Rewards and punishments are unpredictable
She emphasized her words, saying, "I might be saying this to you, Xiao Chang'an."
These words left even Xiao Chang'an speechless, momentarily lost in thought.
In A Qiu's heart, amidst a fog-like chaos, dawn was gradually breaking, as if a sliver of light had been pierced through the sky, and that light shone deeper and brighter.
Compared to wielding power and dominating the world, what she might want more is to stay by Gu Yi's side and never abandon him.
Ironically, winning someone's heart and getting their promise to commit for life seems more difficult than conquering the world.
Therefore, she did not abandon the essential for the trivial, but rather chose the easy over the difficult.
No matter how many pieces the world is broken into, it can be seized by power, coercion, bribery, division, and alliances. But a pure, clear, and transparent heart cannot be obtained by forcibly coercing or tempting people with their will.
Even when Li Wujiu, the sect leader of the Hidden World Sect, was forced into a life-or-death situation by Xiao Chang'an, he never showed the slightest bit of affection for Xiao Yu.
Even though Su Rouhua gave birth to Li Chongyu for him, Li Mingyuan, the previous Marquis of Guannei, never accepted her until he died in battle by the river.
Gu Yi ordered her to return, to take over his power and position, and to complete the unification of the world. This was the only thing she could do, and the only thing that could make her feel that she and Gu Yi were still closely connected.
Wherever she goes, people will only regard her as the successor of the young master. Her every word and action represents Gu Yi; they are one.
This is her longing for the past, and also the only homeland she wants to return to afterward.
Regardless of success or failure thereafter, her name will shine brightly alongside Gu Yi's in the annals of history.
Seeing A Qiu's face turn pale and then red, Xiao Chang'an immediately made up his mind and said in a deep voice, "You don't need to worry about the dance troupe anymore. At most tomorrow, news will come from the palace that the dance troupe is required to perform the ancient ritual dances 'Da Shao' and 'Da Wu' for the six generations of people. The task is heavy and the time is tight. Sister E Xu and Sister Lü Zhu are the most important dancers in the dance troupe. Such an important matter cannot be lost. No one will dare to mention sending them to the Divine Hound Camp again."
Upon hearing this letter, A-Qiu and Shangguan Yuqi exchanged bewildered glances, both quite shocked.
The grand dances of the Six Dynasties, traditionally used to worship Heaven and Earth and praise the prestige of the state, were of paramount importance in state sacrifices. However, due to constant warfare after the Zhou Dynasty, the ritual music was lost and its transmission was interrupted. Only the *Shao*, praising the civil administration of Emperor Shun, and the *Wu*, praising the military achievements of King Wu of Zhou, survived from the Six Dynasties. Subsequent changes of power were not often due to abdication or conquest, but rather to the chaotic struggle for supremacy among warlords. The ritual music representing the imperial court was repeatedly looted and destroyed, almost completely eradicated. During the Five Barbarian Invasions, with the fall of both Chang'an and Luoyang, the Southern Dynasties, established after the migration of the elite south, were merely local regimes in a corner of the country, making it even less likely that they would have brought the complete ritual music of the Central Plains to Jiangdong.
Ten years after the founding of the Great Yan Kingdom, Gu Yi, despite holding the position of Imperial Tutor and Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, had neither the energy to restore the dances of the six previous kings, nor the nation's.
With Gu Yi already gone and the situation both inside and outside the court so volatile, why would the palace suddenly think of restoring the Six Generations Dance? Neither Xie Lang nor Zhao Lingying would have the leisure to do so at this moment.
However, if Xiao Chang'an's words are true, it would be the perfect solution to the Divine Hound Camp's demand for dancers. This would give Xie Lang a sufficient excuse to reject the Divine Hound Camp's request. With the grand dance of the Six Dynasties imminent, the palace already had few dancers capable of performing it; how could they so easily send their two most important dancers to the military camp as mere playthings?
Ah Qiu had no choice but to ask, "Why did the palace choose this time to revive the Six Generations Dance?"
Xiao Chang'an stared intently at her, a faint smile playing on his lips, and replied, seemingly unrelated to her question, "Wasn't that all for you?"
A Qiu was even more confused: For her sake? While Xie Lang and Zhao Lingying probably didn't have a bad impression of her, it was certainly not to the point of affecting the formulation of national policies for her sake.
Shangguan Yuqi had previously served in the Eastern Palace and had heard some things about Xiao Chang'an's relationship with the Crown Prince. She smiled slightly and said, "This was probably your idea for His Highness the Crown Prince to gain the attention of the court, but it has been brought forward this time."
Xiao Chang'an crossed his arms and said proudly, "Why not? The rites and music of the late kings have always been regarded as the symbol of political orthodoxy, and can also be used to intimidate and persuade people. Although I am acting out of personal motives, I am still acting out of righteousness."
Shangguan Yuqi looked at him and said calmly, "I just don't know what ability you have that allows everyone in the palace, who are currently in a state of chaos and beset by internal and external troubles, to take the time to put this matter on the agenda so urgently."
Xiao Chang'an smiled meaningfully and said, "You'll find out soon enough."
Shangguan Yuqi, however, had foreseen one thing: Xiao Chang'an had hesitated before, unsure whether A Qiu was willing to get involved in court politics, hence his inquiry. But after she explained things clearly, Xiao Chang'an no longer hesitated and immediately made his decision, largely because he was determined to keep A Qiu by his side.
Once A Qiu gets caught up in the vortex of the imperial court, she'll be trapped for life. Unifying the world is no easy feat; regardless of friend or foe, she'll likely be fighting alongside Xiao Chang'an until the very end.
As A Qiu's friend, she had a clearer perspective from the outside, yet she still had to admire Xiao Chang'an's scheme. Because it was aboveboard, every step was obvious, yet people knew it but were forced to step into it.
Ah Qiu could not possibly give up this opportunity to elevate the dance troupe to a higher level. She would definitely participate in the performances of "Shao" and "Wu" with Zhang Exu and Cui Luzhu, because apart from her, there was no suitable candidate in the dance troupe. She would also connect with natural talents in refined music such as Duke An and Crown Prince Xie Tiao, not to mention getting everyone from the Music Bureau to the court officials to work together to make this a great event.
She had to re-examine the unparalleled genius from the Xiao family of Lanling before her, and she also had to reconsider the Shangguan family's plan to withdraw from the court.
That wasn't about personal gain, but about who would control the future of the world.
The Crown Prince received the imperial decree ordering Aqiu to enter the main hall to receive his investiture around noon the following day.
A Qiu was originally in the study with Xiao Chang'an and Shangguan Yuqi, accompanying Xie Tiao to discuss matters. Suddenly, the sound of a young eunuch rushing in from the front hall came from the front hall. As he ran, he shouted, "Lord An of the Music Bureau has come to deliver an imperial decree, ordering the music director Shi Wanqiu to go to the Huiyin Hall to receive his title."
Shangguan Yuqi and A Qiu exchanged a glance, their eyes conveying the same thought. This must be the result of Xiao Chang'an's efforts yesterday, already taking effect. Whether friend or foe, his efficiency was truly astonishing.
Xiao Chang'an, dressed in a blue robe, stood tall and elegant beside the Crown Prince, smiling as he pointed out the words the prince had just written, as if the matter had nothing to do with him. A Qiu secretly admired his composure.
Upon hearing this letter, Xie Tiao put down his pen and stood up in astonishment. Clearly, he knew nothing of what had happened before.
This also shows that Xiao Chang'an never fully revealed his abilities and what he could accomplish to Xie Tiao. Of course, this wasn't his fault; if Xie Tiao knew Xiao Chang'an's true identity and capabilities, he would inevitably doubt Xiao Chang'an's motives for being by his side. That's something any future monarch would doubt.
Xie Tiao said in a deep voice, "I ordered Chang'an to bring back my junior sister. This matter was not made public. It was just the Music Bureau privately bringing back its own subordinates. How could it have been reported to His Majesty?"
Then she looked at A Qiu and said, "Even if Zhao Zhaorong remembers that you helped her release Miss Shangguan, and doesn't make things difficult for you, and only puts the two of you under house arrest here, that's already very polite. Why would she think of promoting you at this time?"
Although Xiao Chang'an kept his scheme a secret from the Crown Prince, it was ultimately for A Qiu's sake, so A Qiu did not intend to betray him.
She considered for a moment and replied, "Perhaps the situation has changed, making Zhaorong feel that she has to rely on me as the successor of the Junior Tutor, so she decided to give me a more respectable identity to facilitate my actions in the palace and the court."
Xie Tiao frowned and said, "Throughout history, promotions and titles can be either rewards or punishments. If she intends to sideline you, giving you a nominal promotion but a demotion in reality, and exiling you far away to the Baiyue and Dongyi regions to collect folk songs, you cannot disobey the imperial decree." He stood up and said, "I will go with you. If that is really the case, I can also defend and resist for you."
Seeing that Xie Tiao could be so decisive, Xiao Chang'an's expression suddenly turned serious, and he said with a half-smile, "How does Your Highness plan to defend and resist for my sister? Will you reject the imperial decree in your capacity as the Crown Prince?"
Xie Tiao said nonchalantly, "I would say that our teacher left instructions that the music of the previous dynasty must be properly scored and tuned, and he specified that this must be done by my junior sister and me together. Music of the court is the dignity of the country. What folk music is more important than the music used in the court and temple? No matter how much power Zhao Zhaorong has, she cannot disregard our teacher's words as soon as he leaves. The other officials will not accept that either."
It must be said that Xie Tiao's judgment was extremely accurate. If A Qiu were to get involved in politics as the successor of the Junior Tutor, no matter how much influence Gu Yi had in the past, nine out of ten officials in the court would be opportunistic and almost impossible to support her. However, if A Qiu were only to remain in the Eastern Palace as a music official to correct musical scores, and Zhao Lingying couldn't even tolerate this and insisted on finding a way to expel her, then most of the officials would be indignant.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Chang'an remained indifferent, showing no particular reaction, but he did not refute or mock him further. However, A Qiu could imagine that he must also be astonished that Xie Tiao seemed to have become a completely different person in the days he spent with them, not only becoming more proactive but also making great progress in handling affairs.
In fact, Xie Tiao was not dull-witted, but in the past, no one had time to pay attention to his existence, and the Crown Prince's situation was too lonely, so he had no opportunity to display his talents and thus could not gain experience.
This also shows that the arrival of his peers, the Four Guards of Flying Phoenix, and A Qiu has indeed given him a lot to think about and a greater enthusiasm to face challenges.
But this may not be the case, and it might not be what Xiao Chang'an would like to see.
However, just as jade becomes brighter with polishing and worldly affairs become clearer with experience, he could not stop Xie Tiao's inevitable growth.
A Qiu thought to herself, since it was An Daoling who delivered the decree, it was almost certain that it wouldn't be bad news. Before she could think of a reply, she heard An Daoling's voice ring out from outside the door: "Your Highness need not worry. Since I am accompanying her, if anything is truly detrimental to A Qiu, I will represent the entire Music Bureau in opposing it."
The three people in the hall, except for Xie Tiao, all bowed and said, "Lord An." Only Xiao Chang'an addressed him as "Master."
An Daoling's gaze lingered on Xiao Chang'an for a fleeting moment before he calmly greeted Xie Tiao and said, "As far as I know, it is because the Northern Qiang delegation is about to visit the court, and His Majesty has decided to order the dance department to prepare a grand dance of six dynasties as a presentation to prove that our Southern Dynasty is the true orthodox Chinese dynasty. Therefore, it is necessary to urgently promote talented musicians and dancers to oversee this matter."
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