212: The surprise of the ball

The Emperor's sudden departure made the Empress Dowager slightly dissatisfied.

For a moment, Pamela's shy expression seemed to have nowhere to be placed.

Two other lively young Female Beasts stepped forward together.

"Empress Dowager, let Pamela come and dance with us."

One with small freckles and a melodious voice acted coquettishly toward the Empress Dowager.

They hadn't dared to approach earlier, so they were calling Pamela away now; that way, when Your Majesty returned, they could come over together with her.

The Empress Dowager watched their little tricks with a smile.

She did indeed want an Imperial Grandson, but given the dullness of their fathers and brothers...

This honor had nothing to do with them.

"Go on, it's good to warm up. When The Emperor returns, I'll have him invite you to dance."

The two who had stepped forward almost couldn't maintain their expressions.

Pamela, however, finally felt at ease; she lifted her skirt to bow and joined the group dance with a look of triumph.

The Empress Dowager's voice was not low, and everyone standing nearby heard her.

Peng Tianyu, relying on his high Rank, also heard her clearly.

Restraining himself again and again, he lowered his head and whispered to Tu Nan.

"Are you just going to watch?"

The Empress Dowager is clearly trying to choose an Empress for Your Majesty; aren't you considering yourself or the Children in your belly?

Tu Nan stood motionless by the pillar.

The Emperor had clearly made arrangements, so why did he withdraw just like that?

After two pieces of music had passed and a new group of dancers had taken the floor, she finally decided to investigate the situation.

Coincidentally, the Empress Dowager was thinking the same thing.

She called Tu Nan forward.

"How can Your Majesty be away for so long? Go take a look." After a pause, she gestured for Tu Nan to look at Pamela, who had just rejected several men's invitations to dance.

"Look, she's been waiting."

Tu Nan accepted the task with a smile and quietly slipped out of the Banquet Hall.

Peng Tianyu followed her out like a shadow.

"How are you going to find Your Majesty... why do you care about this?"

Peng Tianyu really didn't understand her train of thought.

Tu Nan gave him a strange look and directly dialed a number.

Chief Yuan Zhe's voice came from the other side.

"Your Majesty? He just remembered an urgent matter that needed to be handled..."

The Emperor's voice cut in.

"Are you looking for me? Where are you? It's very quiet around you."

Tu Nan scanned the garden; it wasn't far from the Banquet Hall, but... "Your Majesty, I'm at the entrance of the Geometric Maze outside the west gate of the Banquet Hall."

"Oh? Stay there and don't move."

The call was disconnected.

Tu Nan didn't wait long before The Emperor appeared from one end of the path. In the hazy courtyard lights, his silver hair seemed to glow.

"Is it your turn to come looking for me?"

His tone was displeased.

Tu Nan looked at him strangely but still replied obediently.

"The Empress Dowager is looking for you. Didn't you say you were going to cast the net tonight? Your Pamela has been waiting for you."

She teased him slightly, then asked with a bit of concern.

"Your sudden departure, is there something else wrong?"

"Could there be a problem with the wine? But that wine has already been changed..."

Tu Nan was puzzled; The Emperor saw through the Empress Dowager's little schemes clearly.

His control over the palace was terrifyingly strong.

Poor Empress Dowager actually thought she could use such tactics in the palace.

And it was such a simple drugging.

It was somewhat similar to what she had once used to deal with Kong Jiamu.

Although the drug placed in Your Majesty's glass only induced pleasure and did not reach the level of unlocking the Gene Lock.

What use was that? Did she think sending a Female Beast to The Emperor's bed would be a complete success?

Tu Nan was confused.

"Wine?" The Emperor frowned slightly, then smiled with disdain.

"Don't talk about such boring things. Let's go feed the fish." He was full of enthusiasm.

"I see all the actors are in place."

Tu Nan was also quite interested.

Your Majesty planned to talk with the fathers and brothers of the other two young ladies after dancing with Pamela, and then take action against Pamela's father.

Then he would set Pamela aside and summon those two into the palace to accompany the Empress Dowager.

Watching their Family members suspect each other internally while constantly leaking information to force them to pledge their loyalty to him.

This was a real-life game of Werewolf.

Tu Nan was happy to be an innocent bystander.

She followed a few steps behind Your Majesty back to the Banquet Hall, and Your Majesty walked straight toward the Empress Dowager.

"Why were you gone for so long?" The Empress Dowager reproached him affectionately.

Your Majesty's gaze swept across the Banquet Hall.

Yuan Zhe stepped forward and pointed gently toward Pamela.

"Your Majesty, Young Miss Pamela is over there."

The Empress Dowager was stunned for a moment, then laughed.

Really, it seemed she had truly caught Your Majesty's eye; he was eager to find the beauty as soon as he returned.

She gave Tu Nan, who was standing in the corner again, an approving look.

"Your Majesty, is there a young lady you would like to call forward to speak with?"

The Empress Dowager said with a smile, gesturing for Pamela to come forward.

Pamela walked forward with a shy face, and the two young ladies who had invited her earlier stepped forward together, sticking close to her.

Pamela's smile stiffened, and she was forced to stop and wait for the Empress Dowager's signal.

The Empress Dowager was somewhat annoyed. What was wrong with these Two Children? She had said before that Your Majesty would choose whoever he liked.

This was simply too inconsiderate.

She gave a cold snort and turned back to persuade The Emperor.

"So many Beauties are gathered here tonight; it's truly a sight to behold. I remember you haven't attended a ball since you came of age. I don't even know if you still remember the dance steps your teacher taught you."

"Why not invite a beauty to try tonight?"

"Sure." Before his voice even faded, The Emperor stood up from his seat and clapped his hands twice.

The crowd of nobles, who seemed to be ignoring him, instantly stopped what they were doing.

Dancers stopped their steps, talkers shut their mouths, and those laughing stopped their play.

Tu Nan smiled faintly.

Look at this group of cunning people with superb acting skills.

Everyone's attention was on The Emperor, yet everyone pretended otherwise.

Everyone waited for The Emperor to speak.

He smiled and said softly to the Empress Dowager, "It's been so long since I've danced, I'm afraid I'll be laughed at. Why don't I find someone I know to lead me?"

The Empress Dowager watched him narrow his deep golden eyes slightly and let out a soft laugh.

He walked straight toward a corner.

The crowd parted cleanly to both sides, clearing a path forward for him.

The path ahead pointed to...

Tu Nan, wearing a simple dress.

"You!"

The Empress Dowager stood up behind him, and her maid hurriedly stepped forward to help her up.

The maid's arm trembled slightly from the Empress Dowager's pinch, but she didn't dare cry out in pain or struggle.

Tu Nan stepped back.

Behind her was a pillar.

Peng Tianyu was quite excited, lowering his head to remind her, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty is coming over."

I see him; I'm not blind.

The Emperor!

What kind of madness does he get into every now and then?

Does he think her life is too peaceful and insists on finding trouble for her?

Is that it?

But no matter what she thought, the distance between them was quickly closed.

The Emperor was already standing in front of her.

He slowly reached out his hand to her.

"Come, do you know how to dance? Let me see."

It sounded like a query, but it was actually a command.

Tu Nan smiled stiffly.

She wished she could turn into a cat and run away.