After bringing the Loulan delegation to the Sifang Pavilion and arranging for several translators to settle them in, Qin Chuan returned to the Imperial Preceptor's residence.
The Ministry of Rites left some officials to inquire about the well-being of the Loulan delegation, since their dietary habits were different from those of the Han people, and taking good care of them was also something the Ministry of Rites needed to do.
The Empress will summon the Loulan Princess and others the following day.
Inside the Sifang Pavilion, in the Loulan Princess's room.
Lou Shishi removed her red veil and said to the High Priest and General Che Zhao, "This Grand Preceptor of the Great Gan Dynasty dares to look down on my Loulan! I've heard he has some poetic talent. Tomorrow, I, the princess, will defeat him with poetry and show him my power!"
"Princess," Che Zhao said, "this Imperial Preceptor is rude and arrogant. I want to challenge him to a duel and teach him a lesson! To show the might of our Daloulan!"
Lou Shishi looked at the High Priest with her emerald eyes and said, "High Priest, what are your thoughts?"
The high priest's gaze turned sinister as he slowly spoke: "I used ancient divination techniques twice to peer into this person's past and present lives. This boy is truly bizarre, almost inhuman!"
"What does the High Priest mean?" Lou Shishi asked, slightly surprised and puzzled.
The high priest sighed softly, “Everyone in the world has a past life, whether as a snake, a rat, a rabbit, or one of the twelve primordial signs. I observe that this child was also a human in his past life. I have never seen anyone who was human in two lives. If this is the case, wouldn’t it be against the way of Heaven? According to the ancient sayings, this child is not human in this life!”
"This..." Lou Shishi was surprised, her green eyes flashing.
Could this person not be human, but a demon?
Che Zhao laughed heartily, "High Priest, I think this boy is nothing but a madman! Has there ever been a time when you were wrong about divination? Last time, the princess's flock of sheep went missing, and although it was clearly in the west, you said it was in the east..."
The high priest glanced at Che Zhao and then said, "Perhaps I was wrong in my divination. In that case, I will compete with him in wisdom tomorrow!"
"Good, good, good! We must put his arrogance to rest tomorrow!" Lou Shishi clapped her hands lightly, the jade ring on her finger making a soft clinking sound.
...
The next day.
The Empress hosted a welcoming banquet for the Loulan delegation in the palace, with officials in attendance, including Qin Chuan.
The welcoming banquet was held in the Taiping Hall.
Inside the Taiping Palace, the Empress sat on the dragon throne, dressed in a dragon robe, her hair styled in a high bun, looking absolutely beautiful and noble.
Qin Chuan sat in the first row below, next to Princess Loulan in the very front.
Behind the Loulan princess were the Loulan High Priest, General Che Zhao, and Loulan merchants.
Behind Qin Chuan were court officials such as Xiao Yun, Xiao Yue, and Right Chancellor Li Zongmin.
The banquet seating was arranged according to social status, and Qin Chuan was prominently placed at the front, which displeased Li Zongmin. His gaze towards Qin Chuan was filled with jealousy.
Under the supervision of the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, the banquet commenced smoothly.
After several rounds of drinks, General Che Zhao of Loulan suddenly stood up, bowed to the Empress, and then raised his wine cup, saying, "Your Majesty, this Da Gan wine is the best wine I have ever tasted. It is sweet and fragrant without being intoxicating. However, I'm afraid that just drinking this wine alone might be a little lacking."
The Empress smiled slightly, and the eunuch beside her immediately understood, raising his hands and clapping lightly twice: "Let the palace maids in!"
As soon as the eunuch finished speaking, eight elegantly dressed palace maids walked in from outside the door, each one quite beautiful.
The Empress smiled and said, "I have heard that Loulan is skilled in singing and dancing. Our Imperial Preceptor has composed a new piece called 'Water Dragon Chant,' which I invite you all to appreciate..."
The court musicians entered the hall one by one, bringing with them a variety of musical instruments, including the qin, flute, and konghou.
"Water Dragon Chant?"
Lou Shishi glanced at Qin Chuan curiously, thinking to herself, "He can compose music too?"
The officials on Da Gan's side also looked at Qin Chuan, never expecting that the Imperial Preceptor had such abilities; besides poetry, he could even compose music...
As the music began, the palace maids danced gracefully, like flowers in full bloom.
The Loulan merchants stared wide-eyed, as if they had seen a fairy. Some of them secretly swallowed and looked on with burning eyes.
They had never seen such a beautiful woman before. Loulan was mostly desert and grassland, exposed to wind and sun, so the women of Loulan generally had rough skin, which could not be compared with that of women from the Central Plains.
Upon seeing a woman from the Central Plains with even a modicum of beauty, they practically wanted to kneel down and grovel at her feet...
The melody of "Shui Long Yin" is like a mountain stream, so beautiful that one forgets to eat when listening to it.
As the empress listened to the music, she couldn't help but glance at Qin Chuan, her lips pressed tightly together, a look of satisfaction on her beautiful face.
Lou Shishi closed her blue eyes, her nose slightly raised, as if she were intoxicated by the moment.
After the song ended, the lingering melody seemed to echo endlessly.
"This is truly the sound of flowing water amidst towering mountains!" Lou Shishi said to the Empress.
The Empress smiled slightly, raised her cup to Lou Shishi, and said, "This is all thanks to the Imperial Advisor!"
Lou Shishi also stood up with a smile, raised her cup to toast the Empress, and then turned to Qin Chuan, saying, "I have heard that the Grand Preceptor of the Great Gan Dynasty is the most talented poet in the world. He has written delicate poems like 'Yesterday's Rain and Wind,' which express the sentiments of a young girl, as well as bold and unrestrained poems like 'Man Jiang Hong,' which exude a chilling aura, and 'Ascending the Heights,' which is the best of the seven-character regulated poems. He is truly admirable!"
"Princess Loulan, you flatter me!" Qin Chuan rose and returned the greeting.
"I am not very talented," Lou Shishi paused slightly, then continued, "I have studied some poetry and lyrics. If the Imperial Preceptor would be so kind as to grant me the honor, I would be willing to learn a thing or two from him."
"What do you mean?" Qin Chuan asked.
Lou Shishi smiled, "I just wanted to exchange ideas on poetry with you!"
The Empress lifted her robe, her phoenix eyes looking at Qin Chuan, and said, "Since Princess Loulan wants to have some fun, we naturally cannot spoil her enjoyment. Qin Chuan, I order you to write some fine poems praising Loulan, using the topic of 'Loulan' as your theme."
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