Luna de Luzhou

Capítulo 45

"Keep your voice down, don't let anyone hear you..."

...

...

"Is that Lord He's daughter? She's been saying she'll come to the capital for ages. I wonder what her brother is like."

"Hehe, I just sneaked out for a bit and happened to see her. Don't let her looks fool you, her brother is very handsome. In my opinion, he's not much less handsome than Young Master Cui. I've heard that he's virtuous and talented, and comes from a good family. If he could marry into the family of Lord He's eldest son, it would be very enviable."

"Really, how could Lord He's descendants not be destined for marriage with a noble lady in the palace? I think it's not impossible for him to be paired with a princess."

"How could Lord He's son possibly marry a princess? Didn't Lord He refuse to marry a princess back then?"

"Who told you that? Don't spread rumors again, or your old nanny will scold you!"

...

...

It's frustrating that the people involved are all there, yet they don't even lower their voices; it's truly exasperating...

She lowered her eyelids respectfully, placed her hands on her knees, and was about to pretend to be a lady when the woman sitting next to her suddenly asked curiously, "Are you Lord He's daughter, sister?"

?

"My father's surname is Liu, and I am Liu Tinglin, courtesy name Yuqi." She wore a light blue, wide-sleeved, front-opening shirt and a pink long skirt. Although her hair was styled in a high bun, it was noticeably shorter than others'. She had an oval face, arched eyebrows, and a dimple on her left cheek that swirled as she spoke. Her voice was gentle, and she was indeed someone who was easy to like.

Su Chen carefully exchanged a few words, and they introduced themselves to each other. She knew that she had three older brothers and one younger sister. Her younger sister was staying at home because she was too young, but her brothers had all come.

Liu Tinglin smiled and gestured for Su Chen to look to the right: "That's the Zichen Palace over there; the male heirs are all inside."

After chatting for a while, Su Chen felt that Liu Tinglin was worth befriending, as the two shared some common views and interests. Just as they were discussing plum blossoms in the north, a tremendous bell rang out, echoing through the sky. Liu Tinglin fell silent, and the hall fell silent as well. A eunuch entered the hall carrying an imperial edict, reading a long, incomprehensible passage. Everyone knelt to receive it. Just as they returned to their seats, the melodious sounds of bamboo flutes and xiao (vertical flutes) drifted in from outside. Looking out the door, they saw a high platform in the square outside, where female dancers in flowing robes and flowing sleeves were lined up and taking to the stage, two by two, hand in hand, waist in hand, gliding gracefully in slow and fast steps.

Su Chen initially found it somewhat interesting, but the more he watched, the more he felt something was amiss.

Tiptoeing, crouching, starting, tiptoeing again, the female performers paired up and danced in staggered steps on the stage.

The background music also felt a bit strange.

She looked around again, then turned her head and found that everyone in the hall had a strange expression on their face, as if they had seen something strange and indescribable.

She turned back and looked at it for a long time, and finally realized where the problem lay—

This, this, isn't this the legendary waltz?! No wonder the music is so familiar, no wonder the dance steps feel so eerie, no wonder everyone in the hall looks like they've seen a ghost!

Who could accept this thing at this point!

Uncle Emperor Huizong! You've gone too far with this joke!!

Thunderous! This feeling, like swallowing a fly, left Su Chen speechless with astonishment. The people around him finally came to their senses and began asking each other if anyone had ever seen this dance before; it was truly bizarre. After hearing that it was personally designed by Emperor Huizong of Song, and that it had an ancient and wondrous style that only the Emperor could have conceived of, they wondered where it had come from.

"This was stolen from those foreign devils!" Su Chen wanted to shout immediately.

It's frustrating to know something but not be able to say it!

Not long after, the female performer left the stage, and a plump man in theatrical costume came on stage. The cymbals and drums sounded, and he began to sing.

When she heard the familiar song "Nothing to My Name," she sighed; she resigned herself to her fate. She was now only grateful that Emperor Huizong hadn't set it for spring.

...Emperor Huizong of Song, if you're going to plagiarize, at least do it in a normal way. Don't make people think you've gone mad...

This kind of dance, this kind of song... Do you think people in ancient times were stupid? It's a good thing you were the emperor, otherwise...

Chapter Ten, Emperor Huizong

The promoter function is now open! What are you waiting for? Join now! It must be said that the performer's skill is profound; the timing of her high notes and her rich, resonant voice are both very appealing.

However, he used the singing style of traditional Chinese opera to perform "Nothing to My Name." Even Emperor Huizong of Song couldn't change someone's habits in just one month, let alone become accustomed to modern music.

The legendary "Roll away..."

One can imagine that while it might have a unique flavor if someone sang a Jiangnan folk song in the style of Hebei Bangzi, it would be predictably strange.

Su Chen found it difficult to adapt to that strange singing style. As for the others… she glanced at the astonished expressions of the people staring at the plaza in the quiet hall; they seemed to be finding it even harder to adjust than she was…

This banquet was special. Emperor Huizong said it was to celebrate with the people, and the performance was held in the outer square. In other words, the scene just now was seen and heard by the crowds in the entire capital city of Tokyo.

It's so quiet. Before, it seemed like we could still feel the lively atmosphere of people outside the palace and inside the city, but now it's very quiet.

What will be the outcome of the clash between modern, energetic rock music and ancient, civilized concepts? Do you want to test the acceptance level of the citizens of the Song Dynasty under your rule?

Uncle Huizong, you've gone too far with your joke...

"Sister He, have you ever heard this tune before?" Liu Tinglin hesitated for a long time before finally asking, "Perhaps Lord He has traveled extensively and seen something similar."

She smiled and said, "Sister, please don't joke. I just arrived in the capital. I haven't had much time to spend with Father, so I haven't had a chance to ask about these things yet."

Liu Tinglin was about to answer when he suddenly exclaimed, "It's Li Xiao!"

Outside, music blared loudly. A middle-aged man carried a massive, blazing basin onto the stage. He shouted, "Hidden Fire Opera!" Each word was deliberate, the last syllable drawn out and sounding desolate. He was dressed in a traditional robe and wore a tall hat. In the pitch-black night, he looked like a ghost. The flames struggled and leaped within the basin, darting up and down, making his face appear even more terrifying.

Su Chen turned around. The women all looked at the platform with surprise and delight, their eyes glued to it. So he had no choice but to turn back as well. By this time, the man had already placed the brazier aside. He took off his clothes, leaving only plain robes. He crumpled the robe in his hands as if it were nothing. After a while, he threw the robe on the ground. Only two seconds later, he picked it up and quickly put it on. Just as he put on the robe, flames inexplicably shot out from the hem. His beard and eyebrows were instantly burned off by the bright flames and the sudden illumination of the lanterns around him, and continued to burn rapidly.

The man remained unfazed, even as his skin was scorched red. He abruptly ripped open his robe. With a shake, he saw that only a small portion remained, but the fire raged even more fiercely within the robe, far more intense than before.

He remained expressionless throughout. After the flames had burned out, he bowed respectfully to all four directions.

The shouts and applause in the hall then erupted into a cacophony, rising and falling in a cacophony that blended with the clamor and shouts of the citizens outside. A eunuch shouted from afar, "A reward! One hundred strings of cash, thirty whole sparrows in soy sauce, and a month's tax exemption!"