Chapter 43: If There Is an Old Acquaintance

Sword dances were not commonly seen at banquets in the Northern Qi Dynasty. Delicate women rarely managed to showcase the sharpness of the sword. Instead, they often ended up looking ridiculous. However, if there were only songs and dances, everyone present would indeed feel a bit tired of the same old thing.

Pan Yueqing held a three-foot-long sword. With a "zheng" sound, the sword edge made a ringing sound in the air. Taking advantage of a bit of the effect of the wine she had drunk, she slowly bent backward at the waist, twirling the sword in front of her to create four or five sword flowers. Her steps paused, and her body remained still for a moment. Then she quickly straightened up and swept the sword horizontally. Unlike the previous slow and gentle movements, as the rhythm of the drums became faster and faster, Pan Yueqing's movements with the sword also became quicker.

Her four-paneled outer garment swirled around her light purple long dress, and the long sword kept emitting a ringing sound.

Surprise unconsciously appeared in the eyes of the Princess of Anbei. Inadvertently, she glanced at the sword dance whose rhythm was gradually slowing down. The tragic emotion on Pan Yueqing's face made her unconsciously think of the days when she went into battle when she was young, risking her life many times. It was the willingness of a daughter of the Western Wei Dynasty to live and die for her country.

Hidden in her deepest memories was the homeland that she could never return to.

The rhythm of the drums suddenly stopped, and the sword emitted its last ringing sound, echoing in the main hall. Pan Yueqing lay on her side on the ground, with the sword placed beside her neck.

Almost everyone present was mesmerized. Pan Yueqing, dressed in simple elegance, was like a fairy falling from the sky when she danced with the sword. Many people, regardless of etiquette, stood up after watching. The Princess of Anbei was so shocked that she stood up abruptly, with tears in her eyes, and exclaimed, "No!"

Pan Yueqing rolled over and stood up, putting the sword behind her back. She bowed slightly to the Princess of Anbei. "Yueqing's skills are not refined. I'm showing off my clumsy skills in front of you." Her smile faded slightly. She had incorporated many movements of the Western Wei's blessing dance into this "Breaking the Formation." This was a dance that the royal family of the Western Wei performed to pray to the heavens before going to war. It didn't matter if the people present couldn't tell, but the Princess of Anbei would surely recognize it!

"I think your dance seems to be filled with the killing intent of someone who has been on the battlefield for many years. It's very good. It combines firmness with softness. When I saw your sword dance, I seemed to see thousands of miles of mountains and rivers and millions of valiant soldiers..." The Princess of Anbei still seemed to be immersed in it. She slowly sat down, and a kind smile appeared on her face again. She beckoned to Pan Yueqing from a distance, indicating that she should sit beside her, and asked with a smile, "When did you learn this sword dance? It's called..."

"Breaking the Formation. Some time ago, when I was in the countryside, I saw someone dancing like this and thought it was really wonderful, so I secretly learned it," Pan Yueqing stepped forward. The maid beside the Princess quickly placed a cushioned mat on the side. Pan Yueqing gracefully sat down and took the wine that the Princess poured for her personally. Holding Pan Yueqing's hand, the Princess's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Who was that person? Do you still remember the whereabouts of that person?"

Pan Yueqing's eyes slightly narrowed. She was a bit hesitant because she saw a intoxicating hope in the Princess of Anbei's eyes. But the blessing dance was something she accidentally learned from a fragmented book of the Western Wei Dynasty in her previous life.

She didn't know that this blessing dance could only be learned by the direct descendants of the royal family. If the person she mentioned really existed, then that person must be a close relative of the Princess of Anbei. That's why the Princess of Anbei was so full of anticipation.

Seeing Pan Yueqing with her head lowered and not speaking, the Princess of Anbei's eyes gradually dimmed. She clapped her hands and let out a slight sigh. "Presumably, that person is a person from the martial arts world and wouldn't leave any trace." Although she was a bit disappointed, she still felt somewhat comforted in her heart. At least, the royal family of the Western Wei wasn't just her left struggling to survive.

Pan Yueqing sensed the Princess of Anbei's emotions. Although this person didn't really exist, it was always good to have something to look forward to. So she smiled at the Princess of Anbei and said, "Don't worry. If Yueqing meets that person next time, I'll take action even from ten li away and definitely tie him up and bring him to see you!"

The Princess of Anbei laughed when she heard this. She clicked her tongue twice and poked Pan Yueqing's nose. Then she smiled at the noble ladies around and said, "Look at this naughty girl. If your sons are lucky enough to marry her, she will surely be the most considerate one in the inner courtyard."

An old lady from a renowned family smiled and chimed in, "It's a pity that I, this old woman, only have one legitimate son. If I had another one, I would definitely go and propose marriage!" After saying that, she winked at the Old Madam Yao of the Pingnan Earl's Mansion. "But I think the girls of Prime Minister Pan's family are all well-educated. The daughter-in-law of Old Madam Yao's family is also very filial." The implication was to secretly mock that the Pingnan Earl had actually married a concubine's daughter!

The Old Madam Yao of the Pingnan Earl's Mansion responded indifferently, pretending not to understand. But it made the faces of the Old Madam Pan and Pan Miaoqian change. Pan Lianshan, however, sat there obediently, looking down and behaving properly, as if she had completely blended into the background.

"His Highness the First Prince is here! His Highness the Second Prince is here! Miss Lai is here!" Just when the atmosphere was a bit awkward, the doorman at the door suddenly announced in a loud voice. Everyone's eyes turned towards the main hall. The Prince and Princess of Anbei quickly went out to greet them. Accompanied by Qi Simeng's hearty laughter, the figures of three handsome men and beautiful women appeared in everyone's sight. Qi Simeng, who was in the lead, grabbed the Prince of Anbei and laughed, "Uncle Wang, today is a happy occasion in your family. Why are you being so polite?" Then his gaze shifted, and he bowed slightly to the Princess of Anbei. "Aunt! Nephew wishes Aunt a happy birthday!"

Qi Sicheng and Lai Changya, who were half a step behind, also slowly bent over. Everyone bowed slightly to Qi Simeng and Qi Sicheng. Lai Changya was also dressed in a simple style. The priceless peacock-eye sapphire on her head accentuated her haughty air.

Lai Changya was a truly beautiful woman. When Pan Yueqing saw Lai Changya from a distance, she couldn't help but be mesmerized as well.

Lai Changya nodded slightly to the Princess of Anbei. Then she turned her head to signal the maid behind her to present an extremely exquisite gift box. She said slowly, her voice as clear as celestial music, "My grandfather has traveled far and wide and obtained an exquisite musical instrument. I've only seen such an instrument in the ancient paintings of the Western Wei Dynasty, so I thought of bringing it to show the Princess. I wonder if it meets the Princess's liking."

The Princess of Anbei slowly opened the box and was stunned. It was a unique musical instrument of the Western Wei Dynasty - a harmonica. And this harmonica had once been the heirloom of her grandmother, a token of love between her grandmother and grandfather. Her grandmother believed that this harmonica could bring her good luck in marriage, so she passed it on to her. Before she got married, she gave it to her elder brother. She thought that her own life was already beyond redemption and hoped that her elder brother could be happy and healthy.

The Princess of Anbei slowly stroked the harmonica. "This is something that belonged to my old acquaintance. Thank you, Miss Lai."

Lai Changya nodded and slowly took her seat. Her gaze glanced at Pan Yueqing, who was sitting beside the Princess of Anbei. A trace of displeasure flashed in her eyes. As the eldest legitimate daughter of the Lai family, a renowned family that had existed for thousands of years, she had always enjoyed a high status by her grandfather's side since she was a child. There had never been a banquet where a girl of the same age was seated above her.

Pan Miaoqian saw that Pan Yueqing was still sitting there and noticed Lai Changya's expression. She sneered inwardly but smiled and said, "It's really a coincidence. The gift that my second sister gave to the Princess also seems to be a rare treasure from the Western Wei Dynasty!"