Chapter 1057: Chapter 1057: Vying for Beauty and Attention
Ya Ling held the wine pot in both hands, with a shy smile on her face, and slowly walked towards Ye You. Her snow-white gown luxuriated in extravagance, resembling flakes of snow sparkling with golden light as they landed on her.
Ye You remained composed, sitting upright in his seat, watching as Ya Ling approached step by step with an unruffled expression in his eyes.
Stopping in front of him, Ya Ling lifted the wine pot and said in a sweet voice, "This Ice Flower Wine was personally brewed by me, please allow His Royal Highness to taste."
Ye You’s expression remained unchanged, and without a word, he merely nodded slightly, which was taken as an acceptance.
With Ye You’s permission, Ya Ling immediately lifted the wine pot and poured into his cup. The aromatic Jadescent Nectar trickled from the pot, quickly filling the cup.
"Your Highness, please." Ya Ling made a beckoning gesture with her palm, her eyes brimming with water, unwaveringly watching Ye You.
Ye You extended his hand to pick up the cup. While looking at the Jadescent Nectar within it, numerous thoughts flashed through his mind.
The Qing Ming Family wouldn’t be foolish enough to poison him in broad daylight; besides, they belonged to his mother’s side of the family — Ye You was confident that they would be more inclined to support him, thus the wine was safe.
He brought the cup to his lips and drank without hesitation, feeling the chilly liquid enter his mouth. Shortly after, a biting cold fragrance filled his mouth and lingered on, with the cold sensation dissipating as it went down the throat, only to be replaced by a warm serenity.
"Excellent wine!" Ye You exclaimed in praise.
Ya Ling’s expression brightened with joy, and she quickly stepped forward to pour Ye You another cup.
However, Ye You did not pick up the cup immediately. Instead, looking at Ya Ling, he said, "How can I enjoy such fine wine alone? Miss Ya Ling, please have the seven Clan Leaders also taste your exquisite craft."
Having been praised, Ya Ling was smiling proudly with delight, but the second part of Ye You’s statement caused her smile to stiffen. To pour wine for the Clan Leaders? She was no servant.
Yet, having already poured wine for Ye You and with him having spoken, she could not openly defy the command of His Royal Highness.
As Ya Ling hesitated, a loud voice spoke out, "Miss Ya Ling, hurry up, I too wish to taste your Ice Flower Wine. Surely you wouldn’t be unwilling, would you?"
The speaker was Chief Lianfu of the Phantom Spirit Family, looking at Ya Ling with a smile, clearly relishing the situation.
Sitting beside him, Meng Yu also glanced at Ya Ling with a shallow smile, then demurely looked down, her long eyelashes concealing the ice-cold mockery in her eyes.
Quartered by Chief Lianfu’s words, Ya Ling found herself in an even more difficult position. Declining to pour the wine would show unwillingness, and although she was proud, she knew better than to offend the other seven of The Eight Great Families at the banquet.
With no choice but to comply, she took the wine pot and began serving each Clan Leader. Still feeling indignant, when she reached Lian Fu, she lifted the pot, but no wine poured out. Ya Ling set the pot down and said to Lian Fu, "I’m sorry, Uncle Lian Fu, there’s no more wine."
Although she said "I’m sorry," there wasn’t a hint of apology in her expression.
Lian Fu’s smile cooled a notch, and with a sarcastic tone commented, "It seems I don’t have the fortune to taste it!"
Ya Ling paid him no heed; she turned around, returned to her seat, sat down, and sulked with a pout.
Watching his only daughter, Ge Lun felt both heartache that she was deliberately troubled and angry that she lacked an awareness of the bigger picture; he also felt some resentment towards Ye You for not considering Ya Ling’s best interests, and even more infuriated that Chief Lianfu was deliberately stirring up trouble.
Chief Lianfu sighed deeply, turned to Ye You, and said, "Your Royal Highness, it was meant to be entertaining, but it seems the fun hasn’t been enhanced. Perhaps we should have Meng Yu perform a small act next. What do you think, Your Highness?"
"Please do," answered Ye You, his expression still indifferent, as if the two women taking their turns to perform had nothing to do with him.
Meng Yu’s smile was perfectly placed, neither as distant as a giant from a thousand miles away nor as excessively fawning as one might expect. She walked to the center of the hall, bowed gracefully to Ye You, and then made a request, "I need a musician for my performance, and I hope His Highness can kindly allow him to enter the banquet hall."
"Granted," Ye You wanted to see what kind of bewitching concoction Meng Yu had prepared for him.
Soon, an aged musician was brought in, his beard turning grey. With the servant’s arrangement, he knelt in a humble corner, holding an instrument resembling an erhu.
The musician stabilized his posture, took up his instrument, and a beautiful, serene melody flowed out as naturally as a mountain stream. He was just an ordinary man, not using magic, yet his musical skill was profound. As the music followed his heart, it captivated the listeners, deserving applause and acclaims.
Meng Yu, who had been standing in the middle of the hall, began to move. She danced gracefully to the rhythm of the music, her fluttering pink skirt seemed to sweep across the hearts of the audience.
At first, the melody was slow and lingering, like light rain moistening the apricot blossoms about to bloom, like a spring breeze stirring the graceful willows, like white clouds drifting and changing shape in the sky.
Moments later, the pace of the music quickened. The light rain turned into a downpour, with the apricot blossoms swaying rapidly in the rain; the spring breeze became a gusty wind, causing the delicate willows to sway wildly and entrancingly; the white clouds transformed rapidly, as if many years went by unconsciously.
The melody seemed to be climbing mountains, each peak surpassing the last, and the musician’s level was indeed extraordinary. While listening, one would think this mountain was the tallest, only to reach the summit and realize there are higher mountains.
Meng Yu’s spinning became faster and faster. It seemed she had reached the limit but as the melody escalated, her spinning turned even more rapid. However, there was no sign of rush; her every gesture remained captivating and seductive.
Among a myriad of competing flowers, she appeared to be the most exquisite and unparalleled bloom of all.
Unbeknownst to the guests, several colorful butterflies had flown into the banquet hall, seemingly charmed by Meng Yu. They danced along with her movement, with butterflies mirroring her, and she them.
Xiao Meng watched with great interest. In her memory, negotiation and discussions were always dull and tedious matters. Had it not been for the chance to meet Yun Cheng and Qin Sisi, she would have had no desire to attend such gatherings. Unexpectedly, the banquet offered not only a feast of delicacies but also such pleasing performances.
She did not like Ya Ling and had heard of the Phantom Spirit family’s deep schemes; however, that did not affect her mood to enjoy the show. If the performance was appealing, it mattered little who the person was.
But as she noticed that in the great hall nearly everyone’s gaze, including Yun Cheng’s, was fixed on Meng Yu, Xiao Meng gradually sensed something amiss. Both acts were cleverly designed, stunningly beautiful — Meng Yu even brought in a musician, a clear sign that this was no spontaneous act.
She leaned close to Jing Jing and whispered, "Second Sister, what exactly are these two women up to?"
Jing Jing had lowered her gaze and closed her ears to the music, her eyes to the beauty, as if she had entered a meditative state like an old monk solidifying in trance.
