Chapter 257: Chapter 257: Suspicion

The sound of the pipa started again, as the stone in Wen Nanxi’s hand dropped onto different drums. Su Muyao’s long water sleeves whirled and danced, agile and graceful yet full of power, accurately striking the war drums where the stones fell.

Wen Nanxi felt his breath catch, and in his eyes, there was only her. His heart beat uncontrollably for her.

He had never seen her like this before, with beauty unparalleled in the world.

Wen Nanxi’s stone continuously hit the drums, Su Muyao’s sleeves swung and retracted, striking the drums along the direction of the stones.

She danced like a butterfly, able to precisely hit the corresponding drum faces with the stones, perfectly blending the drumming and the dance of her sleeves.

This sound could penetrate the heart.

No matter how quickly the stones hit the drums, her sleeves still kept up.

Her movements were so graceful and light, her figure swaying, as if she were a Divine Beast from the heavens.

As if she stepped out of a mysterious ancient legend, bringing an ultimate feast, making everyone feel like they were in a dream.

Especially when her waist bent in mid-air and her sleeves swung, it was so flexible, yet filled with strength.

Compared to Su Muyao, Liu Mengyan’s dance seemed completely inadequate.

Perhaps, there was not even a qualification to compare.

After her dance ended, she continued playing the pipa, completing the remaining melody.

"My God!"

Someone was so shocked they kept their mouth wide open and forgot to breathe, unsure of how to describe their overwhelming feelings at that moment.

Everyone felt their hearts continue to accelerate.

The Empress watched, her eyes growing solemn.

She seemed to suddenly understand something, beckoning Nanny Song over and whispered a few words.

Nanny Song’s face instantly changed, her expression becoming serious, and she hurried off to make arrangements.

At the same time, several skilled Shadow Guards quietly appeared beside the Empress, protecting her safety, hidden from view and unnoticed by the attendees.

Hua Linye and the others stood up involuntarily, watching Su Muyao with such passionate and fervent eyes, their hearts overflowing with emotion.

Shen Ci’an’s suppressed possessive desire surged forth, threatening to swallow him whole.

Hua Linye felt his heart ignite with flames, his affection swelling full.

Xiao Jihan gazed at Su Muyao with infatuation, his eyes unable to hold anyone else.

Mei Qingchen felt everything around him so quiet, only seeing her and hearing the sound of her pipa.

His wife was so beautiful, so radiant. In this moment, he only felt grateful, grateful that he remained by her side.

Undoubtedly, after today, countless exceptional males would be captivated and bow to her charm.

Even the indifferent Xu Heping couldn’t help but focus on Su Muyao.

He felt his heart racing, suddenly regretting following his family’s arrangement to have Hua Linye marry in his place.

Duan Tingxuan felt a twinge of pain spread across his chest, almost unbearable.

Why did he ever...ever want to dissolve his relationship with her, why did he have to marry Dong Baishang?

Not only were the males watching Su Muyao, but even the young females present were stunned.

They felt that for someone like Su Muyao, they couldn’t even be jealous.

A similar level allows for jealousy; when someone’s talent is beyond their reach, they can’t even be envious.

"So incredible."

"Like a Divine Beast descended to the mortal realm."

"Isn’t it? Such a tune can only belong to the heavens."

"I used to think Su Muyao rode on the Yun Family’s coattails, but now it seems that the credit was hers all along."

"I heard not only that, but her medical skills are also formidable, said to have saved many soldiers at the border and has a good reputation there."

"I never believed these words before, but I do now, because Su Muyao is truly amazing, I kind of admire her."

Some females gazed at her with bright eyes, as if in reverence.

Yun Qinglan quietly observed from the sidelines, knowing how restless his heart was, his elegant brows and eyes swelling with deep whirlpools, his heart like rolling waves.

Some suppressed feelings seemed to spill out from his eyes, unfolding grand and majestic.

At this moment, he understood more clearly that he wanted to be hers.

He didn’t care for any status, nor did he need to be by her side all the time; as long as her gaze could fall on him for an instant, as long as he could belong to her, he would be satisfied.

After the celestial phenomenon, his grandfather had said she surely didn’t belong to the Mortal Beast Continent, but would go to broader realms.

Now, he understood his feelings even more, he feared never seeing her again.

Just thinking of it made his heart ache, a terrible ache.

If he couldn’t see her in the future, he would go mad, unable to bear it.

Wei Jinmo’s eyes were red with a wash of water, his body trembling lightly.

Words he spoke to her once turned into needles dipped in ice, stabbing his heart, a sweet bitterness rising in his throat, even breathing was tinged with regret.

He shouldn’t have dissolved their contract back then, nor should he have said those things that hurt her.

The Wei Family Master watched his son with uncertainty.

Such a dazzling Su Muyao could have any outstanding male; how could she look back?

She sent a greeting card to the Su Family, even if wishing to apologize, there was no chance—all were rejected.

"You...should try to think positively."

Wei Jinmo shook his head, trapped and unable to extricate himself.

He truly envied Wen Nanxi and the others at this moment.

The Wei Family Master could only sigh heavily at last.

Liu Mengyan watched this scene, her nails pressing into her flesh, drawing blood unnoticed.

Su Muyao had ruined her plan.

Damned.

But given the Liu Family’s status, she had only managed to enter the palace by clinging to the Jiang Family’s opportunity, deploying for such a long time, and didn’t know when she’d have another chance.

Time was running short for her; she must finish her plan.

Su Muyao was indeed different, as expected.

At present, Liu Mengyan scowled at Su Muyao, her face contorting.

Jiang Mochuan shifted his gaze from Su Muyao to Liu Mengyan, noting Liu Mengyan’s twisted, cold expression, especially her eyes filled with vicious energy, black aura swirling.

Jiang Mochuan’s face transformed.

He had never seen Liu Mengyan like this; she was always gentle and kind, her demeanor mild, never like this.

But at that moment, Jiang Mochuan recalled something: every night in their entanglements, it remained dark, with nothing visible; she stated she didn’t like to light the lamps.

Considering this, a hint of suspicion rose within Jiang Mochuan.

His face alternated between green and pale.

Yet Liu Mengyan’s attention was all on Su Muyao, naturally ignoring Jiang Mochuan’s reactions, perhaps thinking he was to be discarded, hence neglecting him.

...

When Su Muyao concluded her pipa performance, everyone excitedly applauded.

Constant praise, indisputably affirming Su Muyao as foremost in talent.

The Empress personally adorned her with flowers.

Suddenly, the ground seemed to distort; countless black-robed beastmen appeared as if crawling from the earth, many beastmen emerged abruptly in the hall dressed in black robes and masks, killing indiscriminately.

"Assassins are here."

Many beastmen shouted in terror inside the hall.

Especially six black-clothed beastmen emerged from the ground, directly attacking the Empress, the Shadow Guards quickly acted to shield her.

Yet, among the masked beastmen were four Level 9 experts besieging, with only one Level 9 expert beside the Empress, the others were seventh and eighth-level experts.

It was then that Su Muyao made her move.