Chapter Three: Who Is Truly the More Unattractive?

After Su Baizhi finished her curtsy, she glanced sidelong at Su Lilu, then offered a graceful bow to the Emperor and Empress seated on the dais, not forgetting to cast a shy smile at Crown Prince Yun Fengxiao. With a gentle, considerate air, she spoke, “Your Majesty, Your Highness, I have a humble request.”

Su Lilu watched Su Baizhi performing her act on the stage with cold eyes, surprised that Su Baizhi dared to flirt so openly with Yun Fengxiao before so many witnesses. After all, Yun Fengxiao was still, in name, her own betrothed.

“Today, I wish to beg Your Highness’s permission to let my elder sister perform first. I know my sister has been preparing for days at home, hoping to shine at today’s banquet,” Su Baizhi continued, glancing at Su Lilu, her whole demeanor that of a gentle, thoughtful younger sister. Only a fool would believe her honeyed words.

The entire audience had already broken into a stir. In the capital, who didn’t know that the eldest daughter of the Su family, Su Lilu, was reputed to be utterly useless?

“You have prepared a performance today, Lilu?” the Empress asked in surprise, her gaze falling on Su Lilu. In the past, at such banquets, the real Su Lilu had always shrunk back, fearful of being called upon. Both the Su family and the royal household protected her from embarrassment, never requesting her to perform. Yet this time, she had actually prepared something?

As the crowd’s attention shifted to Su Lilu, Su Baizhi’s lips curved into a delicate, satisfied smile. “Sister, the Empress has given her consent. You’d better get ready,” she urged sweetly.

Su Lilu narrowed her eyes, watching her “kind” little sister’s look of delight at having helped her. A cold sneer rose in her heart. So, she wanted to see her make a fool of herself? Very well, she would oblige.

With graceful steps, Su Lilu mounted the stage, the sound of the audience’s scornful whispers ringing in her ears, her smile growing wider.

“Your Highness, please grant me a moment to prepare. I promise not to disappoint,” Su Lilu said, kneeling respectfully at the center of the stage.

“The young lady’s debut performance is truly something to anticipate. A little extra time for preparation is only natural, wouldn’t you agree, Your Majesty?” Before the Empress could reply, the favored Consort chimed in coquettishly.

“The Consort speaks wisely. Su Lilu, do make your preparations,” the Emperor agreed at once, unwilling to deny anything to his most beloved consort over such a trifling matter.

The Empress, meanwhile, tightened her embroidered handkerchief in her grasp, inwardly seething that Murong Lan would dare steal the spotlight before the court.

“Thank you, Your Majesty, Your Highness, Your Consort,” Su Lilu said, bowing again. Meeting the Consort’s smiling gaze, Su Lilu only exchanged the briefest glance before lowering her head.

Moving aside, Su Lilu quietly instructed a few palace maids. Soon, four colorless screens were carried to the center of the stage by eight young eunuchs, one in each direction.

No one knew what Su Lilu was planning, and as she directed the eunuchs to arrange the screens, the murmurs grew louder.

The moment the screens were set in place, every lamp in the grand hall was extinguished, plunging the room into sudden darkness and confusion.

Almost instantly, several warm, orange lights flickered to life around the screens, drawing all eyes toward them.

Music began to play. Behind the screens, Su Lilu started to move.

A graceful shadow danced upon the snowy white screens—free, vibrant, yet delicate. The slender silhouette and proud, soaring posture drew every breath in the audience to a halt. The hazy beauty of the scene left them yearning for more.

The melody rose and fell, sometimes bold, sometimes subdued, and Su Lilu’s dance moved with it, each shadowed movement behind the screen holding the entire hall spellbound.

Even when the performance ended and Su Lilu stepped out from behind the screens, the audience remained lost in her dance.

It was only when Su Lilu gently reminded them, and the eunuchs whisked the screens away and the hall’s lights blazed to life, that everyone slowly returned to their senses.

Su Lilu bowed once more to the Emperor and those of high rank. “My performance is complete.”