Chapter 87

Xiao Sheng carefully observed and saw that Qiantou Wuzhen's internal injuries from the previous day seemed to have healed. On the surface, she appeared to be in good spirits. However, the eye that had been damaged could not regrow, so she wore a white eye patch to cover it.

Xiao Sheng's attention to Qiantou Wuzhen immediately triggered a reaction from the Son of Donghuang. He lifted his head, sneered at Xiao Sheng, and gave a thumbs-up, then drew it across his neck, and finally flipped his wrist, pointing his thumb to the ground. His actions were filled with obvious provocation.

Xiao Sheng shook his head and smiled, raised his right index finger, and gently waved it from side to side. Then he turned around and spoke to Ling Ziling, ignoring the Son of Donghuang.

The Son of Donghuang's features twisted, his eyes blazing with anger. He was extremely furious at being slighted. He stomped his right foot on the ground, using the force to transmit through the earth, and from a distance of several dozen steps, he fiercely shattered a tile under Xiao Sheng's feet. Clearly, he wanted to intimidate Xiao Sheng before the martial arts competition for the pearl.

Unfortunately, if Xiao Sheng could be frightened by such shallow threats, he wouldn't be Xiao Sheng. He completely ignored the Son of Donghuang's provocation and continued to drink and chat. The Son of Donghuang felt like he had punched a pile of cotton, having all his strength but no way to use it, and he gnashed his teeth in hatred.

This was just a minor incident, and no one paid much attention. Soon, everyone in the Golden Hall was seated. The eunuchs and palace maids served fine wine and delicacies. The ministers and envoys stood up and raised their cups to toast the Empress, wishing her a happy birthday.

The Empress smiled and returned the toast, drinking it all. Then she invited all the guests to join. The ministers toasted again, and the Empress returned the toast. This happened three times, marking the completion of the initial formalities.

Gentle music began to play. A large number of artists from all over the ninety-nine states of the empire entered to perform. They performed sword swallowing, fire breathing, walking on nails, walking on hot coals, tightrope walking, and even white apes offering fruit and cranes wishing longevity. The performances were varied, the music and dance were lively, and the atmosphere was festive.

Unconsciously, night fell, and the moon was high in the sky. After more than a hundred armored soldiers performed "The Battle Array," they slowly withdrew. The music in the hall then changed from fierce and powerful to gentle and tender. A group of dancers in light silk costumes entered the stage.

Among them was a woman in plain clothes, with a light makeup. She held a lute. Her demeanor was like that of a celestial being, graceful and refined, with a noble and pure aura. Her every movement exuded a majestic and clear spirit, a transcendent talent that set her apart from the crowd. At first glance, she seemed like the still night, with a gentle mist and a clear, tranquil moon.

As soon as this woman appeared, she immediately outshone all the others. In the hall, every woman, from the Empress down, was a beauty chosen from thousands, even tens of thousands. Yet, in front of this lute-playing woman, all the other women paled in comparison and were thoroughly overshadowed.

Some foreign envoys, not recognizing the lute-playing woman, were amazed and couldn't help but quietly ask the officials of Dahuang, "Who is this woman? She is so beautiful, it's as if a celestial being has descended. I think even your Empress can't compare to her."

The Dahuang officials were startled and quickly tugged at the sleeves of the foreign envoys, whispering, "Speak softly, the Empress is sitting right there. Saying such things is risking your life."

After a pause, the Dahuang officials, with a hint of pride, lowered their voices and said, "No wonder you say that. To be honest, this woman is the first courtesan of Luoyang, named Yu Xuanji. You're lucky to be here. Otherwise, even if you spent a lot of money, you might not get to see her."

The foreign envoys were enlightened and exclaimed, "So she is the first courtesan of Luoyang! No wonder, no wonder. We are truly fortunate." They stared greedily at Yu Xuanji, afraid to miss a single moment.

The Empress, seated high above, could see and hear everything in the hall. The whispers between the foreign envoys and the Dahuang officials were all heard clearly by her.

On this joyous day, the Empress was supposed to be the only star. Unexpectedly, Yu Xuanji, upon her appearance, stole the show. The Empress immediately felt a twinge of displeasure. However, since she had personally reviewed the performance list for the banquet, she had no outlet for her displeasure.

Unable to do anything, the Empress could only temporarily suppress her anger. But the gaze she cast on Yu Xuanji was already tinged with a hint of coldness.

With so many people in the Golden Hall, and so many gazes directed at her, Yu Xuanji, despite being one of the 108 stars, the military advisor to Xiao Sheng, and the only living heir of the Tianji Sect, could not distinguish each emotion. On the surface, she was still a courtesan of the imperial music bureau, and performing at the Empress's birthday banquet was her duty.

Yu Xuanji gracefully walked to the center of the hall. Accompanied by the dance of the other performers, she plucked the lute and opened her lips to sing "Spring River Moonlit Night."

"Spring river tide meets the sea level, the bright moon rises with the tide. The shimmering waves stretch for thousands of miles, where is there a spring river without the moon's light?

The river winds around the fragrant fields, the moon illuminates the flowers like frost. The air is clear, no frost is felt, the sand on the shore is invisible.

The river and sky are one, without a speck of dust, a bright moon hangs in the sky. Who first saw the moon by the river? When did the moon first shine on the river?

Wild geese fly long but do not cross the light, fish and dragons leap, creating ripples. The river flows, spring is about to end, the moon sets, and the riverbank tilts.

The moon sinks, hidden in the sea mist, the road from Jieshi to Xiaoxiang is endless. Who knows how many will return by the moon? The moon sets, and the emotions fill the river trees."

Her voice was like celestial music, free from worldly impurities. It lingered for three days, making people forget the taste of meat. In an instant, everyone in the Golden Hall held their breath, half-closed their eyes, and immersed themselves fully in the beautiful song. In their minds, a vivid scene of "spring, river, flowers, moon, and night" unfolded, as if they were right there.

After a long time, the music ended, and the performers stopped. The lingering sound faded into the wind. Everyone in the Golden Hall took a deep breath and opened their eyes, as if waking from a dream. Immediately, thunderous applause erupted, and the hall almost seemed to shake.

After a long time, the applause finally subsided. The Empress said calmly, "The song was good, and the lute playing was decent. The imperial music bureau is to be rewarded with thirty taels of silver. You may leave."

Many people were taken aback by this. The Guose Tower was the top pleasure house in Luoyang. Inviting any of the courtesans there to sing and accompany would cost at least five hundred taels of silver. How much more so for Yu Xuanji, the top courtesan and the first beauty of the world? The thirty taels of silver reward could be seen as an insult.

However, many people did not think so. Before Emperor Xuandi retired to the inner palace to convalesce, he often rewarded court officials and those close to him. The rewards were varied, but not valuable. What mattered was that they were rewards from the emperor.

So, the Empress's reward of thirty taels of silver to Yu Xuanji, to those familiar with Emperor Xuandi's style, was not surprising.

Yu Xuanji did not feel insulted, nor did she feel particularly favored by the Empress. She remained composed and unperturbed. She smiled, bowed, and thanked the Empress. Then she left with her lute.

As she passed by Xiao Sheng's seat, the first courtesan of Luoyang paused, turned to look at the fourteenth prince, smiled, nodded, and then left the Golden Hall.

Although it was just a small detail, Yu Xuanji had just captivated everyone in the Golden Hall. Her every move was significant. Instantly, hundreds of gazes, some suspicious, some hostile, were directed at Xiao Sheng.

Many people whispered to each other, trying to find out who this lucky person was, who had won the favor of the first courtesan of Luoyang. When they learned that this person was the most useless of Emperor Xuandi's sons, the "waste prince," many people were dismayed, lamenting that the beauty had no eyes, to fall for such a waste.

In fact, although Yu Xuanji assisted Xiao Sheng, she did not have romantic feelings for the fourteenth prince. Her smile was simply a thank you from the first courtesan of Luoyang for Xiao Sheng finding her a good song.

The song "Spring River Moonlit Night" did not exist in the Dahuang dynasty. Yu Xuanji knew it only because of Xiao Sheng. When he entered the parallel universe to kill Genghis Khan, he heard someone playing this song in a wine shop. He found it pleasant and paid several taels of silver to get the sheet music.

After returning, Xiao Sheng casually gave the sheet music to Yu Xuanji and then forgot about it. He never expected that she would perform "Spring River Moonlit Night" at the Empress's birthday banquet.

Although it might be an exaggeration to say that she turned the mundane into the miraculous, there was no doubt that her performance was flawless. It was truly a song that should only be heard in heaven, and it was far superior to what Xiao Sheng had heard in the wine shop.

Yu Xuanji's performance had already stolen the show. Unexpectedly, the waste prince also managed to steal the spotlight. This made the Empress's expression even more displeased.

The Crown Prince, sitting next to his mother, immediately sensed the Empress's mood. He quickly understood what was happening. He coughed twice, raised his wine cup, and stood up.

The Crown Prince was the Empress's biological son. Although he had not yet been officially designated as the crown prince, there was no doubt that the throne of Dahuang would eventually be his. As soon as he stood up, everyone's attention shifted to him.

In an instant, the Golden Hall fell silent. Everyone watched the Crown Prince, eager to hear what he had to say.