Qiu Shuzhi nodded, and Rui Zhu was overjoyed. The young men behind him prepared to pick up their instruments to accompany him.

Taking advantage of this moment, Qiu Shuzhi asked him: “Rui Zhu sounds like a vulgar stage name. It’s probably not your real name. What’s your birth name?”

Rui Zhu timidly nodded: “You’re right, my lady. Rui Zhu is the name the madam at the house gave me. This servant’s birth name is Zhao Mei.”

Qiu Shuzhi’s eyes widened slightly: “What are your other brothers called?”

“Si Mei, Pan Mei, Lai Mei.”

She was left speechless. Jiang Si observed her reaction closely, her expression thoughtful.

When all the instruments were ready, Rui Zhu took his position at the bow of the boat. His posture was graceful and nimble, his young face bearing a maturity and allure beyond his years.

Just as the music began and he was about to start dancing, several guards in tight-fitting clothes leapt onto the bow of the boat. They wore golden imperial tokens at their waists, clearly marked with the three characters for “Embroidered Uniform Guard”.

The smile in Jiang Si’s eyes turned cold as she slowly walked out to the bow and bowed with cupped hands towards the approaching pleasure boat: “Crown Princess, what a coincidence!”

Qiu Shuzhi followed her out and saw Yue Guanyi standing on the opposite pleasure boat, facing the wind. Today he wasn’t wearing his official robes, but a white outfit that made him look otherworldly as he stood there. His long hair, black as ink, was loosely tied up with a white jade hairpin. His cold eyes were slightly lowered, lacking some of the domineering aura he had in court, replaced by a hint of ethereal charm.

A path was laid between the two boats, and Yue Guanyi slowly walked over. He appeared calm and aloof, but no one knew how tormented he felt inside at that moment. Sitting in the pleasure boat, he had watched the dancer at the bow performing an extremely seductive dance for Qiu Shuzhi.

In that instant, all his restraint and considerations vanished. He became nothing more than an unreasonable, jealous husband, determined to intervene no matter what.

“This prince was enjoying the lake scenery today when I heard the sound of music from afar and wanted to appreciate it together. Do Lady Jiang and Official Qiu mind?” Yue Guanyi’s voice was cold and clear.

Jiang Si smiled enigmatically: “It’s our honor to have Your Highness the Crown Princess grace us with your presence.”

Yue Guanyi’s lowered gaze fell on Qiu Shuzhi, his tone unconsciously softening: “What about Official Qiu?”

“Of course I don’t mind. Please, Your Highness, take the seat of honor!”

She was actually glad Yue Guanyi had intervened.

Yue Guanyi sat down gracefully. Knowing Yue Guanyi’s identity, Rui Zhu was so frightened he didn’t know what to do.

Qiu Shuzhi knew Yue Guanyi had a bad reputation among the common people, so she said gently: “Please continue. Just dance as you normally would in practice.”

Rui Zhu smiled gratefully at Qiu Shuzhi. Beside them, Yue Guanyi’s face turned cold, his long, sharp eyes flashing with murderous intent, scaring Rui Zhu so much he didn’t dare look at Qiu Shuzhi again.

The interrupted music slowly started up again, the sound melodious and graceful. Rui Zhu’s dance was exquisite and unparalleled, soft yet strong, nimble and compelling. Even though Qiu Shuzhi had seen performances by many dance masters on TV in her previous life, they couldn’t compare to the live impact of Rui Zhu.

Seeing the look of admiration in Qiu Shuzhi’s eyes, Yue Guanyi felt both sour and jealous – jealous that a mere dancer had stolen her gaze, and bitter and hurt that Qiu Shuzhi had never looked at him that way.

He wanted so badly to tell Qiu Shuzhi that he could dance too, that he could dance better than him.

Back when he was stranded in the pleasure quarters, forced by the madam to learn those fawning, lowly dances, his body was much more flexible than Rui Zhu’s. He would definitely look better dancing.

In that moment, he hated his status intensely, wishing he could be just a dancer, showcasing his most beautiful dance moves with all his might before her, just to make Qiu Shuzhi look at him once more.

As the dance ended, Jiang Si applauded repeatedly: “Truly worthy of being the capital’s top dancer. What does Your Highness think?”

Yue Guanyi’s hands were tightly clenched, his thin, cold eyes narrowed arrogantly: “The dance was stiff, like a piece of waterlogged wood. So this is all the capital’s top dancer amounts to.”

Jiang Si was stunned for a moment, the smile in her eyes deepening mysteriously: “What does Official Qiu think?”

Yue Guanyi also anxiously awaited Qiu Shuzhi’s answer. If he heard a word of praise from her mouth, he would surely order that lowly wretch’s hands and feet to be chopped off.

Qiu Shuzhi didn’t answer her directly, only saying calmly: “Lady Jiang, it’s time to fulfill your promise.”

Jiang Si smiled: “Of course.”

She opened a small box beside her containing ten gold ingots: “Take it.”

Rui Zhu happily accepted the gold: “Thank you for your generous reward, my lady.”

As he put away the box and prepared to withdraw, Qiu Shuzhi suddenly spoke: “Don’t give all this money to your mother. Keep some for yourself and your brothers. You are human beings too. You have a long life ahead, so think more about yourselves.”

Rui Zhu’s arms tightened around the box, his voice tinged with tears as he knelt on the ground and kowtowed respectfully to Qiu Shuzhi: “Thank you for your teachings, my lady. This servant will keep them in mind and never forget.”

Jiang Si’s gaze at Qiu Shuzhi grew even more profound.

As the pleasure boat docked, both Qiu Shuzhi and Yue Guanyi disembarked. The Embroidered Uniform Guards, disguised as horse handlers, had been waiting for a long time with a carriage, but Yue Guanyi pretended not to see it and walked right past.

He cherished the feeling of walking side by side with Qiu Shuzhi in the streets, like an ordinary couple.

They finally had a chance to be alone together, how could he bear to leave just like that? He wished he could walk slower and slower, making this road endless until the end of time.

“Your Highness, you should get in the carriage,” Qiu Shuzhi said, looking at the waiting carriage not far away.

Yue Guanyi gazed at her in a daze.

Qiu Shuzhi smiled slightly: “The Embroidered Uniform Guard may change their clothes, but they can’t change their noble bearing.”

Yue Guanyi’s eyes darkened. In the end, even this small luxury was denied to him.

He still had so many words he hadn’t said to her. He had changed into the plain white clothes she liked, he had applied light makeup, he was more beautiful than yesterday. So many words were stuck in his heart, desperately wanting to burst out, yet unable to be expressed, caught in his heart, making him panicked and pained, his face instantly turning pale, with only the last thread of rationality left taut in his mind.

“Respectfully seeing Your Highness off,” Qiu Shuzhi slowly bowed behind him.

The distant and calm tone made Yue Guanyi instantly freeze in place, the sourness in his heart spreading endlessly. Why could even a dancer receive her gentle treatment, yet she had to be so distant with him?

Was it because of the dancer’s lowly birth?

He could do that too, he was willing to crawl at her feet forever, begging for mercy like a dog!

The taut string in his mind suddenly snapped, reason and confusion mixing together. At that moment, he couldn’t care about anything else.

“I can dance better than him.”

His voice trembled, his lowered eyes unclear, but his eyelashes quivered noticeably.

Qiu Shuzhi was stunned, not knowing how to react.

Chang’an silently tightened the reins, being a qualified deaf person.