Long Xiyue had just reached the most exciting part and could not bear to leave now. She said softly, "Let's go after she throws the embroidered ball."
Onstage, Xi Yan turned her gaze toward Hu Xiaotian. Clearly, she too had recognized him in the crowd. She gave him a sweet smile, reached out, and took the embroidered ball from the maid beside her. As she raised her arms, her sleeves slipped down, revealing upper arms that outshone frost and snow in their whiteness. The sight left the spectators even more dazzled and entranced.
Wen Boyuan frowned. He too felt there was something strange about the enchanting girl onstage. "Protect the young lady," he said quietly.
Xi Yan flicked both hands, and the embroidered ball suddenly flew toward Hu Xiaotian. At the same moment, Wen Boyuan and the others were already escorting Princess Anping backward. The crowd surged toward Hu Xiaotian's position. This bewitching, peerless beauty had turned every last one of their souls upside down, and all of them shared a single thought: they had to get their hands on that embroidered ball.
Instead of advancing, Hu Xiaotian retreated. Now that he had recognized Xi Yan, he had no intention of rushing forward to join the fun. He could not get away from this little enchantress fast enough. What tossing of an embroidered ball? This was just another trick she had cooked up.
Seeing that Hu Xiaotian was backing away to escape rather than stepping forward to compete for the ball, Xi Yan's lips curved into a bewitchingly seductive smile.
Everyone crowded forward, scrambling to grab the embroidered ball. But before they could catch it in midair, it suddenly burst into flames. At the same time, dozens of dazzling fireworks shot out from it, tumbling downward. The crowd cried out