After the banquet had been going on for a while, a voice came from the doorway announcing, "Prince Yi has arrived!"
All eyes were drawn to the palace entrance. A man in a light gold robe, supported by a maid, slowly walked towards the center of the hall. Upon reaching the center, Prince Yi bowed to the emperor on the high throne: "Your Majesty, I am late. Please forgive me." Prince Yi's voice was magnetic and gentle, matching his handsome appearance.
Looking at the tall, handsome figure in the hall, Nan Wusi felt herself about to swoon. This was the most handsome man she had ever seen in her life. What was the Crown Prince Xiao Mu compared to Prince Yi's appearance? At most, he was only slightly more handsome than an average celebrity. Prince Yi's appearance, however, seemed otherworldly, like a flower on a high mountain, untouchable.
Namo Si tried to find words to describe Prince Yi's appearance, but found her vocabulary too barren and pale. Only the phrase "A gentleman as handsome as jade, unparalleled in the world" came to mind. Namo Si murmured softly, her eyes fixed intently on Prince Yi. It was a rather impolite look, but fortunately, everyone was watching Prince Yi and no one noticed. Otherwise, rumors would likely spread tomorrow that the general's daughter, Namo Si, had been stunned by Prince Yi at the banquet.
But what good is such a striking appearance? As everyone can see, Prince Yi is blind. His eyes are covered with a white membrane, making it impossible for him to see anything, and there is no cure for this in the current dynasty.
"What a pity," Nan Wusi couldn't help but feel regretful. However, she didn't know much about this Prince Yi. The original text didn't describe him much, so he probably wasn't even cannon fodder; he was just a passerby.
"That face is really handsome." After Prince Yi sat down, Nan Wusi would occasionally glance at it discreetly. "I really want to keep looking at it, I feel like I could never get tired of it." Nan Wusi had no one to talk to, so he could only keep bothering the system Xiao Ba in his mind.
However, Xiao Ba completely ignored Nan Wusi's behavior and simply pretended to be dead.
Unfortunately, Prince Yi's expression remained indifferent, and it was hard to imagine how handsome he would look if he smiled. Nan Wusi could only fantasize about it on his own.
Halfway through the banquet, everyone was getting bored, and even the emperor looked uninterested.
"It's almost time," Nan Wusi thought to himself.
"Your Majesty, to celebrate General Nan's victorious return, my daughter, though unworthy, wishes to perform a piece for him at this banquet to add to the festivities. I hope Your Majesty will grant her request," a minister said, rising to his feet.
"Oh, approved." Emperor Xiao Teng also became interested.
"The main course is served!" Nan Wusi began to get a little excited.
The minister's daughter was a typical lady from a prominent family, and her pipa playing was also quite proper. However, after this precedent was set, many ministers stepped forward to present their own daughters.
Everyone knew that this was a good opportunity to promote their daughter. After all, performing at the palace banquet and receiving the emperor's praise would not only bring honor but also make it easier to find a good marriage partner.
It's basically a large-scale matchmaking event. That's how Nanwusi summarized it himself.
Before long, flute players, dancers, and musicians showcased a dazzling array of talents, making the banquet lively and interesting once again.
"Your Majesty, my daughter also has a piece to perform," Prime Minister Ouyang said, rising to his feet.
"Granted," the emperor replied.
The first performer was Ouyang Xinxi, who played the guzheng. Neither the piece nor her skill was particularly outstanding; she was just average, so she didn't attract much attention.
Next up was Ouyang Jiangli. In the original story, her performance amazed everyone, garnering considerable attention and even receiving rewards from the emperor and empress.
Ouyang Jiangli arrived at the center of the main hall, bowed to the emperor, empress, and everyone present, and then sat down to begin playing her instrument, displaying the demeanor of a well-bred lady.
Although Nanwusi couldn't identify the melody, he found it very melodious, as if a gentle breeze had swept over him, making his mind feel light and free. The entire piece flowed smoothly, and Ouyang Jiangli's movements were also very graceful, making it a delight to watch.
"As expected of the female lead, she's truly exceptional," Nan Wusi thought to herself. It could be said that Ouyang Jiangli's performance was the best of the entire show so far, and with her elder sister's performance preceding her, the difference in skill was immediately apparent.
Sure enough, after Ouyang Jiangli finished his performance, he received a lot of applause. Everyone cheered and praised him endlessly. Prime Minister Ouyang was all smiles.
As in the original text, both the emperor and empress expressed their delight at Ouyang Jiangli's performance and bestowed rewards upon him.
Throughout the entire process, Ouyang Jiangli maintained excellent manners and poise, earning high regard from everyone present. Several ladies even considered marriage between them. It was a pity that Ouyang Jiangli was merely an illegitimate daughter of the Prime Minister's family. If her status issue could be resolved, she would undoubtedly be able to marry into a higher social class.
Nan Wusi noticed the way Xiao Mu looked at Ouyang Jiangli. Sure enough, the two of them had been hooking up for a long time. Although their glances and actions were very subtle, and others who didn't know the inside story might not have noticed, Nan Wusi had been observing them all night and could naturally see the trickery between them.
Finally, it was her turn. Nan Wusi was on edge all night. She wasn't confident about her performance.
"Minister Nan, I wonder if your daughter has any talents to showcase?" Sure enough, the emperor asked.
"Your Majesty, I am often away from the capital, and my daughter has been neglected in her upbringing. I fear she is not up to the standards of refined manners," Nan Tianba replied.
"Haha, that's not up to you. You'll probably have to ask your daughter's opinion." Emperor Xiao Teng narrowed his eyes.
Seeing that everyone's attention was focused on her, Nan Wusi took a deep breath and stood up: "Your Majesty, I also have a piece to play, but I need to borrow an instrument. I hope Your Majesty will grant me permission."
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