Chapter 281 An Imperial Aura Appears in the Southeast
Lexu loved musical instruments.
Everything related to music,
I like both the elegant music used in ceremonies and ancestral worship, and the popular music used in banquets and dances.
The flowers and trees of Shangyang never bloom in autumn, and the Luo River flows through the palace everywhere.
This is a palace in the northwest corner of Shangyang Palace, named Ganlu Hall.
A cool river breeze, rare in the height of summer, blows from a tributary near the Luo River.
The hem of the long robes worn by Lexu and her companions, who were court musicians, fluttered in the breeze along the corridor.
Under the watchful gaze of a stern-faced female supervisor ahead, they entered the spacious hall, some carrying zithers and others holding harps, heads bowed and eyes lowered.
The group sat down one by one behind the curtain at the edge of the hall and began tuning their instruments.
This Shangyang Palace is located in the western suburbs of Luoyang, also known as the West Palace, and is the royal back garden.
Inside the Ganlu Hall, Lexu sat down with his companions. He put down the guqin in his arms and skillfully tuned the strings, preparing for the ensemble performance that would follow.
Lexu was an official title, not his real name.
As for her real name, she was rarely called that after entering the palace and was gradually forgotten.
But what I can never forget is the music.
He and his companions were all officials of the Music Bureau, under the jurisdiction of the female Music Officials of Shangyang Palace, and played music for emperors and nobles.
Today, the serious and rigid female musicians suddenly urged them to set off and go to their respective musicians' positions in various palaces and waterside pavilions.
Le Xu knew without guessing that it was Her Majesty the Empress who had once again moved to the West Palace for a visit.
As for whether Her Majesty the Queen might wander around and visit this relatively remote Ganlu Palace, who knows?
Shangyang Palace was enormous, with numerous luxurious palaces, providing ample opportunities for emperors to enjoy themselves.
Lexu had served as a musician at Ganlu Palace for nearly three years, and the number of times he had greeted Her Majesty the Empress was very few.
However, Lexu did not complain. He lowered his head and tuned his instrument, preparing to play. A hint of joy gradually welled up in his eyes.
Being a musician in the palace meant a meager monthly allowance, which was further reduced by the female officials above.
My companions told me that if you find any red-roofed mansion by the Luo River in Luoyang and perform for several nights, you can earn a lot of money, meet handsome and dashing poets, and perhaps even have the chance to spend a romantic night with some naive courtesans who admire music and art.
However, unlike her companions, Lexu did not yearn for the glamorous world of Luoyang.
Within the Shangyang Palace, his monotonous life, accompanied only by the zither, had already brought him peace and contentment.
I remember an old musician who taught etiquette and music once told him that if he wanted wealth and a stable life, he could become a private musician in a bustling restaurant or a nobleman's mansion.
However, if one wishes to make further progress in the art of rites and music, there is only one way: to stay in this dull and tedious palace and hone one's musical skills.
Lexu always remembered those words.
But the old musician who taught him this phrase found an opportunity to leave the Luoyang court a few years ago. Before leaving, at a simple farewell banquet, the old man drank several cups of wine, laughed heartily, and went away without any regrets.
Le Xu was quite puzzled.
Inside the Ganlu Palace, Lexu and her companions finished tuning their instruments and began to play a grand and elegant melody.
Outside the palace, along the long corridor, a group of rigid female officials stood with their heads bowed, motionless.
It seemed as if they were welcoming the favor of a certain empress.
Lexu glanced discreetly at the palace maids and female officials outside.
The largest number of people in Shangyang Palace were these female officials and palace maids.
I've heard that their strict hierarchy and demanding requirements are even more complicated and rigorous than those of us musicians.
Being in the palace, one naturally hears many such unfounded rumors.
Originally, someone like Le Xu, who held a position in the palace and had access to the emperor, should have been castrated like a palace eunuch.
Fortunately, the mistress of Shangyang Palace was a female emperor who was not strict with eunuchs and even occasionally favored men.
Whether some musicians were castrated or not was naturally irrelevant. Of course, the criteria for selecting such attendants included having a dignified appearance and a tall and slender figure; there could certainly be no ugly or deformed ones.
The way Her Majesty the Empress selects and trains the female officials and palace maids around her reveals that she is an emperor who enjoys sensual pleasures.
Lexu was quite relieved that he was not castrated, but he also found it increasingly difficult to understand the departure of the old musician who had taught him rites and music.
Lexu glanced at the large Buddha statue in the distance outside the palace gate.
That's the Great Buddha Hall.
Inside Shangyang Palace, one of the most prominent buildings is the Great Buddha Hall. A tall Buddha statue stands in the square, a hundred feet high, rising from the ground, majestic and magnificent.
Inside Shangyang Palace, besides the palace maids and female officials, the largest number of people were those dressed in strange clothes, who spent their days dealing with odd objects.
Le Xu couldn't tell whether they were Taoist priests or sorcerers, but he had heard people say that they were called something like "qi-observing masters".
Lexu didn't quite understand what they did, but Her Majesty the Empress seemed to like them quite a bit and summoned them frequently.
So... these fortune tellers, like their musicians, were doing this to please the emperors and nobles, weren't they?
Le Xu secretly guessed, and even vaguely felt a little resentful.
The rites and music are so beautiful, unparalleled in the world. These fortune tellers seem unreliable. I wonder what kind of strange and cunning schemes they have to use to flatter Her Majesty the Empress, causing Her Majesty to pay less attention to rites and music.
However, these fortune tellers mostly frequented the area around the Buddha Hall and Buddha statues, and the two sides did not interact much.
One night, when Lexu was passing by, he happened to see a number of fortune tellers entering the hundred-foot-tall Buddha statue, and he didn't know what they were busy with inside.
Le Xu shook his head and continued playing the guqin. Of all the musical instruments in the world, he loved the guqin the most.
I remember once when the old musician was drunk, he said that there was actually a peerless and unparalleled zither hidden in Shangyang Palace, and a piece of music that was beyond compare. In the end, the old musician sighed and said, "What kind of zither is this?"
Lexu kept it in mind, but after ten years in the palace, he had never seen or heard it, and he increasingly felt that the old musician was just talking nonsense while drunk.
Le Xu had gotten to know all the musicians in Shangyang Palace, but they were all just so-so, or slightly inferior to him. He couldn't help but feel a little proud; his music was the best in Shangyang Palace...
Le Xu suddenly composed himself and lowered his head to focus on the strings of his zither.
At that moment, he faintly heard a series of dense yet rhythmic footsteps coming from the long corridor in the distance outside the palace.
It is Her Majesty the Empress's presence!
He was almost certain in his heart, and could even faintly hear the familiar, aged voice of Her Majesty the Empress.
His voice was solemn, with a hint of hoarseness.
Le Xu was suddenly delighted.
Although he had only met him a few times over the years, Le Xu had already memorized that voice.
Because his ears can distinguish every syllable and remember most sounds, Yuexu can memorize and play simple melodies after hearing them only once.
I remember the old musician once sighing that this was God feeding him step by step; this is called a superior sense of tone, something that a musician can only dream of.
Lexu also heard that during the reign of Emperor Taizong, a court musician, with such talent, once heard a foreign melody in the Daming Palace in Chang'an and, in front of countless foreign envoys who came to pay homage, played the melody perfectly on an old pipa.
This immediately pleased Emperor Taizong, and the foreign envoys were all astonished, kneeling and singing praises, completely convinced... This earned the great achievement of that year the prestigious title of the Celestial Empire and a great nation of etiquette.
Unfortunately, the vibrant scene of all industries and things flourishing when the Great Khanate was first established is no longer there. The image of a celestial empire, a prosperous and musical age, seems to exist only in dreams.
In Chang'an and Luoyang, all the passion seems to have gradually subsided with the growth of the empire. The princes, nobles, and common people of the two capitals have begun to be content with their lives, minding their own business, and many things have become commonplace.
Even the newly established Great Zhou Dynasty shows no signs of resembling the early days of the Great Qian Dynasty...
Lexu was just a lowly musician and didn't really understand the matter of dynastic changes, but he could sense that the Empress didn't really value ritual and music anymore.
Or rather, she only listens to a small group of people. Not to mention, those strange fortune tellers steal some of her favor and attention. How could a nobody like Le Xu stand out? Even if her zither music is the best in Shangyang Palace, so what?
Le Xu sighed and mocked himself.
The old musician once said that his talent was both good and bad, a mixed blessing.
It is also said that most musicians in ancient times were blind, because by blocking one sense, they could enhance the remaining four senses and pursue the ultimate.
But the musicians of today, especially those in this palace, should not only be blind, but also deaf, if it weren't for the need to discern sounds and listen to music...
Lexu couldn't understand the old musician's sentiments. How could someone who was deaf be a musician? On the contrary, he was proud of his excellent pitch, but the only pity was that no one appreciated it.
And now, it seems that an opportunity has arrived.
The musicians around him noticed the commotion outside the hall a little later than Lexu.
Lexu and his companions exchanged a knowing glance, their eyes shining with joy, and they all gave it their best.
Inside the Ganlu Hall, the sounds of silk and bamboo instruments suddenly rose, melodious and pleasing to the ear, with the zither music standing out in particular.
Footsteps approached from outside the hall, and a group of palace servants escorted two figures into the hall.
Le Xu lowered his head and played the zither, not daring to look up at all.
Only out of the corner of my eye could I vaguely see the trailing hems of Her Majesty the Empress's and another noblewoman's robes and boots.
Her Majesty the Queen showed extraordinary care and consideration for the distinguished guest who had accompanied her.
"How is the old minister's health lately? I have heard that he is buried in state affairs in the Phoenix Pavilion, working day and night, and has worn out eight sets of counting rods."
This is Her Majesty the Queen's voice; her speech is slow, yet it carries a great weight.
"It would be best for the elder statesman to rest more; these kinds of tedious tasks can be delegated to his subordinates."
"Your Majesty, I have recently lost my appetite, so I have been reading official documents. I read a thousand volumes a day, which has slightly improved my appetite and made me feel better."
It was an unfamiliar old man's voice, speaking steadily. Could His Majesty address him as an elder statesman? Throughout the entire court, only that Master Di could be so.
The Master is a great scholar of Confucianism, with unparalleled talent. He should be well-versed in rites and music and able to appreciate his zither playing... Yue Xu played the zither with great enthusiasm.
Inside the main hall, the music grew increasingly melodious, sometimes low and sorrowful, sometimes passionate and stirring.
Amidst the melodious music, Her Majesty the Queen sighed once more:
"Only by reviewing official and state affairs can one have a little appetite... The old lord is truly a pillar of the Great Zhou Dynasty, a backbone of the nation."
"This old minister dares not," the Master replied, his voice neither humble nor arrogant.
The Empress's voice suddenly changed its tone:
"Yesterday, a group of ministers jointly submitted a memorial, saying that the country cannot be without an heir for a day, and requested that I establish the Prince of Wei as the heir. What do you think of the Prince of Wei?"
Immediately, the teacher's unwavering and resolute voice rang out from inside the hall:
"Your Majesty, this old minister observes that the people of the world still cherish the kindness of Emperor Taizong. If an heir is to be established, it must be someone who is not a descendant of Emperor Taizong, but rather a blood relative of Emperor Gaozong."
The hall suddenly fell silent. Yue Xu, who was playing the zither behind the curtain at the edge of the hall, heard the sound of fingers lightly tapping on a jade artifact coming from the front.
The rhythmic thumping of the bells continued, one after another.
The empress seemed displeased and remained silent, as if she were appreciating the music and rituals.
After a while, the tapping stopped, and she turned to ask:
"Yesterday, a palace maid went out to make errands and heard some rumors circulating in the streets. She told me about them. I heard that a minor official named Ouyang Lianghan refused the imperial edict to promote him to the position of Imperial Censor. Have you heard of this, Elder?"
“This old minister knows that the imperial edict has passed through the Hall of State Affairs.”
"Oh, I know this young fellow too. He is the third-ranked scholar I personally selected. He is tall and handsome, but he seems to have a rather straightforward personality..."
"Ha, now he's resigned from his post. How does the old minister intend to handle this matter?"
"I will not interfere or take any action."
"oh?"
Her Majesty the Queen let out a sound of interest, and seemed to chuckle softly:
"Does the old minister also think that he is not a talented person, but just someone who seeks fame and prestige?"
"Very well, that's perfect. Today, let the elder recommend a talented person to me. The elder is getting old and needs someone to share the burden of state affairs. Please recommend a person of great talent who can be entrusted with important responsibilities."
Master Di said calmly:
"Your Majesty, if you desire talented and elegant individuals, then I can recommend many people, such as Li Qiao, the Assistant Minister of Rites, and Su Weidao, the Imperial Censor... These are all suitable candidates."
"However, if Your Majesty must find an outstanding talent right now, then there is only Ouyang Lianghan, the magistrate of Longcheng in Jiangzhou. Although Lianghan is young, he has the potential to be a prime minister."
"Huh? Didn't you say you wouldn't take care of this boy?" The Empress asked in surprise and confusion, "Why are you suddenly recommending him with such great importance?"
Di Fuzi's tone remained unchanged:
"This old minister doesn't care about him because his official position can only be granted by Your Majesty. It must be promoted by you. This old minister would never dare to do it on your behalf."
After he finished speaking, there was a moment of silence in the hall.
The Empress suddenly laughed: "If I were to issue a decree directly to promote him, using the standards of an imperial edict, wouldn't that be equivalent to elevating him to an official rank of five or higher?"
"This old minister has no intention of seeking an official position. What matters is Your Majesty's personal promotion; official rank is irrelevant."
She gave a soft "hmm" in a nasal voice, then remained silent again, seemingly neither agreeing nor disagreeing.
After a short while, the emperor and his minister changed the subject. Her Majesty the Empress asked a few questions about his well-being and bestowed some tribute pastries upon him. The fat old man bowed and withdrew.
Inside the hall, only the sounds of orchestral instruments remained, creating a solemn atmosphere for the ritual music.
The old woman in the dragon robe turned her head and glanced at the memorial and a picture album neatly arranged on the table.
It was Ouyang Rong who presented "Ten Memorials on Water Management in Jiangnan" and "Map of the Water System in Jiangnan".
There are faint traces of red ink circles and annotations on the memorial.
“Miaozhen”.
Empress Wei Zhao of the Great Zhou Dynasty suddenly spoke.
The eight female officials accompanying the emperor, dressed in crimson palace attire and with painted lips, stood on either side of the hall, their eyes fixed straight ahead.
At this moment, among the eight women, one woman in palace attire immediately stepped forward, knelt down, and bowed in greeting:
"This servant is here."
The woman in palace attire, with two small dots of rouge between her dimples, was none other than Miaozhen, a sixth-rank palace maid who had delivered gifts to the Su family on behalf of Empress Wei Zhao.
However, her arrogance was gone, and she knelt humbly on the cold marble floor.
“Tell me in detail what Ouyang Lianghan said in front of the Su residence when he delivered the jade pendant that day.”
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Miaozhen kept her head down and repeated the story word for word.
The old woman in the dragon robe and phoenix crown rested her chin on the back of her hand, listened with her eyes closed, and her expression remained unchanged.
About half an hour later, the empress closed her eyes and gently waved her hand.
Miaozhen and the other eight female officials in colorful robes, along with the palace servants, withdrew from the hall, leaving only the minor official playing music in the main hall.
Just then.
Suddenly, a diviner in red robes rushed from the Buddha hall, entered the hall, and bowed to report:
“Sage, last night I observed the celestial phenomena and saw an aura of an emperor in the southeast.”
Wei Zhao opened his eyes, looked at him, then closed them again, picked up a round, dark green jade Maitreya Buddha from the table, and examined it carefully.
Inside the main hall, the sounds of orchestral music suddenly became disordered.
The Queen, with her eyes closed, gently tapped the area directly in front of her with the jade Maitreya Buddha in her hand:
“Kill him.”
The man in crimson robes nodded and walked toward the group of musicians in the main hall. Wherever he passed, people fell to the ground, including a musician who was tightly clutching his zither.
The music from the orchestra inside the hall completely stopped.
The Empress suddenly opened her eyes: "And you?"
The astronomer in red robes was instantly terrified. His body moved like a hurricane, sweeping towards the open hall door as he desperately fled.
But in this silent hall where the musicians and other court musicians had all died, suddenly, a melody from a zither rang out:
“Zheng”.
The sound of the zither was extremely soft, like heavenly music, coming from afar, yet it was also very close at hand.
Upon hearing this zither music, the astronomer in red robes seemed to be put on pause.
His face was ashen, and he ceased all attempts to escape or resist using his qi. The qi-gazer in crimson robes turned around, knelt down, and kowtowed. In his final moments, his head was turned towards the distant Zhongnan Mountain, and blood streamed from his forehead.
"Your Majesty, I thank you for granting me death on behalf of Emperor Wen!"
The gazing-of-the-moments man in red robes abruptly stopped kowtowing. His kneeling body was split in two like a watermelon, the cut end clean. The two halves fell to the ground, one on the left and one on the right. Crimson blood belatedly gushed from the cut end of each half, staining the clean, dust-free floor of the main hall.
The old woman in the dragon robe slowly opened her eyes, ignoring the bloody scene inside the hall.
"Is there an aura of an emperor in the southeast...?"
She turned her head, gazing southeast towards Jiangzhou, toying with a jade Maitreya Buddha in her hand, and whispered:
"The Great Zhou is not Qin, and I am not the First Emperor."
...
Afternoon.
Inside the main hall where the emperor had long since departed.
Miaozhen, accompanied by a group of beautiful palace maids dressed in plum blossom makeup, entered the empty hall filled with mutilated corpses.
They remained calm and efficient, carrying buckets, rags, mops, and other items, splashing water, mopping the floor, and cleaning up the remains and blood.
They opened the doors and windows, lit incense, and the stench of blood in the hall gradually dissipated.
The colorful-clad female official and the clever palace maids walked away into the distance.
Inside the Ganlu Hall, everything was clean and immaculate, just as before, but... the music was gone.
(End of this chapter)
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