After being forced into a marriage with a wealthy family, the virtuous wife caused a huge uproar.

"How dare you beat the drum? Beat it again at once!" Su Jingyi hadn't expected the flower to fall into the Crown Prince's hands, and her face turned pale instantly.

"This servant will beat the drum again right away." The maid who was beating the drum was so frightened that she couldn't even hold the drumstick properly, and it fell to the ground. When she hurriedly picked it up, the fear in her eyes made her body sway.

"Madam, it's alright. I'm young too, and it's been a long time since I've had the chance to enjoy myself with others like this. Now that I have this opportunity, I can't refuse."

"From a young age, I have studied the ways of governing a country and the Six Arts of a Gentleman. It can be said that my teachers are the best in Southern Xia. Today, I will play a tune on the flute for everyone." The Crown Prince stood up and flicked his robe.

"However, just listening to a flute melody seems too monotonous. I've heard that when Madam Gu was young, she was proficient in all the arts, including music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and she also loved dancing. So, I'll play the flute, and you can dance for everyone. That way, everyone can have a much better time to enjoy the spectacle." Yuwen Yi's tone was firm and left no room for refusal.

As soon as Yuwen Yi finished speaking, the entire room fell silent.

His Highness the Crown Prince actually invited Madam Gu to perform a show together.

Is it Madam Gu who is seducing the Crown Prince, or the Crown Prince who is seducing Madam Gu?

Or were the two having an affair in private?

Rong Yingluo felt a surge of resentment; he must have done it on purpose.

He wanted to ruin her reputation.

She thought she didn't know that the Crown Prince was a lecherous devil. He had an estate outside the city where he kept countless beauties for his pleasure.

Gu Ce had already found out.

With the Crown Prince present, no one dared to speak, and Gu Ce was nowhere to be seen.

Rong Zhixiu was the first to stand up.

Li Xuanye also wanted to stand up, but Rong Zhixiu held him down.

"Your Highness, my younger sister has never learned to dance at home. You may have misunderstood." Rong Zhixiu bowed, speaking up for his younger sister with neither servility nor arrogance.

"You're Mrs. Gu's older brother?" Yuwen Yi glanced at Rong Zhixiu with disdain.

"It is indeed I, a humble commoner." Rong Zhixiu bowed again.

"You are not qualified to speak for her." Yuwen Yi spoke with an air of superiority, then looked at Rong Yingluo.

That day's horse race saved her from disaster. In all his years of life, no one had ever escaped right under his nose.

Rong was the first person, and she was a woman.

Even if she doesn't die today, she'll have to get out of the Gu family mansion. Without the protection of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion and Gu Ce, crushing her would be as easy as crushing an ant.

"Liuli, since His Highness the Crown Prince has such a refined taste, why don't you perform a dance for everyone?" Su Jingyi tried to smooth things over, but she was secretly delighted.

She hadn't sent a formal invitation to the Crown Prince, but he came on his own. Although she had obeyed his orders and arranged everything, she couldn't understand his purpose in doing so.

If one wants to ruin the Rong family's reputation, there's no need for the Crown Prince to personally intervene; however, it's always better to follow the Crown Prince's wishes.

Rong Yingluo smiled faintly and stood up: "Your Highness, it is far too much of an honor for me to play the flute for you. If you really wish to see me perform, my elder brother can accompany me with music. What do you think?"

One must not openly quarrel with the Crown Prince.

No matter how much favor Gu Ce enjoys in the Emperor's eyes, he is still a subject.

"So you can dance?" Yuwen Yi's eyes sharpened. "Then your elder brother's words just now were a deception of me. I am the Crown Prince of Nanxia, ​​and the Crown Prince is also a ruler. He has committed the crime of deceiving the ruler and should be executed."

"Your Highness, my elder brother is not wrong. I cannot dance, but I can perform shamanic rituals. Shamanic rituals can also be accompanied by playing the flute. The year my grandfather passed away, we invited a Taoist priest to our home to perform a ritual."

"Out of curiosity, I watched from the sidelines and found the Taoist priest's dance to be quite spectacular, so I learned a thing or two. If Your Highness wishes to see it, I can perform it for you right now," Rong Yingluo said earnestly.

The guests were stunned.

What? A shamanistic ritual?

A woman performing shamanistic rituals—this is unheard of.

"Haha..." Li Xuanye couldn't help but burst into laughter. "Your Highness, this is the first time in my life I've heard of a woman claiming to be able to perform shamanistic rituals. How about we all get a glimpse of her?"

With Li Xuanye's witty remarks, the guests began to whisper among themselves.

"Is Mrs. Gu talking nonsense? If she really performed a shamanistic ritual in public, she would be a laughing stock."

"Yes, wouldn't that be a disgrace to the Gu family? It's already shameful enough that the Gu family married a merchant's daughter, let alone a woman who performs shamanistic rituals. She's utterly clueless."

"If the Crown Prince insists she jump, the whole capital will know by tomorrow. How will she ever be able to go out in public again?"

......

"Your Highness, would you like to see it?" Rong Yingluo looked at Yuwen Yi with amusement.

Yuwen Yi didn't know if she was telling the truth or not, but he would lose face if he were asked to play the flute and accompany a shamanistic performance.

"Your Highness, you are the heir apparent, and your word is law. Don't back down and make people look down on you." Li Xuanye was not afraid of offending the crown prince at all; he listened to his father very much.

Yuwen Yi glanced at Li Xuanye, who was looking gloating.

"Very well, I'd like to see how a woman like you can perform shamanic dances. If you do well, I'll reward you handsomely." Yuwen Yi gritted his teeth and agreed.

He wanted to see how the Rong family would embarrass themselves. Did they think he was the only one who would make a fool of himself by playing the flute? Gu Ce would also lose face. The thought of being ridiculed by all the officials after today made him feel very pleased.

Having received the Crown Prince's affirmative answer, Rong Yingluo's smile deepened. Without saying anything more, she simply turned around and went to change her clothes.

The guests looked at each other in bewilderment. Was Mrs. Gu really going to perform a shamanistic ritual?

Gu Ce, who was hiding not far away, saw all of this. His expression remained normal, but his fingertips turned slightly white.

However, considering his wife's plan, he could not show himself at this time.

After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Rong Yingluo changed her clothes and entered the banquet.

The courtyard fell silent instantly.

She did indeed change into a Taoist robe, a loose, grayish-blue robe that draped loosely over her body, with a dark yellow silk sash tied around her waist, and her hair styled in an odd bun with a roughly carved peach wood hairpin inserted into it.

His face was painted with colorful talismans, three cinnabar red lines on his cheeks, and a touch of indigo blue on his forehead. His eyes and brows exuded a wild and unruly air, making him completely different from his usual dignified image.

Li Xuanye was the first to break down and burst out laughing, then quickly covered his mouth.

Her outfit was indeed that of a shaman.

Yuwen Yi's lips twitched, and an ominous premonition rose in his heart.

Rong Yingluo walked to the open space between the tables, took out a palm-sized copper bell from her sleeve, and drew a peach wood sword from her waist. She tilted her head and looked at Yuwen Yi: "Your Highness, let's begin now."

Yuwen Yi took a deep breath, gritted his teeth, and ordered his attendant to fetch a purple bamboo flute. To entertain a woman performing a shamanic dance in front of everyone—if word got out, how would Yuwen Yi maintain his dignity in court?

But now he's in a bind, since he himself agreed to it.

Yuwen Yi's smile vanished. He raised the flute to his lips and began to play.

Everyone immediately recognized the tune: "Guan Shan Yue" (Moon over the Mountain Pass).

This music is completely unsuitable for shamanistic rituals.

Rong Yinglu smiled at him with narrowed eyes, a smile that appeared eerie against the backdrop of the runes covering her face.

The sight sent a chill down everyone's spine.

Normally, a Taoist priest is invited to perform rituals when a family encounters misfortune or is haunted. But today, everyone is here to appreciate chrysanthemums and enjoy the feast.

The guests were genuinely uncomfortable being suddenly forced to watch a shamanistic dance performance.

As the sound of the flute began, Rong Yingluo suddenly shook her copper bell.

With a clear "ding-a-ling," she stomped her left foot heavily on the ground, chanting, "Heavenly spirits, earthly spirits, Laozi, please grant me ten thousand acres of fertile land and vast wealth. Furthermore, bless my Southern Xia kingdom with peace and prosperity, free from hardship and disease..."