Chapter 8: The Night Banquet

However, Ji Qingchen was somewhat surprised by the performance of Zhuge Jin beside him. Just through a few exchanges, he had already realized that the governor before him was not simple. In addition to possessing remarkable administrative abilities, he found that Zhuge Jin was also very tactful and perceptive in his dealings. Although he appeared to treat others with calmness, he was undoubtedly a shrewd character with hidden sharpness.

At this moment, suddenly, Zhuge Jin spoke to Zhao Xianglin at the lower seat, "I have heard that Lord Zhao has a beautiful courtesan in his residence, skilled in singing and dancing, and also proficient in the qin and xiao. Since today is a banquet in celebration of the Ninth Prince, and there are so many colleagues from the Ningzhou officialdom and clan leaders present, why doesn't Lord Zhao summon her out for us to appreciate?"

The Great Yan has been established for eight hundred years. Before the Spring and Autumn period and the Warring States, it was truly a land of rites and music. Therefore, even today, the custom of enjoying song and dance has not changed. The ministers of Great Yan all have a penchant for keeping a few singing girls at home.

Zhao Xianglin was left speechless; he had not expected Zhuge Jin to speak so harshly. Seeing that everyone in the hall had turned their gaze towards him, he realized that with Zhuge Jin having taken the conversation this far, any attempt to refuse would only offend the Ninth Prince and the officials of Ningzhou. He could only glare at Zhuge Jin fiercely and, with great reluctance, stood up to say a few words to the steward beside him, who nodded and left.

Upon seeing the beauty of the young girl, the people in the hall finally understood why Zhao Xianglin cherished this singer named Mingyan and did not dare to show her off publicly. A woman so beautiful and talented, if she were without power and status, an ordinary person could hardly guarantee that she would remain by their side.

In an instant, the applause in the hall surged like a tide

After the songstress Mingyan entered the hall, she remained oblivious to the greedy gazes of the crowd. She simply handed her guzheng to a nearby maid, then bowed respectfully to Ji Qingchen, Liu Donglou, and Zhuge Jin, before gracefully beginning to dance in the hall

At the moment Ji Qingchen heard the sound of the guqin, a look of surprise appeared in his eyes. His mother was skilled at playing the guqin and had a fondness for music, which instilled in him a strong interest in music from a young age. At the age of seven, he became a hostage in Li Country, and over the course of ten years, he diligently practiced his guqin skills. Now, his proficiency on the guqin has reached a master level. Therefore, when he heard the faint sound of the guqin played by this songstress, he realized that her skills were quite remarkable.

Ji Qingchen originally wanted to meet this highly skilled woman in music. Now, upon hearing Zhao Xianglin's inquiry, she slightly nodded in agreement. Zhao Xianglin bowed and accepted the order, then spoke a few words to the steward beside him, who then left the hall with small steps

Because this young girl is indeed very beautiful

Due to the special significance of this banquet, among the officials attending, in addition to Zhuge Jin, the governor of Ningzhou, the rest are all influential figures from both the military and political spheres of Ningzhou, as well as the heads of various prominent families in the region, making the scale of the banquet appear quite grand and luxurious

Hmph! Liu Donglou, seeing the entranced expressions of everyone in the hall, let out a cold snort of dissatisfaction and then began to close his eyes and rest.

Seeing this, the people in the hall did not dare to fall behind and began to applaud one after another

Ji Qingchen glanced at Liu Donglou in the front seat but did not speak. If they were to set aside the unpleasantness that occurred outside Ningzhou City today, Ji Qingchen still held a great respect for Liu Donglou as a person. Although he was unclear about Liu Donglou's true strength, he was aware of his senior brother Mu Feng's capabilities. Liu Donglou was able to command an army of one hundred thousand in Ningzhou to confront his senior brother Mu Feng, preventing the one hundred thousand cavalry of the Li Kingdom from advancing south into Ningzhou. This ability alone was enough for him to look down upon the court of Dayan, and the titles of Dayan Divine Spear and Dayan Tiger General were well-deserved.

The crowd in the hall was momentarily taken aback, and both Liu Donglou and Zhuge Jin beside him were puzzled as to why His Highness the Ninth Prince suddenly requested a guzheng. Only Ye Qingchen, sitting at the lower end, understood what his nephew intended to do, and he let out a faint sigh, lowering his head in silence. Zhuge Jin, being a perceptive individual, quickly realized the purpose behind the Ninth Prince's request for the instrument and immediately instructed the maidservants in the hall to bring the guzheng to Ji Qingchen. Ji Qingchen, unfazed by the gazes of those around him, took the guzheng handed to him by the maidservant, swept all the food and drink off the table in front of him with a wave of his large sleeves, placed the guzheng on the table, and began to play. The beautiful sound of the guzheng resonated throughout the hall, and the guests, still astonished by the Ninth Prince's earlier audacious behavior, suddenly realized that the esteemed figure before them possessed such talent, shifting their attention to the songstress Mingyan in the center of the hall.

Zhao Xianglin was quite angered by Zhuge Jin's words, yet he found himself unable to refute them. He could only ignore Zhuge Jin's seemingly mocking smile and forced a smile as he said to Ji Qingchen, "Since Your Highness enjoys it, I shall have Mingyan dance to entertain you."

When Ji Qingchen saw the songstress Mingyan, his expression did not reveal the greedy gaze that others displayed. Instead, he quietly observed the young girl with an appreciative look. As she approached, he noticed that she had a round, goose-egg-shaped face, with deep black eyes and rosy cheeks. An air of ethereal elegance and aloofness surrounded her. Her complexion was radiant, her skin as white as snow, and she had a small dimple on her face, which added a hint of shyness, making her exceptionally beautiful. Additionally, her tall figure was adorned in a long emerald green dress, covered by a white coat with strawberry patterns, which subtly revealed her snow-like, delicate chest. The hem of her dress barely covered her knees, and a matching belt cinched her waist, accentuating her slender figure.

The sound of the guzheng drifting through the hall is exceptionally beautiful, resembling the gentle tinkling of a brook, yet imbued with a sense of sorrow, akin to the ethereal orchids of the valley, while also possessing a certain grandeur, reminiscent of a heroic figure.

When the last note fell, apart from General Liu Donglou of Ningzhou and Ji Qingchen, who had already regained their senses, the rest of the audience remained immersed in the beautiful yet melancholic sound of the zither

Zhao Xianglin's expression stiffened, unable to believe Zhuge Jin's proposal. However, as his gaze fell upon Zhuge Jin's face, he noticed the other party was looking at him with a confident smile, and it seemed that he suddenly understood something. His complexion turned slightly pale, yet he still forced himself to suppress the anger within and shifted his gaze to the Ninth Prince, Ji Qingchen, smilingly saying, "Your Highness, I do have a few singing girls at home, but their dancing is rather crude, and their musical skills are even more rough, hardly suitable for a grand occasion. I fear they may not meet Your Highness's standards, so I hope for Your Highness's understanding."

The songstress Mingyan's body suddenly trembled the moment she heard the sound of the qin played by Ji Qingchen

At that moment, he felt an impulse to meet the singing diva who played the piano.

As a songstress immersed in musical instruments and dance for over a decade, she naturally possesses a standard for judging the pitch of the zither. Upon hearing the notes emanating from Ji Qingchen's guzheng, she could discern the exceptional skill of His Highness, the Ninth Prince. Moreover, as each note reached her ears and merged with her body, she found herself unconsciously executing difficult movements she had never accomplished before. In that moment, a long-lost sense of familiarity surged within her, as if the person playing the zither was not a stranger she had just met today, but rather an old friend reunited after a long separation. Furthermore, as each note reached her ears and merged with her body, she found herself unconsciously executing difficult movements she had never accomplished before. In that moment, a long-lost sense of familiarity surged within her, as if the person playing the zither was not a stranger she had just met today, but rather an old friend reunited after a long separation.

Zhuge Jin seemed to have anticipated that Zhao Xianglin would say such a thing. Facing Ji Qingchen's curious gaze, he smiled faintly and calmly addressed Zhao Xianglin, "Sir Zhao, you are being too modest. His Highness the Ninth Prince has been a hostage in the Li Kingdom for ten years. Today, upon his first arrival in Ningzhou City, he is unfamiliar with the local customs and the beautiful singing and dancing maidens. With your words, he will naturally not make things difficult for you. However, among those present in this hall, who does not have a few singing maidens in their household? How could they possibly be unaware of the dance and musical skills of Ningzhou's maidens? Therefore, Sir Zhao, your remarks may seem a bit self-serving."

Ningzhou City had long since fallen into slumber under the twilight, with few pedestrians on the streets. However, within the governor's residence of Ningzhou City, the lights were bright, and the hall was filled with singing and dancing, accompanied by the continuous sounds of games and commands.

The sound of the zither gently fell, and with the last note landing, Ming Yan's graceful dance came to a halt before the Ninth Prince, Ji Qingchen. Suddenly lifting her head, she faced the Ninth Prince, who was of a similar age but possessed superior zither skills and held a noble status. In that moment, her expression was devoid of the humility typically shown to high-ranking officials; instead, it was filled with a subtle intoxication and a hint of admiration that flickered in her brows.

This cannot be achieved solely through technical skill; it also depends on the musician's mood and feelings, as the guzheng is an instrument whose sound captivates listeners, making them feel as if they are immersed in the experience

Ji Qingchen was unclear about Zhuge Jin's true intentions. Surprisingly, with just a simple sentence, he provoked such intense anger in Zhao Xianglin, the governor of Ningzhou City, that it piqued her curiosity. However, she also realized that Zhuge Jin's request at this moment was clearly intended to exert pressure on Zhao Xianglin by leveraging his own status, raising suspicions that he wanted to use his identity as a weapon. This thought made her somewhat displeased, so she refrained from speaking and instead shifted her gaze towards Zhuge Jin, wanting to see how he would respond.

Then, a young girl of about sixteen gracefully stepped into the hall

This is also the reason why he dared to offend Liu Donglou at the foot of Ningzhou City

As night falls, the moon shines brightly while the stars are few.

At this moment, Zhuge Jin had also regained his senses and began to applaud to express his admiration for the musician. As a successful candidate in the imperial examination, he was well-versed in the arts of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and naturally had a great fondness for this piece.

This is because Zhao Xianglin, the governor of Ningzhou City, is hosting a banquet in his residence for the recently returned Ninth Prince of Dayan, Ji Qingchen. As the governor of Ningzhou City, he is a powerful figure in the local political scene. By hosting Ji Qingchen, he not only represents the officials of Ningzhou in congratulating the Ninth Prince on his safe return to the Yan Kingdom, but he has also received the directive from Zhuge Jin, the inspector of Ningzhou, aiming to use this banquet to ease the tense relationship between the Ninth Prince and General Liu Donglou of Ningzhou.

Accompanied by the gentle strains of the zither, the songstress Ming Yan began to dance gracefully in the hall. Her steps were light, and her emerald green sleeves fluttered, making her appear as if she were a celestial being descended from the heavens. Ji Qingchen quietly watched the girl dancing elegantly in the hall, somewhat lost in thought, for at that moment, memories of the past surged to the forefront of his mind. Outside the capital city, on the hillside of a high ridge, the dance of Princess Anle once again appeared before his eyes.

The young girl, holding the guzheng, walked gracefully into the hall, her emerald green dress fluttering in the wind, resembling a celestial fairy descended from the heavens, exuding an ethereal aura

As Ji Qingchen finished playing a piece, he slowly raised his head and discovered that the young girl, who had been dancing gracefully in the center of the hall just moments ago, had somehow made her way in front of him. Facing the admiration in the girl's eyes, he revealed no expression, naturally handing the guzheng to her. With a faint smile, he said, "Miss, your dance is exquisite, and your skill on the instrument is remarkable; it is a pity that you lack a fine zither. If fate allows us to meet again in the future, I shall certainly gift you a renowned zither." After saying this, he disregarded the seemingly amused Zhuge Jin and the ashen-faced Zhao Xianglin, and, amidst the astonished gazes of the crowd in the hall, he strode out on his own.

"Lord Zhao, may I ask the name of the young lady who just played the piano? Could she come out for a meeting? Since she possesses such exceptional piano skills, I imagine her dancing must be extraordinary as well! Why not let her perform a dance to entertain His Highness the Ninth Prince and all the esteemed guests?" As soon as the applause subsided, Zhuge Jin spoke to Zhao Xianglin in a measured tone.

The sound of clapping or a rhythmic noise

Therefore, after Ji Qingchen clearly understood Zhao Xianglin's purpose for hosting the banquet, she chose to disregard Liu Donglou's indifferent attitude. The relationship between the two remained quite cold, and the atmosphere between them was somewhat frosty.

Bring the lute! Suddenly, he felt a stirring in his heart and shouted loudly

As the young girl slowly walked into the hall, everyone present instinctively turned their gaze towards her, and a few even couldn't help but exclaim in surprise upon seeing her appearance

At the moment when Ji Qingchen was having a casual conversation with Zhuge Jin, the banquet had already reached its halfway point

Ji Qingchen sat in the prominent position of Liudong Tower, naturally observing the expression of the third-ranking military official of Dayan. However, he merely sighed inwardly and shifted his gaze to Zhuge Jin beside him. Compared to the renowned sharpshooter Liudong Tower, he found the local governor of Ningzhou, who could maintain order in the region, far more intriguing. Regardless of how much he treated the supporters of the Ning Wang of the Liu family in Ningzhou with respect, they could never be utilized for his own purposes, even if their relationship had somewhat improved. Given this, there was no need to engage in superficial pleasantries, lest he raise suspicions in his father’s mind upon returning home, making it seem as though he had an unusual relationship with the border generals right after his return to Yan.

Among the military representatives was General Liu Donglou of Ningzhou, who had already had a conflict with Ji Qingchen outside the city that morning. However, Liu Donglou seemed to have little interest in this banquet; since taking his seat, he had maintained a stern silence, his expression very gloomy, as if he was extremely reluctant to attend tonight's event. The fact that he was present at the banquet might suggest some underlying reasons.

Ji Qingchen knew that being able to play a piece like "Gui Qu Lai Xi" with such intricate variations, captivating the audience, is indeed not an easy feat

In a moment, the sound of a guzheng melody floated into the hall, causing the drinkers to be momentarily stunned, all focusing their attention on the music.