67 Jealousy
◎The teacup in Lu Jing's hand was almost crushed by him.◎
In late September, the river water rose, and the Mingzhou battlefield, which had been stalemate for more than 80 days, finally ushered in a decisive battle.
Xu Lang secretly mobilized his troops and led 30,000 elite soldiers to cross the Mingshui River in the dark to launch a general attack on the Jin army.
Three whistling arrows streaked across the sky. King Zhao Lu Jing put on his armor and led his elite soldiers in black armor to meet the enemy.
The two groups of cavalrymen fought each other, torches lit up the sky, and the sound of fighting was endless.
As the night faded and dawn broke, Xu Lang gradually lost his way and retreated into the infantry formation behind him.
King Zhao immediately sent cavalry to attack Xu Lang's army, and then personally led a group of elite cavalry to go around behind the enemy army, crushing into Xu Lang's infantry formation and charging back and forth.
Suddenly, the flag of the Jin army appeared behind him, fluttering in the wind, and the shouts of killing shook the sky, shocking the rebels.
Wherever King Zhao's sword passed, it seemed unstoppable.
The two sides fought fiercely from early morning to afternoon. The rebels were attacked from both sides and their morale was broken.
In the face of defeat, Xu Lang led the remnants of his troops in a desperate effort to break through the encirclement and retreat downstream. The commander abandoned the battle and fled, while some soldiers, unaware of the situation, continued to fight to the death, while others retreated in panic.
Before Xu Lang could cross the Ming River, two more whistling arrows flashed across the sky. The Jin army stationed upstream immediately destroyed the dike. A massive wave of water swept down, engulfing the unsuspecting rebels, and thousands drowned. Seizing the victory, the Jin army beheaded nearly 20,000 people. Xu Lang fled the battlefield with only a hundred cavalrymen and defected to the Turks.
His Royal Highness King Zhao personally led his troops in pursuit for over 400 miles, captured Xu Lang alive at the foot of Raoyang City, and beheaded him as a sacrifice to the national flag.
Following Xu Lang's death, Duke Qin Yu of Qi, who led the northern front, and Xie Qian, the Marquis of Wu'an, who led the western front, simultaneously launched their forces, sweeping across the land and recovering lost territory. The three armies met at Lianzhou, where the rebels were crushed and countless surrendered.
The north wind swept across the land, withering all the grass. By the end of October, the fighting in Hebei had been completely pacified, and the twenty-three prefectures had returned to the rule of the Jin Dynasty. The court dispatched officials to provide support and pacify the situation.
On the day when His Royal Highness Prince Zhao returned victoriously and the Black Armor Army entered the capital, the streets of Chang'an were deserted.
The unprecedented military achievement of Prince Zhao who destroyed Zheng and Xia in one battle two years ago is still fresh in our minds. When Xu Lang of Hebei rebelled, it was Prince Zhao who led the troops to suppress the rebellion, thus preventing the Central Plains from being divided and engulfed in war again.
Not to mention that at the age of seventeen, His Majesty defeated Xue Ju and seized Longyou, and at the age of eighteen, he destroyed Western Qin and recovered Jinzhou. Half of the country was conquered by His Majesty himself. When the people of Dajin mentioned the royal family, they all said that His Majesty had given birth to a famous and outstanding son.
The people of the whole city lined the streets to welcome them, and their cheers of joy and excitement reached the sky.
On a road separated by three thousand imperial guards, Lu Jing first returned to the palace to rest, and then went to the palace to pay his respects.
The sun was shining brightly, and the victorious soldiers followed behind His Royal Highness Prince Zhao, their spirits high.
The noisy scene of half a day gradually faded away, and in the afternoon when no one paid attention, Prince Huai Lu Chen also led his people into the city.
He deliberately avoided traveling with King Zhao Lu Jing, and the city gate guard also respectfully let him pass.
As the horses' hooves gradually stepped onto the main street, Lu Chen saw a deserted scene. The people, tired of the bustling crowds, had gone home, leaving only a few scattered people cleaning the streets.
When they saw the horses approaching, they simply raised their heads slightly and saluted as usual.
The deputy general following Lu Chen no longer had the same spirit as when he went to the battle, and they heard the thunderous celebration in the city in the morning, which they heard a lot outside the city.
"Go back home!"
Lu Chen whipped his horse whip and without waiting for the people behind him, he rode away on his precious horse that could travel hundreds of miles a day.
…
His Royal Highness Prince Zhao has returned victoriously, and a celebration banquet is scheduled for November 15th in the palace.
His Majesty was delighted. With ten days remaining before the meticulously planned celebration banquet, the Emperor allowed a small banquet to be held at Prince Zhao's residence. Emperor Mingde bestowed numerous rewards and specially dispatched two imperial opera troupes to the residence. The opera would continue for three days, adding to the excitement of the banquet.
The Landmark Terrace in the Wangfu Garden has been redecorated in preparation for opera performances, and the surrounding open space is more than enough to accommodate more than a dozen banquet tables.
The busier Sun Jing became, the more energetic he became. He was in high spirits all day long and directed the people in the palace to prepare banquets in an orderly manner.
"Your Highness, the invitations to the guests have been sent out."
Except for the note to Lord Gu, which was written by His Highness himself, Sun Jing displayed it separately.
"Um."
Each palace was proud to receive an invitation from Prince Zhao's Palace. Sun Jing said, "Your Highness the Prince of Huai has been traveling a long way and is ill. I'm afraid he won't be able to attend the banquet."
In fact, Sun Jing had never asked anyone to prepare a seat for His Royal Highness the Prince of Huai; if that prince was willing to come, it would be truly a blessing in disguise.
The Eastern Palace accepted the invitation, but the war in Hebei had just begun and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was busy with government affairs, so he might arrive late that day.
From the guest list to the meal arrangements, the three-day celebration banquet at Prince Zhao's Mansion was particularly grand.
In contrast, the Huaiwang Mansion seemed exceptionally deserted. Sun Jing smiled broadly. Indeed, with His Royal Highness Huaiwang's meager military achievements, wouldn't it be a slap in the face to hold a celebration banquet?
Sun Jing felt completely relieved. The Prince of Huai had always loved competing with his Highness since childhood. Last year, he had gone all out to exclude the Highness at court, driving a wedge between the Highness and His Majesty. Now, on the battlefield, the truth was revealed. What was the point of simply vying for His Majesty's favor?
The banquet at Prince Zhao's palace was perfectly organized, with no faults to be found. His Majesty had also ordered that it be carefully prepared, and the palace opera troupe had begun rehearsing at the palace the day before yesterday.
Sun Jing presented a piece of opera excerpts, thinking that the prince would not care about such a trivial matter, so he took the initiative to choose some popular plays in the capital.
Lu Jing flipped through it casually, and a smile appeared on his lips: "Add a scene where a woman disguises herself as a man."
"Yes, Your Highness."
After a pause, Lu Jing added with interest, "Don't join the army in your father's place."
Although he was confused for the moment, Sun Jing responded respectfully one by one.
…
The next day was a beautiful, sunny day. Following the great victory in Hebei, His Majesty granted the entire court a day off, with two days granted to officials from the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Revenue, and the Ministry of Works who had assisted in the war effort.
Gu Ningxi got up early in the morning and had dinner with his mother, then asked someone to prepare a carriage to go to Prince Zhao's mansion for the banquet.
The battle in Hebei was won so brilliantly that even my mother, who was in the inner house, heard about it.
His Royal Highness Prince Zhao defeated Xu Lang's rebels with great force within half a year, saving the court a huge amount of money and food.
Everyone in the court knew that if His Royal Highness Prince Huai had not taken command, the court's military expenditure could have been cut by another 40%, but no one dared to mention it openly.
The carriage drove towards Prince Zhao's Palace. Gu Ningxi boasted that he had left home early, but when he arrived at the palace's garden, most of the guests were already seated.
She looked at the newly decorated Lansheng Terrace. This place was built by the Minister of the Court when the Prince Zhao's palace was expanded. The original intention was not only to enjoy the scenery, but also to set up a stage for opera performances, which happened to be used in the past few days.
Gu Ningxi found his place and was next to Wu'an Hou Xie Qian.
Seeing old friends again, Xie Qian smiled and said, "Master Gu, long time no see."
Gu Ningxi returned the greeting with a smile, and the two chatted casually, ranging from interesting things in Kyoto to anecdotes on the battlefield. Soon Zhen Yuan also joined in.
The sky is high and the clouds are light, and the sky is clear like jade.
Today, Lu Jing had changed into a purple brocade robe with a dark golden qilin pattern. The cuffs were outlined with auspicious cloud patterns in gold and silver thread. His attire lacked the austere air of battlefield sternness, and instead conveyed the natural grace of a noble family.
"Your Highness, the guests have all arrived. Prince Zhen and Lord Gu are also here."
"Okay." Lu Jing chose the jade crown that his mother had prepared for his ceremony, packed up, and said, "Let's go."
Sun Jing followed with a smile. The prince's clothes were just right for the grand celebration.
The regulations of Prince Zhao's Mansion were almost as strict as those of the Eastern Palace. When Lu Jing arrived at the flower garden, it was already extremely lively.
He had excellent eyesight and subconsciously looked for a familiar figure. He soon found Gu Yuanle in the middle, chatting and laughing with two or three good friends.
Lu Jing: “…”
As if sensing something, Gu Ningxi raised her eyes, looked across the crowd, and saw His Royal Highness Prince Zhao standing out against the clear sky.
A smile formed in her eyes, and as the two looked at each other, a faint smile unconsciously appeared on Lu Jing's lips.
Before he could take a few more breaths, the attendants had already joined in: "His Royal Highness Prince Zhao has arrived!"
All the guests in the garden straightened their clothes and stood up to greet each other, and Gu Ningxi's figure disappeared in the crowd.
"Welcome His Royal Highness Prince Zhao, may His Royal Highness live a thousand years of health and peace."
Lu Jing sat down and told everyone not to be so formal.
With the approval of His Royal Highness Prince Zhao, Sun Jing passed on the message, and the show on the Lansheng stage began.
Gu Ningxi's position was close to the center, with an excellent view, allowing him to take in the entire opera on the stage.
The music rose and fell, and the curtain slowly opened. Today's performance was all from the palace, and the drama was so exciting that it needed no further explanation.
It was a rare moment of relaxation. The plot was so captivating that Gu Ningxi was so entranced that she sometimes even forgot to eat the preserved fruit in her hand. Seeing that she particularly liked the plate of Ruyi cakes, Lu Jing ordered someone to prepare another plate for her.
After the play was over, the audience was still not satisfied.
Lu Jing couldn't discern any coherent plot, but Sun Jing checked the playlist and saw that the next play was exactly the theme His Highness had specifically requested. As the play began, Lu Jing calmed down and went to see Gu Ningxi.
The play "Half a Lifelong Romance" opens with a beautiful young woman applying her makeup in front of a mirror. She removes her gold hairpins, wipes off her flower ornaments, ties up her black hair, and dons a brocade robe. The once delicate young woman emerges from behind a folding screen, transformed into a strikingly handsome young man.
Gu Ningxi paused while eating the Ruyi cake, unaware that someone watching the show next to him was finding it amusing.
The girl who appeared was the protagonist of the play, named Li Niang, also known as Jun Yu. She looked stunning in her costume, and then sang a line that revealed the purpose of her journey: to travel to the capital by carriage to take part in the imperial examination.
Li Niang on the stage was studying hard by lamplight, while Gu Ningxi under the stage had his fingertips slightly curled up, and he couldn't help but feel uneasy.
She put down the pastry and looked around. When she accidentally met the gaze of His Royal Highness Prince Zhao, Lu Jing looked away as if nothing had happened.
Gu Ningxi, feeling guilty, didn't notice that His Royal Highness Prince Zhao lowered his eyes and hid his smile.
The show continued on stage. Gu Ningxi lowered her head, silently praying that it would be over soon. When she heard the summons officer announce that Li Niang had been awarded the third place in the imperial examination, she couldn't help but raise her head.
Although she is just a character in a play, when Li Niang wears a bright red brocade robe and rides a horse in parade, people still can't help but feel happy for her.
The moon rises and sets on the stage. In the quiet courtyard, Li Niang, who has been appointed as an official of the Hanlin Academy, monologues to the moon, revealing the reason why she risked the crime of deceiving the emperor and disguised herself as a man to take the imperial examination.
It turns out that Li Niang and her cousin were childhood sweethearts, in love with each other. When they were about to discuss marriage, her cousin was framed by a villain, imprisoned and taken to the capital.
His Royal Highness Prince Zhao's smile suddenly froze.
To save her cousin, Li Niang resolutely disguises herself as a man, leaves a letter behind, and flees to Beijing to seek justice for her cousin. Her first step in gathering evidence is to win the third place in the imperial examination and enter the court.
Li Niang's cleverness and boldness, as she navigated danger step by step, earned her immense admiration; her deep and unwavering bond with her cousin was even more moving. The scene where Li Niang reunites with her cousin in prison was particularly moving, bringing tears to the eyes and drawing viewers completely into the film.
While defending her cousin and serving as an official in the imperial court, Li Niang also met a powerful official in the capital. He accidentally discovered that Li Niang was a girl, and he was already in love with her at first sight, so he became more interested in marrying her as his princess.
But Li Niang only had her cousin in her heart and was not moved by wealth at all, so she refused bluntly.
A powerful official attempted to steal Li Niang's love and imprisoned her in the palace, but he was ultimately moved by her love for her and her cousin and chose to let her go. He even pleaded for Li Niang's crime of deceiving the emperor before the emperor. Ultimately, Li Niang successfully gathered evidence, redressed her in the Golden Palace, and rescued her cousin. The two returned home to be married, escorted by the powerful official.
Amid the joyful wedding music, Lu Jing almost crushed the teacup in his hand.
What the hell is this song?! What the hell?!
Gu Ningxi also didn't like this ending. She'd already been an official at court, but why did she end up resigning and returning home to marry? Wasting her life on domestic matters, with all her talent but unable to display it?
Since you already have an official position, your husband is dispensable!
After the banquet that day, the troupe performed particularly hard, and the palace gave them rewards as usual.
On the playlist, Lu Jing crossed out "Rebirth of the Goddess".
"Pass the order down. From now on, this play is not allowed to be performed in Prince Zhao's palace."
"Yes, Your Highness, I understand."
As Sun Jing left the palace gates clutching the playlist, he was still puzzled. Hadn't His Royal Highness Prince Zhao specifically requested a play featuring women dressed as men? Since he didn't want to join the army in his father's place, the troupe had recommended "The Rebirth of Love."
There will be another opera tomorrow, so it seems we have to change the act.
…
The moon was bright and the stars were sparse, and Lu Jing tossed and turned in the palace bedroom, unable to sleep.
As soon as he closed his eyes, he could hear the pedantic lyrics from the stage during the day, the affectionate gaze between Li Niang and her cousin, and Li Niang's resolute look as she rejected the powerful.
What cousins, what childhood sweethearts, ridiculous, so ridiculous!
Moonlight shone into the palace, and His Royal Highness Prince Zhao, who had not fallen asleep in the second half of the night, suddenly sat up.
——That’s not right!
Meng Mingxuan only came to Beijing four years ago and had only known Yuan Le for three years. How could they be considered childhood sweethearts?
If we really want to talk about the friendship between him and Yuan Le, about being childhood sweethearts, it’s clearly him and Yuan Le!!!
【Author’s words】
The previous chapter was revised, a new plot was added, and the last paragraph was moved to this chapter~
The opera content is based on the story of Meng Lijun, with some slight adaptations.
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