Pearls and jade ahead
Xie Tiao calmly placed his hands on the zither and said indifferently, "From now on, when people from the Music Bureau come here, they should take a different route."
His words were very gentle and contained no reproach, but to a discerning listener, the disdain was quite obvious.
Lady Sun was taken aback for a moment before realizing what was happening. She immediately led everyone to bow and said, "The performers of the 'White Silk' dance from the Music Bureau pay their respects to Your Highness the Crown Prince."
The young dancers were in a panic, kneeling all over the place inside and outside the hall, not caring that their new dance costumes were getting dirty.
Crown Prince Xie Tiao then glanced at them indifferently, then turned back to them, saying without raising his head, "These are the dancers of 'White Silk' for whom the teacher will provide musical accompaniment?"
At first, Sun's wife couldn't figure out who the teacher he was talking about was. After a moment, she said, "Yes, it was the young master who agreed to play the zither for us. The entire dance troupe is deeply grateful for his kindness."
Xie Tiao, looking rather uninterested, said indifferently, "Teacher's interest seems to be getting better and better these days."
Sun's wife, not understanding his meaning, racked her brains and replied, "The Music Bureau is under the jurisdiction of the Junior Tutor. The Junior Tutor's willingness to promote us is naturally for the sake of the entire Music Bureau."
Xie Tiao looked at Sun Neiren with disbelief.
These people from the Music Bureau are really... they've been out of touch with reality for too long, they've even lost all manners and etiquette. This instructor, surprisingly, doesn't seem to notice his annoyance at all; instead of quickly bowing and taking his leave, he's chatting with him for ages?
Xie Tiao was upright and dignified, much like his teacher Gu Yi in this respect, and naturally would not do something as uncouth as publicly scolding the dancers. He gave a wry smile and was about to tell them to leave.
Just then, the white-clad woman standing in the back hall with her sword turned around gracefully, her beautiful eyes shining as she surveyed everyone.
When she turned around, A Qiu, who had been secretly resentful that Xie Tiao looked down on them so much, couldn't help but gasp. She understood why Xie Tiao had completely disregarded them.
The dancers in the Yuefu dance troupe were all carefully selected from all over the country to engage in the art of dance and music. Even if not all of them were exceptionally beautiful, they were all of decent appearance.
With this white-clad woman as a shining example, it's likely that no one else will be able to see anyone else.
She stood there, radiating divine light and the zenith of the sun, her sword-wielding posture exquisitely elegant. And when her clear, phoenix-like eyes swept across, it was as if sunlight illuminated the mountains and valleys, inspiring awe and wonder in all who looked upon her.
Just from her imposing and expert posture, A Qiu knew that this woman must be a top-notch swordsman.
The woman in white's gaze swept over everyone, finally settling on A Qiu. With a smile, her clear, melodious voice rang out: "The White Silk Dancer of the Music Bureau?"
Her gaze fell on A-Qiu, but A-Qiu was not surprised. She knew that her appearance was the most outstanding among the dancers, and she was ahead of the crowd. Since the other party had set her sights on her, she was about to curtsy in response.
Crown Prince Xie Tiao, who was standing to the side, had been silently facing the woman in white in the hall for quite a while. Although she knew he was the Crown Prince, she did not ask him any questions. With just her back view and the sword aura around her, she had already intimidated him so much that he dared not make a move.
Now, this woman, who was usually so sparing with words, had taken an interest in these lowly dancers from the Music Bureau and actually asked a question. He certainly wouldn't give A Qiu the chance to answer, so he quickly bowed and answered, "They are indeed dancers from the Music Bureau's dance troupe who came to perform 'White Silk.' After you and I finish, they will be on stage in a little while."
At the same time, he also glanced at the lead dancer who had caught the white-clad woman's interest.
Upon seeing this, Xie Tiao was somewhat taken aback.
How come he didn't notice at first glance? Now that he sees it, the lead dancer... her temperament and appearance are truly comparable to the woman in white. It seems this group isn't entirely made up of ordinary women. He began to look at them with new respect.
Upon hearing the Crown Prince's words, A Qiu was deeply shaken. She finally knew who this woman in white was!
On that day in the Xiangli Corridor of Tangli Garden, when Xiao Chang'an, the eunuch representing Duke Chenghua Ling'an, came to deliver a message, he actually brought three pieces of news for the Dance Department.
The first is that Junior Tutor Gu Yi will personally play the zither to accompany "White Silk".
The second is that before the "White Silk" dance performance, the opening will be performed by Yuqi, the eldest daughter of the Shangguan family, who is known as the most beautiful woman of the Southern Dynasty's high-ranking families. She will represent the "Jiangzuo Qingliu, Baisheng Shangguan" family and present the sword dance "Qiankun Dingshi Ge" with the legendary gentleman's sword "Binghuang".
Furthermore, Crown Prince Xie Tiao played the zither, accompanied by the zither music of "Wen Wang Cao".
This explains why the two men were already in the back hall when the geishas entered. They must have been waiting for their turn.
The white-clad woman, who stood gracefully with her sword on her back and whose bright, beautiful eyes were constantly scrutinizing her, was none other than Shangguan Yuqi, the eldest daughter of the Shangguan family, who was known as the most beautiful woman in the Southern Dynasty and was also the heir to the Shangguan family's Gentleman's Sword.
However, aside from her noble status and stunning beauty, there seemed to be something else about Shangguan Yuqi that captivated her heart.
A-Qiu seemed to have an inexplicable fondness for her.
From the moment she first saw her back as she entered, she felt a strong curiosity and a sense of admiration for Shangguan Yuqi.
After hearing Xie Tiao's reply, Miss Shangguan smiled gracefully and gestured "please" with her unhandled sword towards the dressing room in the west wing.
Her gaze swept over A Qiu again from top to bottom, and she said softly, "The 'White Silk' is the legacy of my aunt from the Han family. Even the young master is willing to personally perform to enhance it. Everyone, do your best."
Ah Qiu finally understood why Shangguan Yuqi treated these dancers with such favor. It turned out to be a case of loving someone because of their loved ones. When Shangguan Yuqi saw them rehearsing the music left behind by the late Empress Shangguan, she thought of her deceased aunt, Empress Shangguan, and thus treated them with exceptional gentleness.
Xie Tiao's noble and refined face was no longer so pleasing to the eye. This was because Shangguan Yuqi completely ignored his reply and pointed out the importance of "White Silk" in public. It was composed by the former Empress Shangguan, and even the Junior Tutor Gu Yi was willing to play the zither for it despite his status. His initial contempt now seemed like a lack of consideration.
However, Shangguan Yuqi was exceptionally elegant and beautiful, and her tone was both kind and calm. Anyone could tell that she had absolutely no intention of targeting Xie Tiao.
She was born with the temperament of floating clouds in the sky and white cranes on celestial mountains. Being independent and extraordinary, not caring about anyone's thoughts, is her truest self.
A Qiu didn't care what Xie Tiao thought. Since this famous beauty of the Southern Dynasty had made a gesture to her, she curtsied and solemnly said, "The Music and Dance Department will do its utmost."
He then led the group toward the dressing room in the west side hall.
They had only taken a few steps when they heard someone call out from behind, "Instructors, Miss A-Qiu!"
The three people who were called turned around and saw a young man in a blue robe and jade belt, as elegant as an orchid, leading dozens of palace maids from outside the palace. Each of the palace maids held a cup of a thousand-petaled lotus flower, as white as snow and as light as feathers.
Before anyone approaches, the fragrance is already there. Who else but Gongye Fusu, the ruler of the Kingdom of Ten Thousand Fragrances?
Gongye Fusu had only seen a group of dancers in flowing robes and long sleeves as they entered the hall, when he finally spotted Shangguan Yuqi and Crown Prince Xie Tiao. These two were arguably the most prominent young men and women in the entire Southern Dynasty's elite circles, so they recognized Gongye Fusu despite his rarity in public appearances.
He immediately cupped his hands and smiled, "I didn't know that Miss Shangguan and His Highness the Crown Prince were also here. I was very rude."
Shangguan Yuqi, being a young woman after all, looked curiously at the exquisite lotus flowers, as white as jade and as white as snow, and asked, "May I ask, Young Master Fusu, what are these?"
Gongye Fusu smiled and pointed at Aqiu, saying, "This was an idea from the dance troupe. In the first act, flowers will be scattered from the sleeves to create fragrance, and in the final act of 'White Silk,' the others will gradually light these lotus lanterns around the two instructors to highlight the main characters."
Shangguan Yuqi looked at A Qiu again, smiled and nodded, and said, "The young lady is indeed intelligent and insightful." She added, "The work made by Young Master Fusu is also a masterpiece."
Crown Prince Xie Tiao gazed at the exquisite lotus flowers, picked up a cup to examine it, and said meaningfully, "This time, the 'White Silk' performance actually used both the teacher's Shaoshi Qin and the Thousand Gold Incense from the Fusu family. After the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet, I'm afraid the 'Three Wonders' of the Southern Dynasty will be rewritten."
His sentiments, however, came out off the cuff. Previously, his entire focus had been on Shangguan Yuqi, but now that he was closer to the dancer, seeing the splendor of A Qiu's white silk dance costume and the exquisite design of the lotus lanterns, he could roughly estimate the effect of the performance.
But these words were nothing short of a denigration of the Shangguan family's "Gentleman's Sword," and also an insult to himself. This was because he was performing alongside Shangguan Yuqi, working in tandem with her.
Shangguan Yuqi smiled and said, "If the 'Gentleman's Sword' among the Three Wonders were replaced with the 'White Silk Dance,' the Shangguan family would have no objection whatsoever. This is because the Shangguan family respects the creativity of every member of the family."
Xie Tiao then remembered that the "White Silk Dance" was also a masterpiece of the Shangguan family, and realized that he had spoken out of turn, and couldn't help but feel embarrassed.
Gongye Fusu laughed and said, "The Yangtze River's back waves push the front waves, and only when talented people emerge in every generation can the country prosper. Just like right now, countless people in the outer hall are craning their necks, waiting to hear the music of our Crown Prince!"
He emphasized, "Even I, a merchant, have heard that the Grand Tutor's assessment of His Highness the Crown Prince was: 'In this world, it is either me or him.'"
Xie Tiao finally showed his first smile since arriving at the Jixian Hall today, and humbly said, "With everyone's excellent work before me, this is all I have to offer."
A clear voice rang out from in front of the palace gate: "Your Highness is the crown prince of the country and the future of the world. Why should you compare yourself with your subjects? It is our honor to hear Your Highness's virtuous words."
Then a person in a plain brocade robe, silver-threaded crown, and pearl-embroidered boots entered with an elegant demeanor, holding a jade-bone fan in his hand.
A-Qiu was facing him directly, and their eyes met. Her expression remained unchanged, but she was inwardly groaning.
Who else could this be but her senior brother Gongyi Xiu, her closest fellow disciple?
Gongyi Xiu spoke words of flattery to the Crown Prince, but his clear and sharp eyes were fixed on A Qiu. Anyone who didn't know better would have thought he was lustful and couldn't take his eyes off her.
Gongye Fusu coughed lightly and said, "Your Excellency, it is a pleasure to meet you. I have seen your poems and lyrics many times in the past at Woxia Pavilion, and I have long admired them."
Woxia Pavilion was a famous pleasure quarter in the capital, yet this was unknown to people like Shangguan Yuqi and Crown Prince Xie Tiao, who were known for their refined tastes and limited social circles. However, A Qiu had heard Gongyi Xiu mention it countless times before.
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