Chapter 23 - After the Sickly Beauty Transmigrated Into a Book, He married the Arrogant Crown Prince

"You, speak." He licked the corner of his lips.

Song Beiyao took a few steps to the center of the hall and said softly, "Princess Heyi and I have always been on good terms. I do not wish for her to marry far away. If the regent agrees not to marry Princess He Yi, I will perform a dance for you as a token of gratitude.”

As soon as these words were spoken, the great hall fell silent once again. Pei Ji looked at Song Beiyao's slender figure, his eyes flickering slightly.

At the table, Pei Ruoyi, who had been nervously clutching her embroidered handkerchief, suddenly looked up and gazed at the brother and sister-in-law she had never met before.

In her heart, the Crown Prince was the most wise and powerful, the gentlest man in the world. 

Her mother passed away early, and she grew up alone in the palace. Her elder brother took care of everything for her, so she wouldn't be bullied or neglected.

She had never imagined what kind of person her royal brother would marry in the future, nor could she envision who would be worthy of him.

It wasn't until today, when she met the rumored prince who had come to marry into the family, that she realized there was indeed someone standing beside her royal brother without being overshadowed by him.

"How can this be decided by the Crown Prince's consort?" At that moment, the empress's somewhat sharp voice rang out, and then she quickly changed her tone, addressing Helian Zhuo, "Princess Heyi has prepared for a long time for today's dance. If the regent doesn't even take a look, wouldn't that be a great disappointment to Princess Heyi's efforts?"

She also has a suitable-aged princess under her knee. Originally, there were few suitable princesses in the Great Zhou dynasty. She had to pester His Majesty for a long time before he finally agreed to let her perform a suitable dance.

Whether the regent is interested or not, He Yi has already made a public appearance. If she praises him a bit more at that time, the marriage alliance will be secured.

Right now, with this sudden trouble, her own daughter will be in big trouble!

The queen's sharp gaze swept over Song Beiyao, filled with resentment.

On the side of the envoy group, Helian Zhuo raised his wine cup and took a sip, his eyebrows slightly raised, appearing conflicted as he said, "Princess Heyi is beautiful and delicate; it is indeed hard for me to give her up. How about this, Fourth Prince? If you agree to accompany me for a stroll around the capital city tonight, I will agree to your request. What do you say?”

"I promise you." Song Beiyao answered without hesitation, not giving anyone else a chance to interject, "The regent has come from afar. As the side consort of the Crown Prince of Da Zhou, I have the duty to receive him." "Then it's settled, Regent. It's a deal."

"Okay."

Song Beiyao turned around and said to the upper hall, "Your Majesty, Empress, may I use the piece prepared for Princess Heyi?"

Then, he took a few steps back.

The empress clenched the handkerchief in her hand, still wanting to say more, when she heard the emperor's hoarse voice say, "Granted."

The sound of the guqin rises, distant and lingering.

Song Beiyao tore off the red silk ribbon from his outer robe, raised his hand to tie it over his eyes, and secured it tightly at the back of his head. With each note of the guqin, he turned his waist gracefully, perfectly blending into the melody, gently unfurling with the rhythm.

Everyone at the banquet turned their gaze to the young man in red robes at the center of the hall.

In the early stages, the pitch of the guqin is extremely slow, with each of the boy's movements falling in sync with the sound of the instrument, gentle and natural, becoming one with the music.

After a while, a touch of flute music followed, and the drumbeat rhythmically echoed, with the young man executing a perfect side flip transition. The melodious sound of the erhu accompanied by the drumbeat rises, and the tune instantly transforms, like a swift wind passing through the forest, stirring up a thousand waves in the woods.

The boy's movements also became more powerful with the overwhelming momentum. A front flip in the clouds followed by a front somersault landing and stretching, with dark red garments billowing, the movements were swift yet graceful, as if dancing on the clouds, unlike a mere mortal.

As it progressed, the sound of the guzheng was added, blending beauty, elegance, and grandeur into the piece. The young man's movements were sometimes gentle, sometimes explosive. As it progressed, it surprisingly gave a sense of mastering the piece.

At this moment, it seemed as if he was not dancing, but rather engaging in a dialogue with the piece through his soul and body.

Everyone at the table couldn't help but hold their breath, fearing that any noise might disturb the heavenly beings.

Helian Zhuo gazed at Song Beiyao's figure, his eyes growing increasingly fervent and infatuated. 

He then looked across the table at the Crown Prince of the Great Zhou.

Pei Ji was also staring intently at Song Beiyao. Sensing the gaze from this side, he turned his head, his cold, hard face revealing a pair of pitch-black eyes filled with warning.

Oh? Interesting. Helian Zhuo raised an eyebrow and responded with a provocative look.

He had always heard that the Crown Prince of the Great Zhou was strict with himself and had no involvement with matters of love. Today, it seems, that's not entirely the case.

Heroes find it hard to resist the charms of beautiful dolls, but this one is already taken, and today, he is determined to win him over.

As the song ended, Song Beiyao finished in a one-handed side-lying position. Halfway through the dance, he ran out of energy, and the second half was sustained purely by willpower.

He lay on the cold ground, breathing heavily, coughed a few times, and even coughed up blood.

The ministers who were slightly closer couldn't help but exclaim upon seeing this scene. But then they saw the young man's lips curl up, a low laugh escaping him, as he tilted his head, his dark hair falling down, kissing the ice-cold ground.

No one knew what he was doing, only Song Beiyao knew. His heart was pounding violently, his blood was boiling, and his soul was trembling, crying, and burning.

After many years without dancing, one dance still feels the same.

In the hall, a tall and imposing black figure stood up, walked over, crouched down, gently supported his head, and untied the red silk.

Song Beiyao looked over with a dazed expression, and in Pei Ji's deep-set eyes, there seemed to be an inscrutable emotion.

"Husband." He weakly called out.

The warm fingertip pressed against his cold lips, wiping them, and then removing the trace of blood from the corner of his mouth.

Pei Ji picked him up and walked towards the seats, while Song Beiyao weakly leaned against his chest.

"Okay! Alright!" When Pei Ji returned to his seat, Helian Zhuo exclaimed in praise, "This dance should only exist in the heavens!"

Seeing the crowd at the table, who were still mesmerized and immersed in the side lord's dance, finally came to their senses. They looked back and forth from each other, and their eyes were filled with astonishment and shock.

On the seats at the front side of the main hall, the Fifth Prince Pei Ming's sinister gaze was fixed on the young man from beginning to end.

Clearly, they have the exact same appearance, yet they have completely transformed into a different person. Someone as dull as Song Beiyao, when would he ever dance like this?

He waved his hand and said to the guard beside him, "Go tell Su Yue to act quickly, lest the night grows long and dreams multiply."

What happened is not important, who this person is and what their purpose is also not important. 

What matters is that mouth; nothing must be revealed to Pei Ji. Only the dead are truly safe.

A chess piece, if it's abandoned, then let it be.

Soon, the emperor, unable to bear it any longer, left the banquet early. In the main hall, the music and dance resumed, and the ministers began to toast and chat with each other.

After finishing his dance, Song Beiyao was so exhausted that he couldn't say a word. Although his body was tired, his mood was very pleasant. Back in the original timeline, at this time, he would usually mix a drink at home, sit in front of the large floor-to-ceiling window, and overlook the city nightscape.

Although the court-brewed wine is not as good as the wine he makes himself, it is still quite decent. He poured himself a cup, just about to lift it, when he saw Helian Zhuo striding over from across the table, with a servant beside him carrying two cups of wine.

"The Fourth Prince drinking alone is not as good as drinking with me." Helian Zhuo walked closer, handed over a cup of wine, and kept his gaze firmly fixed on Song Beiyao's face.

Since he had come in person, Song Beiyao did not refuse. He put down his own wine cup, reached out to take the other person's, and with a faint smile said, "The regent has come from afar as a guest; this wine should be offered by me."

As soon as he raised his hand and brought the wine glass to his lips, his wrist was grabbed by the person next to him.

"Madam has not been feeling well lately and should avoid drinking. If the regent is interested, I am willing to drink with you." Pei Ji picked up the wine cup, tilted his head back, and downed the wine in one gulp.