Chapter 23

Long ago, there was a beautiful woman, standing out in the world.

Her bright eyes sparkled, and her smile was charming.

She wore a splendid costume, and her every glance was radiant.

One glance could captivate a city, and another could captivate a nation.

Who would have thought that captivating a city and a nation could be so easy?

Such a beautiful woman is hard to find!

This passage describes Liu Mengxun today, fitting her perfectly. Zhang Tianyuan didn't know what Liu Mengxun had been doing before, but now he understood.

Liu Mengxun had gone to change her clothes, donning a splendid costume that made her look like one of the four great beauties from ancient times.

The costume was exquisitely made, but it wasn't ordinary clothing; it resembled more what a dancer would wear. Even so, it couldn't hide Liu Mengxun's noble aura.

Dancers' clothes are generally tight, which made Liu Mengxun's figure stand out. Her high, firm chest rose and fell slightly, her flat abdomen evoked endless imagination, and her firm, round, and high buttocks enhanced the beauty of the entire outfit.

Some say that a person is judged by their clothes, and a horse by its saddle, but Zhang Tianyuan believed that the beauty of a piece of clothing depends on the person wearing it.

Compared to the clothes, Liu Mengxun today was even more radiant.

Her originally black and shiny hair was now tied up in a Tang Dynasty style, giving her a lively and adorable look rather than that of a noblewoman. Her delicate, jade-like face was flushed, making her look even more endearing.

Seeing Zhang Tianyuan staring at her without restraint, Liu Mengxun's originally composed and beautiful face turned even redder, and she lowered her head.

She thought to herself, "This person is straightforward and not a hypocrite. He doesn't pretend not to look or secretly peek. Moreover, there is no impurity in his gaze, only admiration. My choice of him was not a momentary impulse."

Zhang Tianyuan didn't think much about it. At this moment, Liu Mengxun was like a pure and beautiful lotus, to be admired from a distance but not to be touched. If someone had impure thoughts, it would be a desecration.

"What are you looking at? Your eyes are glued to her." Mu Ying patted Zhang Tianyuan and laughed.

"I don't know if my eyes are glued, but if a man doesn't feel anything when he sees such a beautiful woman, he must be abnormal." Zhang Tianyuan shrugged, not feeling embarrassed, as he believed he was speaking the truth.

"Ha ha ha, well said, well said. For us collectors, beautiful things should be appreciated. If we don't appreciate them, it would be disrespectful. Miss Liu, don't you agree?" Old Dong laughed heartily.

"You old man, you really lack respect." Old Li shook his head, a bit jealous.

After all, you can touch paintings and ceramics, but you can't touch a woman's body. Blind people are still blind.

"Perhaps you all don't know why Miss Liu changed into this costume?" Boss Murong smiled and said.

"Why?"

"I'm sure everyone here has heard of the 'Feathered Robe and Rainbow Skirt Dance.' This was a grand dance and music performance from the Tang Dynasty, which was lost after the An Lushan Rebellion. During the Southern Song Dynasty, Jiang Kui discovered the musical score of the 'Feathered Robe and Rainbow Skirt Dance' in eighteen segments. These fragments are still preserved in his 'Songs of the White Stone Daoist.' This is a masterpiece of Tang Dynasty dance, still a shining gem in the history of music and dance." Boss Murong smiled and continued, "Today, Miss Liu will perform the 'Feathered Robe and Rainbow Skirt Dance' to entertain everyone."

"Li Bai praised this dance, saying, 'Among countless songs and dances, the Feathered Robe and Rainbow Skirt Dance is the most beloved.' But have you restored the entire dance?" Old Dong asked.

Boss Murong sighed, "How easy is that? Since this treasure was lost, no one has ever found the complete version. How could I, with my limited abilities, restore it? However, even the fragments and incomplete parts still convey the grandeur and prosperity of that era. Miss Liu studied this dance for nearly a year with me, originally to celebrate her grandfather's birthday, but today, you will all have a feast for your eyes."

"But if it's just fragments, how can she dance?" Xu Gang scratched his head and asked.

"That's a good question. It's almost impossible to restore the entire dance, but I can create a version that closely resembles the original. This dance was created around 718-720 AD, and there are three theories about its origin: one says that Emperor Xuanzong was inspired by the sight of the Fairy Mountain (a legendary mountain) from a pavilion.

The second theory, according to the 'Tang Huiyao,' states that in the 13th year of the Tianbao era, Emperor Xuanzong renamed some Western Region music pieces, and this dance was adapted from the 'Brahma Dance.'

The third theory combines the first two, suggesting that the first part (the prelude) was inspired by Emperor Xuanzong's vision of the Fairy Mountain, and the second part (the song and dance) was adapted from the 'Brahma Dance' presented by the military governor Yang Jingshu.

In my view, the latter two theories are more reliable. Therefore, I went to India, collected the 'Brahma Dance,' and sought the help of many classical music experts. After spending over 50 million yuan, I finally managed to create a new version of the 'Feathered Robe and Rainbow Skirt Dance'!"

"Tsk tsk, you really spent a lot of money, 50 million just to create a dance?" Xu Gang tsked.

"Brat, what do you know? For someone like Murong, these things are more important than his life. Money is trivial! I remember when Murong went to India, he almost died during a war, but he still completed his mission without hesitation! No one forced him, no one urged him; it was all his own decision! Learn from him; if you can love jade as much as you love yourself, you might also become a jade expert." Old Li scolded Xu Gang harshly.

Xu Gang could only nod in agreement, but he was genuinely surprised and impressed by Boss Murong's actions.

"The sky is deep and the night is long, the fairy dance of the Feathered Robe and Rainbow Skirt. The jade flute's sound fades into the air, and the moon fills the palace of Lishan. This describes the scene of Emperor Xuanzong and Yang Yuhuan performing the 'Feathered Robe and Rainbow Skirt Dance' at the Huaqing Pool. I wonder if we will have the same feeling today." Zhang Tianyuan looked at Liu Mengxun, who was no less beautiful than Yang Yuhuan. In ancient times, she might have been one of the great beauties. However, how well she dances and how well Boss Murong's composition is, we will have to see.

"Then let's not wait. Before we discuss our skills in appraising treasures, let's enjoy the 'New Feathered Robe and Rainbow Skirt Dance' created by Boss Murong and Miss Liu." Boss Xiao was also very interested. Despite his rough appearance, he had a meticulous mind, as a collector must be detail-oriented to achieve great things.

"Miss Liu, what do you think?" Boss Murong asked.

"Of course, there's no problem." Liu Mengxun nodded shyly.

Modern women, unlike those in ancient times, can freely display their beauty to others. This is their freedom and a way to express themselves.

Most importantly, modern men do not discriminate against such women; they look at them with admiration and appreciation.

Of course, there will always be some lechers, but that's inevitable. In a large forest, there are all kinds of birds, and there will always be someone who thinks they are special and wants to do something to draw attention.