THE SOLO DANCER

The solo dancer would not affect the team's performance. Even if the solo dancer made a mistake, it would not affect the other dancers because she would be the only one who should be responsible for her mistakes.

When Yi Xue suddenly said that Tiantang could go to the Imperial Palace with one person as a solo dancer instead of letting that person join the dance team, Duan Shuchun immediately understood her point.

The Tiantang dance team had practiced together for many years, and even their hearts were connected. Each girl's every move looked perfectly harmonious, and if a new girl suddenly joined the team, she might only break the rhythm.

Duan Shuchun could understand the good intentions, but she couldn't easily accept the suggestion because she immediately asked the girls to leave the hall, but one of them remained in the hall as if she could guess what the boss was doing.

That person was Yi Xue, and now there were only two women in the hall after all the girls had left.

"I know you care about Xia Qiao, but asking her to perform solo when she doesn't even know how to do the basic dance is too much," Tiantang's boss broke the silence in the hall. "Don't you think your decision will only pressure her? I don't know what purpose she has, but you two shouldn't go crazy just because of that."

Duan Shuchun looked exhausted. Early in the morning, several people from the Imperial Palace came to Tiantang. They weren't even disguised themselves as normal humans, so their aura felt so intense when they stepped onto the Tiantang building.

Duan Shuchun greeted the unexpected guests in the western room which was quite far from the hall, and it was no wonder that the girls who were busy practicing in the hall didn't know that she was facing difficulties a few hours ago.

If the Imperial Palace simply stated that they would only invite the Tiantang dancers without mentioning the number, then it wouldn't be a big deal for her, but since the palace clearly mentioned the number eight, it gave her a headache.

How was she supposed to find a new girl in such a short time? Even the official invitation from the palace came late, so she knew that she didn't have enough time to prepare.

"I know what I'm doing," Yi Xue replied calmly. "That kid wants to achieve her goals, and I'm just trying to help her. She didn't even show any sign of rejection when I voiced my idea earlier, so I'm sure she wasn't pressured by my idea."

"Aiyah! It's because that kid is too desperate!" Duan Shuchun quickly argued. "I know you listened to our previous discussion, and you know that she even said that she was willing to climb into men's bed as long as I let her go to the Imperial Palace. That kid really gives me a headache!"

Duan Shuchun looked angry, but Yi Xue only chuckled in response. "That kid has learned that attitude from me, you know?"

The boss of Tiantang fell silent when she heard Yi Xue's confidence. She knew that Xia Qiao had seen Yi Xue as her master three months ago, and it would be good if Xia Qiao only learned good things from the senior courtesan.

Unfortunately, the naive girl who always covered her face with a black veil also learned how to be bold and crazy from Yi Xue, and Duan Shuchun knew that Xia Qiao couldn't be helped anymore. The young girl was really trying to imitate Yi Xue's attitude now.

"I'll let you teach Xia Qiao personally, and it's fine if you want to teach her to be a solo dancer," Duan Shuchun decided, and Yi Xue looked pleased after hearing the decision. However, before the younger woman could even form a smile on her face, Duan Shuchun suddenly continued, "But I can't guarantee that I will choose her to perform in the Imperial Palace. I will judge objectively, and I will only choose the best dancer to go to the palace aside from the original dance team."

Yi Xue canceled her smile, but the disappointment on her face didn't last long as she said, "It's fine. It's Xia Qiao who wants to go to the Imperial Palace, and I will only extend my hand to teach her. She is the one who can decide her fate."

Unexpectedly, their discussion managed to come to a conclusion without too much argument, and it seemed both women were satisfied with the decision.

"Now that I have decided to give Xia Qiao one last chance, you must remember that you still have to join the dance team during their practice because you are their leader," Duan Shuchun reminded the other girl, and it was because Yi Xue often said that she was lazy when she was supposed to practice together with the other girls on the dance team.

Yi Xue was indeed the leader of the dance team in Tiantang House, but she was sometimes too proud of herself, and that was why she would often selfishly leave the team during their practice.

"You don't have to worry," the younger girl replied. "I know that the event at the Imperial Palace is very important, so I will work hard to perform perfectly with the team."

Once again, Yi Xue showed her cooperation, and Duan Shuchun nodded in satisfaction before she spoke again, "You managed to safely leave Master Fang's place today. Do you think he will stop chasing you after you surrendered yourself to him last night?"

Duan Shuchun suddenly brought up the topic of the man who dared to wreak havoc in Tiantang last night, and Yi Xue seemed to have thought of something before she smirked dangerously at the older woman. "You don't have to worry about him. That rat won't be able to mess with me or Tiantang anymore in the future."