Each has its own strengths
The renowned King Gongye Fusu of Wanxiang Kingdom, who always concealed his presence with a silk veil when traveling, personally appeared in the Tangli Garden of the Music Bureau, in the Xiangxie Corridor where the dancers practiced their skills.
Xiao Chang'an's eyes shone with a strange light, while Sun Neiren and Xue Hongbi were momentarily bewildered. This was because Gongye Fusu rarely appeared in public. Although he had mentioned the "Qianjin Xiang" of the Gongye family, they never dreamed that the person who came was the current head of the Gongye family, the famous and richest man in Dayan, Gongye Fusu himself.
He was entrusted by Gongyi Xiu to convey a message to A Qiu. Although they were separated by a screen and never met, A Qiu remembered his voice.
It is a peaceful and righteous voice, like the fragrance of orchids and magnolias, that brings tranquility to the soul.
A Qiu immediately bowed and said, "Young Master Fusu."
Gongye Fusu's gaze swept over her face, revealing surprise and admiration. He smiled at the yellow-clad maid Aqin beside him and said, "Look closely, this is the girl you mentioned last time who had heavy makeup, was ugly, and had no taste."
The maid Aqin stared at Aqiu's face with her mouth slightly agape, her expression one of disbelief. She innocently asked, "Is the Music Bureau performing magic? They can turn one person into two completely different forms!"
Gongye Fusu laughed and said, "That's why I say you can't judge a book by its cover."
A Qiu thought to himself, the last time he came to Tangli Garden, it was only to deliver a message to her, and as part of the "buy one get one free" deal, he even promised to prepare a fragrance for her that resembled Gu Yi's scent. If he was only here to fulfill that promise, he should have just sent her out alone. Why would he go to such lengths to come to the dance troupe in person?
Gongye Fusu answered her question. He nodded to Sun Neiren and Xue Hongbi and said, "You two must be the instructors of the dance troupe. I have come here on behalf of Zhao Zhaorong, the head of the Imperial Library, to see if I can add some brilliance to the 'White Silk' dance."
He explained the whole story in a few words. It turned out that since the court had already decided on the "Junior Tutor's Qin" and the "Gentleman's Sword," the other of the "Three Perfections," the "Thousand Gold Incense" from the Gongye family, could not be absent. The Imperial Household Department usually purchased incense materials and spices from the Gongye family, and it was perfectly legitimate for Zhao Lingying, the head of the Imperial Household Department, to contact him.
Gongye Fusu pointed out that the use of incense at banquets should differ from that used during the founding of the dynasty. While incense could be present throughout the court ceremonies, banquets included drinking, serving dishes, and offering fruits.
Wine, dishes, and fruits each have their own aromas that stimulate the appetite. While scenting the room is certainly elegant, it can diminish one's appetite and create a disharmonious atmosphere during a banquet.
Therefore, Gongye Fusu advised Zhao Lingying to only use "Qianjin Xiang" in a certain aspect, rather than using it throughout the entire process as in the founding ceremony.
Zhao Ling should immediately say, then it can be used in the "White Silk" dance.
When watching a dance performance, the audience should be attentive and focused, appreciating the beauty of the music and dance.
"Moreover, in my opinion, the newly compiled 'White Silk' in the Music Bureau of this dynasty is not much inferior to your 'Three Wonders'."
When Gongye Fusu relayed Zhao Lingying's original words on "White Silk" under the Xiangxie Corridor, everyone in the dance troupe felt a surge of pride.
The maid in yellow, Aqin, stood in the middle of the corridor, a smile on her face, her innocent and beautiful eyes darting around, awaiting Gongye Fusu's instructions.
She was surrounded by young geisha girls, jostling each other with curiosity, as if waiting for a magical performance.
Even Xiao Chang'an, who always had a smile on his lips, became serious, his expression revealing anticipation.
Sun Neiren and Xue Hongbi knew that the other party was the famous "King of Ten Thousand Fragrances" of this dynasty, so they watched with utmost attention.
A Qiu was the calmest, because she had smelled Gu Yi's fragrance before, so she naturally had little interest in other scents—a case of "once you've seen the ocean, you can't be satisfied with a river." But out of politeness, she tried her best to appear expectant.
Her subtle expression did not escape Gongye Fusu's notice. He didn't take it to heart, simply smiled slightly, and said to Aqin, "Buxiang."
Suddenly, Aqin raised her sleeves and made a movement very similar to Bai Zhu Wu's. Then, her sleeves fluttered and she spun lightly around. Her skirt billowed and her sash swayed, as beautiful as a fairy scattering flowers.
This is a move that geisha often make, and although it is pleasing to the eye, it doesn't bring much surprise.
But as she finished her first rotation, A Qiu caught a faint, delicate, and elegant fragrance in her nostrils.
Like lotus flowers in a lake at the end of summer, floating in the twilight, half-open and half-closed.
One by one, stars began to appear in the night sky, bright and distant.
Ripples spread across the lake, reflecting the shattered Milky Way in the sky, as if one had entered a dreamlike paradise.
A Qiu opened his eyes and stared dumbfounded at the snow-white, purple-pink, and crimson petals spilling from the sleeves of the yellow-clad maid A Qin.
As she twirled gracefully, petals fell like raindrops, scattering onto the hair and clothes of the onlookers.
A-Qiu curiously picked up a petal that had fallen onto her dance costume and examined it closely in her palm.
The petals were as white as jade, with a thin pink tinge, and were semi-transparent, with realistic textures. But when she ran her finger over them, she felt they weren't real; they were more like jade or porcelain. Yet, they were relatively light and wouldn't break if dropped.
That dreamlike fragrance emanates from the petals.
Gongye Fusu's focus was not on Sun Neiren and Xue Hongbi, but on A Qiu.
Seeing her expression as if she had just woken up from a dream, he was quite satisfied and smiled, "How was it?"
A Qiu hesitated for a moment before answering, but Xue Hongbi exclaimed repeatedly, "What else could it be! It couldn't be better! Just imagine the scene of Bai Zhu's 'Heavenly Wind and Jade Pendants' dance, where the dancers descend like celestial maidens scattering flower petals from their sleeves. The beauty of their dance, combined with the fragrance of the young master's daughter, would leave anyone who doesn't marvel at the profound and exquisite culture of our Southern Dynasty, whose ingenuity surpasses even the ancients!"
As she spoke, she bowed gracefully to Gongye Fusu.
Xue Hongbi was a renowned dance expert, but her bow to Gongye Fusu was not merely to acknowledge his wealth and status, but rather to express her admiration for the depth of his dedication.
Not only did the fragrance blend perfectly with the theme of the White Silk Dance, "imitating the moonlight and water," but it was also specially crafted to resemble flower petals, making it a perfect prop for this dance performance. This must have been the result of careful consideration.
Imagine, everyone who attends the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet will be imbued with the fragrance of this precious incense, and will be able to collect a few petals as souvenirs—what an elegant affair! And if they were to bring them home or take them to other restaurants to admire and discuss with relatives and friends, what a sensation that would be in Jianzhang City!
The lingering charm of the White Silk Dance will spread throughout the capital along with this precious incense. Whenever people see these petals again, they will think of the White Silk Dance from the Music Bureau.
Sun Neiren was also behind Xue Hongbi, without uttering a word, but she bowed along with her.
Gongye Fusu personally helped the two instructors up, but still smiled as he looked at Aqiu, waiting for her answer.
A Qiu snapped out of her daze and suddenly realized that Gongye Fusu's incense was probably blended based on the scent she had described last time. The reason he was so meticulous was probably not only because he was entrusted by Zhao Lingying, but also because of his "buy one get one free" promise to her.
Although the fragrance was also very layered and lingering, with endless meaning, it was completely different from the aura emanating from Gu Yi.
Simply put, it's a difference in style. This fragrance draws inspiration from the purity of water and the cleanliness of lotus flowers, resulting in a delicate, ethereal, and sweet scent.
Gu Yi's aura, though initially sweet, was actually bitter; behind its serene and profound scent lay a steady and weighty presence.
However, Gongye Fusu must have done his utmost to prepare this incense.
A Qiu had already made up her mind, so she bowed gracefully to Gongye Fusu and said, "The scents are different, but the realms are the same. Spring orchids and autumn chrysanthemums each have their own strengths. Thank you, Young Master Fusu, for your trouble for our department."
Her words were ambiguous, but Gongye Fusu, being a clever man, understood her meaning perfectly. He smiled and said, "I have named this fragrance 'Summer Dreams and Twisted Memories,' do you know what it means, young lady?"
After a brief moment of thought, A Qiu replied, "Everyone's growth experience is different, and their memories of summer are naturally different as well. The memories of lotus flowers, water, and starry nights that have moved them are all different in everyone's heart."
Gongye Fusu clapped his hands and sighed, "Miss Aqiu is truly a clever person who understands things instantly. If she were willing to come to my Wanxiang Kingdom to be a fragrance attendant, she would surely be far superior to Aqin."
No sooner had he finished speaking than four people exclaimed in unison, "No!"
Xue Hongbi and Sun Neiren knew he might not be joking. The incense attendant brought by the King of Wanxiang was of a much higher status than a dancer in the palace music bureau, as could be seen from the favor shown to the yellow-clad maid Aqin.
As a maid, she could speak freely in front of her master, a freedom that even the instructors dared not dream of.
Xue Hongbi coughed, half addressing Gongye Fusu and half addressing Aqiu, and said confidently, "After the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet, Aqiu will surely become a popular figure in the court and among the people. At that time... her future will not be limited to just the Music Bureau. She can do whatever she wants."
Sun Neiren then said, "A Qiu is Shi Changqing's daughter, and the Music Bureau is the most suitable place for her."
The maid in yellow, Aqin, pouted and said discontentedly, "Even if Aqin isn't as smart as her, Master still has Axiang, Afu, and Axin. The four of us are enough; there's no need for her!"
The other person who unexpectedly spoke up to stop it was Xiao Chang'an.
It was obvious to everyone that although Gongye Fusu was entrusted by Zhao Lingying to handle matters at the dance department, his mind was always on A Qiu, paying close attention to her reactions.
Sun Neiren was already used to A Qiu's social interactions, while Xue Hongbi, though somewhat aware of them, did not possess the same strong sense of morality as Sun Neiren.
Moreover, Gongye Fusu was gentle and refined, clearly not a lecherous man, and he doted on his servants so much. Xue Hongbi didn't think there was anything wrong with him paying a little more attention to a pretty dancer while he was talking.
Xiao Chang'an, however, had long disliked him because of his attention to A Qiu and his obsequious words.
Of course, he was unaware that Gongye Fusu had been asking Aqiu for his opinion, simply because the two had made a private agreement.
Gongye Fusu was now openly trying to entice A Qiu to go with him. Even though Xiao Chang'an was usually calm, he was still young at heart, and his face darkened.
In a flash, he appeared between A Qiu and Gongye Fusu, separating the two. The bamboo flute at his waist appeared in his hand without him noticing. He pointed it directly at Gongye Fusu and said in a cold voice, "Young Master Fusu, you'd better not covet the people of the Music Bureau!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
