes wide and mouths hanging open. It looked like everyone had forgotten about The Empress Dowager's fall just as quickly as it happened. Jiayi couldn't imagine that a woman like The Empress Dowager made many friends. Jiayi was sure that everyone had stood up, not out of care, but just to see how badly she was hurt with their own eyes. Xiang pin put on a crafted face of concern but had to hide her smile behind a handkerchief all throughout the first course.

After The Empress Dowager had been carted out, the merry energy didn't take long to return. Even her seat at the head of the hall wasn't empty for long.

Dowager Noble Consort Ling looked out of place up there next to The Emperor. The Empress Dowager was fundamentally flashy, forcing every eye to gaze upon her jewels, gold, and silk, while Dowager Noble Consort Ling existed in a state of gentle regality. Of course, she wore rings and gold and jade, but it wasn't an assault on the eyes to look at her. There was one strange thing about her, though.

Her feet.

They were lotus feet.

At first, Jiayi had thought that perhaps Dowager Consort Ling was fragile in her old age when she needed two servants and a staff to help her up to the elevated platform, but when her skirts lifted, a pair of pointed childlike feet poked out. Jiayi hadn't known that the late Emperor had a Han clanswoman as one of his women, let alone one that reached such a high status. Jiayi's eyes danced away from Dowager Noble Consort Ling and settled on Prince Han. He sat stiffly between his brothers, sipping quietly at his wine as they talked over him. He glanced over at her, and Jiayi smiled softly at it. He smiled back, hiding the curve of his lips behind his cup.

The fire breathers left the hall, and a beautiful group of dancers swanned in, decorated in soft, flowing silks. The tempo of the music changed, preceding the crashing symbols and transforming into a sweet, gentle tune. The dancers swirled about, twisting and stretching their lean bodies, their skin glistening under the candlelight. Jiayi couldn't watch the end of the performance as another course began, and she busied herself serving Xiang pin. When she looked across for Prince Han again, his chair was empty.

Jiayi thought nothing of it. She waited for him to return, but his chair remained vacant after two more dances and another course. Unfortunately, Prince Han had already tired of the festivities and excused himself.

With the clash of the gong, the acrobats flew into the air, sending Thunder into a fit of hysterical barking in Xiang pin's lap.

An pin sighed loudly, "Xiang meimei, can't you do something about that dog? It's giving me a headache,"

It was the first thing An pin had said to Xiang pin all night.

Xiang pin fed Thunder a bit of food from her plate, "She's just being a fine patron of the arts and showing her appreciation, jiejie,"

An pin rolled her eyes, "It can't show it's appreciation somewhere else?"

"Well, Thunder should stretch her legs. Here, Jiayi, take her back to Chengqiangong,"

Jiayi tucked Thunder under her arm and left the hall. She took a hearty lungful of the night air before beginning her trek. When they were barely past the courtyard, Thunder began to squirm and huff. Jiayi wrapped a cord around the dog's neck and let her sniff around. She led Thunder to a patch of grass. Thunder sniffed and sniffed but made no moves to go to the bathroom. Thunder pulled at her leash, straining to go back in the direction of the banquet.