The shocking change in the music bureau
When A-Qiu suddenly saw his master, who had just been a master swordsman with unparalleled skill, his eyes welled up with tears.
Sun Ci did not look at her, but only at Sikong Zhao, and said calmly, "The musician Shi was sent by Duke An to collect folk songs among the people. Now that the mission is completed, the Dance Department will bring her back to the palace. Duke An's order is here. Does the General have any objections?"
The young man in front of the carriage spoke quickly: "If the General is arresting people on His Majesty's orders, please show the imperial edict; if he is acting on the orders of the Ministry of Personnel, please also show the official document."
Sikong Zhao hesitated slightly. She really didn't have any imperial edicts or official documents for this trip—because intercepting the young master's successor at the city gate was a secret that couldn't be made public. If the officials in the court knew about it, it would cause a huge uproar.
The other party had a warrant from the Music Bureau's Chenghua Order, and A Qiu was indeed a female music official personally appointed by the emperor. Sikong Zhao had no evidence to arrest people; it couldn't be said that she could act arbitrarily in the capital, arresting whichever official she wanted—that would be against the law.
In fact, whether or not there was an official document was not a problem for Sikong Zhao at all. If she wanted, she could simply take this whole cart of people back and detain them on the grounds of obstructing military affairs, and release them when An Daoling of the Music Bureau asked her for them. It wouldn't be a big deal.
Most importantly, there was someone present who made her feel somewhat uneasy.
Sikong Zhao narrowed her eyes, shooting out a cold light that shot directly at the young man driving the carriage. She said threateningly, "Xiao Chang'an, the Green Falcon Guard of the Eastern Palace? Are you going to get involved in this mess too?" Her gaze swept over Sun Ci and Xue Hongbi, but she didn't dare to meet Sun Ci's eyes directly. She said coldly, "Do you know that this action is tantamount to making an enemy of the entire Jianzhang Group?"
In truth, A Qiu was shaken the moment she saw Xiao Chang'an appear. She had never expected him to show up, much less that he had come to help her.
After learning that Xiao Chang'an had forced Li Wujiu into a life-or-death situation and replaced Xiao Yu as a Flying Phoenix Guard, her impression of Xiao Chang'an was no longer good.
But at this very moment, he was indeed helping her, and his timely arrival at this time and place must have been a well-thought-out plan with many informants, allowing him to be so precise and accurate.
Xiao Chang'an smiled and leaned back, casually resting on the crossbeam, and said, "I was serving in the East Palace just now, but my master, Lord An, temporarily grabbed me to drive the carriage for Instructors Sun and Xue. If the Grand Commander wants to make things difficult for someone in the future, please don't hold me accountable."
He completely absolved himself of the matter, yet somehow dragged the Crown Prince into it. But under his watchful eye, no matter how resourceful Sikong Zhao was, he couldn't possibly use his power to arbitrate and imprison the music instructor who had arrived with the Duke of An's warrant, right in front of a Flying Phoenix Guard.
Moreover, apart from Madam Pei, the former Flying Phoenix Guards were all known for not making things difficult for ordinary commoners.
At this moment, Sikong Zhao's last thought of being an enemy of Aqiu vanished. He looked at Aqiu with a wry smile and said, "You really are lucky. Since you are on the orders of Duke An to go out on business, and people from your own department have come to pick you up, then you should go back to the palace."
She herself found it difficult to understand her own feelings. Although she hadn't succeeded in keeping A-Qiu out of the city, she seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, because at least for now, she had averted a bloody disaster for the capital.
Expelling powerful ministers has never been so easy. The previous dynasty suppressed the Duke of Hengzhou, which led to the rebellion of the entire Hengzhou. Tens of thousands of naval troops sailed down the river, attacked Jianzhang, and ultimately caused the downfall of the country.
Deep down, she knew that Gu Yi was not one to cling to power, and she had always been quite worried that such an extreme act of refusing the successor of the Junior Tutor outside the city would completely enrage Gu Yi.
After all, Gu Yi had never done anything to wrong any of them until he left the capital.
At this point, she could only hope that Gu Yi's noble character would not hold it against her. But thinking about it, she also found it absurd and laughable.
At this moment, the people from the Music Bureau brought A Qiu into the palace as a female official of the Music Bureau, which was a compromise between the two parties.
However, the situation within the palace was far from calm. A single pebble thrown in by A-Qiu would likely create a huge ripple. The inner palace was no longer under Sikong's supervision, but the thought still gave her a headache.
The oxcart moved slowly but very steadily, passing through the Jianzhang East Gate, into the Imperial City's Grand Marshal Gate, and then into the Inner Palace's Zhengyang Gate. As dusk deepened outside the window, A-Qiu felt a sense of disorientation, as if she had returned to several months ago to await selection as a member of the Music Bureau.
At that time, all the sights seemed both unfamiliar and new to her, and she could also sense the fresh atmosphere of the ancient palace being rebuilt and the declining royal aura being revitalized.
But now, returning to this familiar place, he finds himself surrounded by enemies.
Moreover, there was no longer anyone in the palace who would watch over her, care for her, or come to her side to offer advice and warnings.
He gave everything he had to himself.
Without Gu Yi, is there really any hope for the others at Jianzhang Palace?
For nearly a century, the aristocratic politics promoted by powerful families and other upper classes has created a decadent and extravagant political landscape. Is this the kind of political landscape that Xie Lang, born into a wealthy family, would want to see again?
A-Qiu wearily rested her head on Sun Neiren's knees and murmured, "A-Qiu has caused trouble for Master and Uncle Xue."
At this moment, the lap of her usually stern master was the only warm place for her to lean on.
From the moment she got into the carriage, Sun's wife did not utter a single word.
Knowing her as he does, A-Qiu will most likely give her a stern scolding.
What would they say? Probably that after climbing the social ladder and becoming an official, he often neglects to come to the dance troupe for practice and attendance, forgetting the very foundation of his life.
Art is paramount, transcending all worldly concerns and possessing an enduring brilliance. As a practitioner of dance, how can one devote one's precious energy to the political disputes involving Li Chongyu or Pei Yuanli?
Those are merely fleeting human affairs and grudges in the long river of history, but the brilliance of dancers gathered on stage has the power to transcend time.
No matter how her master scolded her, or even punished her with a board, A-Qiu was determined to kneel down and accept it.
Most importantly, at the moment when Gu Yi left and the court and the outside world cast an iron curtain against her, her master and senior master, despite being mere instructors, set off from the palace in an oxcart to pick her up outside Jianzhang City.
Sun Ci sat upright, still silent, perhaps still angry with her for leaving without saying goodbye and causing so much trouble.
A-Qiu gently rubbed his head against his master's knee.
Even this brief moment of peace and warmth felt incredibly precious to her, a woman who had been through countless battles.
Xue Hongbi coughed lightly and said, "Qiu'er, although I know you must have been traveling and working hard these days and are exhausted, and it is really not appropriate for you to speak at this moment, there are some things we still have to say."
A Qiu was mentally prepared to be scolded, and immediately replied, "Senior Uncle, please speak. Whatever it is, this disciple will listen attentively."
Sun Neiren gently called out, "Hongbi!" After a moment, she said calmly, "Let's talk about it after she returns to Tangli and settles down."
Xue Hongbi, who was always impatient, calmed down at this moment and said softly, "Sun Ci, you and I both know what the situation is in the palace right now. If we don't tell you now, I'm afraid we'll never have another chance to tell A Qiu."
Finally, Sun's wife turned her stern gaze to A Qiu, but at that moment there was a hint of deeply hidden tenderness in her eyes. She sighed and said, "This child already has so many troubles and burdens on her shoulders. Hong Bi, can't you see that? Why do you have to add another one to her burden?"
A-Qiu realized something was amiss in the tone of the voice, immediately sat up straight, and said solemnly, "Master, Senior Uncle, has something strange happened at the Music Bureau that requires me to intervene?"
Xue Hongbi and Lady Sun exchanged a glance. Seeing her resolute expression, Lady Sun knew she was bound to speak, so she decided to speak herself. She said solemnly, "The last performance of 'Yan Shining' was interrupted by Madam Pei's assassination attempt, but it still received unanimous praise from both inside and outside the palace. Since then, many princely mansions, official residences, and even brothels have begun to imitate and rehearse it as a form of music and dance to encourage drinking and entertainment."
Many things, once they begin in the palace, quickly become popular and widespread, as was the case with the previous "White Silk" dance. A-Qiu was not surprised, but she knew that what Consort Sun was going to say was not this, so she listened attentively and waited for the next sentence, for that must be the key point.
Xue Hongbi interjected, "Among the Jianzhang Army, some have asked His Majesty to bestow upon them Exu and Lüzhu."
These words struck like a thunderbolt, leaving A Qiu pale and speechless, staring blankly at Xue Hongbi.
The most popular dancers in the palace would be selected and bestowed upon important officials and powerful ministers. This was an important means for the emperor and his subjects to show goodwill and win over each other, and it was the same in every dynasty.
For a geisha, realistically speaking, once she rises to the top, she will have no worries about food and clothing for the rest of her life, which is considered an excellent ending.
The same was true of Xue Hongbi and Hu Miaorong in previous generations. Because it was a gift from the emperor, the powerful officials who received it would give the emperor some face and would not be overly harsh or abusive. Compared to other female entertainers and concubines, it was already considered a generous treatment.
But this time, the situation is clearly very different.
Firstly, under Gu Yi's influence, Xie Lang has never had the hobby of bestowing female entertainers upon others, thus there has never been a precedent since the founding of the Dayan Kingdom. Based on A Qiu's understanding of Xie Lang and Gu Yi, even if previous dynasties had done so, they would never have considered using female beauty to win people over as a reasonable or respectable means.
In Xie Lang's generation, the Music Bureau had very few dancers. Unlike previous dynasties, where the imperial harem was filled with beauties whose cosmetics were readily given as gifts, the Music Bureau's dancers were specially trained to conform to banquet etiquette. Training one required many years of effort and consumed the people's wealth, so their numbers were limited, and each one sent away reduced the number available.
Secondly, the person requesting the gift came from Jianzhang Shi. This is a very sensitive issue.
Pei Yuanli, who commanded the Jianzhang Army, died at the hands of Li Chongyu. Gu Yi and Xie Lang accepted this outcome, otherwise Li Chongyu, an outsider, would never have been able to accomplish this in the capital, which was heavily surrounded by the Imperial Guards, city soldiers, and garrison troops.
The Jianzhang Army commander would certainly not be without resentment about this. His presumptuous act of demanding dancers was a warning to Emperor Xie Lang, a warning that military officials are not to be sacrificed at the emperor's whim.
In fact, the feud between Jianzhang Shi and the Yuefu Dance Troupe was already sown when A Qiu attempted to assassinate Huang Chao'an with scissors.
At that time, A Qiu led a group of dancers to confront Huang Chao'an, assassinated him, and then turned around and accused him, revealing his connection to the Divine Mastiff Camp. This had already angered Madam Pei and greatly damaged the reputation of the Divine Mastiff Camp as a powerful force in the capital.
Some people don't care whether what they do is immoral or not; if someone tries to stop them, they only feel that they have lost face.
Seeking out a dancer, especially the most outstanding one in the dance troupe, not only serves as a warning to Emperor Xie Lang but also directly humiliates Gu Yi and is a form of revenge against the dance troupe.
Everyone knows that when the dancers staged the mutiny, it was A Qiu who led the charge, and it was also A Qiu who protected Li Chongyu as they fought their way out of the capital. And it is also common knowledge that A Qiu came from a dancer background.
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