Chapter 55
“Your Majesty, I have often heard in Zhaoguo that Yanguo is blessed with talented individuals and beautiful people. I have come here this time to witness the brilliance of Yanguo’s talents. If tonight we only watch songs and dances, it would be rather dull.”
“Oh, that makes sense. Then I wonder what suggestions the Seventh Princess has?” The emperor was not angered and continued to engage with her words.
However, most of the people from Yanguo frowned, feeling that Zhao Xiru was being overly presumptuous. While she spoke of praise, her tone was laced with provocation, comparing the showcasing of talent with songs and dances, which was inherently derogatory.
“I don’t dare to suggest anything, but in the past, I once met a traveling master who taught me a unique dance. He claimed that no other dance could surpass it. Over the years, I have sought various dance forms to prove his words, but I have indeed found none that could compare. Today, I would like to present this dance as a gift to Yanguo and also seek guidance from Yanguo.”
“Oh, is there truly such a dance? Then I am very much looking forward to it,” the emperor deftly avoided the topic and waved his hand, signaling the dancers to retreat. “Please, Seventh Princess.”
Zhao Xiru smiled slightly and gently clapped her hands, causing the light in the grand hall to dim a little, creating a somewhat muted atmosphere.
Immediately, the hall filled with chatter.
“There’s no need to panic, everyone. It’s just to set the mood.”
As soon as Zhao Xiru’s voice fell, the music began to play softly and slowly, like a gentle spring breeze, calming everyone’s hearts as if they were eager to listen closely to the sound of the breeze.
On the dais, Murong Qiufeng’s eyes suddenly flickered as he looked at Zhao Xiru in astonishment, followed by a hint of confusion.
And the seemingly indifferent Shangguan Ye also raised an eyebrow, slightly narrowing his eyes. Although he appeared to be intoxicated, his eyes were clear and glinted with a hint of intrigue.
As the melody echoed, a few white shadows suddenly flashed at the center of the hall, as if they had appeared out of nowhere, transforming into graceful women dressed in shimmering attire, sparkling like they were adorned with countless gems. As they danced, their movements were enchanting.
Their dance was ever-changing, resembling the celestial fairies from the Yaochi or the enchanting witches of the night. It was a single dance that felt like a thousand performances, making people feel as if they had glimpsed the myriad of dances and songs in the world, witnessing the rise and fall of splendor, evoking feelings of melancholy and helplessness, and unknowingly losing the will and interest in life.
Murong Qiufeng’s frown deepened as he turned to look at the empress, who had become completely entranced by the performance, and then shifted his gaze back to Zhao Xiru, where he noticed her triumphant smile.
Suddenly, a chill wind blew through, causing Murong Qiufeng to instinctively reach out. He was surprised to find a black jade flute in his hand.
He turned his head to look at Shangguan Ye, who was watching the performance impassively, holding a wine cup as if he were about to drink, but seemed reluctant to do so, his gaze fixed on the dance.
The cool touch of the flute made Murong Qiufeng’s heart stir. He realized that Shangguan Ye not only understood the underlying mysteries but also knew that he had a way to resolve them.
However, this was not the time for contemplation. After a moment of gathering his emotions, he gently brought the flute to his lips and blew softly.
The sound of the flute was light, even lighter than the ethereal music, yet it seemed to permeate the air like a breath of winter’s chill mingling with the spring breeze. Suddenly, the vibrant atmosphere began to wane, adding a hint of vitality to the decline, transforming the icy world into a melting landscape, bringing everything back to life.
In contrast to the music that moved from a vibrant spring to a desolate autumn, this was a reversal, bringing life from the brink of death.
With a clang, it was like a clap of thunder, instantly awakening everyone from their dreams.
At the same time, the lights in the hall brightened again, as if after a night of rain and thunder, dawn had arrived, illuminating the space.
Zhao Xiru’s face turned pale, her hand trembling lightly beneath her sleeve, while in her other hand, she held a small pipa, now reduced in size, with a drop of red blood at her fingertip and a string already broken.
She looked around in astonishment but saw nothing unusual. The crowd seemed to have just awakened, appearing completely normal.
She glanced at Shangguan Ye, only to meet his deep, slightly tipsy gaze, which made her heart skip a beat.
“Ha ha, marvelous! Truly a wonderful piece of music and dance,” the emperor exclaimed, slapping the table in admiration, followed by a chorus of agreement.
“Ha ha, Seventh Princess, may I ask the name of the master who taught you this dance? Does this dance have a title?”
“Hehe, this dance is called ‘Nightmare.’ It changes with the thoughts of the viewer; if one’s heart is joyful, it becomes a celebration; if one’s heart is sorrowful, it becomes a farewell dance. Life is but a dream with countless forms, and one can never fully grasp the splendor. It is as if one lives in a dream without realizing it. Hence, it is called ‘Nightmare.’ That master did not leave behind any name, and I have searched for a long time but never encountered him again, which is my greatest regret,” Zhao Xiru answered with a cunning smile.
Murong Qiufeng lowered his head, his fingers gently caressing the cool jade flute beneath the table, completely ignoring the exchange of flattery happening around him.
A multitude of emotions swirled within him. The jade flute was smooth and flawless, indicating it was well cared for by its owner. From that previous flute piece, he could tell that Shangguan Ye had a deep understanding of music.
To a musician, an instrument is like a sword to a swordsman—an extension of oneself, and music lovers feel the same way.
From the jade flute, it was clear that this instrument had accompanied Shangguan Ye for quite some time, yet it was preserved so well, which indicated how much it was cherished, and yet it could easily pass into his hands.
He believed that since Shangguan Ye knew he could resolve this, he also understood the method of resolution. Why did he need him? Was it trust or…?
His thoughts became convoluted as he unconsciously tightened his grip on the jade flute, looking at Shangguan Ye’s profile. He felt dazed, caught between the Shangguan Ye he had learned about from others and the one he faced daily— which one was the true Shangguan Ye, and why was he so kind to him?
Lost in thought, he suddenly met Shangguan Ye’s deep black eyes and froze slightly, only to find a glimmer of mischief in his gaze.
He quickly came back to his senses, realizing he had been staring at him. Flushing slightly, he turned away, only to feel a gentle tug on his sleeve. He looked over to see the empress regarding him with a teasing smile. “Hehe, Jun’er, your behavior makes me feel somewhat guilty for interrupting your romance.”
Laughter erupted from the crowd, and Murong Qiufeng was taken aback, turning to realize that many were looking at him, chuckling with suggestive expressions.
“Uh…” Murong Qiufeng glanced at the crowd, his face reddening as if on fire. He felt somewhat at a loss and instinctively glanced at Shangguan Ye, who merely raised an eyebrow, his smile deepening.
The emperor laughed heartily. “Alright, alright. Jun’er has a thin skin, so let’s not tease her. Jun’er, the Seventh Princess has just thrown down a challenge to you.”
