When Hua Xiangrong's mind was in turmoil, the music on her zither naturally followed suit.
She played a few pieces, then realized there was something wrong with them and had to get up and apologize to Zhao Huan: "Your Majesty, this servant deserves to die."
"Get up first."
"Your Majesty, this servant does not know where to begin."
“Let’s start from that piece of music I heard in Chunhua Tower back then.”
Hua Xiangrong was slightly taken aback, not expecting that the emperor would still remember her song.
That piece, "The Earth Shatters the Sky," was an impromptu performance she made for the emperor who had conquered all sides.
"You don't need to be nervous. I've summoned you here because I need your help with something."
"Being able to share Your Majesty's burdens is a blessing I have accumulated over three lifetimes."
Hua Xiangrong was overjoyed. She never expected that one day the emperor would ask her for help. It seemed that all those eight hundred nights of longing had been worth it.
She sat back down and began to calm herself down. Her long, graceful fingers plucked the strings of the guqin, and instantly a powerful melody burst forth from the strings.
Like swords clashing, it instantly became a blood-pumping experience, as if in a vast ocean, the iron hooves of warhorses shattered the earth, and the hot blood flowing in the general's armor seemed to boil.
It's hard to imagine that such a slender and delicate body could play such a magnificent piece of music.
After the piece "Stone Shatters the Sky" ended, Hua Xiangrong did not stop; her hands danced rapidly across the strings.
This piece differs from the passionate and powerful "Stone Shatters the Sky" in that it is more majestic and solemn, as if an emperor is standing on a cloud, looking down on the beautiful landscape he has created.
If "The Stone Breaks the Sky" is a battle song, then "Ten Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains" praises the magnificent and prosperous era.
It's as if you can see the rising sun bursting out from the clouds, bathing the towering pavilion in golden light.
Outside the magnificent palace, envoys from all nations awaited the emperor's summons.
After this performance, Zhao Huan was already deeply moved.
There were court musicians in the palace, but their works were not as good as those of a young woman.
It seems that music truly requires talent.
Heaven has sent me a woman of extraordinary talent to be my court musician!
After a few songs, Zhao Huan couldn't help but applaud.
Hua Xiangrong didn't know what clapping meant, but she could tell from the emperor's expression and demeanor that he was very happy.
"I plan to build a magnificent music pavilion in the east of the city, and I would like to invite you to be the chief musician of the music pavilion."
Hua Xiangrong was slightly taken aback, and quickly knelt down: "This servant is of lowly status and would never dare to overstep my bounds."
"If I say it's okay, then it's okay."
"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty. My status may attract criticism and tarnish Your Majesty's reputation."
"You don't need to worry about that. Once it's completed, I will bring the entire court and the chief ministers to celebrate with you!"
"this……"
Seeing that Hua Xiangrong was still hesitating, Zhao Huan said, "This matter is settled then. If you do not agree, you will be disobeying the imperial decree!"
"This servant wouldn't dare!"
"What do you mean by 'servant'? I have already sent someone to redeem you."
In the purely rational mind of Zhao Huan, there was no concept of noble birth.
Moreover, he was a person from a later era, where the importance of lineage has been greatly diminished; as long as one is rich, one is considered noble.
Zhao Huan, on the other hand, wanted to further break the shackles of bloodline in the Song Dynasty and allow talented people to give full play to their abilities, which was the right path.
Can spending all day talking to those gentlemen about bloodlines and birthrights create a battle song to boost the morale of the army?
Can we provide people with more enriching spiritual and cultural enrichment outside of their daily lives?
Obviously not!
Let the most capable person rise to the top!
"My music pavilion is under construction. When it is built, you will play the army's war songs for me, as well as the common tunes that the people love to hear. The princes and nobles will all come to listen to your music. I want you to use your music to convey what I want to convey to the princes, nobles, and common people of the Great Song Dynasty."
The emperor's unquestionable voice reached her ears, and Hua Xiangrong felt as if she were dreaming.
"Yes, Your Majesty... I will certainly do it..."
"You are now my minister, so stop using the terms 'servant' or 'concubine' to refer to yourself, understand?"
"knew."
Hua Xiangrong felt a tremor in her heart, sensing that the emperor was not quite what she had imagined.
After meeting the emperor once, she, like all young girls, was filled with spring fever, and her dream lover was gentle and refined.
But clearly, the emperor was not like that; he spoke very gently at first, but soon became extremely arrogant.
This made Hua Xiangrong feel a little uncomfortable, mainly because what she imagined was not quite the same as reality.
But then I thought, I've already reached the top in one step, what more could I want?
After that, the opportunities to meet the emperor increased.
After meeting with Hua Xiangrong, the emperor left in a hurry.
For Zhao Huan, the only women he could truly be romantically involved with were Zhu Lian and Han Chenchen.
Although Hua Xiangrong's song touched his heart, Zhao Huan was not one of those lyricists who liked to indulge in sentimentality in brothels.
His appreciation for Hua Xiangrong was purely platonic, and he wanted to make good use of her; that was all.
Watching her departing figure, Hua Xiangrong didn't think that way.
The woman's heart melted; she felt her life had been worthwhile.
After leaving the tea shop, Zhao Huan headed to the Academy of Sciences.
On the third day of the Lunar New Year, the people from the Academy of Sciences were still holed up in their rooms, engrossed in their research.
Suddenly, a deafening roar rang out in the training ground in the backyard. A cannonball shot out from the barrel of the iron cannon, smashing several large rocks in front of it.
The arquebus officially entered the artillery stage. Unlike the attack on Huanzhou City, this time the cannonballs fired would explode.
It's like putting a deafening bomb in the barrel of a cannon and firing it.
Of course, it wasn't actually a thunderbolt that was put inside.
This was a groundbreaking study.
However, since it was iron shot wrapped in gunpowder paper, its range and accuracy were affected after it was fired.
This aspect still needs further improvement.
When Han Gonglian learned that the emperor had arrived, he hurriedly went out to greet him.
"Minister Han, it's freezing cold, please wear more clothes."
"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. May I ask what brings you here?"
"I came here to see if there were any difficulties in the development of these cannons and muskets, and if there was anything I could do to help. Instantly, I brought the imperial chef over to cook some dishes for everyone."
"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty."
Han Gonglian bowed and said, "Your Majesty, this way please. This old minister will take Your Majesty to the drill ground to see the cannons and muskets."
"Very well! Thank you for your trouble, Minister Han!"
Zhao Huan walked towards the training ground behind.
Just then, he saw a pile of rubble ahead and a cannon on the drill ground.
The sound we just heard was probably made by it.
Upon seeing this, Zhao Huan was quite excited. He knew that the future of the Song Dynasty, which would bring the whole world under its economic and financial system and solve the perpetual border troubles, would depend on this.
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