However, this is Nanjin, with so many in the Imperial Army, even he doesn’t dare challenge Mu Yan.
Zhan Lan saw the woman before her, flying sleeves swirling with dance, casting a tender look at Mu Yan.
Zhan Lan leaned closer to Mu Yan, lowered her voice, and said, "Prince, she seems to like you."
Mu Yan raised his eyes to glance at her, then looked at Zhan Lan, grasping her hand under the table, "Just common powder and rouge, but did you bring her here to perform, Lan’er?"
Zhan Lan glanced at Wang Wanning; indeed, she was skilled in dance and stood out in today’s palace banquet.
Wang Wanning’s eyes were charming as silk, seeing most of the men at the banquet fall for her every move and graceful dance, yet the Regent King seemed not to look at her but leaned back in his chair with his gaze fixed on Zhan Lan.
She suddenly felt a bit disappointed. She had managed to persuade her great-aunt to ask Zhan Lan to let her into the palace to perform just to show Mu Yan her dance.
Which man wouldn’t love watching a beauty dance gracefully? But why didn’t Mu Yan glance at her?
Wang Wanning deftly twirled, her flying sleeves swirling like a fairy from heavenly palaces, leaving everyone amazed.
She quickened her pace, throwing her sleeves towards Mu Yan, just as Zhan Lan picked up a wine glass to toast with Mu Yan, the sleeves inadvertently hit the glass, splashing wine onto Mu Yan’s lapel.
The music abruptly stopped; the dancers were all frightened.
In their hearts, if Mu Yan got angry, it was scarier than Emperor Qingwu.
Originally, Wang Wanning only wanted her scented sleeves to waft by Mu Yan, but she had miscalculated.
She kneeled on the ground, immediately bowing her head to Mu Yan, "Prince, it was unintentional."
Mu Yan rose; sometimes he reviewed documents in the palace, where his clothes were kept. He looked at Zhan Lan, "I’m going to change my clothes."
"Okay." Zhan Lan smiled faintly.
Si Yun glanced at the dancers all kneeling towards Mu Yan, gently coughed, and said, "Dismissed!"
The dancers bowed and withdrew.
Si Yun smiled, saying, "Envoys, on the viewing platform ahead, I’ve prepared fireworks for you to enjoy."
Under the protection of the Imperial Army, everyone headed to the viewing platform.
After Wang Wanning withdrew, she followed Mu Yan into a nearby room.
Her heart pounded like thunder as she gently closed the door, thinking Mu Yan must be changing inside while she shed her long dance skirt, revealing her charm.
In the dark room, Wang Wanning was suddenly embraced, clutching the man’s waist excitedly.
She felt the man’s body was hot, tall, and robust, surprisingly fiery despite Mu Yan’s icy exterior.
The man turned her face, his hands wandering insolently over her body.
Wang Wanning leaned into the man’s chest excitedly, thinking, no wonder people say men prefer women from outside.
Since ancient times: ’The wife is inferior to the concubine, the concubine is less than the secret lover, a secret love is better than the unattainable.’
She felt a surge of satisfaction; even Zhan Lan couldn’t capture a man’s heart, nor could she make Mu Yan love only her.
Even the icy Regent King was just a man; he couldn’t resist her allure.
The man, seeing Wang Wanning tender and enthusiastic, unclasped his belt and pinned her against the wall.
Elsewhere, atop the platform, Zhan Lan stood alone at the edge of the viewing deck, watching the fireworks explode across the sky.
This was the best spot to view the fireworks; they seemed to burst right before her eyes, within reach.
She raised her hand, and in the darkness, someone appeared beside her.
As the fireworks exploded, Zhan Lan turned her head to see Ye Xiuhan.
Ye Xiuhan’s eyes fell on Zhan Lan’s bright eyes beneath the fireworks, and he left a message only they could hear, "In this competition, be wary of Baili Jiang."
After speaking, he moved away from Zhan Lan’s side, watching him silently depart, she smiled slightly.
When did their relationship truly become friendship, with Ye Xiuhan even warning her?
Zhan Lan, at the moment the fireworks detonated, glanced over at Ye Xiuhan and softly said two words, "Thank you."
Ye Xiuhan’s lips curved into a faint smile as he lowered his head.
Si Yao, not far from the two, watched Ye Xiuhan and Zhan Lan intently, now certain they might have been involved for some time.
Mu Yan surely doesn’t know Zhan Lan is secretly involved with another man!
However, Ye Xiuhan was vigilant, and his plan with Si Yuzhang seemed unsuitable for tonight, but surely there would be another chance.
While everyone enjoyed the fireworks, someone curiously asked, "Where is the Eldest Prince of Western Rong? Why hasn’t he been seen?"
Si Yun immediately turned to the Imperial Army, "Quickly find him!"
The evening’s palace banquet, including the fireworks, was in a confined area, guarded by layers of the Imperial Army; Tuoba Xiong couldn’t leave the palace hall.
As the Imperial Army searched, suddenly strange noises came from a room, and they burst open the door.
Torchlight instantly illuminated the room within, revealing a man and woman about to engage in indecency against the wall.
Wang Wanning’s fair legs were wrapped around the man’s waist; frightened, she shrank into the man’s embrace and said in a panic yet shyly, "Prince, have them leave."
"What Prince?" the man spoke, prompting Wang Wanning to look up at a large face, realizing the man wasn’t Mu Yan but the rugged-looking Tuoba Xiong.
"Ah!" Wang Wanning screamed in terror; she had nearly been defiled by a stranger.
The interrupted Eldest Prince of Western Rong faced the Imperial Army behind him, countering, "It was this woman who seduced me!"
"Arrest her!" The Imperial Army tied up Wang Wanning, disheveled and with hair untidy.
Si Yun quietly arrived at the scene, seeing the Eldest Prince of Western Rong adjusting his pants, he frowned at him.
"Emperor, this dance girl from your Nanjin Kingdom seduced me; I’ve been drinking, knowing nothing."
Si Yun looked at Tuoba Xiong, "This matter doesn’t blame the Eldest Prince; please go enjoy the fireworks, Your Highness!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Tuoba Xiong strode out.
Once Tuoba Xiong left, Si Yun felt this woman had utterly shamed Nanjin and coldly said, "Drag her out and execute her."
"Your Majesty, the woman is the Regent Princess Consort’s younger cousin; please spare my life!"
Zhan Lan happened to pass by, astonished, she spoke, "To the Emperor, this princess consort has no younger cousin."
Si Yun’s sword-like brows knitted, angrily said, "Adding false kinship, drag her out from the side door and beat her to death!"
Wang Wanning, shocked, looked at the candlelit, emotionless Zhan Lan who pretended not to know her!
Why did Zhan Lan use that gaze on her, what had she done wrong but wanting to be Mu Yan’s concubine!
For a Regent King, isn’t having multiple wives normal?
Zhan Lan has been married for three months without a child; if Zhan Lan isn’t capable, she can be!
Wang Wanning, seeing the infuriated Emperor, panicked and knelt begging for mercy, "Your Majesty, I’m the niece of the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, Zhan Xincheng, I’ve been staying at his home, please have someone verify, spare my life!"
Si Yun, in a fury, looked to Zhan Lan for confirmation.
Zhan Lan’s pupils enlarged, she scrutinized Wang Wanning up and down, suddenly realizing, "Oh, you didn’t wear clothes, the princess consort couldn’t recognize you, are you called Wang something Wanning, right!"
"Yes, it’s me!" Wang Wanning’s eyes filled with tears, aggrieved, Zhan Lan finally remembered who she was!
See, Zhan Lan indeed feared her grandmother and uncle!
Wang Wanning pulled at her thin clothes, her cheeks flushed, but what did Zhan Lan’s sarcastic tone mean!