Chapter 32 – Ancient Era: A Dance to Enchant the City—The Emperor’s Celestial Fairy (02)
The novel A Dance to Enchant the City—The Emperor’s Celestial Fairy unfolds as follows:
Bai Shang is the eldest daughter of the Prime Minister’s family. At the age of seventeen, she suffers a high fever, after which her body is possessed by a modern-day girl who studies dance.
The male lead, Jiang Liangwu, is the newly crowned emperor of the Yi Dynasty.
During a banquet hosted by the Empress Dowager, Bai Shang performs an exotic dance. However, the Empress Dowager becomes enraged, as the dance reminds her of a former Western Region concubine whom the late emperor favored.
The late emperor was so obsessed with this concubine that he ordered all his other sons to be poisoned, ensuring that only the concubine’s child would inherit the throne. Fortunately, the now-Empress Dowager had prepared in advance, secretly sending her young son away. To the public, she announced that the 8th Prince had gone missing after being ambushed by bandits while paying respects to his late mother. This was how the current emperor survived.
Jiang Liangwu, having trained under a master, returned to overthrow the previous emperor’s corrupt rule. Now in his second year as emperor, he follows the Empress Dowager’s decree to host a grand banquet to select a consort.
Angered by Bai Shang, the Empress Dowager orders her to enter the palace. To appease the Empress Dowager, Jiang Liangwu complies and summons Bai Shang to the palace.
However, Bai Shang fears the Empress Dowager’s wrath and the emperor’s cruelty. Unwilling to enter the deep waters of palace life, she leaves behind a letter and escapes, choosing to roam the martial world instead.
With no other choice, Bai Tang, Bai Shang’s younger brother, takes her place and enters the palace in disguise.
On the wedding night, Bai Tang’s identity as a man is exposed. However, out of respect for the Prime Minister, the emperor spares him and even bestows upon him the title of consort. Bai Tang gradually becomes enamored with the emperor’s regal bearing and charisma.
Meanwhile, Bai Shang enjoys a carefree life in the martial world. She first entices the demonic cult leader and later catches the eye of the righteous martial alliance leader after he rescues her during a battle against the cult. The two men, both captivated by Bai Shang, come to blows over her and accidentally injure her.
Seeking a cure, they bring Bai Shang to Butterfly Valley to find a renowned physician, only to have the physician himself fall for her as well.
Eventually, Jiang Liangwu, while on a military campaign, retrieves Bai Shang and brings her back to the palace.
Now, four outstanding men all love Bai Shang and refuse to let go. Unwilling to choose, she ultimately accepts all four of them, and they decide to share her, living happily ever after.
But what about Bai Tang’s fate?
In the Yi Dynasty, it was permissible for men to take male wives or concubines, but unless it was true love, this was typically only done by poor families who had no other options.
Jiang Liangwu was constantly preoccupied with military campaigns. Even though the Empress Dowager had selected many noble daughters to enter the palace, he had never once visited the harem.
When the female lead, Bai Shang, was finally found and brought back, the concubines of the harem, seeing her gaining the emperor’s favor, were filled with resentment but dared not openly oppose her. Instead, they used Bai Tang to make things difficult for Bai Shang.
Bai Tang felt that his sister had changed. He disliked this selfish and unruly version of her. Jealous of Bai Shang’s favor and encouraged by the other concubines, he constantly flaunted his higher status in front of her and mocked her for being promiscuous outside the palace. He deliberately picked faults with her at every turn.
During the Flower Appreciation Banquet, Bai Shang once again captivated everyone with a stunning dance performance. However, on her way back, she was pushed into the water.
Bai Tang happened to be passing by and, despite everything, he still saw her as his sister and wanted to save her.
But before he could act, one of Bai Shang’s palace maids framed him, claiming that he had intentionally tried to kill her.
Given Bai Tang’s history of antagonizing Bai Shang, Jiang Liangwu no longer tolerated him. Without giving him a chance to explain, the emperor sentenced him to the Cold Palace.
There, abandoned by all and shunned by the palace servants, Bai Tang eventually starved to death.
After reading through the plot, Bai Tang fell into deep contemplation.
After a long pause, he finally spoke. “Qiu’er, can’t I at least have a better death? Why do I always have to starve?” Bai Tang absolutely hated the feeling of hunger. Ever since Hudson had spoiled him with fine food, he had become even more intolerant of hardship.
“Don’t worry, Tang Tang! You’ll definitely complete the mission. And once you do, who cares if you end up in the Cold Palace? I’ll take you out of this world, and we’ll eat delicious food together! Look~” The system suddenly produced a small bag as if by magic.
Bai Tang’s eyes lit up with surprise. “Qiu’er, this… this…” That delicate little bag—it was the one Hudson had custom-made for him to store his snacks. He never expected to see it again after leaving that world.
“Impressive, right?” The system puffed up proudly. “I even modified it! Now it’s a small storage space. Once we complete more missions, we can use our points to expand it into a larger space, so you can store as many pine nuts as you want. How about that?”
“Qiu’er, you’re the best.” Bai Tang didn’t hesitate to hand the system a metaphorical Good Person Card, making the latter so giddy that it practically floated in delight.
Ahhh~~ Tang Tang complimented me! He really did~~!
Author’s Note:
To clarify—this story is 1v1 and both characters are exclusive to each other.
Sorry to disappoint, but this time, the male lead is an emperor, not a prince. Your delicate little wife is gone! (ω) Heh.
The male lead of this world, Jiang Liangwu, is actually the same person as Hudson. In fact, all future male leads will also be him, so you can enjoy the story without worry!