L'hibiscus comme peinture

Chapitre 77

"Please, Lord Zhang." Jin Xuan raised his wine cup and said indifferently. If it weren't for his birthday, he really wouldn't bother with these people. He'd rather go back to the backyard to keep the Emperor company! He wondered what gift the Emperor would prepare for him. She wouldn't tell him, which made him itchy with curiosity. He wished he could leave all these inexplicable people behind and go to the Emperor! But he couldn't do that, because he was a prince, representing the royal family. He couldn't lose face for these hypocritical villains, nor could he embarrass the other loyal and virtuous ministers who truly cared for the country and its people.

What annoyed him most was that most of the officials present today had brought their daughters or nieces, making it seem as if he was using his birthday celebration as a pretext for a beauty pageant. These so-called noble ladies kept stealing peeks at him shyly before blushing and lowering their heads. Such affected women—even if he had no one in his heart, why would he be interested in them? And why was even Old Master Liu present with his daughter? However, it was clear that his daughter's mind wasn't on him, as her eyes kept darting around, as if searching for someone. Jin Xuan understood immediately, a triumphant sneer creeping onto his face: Want to see the Emperor? Hmph, thankfully he had already instructed the Emperor not to come out, otherwise, he would have been in for a lot of trouble later. Just thinking about how these women were staring at the Emperor like wolves made him wish he could hide the Emperor away forever, never letting anyone see her.

Then more and more officials kept toasting Jinxuan and introducing their daughters to him. Jinxuan just drank his wine coldly and didn't even look at those so-called beauties.

"The Emperor has arrived..." A sharp voice suddenly rang out amidst the noise.

Everyone fell silent instantly, kneeling down in unison and chanting, "Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

"Your Majesty, I, your humble brother, respectfully welcome you." Jin Xuan quickly stepped forward and bowed.

Zheng Xuan gently helped Jin Xuan up and said warmly, "Today is Jin's birthday, there's no need for formalities." He waved his hand and went over to help Xiao Qiyuan up, saying, "Prime Minister, please get up quickly. I have already said that the Prime Minister is my father-in-law, so these formalities are unnecessary. And Lord Liu, I have also said that you do not need to bow to me."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Xiao Qiyuan and Liu Jingji stood up and said respectfully. Although they knew that the Emperor was sincere, in their minds, the emperor was the emperor and the subject was the subject. Even though the emperor was his son-in-law and his student, they could not overstep their bounds.

"All of you, rise," Zhengxuan said sternly to the kneeling officials.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

"Brother Jin, today is your birthday, you are the eldest, come, let me toast you first." Zhengxuan raised the wine that Eunuch Li had prepared for him and said happily to Jinxuan.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Jinxuan picked up the wine cup and drank it all in one gulp.

"Good, haha..." Zhengxuan laughed heartily. Seeing that the Emperor was happy, and that the birthday celebrant seemed less cold than usual, everyone relaxed and chatted happily.

Many ministers harbored doubts: the Emperor and Empress were always inseparable, so why was the Empress absent from such an important event as Prince Jin's birthday, with only the Emperor in attendance? Had something happened to the Emperor and Empress? Wouldn't this give their daughters another chance to enter the palace...?

"Jin-di, I would like to see Mo-jun today." Zheng-xuan said to Jin-xuan in a low voice, his face slightly dark. Just thinking about Qing-er's constant mention of Mo-jun made him feel sour, especially after he learned about their 'past'.

"Okay." Jinxuan hesitated for a moment, then nodded, his expression turning sour. After thinking for a second, he added, "Yuqing..."

Zhengxuan knew what he was going to say and continued, "She should be at the temple offering incense by now." Today is Jinxuan's birthday, and he, as the emperor, will definitely be there. But if Qing'er is also in the palace, she will not be able to hide it from him. She will definitely come to Jinxuan's birthday celebration. He is afraid that she will run into Mo Jun then. Wouldn't all the efforts he and Jinxuan have made in the past half month have been in vain? So yesterday, he thought that the crown prince was praying for blessings and tricked Qing'er into going to offer incense, while he stayed behind because he was busy with state affairs.

"Hmm." Jinxuan finally felt relieved and nodded.

An emperor and a prince were whispering about a conspiracy in such a furtive manner; they didn't seem like an emperor and a prince at all.

"Your Majesty, Your Highness, the performance is about to begin." Just as the two were discussing something in hushed tones, Zhu Bo's respectful voice rang out.

"Hmm." The two then sat up straight, their imposing presence perfectly natural.

In the open space in front of Prince Jin's mansion, there stood a large and peculiar 'stage,' which drew gasps of doubt and astonishment from the assembled officials. Such an ingenious 'stage' was truly unprecedented and unheard of. Who could have designed it? Indeed, the Prince had many extraordinary talents under his command! However, among the crowd, one servant stood out from the others. His exquisite face was filled with deep shock and confusion, and his bright, intelligent eyes gazed intently at the stage that was both familiar and strange.

Before everyone's amazement had subsided, a melodious flute melody rang out, instantly captivating everyone's attention. Accompanied by the flute's plaintive yet heroic tune, Wei Ziqi and Zhao Zhiyang made their entrance while wielding their swords. The sharp swordplay and the flute music complemented each other, providing everyone with a great visual and auditory experience. Moreover, amidst the melodious flute music and the sword energy of Wei Ziqi and Zhao Zhiyang, four characters faintly appeared: Happy Birthday.

"Jindi, who arranged this? Who is playing the flute?" Zhengxuan was also watching with great interest and listening with rapt attention. He really wanted to see who this person with such a unique idea was.

Jin Xuan was initially deeply shocked, but then, filled with joy, he admired the birthday party she had prepared for him. She had truly given him a wonderful surprise. He closed his eyes, listening intently to the tune she was playing for him. The melody was novel; he had never heard it before, but it was truly beautiful. Immersed in the melodious flute music, Jin Xuan didn't hear Zheng Xuan's question. His overflowing joy made him completely oblivious to the noise around him. His mind was solely focused on his world with Jun, which was the best gift he had ever received.

The servant, dressed in servant's clothes but not at all like one, was so stunned by the sound of the flute that he staggered back several steps, muttering, "No, impossible, impossible... Why can that person play this tune? No, impossible..." Everyone's attention was focused on the melodious flute music and the wonderful sword dance. No one noticed the servant's strange behavior. Even the emperor and the prince were completely absorbed in the novel melody.

Everyone's hearts were deeply captivated by the flute music and the sword dance of the two people on the stage, until the flute music changed, and everyone's hearts jumped. The two sword dancers on the stage also stopped, and dozens of soldiers and generals in armor entered the arena in an orderly manner.

Wei Ziqi, Zhao Zhiyang, and several other generals stepped forward first, some holding knives, some swords, and some spears, each displaying their signature skills. The chaos was orderly, creating a unique visual spectacle. Moreover, they danced and sang in unison:

The great river is like a dragon, and the mountains are like tigers—Wei Ziqi

A long howl, a sob, and a lament—Zhao Zhiyang

Dragon coiled and tiger crouching, bells and drums—General Hong

Dragons soaring and tigers leaping, possessing both literary and martial talents—a defeated general

A sword blossoms across the vast sky—General Chen

A Heart Full of Blood Annotates a Thousand Years of History — Wei Ziqi

Entrusting a great task requires great effort and mental strain – Zhao Zhiyang

But morality leads to literature and ambition—Red General

A true man, upright and dignified, a man of great courage and integrity – General Bai

The sun and moon sink, the clouds exhale—what a magnificent sight to see the hidden talents of the Chinese nation! —General Chen

Looking out over the countless mountains and rivers, and watching the flowing light rush by—a harmonious blend.

Sun and Moon sink, Brother Yun exhales—what a magnificent sight to see the hidden talents of the Chinese nation! — Together

The twenty or so soldiers behind them performed a set of military boxing taught by Ao Jun. They were truly elites; their movements were powerful and impressive, and it was a sight to behold.

As General Wei Ziqi and his men finished their final chants, the twenty-odd soldiers also completed their set of fist techniques. Standing in neat rows, they watched the generals still wielding their swords and, in harmony with the flute music, shouted with high spirits:

Smoke rises as the land stretches northward.

Dragons rise, horses neigh, sword energy is like frost.

My heart is like the vast Yellow River.

Who can rival us after twenty years of dominance?

Hatred and desire, the long sword pointed in vain.

How many loyal souls of our brothers are buried in foreign lands?

I would gladly die a hundred times to repay my homeland.

Sighing with regret, speechless, tears welling in my eyes.