Pei Wenxuan's erhu sounds seem to be playing chords with Li Rong, but they are completely different from the drum sounds next to them. Li Rong plays fast and he plays slow, or Li Rong plays slow and he plays fast, but they are strangely integrated, and there is something inexplicable in the abruptness... It sounds good?

Everyone was shocked. Li Ming turned to ask the Minister of Rites, Gu Zi, who was the most expert in music, "Minister Gu, is this how the Pingchuan Ruzhen Qu is played?"

Gu Zidao twirled his pale beard and was listening carefully with his eyes closed. After Li Ming asked, he slowly opened his eyes, turned his head, and said respectfully to Li Ming: "Your Majesty, the original "Pingchuan Entering the Battle Song" was naturally not played like this. The initial cooperation of His Highness Pingle, His Highness Hua Le, and Su Shilang's piano, flute and drum could not be more orthodox. The subsequent addition of the erhu by Prince Consort Pei is an innovative move."

Li Ming twirled the Buddhist beads in his hand and nodded: "It's not bad to listen to."

"The addition of the Erhu by Prince Consort Pei is quite different from the previous "Pingchuan Entering the Battlefield", but it also has some other meanings. The previous "Pingchuan Entering the Battlefield" depicted the passionate scene of King Pingchuan leading his troops into battle and killing people everywhere, but after the Erhu was added, it has a more desolate feeling. The Erhu was added to the last section of the song, which just describes the corpses everywhere and the suffering of the people in the later stages of the war. It immediately filled the song with a lot of artistic conception and added a lot of color to the music. It's a pity that Prince Consort Pei is obviously not good at Erhu, and Minister Su doesn't often use drums," Gu Zidao laughed, "If the master played it, it would be even more colorful. But the two of them have reached the artistic conception, and it is a pleasure to be able to appreciate the music of two young people in the hall."

As Gu Zidao was commenting, the music faded away and applause broke out from the audience. Most of the discussion was about the changes that had taken place after the erhu was added to the music. However, Li Cheng and Hua Le had long been forgotten.

Hua Le could still endure it, but Li Cheng, seeing this, was so angry that he threw away the sword in his hand and rushed back to Concubine Rou with tears in his eyes.

Hua Le's face was not very good either, but she was older after all and could not be as willful as Li Cheng. Li Rong stood up, walked to Hua Le's side, and said with a smile: "Sister, you play the flute well."

"Please forgive me, sister." Hua Le forced a smile and returned to his seat without saying anything else.

Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan had just sat down when they heard Pei Wenxuan say softly, "You play the piano very well. You can't help wanting to show off."

"Master Pei, you might as well give in a little more," Li Rong said with a smile on her face and her lips moving in a voice that only the two of them could hear, "If the musician hadn't held the suona tighter, I'm afraid you would have played the funeral music right there in class, right?"

"You look down on me too much," Pei Wenxuan said in the same voice, leaning his head towards Li Rong. "I have a broad mind, and I can play a joyful song "Good Marriage" for you today."

"you……"

Li Rong wanted to reply, but before she could say anything, she was interrupted by loud praise.

"Today, the zither is played well, the flute is played well, the drums are played well, and the erhu... is also played well," Li Ming's voice rang out, and he said happily, "The most important thing is that the Su Wang Sword is danced well! The dance is vigorous! This is what a man of my Great Xia should be like. What do you think, my dear ministers?"

The whole audience was silent, a little awkward. After a moment, it was the old wily Gu Zidao who spoke first, smiling, "Your Majesty is right. Prince Su is so young, but he has such courage. It is rare. In the future, the crown prince will be able to prosper the country with his literary talent, and Prince Su will be able to stabilize the country with his military talent. One is good, the other is good, and the brothers are united. It is a blessing for your majesty and for the country of Daxia!"

"Master Gu is right." Su Minzhi laughed, and followed Gu Zidao in saying something praising both Li Chuan and Li Cheng, so as not to offend either of them. Finally, someone started to speak.

After a few words, the atmosphere finally became lively. Li Ming saw that the ministers did not respond to his words, so he did not say anything more. However, he seemed to be unwilling in his heart, so he turned to look at Li Chuan and asked, "Prince, you see that your elder sisters and brothers are thinking of doing something to celebrate the New Year. As the crown prince, what do you think now?"

"My son is not as good at dancing as the others," Li Chuan said in a steady voice, "I can only work hard as a court official in the future, share more of my father's worries, and benefit the people."

"Sweet talk, nice words." Li Ming snorted coldly. Li Chuan kept a straight face, pretending not to hear Li Ming's sarcasm. Li Ming was silent for a while, then said directly: "You are seventeen years old now, and the selection of the Crown Princess should be put on the agenda. How long do you plan to delay it?"

Li Rong was worried when she heard this. She was afraid that Li Chuan would refuse. Just as she was about to speak up to help Li Chuan, she heard Li Chuan calmly say, "I have no intention of refusing. I will follow the orders of my father and mother."

Li Rong was a little surprised for a moment. She didn't expect Li Chuan to accept it so calmly. Li Chuan agreed to it, and Li Ming didn't know what to say. He just said, "Then after the spring, you can prepare for the selection of concubines."

"yes."

Li Chuan spoke respectfully. Li Ming saw that Li Chuan was a tough guy, so he simply turned around and appreciated the performance of all four performers. After staying for a while, he hastily ended the palace banquet.

As soon as Li Ming left, everyone dispersed. Some went to the Yu Garden to sober up, while others simply left.

Li Chuan and the others drank a little too much, and seemed to be unable to hold their liquor. He waved to his ministers and left. Li Rong saw Li Chuan getting up and walking towards the waterside pavilion. She patted Pei Wenxuan's hand and said in a low voice, "I'll be back soon. Please cover for me."

After Li Rong finished speaking, she stood up quickly and chased after Li Chuan without waiting for Pei Wenxuan to reply.

Li Chuan, accompanied by a eunuch, walked to the waterside pavilion. Li Rong followed him quietly and saw that he was tall and slender, and seemed to have grown a little taller. He vaguely resembled the emperor in her memory who was so thin that he lost his popularity, which made her feel a little panicked.

Li Chuan walked to the pavilion in the middle of the lake and asked someone to lower the curtains. Li Rong walked in and saw Li Chuan sitting at the long table. When he saw Li Rong walk in, he smiled and said, "Why are you here, sister?"

"It's boring in the hall," Li Rong said hesitantly, "I'm going out to get some fresh air."

As she spoke, she walked to the opposite side of Li Chuan and sat down: "Did they force you to drink too much?"

Li Chuan laughed: "How is that possible? None of them dared to force me to drink. I just didn't want to stay, so I came out."

"Your marriage..." Li Rong hesitated, but before she could finish, Li Chuan interrupted her directly: "Sister, let me ask you a question."

Li Rong looked up at him. She knew that Li Chuan would not ask questions casually.

She hesitated for a moment, then said, "You ask."

"If," Li Chuan smiled bitterly, "I mean if, I rejected my father today, would you help me?"

"I will." Li Rong answered without hesitation. Li Chuan nodded gently. "I know, I have always known." Li Chuan's voice was a little hoarse. "Sister is the best to me."

"Chuan'er," Li Rong looked at Li Chuan's expression, feeling a little uncomfortable, "Actually, you can refuse today."

"And what about next time?" Li Chuanjing asked directly, "I can't keep rejecting people like this for the rest of my life. Being willful has its price."

"Sister," Li Chuan paused, and after hesitating for a long time, he spoke slowly, "I am sorry to the Qin family. I am also sorry to Qin Zhenzhen."

"If I had agreed to marry Sister Ya," Li Chuan was a little confused, "would the Qin family not have been framed?"

"no."

Li Rong replied decisively. Li Chuan looked up at her and asked in confusion, "No?"

Li Rong hesitated for a moment, and after a long time, she slowly spoke: "Chuan'er, no matter what you do, I will support you, you don't have to wrong yourself."

Li Chuan said nothing. He lowered his eyes and looked at the tea in his hand. After a long time, he laughed: "Sister, I'm actually very strange. I don't know since when, your attitude towards me has become particularly tolerant. It seems that no matter what I do, you are willing to support me. Why?"

"I am your sister," Li Rong said seriously, "I hope you live a good life, and always be like this."

"Then tell me the truth," Li Chuan stared at her, "Did I do the right thing?"

Li Rong was speechless for a moment. Li Chuan looked at her quietly: "I am in this palace. I hope to marry someone I like. I also hope that the person who marries me is someone I really like. Sister, do you think it's right?"

Without waiting for Li Rong to speak, Li Chuan took a deep breath and said, "I shouldn't have done that. I was very happy when you stood by me for the first time, but I regretted it since the day when the Qin family fell into trouble."

"When Qin Zhenzhen left, I went to see her off," Li Chuan closed his eyes, one hand on his knee, the other supporting himself, "I thought at that time, if I married Shangguan Ya according to my mother's wishes, and took a few more concubines according to my father and the ministers' wishes, it would actually be a group of beasts fighting in a circle. I am a beast, and so is the other party. I can't hurt the people passing by."

"But I just couldn't accept it. I just felt pity for the person who married me and for myself, so I harmed the Qin family."

"Mother is right," Li Chuan put the cup on the table and supported himself to stand up. "I can no longer rely on my sister and mother's love for me to act recklessly. Sister, don't worry, I've figured it out. A woman who marries into the palace knows what it's like and wants to come anyway, so naturally she won't be hurt by love."

"I can't cause trouble to my sister. I'm the prince. This is nothing. Don't worry, sister," Li Chuan said with a smile. "I will take care of it. Don't worry. I'm a real man. I'm fine."

After Li Chuan finished speaking, he looked around and said, "We can't let anyone see us talking for so long. I'm leaving now."

Having said that, Li Chuan left first.

Li Rong sat in the pavilion in the middle of the lake for a long time. Then she turned her head and looked at Li Chuan. She saw a vague adult look in Li Chuan's back.

Li Rong sat in the pavilion in the middle of the lake for a while, then stood up and walked towards the main hall. There were only a few people left in the hall, and Pei Wenxuan was still sitting there waiting for her. After she sat down, Pei Wenxuan glanced at her face, as if he wanted to say something, but stopped abruptly.

After a while, he finally said, "It's getting late, let's go home first."

Li Rong nodded, and Pei Wenxuan ordered someone to prepare the carriage. He then asked someone to get a cloak, put it on Li Rong, and tie the belt for her.

Li Rong couldn't help but laugh when she saw how caring he was. She whispered, "I thought you were still angry with me."

"I am angry," Pei Wenxuan tied the knot, smoothed his clothes, and then put his hands in his sleeves. He turned and walked out of the palace, saying calmly, "Your Highness won't coax me anyway. In the end, I was the one who bowed my head. What can I be proud of?"

Li Rong found this a little funny. She walked to Pei Wenxuan and explained in a low voice: "The main reason I stood up today is that I don't want Concubine Rou to get her wish. Hua Le has been a pawn in Concubine Rou's marriage since she was a child. Hua Le knows in her heart that she would not choose such a song for no reason and ask Su Rongqing to accompany her. She did this today to let the world know that Concubine Rou has a good relationship with the Su family. In this way, the Han clan who follows Concubine Rou will have more confidence. And if Su Rongqing really expresses her position today, with my father's temper, he might even arrange a marriage."

"Your Majesty cannot possibly arrange a marriage."

Pei Wenxuan calmly analyzed: "It would be too high for Hua Le to marry Su Rongqing now. If Su Rongqing refuses the marriage in court, it will be difficult for His Majesty to deal with it. He dare not take the risk."

"As for the other reason," Pei Wenxuan paused and turned to look at her, "I'll accept it for now, but I still feel uncomfortable. It's a prick in the eye. What do you think I should do?"

Li Rong tapped her palms lightly with her fan and sighed, "After all, I don't think you're angry at all."

Pei Wenxuan raised his eyebrows, and Li Rong looked up, her eyes full of understanding, and she said helplessly, "You just want to take advantage."

"Your Highness is joking," Pei Wenxuan retorted directly, saying seriously, "I am not..."

Before she finished speaking, Li Rong threw herself into Pei Wenxuan's arms, put her arms around his waist, and hugged him tightly.

Pei Wenxuan's voice suddenly stopped, and his body was a little stiff. People passing by couldn't help but look at them. Li Rong raised her head and looked up at Pei Wenxuan, and asked innocently, "Are you still angry?"

Pei Wenxuan looked into Li Rong's eyes. He knew that Li Rong was setting a trap for him, but in the end he could only answer honestly, "I'm not angry anymore."

"So do you want to take advantage of me?"

Li Rong continued to ask questions, determined to prove that Pei Wenxuan was just looking for opportunities to take advantage.

Pei Wenxuan sighed, feeling somewhat helpless: "How can I not think about it?"

After finishing speaking, Pei Wenxuan raised his hand and pulled Li Rong's hand off, pulling her forward: "Okay, you win, let's go home."

Li Rong couldn't help laughing when she heard Pei Wenxuan's words. She took the initiative to hold Pei Wenxuan's hand and leaned forward: "Pei Wenxuan."

"Your Highness, do you have any other instructions?" Pei Wenxuan had his arm held by hers, looking like he was ready to go through fire and water.

Li Rong laughed and whispered, "Does this count as coaxing you?"

Pei Wenxuan was slightly stunned. He suddenly realized that Li Rong seemed to be really trying to coax him just now?

He was speechless for a moment. He felt happy but also calm. He walked in the night. When he passed through the palace gate, shadows loomed over him. In the brief darkness, Pei Wenxuan responded softly, "Yes."