Chapter 310: Chapter 308: Doesn’t This Palace Understand Her?
Noble Consort Zhang noticed Lu Yu was not very pleased, so she immediately stood and gracefully curtsied: "Your Majesty, I learned to play the zither in my youth. Despite living deep in the harem for many years, I practice diligently every day and have never neglected my musical skills. Today, I am willing to compete with Miss Gan myself."
Shen Yunxi contained her excitement and said to Lu Ying, "I heard that the Noble Consort’s ancestors were famous musicians. Many of the songs and dances in the court today were composed by them. She is naturally gifted and learned from great teachers; how could a barbarian woman from Yan Country compare to her? Your Highness, I believe we will definitely win against Yan Country!"
Lu Ying said nothing.
Noble Consort Zhang entered the Music Workshop as a Piano Master at the age of twelve. At fifteen, during the Lantern Festival, she dressed elegantly and soloed "Longing" at the palace banquet. Father Emperor fell in love with her at first sight, and despite Mother Empress being bedridden with illness, he took her into the harem that very night, and she became his sole favorite.
Though her birth was not esteemed, she captured the Emperor’s heart with her beauty and understanding nature, giving birth to two sons consecutively.
The Second Prince, Lu Shiyan, and the Fifth Prince, Lu Zhengliu.
Lu Shiyan is already abandoned, and Noble Consort Zhang has now focused all her energy on Lu Zhengliu, attempting to pave a broad path for him.
His thin lips curved in a mocking arc; he remained motionlessly drinking, seemingly indifferent.
Noble Consort Zhang chose the Jiaowei Zither, while Gan Tangwei selected the Luwu Zither.
Noble Consort Zhang sat inside the hall, playing the same tune, "Longing."
The lingering sound of the zither flowed from her fingertips. Now and then, she would lift her eyes to exchange glances with Lu Yu, his pulse racing, his thoughts returning to those earlier days when he was a spirited young Emperor, newly ascended to the throne.
And the one playing the zither in the hall was the enchanting and graceful young girl, the Piano Master.
When he ordered her entry into the harem, she would refuse righteously with eyes as pure and innocent as grapes: "The Empress is still ill, Your Majesty should care for her, rather than take me as a concubine."
And during his intimacy with her, she would cry and sob into a handkerchief, vulnerable and helpless curled in his embrace: "Tonight, I only want to care for the Empress. Yet here you are in her sleeping quarters, treating me this way while she lies in deep sleep. The Empress will be displeased."
Lu Yu had never seen such a gentle and kind-hearted girl.
Much better than Huo Yulu, that unromantic woman from the generals’ families!
Noble Consort Zhang finally finished the piece, her face flushed as if she, too, was recalling the past.
She threw herself into Lu Yu’s arms, "Your Majesty!"
Despite being over thirty, she was well-preserved and looked no more than twenty-seven or twenty-eight, exuding a delicate and enchanting charm that made Lu Yu’s heart flutter with joy. He hurriedly embraced her and gently caressed her.
He praised, "My beloved consort played beautifully."
"Your Majesty always teases me," Noble Consort Zhang said with a smile, glancing subtly at Lu Ying, "Compared to the Empress, I am far inferior in zither skills. If the Empress were still alive, she would surely bring glory to our nation."
Lu Yu sneered, "She hails from a family of generals who only know how to wield weapons; how could she compare to my beloved consort who understands such things?"
Everyone in the hall showed varying expressions.
No matter how slow Shen Yunxi might be to react, even she could sense beneath Noble Consort Zhang’s gentle and friendly facade, there seemed to be another face hidden.
She worriedly looked towards Lu Ying, "Your Highness?"
Lu Ying remained expressionless, as if unconcerned by these words, a dark glint in his narrow eyes as if he were pondering something.
The next to play was Gan Tangwei.
She sat by the Luwu Zither, her delicate fingers plucking the strings, and soon the music echoed within the hall.
Everyone exchanged glances, as no one had heard this piece before.
Yet the music flowed like a majestic stream, dissipating the lingering emotional threads of the piece played by Noble Consort Zhang, imparting a sense of peace and stability, as if the Central Plains were prosperous and the people lived in harmony and security.
This was a tune ideal for a national banquet, grander than that of Noble Consort Zhang.
It was hard to believe such a piece came from the hands of a foreign woman!
Once the piece ended, Gan Tangwei stood and bowed, "In the Central Plains, when the sage spoke: ’The way of the great is for the world to be public, selecting the capable and virtuous, valuing trust and harmony. Thus, people do not only love their relatives or care for only their children, the old are allowed their end, the strong are used, and the young are nurtured. The disabled, widowed, orphaned, isolated, and sick are all provided for; males have roles, females have homes. Goods should not be left to rot on the ground; nor should efforts solely be for oneself. Thus plots do not arise, thefts cease, and doors need not be closed; this is called the Great Unity.’ As a humble woman, I often feel deeply moved upon reading this and thus personally composed this piece named ’The Great Unity.’ ’The rise and fall of a nation is the responsibility of every individual,’ and I wish for a world in great unity."
Her eloquent words were beautifully spoken.
Personal affection pales in comparison to the matters of nation and world.
Their performances truly were worlds apart.
Yan Zheming clapped first, "Well done! As expected of a woman from Yan Country! Emperor of Great Zhou, if even your noble consorts are so absorbed in matters of love and romance, forgetting them not even at a national banquet, then I fear the maidens throughout your land must share the same character! Hahaha, in Yan Country, regardless of gender, everyone must read sage books and learn martial skills from a young age! We focus only on our land and nation, not on matters of the heart!"
Noble Consort Zhang’s previously flushed and shy face instantly turned ugly.
Lu Yu’s prestige was ground into the dirt, causing him to release his awkward hold on Noble Consort Zhang.
Lu Yu gave a half-smile, "What is the next competition?"
Gan Tangwei’s red lips slightly opened, "Chess."
Lu Yu had raised a few national chess masters in the palace.
But they were all men and quite elderly, not suitable to be brought out against Gan Tangwei, as it would seem like bullying a young girl.
Lu Yu looked around for a moment and finally remembered someone, giving a quiet order, "Go to Kunning Palace and invite Miss Li Zhu."
In the Capital, there were only a few young women skilled at Go.
Shen Yinning was formidable indeed.
In her youth, one year she had stormed into the palace’s Go club alone, and single-handedly defeated several noted masters, eventually walking off with the golden chessboard symbolizing the status of a national master.
Aside from Lu Yu, others also recalled Shen Yinning.
But at present, she was still in prison; it wouldn’t do to release her to challenge Gan Tangwei, lest it appeared the vast Capital truly had no talent to offer!
Shen Yunxi pouted and said to the noble ladies behind her, "Shen Yinning is my cousin, do you think I don’t know her? Don’t be fooled into thinking she’s impressive. In reality, the national masters were merely concerned with her status and let her win, elevating her reputation. Younger sister Li Zhu is much stronger; she will surely defeat this woman from Yan."
Lu Ying lowered his long lashes.
He remembered the day Shen Yinning faced the five national masters alone.
At that time, many came to watch, and he was among them.
The young girl had her hair in double buns, wearing a narrow-sleeved goose-yellow floral top, her skin as tender as fresh lychee seemingly ready to burst with juice.
She sat by the window, playing against old men over fifty, her delicate white fingers handling the chess pieces, her almond-shaped eyes more focused than ever, the green ribbon by her shoulder fluttering in the spring breeze, brushing across her slightly upturned nose.
Lu Ying felt an inexplicable itch in his heart.
Later, she won all five games, and the young people who observed were very excited.
Lu Shiyan rushed forward first, disregarding gender propriety, and embraced her tightly in excitement.
He stood at the back of the crowd, watching quietly for a moment before leaving silently.
As Lu Ying recalled, Li Zhu had already arrived at the palace banquet.
She bowed gracefully and then sat across the chessboard from Gan Tangwei.