Chapter 29 "There's a beginning to every dispute. People in this world who say one thing but mean another are truly..."
The next day, Yu Lang led his men to the Funing Palace, where they encountered Fang Youxi, who was entering the palace as usual.
The palace maids led them directly to the waterside pavilion of Funing Palace. Before they even reached the pavilion, they heard the sound of a pipa, its melody smooth and melodious.
Yu Lang paused, his eyes lowered, slightly lost in thought.
"It's the Empress playing the pipa."
One spring during her childhood, it was also a spring like this.
She flew the kite that Consort Xue had made for her by the waterside pavilion, while the Empress instructed Consort Xue in music inside the pavilion. At that time, she was not very good at music, and her playing was clumsy and hesitant.
She was young and full of energy, but her smile was very shy.
"I played poorly and disappointed you."
Her mother smiled gently, bent down, and taught her step by step.
"Wait until next year, until you and Shiyu enter the palace together, and the two of you play a duet for me."
She blushed, lowered her head, and sang a tune that was flustered and passionate.
The following year, the sound of the pipa did not resound in the waterside pavilion.
War broke out on the border, and a heavy rain fell in the spring. Her mother fell ill, and she was promoted from a lady-in-waiting to a concubine.
A few years later, the Empress passed away, and Consort Xue rarely played the pipa anymore.
Yulang turned to Fang Youxi and smiled slightly: "Let's go."
When the two went up to the waterside pavilion, Xue Chan was drinking wine, while Cheng Huaizhu held her face in her hands and listened to Consort Xue playing the pipa.
Consort Hui sat on the other side, shaking dice, while her sixth princess and fifth prince were played with by palace maids. When the last dice were played, Consort Xue looked up and saw the two of them.
Consort Xue put down her pipa, and Yunyu took it from her: "No need for formalities, please sit down."
Fang Youxi sat down next to Cheng Huaizhu and asked with a smile, "What are you two playing?"
Cheng Huaizhu opened her hand, revealing a pearl in her palm: "They're playing hide-and-seek. Qiaoniang couldn't beat me and drank several cups of wine."
Xue Chan looked at the two of them and said with feigned annoyance, "Want to play together? Huai Zhu has won two rounds and is now very arrogant, saying that no one can beat her. I'm really worried about it."
Yu Lang was immediately intrigued by these words; she couldn't stand hearing anyone say they were number one.
He did what he thought of, and somehow managed to let her win many times.
Yu Lang held the cup: "Hiding the hook is too easy, let's try something more interesting."
"Then what should we play? Drinking games?"
"It's boring."
"Then what should we play?"
Yu Lang's eyes lit up, and he smiled, "How about we play pitch-pot?"
When it comes to pitch-pot, no one can beat her.
Xue Chan remained silent. Cheng Huaizhu nudged Xue Chan and said, "You're the birthday girl, why aren't you saying anything?"
All eyes turned to her.
Xue Chan lowered her head slightly. Was her opinion really that important?
"It's all good, it's all good."
Yu Lang stopped laughing: "This is your birthday banquet. If you don't make a decision and lose, you can blame us for joining forces against you."
Xue Chan choked slightly on her drink.
Isn't this obvious?
Consort Xue laughed and said, "Then write it down on paper and let the birthday celebrant draw a lot. Whatever he draws is fine."
As soon as she said that, everyone wrote it down, crumpled it into a ball, and threw it into the large bowl.
Xue Chan shook the crumpled paper into pieces and grabbed one under their watchful eyes.
She didn't open it, but Cheng Huaizhu opened it for her, and she let out a disappointed sigh.
"Ah... it's pitch-pot."
Yu Lang smiled subtly.
Consort Xue had a double-eared pitcher set out and took out several arrowheads. The arrows used in the pitcher game were mostly specially made, lighter and thinner than those used in the army.
Yu Lang stood up, drew an arrow, turned around and laughed, "It's settled then, the loser drinks, so be prepared to be forced to drink two cups by me."
She looked at Xue Chan and smiled, saying softly, "You are responsible for your own wins and losses, no cheating allowed."
Finally, I've got a chance to teach this arrogant brat a lesson. I'm going to get Xue Chan drunk today.
Xue Chan blinked and gave a helpless smile.
Well, well, there's no escaping it today. Since my skills aren't great anyway, I might as well lose early and drink early, to avoid her refusing to give up.
Cheng Huaizhu asked with some concern, "Should I vote for you?"
"It's nothing, it's just a game of pitch-pot." Even if Cheng Huaizhu takes her place, it will still be her turn eventually.
Yu Lang said, "You go first, I'll give you a head start."
Xue Chan thanked her and took out an arrow, raising her hand to try and get a feel for it.
As soon as it was thrown, the arrowhead struck the pot and bounced off, landing just a hair's breadth away from hitting it.
Cheng Huaizhu sighed. What a pity.
Xue Chan adjusted her posture and threw the second arrow under everyone's gaze.
The arrow, though not quite hitting the ground, was neither too good nor too bad; however, this made the final shot all the more crucial.
Consort Xue rested her chin on her hand as she watched them play, a rare relaxed smile on her face.
Xue Chan picked up the third arrow, squinted her eyes, aimed, and threw it without hesitation.
It hit the center of the pot, but the first two shots weren't good, making it difficult to win.
Xue Chan took a step back, smiled, and said softly, "Your Highness, please."
Yu Lang stepped forward and quickly determined the winner: "How about it? I'm much better than you, aren't I?"
"Indeed, Your Highness's skills are superb, I am completely convinced."
Yu Lang had intended to dampen Xue Chan's arrogance, but to his surprise, she readily admitted defeat and generously praised him.
This, ironically, dampened their enthusiasm for pouring wine from large bowls.
She sighed, and considering Xue Chan's admission of defeat and praise, she decided to take pity on the girl and let her go. So she put aside the large cup she had prepared, took a small wine cup, poured some wine, and handed it to Xue Chan.
Yu Lang won the next few rounds: "It seems I'm going to take the lead today."
Cheng Huaizhu stepped forward and smiled brightly: "I haven't cast my ballot yet, Your Highness, would you allow me to give it a try?"
"OK"
Yu Lang threw an arrow that hit the center of the pot, which greatly boosted her confidence. She then threw two more arrows, one piercing the ear and the other hitting the pot.
The crowd gasped in surprise; such consecutive throws were extremely rare.
Yu Lang coughed and said, "It's your turn."
Cheng Huaizhu threw an arrow first, but it missed the target.
Yun Sheng tensed up: "This... it might be difficult to win, right?"
Xue Chan glanced at the still composed Cheng Huaizhu, knowing that she had a plan in mind, and smiled.
"It's too early to say."
Yun Sheng, standing behind Xue Chan, asked with some concern, "Your Highness is so skilled, can Miss Huaizhu win? If she wins, won't it embarrass the princess and displease her?"
Xue Chan thought for a moment. She knew that Cheng Huaizhu's skills were always very good, and that he could even throw arrows into the pot with his eyes closed.
As for whether Yu Lang will target Cheng Huaizhu out of displeasure...
Xue Chan glanced at Consort Xue, who was watching the two people playing the pitch-pot game with a gentle smile, and spoke softly.
I think not.
Cheng Huaizhu flexed her wrists, holding the arrow but not throwing it.
Yu Lang stood aside without saying a word to disturb the other person's thoughts. She also wanted to meet a formidable opponent and compete with him.
Cheng Huaizhu threw a second arrow, which hit the center of the pot.
Yu Lang raised an eyebrow. Not bad, but even if the third arrow hit her, she still won.
Cheng Huaizhu took a deep breath and threw the last arrow without hesitation.
The arrow made a crisp sound when it struck the bottom of the pot.
It's a reverse arrow.
Yu Lang suddenly smiled and praised earnestly, "What an amazing pitch-pot!"
"You won," she praised, then poured herself a glass of wine, drank it all, and showed it to others.
"I have nothing to say about losing to you. Let's have another match next time."
Yu Lang was sincere and frank, her tone full of undisguised praise. Faced with her invitation, Cheng Huaizhu was not timid and readily accepted.
"Okay, let's meet up again next time."
After the pitch-pot game ended, Consort Hui started playing drinking games.
As the drinking game continued, Consort Xue, feeling both drunk and exhausted, conceded defeat and left the game.
She simply sat down to the side to pour the wine, and the Seventh Princess, being a small child, ran around to her side.
The little princess, holding the skewered fruit, stood on tiptoe, hugged her arm, and offered the fruit to her, saying softly, "Your Highness, please eat."
Consort Xue held her tightly in her arms, gently talking and playing with her.
"If Lady Xue won't eat it, how about giving it to A-Wan instead?"
The Seventh Princess nodded: "Okay."
Consort Xue peeled fruit for her herself and played with her in her arms. When she got tired of playing, she fell asleep in her arms, and Consort Xue continued to hold her.
Seeing this scene, Consort Hui, who had lost the drinking party, couldn't help but sigh, sat down next to her, and gently wiped the little princess's face.
“When she was born, we said you would raise her, but you didn’t want to.”
Consort Xue gently coaxed her to sleep: "I can't even take good care of my own child, let alone yours."
Consort Hui carefully observed Consort Xue's expression. She looked down at the little princess and saw only glistening tears at the corners of her eyes.
It has been seven years since Consort Xue's wife, Minghui, passed away. A few years ago, she finally had a child, but then she was shocked to hear the tragic news of her brother's death and suffered a miscarriage. She has been heartbroken ever since.
"You're so young, you'll have children."
Consort Xue raised her face and smiled at her, then embraced the little princess and gently pressed her cheek against hers.
Cheng Huaizhu, drunk, tugged at Xue Chan's arm and mumbled something, while Fang Youxi, having left the drinking party early, leaned on the table, lost in thought.
In the end, only Yu Lang and Xue Chan were left to play a drinking game.
At first, Xue Chan spoke softly and said to her, "Your Highness, I have always been in poor health and cannot drink alcohol. Please be lenient and let me off the hook."
Yu Lang: "Alright, I'll let you win two rounds."
Once the situation improved, Xue Chan lost several rounds in a row.
Having already lost the game, Cheng Huaizhu leaned against Fang Youxi's shoulder, half-embracing her as she dozed off. Fang Youxi naturally supported her head, letting her drift off to sleep with her head on her own.
Cheng Huaizhu turned her face away from Fang Youxi's embrace, opened her blurry eyes, and looked at Xue Chan.
Her head was still spinning, but she smiled softly.
This guy is lying again.
"It's no fun just drinking after losing. The peach blossoms outside are in full bloom, why don't you go and pick a couple of branches?"
"good"
Xue Chan got up without hesitation and went to pick flowers for her.
Fang Youxi lowered her eyes, gently patted Cheng Huaizhu's shoulder and back, and asked her softly, "Miss Cheng, what do you think of Miss Xue?"
Cheng Huaizhu was dizzy and confused, and after a moment she mumbled a sentence.
"She's really wicked."
Fang Youxi's gaze shifted to the peach blossoms in the porcelain vase on the table, and she smiled.
While Xue Chan was picking peaches, she simply sat on a rock under the peach tree and enjoyed the breeze.
She leaned against a tree and discovered a hole in the trunk of one of the peach trees.
When she got playful, she squatted down next to the tree to dig, but instead pulled out a flat, flat stone.
The stone itself was unremarkable, but a line of words was carved on it.
"Few understand my music; who will listen when the strings break?"
Xue Chan, her head slightly drunk, carved a line of words, stuffed it back into the tree hole, and returned with the peach she had broken off.
When she returned and they resumed the drinking game, they had already started to win.
Yu Lang found it strange that later on, for some reason, she would win one after losing two or three rounds, and she started drinking.
Later, she lost repeatedly and drank continuously. Finally, when she was dizzy from drinking, Xue Chan still sat there, smiling at her: "Would Your Highness like to play another round?"
Yu Lang looked at Xue Chan, who had clearly drunk a lot of wine but was still sitting calmly with a smile, and could only blame his bad luck today.
You win.
The group partied until sunset, when the drinking ended and the fun was over.
Yun Sheng and Chu Tao piled the congratulatory gifts on the table, one organizing them and the other making notes.
She walked over and opened the largest wooden box, which was very heavy; it was a gift from Yu Lang.
Fang Youxi sent two gifts, both very much in her style. However, one of them contained a piece of floral stationery with elegant and vigorous handwriting.
A scroll of painting was pressed under the paper.
Xue Chan unfurled the scroll, revealing slender fish that swam or floated, frolicking among the algae and reeds, their movements fluid and natural.
Chu Tao leaned closer and said, "This painting is really good. I wonder which famous artist it is."
Xue Chan smiled and said, "It's Tao Chengzhi's 'Swimming Fish' painting."
She could tell from the handwriting that the painting was a gift from Jiang Ce.
What an awkward person.
She tilted her head slightly, and the last ray of sunlight climbed out from the window frame, quickly surging into the gray darkness.
Yu Lang saw Fang Youxi off at the end of the palace road.
"Your Highness, you still haven't told me what we're going to do at Funing Palace today?"
Yu Lang turned around, but the dim light obscured her face; only her earnest voice could be heard.
"Look at the Imperial Concubine."
Fang Youxi shook her head helplessly, then laughed out loud.
Yuheng asked her, "What are you laughing at, young lady?"
"I'm laughing at all the hypocrites in this world."
"There are just too many."
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Author's note: I checked in the middle of the night and realized I set the wrong date for saving the manuscript.
Oh well, it's already posted, so everyone can just take a look. [pity]
Note: "Few understand my music; when the strings break, who will listen?" - Yue Fei, "Little Chongshan: Last Night the Crickets Chirped Incessantly"
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