From cute to empress

Chapter 276: Unexpected Appearance, Danger on Stage

"...My dear fellow citizens, today we gather together to witness this grand feast of art!" I suppressed my doubts and spoke loudly. Thunderous applause erupted from the audience, their faces filled with joy and anticipation.

I looked around at the bustling crowd below, and a surge of pride welled up in my heart. We'd been preparing for this day for months, from the initial conception to the final completion, every step had condensed the hard work of countless people.

“Art is a treasure of human civilization and a bridge that connects hearts,” I continued. “It transcends the limitations of time and space, bringing together people from different cultural backgrounds to experience, create, and share beauty.”

There was thunderous applause from the audience. People were moved by my sincere words and nodded in agreement.

I took a deep breath and continued, "Today, artists from all corners of the world have gathered here. With their superb skills and passionate enthusiasm, they will present us with an unparalleled artistic feast. I believe that this event will become a milestone in the history of my country's artistic development and will write a new chapter in promoting cultural exchanges among countries and enhancing friendship among peoples!"

As soon as I finished speaking, thunderous applause broke out from the audience. People waved their arms excitedly and cheers resounded through the sky.

"Good! Well said!" A deep voice came from the crowd, with a slightly exotic accent, but the words were clear and loud.

Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw the mysterious man in black approaching the stage. He slowly removed his hood, revealing a sharp-edged face and a head of golden curly hair. A pair of deep blue eyes gleamed with wisdom.

"It's King Augustus from our neighboring country!" Someone in the crowd shouted, causing a commotion.

King Augustus! My heart skipped a beat, and an indescribable feeling of surprise and confusion washed over me. How could he suddenly appear here?

King Augustus smiled and nodded slightly to me, then turned to face the crowd and said in his fluent native language: "Your Majesty, distinguished guests, I have been invited by Your Majesty to attend this grand art event and express my sincere congratulations!"

As soon as he finished speaking, an official stepped forward and translated it into a language that both sides could understand.

"I'm honored to have the opportunity to enjoy the wonderful performances of your artists. I also look forward to establishing closer and deeper cultural exchanges and cooperation between our two countries," King Augustus said, turning his gaze towards me. A hint of an elusive smile lingered in his deep blue eyes. "What do you think, Her Majesty?"

I suppressed my surprise, met his gaze, and slowly said, "Your Majesty has come from afar, and your humble presence is a great honor. I..." Before I could finish my words, I heard a cry of surprise from the audience. I was startled and immediately turned to look at the center of the stage, only to see...

...In the center of the stage, the stage setting that was supposed to be rotating slowly suddenly began to shake violently. Several staff members were trying hard to stabilize the setting, but it was still shaky and seemed like it would collapse at any time.

I gasped, countless terrifying possibilities flashing through my mind. Was it sabotage? But who would be so audacious in such a moment, with so much attention on me?

"Protect everyone!" I shouted loudly, and immediately signaled the guards to step forward to control the situation.

However, before the guards could rush to the front of the stage, something unexpected happened. The famous opera actor who was originally performing on the stage suddenly took off into the air with lightning speed, performed a beautiful spin, and landed steadily on the edge of the stage.

"Good!" Thunderous applause suddenly broke out from the audience. People were all impressed by her thrilling and wonderful scene.

The famous Peking Opera actor smiled slightly, gave me a reassuring look, and then walked off the stage calmly.

By then, the staff had already managed to control the shaky set. My heart finally settled a little, but my doubts only grew stronger.

In the following performance, a master painter, with his brushstrokes, created a magnificent landscape that leapt onto the canvas, drawing the audience's admiration. A renowned opera performer, with her melodious voice and graceful dance, vividly portrayed a heart-wrenching historical story.

Their performances won high praise from audiences at home and abroad, and their works became the highlight of the event.

A highly respected art critic delivered an enthusiastic review on the spot, praising the event as an artistic feast and a milestone in cultural exchanges between the two countries, which will surely go down in history.

Applause, cheers and exclamations rang out one after another, and the entire venue was immersed in a joyful and peaceful atmosphere.

However, my eyes couldn't help but fall on King Augustus. He always had an enigmatic smile on his face, as if everything was within his expectations.

My heart was in suspense again, and I always felt that something was about to happen.

After the event, we held a grand celebration banquet to entertain all participants and guests.

Zhen Youcai and I stood side by side, accepting congratulations from all sides.

"Your Majesty, this is..." A guard hurried forward and handed me a letter.

I took the letter, unfolded it, and my expression changed immediately. The letter was written in a special code that only Zhen Youcai and I could understand.

"What's wrong?" Zhen Youcai noticed something was wrong with me and asked in a low voice.

I took a deep breath, handed him the letter, and said in a deep voice, "Read it for yourself."

Zhen Youcai took the letter and read it carefully, his expression gradually becoming solemn.

The letter contained only a few short sentences, but it revealed a sense of oppression that a storm was about to come:

"Be careful of Augustus; his mission is far from simple. Remember, remember!" The event went on as planned, the stage ablaze with brilliance and splendor. Looking at the faces in the audience, some enchanted, some excited, and some delighted, I felt an indescribable emotion welling up in my heart.

My gaze swept across the crowd and suddenly fixed on a familiar figure. It was the wife of a wealthy businessman who had generously provided substantial financial support for this event. She was now wiping tears of joy, her eyes sparkling. I knew her tears weren't from the performance, but from the immense pride she felt in being able to participate in and support such a great event.

Yes, this event is not only a cultural feast, but also a bridge connecting you and me, and connecting us with each other. It breaks down the barriers of national boundaries and language, allowing people from different cultural backgrounds to gather together, appreciate the charm of art, and feel each other's enthusiasm.

My gaze finally fell on King Augustus. He still wore that enigmatic smile, as if everything was under his control. For some reason, a sense of unease suddenly welled up in my heart, a feeling that something was about to happen...

After the event, we held a grand celebration banquet to entertain all participants and guests. Zhen Youcai and I stood side by side, accepting congratulations from all sides, our faces filled with joy.

"Your Majesty, this is..." A guard hurried forward and handed me a letter. I took it, unfolded it, and my face suddenly changed. The letter was written in a special code that only Zhen Youcai and I could understand.

"What's wrong?" Zhen Youcai noticed my strangeness and asked in a low voice. I took a deep breath, handed him the letter, and said in a deep voice, "Read it yourself."

The letter contained only a few short sentences, yet it revealed a sense of impending doom and gloom: "Be careful of Augustus, his mission is far from as simple as it appears. Remember, remember! Also, don't forget the 'Starry Chessboard', it..."

The letter ends here, and there is a blank space after the last word "it".

My heart sank suddenly, and an inexplicable chill rose from the soles of my feet... "Let's go back." I took Zhen Youcai's hand and quickly left the noisy banquet hall.