With the cooking finally completed, everyone made their way to the middle of the Bai estate courtyard to be seated for the meal.

With Dawa being dragged away to perform later during the meal, Zi Siwei and Bai Haoxia had no choice but to postpone their meeting and be seated like everyone else. The two were separated and sat with their respective fathers but luckily, they could still see each other.

Bai Haoxia from his place near the head of the table noticed Zi Siwei wear a deeply perturbed expression. He had this face ever since Dawa volunteered to be a dancer as part of the entertainment.

Second brother looks rather disturbed...could it be the princess? 

He continued to glance periodically at Zi Siwei, trying to ascertain the reason for his displeasure.

It does make sense. Princess is an imperial concubine. If she gets caught, it will mean disaster not only for her but for me and Siwei. I'm not surprised that he is worried.

"Haoxia." A deep voice called out.

"Yes, father?" Bai Haoxia replied.

Bai Fengjiu is the current head of the Bai family. Like Zi Xiyu, he looks to him around his mid to late thirties despite being around fifty years of age. With a physique that mirrors his son in intensity, he was known as the strongest warrior in the kingdom.

"Distracted, are we?" Bai Fengjiu noticed his son's unfocused expression.

"I wouldn't dare, father." He meekly replied before moving his eyes to the food and slowly eating.

"The clan will have an announcement after the entertainment tonight." Bai Fengjiu told his son.

"Is that so? It must be some big news for you to announce it during the annual banquet." Bai Haoxia commented.

"So it is." Bai Fengjiu quietly ate.

Though the father-son pair didn't talk much, the rest of the guests were happily chatting. Zi Siwei who was sitting near the head of the table but further that Bai Haoxia compared it to the solemn affair of a banquet that was held in The Phoenix Palace a few months before.

As usual, this father-son pair didn't talk at all which left Zi Siwei to his thoughts. His greatest worry at this point in time was Dawa.

The good thing was that she was wearing a veil when she met us. The madam didn't deduce her identity at least which is a relief. However, when she performs later, will her identity be exposed. I really hope she has a plan when the time comes.

Zi Xiyu stated at his son, perhaps knowing that something was bothering him. However, he said nothing and continued to eat which glancing at Zi Siwei periodically.

At the end of the table, Minister Hao was chatting with the head of a prominent merchant family. It was at his request that he be seated far from the major cultivation families. It wasn't a great experience to hear chatter about himself as he felt like he was in one of his trials. Being a judge doesn't make you immune to judgement.

However, the seat held a great view of the cultivational families. It seemed that power obscured their battle senses which allowed the astute minister to gather some information about the families' current dealings, gains and losses.

It seems that my former student's attempted to rendezvous with the Princess didn't go so well. I wonder where she is now...it isn't safe for an imperial concubine to be out in the open.

Bai Fengjiu stood up and all the chatter died down.

"Thank you all for coming to celebrate the end of winter with the Bai family banquet." He began.

A woman out of sight from most of the attendee's eyes but not to Bai Haoxia slowly appeared at the edge of the courtyard.

Is that the princess? Phew...she does have a pretty opaque veil on.

Zi Siwei also noticed Dawa walk across the courtyard but instead of relief, his eyes darkened. He picked up his cup and downed it in one go.

"This banquet is not just to celebrate the end of a harsh season but to welcome some great news." Bai Fengjiu continued.

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"My son and heir, Bai Haoxia will be getting married by the end of the next year."

Bai Haoxia nearly choked on his tea.

Married?! Ohhh drat!! My betrothal. I was going to ask father to cancel it since I am not willing to marry but with all the things that have been happening lately, I completely forgot to mention it to him...

His inner thoughts betrayed his outer expression which was once of serene calmness. He knew he had to explain to Zi Siwei later.

It will be hard to bring this up to father again but I can't make him lose face now so I'll just smile and accept their congratulations.

Bai Haoxia courteously accepted everyone's sincere congratulations while Dawa slowly made her way to the courtyard with her entourage.

Having heard the news, Dawa was rather intrigued.

Ho...I didn't know General Bai was affianced. I guess that is going to be the end of his flirting. That is if he can successfully get out of this engagement.

"To celebrate this wondrous occasion, there will be a great performance by the Flying Cloud Troupe so please enjoy!" Bai Fengjiu announced Dawa's arrival.

Upon hearing the cue, Dawa turned to the instrumentalists, "You know what to play, yes?"

"Of course, Xixi." They confirmed.

Xixi was the name she adopted for the stage. Of course, she wouldn't tell anyone her real name.

The trope walked to the middle of the banquet where people had a good look at her from all sides.

"What a body~" Some lecherous comments were passed around. "She looks like bamboo; someone with great flexibility." Some admiration for her athletic physique was noticed among the women and the less perverted men. "If only she showed her face." Which was the comment that was said the most.

Such fools...Do you think I will show my face? I will rather die than be a pleasant fantasy in your dreams.

"Greetings from the Flying Cloud Troupe." Dawa took on a higher-pitched voice to prevent her natural voice from being linked to her, "My name is Xixi and I will be dancing for you today."

The madam was truthful in her statement that the dance was in no way provocative. She was fully clothed with her arms and legs covered. The only difference was that the dancing outfit was a gentle lilac with violet colour trimmings. Dawa also had a few flowers in her hair, although they were not purple coloured flowers, for the Li Continent didn't grow flowers of that colour. However, flowers of that colour were grown in the Western Plains.

The audience waited eagerly for her performance to begin so Dawa and the instrumentalists took their positions. There was a guqin, a yangqin, some percussion players and a xiao player. Staring at the xiao reminded her of the time she secretly watched Zi Siwei play in the Palace courtyard.

The music began with a slow melody by the guqin and yangqin. Dawa's movements were slow but showed off her flexibility. No one at the banquet was talking as they stared at the mysterious dancer. Of course, there were a few lecherous eyes following but Dawa tried not to pay attention to it.

Zi Siwei was watching with a poker face but his heart didn't reflect the indifference. He began to down his cup again and again as the music began to quicken and Dawa's movements became more acrobatic.

When did she become so beautiful...

The dance Dawa had prepared for the audience had some Huayi influence. It was akin to the dances she performed during the various rituals and ceremonies she had to do as a priestess. She had to tone down the more obvious qualities lest she is caught by more worldly guests attending the banquet.

This particular dance drew inspiration from a dance that used to be performed centuries ago. When a Huayi woman gets married, she performs a dance during the wedding for her in-laws as a welcoming gift for entering the household. Due to the small population of the Huayi people, this dance was no longer practised but women did learn it during their etiquette studies.

The dance had moves that resembled the woman taking her husband-to-be in her arms and professing her loyal devotion to him. This had an emotional effect on the woman seated at the banquet as some secretly grabbed their husband's hand and squeezed it, eliciting a loving gaze from their spouse.

Dawa noticed the visible change in some of the couples and was glad that the dance had brought out some emotion in the beauracratic Li people. Even she could felt her free nature coming back after months pretending to be amiable to the heartless women in the harem.

How I wish to be free...to spread my wings and fly away.

Zi Siwei watched the change unfolding in the audience whilst continuing to down his cup. He felt something in his heart that he couldn't explain.

Zi Xiyu, "You reek of alcohol." He took his son's teacup from his hand.

Zi Siwei responded very slowly, only staring at the dancing Dawa. After a moment, he stared at bus father with glassy eyes before beginning to feel dizzy and slumped on his table.

Zi Xiyu sighed, "First the Zi family banquet, now this one..."

Dawa noticed Zi Siwei slumped and became worried immediately. Luckily, her dance was coming to an end so her flawless steps continued.

Bai Haoxia also noticed but as the son of the host of the banquet, he couldn't leave until his father did.

Soon, the mesmerising dance ended and the impressed Bai Fengjiu promised to reward the troupe before they left the courtyard.

"Wonderful! Wonderful!" The troupe madam gushed over Dawa's performance, "If you weren't an imperial concubine, I would have tried to recruit you into our troupe."

Dawa froze in fright.

The madam laughed, "Don't worry dear. I won't tell anyone. I'm actually one of His Majesty's spies in the city. He's been having some issues with a secret society so I've been keeping an eye on the people and taking note of the political climate."

Dawa sighed openly, "Is that so?" She bowed deeply, "I thank you for serving His Majesty."

"No need to do that dear." The troupe madam assured, "But if you need any help, please don't hesitate to contact me." She winked before packing up the rest of the equipment and leaving the Bai family Estate.

Once the Flying Cloud Troupe left the Bai family estate, Dawa reflected on the successful networking she just achieved.

"I guess Aunt Bora was right when she said that the best gifts are usually not expected..." She mumbled before heading back to the Bai family estate to check on Zi Siwei who has drunk himself to a stupor.