The emperor thought for a while, then clapped his hands to cheer. “Great! Son, why not begin with you?” The emperor was in a dignified dragon dress.
Mo Kai nodded and then took his sword and danced on the platform. Bai Yao felt his back was so familiar, but she couldn’t figure out where did they had met.
His sword dance was excellent, and each of the movements directed at a special angle that n.o.body could predict. The gesture was also perfect, which made everyone cheer for him from time to time. Bai Yao couldn’t overlook the memory, but she was also bothered because it was hidden deeply in her mind.
Mo Xi noticed her unease and asked with care, “What’s wrong?”
Why do I feel his movements familiar, and . . . why are they really hitting my heart? She felt so tight, thus she stood up to go out. “I feel a little uncomfortable. Let me take some fresh air outside.”
Mo Xi tried to follow her, but he was forced back by Bai Yu.
“Prince, let’s have a toast to celebrate.” Bai Yu couldn’t let this chance slip away from her. She had been waiting for this moment for such a long time.
Mo Xi couldn’t reject Bai Yu’s enthusiasm, so he took the cup of wine. After two cups, his stomach was as hot as being burned by a fire. He couldn’t discern Bai Yu’s face, so he asked for a leave from the emperor.
Bai Yu, who had just finished her play, went back, and followed. “Prince, where are you going? Let me help you.”
Then she took the chance to hold his arm.
Mo Xi threw away her hand. “Get away from me! Who are you?”
Bai Yu fell to the ground from his pushing. She felt so wronged. Mo Xi left without giving her a formal look. Bai Yu’s mood turned dark just as the sky changed. She stood up. She would keep this record on Bai Yao.
Bai Yao stopped beside a stair. She sat down and looked up to the sky. The dark sky made her so fidgety. She rubbed her head with worry.
“Lady Bai, why are you here?” A pleasant voice came to her ears. She lifted up her head to find Mo Kai was coming toward her. She bowed to greet him. Mo Kai smiled and sat down beside her. “No need to salute me. We already know each other well.”
She sat back and felt the mood was turning better. “Second Prince, did we meet each other before? Why do I feel so acquainted with you?” She tilted her head.
“Why do you have this idea suddenly? Did my sword dance make you think of anything?”
Mo Kai raised his eyebrow. His eyes stared at Bai Yao.
Bai Yao didn’t reply. He had beautiful eyes, bright as stars in the blue sky. In the depths of them, she felt a fog, as toward a lover.
A lover?
Bai Yao became confused again. How could she feel like that? Suddenly, her sights on Mo Kai turned nervous. Why do you look highly upon yourself? She complained to herself in her heart.
Mo Kai smiled at her. Bai Yao was amazed by this smile. It was the first time that he had smiled at her.
“You have some idea about my sword dance?”
“I . . . just don’t know. It is as if I also practiced this sword dance before. But . . .” Bai Yao turned her eyes to his sword. “How about lending your sword to me?”
Mo Kai pa.s.sed her his sword.
Bai Yao took the sword and began to dance. Her movements were the same as Mo Kai, and she didn’t miss even one of them. Her body and soul fully enjoyed this dance.
Mo Kai stood up and clasped his hands at his back, satisfied with her performance.
Bai Yao couldn’t believe herself. She turned to look at her hands; they were so amazing, like they had magic.
“Great! You have such a good memory that you remembered each movement of mine,” Mo Kai praised her.
“This is a good sword, but why do I feel that I have seen it before?” She couldn’t figure out what had happened.
“You saw it before? But I didn’t see you before.” Mo Kai took back the sword, and nodded to her, and then he left.
Bai Yao still dwelt in the movements she had done just now, so she continued to practice herself. In an immortal purple skirt and a white upper dress, she danced like a fairy. But her face and eyes were as cold as ice.
She jumped and turned at such a high speed that n.o.body could follow the details.
When she finished this set of movements again, it was becoming dark. She had been away from the banquet for a long time. It was better to go back quickly.
On the way back, she heard two maids of the palace speaking privately.
“I heard that the Second Prince gave a sword dance performance today. What a surprise!”
Another one looked around to check if someone was listening, then she said, “I heard that the Second Prince also practices witchcraft. Some of the officers were discussing this when I brought the dishes in.”
Witchcraft? The Second Prince?
Bai Yao made some noise and rebuked the two maids. “I never thought that honored maids also gossiped. Why do you badmouth the Second Prince?”
The two maids were frightened and bowed down and kowtowed. “Forgive us, Lady. Don’t tell anybody. . .”
“You are so lucky to meet me. I am not a malicious one. Never do that again.” Bai Yao didn’t want to get too deep into this.