【Chapter Seven: Provoking His Wrath】
Dancers entered the hall, their movements accompanied by the soft jingling of bells tied to the slender cords around their waists, keeping time with the rhythm of strings, flutes, and drums.
Unlike the dance melodies of Nanliang, the dances and music of Beijiang always seemed to carry a chilling, solemn edge. The zither notes were sharp and resonant, with little of the lingering tenderness or softness.
Xie Hengwu took small sips from her cup of fine wine, her gaze lost in the dancers.
Empress Dowager Cui glanced over indifferently, a faint smile playing on her lips. "This old one has heard that the Emperor is quite fond of the Meiren."
Xiao Yanzhou glanced at Xie Hengwu, who was absorbed in the performance, and replied coolly, "It is due to my lax discipline that such idle gossip has reached Your Majesty’s ears."
Empress Dowager Cui smiled slightly. "The State Temple is a quiet place, and having someone to chat with helps pass the time. Besides, matters of the Emperor’s harem are naturally this old one’s concern."
Xiao Yanzhou said nothing more, his gaze shifting to Xie Hengwu.
Feeling his eyes on her, Xie Hengwu snapped out of her reverie and looked at him obediently. "Would Your Majesty like this humble consort to pour wine for you?"
Xiao Yanzhou recalled the folk tales Zhao Quan had gathered for him.
In those stories, men were endlessly indulgent toward women. Since such tales were so popular, it seemed women in the world must favor such treatment.
After a moment of contemplation, Xiao Yanzhou spoke unhurriedly,
"Let Zhao Quan handle it." He cupped her cheek, gently stroking it with his palm. "If A Heng finds this boring, you may leave early."
His words were indulgent and showed no regard for Empress Dowager Cui’s presence.
As expected, Empress Dowager Cui cast a subtle glance their way. The princes below also caught wind of the exchange, discreetly observing the scene as if watching a play.
Xie Hengwu finally understood why Xiao Yanzhou had brought her here.
She was meant to be a living target!
Her expression remained unchanged, feigning a mix of reproach and grievance. "Your Majesty truly belittles this humble consort. I find the dance and music quite novel—how could I be bored?"
As she spoke, she covered Xiao Yanzhou’s hand with her own and looked up at him, her brows slightly furrowed. "Please allow this humble consort to stay a little longer."
Her voice was soft and sweet, her deliberately accentuated eyes shimmering with a subtle allure. Xiao Yanzhou’s throat tightened, and he lowered his gaze to avoid her eyes, murmuring an assent.
Hmm… he had initially suspected Zhao Quan of deceiving him, but it seemed this approach was indeed effective.
Xie Hengwu smiled gratefully, raised her wine cup in a toast, and Xiao Yanzhou surprisingly obliged by drinking a cup with her.
Prince Cheng raised an eyebrow, his eyes gleaming with interest.
Though he did not know his seventh brother well, he was aware that since ascending the throne, Xiao Yanzhou’s inner circle had remained limited to Zhao Quan and Huo Heng.
As for women, he had never seen any around him.
Whether this sudden change was due to newfound understanding or some ulterior motive, it was highly… unusual.
Prince Jin remained as indifferent as ever, focused entirely on the delicacies before him, occasionally frowning and criticizing the attendants beside him.
Prince Qin’s eyes darkened, lost in thought.
Empress Dowager Cui took note of everyone’s reactions, lowering her gaze in contemplation.
After several rounds of wine, most were somewhat intoxicated. Prince Jin, frail and weary, excused himself first.
Prince Qin, his eyes narrowed with drunkenness, suddenly spoke. "Since Her Majesty the Empress Dowager has returned to the palace so rarely, a mere banquet seems rather dull."
Empress Dowager Cui looked at him. "What does Prince Qin suggest?"
Prince Qin chuckled, his gaze fixed on Xie Hengwu. "This subject does have an idea, but I wonder if His Majesty would be willing to part with his beloved."
Xie Hengwu’s heart skipped a beat, a sense of foreboding rising within her.
Xiao Yanzhou narrowed his eyes and scoffed. "What? Is Prince Qin dissatisfied with the lantern I gifted you, and now seeks something else?"
No sooner had the words been spoken than Prince Qin's face darkened instantly.
After all, he was the one who should have ascended the throne back then; Xiao Yanzhou had merely gotten lucky.
He sneered coldly, "Your Majesty's gift, how could this subject dare to be dissatisfied? It's just that when the late emperor was alive, he once said that filial piety is the foremost of all virtues. Today's banquet welcomes the Empress Dowager, so naturally everything should prioritize Her Majesty, isn't that right?"
Xiao Yanzhou knew Prince Qin harbored ill intentions and grew even more impatient with him using the late emperor to pressure him. He turned his face slightly, half of it shrouded in shadow, like a jade-faced demon.
"What exactly are you trying to say?"
Prince Qin chuckled mockingly, "Nanliang has a musical instrument called the Konghou. When played, its sound is clear and crisp, like Kunshan jade shattering. Unfortunately, no one in Beijiang can play it, so we've only heard of it in rumors."
"Now that we have Meiren Xie from Nanliang, why not invite her to play a piece on the Konghou for the Empress Dowager? We subjects can also share in Her Majesty's fortune and witness this rare sight."
Konghou?
Xiao Yanzhou frowned, instinctively glancing at the person beside him.
Xie Hengwu was about to raise her wine cup when she heard this and paused her movement.
It was true that the Konghou originated from Nanliang, but this instrument belonged to the court's elegant music, and few were proficient in it—it wasn't something everyone could play.
Even in the most humiliating moments, he had defended them. This was something Xiao Yanzhou had witnessed before.
"Does Prince Qin think that my people are like court entertainers, meant for others' amusement?"
Xiao Yanzhou's phoenix eyes were indifferent, his fingertips lightly tapping on the cold armrest.
This was a sign that he was already displeased.
Xie Hengwu blinked, surprised that he was defending her.
Prince Qin showed no fear and retorted, "Your Majesty misunderstands this subject. Playing for the Empress Dowager is an act of filial piety—how can it be compared to court entertainers? Does Your Majesty believe that Her Majesty the Empress Dowager is not worthy of listening to a Meiren play?"
The atmosphere in the hall suddenly grew tense. The attendants around them all hunched their shoulders and lowered their heads, not daring to breathe loudly. Even Prince Cheng's frivolous smile faded as he stroked his chin and looked away elsewhere.
Xie Hengwu's mind stirred, and she was about to rise and accept the request when her hand was grasped.
She lowered her gaze to see Xiao Yanzhou's hand enveloping hers. The grip wasn't strong, but it carried an undeniable refusal.
Xie Hengwu looked up at him again. He still wore a cold expression as he stared at Prince Qin, no different from before, completely unnoticeable that he was holding her hand.
She pursed her lips and continued sitting in her seat like a quail.
Xiao Yanzhou clearly had no intention of continuing this war of words with Prince Qin. For him, the best way to solve a problem was to first deal with the person causing it.
Without even waiting for his command, several Yulin Guards stepped forward from beside Xiao Yanzhou and approached Prince Qin.
"Enough."
A stern woman's voice rang out, and the Yulin Guards halted.
Empress Dowager Cui frowned and scolded, "What kind of spectacle is this, making such a racket in the main hall?"
Xiao Yanzhou lowered his eyelids, his long lashes half-covering his eyes, appearing indifferent. Hearing that Empress Dowager Cui was finally willing to speak up, he chimed in.
"Your words are most fitting, Mother."
But this agreement sounded so sarcastic that it nearly left Empress Dowager Cui breathless.
She closed her eyes for a moment, then turned to Xie Hengwu, speaking with forced gentleness, "Don't take it to heart. If you don't wish to play, you don't have to. This isn't a big matter."
Xie Hengwu gave a light smile in response.
Empress Dowager Cui's words had clearly blocked her path.
As long as she did not play the konghou, it would be seen as unwillingness; even if she truly did not know how, others would only take it as an excuse to conceal her reluctance.
Alone in a foreign land, being accused of arrogance due to favor was no small matter.
Moreover, Xiao Yanzhou's "favor" was notoriously fickle and difficult to discern as genuine or false.
"Your Majesty jests. To have the honor of playing for Your Majesty is the greatest privilege of this humble one's life. I dare not decline."
Xie Hengwu rose and bowed toward the Empress Dowager before speaking softly and steadily.
Though her expression remained calm, her palms were sweating profusely.
Because… she had just broken free from Xiao Yanzhou's grip to stand up.
Empress Dowager Cui's expression softened slightly upon hearing this, and she smiled. "It is rare to have such sincerity."
Xie Hengwu replied gently, "May I trouble Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager, and the princes to wait a moment? This humble one will go and prepare."
Empress Dowager Cui nodded in approval. As Xie Hengwu exited, she stole a glance at Xiao Yanzhou and saw him staring at his wine cup, his gaze dark and unreadable.
Her heart sank.
She had definitely angered him.
But what else could she do? Not to mention the Empress Dowager, any one of the princes could easily crush her.
In the power struggles among the great figures, the slightest misstep could lead to her utter destruction.
Xie Hengwu lowered her gaze, her figure disappearing into the twilight outside the hall.
Soon after, several eunuchs carried the konghou into the hall, with Xie Hengwu following behind. She took her seat on the prepared stool in the center of the hall.
She first tested the strings, and the music flowed like water, its lingering notes seeming to drift through the hall.
She raised her brows slightly in surprise.
Who would have thought that the konghou replicated in Beijiang would resemble Nanliang's by seventy percent?
The konghou was difficult to master, and true experts were indeed few and far between.
But she happened to be one of those rare few.
To cultivate her as a useful pawn, the Marquis's Mansion had spared no effort, even hiring an old court musician to teach her this challenging instrument.
Xie Hengwu lowered her gaze, her fingertips plucking the strings, and the music cascaded like Kunshan jade shattering, lotus weeping dew.
Everyone was entranced, feeling as though they were in a celestial realm.
Red candles burned brightly in the hall, illuminating every corner. Yet, it seemed as if the surroundings dimmed, with all light converging on the beauty at the center.
Her head slightly bowed, her cloud-like hair elegantly styled, her slender jade fingers danced gracefully among the strings. Exquisitely adorned and accompanied by the ethereal music of the konghou, she resembled the Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden descending to the mortal realm, evoking a hazy sense of unreality.
On the seat, Xiao Yanzhou rubbed the jade ring on his finger, his eyes dark and inscrutable.
He had thought to protect her, but who would have imagined… she possessed such skill.
It seemed he had overstepped.
He clenched his fist, the sensation of gripping Xie Hengwu's wrist still lingering in his palm.
As the piece ended, everyone seemed unaware it had finished.
Prince Qin's expression now turned truly unpleasant.
He had intended to embarrass Xie Hengwu to undermine Xiao Yanzhou's dignity. Who could have guessed that this princess of the Marriage Alliance was not merely a decorative vase?
Not only had his attempt to embarrass her failed, but he had also inadvertently pleased Xiao Yanzhou, which left Prince Qin deeply dissatisfied.
After a moment of silence in the hall, Empress Dowager Cui clapped her hands and laughed. "Excellent. Today, I have truly witnessed something remarkable."
"I had wondered why the Emperor favored you so particularly, but now I understand. With such talent, who could not admire you?"
Xie Hengwu's expression shifted slightly as she replied, "Madam Xie is indeed exceptional."
Somehow, though his tone was the same as before, to Xie Hengwu, it now carried a chilling undertone.
She steeled herself to express her gratitude, then heard Empress Dowager Cui continue,
“Come closer, let me take a closer look.”
Xie Hengwu complied and stepped forward, kneeling beside Empress Dowager Cui’s seat. She lifted her face but kept her gaze lowered, avoiding direct eye contact with the Empress Dowager.
The latter smiled approvingly: “Your manners are also quite proper.”
“I find you pleasing, so I shall give you this hairpin.”
As she spoke, Empress Dowager Cui removed a gold hairpin adorned with pearls from her hair and placed it on Xie Hengwu’s head.
Xie Hengwu touched her hair, feeling uneasy: “Empress Dowager, this…”
“This was bestowed upon me by the late emperor, so you may accept it without worry.”
In front of all the princes, Xie Hengwu could not refuse the Empress Dowager’s gesture and reluctantly said, “I thank Empress Dowager.”
“Good child, go back now.”
Empress Dowager Cui’s smile remained unchanged, her gaze almost tender.
Xie Hengwu softly acknowledged and returned to her seat beside Xiao Yanzhou.
Xiao Yanzhou stared intently, his expression indifferent, not even sparing her a glance, as if he hadn’t noticed her sitting beside him.
Yet earlier, when she was below the seat, she distinctly felt two gazes clinging to her like glue.
Who else could it be but Xiao Yanzhou.
She lowered her eyes with a faint smile.
He was indeed angry.