Zhu Wanyi's excitement was well within Ji Yunxi's expectations. She gave a charming smile and said, "I have no interests entangled with you, so it's definitely true. Moreover, I can dance at the Zhuyi Tower, but not under my current identity."
Zhu Wanyi wasn't surprised by this. After all, Ji Yunxi had a noble status. How could the legitimate daughter of the prime minister's mansion or the princess of the Feng Prince's Mansion dance in a music workshop?
"I understand. The world still has many prejudices against the identity of dancing girls. With your status, it's naturally inappropriate."
Ji Yunxi immediately realized that Zhu Wanyi must have investigated her, so she knew who she was.
She thought that the Zhuyi Tower was still as cautious as ever, just like in her time. But this was a good thing, not only for herself but also for all the girls in the tower who had no other choice.
Zhu Wanyi softened her tone. "Miss, although you seem to know a lot, it's still not enough to truly convince me."
"Have you ever seen the Dance of Floating Clouds?"
Zhu Wanyi looked at Ji Yunxi and nodded slightly. "I have. But I was still young then. The senior Zhu Lingyun once performed it. After the departure of the former tower - master Yunxi, she followed not long after."
Only then did Ji Yunxi learn that the cute little girl in her memory had already passed away. She felt extremely sorry.
"After her death, no one in your tower has learned this dance?"
Zhu Wanyi looked a bit disappointed. "This dance requires the support of spiritual power cultivation. Moreover, after the disappearance of Tower - master Yunxi, her health was really poor. So in the end, this dance couldn't be passed down."
For a moment, both of them fell silent.
"Miss, after all this talk, I still haven't seen it. Please perform the Dance of Floating Clouds for me to confirm your identity."
Ji Yunxi didn't think there was anything wrong and immediately agreed. "Of course. But the room is a bit small for dancing."
Zhu Wanyi had already thought of this. She got up and walked to the dressing table. There was a glazed porcelain vase on the table. She gently turned it, and Ji Yunxi saw the wardrobe opposite the dressing table start to move slowly.
"Please, miss."
Saying so, she led Ji Yunxi to the secret door.
The two walked down. The passage became narrower and narrower.
In Ji Yunxi's memory, there had never been a secret door or passage in the tower - master's room. She was quite puzzled.
"What's this passage for?"
Zhu Wanyi didn't hide it. "It was built three years ago because of a traitor."
"She was originally the daughter of an official. She had a beautiful voice. Unfortunately, someone in her family committed a crime, and her whole family was punished. She was sent here to be a singing girl. I thought she was elegant and took good care of her, bringing her into the tower. But I misjudged her."
"Did she elope with someone?" Ji Yunxi asked curiously.
Zhu Wanyi sneered. "If that were the case, I would still respect her. But unfortunately, she was so eager to get rid of the identity of a singing girl that she resorted to any means. She reported the Zhuyi Tower's defenses as acts of treason to the court and directly led the imperial troops in. We almost suffered a disaster. After I resolved this matter, I decided to build a secret passage for emergencies."
Ji Yunxi nodded. "The tower - master has thought it through carefully."
Zhu Wanyi smiled but didn't answer. She was just a weak woman, but the world was sometimes cruel. Only by standing up on her own could she have a place in it.
As they talked, they were finally approaching the exit of the secret passage. A faint light gradually appeared in front of them.
Ji Yunxi closed her eyes. After her eyes gradually adjusted, she finally saw everything clearly.
It was a large mansion. She was now in the inner - courtyard garden. In the middle was a large platform, the same size as the one in the Zhuyi Tower.
"Please, miss."
Zhu Wanyi flew onto the viewing stand above the platform and waited for Ji Yunxi's dance.
There was no music from string and wind instruments around, but as soon as Ji Yunxi stepped onto the platform, the dance began.
The amazing part of the Dance of Floating Clouds was that the dancer's figure was light. The complex movements were like the ever - changing clouds in the sky, yet full of a sense of floating elegance. So it required the dancer to have extremely high spiritual power cultivation to support her to dance up and down in the air on the platform.
Zhu Wanyi thought that as long as the person in front of her could show one - thousandth of the charm of the Dance of Floating Clouds, she would recognize her identity.
However, Ji Yunxi's first move made Zhu Wanyi grip the armrest of the chair tightly.
She made a backward swallow pose. Her spiritual power turned into dust and danced with her fingertips, just like the glorious light of the rising sun. The combination of gentleness and passion. Her waist was as soft as a willow, and her figure was graceful. Her eyes were black and bright, like autumn water, full of charm. She was just like a fairy descending to the mortal world.
Zhu Wanyi seemed to hear the celestial music coming from afar, lingering and then fading away.
It was not until she felt a warm and moist sensation on her cheek that she suddenly found that her eyes were already red.
Zhu Wanyi quickly turned around. She had no doubts now. The dance performed by the person in front of her was truly the Dance of Floating Clouds. It was even more charming than Zhu Lingyun's performance back then. It was no exaggeration to say that she was comparable to Tower - master Yunxi.
Ji Yunxi landed gently with the breeze blowing her clothes. She stood still, but the exciting feeling seemed to linger for a long time.
Zhu Wanyi flew down and knelt on one knee in front of her. "Tower - master."
Ji Yunxi stepped forward and helped her up. "You're welcome. I'm not familiar with the current rules of the tower. You should still be the tower - master. You've done a great job."
"Moreover, I'm also the master of the Dream - Splendor Pavilion now. If I'm not around in the future, just send someone to find me."
Zhu Wanyi looked shocked. "The Dream - Splendor Pavilion?!"
Ji Yunxi had seen such shocked looks many times since she announced her identity as the master of the Dream - Splendor Pavilion.
"There's no need to be so surprised. This is the deputy order of the master of the Dream - Splendor Pavilion. Keep it as proof."
Qing Xuan and Lu Shu had waited until a pot of tea had gone cold, but they still hadn't seen the two of them come back. They were a bit anxious.
Lu Shu kept pacing back and forth in the compartment and looked out at the quiet door from time to time.
"Can you just sit down?" Qing Xuan said helplessly and stopped him.
Lu Shu couldn't help but worry. "What do you think they're doing? The tea has gone cold, and they still haven't come back."
Qing Xuan shook his head. "You told me to be calm before. Why are you so impatient now?"
"But they've been gone for so long..." Lu Shu suddenly stood up. "No, I'm going out."
Outside the Zhuyi Tower, there were already disciples of the Dream - Splendor Pavilion guarding nearby.
Lu Shu told them that if Ji Yunxi and Feng Xingzhi didn't appear after half an incense stick burned, they should rush in and fight.
"Steward, do we really rush in?"
"First be polite, then use force. We must ensure the safety of the pavilion - master and the master. If necessary, just rush in!"
After giving his instructions, he returned to the compartment.
Qing Xuan looked at him with helplessness on his face. "Just sit down and relax. I can sense the master's state. The master is still safe and nothing's wrong."
Lu Shu had no choice. Sensing that Feng Xingzhi was also okay, he could only sit down.
"Then we'll wait a bit longer."