Soon, a palace maid brought up a pipa.
Bai Di took her seat. Her fair hands brushed across the pipa strings, and the wonderful melody poured out like gurgling water.
As the music started, Zheng Yan hooked her fingers into a beautiful orchid shape. Her hands slowly stretched out from her waist and then gently glided in front of her as her waist sank.
Her waist was as supple as a willow branch, her figure outlining an alluring curve, and there was a sweet smile on her face that had never been seen before.
Watching Zheng Yan's graceful dance, everyone was momentarily stunned.
"Is... is this really Miss Zheng?"
"Ouch, it really hurts! My goodness, I'm not dreaming! Miss Zheng can actually dance."
Seeing the expressions on everyone's faces change from disbelief to amazement, Bai Di gritted her teeth, and a fierce look flashed across her eyes.
The originally gentle and melodious music suddenly took a sharp turn and became urgent and passionate.
As the music sped up, Zheng Yan's originally gentle and elegant movements turned into passionate and unrestrained ones. Her broad blue sleeves fluttered like the waves by the sea, and the beads on her head jingled as they swayed.
For a moment, in the center of the arena, there was only the aqua - blue figure with its fluttering clothes, like a raging gale and blooming flowers.
Feng Jingyang's eyes instantly became dark and deep.
Bai Zheng somehow glanced at Bai Di, who was playing the pipa, and saw a strange smile flash across her face.
She thought something was wrong.
Sure enough, all those who were focusing on Zheng Yan saw that she leaped into the air. Her wide sleeves fluttered from side to side, and her feet spun even faster.
The skirt beneath her spun like a blooming lotus, and the ornaments in her hair fluttered like a mountain stream.
The sound of the hairpins in her bun colliding with each other became more and more frequent.
Suddenly, there was a "ding—".
The hairpin on Zheng Yan's head could no longer bear the force and slipped out of her smooth hair onto the ground.
Zheng Yan was too slow to dodge, and her foot stepped on it.
"Ah——"
She couldn't help but let out a cry of pain. Losing her balance, she lunged forward.
Everyone was stunned again.
However, different from the previous daze, this time they were clearly shocked.
Feng Jingyang was completely stunned.
Bai Zheng frowned tightly.
Even though she was sitting in the back row, far away from Zheng Yan, she clearly heard a "snap" just now - the sound of a bone breaking.
Zheng Yan's hairpin had fallen to the ground, and she stepped on it while spinning quickly.
Losing her center of gravity completely, the weight of her body instantly pressed on her twisted ankle, directly breaking the bone there.
Tears welled up uncontrollably in Zheng Yan's eyes. Her face was full of pain, which made Bai Zheng's heart clench tightly.
At this time, the Princess of Pingyang had already stood up, looking distressed and anxious, almost rushing out of her seat.
But just as she was about to take that step, in the center of the arena -
Zheng Yan, who was in tears from the pain and should have been unable to stand up because of her broken leg, actually gritted her teeth and stood up again.
With tears all over her face, she slowly showed a smile to everyone.
Bai Zheng's eyes widened.
Was Zheng Yan... giving up her leg?
She was crazy!
The Princess of Pingyang's eyes instantly turned red. She trembled all over, but her feet didn't have the strength to go forward and pull Zheng Yan down.
Zheng Yan pushed off with her uninjured foot, and her skirt fluttered up again.
Spinning, crouching, looking up, bending backward, every movement was as graceful as before, without a flaw.
There was a charming smile on her face, but the crystal - clear tears constantly welling up in her eyes scattered into the air as she danced.
Bai Di never expected that Zheng Yan, with a broken leg, would not give up the competition as she wished.
Moreover, she still danced perfectly. Except for the tears on her face, it was almost impossible to tell that anything was wrong.
This was a broken bone! Didn't this girl feel any pain?
Bai Di was in a state of confusion, and the music from her pipa began to go out of tune. Because of her anger and anxiety, she even played a few wrong notes.
Looking at Bai Di, who was clearly flustered, Bai Zheng's disgust reached an unprecedented level.
Previously, Bai Zheng had only regarded this cousin, who always tried to trip her up, as an insignificant clown.
No matter what tricks Bai Di played, she just watched with an attitude of amusement, only finding it funny.
But this time, looking at Zheng Yan, who was still spinning and dancing in the center of the arena despite the intense pain, Bai Zheng felt truly angry.
Taking someone's sincere heart and frying it repeatedly in a pan, wantonly using and hurting them.
These people must pay a complete price for their actions!
Bai Zheng tightly grabbed her own wrist.
This Zheng Yan... was really a fool.
Hopefully, this life - risking dedication would move the cold - blooded Feng Jingyang.
The music stopped, and Zheng Yan maintained her final pose for a long time without moving.
"Bravo! Miss Zheng's dance is so graceful that it has really opened my eyes." It was not until Feng Linche's words of approval that Zheng Yan suddenly collapsed to the ground.
The Princess of Pingyang let out a cry of alarm. Together with the Marquis of Gaochang, who was also extremely anxious, they rushed to her side in a hurry. Looking at their daughter lying on the ground, their faces were full of heartache.
"You, you silly girl! Who told you to be so reckless!" The Princess of Pingyang opened her mouth, and all her heartache finally turned into a scolding as tears streamed down her face.
Concubine Zhao also stood up in panic and quickly said, "Quick, quickly carry Miss Zheng down. Her foot must be seriously injured. Summon all the imperial physicians!"
"Wait a moment." Zheng Yan said loudly.
"What else do you want! Treat your foot first..." The Princess of Pingyang was extremely anxious.
But Zheng Yan firmly shook her head. Then she looked up at Feng Linche on the upper seat and pleaded, "Your Majesty, that jade pendant..."
Concubine Yi on the side glanced at Feng Linche's expression, then at the Marquis of Gaochang and the Princess of Pingyang. She immediately got up with a smile and came to Zheng Yan. "Miss Zheng's dance is unparalleled. This jade pendant is yours now."
Saying that, she stuffed the jade pendant into Zheng Yan's hand.
Feng Jingyang, who had been silent since Zheng Yan fell to the ground, suddenly stood up when he saw this. "Father, Concubine Yi! It was said just now that Yan'er was only competing on my behalf. Now that she has won, the jade pendant should be mine!"
"Fourth Prince!" The Marquis of Gaochang felt a rush of blood to his head, and his eyes were full of scarlet. "Yan'er broke her leg for you, but you only care about your jade pendant. Where is your conscience? Where is your affection!"
"I didn't ask her to compete. She volunteered..." Feng Jingyang mumbled.
"You..." The Marquis of Gaochang was extremely angry, and a terrifying aura emanated from his body.
Feng Linche's expression changed, and he quickly scolded, "You unfilial son! If you dare to say another word of nonsense, I'll break your two dog legs right now and compensate Miss Zheng!"