Chapter 7: How to Dance

The dancers of the Music Bureau, having danced for so long, inevitably accumulated injuries over time. When they could no longer dance but had not yet reached the age to leave the palace, they would be transferred to other palaces. There were many options—some became minor palace maids in the residences of imperial concubines, others did miscellaneous work in the Linheng Office. Those who were more literate, spoke little, and had some ability might be sent to the Wanshu Pavilion.

The servants at Wanshu Pavilion had the easiest jobs. For one, they rarely got into disputes with the ladies of the palace; for another, Your Majesty seldom visited.

However, there were downsides to such leisure. The servants at Wanshu Pavilion received lower monthly salaries, and there were more eunuchs than palace maids there. Most importantly, the palace maids at Wanshu Pavilion could leave the palace early at the age of twenty-three.

Lan Wu was seventeen this year. The old injuries from dancing were not severe, but if she wanted to leave the Music Bureau for another place, she would need a deliberately created “accident.” Once she actually made it to Wanshu Pavilion, it would mean she only needed to stay in the palace for six more years before she could leave.

But before she could decide whether to injure her foot to leave the Music Bureau smoothly, news arrived that Consort Shu had summoned her.

In her previous life at Lejing Pavilion, Consort Shu had taught her many rules. She had to wake up earlier than Consort Shu for morning greetings and kneel outside the hall until Consort Shu rose before she could enter.

Lan Wu remembered the longest time she knelt—her knees had turned blue from bruising. She had complained to Chu Mingheng, who intervened and exempted her from the morning greetings, infuriating Consort Shu, who later found other ways to torment her.

Consort Shu was a venomous woman, like a snake or scorpion. Though she had a stunning appearance, in Lan Wu’s heart, she was like the snake demon described in books—a beautiful face with the body of a viper.

Now, she was just a lowly music girl, and she didn’t know how she had caught Consort Shu’s attention, summoning her to appear before her.

Lan Wu looked at the person before her.

Yunqing was also observing Lan Wu. Although she had already witnessed Lan Wu’s beauty at the Longevity Festival while accompanying Lady Shufei, even now, without lavish clothing or exquisite hairpins, Lan Wu remained astonishingly beautiful.

“Lady Shufei has invited Miss Lan Wu over. It’s best not to keep Her Ladyship waiting, Miss Lan Wu,” Yunqing said in a calm tone, without any hint of arrogance.

Lan Wu softly replied, “Yes,” then whispered to Xia Chu, who was not far behind her, “Consort Li asked me to help her pick flowers today, but I won’t be able to go. I hope you can go to Jinghua Palace and inform Consort Li for me. I will go later to apologize.”

Consort Shu might not necessarily harm her today to eliminate a future threat, but just in case, her current self was of great use to Consort Li. If her face or body were injured or damaged, it would be a pity. So, informing Consort Li would also prevent any unexpected incidents.

Xia Chu was taken aback for a moment but quickly grasped Lan Wu’s hand. “Don’t worry, I’ll let her know.”

Lan Wu followed Yunqing away.

The weather was fine today. In spring, the flowers in the Imperial Garden were in full bloom. The deeper they walked into the garden, the more they could hear the delicate laughter of women.

Lan Wu thought to herself, “This is bad.”

If they were only at Yifang Hall, Consort Shu might not necessarily harm her. But if there were many imperial concubines gathered, with all sorts of people present, the suffering she might endure would likely not be minor.

Consort Shu was indeed still the same Consort Shu, always skilled at using poisonous schemes.

Within the Imperial Garden, there were many other smaller gardens. One of them was named the Glazed Garden, which was not deliberately constructed with bricks and stones but was instead a space enclosed by flowering trees. Only a single pebble path led through it to the other side, while the rest of the ground was covered with short, shallow grass. However, since it was a place for the masters to enjoy themselves, there were no sharp stones hidden in the grass.

Ahead stood a large pavilion, and even from a distance, Lan Wu could see imperial concubines chatting and laughing inside. Seated on a cushioned chair at the center was Lady Shufei.

Currently, the factions of Lady Shufei and Consort Rou were locked in a rivalry, with the concubines who had entered the palace through the imperial selection having already chosen their sides. Those who were inconspicuous didn’t even have the chance to meet these two influential figures.

“This humble servant, Lan Wu, pays her respects to Lady Shufei and to all the ladies.” Lan Wu was led to the foot of the steps, where she knelt on the ground and performed a bow.

Lady Shufei remained silent, raising an eyebrow as she looked down at Lan Wu below, gently toying with the chess pieces on the table.

Since she did not speak, others naturally stepped in to do so.

Lady Liu stepped forward with a light laugh, reaching out to lift Lan Wu’s chin. When she saw Lan Wu’s face, a flicker of clear jealousy and resentment crossed her expression. Then, before Lan Wu could react, she slapped Lan Wu across the face.

“How insolent! Where did this servant come from, daring to look directly at her master?” Lady Liu’s slap was not particularly forceful, but in the palace, damaging someone’s dignity was an especially humiliating punishment.

After delivering the slap, she was even handed a handkerchief to wipe her hands.

Lan Wu was already familiar with their tactics. Lady Liu was nothing more than a mad dog under Lady Shufei’s command, often resorting to physical violence.

In her previous life, when Lan Wu had first become a Beauty, Lady Liu had taken a dislike to her and used the excuse of her lack of decorum to strike her. However, after that slap, Lan Wu had returned the favor in kind, maneuvering Lady Liu into the presence of Consort Li and using Consort Li to deliver several harsh slaps to Lady Liu’s face.

This time, Lan Wu did not fully endure the slap. She subtly dodged it, ensuring Lady Liu did not notice.

After the crisp sound of the slap echoed, Lan Wu covered her face, timidly pleading, “Please forgive this concubine, my lady.”

“Sister Liu, why such a fiery temper? She is the girl Lady Shufei summoned to dance for our entertainment. If you frighten her so much that her legs go weak, how will she dance later?” Xiuyi Bai said, ordering someone to help Lan Wu up. She stepped forward to examine Lan Wu’s face, her fingers lightly tracing the area that had been struck, sighing with pity.

Around them were other imperial concubines who could not speak up but were eagerly watching the spectacle, waiting for the show to begin.

Lady Shufei took a sip of tea and finally spoke, “I saw you dance beautifully the other day, so today I specifically called you here to perform for me and my sisters.”

Lan Wu’s face paled slightly, and she was about to respond when Xiuyi Bai suddenly said, “That day, I noticed this girl danced barefoot. Why not do the same today?”

In an instant, Lan Wu understood what they intended to do.

She suspected that within this shallow grass, there were likely many sharp stones hidden.

Dancing under such conditions would inevitably injure her feet, but from another perspective, this unexpectedly aligned with her own wishes.

If her feet were injured, she could leave the Music Bureau, bribe the supervisor with money, and perhaps smoothly transfer to Wanshu Pavilion.

As she was thinking this, another person suddenly spoke up, “That day, this girl wasn’t wearing these clothes either. In this concubine’s opinion, she should strip off all her garments and dance that way.”

This statement caused a brief silence in the surroundings, and soon someone chimed in with agreement.

She was merely a lowly dancer—any palace consort present could easily have her killed without a second thought. Naturally, no one paid any heed to Lan Wu’s wishes.

Yet Lan Wu instinctively tightened her grip on her sleeve, her face flushing with humiliation. Removing her shoes was one thing, but if they tried to strip her clothes, she would make sure to cause a scene.