70 CHAPTER 70 : WHITE LOTUS

"Such a brilliant child! This empress had never seen such performance before. What is it called?", the Empress praised Mu Jiu Jiu to her heart content. At least to her favorite daughter in law candidate, the Empress' praise seems sincere.

"Answering the Empress, this dance is called the Immortal Dance", Mu Jiu Jiu replied. It's not like this dance exist in this era. During the Moon Viewing Banquet, Mu Jiu Jiu was shocked to find out that the sword dancing technique has been developed. But as part of her job in the modern era, she has mastered the control of expressions on her face. As a modern woman, if something didn't go the way you intended it to be, then you could improvise. If the sword dancing has been performed, then she could do another dance.

After the Empress asked her to show her talent, Mu Jiu Jiu bashfully agreed. So with graceful steps, she stood on the center of the hall and started to dance. At first, the dance seems ordinary. Her movement and steps alone are complicated enough that it looks like it required many techniques. But in the eye of Li Xi Rui, her dance lack emotions. Just like a puppet attached on strings and moved without emotions. Then, after a few minutes, Mu Jiu Jiu starts to take something from her sleeve. At first an ordinary handkerchief, then after pulling it out, another handkerchief is tied on the previous one. Then another, another and another.

The strings of handkerchief stop after 10 or so handkerchiefs fly across the air. Mu Jiu Jiu continue dancing and moving her body before going to the 8th princess's side and put out her right hand behind the princess's head. Then she withdraws her hand back with a red flower on her palm. With glee, 8th princess clap her hands together.

But what astonishing is when the flower on her palm disappears in front of their eyes. The performance end with the disappearance of the flower. The present royalties praise Mu Jiu Jiu with claps and a few praises. Li Xi Rui also did the same. Though the disappearance of the flower was not shocking to her, but the heroine is truly talented. As for why it did not shock her, she had been accustomed to Rui Sheng's power. He could even make himself disappear in front of her! So why would a mere flower disappearance shock her?

As for Mu Jiu Jiu, she hadn't had a chance to meet Long Jie's cousin. Even if Long Jie is amiable to her, he wouldn't carelessly introduce his family members to her. Mu Jiu Jiu still didn't know that Long Jie is not a royalty. She even thought that the world she is in is only an ordinary ancient era. Such displays of physical power are not shocking to her as she had known that the people in this era are profound martial artists. What she didn't know is the world she is in is not ancient China at all. It might look like it, but cultivators exist. Naturally, the cultivators are not easily found as most of them live in Jianghu as a part of secret sect. Ordinary Mu Jiu Jiu hadn't stepped into Jianghu yet.

"Why are you calling this Empress as if we are not close? Didn't this Empress ordered for you to call me Empress mother?! After all, you would be one next month", the Empress pretending to chide her. But the innuendo of the words could be heard by the people present.

Li Xi Rui also had caught the meaning of those words. Doesn't it mean that Mu Jiu Jiu's and her marriage fall into the same month? She waited for her heart to hurt. But nothing… nothing happened. 'It seems like I am really the same as them', she thought. After just barely 3 months, she had lost all her love for the crown prince. What Li Xi Rui didn't know is whether the feeling she harbored was truly the emotion we called love? Or was it something else?

Mu Jiu Jiu's voice echoed in the hall, waking Li Xi Rui from her thought. "Forgive this Miss, Empress, but sister Xi Rui also will be married next month. If Xi Rui could call the Empress as Empress Mother, then it would not seem too unfair", Mu Jiu Jiu kowtowed.

'Ah~ the white lotus act', Li Xi Rui thought. Mu Jiu Jiu's suggestion might look like a noble intention for Li Xi Rui and the Empress to grow closer. It couldn't be help if Mu Jiu Jiu didn't know the rules of the palace. But in giving another suggestion to the Empress, the Empress would become more hostile to Li Xi Rui. It would have implied that the empress is biased on her treatment to both of her future daughter in law. Even if the Empress is truly biased, the people low in ranks shouldn't casually commenting on it. They would have to act like nothing is wrong. Moreover, Mu Jiu Jiu is the favored daughter in law, so the hostility would fall on Li Xi Rui's head.

Li Xi Rui couldn't laugh at this 'stupid mistake' of Mu Jiu Jiu's. Whether last life time or this lifetime, Mu Jiu Jiu would subconsciously implicate her. So before the Empress could be angry, Princess Long who had grew accustomed to the matters in the back palace, said, "Then~ as Miss Mu already showed such brilliant performance, wouldn't Xi Rui also perform for the Empress? Empress sister, wouldn't it be better for the Empress to bestowed that reward if Empress sister satisfied with Xi Rui?". This act of Princess Long provided a way for the Empress to reject Li Xi Rui from calling her Empress mother without seeming like a tyrant. It would be Li Xi Rui's sole fault if the Empress is not satisfied with her performance.

The matter in the palace is truly complicated. One couldn't just carelessly say something without the meaning being distorted. Does Mu Jiu Jiu understand this? Her carelessness could cost someone her life.