Chapter 32
Backstage.
Li Yannian's expression was solemn. He had seen Liu Ju's lotus hydrangeas, plum blossom poles, and enormous wooden frames. But he had never seen a lion dance, much less a complete performance.
As others have said, with this gem in front, other performances, unless they are particularly outstanding, will lose their luster and become rubble.
And they don't want to be rubble.
Li Xiaomei came over and said in a low voice, "Brother, it's not appropriate for us to be the next one to go on stage."
Li Yannian nodded. The next performer came on stage. Everyone was still immersed in the surprise and shock brought by the lion dance. Even if their performances were attentive enough, they could not compare to the unique and extraordinary performance of the lion dance.
If the gap is too big, it will probably not attract much attention and will disappoint people instead. This will be very disadvantageous to them.
But the guards dressed as lions were already leaving the stage one after another, and some attendants were moving the props. The next performance was about to begin.
Time was running out and they didn't have much time to think.
Li Guangli grew impatient. "Why not let it go this time? Let's find another opportunity. With my sister's looks and figure, if handled properly, she could have made a stunning debut and left a deep impression on His Majesty. But if she were to appear now, her impact would likely be greatly diminished."
But Li Yannian and Li Xiaomei knew clearly that it was not a possibility, but a certainty.
They were the first to learn that His Highness was preparing a performance, and that it would be the opening act, but they didn't take it seriously. What could a child of a few years old possibly prepare?
Let him do what he wants. Even if he does it well, how good can it be? It will just be ordinary and mediocre. If he fails to achieve anything, messes up the opening, then they can come to the rescue and it will be even more advantageous.
Who knew...
Li Yannian looked at Li Xiaomei: "What do you think?"
Li Xiaomei was inevitably a little annoyed by her plan being disrupted, but after thinking it over, she shook her head and said, "That's not right. This year, the Music Bureau was first established, and Your Majesty has entrusted the Music Bureau with the main responsibility for occasions like the New Year's Day.
"The Minister of Music is taking today's event very seriously. Every song and dance performance has been reported and reviewed by the Minister of Music. If we don't participate, what's your excuse?"
Li Guangli rolled his eyes and said, "Just say you're not feeling well and cancel the show?"
This idea couldn't be worse. Without waiting for Li Xiaomei to speak, Li Yannian rejected it outright: "You're saying you're not feeling well right before you go on stage. What will the Minister of Music think? Will there be any chance for me in the future?"
"Why don't you let someone else take over?"
Li Yannian & Li Xiaomei: ...
This is even worse than the previous idea. It’s hard to describe.
Li Xiaomei simply turned her eyes away, not looking at her second brother Li Guangli, and said directly to her eldest brother Li Yannian: "Of course we have to go up, but not now. Brother, please find a way to adjust the order. Since we have lost the opportunity to open the show, we will try to be the last one to go."
The closing act was just as effective as the opening, and there were several performances between them. By then, the intense emotions created by the lion dance had long since faded. The intervening song and dance performances were lackluster, making it the perfect time for them to take the stage.
Li Yannian understood her meaning in an instant, which coincided with his own.
He smiled and said, "Okay. I'll go find the Minister of Music right away. Don't worry, I'm sure I can convince him."
******
After the amazing opening, the rest of the show, though an improvement over previous years, was nothing spectacular, leaving everyone feeling rather uninterested. Some wandered around clinking glasses, some chatted, and some quietly left to wander around and enjoy the scenery.
The pond and garden offer delightful scenery, and the plum grove is a seasonal sight. Every winter, the red plum blossoms bloom, creating a breathtaking spectacle. Furthermore, on festive occasions like New Year's Day, the Shaofu is decorated with lanterns and colorful lights, and numerous decorative objects are placed along the way, adding a touch of fun.
The young men and women who had rarely had the opportunity to enter the palace in the past had already gone off to play on their own. Shi Yi, halfway through his journey, became restless and suggested going along. Without a second thought, Liu Ju flatly declined.
He played in the pond garden every day, and Meilin often watched him, but it was no longer interesting. Moreover, he was still thinking about Madam Li mentioned in the comments, so naturally he didn't want to leave. Shi Yi had no choice but to drag Huo Qubing and Wei Chang Zhu Yi along, but unexpectedly, they returned not long after leaving.
Liu Ju was surprised: "You finished reading it so quickly?"
Shi Yi rolled his eyes: "Don't mention it, I just walked out a short distance and I ran into little girls one, two, three, four, five, all of them were just chance encounters."
He looked at Huo Qubing with resentment in his eyes.
Huo Qubing touched his nose awkwardly.
Liu Ju laughed heartily, gloating over the misfortune.
Huo Qubing bared his teeth and retorted: "Who is responsible for this? It's all your fault!"
Liu Ju: ...What does it have to do with him?
"Who made me the most beautiful guy in the whole place today?"
Liu Ju: ...
He felt guilty for a second, then he became confident again: "Even without me, you'd still be the center of attention. You said that yourself. So, it's obviously you who attracted the attention, don't put the blame on me. I won't take the blame."
Huo Qubing: ...
The chiefs of Wei and Zhuyi couldn't help laughing.
Shi Yi poked Liu Ju and said, "I haven't asked you yet, what's wrong with you today? In previous years, you were the one who annoyed the singing and dancing and was always the first to suggest leaving the table to have some fun. Why are you so engrossed in watching it today?"
Liu Ju waved his hand: "You don't understand."
Shi Yi snorted, "Don't bully me. Do you think I don't even understand singing and dancing? Although my father established the Music Bureau this year and it is responsible for the performance, there are indeed some new things compared to previous years, but that's all. It's all what we see every day."
As soon as he finished speaking, the noisy chatter around him suddenly became quieter.
Shi Yi turned around in confusion and saw that the program on the stage had changed and the music in his ears had also changed its tune.
If the music of lion dance is like a fierce battle, majestic, passionate and high-spirited, then the music of song and dance is like a graceful poem, beautiful, elegant and gentle.
But now this song, while having the characteristics of song and dance music, is even more beautiful.
It is like the drizzle of spring rain, delicate, fresh, and silky; it is also like the gentle breeze, warm, light, and touching.
It is a butterfly flying in the sky, a clear spring flowing in the mountains, a bright moon shining among the pines, and a colorful rainbow.
The sudden appearance of the unusual music caused the audience, who had long lost interest in the performance, to raise their eyebrows, shifting their attention back to the performance. Even Shi Yi, who had just looked down on the singing and dancing, unconsciously turned his attention to the performance.
As the melody sounded, the dancers came on stage, dancing gracefully around a huge lotus bud, spinning, jumping, and bending their waists.
The petals of the lotus bud bloomed, forming a lotus platform. In the center of the lotus platform, a woman slowly rose and fell to the rhythm of the music. She was dressed in fine silk gauze, with an exquisite figure, graceful curves, hands as soft as catkins, and skin as white as cream.
She has a graceful figure, walking lightly and dancing gracefully on the lotus platform with bare feet.
Only then did people realize that the lotus pedestal was actually a drum. Each of her steps was perfectly timed, dong dong, dong dong, in sync with the music, and at each turn of the melody, she added a touch of dynamic power to the originally gentle music.
Her face was covered with a semi-transparent veil that did not completely hide her facial features, but it also made it impossible to see them clearly.
Because of this, she exudes a hazy beauty, appearing and disappearing, making people unable to stop.
Not to mention the men, even many women couldn't help but stretch their necks, becoming even more curious about the woman's face.
They guessed that this must be a stunning beauty.
No. This must be a stunning beauty.
Such a graceful figure, such a graceful dance, how could an ordinary woman have it? She is worthy of being so beautiful.
Of course, there is also the blurry face under the veil, and the eyes outside the veil, as clear as autumn water, full of affection and bright.
Only Liu Ju was stunned, muttering, "Isn't she cold? It's already October. Although it's not as cold as December, it's already winter. She wears only the same amount as us, and her hands and feet are exposed."
"Oh my god, what kind of little fireball is she? Is she so powerful? I'm so envious. Oh, no, won't it be very hot in the summer? Then I'm not envious anymore."
The sound was neither loud nor soft, just loud enough for the people who were chatting and laughing around him, as well as Liu Che who was less than two meters away from him, to hear.
The emotions that had just ignited in Liu Che's chest came to an abrupt end. Huo Qubing raised his eyebrows in surprise. Wei Chang and others paused for half a second, then covered their mouths and laughed secretly, while the barrage of comments laughed even more wildly.
—Hahaha, XSWL. What kind of little fireball is this? I also want to ask, what kind of time traveler is this? They put so much thought into creating a scene where they finally appear after much anticipation, but then the time traveler ruins the atmosphere with just one sentence. Is he so unromantic?
—I'll bet you this time traveler did it on purpose. Taking advantage of his youth and lack of understanding of the dancer's subtleties, it's perfectly reasonable for him to raise such questions. Look, he's successfully interrupted Liu Che's "interest." Hahaha, well done.
—After learning that Liu Ju is a time traveler and that this is a time travel drama, I, who had originally given up on the series, suddenly became interested again. I'd bet a dime that Liu Ju will definitely make another move.
Liu Ju: ...What's his next move? What's his next move?
Of course. After all, this was Lady Li, the most beautiful woman in Emperor Wu's harem. Of course, that wasn't the point. The point was that the Li family, through Lady Li, gained Emperor Wu's favor, with Li Guangli even being appointed Second Division General. After Wei Huo's passing, the Li family rose to prominence, their ambitions surging.
Many who don't know much about this period of history may only remember Jiang Chong as the one person involved in the Witchcraft Incident. However, the Li family and Liu Qumao played a far more crucial role. They went to great lengths to help Lady Li's son, Liu Bo, ascend to power.
Indeed. However, even if Liu Ju was forced to commit suicide and the Crown Prince died, their plot would have failed. Emperor Wu of Han had no intention of placing Liu Bo on the throne, and he launched a purge, slaughtering a large area. Liu Qumao was beheaded, and if Li Guangli had not surrendered to the Xiongnu, he might not have survived his return.
Liu Ju:……!!!
He was forced to commit suicide???
The barrage had previously mentioned the witchcraft incident and the posthumous title "Prince Li", and Liu Ju already had some bad suspicions.
He wondered in the so-called "history" of the barrage that he might have been suspected by his father and son in his later years, and be deposed or imprisoned by his father. He did not expect that he would die in this disaster, and he even committed suicide!
Committing suicide? Had he grown so smart that he became stupid, committing such a foolish act? Or had he been forced into a desperate situation that forced him to commit suicide?
And Wei Huo passed away...
Liu Ju subconsciously looked at Wei Qing not far away, then turned to look at Huo Qubing beside him.
The amount of information was so overwhelming that he felt as if his mind was experiencing a level 10 storm, a chaotic mess.
—Here it comes, the prelude ends, the ending melodious, is this the beginning of the lyrics? Oh, I know, I know. I've memorized it. There is a beautiful woman in the north, peerless and independent. One glance from her can captivate a city, two glances from her can captivate a nation. I'd rather not know that she can captivate a city and a nation, for such a beauty is hard to find again.
At the same time, lyrics rang out in the air: There is a beautiful woman in the north, peerless and independent...
The singing style and words are almost synchronized with the barrage, exactly the same, word for word.
Click, gurgle.
The cup in Liu Ju's hand fell to the ground, and he was stunned and his face turned pale.
Huo Qubing, the chief guard, and the others were startled, while Liu Che was even more puzzled: "Ju'er?"
Liu Ju looked at the dancer on the lotus platform, his expression changed several times, and he suddenly slammed the table and stood up. He walked to Liu Che and hugged him tightly: "Father!"
Liu Che was confused: "What's wrong?"
As soon as he asked the question, Liu Che noticed that Liu Ju's body was trembling slightly in his arms. Liu Che was shocked and asked, "But where are you feeling uncomfortable?"
Liu Ju looked up and opened his mouth, but could not utter a word.
It's like this again, and it's like this again!
Just like when he first dreamed about the system and saw the barrage, he was afraid, terrified, and confused. He wanted to call for help and seek help from the people closest to him and the people he trusted the most, but he could not reveal anything.
It was as if an invisible hand had grabbed his throat, strangling all the words he tried to "leak".
Liu Ju spoke several times and it was always like this.
He gritted his teeth, took a deep breath, pointed at the people in the field and stamped his feet in anger: "They are despicable, a bunch of traitors!"
Liu Che: ???
Everyone: ???
Barrage: ???
Liu Ju: "What a stunning beauty! Whose country or city are you trying to overthrow?"
He immediately grabbed Liu Che and said, "Father, the traitor's intention to destroy the Han Dynasty is obvious."
Liu Che & Everyone: ...
Barrage:!!!
Silence, silence, the whole place was dead silent.
The music stopped, the lyrics froze, and the dancers seemed to have been paused. Li Xiaomei's hand, which had been about to lift her veil in time with the lyrics, froze in mid-air, neither going up nor down, trembling.
Liu Che glanced over without saying a word, but having been on the throne for a long time, he was intimidating without even getting angry, and the aura he exuded was enough to scare people.
Boom, boom, boom...
Whether they were playing music or dancing, they all knelt down in an instant.
Li Yannian quickly apologized: "Your Majesty, please forgive me. Your Highness has misunderstood me. I have absolutely no such intention. I..."
"Bah! It's just lyrics. If you didn't have such a serious intention, there are plenty of words you could use. Why did you choose "beautiful and stunning"? And you blame me for misunderstanding. So it's my fault after all!"
Liu Ju put his hands on his hips, glared, then turned to Liu Che and said aggrievedly: "Father, it was obviously his fault, and he actually blamed me!"
Li Yannian:!!!
I swear to God, that's not what he meant. How dare he blame His Highness!
Liu Che's expression flickered as he glanced at Li Yannian and then at the dancer. He wasn't completely unaware of what the two were thinking, but he simply didn't care.
Like a beautiful flower, if you like it, enjoy it directly; if you don't like it, just ignore it. How simple.
Therefore, when he was listening to the lyrics and looking at the graceful body and the clear eyes, he felt a little interested and curious about how stunning the beauty was under the veil, which could be called "the most stunning beauty in the world".
But now, after hearing what Liu Ju said, his interest instantly disappeared and he felt unhappy.
Yes. There are thousands of words and phrases in the world, so why did he choose "beautiful to the city and the country"? Without these two words, could Li Yannian have never composed the lyrics and music?
The most beautiful city in the world...
Which emperor would like such words!
Even though he knew that the other party had no intention of destroying the country and only wanted to seek his favor, Liu Che still couldn't help frowning, his eyes gradually turned cold, and the curiosity and interest that had just been ignited dissipated with the wind.
Li Yannian's forehead was covered with cold sweat, and Li Xiaomei's face was ashen. The two of them could only kneel and kowtow: "Your Majesty, please forgive me. This is my fault. I used inappropriate words and I deserve death. But please Your Majesty, I have no intention of harming the country. I just..."
Before he could finish his words, Liu Ju interrupted again, suddenly realizing, "I understand. Are you planning to overthrow the Xiongnu city and kingdom? If so, it's truly my fault. I misunderstood."
Liu Che:!!!
Audience:!!!
Barrage:!!!
Li Yannian & Li Xiaomei: ...Xiongnu...Xiongnu?
Liu Ju blinked his innocent eyes and asked sincerely, "So you all harbor a heart of loyalty to the emperor and your country, and have made such a great vow. So, with all this singing and dancing today, are you planning to ask our father for permission to go to the Xiongnu?"
"Chen...chen..."
Li Yannian opened his mouth, but for a long time he couldn't get a word out. He didn't know how to continue. He was afraid that if he said one more word, Liu Ju would just throw them to the Xiongnu.
Li Xiaomei was even more shaky. How could she go to the Xiongnu?
Countless eyes were focused on him, and under immense pressure, Li Yannian finally steeled himself, gritted his teeth, and ignored Liu Ju's question, saying only, "Your Majesty, please forgive me."
Someone in the field sighed, followed by a second sigh, and a third sigh...
Liu Che's eyes darkened slightly. Actually, Liu Ju was just talking, and he had no intention of sending the two men to the Xiongnu. Even if the two men agreed, it would be fine. But the other party didn't even have the courage and determination to agree.
Even though he knew in his heart that not everyone could face the Xiongnu with an open mind, seeing such a cowardly and bloodless display, Liu Che could hardly conceal his disappointment. Without waiting for Li Yannian to say anything else, he waved his hand impatiently: "Go down."
The tone was cold and hard, even with a hint of displeasure.
One sentence ended the farce.
The dancers and accompaniment players were almost weeping with joy, as if they had been pardoned and had escaped a catastrophe. Only Li Yannian and Li Xiaomei were relieved but also reluctant.
They had clearly made so much effort, they had clearly managed to arouse His Majesty's interest, and they were clearly on the verge of success, but...
The two men clenched their fists at the same time, glanced at Liu Ju with the remaining light in their eyes, then lowered their heads, concealed all expressions, gritted their teeth and closed their eyes.
—Wow, the protagonist is amazing! With this amazing move, Madam Li was defeated without even having the chance to lift her veil. Well done!
—That's overblown, and it's a fantastic move. Oh, what a golden opportunity! He could have capitalized on the situation and taken down the Li siblings, achieving a double kill, but he gave up halfway. Haha.
—Is the person upstairs sick? What else do you want? Everyone knows that "overwhelming beauty" is a metaphor, like "sinking fish and dropping geese." Nitpicking to ruin the Li siblings' plans is enough. To exploit this and kill them is to use it as an excuse. That's literary inquisition!
—Aren't there enough tragic cases of unjust cases stemming from literary inquisitions in history? The blood and tears of truth are still fresh in our minds. Are you serious about letting a time traveler conduct a literary inquisition? Furthermore, the Li siblings have only just appeared and haven't done anything yet. Nipping risks in the bud is understandable, but that doesn't mean wiping them out before they even begin.
—There's no point in killing them all. I'm asking you if you've misjudged the primary and secondary contradictions. While the Li family played a significant role in the Witchcraft and Poisoning Incident, whether Liu Ju could avoid this historical fate and successfully ascend the throne depended primarily on his own abilities and Liu Che's attitude.
——If they have enough ability and Liu Che has a stable attitude, the Li family will not be able to make any move. If they have not enough ability and Liu Che has an unstable attitude, even if there is no Li family, there will be Zhao family, Qian family, Sun family, etc.
Liu Ju looked stunned.
What is the emperor's attitude?
Does this mean that his father's attitude will change in the future? Does his father no longer love him? Is there a rift between them, a bad relationship, or...what's going on?
As he thought about it, Liu Ju frowned.
Liu Che glanced at him and said, "Why do you look unhappy? It's just four words, why should you be so upset?"
Liu Ju pursed his lips and said, "Anyway, I just can't stand it. Whether it's lyrics or music, or just ordinary conversation, there's always a distinction between the important and the unimportant. How can these words be used casually? It makes people feel uncomfortable. What's more..."
Liu Ju glanced at the center of the field and said, "Their lotus pedestal borrowed my idea. They copied my lotus hydrangea design with a few minor changes. Even the use of a drum in the lotus pedestal was my idea."
When the Yuefu sent people to "learn" from them, Liu Ju didn't take it seriously and even gave them lots of pointers with great interest. Who would have thought that they would use it this way?
Liu Ju gritted his teeth. "Although I agreed to it, I didn't know they would use it this way. Anyway, I'm just not happy."
Liu Che was stunned, and then he suddenly realized.
How could he not know his son's temperament? Just why his expression changed so drastically at the words "a beauty that overwhelms the whole country" was incomprehensible. Besides, he had many beauties in the palace, and his son would never act rashly on such a matter. His actions today were truly unusual.
If he did not know Wei Zifu's character very well, and understood that if Wei Zifu had known about the Li brothers and sisters' plan and wanted to take action, she would have had many opportunities to start from the source and prevent the other party from taking the stage and getting close to him; he would have suspected that this was Wei Zifu's instruction.
Now it seems that if this is the reason, then everything makes sense. If the Li brothers and sisters simply wanted to "get promoted", then Er'er might not care, but using his ideas to get promoted is a completely different matter, how can it not make people feel uncomfortable.
Liu Che felt that he had found the answer and tapped Liu Ju's forehead: "You!"
The expression is helpless and the smile is doting.
However, when Li Yannian and Li Xiaomei heard this, they froze and almost stumbled and fell.
Looking at the lotus pedestal again, I felt infinite regret in my heart.
I originally thought that His Highness's idea was a good one, thinking that His Highness was young and unsophisticated, and that they had not misappropriated the funds without permission. But who knew...
If I had known this earlier, if I had known this earlier...
Unfortunately, it’s hard to know in advance.
The spectators present looked at Liu Ju, then at the lotus pedestal, then at Li Yannian and Li Xiaomei, pointing, whispering, and laughing secretly.
Lion dancing, singing and dancing, none of them can be as wonderful as this.
They had truly witnessed a good show today, a true example of how cleverness can backfire, and how one can lose more than they gain. This was it. It was quite entertaining.
Wow, it looks good and is very enjoyable.
Some made fun of it, some gloated over it, and some showed pity.
Only one person is different.
Mrs. Wang stared at the brother and sister in a daze. No, to be more precise, she was looking at Li Yannian, not Li Xiaomei.
Looks like, very similar.
She was five percent similar to the woman in her memory, and three or four percent similar to the girl in her memory.
Is it a coincidence, or...
Mrs. Wang's eyes flickered, sometimes bright and sometimes dim.
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