Chapter 31
Magnolia Pavilion.
When Xueqing came back from outside, Mrs. Wang was teasing Liu Hong with a rattle in the room.
Liu Hong was now six months old, and he had long since lost the frailty he had at birth. He was now fair, tender, chubby, and adorable. Everyone who saw him wanted to pinch his rosy little face. Even his biological mother, Lady Wang, was no exception, and she played with him like this every day.
After so many times, Liu Hong would roll his eyes in disdain like a little adult, turn away and pretend to be asleep. Children sleep a lot, and often they fall asleep while pretending.
Madam Wang carefully tucked the quilt in for him, then looked up at Xueqing: "Did His Majesty say when he would come?"
Xueqing looked embarrassed, but before she could say anything, Madam Wang understood: "Your Majesty is busy with state affairs, so it's normal that he doesn't have time to spare. No problem."
Even as she spoke, she felt a certain sense of loss. After all, today was no ordinary day; it was her birthday. Ever since she had ascended to favor, Liu Che had always been there for her birthday, even if it meant nothing else. Even more so since she had given birth to a prince this year.
Madam Wang stood up and asked, "Is Your Majesty in the Xuanshi Hall now? I'll go make some soup and bring it to Your Majesty later."
Xue Qing shook her head. "I'm afraid it's difficult to send him off. His Majesty is not in Xuanshi Palace. He went to Feixiang Palace after returning from Shanglin Garden. Now he is dining with the Queen in the Pepper Room with His Highness."
Mrs. Wang paused slightly, her brows unconsciously furrowed.
Wei Zifu had been in the palace for over a decade, and even though she was no longer at the peak of her favor, she had never been neglected. As the saying goes, flowers never last forever. While the other beauties in the palace came and went, she alone remained undefeated.
Over the years, I have watched His Majesty treat me with kindness, and I am unable to compete with him. It is common for His Majesty to go to the Pepper Palace, but it happened today.
If it was just this one time, it would be fine, and Lady Wang wouldn't take it too seriously. The problem is that His Majesty's attitude has been off in recent months, and his visits to the Pepper Chamber have been increasing in frequency.
She sat back down and looked at Xueqing. She knew there must be something going on here, and Xueqing was a reliable person who would not have failed to ask about it.
Guo Tingxueqing said, "It seems that His Highness has come up with something again, related to military training. Doesn't he have a team of personal guards in Shanglin Garden? Your Majesty went to see it today, and brought several generals with him. I heard that the generals praised His Highness highly."
Mrs. Wang's heart sank and her brows furrowed even tighter.
It’s Liu Ju again.
His Majesty's transformation in the past few months is all because of him.
Xue Qing was also worried about her. "How long has it been since you made the harness? And now you're doing some military training? And then there's the compass. Your Highness is only a few years old now, how can you have such extraordinary powers? Although you were somewhat intelligent in the past, it wasn't this outstanding."
We only talk about the compass and horse harness because these two items are daily necessities and have already been put into production and use. They cannot be concealed, and there is no need to conceal them.
Unlike Kongming lanterns, this one wasn't commonly used. Liu Che also wanted to keep it secret, so aside from a few people who had contact with it, no one else knew about it. Xue Qing was naturally among them.
She glanced at Madam Wang's expression and said tentatively, "Madam, if you say that all these things were made by His Highness, it would be more credible to say that General Wei and Marquis Guanjun made them. Do you think it's possible..."
When Mrs. Wang glanced over, Xueqing immediately lowered her head and shut up.
Madame Wang sighed, "That's unnecessary. Do you think His Majesty can't think of what you can think of?"
Xueqing was stunned.
"Your Majesty thought of it but didn't stop it, allowing things to develop and letting outsiders praise Your Highness. Why do you think that is?" Madam Wang took a deep breath, asking herself, "There are only two possibilities.
"First, it was truly made by His Majesty, and there was no forgery. Second, even if this was done intentionally by General Wei and Marquis Guanjun, it was tacitly approved by His Majesty."
Why did His Majesty acquiesce? To build momentum for His Highness.
Why is there such a hype? The answer is obvious.
Xueqing's expression suddenly changed. She looked at Liu Hong lying on the bed, then glanced at Mrs. Wang, seeming to want to say something but stopping herself.
Madam Wang, on the other hand, was much calmer. She looked nervous for a moment, but quickly regained her composure and looked at Xueqing: "Why are you worried? We haven't done anything yet. We can advance or retreat. Why rush?"
Xue Qing was stunned: "Madam, do you want to withdraw?"
Mrs. Wang did not answer, but said, "You are an old man who has been with me. When I was still a family member, you served in Yongxiang. When I was in trouble before, you took the blame for me and saved me and Hong'er. I don't have many people I can use, and you are the first one.
"Everyone knows you're my confidant. You represent my reputation and attitude when you're out and about. Remember this: no matter what happens, you must remain calm and composed. As for the rest, I have my own plans. You don't need to ask any more questions. Just proceed as usual."
Xue Qing lowered her head: "Yes."
Mrs. Wang waved her hand to let her leave, patted Liu Hong lightly, her eyes gloomy.
Refund?
She knew very well that she could not compete with the Queen's lineage at present. But what she fought for was not for the day or the night, but for the future.
Maybe ten years, maybe twenty years, or even thirty years.
The battlefield that belongs to her has not yet arrived, and it is too early to retreat now.
As the saying goes, everything that goes up must come down, and it gets colder when you climb high.
Flowers blooming and oil boiling in the fire are not necessarily a good thing.
She can wait, wait patiently, and when the other party falls, it is time for her to take action.
And now, she just needs to be obedient and docile and be her wife.
******
Pepper Room Palace.
Wei Qing was cautious by nature and behaved in a disciplined manner, but Huo Qubing had a cheerful personality and was open-minded and talked and laughed without restraint.
It's no wonder the uncle and nephew have such a big difference in character. Wei Qing came from a humble background and experienced many hardships, from a riding slave to a great general. This journey may seem like a great success to others, but for him, it was a journey of countless hardships.
Huo Qubing was different. He had never witnessed the true hardship of the Wei family. From the time Wei Zifu was old enough to understand, she had already distinguished herself and benefited her family. By the time she reached adulthood, Wei Zifu was the most favored concubine in the harem, and Wei Qing was appointed an official and began accompanying the emperor.
He often came and went in the palace. Not only was he handsome and cute, but he also showed extraordinary intelligence at a young age. He was particularly talented in riding and shooting, and he learned the art of hostile warfare without a teacher.
At first, Liu Che only loved the boy because of his love for his family, but later he really liked his cleverness and talent, and often kept him by his side to teach him personally.
Outsiders all say that His Majesty treats them like his own sons and nephews. This is no exaggeration.
Therefore, for Huo Qubing, the palace was his second home.
Wei Zifu largely occupied the image of his mother in most of his life, while Liu Che also occupied part of his father's image.
He got along very naturally with others, and treated Liu Ju, Wei Chang and others like his own brothers and sisters.
"You haven't seen how much those generals love you. They praise you to the skies. If Your Majesty hadn't stopped them, they would have flocked to you to ask how you came up with so many fantastic ideas."
Liu Ju raised his little face and said: "That's nothing. I have many more wonderful ideas in the future. Be careful or you will be scared to death!"
Huo Qubing laughed heartily: "How shameless! Is there anything in this world that can scare me to death? You underestimate me too much."
Liu Ju snorted: "Don't disbelieve me, let's wait and see."
Huo Qubing laughed even louder: "Okay, I'll wait. Everyone here can bear witness to this. Don't let your words fall to the ground and turn into mud. Then you can't play tricks on me again."
Shi Yi immediately raised his hand: "Don't worry, cousin, I will remember this for you. I will never let him cheat."
Liu Ju glared at her: What’s this got to do with you?
Shi Yi glared back: What do you care? I witnessed it, so what? Lululu.
It was normal for them to bicker with each other on weekdays. After that, Liu Ju still went to Huo Qubing alone to discuss the New Year's program.
Huo Qubing was very surprised: "You said you wanted to use those guards to rehearse a show and perform it at the New Year's Day banquet in the palace?"
Liu Ju nodded.
Huo Qubing was stunned. "In previous years, the palace banquets were all about singing and dancing. How can you let them show you how to train?"
Is this a good match? Is this a good match? Is this a good match?
While others are singing and dancing, you send a group of guards to the stage to do obstacle courses, frog jumps and squats?
Just thinking about the beautiful scene is enough to shock the audience.
Huo Qubing shook the imagination in his head and patted his head: "You are really a child, you just do whatever you want."
Liu Ju dodged his "attack" and said, "When did I say it was a training demonstration? It's naturally suitable for an occasion like New Year's Day."
After saying this, he blinked at Huo Qubing, with an ambiguous look in his eyes.
Huo Qubing: ...I suddenly have a bad feeling.
He frowned: "Tell me the truth, what evil idea do you have?"
Liu Ju curled his lips. "Bad idea? How could you think that of me? This is a very good thing, not a bad idea at all. Besides, you lost the polo match last time, so I'm giving you a chance to redeem yourself and get back on track."
"To avenge my previous humiliation?" Huo Qubing chuckled, "Why did I lose? How dare you say that!"
Liu Ju looked away guiltily, then patted his chest and promised, "As long as you cooperate, I will make sure you become the most beautiful girl in the whole place on New Year's Day, stunning everyone and attracting everyone's attention."
Huo Qubing remained unmoved: "I have already made a great name for myself and attracted everyone's attention. Do I need you?"
Liu Ju paused, tilting his head in thought. It seemed so. He was made a marquis in the battle of Dingxiangbei. It was indeed a stunning success, attracting widespread attention.
He sighed regretfully, "Alright. If you don't want to, forget it. I'll go find my cousin Cao Xiang."
Anyway, he has many cousins, so he doesn't have to worry.
Huo Qubing: ???
"When you ask someone to do something for you, you won't even say a few words? How can you give up so easily?"
Liu Ju spread his hands and said, "Nothing is difficult in this world as long as you are willing to give up. There are thousands of jungles in the world, why do you have to hang yourself on a crooked tree? If you are compatible, you will gather together; if you are not compatible, you will separate. Why waste time talking so much and just be straightforward?"
Huo·Crooked Tree·Cure Disease:……
The expression is complex and subtle.
Where on earth did you learn these words!
Even without knowing the full story, Huo Qubing was certain that Liu Ju's choice of words was completely arbitrary and chaotic. The original intention and context of his words were definitely not like that!
Liu Ju patted his butt and stood up: "I'm going to go find my cousin Cao Xiang. I'm sure my cousin Cao Xiang will be happy to cooperate with me and become the most beautiful boy in the audience."
Huo Qubing grabbed his collar and pulled him back, baring his teeth: "Did I say no?"
Liu Ju tilted his head: "Cousin, are you willing?"
Huo Qubing snorted, half raised his head, and did not refuse.
Liu Ju chuckled: "So my cousin is a tsundere."
"Tsundere?"
"They're clearly willing but pretending not to. They're acting tough, arrogant, and hypocritical to hide their shyness."
Huo Qubing: ...so fucking shy. He's not shy at all!
Liu Ju patted him and nodded slightly: "I understand, I understand, I understand everything."
You know shit!
Huo Qubing: Gnashing Teethjpg
My fist is hard. That brat deserves a beating!
******
Huo Qubing agreed, and Liu Ju began to prepare enthusiastically.
Soon, the New Year's Day arrived. The annual sacrifices were inevitable, but after the sacrifices, a grand banquet would be held in the palace at noon. Everyone ate, drank, and enjoyed singing and dancing together.
As always, the palace banquet was held in the Weiyang Palace's pond garden, with all officials gathered and the emperor and his ministers rejoicing together. Even the royal family and noble ladies, who had rarely interacted with each other in the past, would be present.
What's different now is that, while previously there were only tables and low tables, now there are tables and chairs of moderate height. The chairs are thoughtfully upholstered with cushions. The appetizers on the tables are also unique and exquisite.
One second, Liu Che had just asked Liu Ju to choose his personal guards, and the next second, the timeline was pulled forward to two months later. The plot was a bit fast this time. I always feel like something was cut off in the middle.
—Be more confident and remove the "I always feel like" part. Given the nature of this show, it's impossible to avoid editing or censoring. It's absolutely awful, this is just such a rubbish. I don't know why it's available on all video platforms online; the moment it opens, it's all about promotion. If it weren't for that, I wouldn't have been able to come in again and again.
—Quick, stop arguing. Look, isn't that a table or chair? I remember everyone in the show kneeling before this. Where did these tables and chairs come from in the Western Han Dynasty?
—And the snacks on the table. Are those snacks only found in the Western Han Dynasty? Didn't you say before that while the plot and pacing of this drama were lame, the costumes and props were excellent? Is that what you call excellent?
——Shit, I suddenly have a premonition.
—Upstairs, I also...
All the officials and their families in the field were very surprised.
"I've heard before that the Grand Prince has made tables and chairs, and that they've all been replaced in Xuanshi Hall, Feixiang Hall, and Jiaofang Hall. I was surprised at the time, but now that I've used them myself, I realize they're truly excellent. They're soft and comfortable to sit on, and my legs are free. Even sitting for long periods of time isn't tiring. I'll also replace the ones at home with these."
"And these snacks are good too. There are quite a few varieties. Which one is your favorite?"
"I like cake. How about you?"
"I like this Donkey Roll. It suits my taste, but the name isn't very nice. Cake is made with eggs, so I can understand the name. But why is this Donkey Roll called Donkey Roll?"
"I don't know. This thing was developed by His Majesty. I guess I'll have to ask His Majesty to find out."
Barrage: ...as expected, incredible!!!
Liu Ju took a look, held his head high and chest out, wagging his invisible little tail, looking very proud.
He had discovered long ago that just as he couldn't always see the barrage, the barrage users couldn't always see him. When they could see him and when they couldn't was completely random, with no pattern.
But he knew that as long as he laid all this out in the open, the comments would eventually see it. Like now.
Hahahaha, scare you to death, scare you to death, I really want to scare you to death!
Awww.
Seeing the barrage of comments that were so shocking that they were garbled, Liu Ju couldn't help but howl, and his whole body shook slightly, almost dancing.
Liu Che glanced sideways: "Why are you so happy?"
Liu Ju narrowed his eyes and said, "This is my first time preparing a program, and it's specially prepared for my father. I'm going to go on stage soon, so of course I'm happy."
The excuse was good and Liu Che had no doubts.
Someone had already wheeled over the props for the performance. Several wooden stakes and a three-vertebral wooden frame, about five or six feet tall. Atop the frame sat a large hydrangea.
Everyone at the table was talking about it, very curious about what this was for.
The next moment, gongs and drums sounded.
Twenty or thirty "lions" came rushing in from all directions. Yellow, white, pink, green... all kinds of colors, with huge plush hoods, pairs of copper bell-like eyes, and "chubby" bodies.
They jumped onto the stage to the beat of the drums, tilting their heads to the left and then to the right, as if everything was interesting. From time to time, they raised their "front paws" to greet everyone, showing their mischievous and cute nature to the fullest.
The lions rubbed against each other, showing great affection. Suddenly, a hydrangea was thrown over from outside the arena, and the lions couldn't let it go. They danced with joy, and some even did a beautiful backflip.
Unfortunately, there was only one hydrangea, and the "war" soon began.
The "lions" fought and snatched the ball. The yellow lion got the hydrangea and shook his head with joy. Fearing that others would catch up with him, he jumped up with the hydrangea on his head and jumped onto the plum blossom pile.
The plum blossom piles were not short. In particular, the pile surface was narrow and the distance between each pile was quite large.
There is no secondary leverage point, it jumps up directly, and the "lion" can walk freely on the plum blossom piles, jumping from one to another, with agile movements and without any mistakes.
There was constant applause during the banquet. Some people who were so immersed in the play even held their breath, worrying about the "lion" and afraid that he would fall.
But the "lion" did not. On the contrary, after he took the lead, one "lion" after another chased after him and also jumped onto the plum blossom pile.
Not only did they walk on the plum blossom piles, they also continued to chase, fight and rob on the plum blossom piles.
The "war" became more and more intense, so much so that the plum blossom pile fell down without anyone noticing.
The lions were stunned for a moment, each glaring at the other. Though silent, everyone understood that this was a case of blaming each other. Consequently, after descending from the plum blossom pile, the fight for the position intensified.
Just as the yellow lion was about to overpower the others, a sudden surprise appeared from the side. A golden and red lion leaped into the fray and snatched the hydrangea away with a single leap.
He stood aside, facing the lions, slightly raising his head, looking very proud.
This creature was obviously not from the same group as the lions, but an outsider. This move naturally aroused public outrage, and the lions, who were originally fighting each other, suddenly became united in hatred and swarmed over.
The battle escalated instantly. If the previous "fight" had been playful, this one was a serious one. Every move was powerful, every move was formidable.
Before long, everyone realized that a real fight was taking place. Even so, the Golden Red Lions, despite being outnumbered, held their own and dominated the entire arena.
He held the hydrangea firmly in his hand, leaving no one else a chance. But he didn't care about the hydrangea at all. After kicking over the four lions (yellow, white, pink, and green) in the lead, he crushed the hydrangea and threw it away.
My precious treasure was discarded like a piece of raging trash. The lions became increasingly frantic, as if they were determined to fight the Golden Red Lion to the death.
The golden-red lion raised a hand to stop the crowd, pointing to the large hydrangea on the wooden stand. They gestured and gesticulated. It was still pantomime, without sound. But the gestures, accompanied by the drum beats and various movements, made it clear to the audience that this was a competition to see who would first reach the large hydrangea. The one who grabbed more would be the lion king.
The lions readily agreed, and a more intense war began.
The golden-red lion was the first to rush to the wooden frame and ran up the wooden pole. Other lions kept catching up with it, and they chased each other, one after another, and I surpassed you.
Lions kept falling from the wooden frame and rolling to the ground.
No matter how the situation develops or how arrogant the lions are, the golden red lion is always in the first place. If one comes, it will be killed; if two come, it will be killed in pairs. It has the momentum of one man blocking the pass and ten thousand men unable to break through.
Soon he stood on the top of the wooden frame, looking down at his feet, and no lion had the strength to climb up.
He reached out and patted the hydrangea. It opened, blossoming into a lotus. Thousands of tiny pieces of colored silk burst forth from the purse, scattering in the wind. From beneath the lotus base, a horizontal scroll appeared: "May our Han Dynasty be magnificent, with peaceful seas and clear rivers; may your Majesty live forever, and your Heavenly Court be everlasting."
At the same time, the golden-red lion took off its head, revealing its true appearance.
He was a young man with an upright figure, handsome features, a bright smile and high spirits.
"It's the Marquis of Guanjun, it's Huo Qubing!"
Someone at the table exclaimed in surprise. Many young ladies stared intently, their hearts pounding like deer. Some blushed shyly, while others cheered boldly: "Champion Marquis!"
When they had fought the Xiongnu and returned victorious, they had known of his exceptional abilities. But all that had been hearsay, with only superficial accounts in flimsy words. Now, they had truly felt his abilities.
One against many, he is unstoppable. Brave and diligent, his spirit is unstoppable.
Well-deserved title of champion.
So bright, so dazzling, so eye-catching.
Looking at the lions that fell off the wooden frame, those who remembered them recognized them. Oh, they were all the newly selected personal guards of His Highness.
Liu Che slammed the table and stood up: "What a unique opening. Good, good, good!"
He said "good" three times in a row and then laughed. If it weren't for the wrong occasion, he would have wanted to pick up Liu Ju and lift him up high.
It is for this alternative and novel performance, and more because of what this performance shows.
When Liu Ju was selecting his personal guards, he said that anyone who could stand by him wouldn't have to be particularly strong, but at least they wouldn't be too bad. This was both true and false.
Those men were all new recruits, barely a year into the garrison. To be able to serve in the capital and the Shanglin Gardens, it was impossible for them to be without some talent. But they weren't the best. Any random member of the garrison would likely be able to outperform them, or even rival them.
Their abilities, when placed in the entire garrison, can only be described as average.
But today's battle was a combination of performance and combat. It was a real fight. He knew how powerful Huo Qubing was. He knew exactly how much strength he had put into the fight.
Although the other side had too many people, it also proved that they were no ordinary people.
At least this was an improvement of more than one level compared to the ability of his personal guards two months ago as he remembered.
And this is only two months. Just two months. What if it is four months, six months, or even longer?
How could he not be surprised!
But the barrage was filled with only fear.
— Holy crap, holy crap. I remember lion dancing originated in the Three Kingdoms period, right?
I'm not sure if lion dance originated during the Three Kingdoms period, but I'm certain it didn't exist during the reign of Emperor Wu of Han! And this isn't just a lion dance. It's a combination of lion dance and pantomime.
—The origins of pantomime and stage play are… well, forget it. Better not to talk about it. Before there were horse harnesses, tables, chairs, and cakes, now there are lion dances. I'm numb, I'm really numb.
—So the protagonist is a time traveler? Are the director and screenwriter crazy? I've been watching this for so long, and you're just telling me it's a time travel drama now?
I specifically rewatched the previous episodes at double speed to confirm, absolutely, that Liu Ju was never mentioned as a time traveler. And watching the initial plot, I honestly thought he was just a child. It didn't seem like the adult soul of a time traveler at all. Are time travelers really that good at acting?! Holy shit, what the hell is going on? I'm so impressed!
Liu Ju narrowed his eyes: A time-travel drama? A time traveler?
Another new word. Write it down.
Huo Qubing had already dismounted from the wooden frame, removed his lion dance costume, and came over. Liu Ju immediately went to meet him, and the chief guard and others also gathered around.
"My cousin is so powerful and unstoppable."
Hearing this, Huo Qubing's eyebrows flew up, and he glanced at Liu Ju. His expression seemed to be saying: Look, you said you didn't need me that day. If you find someone else, can they do this for you?
It wasn't that he looked down on Cao Xiang. On the contrary, Huo Qubing admired Cao Xiang. Compared to many people, Cao Xiang was already quite good among the younger generation. But to be honest, he was still far behind him.
If Cao Xiang were on the field, he could probably do the same in a true one-on-many contest like today, but it certainly wouldn't be as exciting, exhilarating, or thorough. The effect would definitely be compromised.
Liu Ju also knew this, so he blinked and gave a thumbs-up without saying anything, saying, "My cousin is the best."
He patted his chest again and said, "I'm not bad either. I came up with the idea and I rehearsed the program. I'm right, right? I'll make you the most beautiful one in the audience. Look, aren't you the focus of the whole audience now?"
Liu Ju pointed his finger over there and whispered, "Many girls are staring at it with their eyes wide open."
Shi Yi echoed loudly: "Yes, I also heard them say that if they can marry you in this life, this life will be enough."
Huo Qubing's face fell instantly.
Zhu Yi's heart was pounding, and his hands, hidden in his sleeves, clenched slightly, but he still smiled: "Why doesn't my cousin want to get married?"
Huo Qubing shook his head helplessly, sighed, and said the same two words: "Trouble."
Zhuyi: ...
After hesitating for a long time, he finally said: "Cousin, how can I be sure that this is a problem? Perhaps..."
Before he could finish his words, Huo Qubing had already waved his hand: "Can anyone be more comfortable than me alone?"
If we compare it this way, there is no way to say it.
Zhu Yi hesitated to speak, but finally shut up. The light in his eyes gradually dimmed.
The chief guard looked at her, then at Huo Qubing, sighed, and quietly held Zhu Yi's hand. Huo Qubing, Liu Ju, and Shi Yi were completely unaware and continued chattering about the performance.
There was constant discussion during the meal.
"I heard that this was also prepared by His Highness. It's really surprising and not surprising at the same time."
It was surprising because such a program was unheard of and unprecedented. It was not surprising because Liu Ju gave people too many "surprises".
"Wonderful, wonderful, truly wonderful. It's simply astonishing. Over the years, every New Year's Eve banquet at the palace has been nothing more entertaining than this. Isn't this better than the singing and dancing of the past?"
"It's more than just strong, it's much stronger."
This was a bit of an exaggeration. After all, compared to ordinary song and dance, these were two different categories, in different directions, not in the same field, so the comparison was unfair. But after all, this thing was novel enough, and everyone was tired of song and dance.
"Hey, didn't you say before that Your Majesty established the Music Bureau this year, and placed it under the same jurisdiction as the Taiyue Bureau under the Ministry of Rites, with the Taiyue Bureau in charge of classical music and the Music Bureau in charge of popular music?
"In previous years, the Imperial Music Bureau was responsible for the music and dance at palace banquets. This year, the Imperial Music Bureau is only responsible for the sacrificial dance, and Your Majesty has handed over the rest to the Music Bureau. So, even if it can't compare to the opening performance of Your Highness, it's something to look forward to."
"Speaking of this, I remember. There seems to be a man named Li Yannian in the Music Bureau, who currently serves as the Music Supervisor. I heard he comes from a family of singers and has quite a talent for lyrics, music and rhythm."
He lowered his voice, whispering to his companion, "I heard that His Majesty greatly admires his music. He's been summoned to perform several performances this year. I think he's a man of scheming. I bet he'll make a move at the palace banquet tonight."
"Action? With the example of the great prince, no matter how brilliant he is, he will probably be inferior. This amazing move has already been made, and it will be difficult for those who come after to catch up."
"It has nothing to do with us. We'll just watch."
These words were a bit far away, so Liu Ju couldn't hear them clearly. But the barrage of comments had already exploded.
—Oh shit, Li Yannian! Lady Li's brother. So Lady Li isn't going to appear here? It's only 123 BC. Is she supposed to appear so early?
——It’s ahead of schedule. It’s normal for historical derivative works to adjust the appearance and chronological order of characters and events.
—If history is truly accurate, there's no Yuefu now, and Li Yannian's whereabouts are unknown. Since Yuefu and Li Yannian exist, I'll bet my life is certain that Lady Li is here. Here she comes, the famous "Amazing Beauty" is here. Another influential figure in Emperor Liu Che's harem has arrived.
——Oh, what a famous scene!
Liu Ju: ...
Li Yannian? That name sounds familiar. While rehearsing a performance, he asked someone to borrow a group of musicians skilled in gongs and drums from the Music Bureau. Later, they heard that he had created a lotus hydrangea. The Music Bureau thought it was a good idea and sent someone to ask if they could learn from it. It seems the person who came was called Li Yannian.
But Madam Li...who is this?
He looked at his own mother, then at Madam Wang, and then glanced at the beauties in his father's harem.
Wow, each one has its own unique characteristics, with a hundred flowers blooming and a myriad of beauties competing for splendor.
With this, who dares to call herself the most beautiful woman in the world?
Haha, you are quite arrogant.
Liu Ju sat back in his seat, straightened up and looked straight ahead.
Very good, let me see what this “beauty that topples the whole country” looks like!
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