The Crown Prince Evil Consort

CHAPTER 14 Performing In Front Of The Royal Family

"After the dancers finished their performance, it was time for the men to indulge in drinks and for the women to showcase their talents. First to take the stage was Lee Cha, the beloved daughter of duke lee. As the sole heiress of the esteemed duke family,

She was lavished with affection and attention by her parents. With poise and grace, Lee Cha greeted the royal family before introducing her performance. Renowned for her exceptional singing voice, she was widely regarded as unbeatable among the ladies.

Requesting the gayageum, a traditional korean zither-like instrument, she seated herself elegantly and began to play and sing." "Her voice was as soft as a peach, soothing and peaceful to the mind.

It could lull listeners to sleep and captivate both men and women, inspiring love. The ancient song she sang was a timeless serenade, originally sung by a devoted lover on his beloved's birthday.

The song was a fitting tribute for the empress dowager's special day. After finishing, she rose from her chair to thunderous applause. 'Come here, my child,' said the empress dowager, 'let me take a closer look at you.'"

"Lee Cha's heart raced with excitement as the empress dowager finally showed interest in her. She walked towards the empress dowager and stood before her, bowing respectfully.

'What is your name, my lovely girl?' the empress dowager asked. 'I am Lee Cha, daughter of Duke Lee,' she replied. 'Ah, Duke Lee's daughter,' the Empress Dowager said with a warm smile.

'You are truly loved by your family. They have given you a beautiful name, Cha, meaning "loving daughter". "How old are you this year?' the Empress Dowager inquired.

'I am twelve years old, Your Majesty,' Lee Cha responded. 'Excellent! You can be princess Yun Hee's study partner. Do you accept?' 'Yes, I accept, queen mother,' lee cha said with gratitude.

The Empress Dowager's face beamed with satisfaction as she saw Lee Cha's smile." "Princess Yun Hee needed a naive and playful friend like Lee Cha. When the Empress Dowager Recognized his daughter, Duke Lee's face lit up with joy, and his friends quickly congratulated him.

Unbeknownst to the young ladies, being a study partner to the royal children was a challenging task, especially since princess Yun Hee was the Empress's only daughter and was spoiled by the Empress, the Emperor, and the crown prince.

Although the crown prince wasn't favored by the emperor, he had a powerful maternal family backing him. The Empress came from a prominent military family, and her influence was significant." "The Empress's family held significant military power in both the north and south,

A grip that the emperor had tried to loosen but couldn't. The Empress's family was cautious and maintained a strong hold on the emperor through unknown means. Despite his waning affection for her,

He consistently spent one to two weeks of every month in her palace. The emperor's unwavering loyalty protected the empress from palace intrigue. He never took the side of any concubine or imperial concubine when they plotted against her.

"It was widely speculated that the empress possessed some hidden influence over the emperor, a secret shared only between them, explaining why he always defended her interests."

As a result, no one dared challenge her, especially with the empress dowager's unwavering support. The Empress's position remained unassailable." "After thanking the empress dowager, Lee Cha returned to her seat.

This prompted other noble daughters to strive harder, hoping to gain the honor of becoming study partners to the remaining royal children. Song Nabi was chosen by Imperial royal concubine hwa, the emperor's favorite concubine, to be the study partner of the second princess bong Chul.

Overjoyed, Song Nabi's face radiated with a bright smile.The young misses in attendance couldn't help but gaze at her with envy. After all, only two individuals had been selected as study partners to the princesses. Duke Lee's daughter, Lee Cha, and prime minister Song's daughter, Song Nabi."

"Song Nabi returned to her seat, beaming with joy and pride. Her youthful exuberance made it impossible to conceal her emotions. Her friends swarmed around her, offering flattering comments.

'Song Nabi, your paintings were breathtaking!' one friend exclaimed. 'Really? You think so?' Song Nabi replied, blushing. 'Of course!' another friend chimed in. 'You've improved significantly.'

Song Nabi smiled, 'I've been practicing diligently. My teacher always scolded me for my lack of skill, so I wanted to prove myself. I'm glad to see it's paying off.'

'Thank you for your kind words,' Song Nabi said, graciously accepting their praise, Song Nabi quickly asked 'Sister, what skill will you perform next?'

Song Jae's eyes sparkled mischievously. 'Wait and see, it'll be a surprise."' "When it was finally Song Jae's turn, she elegantly emerged onto the scene, first greeting the royal family and then the officials.

'I have prepared a special dance in honor of her majesty, the queen mother,' Song Jae announced.

The Empress Dowager's face lit up with a warm smile upon hearing the dance was dedicated to her. 'My child, perform well. I eagerly await your performance.'

"Seeing the Empress Dowager's smiling face, Song Jae knew he had chosen the right words. After all, who doesn't delight in hearing praise, especially when it borders on reverence?"

Song Jae bowed respectfully. 'Thank you, Queen Mother. With your permission, I would like to invite the individuals who helped me practice to join me on stage.'

The Empress Dowager nodded graciously. 'You may do so.'

Song Jae stepped outside and summoned her maidservants: Song Sena, Sook, Min, and Mi Cha. Already dressed in their performance attire, they stood ready. Satisfied, Song Jae returned inside to begin the performance."

"She approached the musicians and instructed them on the melody to play for her dance. With the music cue in place, she turned to face the crowd and began her performance.

As Song Jae twirled across the floor, her blue dress shimmered like a star shining brightly. The bells attached to her hands and ankles chimed softly with each movement, mesmerizing the audience.

The two princes were captivated,

their eyes fixed on Song Jae. Prince Chul Kwan, in particular, was lost in thought, his mind racing with unfamiliar emotions. Why was he so drawn to this young girl? He couldn't find an answer."

"However, he felt that regardless of the answer, he didn't want to know or explore it further. After all, getting close to a woman would only bring him suffering." "For him, it was unclear when his interest in her began?.