Xuan Ling stared at Sheng Xiyan while playing the xiao. Concubine Xue quickly followed suit and played the guqin. Sheng Xiyan slowly held up the jade flute.
Concubine Min whispered, "The emperor is playing 'Wild Geese Flying Over the Plain Sands' now."
As the music played, this place was no longer a corner of the palace, but a vast scene of river and sky, with calm winds and wild geese about to fly south.
The Xun and Xiao perfectly interpret the lofty ambition of the swan, the state of mind of forgetting both self and the world, and the state of clarity, emptiness and tranquility.
Immediately afterwards, the style of the music changed, and Xuan Ling looked at Sheng Xiyan and played another tune.
Sheng Xiyan played the flute slowly, pressing the holes of the jade flute with her fingers and gently swaying her arms to the rhythm of the music. She was as beautiful as a fairy from the mortal world, cool and pure.
At this moment, a faint sadness emanated from Xuan Ling's fingers.
Gao Shurong asked, "Sister Min, what song is this?"
"This is 'The Moon Full in the West Tower'."
Lin Xiuyi said, "Why does it make me want to cry?"
This song is like a bright moon hanging high in the night sky, with the sounds of the xiao and the flute lingering and sad, as if telling of endless longing and waiting.
After singing another song of "Chu Song", Xuan Ling slowly stopped singing.
He didn't expect Sheng Xiyan to be able to play the flute, and to play it so skillfully. It seemed like they had a soul connection.
The concubines quickly applauded and said respectfully, "Your Majesty's xiao playing is so profound and melodious, like a divine song, which has mesmerized us."
Concubine Jia danced until she was sweating profusely. She came over with her waist swaying slightly and squatted beside Xuan Ling.
"Your Majesty, the dance I perform complements your xiao music perfectly; it's a match made in heaven."
Xuan Ling asked solemnly, "Who do you think is the leader today?"
Everyone below was calling out, "Empress Jia!"
"Xue Jieyu!"
"Mrs. Min!"
"Sheng Xiuyuan!"
Xuan Ling looked at Sheng Xiyan. She was sitting upright, her slender jade-like neck like a white swan, and the girl didn't look at him.
All the concubines looked up at him, but she treated him as air!
After a long while, Xuan Ling slowly drank a glass of wine and said:
"Today, Concubine Xue's guqin and my xiao music are the most compatible, so today's winner is Concubine Xue."
Concubine Jia rolled her eyes in anger, "Your Majesty, you are biased. It is obvious that I dance the best."
Gao Shurong said, "Sister Sheng, your jade flute and xiao are clearly the best match. We didn't even hear the sound of the guqin."
Sheng Xiyan smiled and said, "It's okay, the emperor is right."
Xuan Ling happened to see her calm and composed look, which made him feel even more upset.
Concubine Xue stood up and said delicately:
"Your Majesty, according to custom, the victor will receive either a reward or a wish. I do not want any reward, but I only beg Your Majesty to grant me one wish."
Concubine Jia hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, she doesn't want a reward, but I do want that Dongzhu Jinbuyao. It will definitely look good on me. Your Majesty, will you give it to me?"
Xuan Ling asked, "What does Concubine Xue want to ask for?"
Concubine Xue's eyes were filled with spring water, and she said delicately, "I would like to ask the emperor to accept me as his apprentice and teach me to play the xiao."
Xuan Ling looked at Sheng Xiyan coldly and said, "I have only one disciple, and I will not accept any more."
Sheng Xiyan could tell he was talking about that night in the Yangxin Palace when she begged him to teach her how to play the xiao. He readily agreed, "Yanyan wants to learn, so I will teach her myself."
Concubine Xue twisted her body and begged, "Then I would like to go to the Yangxin Palace to accompany the emperor."
She said it so subtly that everyone could hear that what she actually meant was: I want to go to the Yangxin Palace to sleep with you.
Xuan Ling looked at Sheng Xiyan and said solemnly, "Xue Jieyu is not a mean girl. She treats me with all her sincerity. I am very pleased. I will grant your wish."
He stood up, and Xue Jieyu quickly stepped forward and took his arm.
"Your Majesty, I only have you in my heart and eyes, and I don't care about anything else."
"Very good."
Xuan Ling looked back at Sheng Xiyan while speaking. That damn girl was actually chatting and laughing with the concubine next to her.
A surge of anger rushed from his chest to the top of his head, his hair stood on end with anger, and his golden crown was about to fly into the sky.
Pretending to be loud, he said, "Well then, Concubine Xue, please follow me to the Yangxin Palace."
After walking through the garden and arriving in front of the imperial carriage, Xuan Ling waved to Eunuch Fu.
"Your Majesty, what are your instructions?"
Xuan Ling leaned close to his ear and whispered, "Go quietly and listen to what Sheng Xiyan said, then come back and report."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Xuan Ling got on the imperial carriage and left, and Concubine Xue followed beside him, feeling so happy. Sifu first went to the Yangxin Palace to accompany the emperor, and then served him in bed at night. It was a natural progression, and it was so wonderful.
After Sheng Xiyan and Gao Shurong said goodbye,
Hua Xia said, "My lady, Meixiang and Aunt Zhang took the young master and the eldest princess to play at the rockery."
"Then let's go back first. I'm all sweaty and I want to go back and cool down."
Sheng Xiyan gently waved a round fan. The weather became hot in an instant, as if it could melt people.
Hua Xia said, "My lady, don't be discouraged. I think the flute you play is the perfect match for the Emperor's xiao. It's so beautiful and melodious, it's like entering a fantasy world."
Sheng Xiyan noticed some movement in the bushes behind her and deliberately raised her voice and said:
"Hey, it's okay. I don't care who wins anyway. Besides, the Emperor even made a few mistakes!"
Hua Xia was so frightened that she quickly covered her mouth and said, "My lady, please keep your voice down. Talking bad about the emperor is punishable by death."
Sheng Xiyan pursed her lips and suppressed a smile, "Our emperor is so generous and tolerant that he won't kill anyone for such a small matter. Don't worry."
Eunuch Fu peeked out and saw that the master and servant had gone far away, so he took a shortcut and went back to report the situation.
Just as the imperial carriage passed Yijing Garden and reached Chunhua Gate, Eunuch Fu ran forward and Xuan Ling shouted, "Stop first."
The imperial carriage stopped and Eunuch Fu leaned close to Xuan Ling and whispered something.
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
