After learning this, Zhou Zhizhi jumped up with joy, patted the little palace maid on the shoulder and said, "Then you come from an opera troupe, so you should be able to play the guqin, right?"
The palace maid nodded and said, "Your Excellency, I will certainly do so."
Zhou Zhizhi took a pen and paper from the table and wrote down the lyrics of "Serving the Country with Utmost Loyalty," then handed the melody of the song to a palace maid.
Zhou Zhizhi said, "Girl, take this. Just do as I say in a moment."
Zhou Zhizhi took out the money meant for the palace maid, but the maid was afraid of not doing a good job and dragging Zhou Zhizhi down.
Zhou Zhizhi put her right hand on the palace maid's shoulder and said, "Don't be afraid. You can sing difficult operas. How could you hold me back?"
Seeing Zhou Zhizhi's enthusiasm, the palace maids couldn't help but have a different opinion of her.
Zhou Zhizhi suddenly pulled open the palace maid's sleeve and said, "Look, I see you're young and often bullied in the palace, right? This is only right. Take this and get some medicine to treat your injuries."
The little palace maid almost burst into tears. She hadn't expected the Imperial Advisor to be such a kind person, and to be so considerate of her injuries.
After a short while, the palace maid composed herself and said to Zhou Zhizhi, "Grand Preceptor, I will go with you and help you finish the sword dance."
Zhou Zhizhi nodded, and the little palace maid carried the guqin and followed Zhou Zhizhi to the main hall. Just as Zhou Zhizhi was about to open the door to leave, she suddenly asked, "By the way, what name do you want?"
The palace maid looked up and said, "Reporting to the Imperial Preceptor, my humble name is Pearl."
Zhou Zhizhi smiled and said, "Your name is very good, and you are also very much like the original meaning of pearl."
Zhou Zhizhi and a palace maid arrived at the main hall. Zhou Zhizhi said, "Your Majesty, this is the palace maid Pearl. She will assist this humble subject."
The Empress was indifferent to such matters, nodded, and said, "Grand Preceptor, you may begin."
Zhou Zhizhi and Pearl exchanged a glance, and then Zhou Zhizhi drew her sword and began to dance.
Pearl also began to sing. Zhou Zhizhi moved from top to bottom, from left to right, from front to back, her sword sharp and her eyes resolute.
The Empress stared in astonishment as she watched Zhou Zhizhi perform her sword dance. She hadn't expected that while Zhou Zhizhi was no good at dancing, she was quite skilled in martial arts and swordsmanship.
Zhou Zhizhi was now feeling smug. This old woman had embarrassed me. I never expected that I wouldn't be like her, knowing nothing.
After a short while, Zhou Zhizhi finished her performance with her final move and said, "Your Majesty, what do you think of my swordsmanship?"
The Empress was almost vomiting blood, but she still said, "The Imperial Preceptor's swordsmanship is simply divine."
"Good, good, the Imperial Preceptor's swordsmanship is truly excellent." The ministers below were still discussing, but their discussion was different from before.
Zhou Zhizhi dismissed Pearl and gestured for her to go and recover from her injuries.
Zhou Zhizhi was practically laughing out loud. Seeing that the old woman, the Empress, was so angry that she wouldn't stoop to the level of those ministers who treated people differently based on their status.
Zhou Zhizhi returned to her seat and continued eating and drinking. An hour later, the banquet dance ended, and everyone had almost finished eating. Zhou Zhizhi, the princes, and the ministers all knelt down to pay their respects to the Empress.
When Zhou Zhizhi saw Xiao Xiyou come out of the door, she said with a smile, "Little Xiyou, do you want to experience what a real festival is like? Then come with me."
Before Xiao Xiyou could even resist, Zhou Zhizhi dragged him out of the palace.
At this moment, Xiao Nangua saw Zhou Zhizhi and Xiao Xiyou walking hand in hand from behind. He seemed to guess that Zhou Zhizhi was on Xiao Xiyou's side, and a calculating look flashed in his eyes.
Zhou Zhizhi and Xiao Xiyou ran to the street, which was very lively. Stalls and vendors came out to sell things at night, and lanterns were hung everywhere, representing the reunion of the family.
Xiao Xiyou tried to break free from Zhou Zhizhi's grip on his wrist, but she held it tightly.
Zhou Zhizhi pulled Xiao Xiyou to a mooncake stall and said to the stall owner, "Boss, give me one red bean paste mooncake and one rose mooncake."
"Okay, miss, here you go." The stall owner handed two mooncakes to Zhou Zhizhi.
Zhou Zhizhi took the signature and made a red bean paste mooncake to show Xiao Xiyou. Seeing that he didn't react, Zhou Zhizhi said helplessly.
"Oh dear, little grapefruit, don't think I didn't see it. You didn't touch a single chopstick at the banquet, not even a mooncake. Since it's the Mid-Autumn Festival, how can you not eat these sweet mooncakes?"
Xiao Xiyou didn't say anything, but took the mooncake from Zhou Zhizhi and ate it lightly.
When Zhou Zhizhi saw Xiao Xiyou eating mooncakes, she happily said, "That's more like it! Let's go for a walk and celebrate the real festival."
Zhou Zhizhi held onto Xiao Xiyou's wrist tightly and didn't let go. At this moment, Xiao Xiyou took Zhou Zhizhi's hand and said, "I really want to have a good holiday."
Without hesitation, Zhou Zhizhi took Xiao Xiyou's hand and ran into the crowd.
Zhou Zhizhi took Xiao Xiyou shopping all the time—candy, snacks, nuts, fruit—and made sure he ate everything.
Xiao Xiyou saw a sugar painting stall on his left, so he pulled Zhou Zhizhi over. Xiao Xiyou had a strong grip, and Zhou Zhizhi was completely led by him.
"Give me one of these." Xiao Xiyou asked the vendor for a sugar painting shaped like a rabbit.
"Young master, here's your sugar painting." The stall owner handed the rabbit sugar painting to Xiao Xiyou, who then passed it on to Zhou Zhizhi.
Xiao Xiyou revealed his profile under the light, looking incredibly handsome. He said, "This is for you. I'm grateful that the Imperial Advisor spent the festival with me; consider this a token of my appreciation."
Zhou Zhizhi took the sugar painting, feeling a little lost. Then, Xiao Xiyou pulled Zhou Zhizhi to the most lively place in front.
"Come on, take a look! Here's a mooncake riddle. Guess it correctly and you can win a prize!" the vendor shouted.
Zhou Zhizhi and Xiao Xiyou went down to the platform to watch. Some people guessed correctly, while others did not. Zhou Zhizhi thought, "Isn't this a Lantern Festival riddle? How come there's a mooncake theme for the Mid-Autumn Festival?"
After glancing at Xiao Xiyou, Zhou Zhizhi ran onto the stage, leaving Xiao Xiyou in shock.
"Boss, I'll buy five questions," Zhou Zhizhi said after paying and taking the questions. "Boss, do you see that young master? He'll answer my questions."
Seeing this, the boss pulled Xiao Xiyou onto the stage again and said, "Young master, you are handsome and have come to help this beauty solve the problem. It is truly wonderful."
Zhou Zhizhi presented the first riddle: Tomorrow there will be a total solar eclipse. What is the answer?
As Zhou Zhizhi pondered the answer, the people below were also discussing, "Why will there be a total solar eclipse tomorrow?"
Zhou Zhizhi couldn't figure it out either, but Xiao Xiyou raised his hand and said, "The answer is the moon."
Zhou Zhizhi suddenly realized, and the vendor exclaimed in shock, "Young master, you're right! This young lady bought five riddles. If you answer four more correctly, you'll win a prize!"
Zhou Zhizhi cheered and clapped, shouting "Go, Xiaoxiyou!"
Zhou Zhizhi then pulled out another riddle and said: "Holding the moon in your hand while scooping up water."
The vendor said, "The answer to the riddle is a word."
The people below were still discussing it when Xiao Xiyou sighed and said, "The answer is 'the apple of one's eye'."
"Oh~"
Zhou Zhizhi clapped and cheered again, continuing to encourage Xiaoxiyou!
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