Chu Tong bowed and withdrew, then followed the servants to her lodgings with her bundle in her arms. Soon after, the steward brought in two maids, about fifteen or sixteen years old, one named Cai Die and the other Bai Ling, both very pretty. Chu Tong was exhausted, so after dismissing the servants, she climbed into bed and slept soundly. When she woke up, the lanterns were already lit. She got out of bed and went to the table to pour herself a glass of water. Just then, the door creaked open, and the two young maids came in. Seeing that Chu Tong was awake, they hurriedly served her tea and water.
Chu Tong hadn't enjoyed such service in a long time, so she was naturally pleased. Sipping her hot tea, she casually inquired about Qin Ye's situation. Cai Die smiled and said, "The young prince is kind and gentle, and doesn't like to make things difficult for his servants. He only loves string and wind instruments and has even kept a group of musicians who play music all day long."
Bai Ling chimed in, "That's right, the prince also likes beautiful women; all twelve beauties of Jin Yang are stunning."
Upon hearing this, Chu Tong suddenly recalled the image of the concubine shedding tears. She put her teacup on the table and said, "It seems that the prince doesn't like Concubine Du very much, and treats her coldly."
Upon hearing this, Cai Die and Bai Ling exchanged glances. Bai Ling lowered her voice and said, "So you've noticed it too, Miss. The Prince really doesn't like his concubine very much. That concubine, Du Yujuan, was originally a maid. It was the Emperor who insisted that the Prince marry her."
Chu Tong raised an eyebrow in surprise.
Cai Die nodded and said, "That's right. When the prince entered the Great Zhou as a hostage, a servant named Xun Yin was sent to take his place when he escaped. When the emperor found out, he wanted to provide compensation to the servant's family. After searching around, he learned that Xun Yin's parents had died, and she only had an older sister who was also a servant in the prince's mansion at the same time as Xun Yin. She was a fourth-class maid named Yu Juan. The emperor saw her once and liked her very much. He said to the prince, 'She is an orphan with no one to rely on and is very pitiful. You should marry her and treat her well.' Then he decided to marry the maid."
Bai Ling nodded in agreement, "That's right. The concubine is six years older than the prince and knows nothing about what the prince likes, so the prince has always been cold to her. Because of this, he was angry with the emperor and has not taken any more concubines or married a wife until now."
Chu Tong nodded slowly, thinking to herself, "Her family has no background and she has nothing to please the prince. This concubine may seem glamorous on the surface, but in reality she's no different from a resentful woman. It's truly lamentable!"
Just then, there was a knock on the door. Cai Die opened the door and saw a beautiful girl standing in the doorway. Cai Die was taken aback, then bowed and said, "Sister Pearl."
Upon hearing the jewel-like name, Chu Tong knew it was one of the Twelve Beauties of Jin Yang. She hurriedly went to greet them, only to see Pearl smile and say, "Please don't rush, Miss. The Prince sent me to ask if you need anything and if you are comfortable with your stay."
Chu Tong smiled and said, "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I'm used to everything."
Pearl nodded: "The prince also asked me to tell you to focus on recuperating these next few days. He hopes you can perform a sword dance for distinguished guests at the manor in three days."
Chu Tong readily agreed, but after seeing Pearl off, she suddenly remembered something and dismissed both maids. She returned to her bed, took out her cotton-padded jacket from her bundle, found a pair of scissors, untied the stitching, and reached inside to feel around, muttering, "No, this is a gold necklace… this, this is a ring inlaid with rubies… jade bracelet, amber earrings, twisted necklace…" She felt around for a while, finally pulling a small seal from the corner of her jacket, her face lighting up with a smile, "This is it!" She then held it up to the lamplight, examining it closely, muttering, "It's just a stone, nothing special." Suddenly, a brilliant idea struck her—the beast head on the seal was exactly the same as the one on the jade box! She quickly took out the jade box and compared the two. Chu Tong had examined this jade box countless times when no one was around, but she could never figure out its mechanism. This time, however, she noticed that the auspicious beast carved on the box had its mouth wide open, perfectly square, and exactly the size of a seal. Overjoyed, she inserted the seal into the beast's mouth and pressed it down, but the box remained unmoved. She twisted it left and right, but still nothing happened. Chu Tong slumped her shoulders, feeling somewhat dejected. But then she thought that this Shoushan stone might make a pair with the other white jade box, and she perked up. She placed the box and the Shoushan stone in her brocade pouch, then sewed up her cotton-padded coat and put it in the cabinet.
The flower-lined courtyard seems to have no way out, but the curtains are rolled up to reveal the painted hall at dawn.
A wisp of cloud hung in the sky, a gentle breeze caressed the face, and the Jinbu Tower of the Jinyang Prince's Mansion was bustling with distinguished guests. Qin Ye sat regally in the highest armchair, a wine cup in hand, a broad smile on his face. Below the steps, tables were set up on either side, with about forty guests, men, women, and children, dressed in various styles. Seven or eight young women played musical instruments, their melodies exquisitely beautiful.
Qin Ye smiled and looked around, then raised his silver chopsticks and tapped the celadon squirrel-shaped wine cup in front of him. The music stopped abruptly, and the guests who had been whispering and chatting fell silent. Qin Ye coughed lightly and said with a smile, "Distinguished guests, you have all come from afar and graced my banquet with your presence. I am truly honored! I would like to offer you all a toast!" With that, he raised his wine cup and drank it all in one gulp.
Everyone said, "Your Highness is too kind. It is our honor to be here at this banquet." After saying that, they all raised their cups and drank.
Qin Ye, his face flushed, swept his slender eyes over the crowd and said with delight, "You are all learned scholars from the Three Kingdoms, skilled in music and dance. I have invited you here today for two reasons: first, to drink and enjoy music, indulging in refined tastes; and second, to exchange skills and learn from each other. Since you are guests, let me, as the host, begin by setting the stage." He then clapped his hands, and twelve young women dressed in various soft gauze garments slowly emerged from the side, holding colorful fans and dancing to music. Their delicate steps made them seem as if they were standing on clouds. The women automatically formed a circle, their fans swaying as they gracefully bent backward, unfolding into a large flower. Within this flower stood two beautiful women, their long sleeves fluttering, singing a melodious song:
"Phoenix and iris, your flowing skirts are like the moon and rainbow, fragrant as honey. The day is drawing to a close, yet my heart is filled with joy for you."
Phoenix and phoenix, their skirts fluttering, as warm as the morning sun, like precious jade. The day grows late, yet my heart is filled with endless joy for them.
Phoenix and phoenix, their flowing skirts, like clouds and brocade, adorned with shimmering pearls. The day grows late, yet my heart's joy for them never ends.
The ethereal, otherworldly voices stirred the hearts of all present. The girls scattered, performing various graceful dances, like apsaras in a painting, their movements delicate and poignant, conveying the longing in the song with tenderness and emotion, captivating everyone in the audience. As the song reached its final line, the girls holding fans automatically surrounded the two dancing girls, their fans fluttering to resemble flowers closing in a breathtaking display of beauty.
When the music ended, everyone exclaimed in admiration.
Qin Ye, with a smug look on his face, laughed heartily and said, "These are my Twelve Beauties of Golden Sun. Today, I am showing off my limited skills in front of you all. I'm just making a fool of myself!"
The old man in yellow, sitting in the first seat on the left, said, "Young Prince, you are too modest. Just now, you heard the celestial music and saw such beautiful dance. You felt as if you had entered a fairyland. The Twelve Beauties of Jinyang are indeed worthy of their reputation." As soon as he finished speaking, he immediately drew echoes of agreement.
Qin Ye could not hide his joy, his eyes shining brightly: "To receive praise from Mr. Zhou Xianheng, one of the Seven Sages of Peach Blossom Spring, I feel truly honored!"
Upon hearing the name "Seven Sages of Peach Blossom Spring," everyone began to whisper amongst themselves. The Peach Blossom Spring Sect was a major sect in the martial arts world, renowned for its "Seven Sages." These seven were fellow disciples, all known as refined scholars, and besides martial arts, they were most fond of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, achieving considerable mastery in these arts. Therefore, everyone was deeply moved whenever Qin Ye mentioned their names.
Just then, someone said, "It's just some pointless whining and decadent music. I don't think it's anything special!" The speaker's voice was melodious but had a distinct foreign accent, and his speech was not fluent.
Qin Ye's expression changed slightly. He turned his head and saw a strikingly beautiful Yi ethnic woman sitting to his right. She wore a colorful ethnic dress that accentuated her voluptuous figure, and several necklaces and amulets adorned her neck, dazzling yet not overly elaborate. Her hair was braided into a long braid, embellished with pearls and gemstones, making her appear alluring and charming, yet exuding an air of untamed wildness. The girl looked at Qin Ye with a disdainful sneer.
Qin Ye had just been angry, but upon seeing such a beautiful woman from another ethnic group, his anger subsided by half, and he asked in a gentle tone, "May I ask who this young lady is...?"
At this moment, a burly, dark-faced man sitting next to the woman said in broken English, "She is the most beautiful flower on the grassland, the pearl of Nur chieftain, the noble Princess Urina."
Qin Ye nodded and smiled, "So you are the daughter of Chief Nur. I am sorry for my rudeness." Although he said this, Qin Ye thought to himself, "Nur is just a small tribal chief, yet his daughter is so arrogant and domineering!" But when he saw Urina's beautiful face and her bright, glass-like eyes, he thought that the girl was very beautiful, and even if she was a little domineering, he could forgive her.
Urina stood up, tilted her chin, and said, "Those girls are like frail, sickly lambs. King Jinyang, how about I perform a dance for you?" Without waiting for a reply, she walked straight to the center, took out a string of silver bells from her bosom, and put them on her wrist.
At this moment, the burly, dark-faced man was holding a drum in his arms, clapping it with his palms until it made a ping-pong sound. Urina danced merrily to the drumbeats, her waist swaying joyfully, like a fawn running in spring, full of life. She stretched out her jade-like arms, her full lips smiling, her eyes and brows brimming with spring-like passion, subtly provocative, causing everyone to gasp involuntarily. If Chu Tong were here, she would surely have called her a "seductive little vixen."
The drumbeats grew increasingly intense, and the burly, dark-faced man rose from his seat, drum in hand, and walked straight towards Urina. Urina danced gracefully around him to the rhythm of the drums, their eyes conveying unspoken emotions, their steps and the drumbeats growing ever more passionate. The pedantic members of the audience shook their heads, thinking, "You barbarians, what moral compass do you have?" and closed their eyes to avoid watching. However, many in the audience were also free spirits, who did not value the separation of men and women. Although they also felt it was indecent and wanted to look away, they found it utterly captivating and did not want to miss it.
After the dance ended, Qin Ye clapped his hands and said with a half-smile, "Miss Urina is indeed the most beautiful flower on the grassland. The women of Beiliang are all inferior to her." These words were half praise and half criticism, but Urina took it as a compliment. Feeling that her dance skills surpassed those of the Twelve Beauties of Jinyang, she smiled and retreated with her head held high.
The atmosphere quieted down for a moment. Qin Ye coughed lightly and said, "Miss Wulina's performance just now was amazing. How about we listen to a piece of music to pass the time?" He then thought of calling out Daimao and Qiongyao to play a piece on the pipa. At this moment, Zhou Xianheng from below the steps said, "Since Your Highness has made this suggestion, this old man is willing to play a piece on the zither." Qin Ye's eyes lit up and he nodded in agreement.
Zhou Xianheng took out a zither and placed it on the table in front of him. He concentrated and plucked the strings. With a soft "ding," a ethereal quality filled the air. Immediately afterward, a series of notes flowed forth, transcending the mundane world and reaching a lofty realm. Everyone was immediately astonished. The piece Zhou Xianheng played was the same "Song of Longing" sung by the Twelve Beauties of Jinyang, but with several variations, it presented a completely different style. In its melodious moments, it was like white snow and red plum blossoms, orchids in a secluded valley, and chrysanthemums in autumn frost; in its unrestrained moments, it was like the roar of pines in a thousand ravines, a sea of clouds and bamboo forests, and a cascading waterfall—magnificent and serene.
As everyone was entranced and captivated, a sudden burst of pipa music arrived, playing the same piece, but with a different style, like a ceaseless flow of spring water. In its bright moments, it was like peonies in the sunshine, azaleas in the breeze, and crabapple blossoms under the moon; in its stirring moments, it was like a thousand horses and a surging tide, the vast Yellow River rushing down from the sky.
Everyone looked up and saw a beautiful young woman sitting in the crowd on their right. Her features were deep-set, suggesting she had some non-Han ancestry. She held a pipa and plucked its strings frequently, her delicate hands moving like butterflies. The loud strings roared like a hundred rivers, seemingly trying to drown out the melody of the guqin. The guqin, not to be outdone, added its own melody, like wind rustling through mountains and trees, challenging the pipa's lead.
At first, everyone found the music gentle and beautiful, but as the notes became increasingly rapid, they felt their blood churning and inexplicably uncomfortable. They wanted to cover their ears tightly, but their bodies seemed frozen, unable to move at all. Those who understood the danger secretly groaned, knowing that what appeared to be music was actually a contest of inner strength between two masters. Injuring the enemy with the sound of the strings would inevitably result in injuring innocent bystanders.
Gradually, the pipa's melody faded, the young woman's lips turned pale, and large beads of sweat rolled down her cheeks. Just then, the man sitting beside her suddenly raised his jade flute to join in the pipa's melody, and the young woman's expression immediately relaxed. After several rounds of playing, it was Zhou Xianheng's turn to grit his teeth and struggle. He had looked relaxed just moments before, but now even plucking the strings made his fingers tremble. The middle-aged man sitting next to Zhou Xianheng immediately frowned, pulled a bamboo flute from his waist, and put it to his lips to play. For a moment, the two were locked in a stalemate.
The crowd was tormented by the overwhelming sonic din when suddenly, a deep, resonant male voice, like the roar of a dragon and the howl of a tiger, echoed from behind the main hall, shaking the entire space. The crowd felt a jolt of relief and a sense of liberation. The man sang:
"A long wind blows, clouds scatter for a hundred miles; the tide rolls up a thousand snowflakes, the sunlight is cold. All things collapse, heaven and earth tremble. The land sighs, how many heroes have perished!"
The voice was deep and powerful, extremely bold, sweeping away the previous clashes of swords and carnage. Everyone breathed a long sigh of relief, unaware that if this person hadn't spoken up in time to stop the music, the musicians would likely have fought until they were exhausted and died. The magnificent singing lingered, and the sounds of the zither and flute quietly ceased, but the performers still glared angrily at each other.
Qin Ye wiped the sweat from his brow and looked toward the source of the singing. He saw a burly man with a dark complexion and a thick beard sitting at the very back of the hall, tapping bamboo chopsticks on a wine table as he sang. His demeanor was carefree and his bearing extraordinary. When the singing stopped, Qin Ye asked loudly, "May I ask who this distinguished guest is? Could you please state your name?"
The burly man clasped his hands in a fist and said, "I am Lin Shangzhen, a nobody, not worth mentioning."
After he finished speaking, everyone whispered among themselves. In particular, the musician who had just competed in internal strength kept looking at Lin Shangzhen with a suspicious expression. He thought to himself that this person's internal strength was profound and could not be compared with that of an ordinary person. Judging from his demeanor, how could he be an unknown nobody?
At this moment, Naurina giggled at Lin Shangzhen and said, "You're like a hero, I like you!"
Upon hearing this, someone gasped. Lin Shangzhen remained expressionless, glanced at Wurina, and lowered his eyes. Qin Ye coughed and said, "Gentlemen, gentlemen, a master has recently arrived at my residence. He may perform a few acts for you." He then clapped his hands. Suddenly, a ball of flame burst forth from a side door, the master wielding a long sword that gleamed coldly.
Everyone looked closely and saw that the one wielding the sword was a beautiful young woman with a delicate figure. She wore a soft, rosy-red dress, with a wide, pomegranate-colored belt embroidered with colorful patterns around her waist. She wore matching embroidered shoes, her hair was styled in a bun, and she wore only a red flower in her hair. Her face was covered with a red veil, revealing only a pair of bright, cold eyes.
The young woman stood in the hall, wielding her sword. The sword's energy swept in all directions, shining like the rising sun, graceful as a phoenix soaring through the sky. Her movements were as fluid as clouds and water. Everyone held their breath, dumbfounded.
The young girl, sword in hand, moved about, when suddenly the sword flashed and aimed straight for Urina's vital point. Urina was startled and tried to dodge, but it was too late. She closed her eyes and screamed, only to see the sword graz her cheek. The crowd cheered. Urina opened her eyes and saw the sword unexpectedly attack again. She screamed again and fell backward, crashing into a wine table behind her, spilling wine and soaking her back. She was about to curse when a third sword came, a flash of cold light passing just below her nose. All her anger was swallowed back, and she collapsed to the ground, speechless. At that moment, the sword-wielding girl winked at her, her eyes filled with provocation and mockery. Before Urina could react, the girl had already gracefully disappeared.
The girl dancing with a sword was none other than Chu Tong. She had been secretly peeking out from the back hall when she suddenly discovered that Wu Rina was the Yi girl who had danced with bare legs to present flowers to Wang Lang that day! Seeing her arrogant and domineering attitude, Chu Tong had a wicked idea. She couldn't help but go over and tease her while she was dancing with her sword. She found it very amusing to see Wu Rina make a fool of herself in public.
She practiced a few more moves, thinking to herself that this sword technique had reached its final move, "Peach Blossom," and that once she finished practicing it, she could leave. With that thought, she took a few steps toward the gate. Just then, she heard a whoosh of wind beside her ear, and a hidden weapon suddenly flew out from the banquet, striking her right ear with a thud. She was leaping into the air at that moment when she felt a release from her ear, and saw the red veil fluttering down from her face.
As the red scarf fluttered down, everyone rushed to see Chu Tong's face. Upon seeing her clearly, they couldn't help but cheer inwardly. The girl was absolutely beautiful, charming and incomparable. Her cheeks were rosy, like the glow of a clear pond; her eyes were bright, like the moon shining on a cold river. Her brows and eyes also revealed endless cleverness and mischief. Her appearance and demeanor were captivating.
Seeing the scarf fall to the ground, Chu Tong was startled, but she quickly calmed down and continued to complete the remaining move. However, she felt an extremely sharp gaze shooting towards her from the banquet, like a cold lightning bolt. She couldn't help but shudder and glanced over, only to see that there was nothing unusual in the direction the gaze was coming from. There was only a burly man with a dark face and a thick beard, who was slowly sipping his wine.
Chu Tong finished practicing the final move, and the audience erupted in cheers. As she bent down to pick up her silk scarf, she noticed a small peanut on the ground. A sudden realization struck her—it was the hidden weapon that had just knocked off her veil! A chill ran down her spine. She composed herself, bowed to Qin Ye and the guests, and slowly withdrew. Once outside, Chu Tong shivered, thinking, "Could it be that Xie Linghui's assassins have caught up with me here? If so, my face has been seen, and I'm afraid my life is in danger. I'd better make a run for it!" Thinking this, she looked up at the sky. It was already evening, and the lanterns would soon be lit. Wanting to leave the city before it got completely dark, she rushed towards her lodgings, intending to grab her cotton-padded coat and escape immediately.
Chu Tong walked along the path through the garden, when suddenly she saw a slender figure in pale blue appear among the flowers and trees ahead. She immediately recognized her as Ding Dang, one of the Twelve Beauties of Jin Yang. Among the twelve beauties, Ding Dang was the most outstanding in appearance. She often set Qin Ye's poems to music and was greatly favored by him, always by his side. Chu Tong thought that Ding Dang should be waiting for the prince's summons at Jin Bu Lou at this time, so it was a bit strange to see her here. Seeing Ding Dang's flustered expression and her looking around every few steps, Chu Tong became even more suspicious. Her curiosity was piqued, and she slowed down and quietly followed behind.
As they walked, Dingdang slipped away and appeared in front of the side hall of a house. Chu Tong quickly hid around the corner of the house and peeked out. She saw Dingdang gently knocking on the door. The door opened abruptly, and a tall, strong man stood in the doorway. As soon as Dingdang saw him, she threw herself into his arms. The man wrapped his arms around her waist, lowered his head, and kissed her lips before closing the door.
Chu Tong was dumbfounded, thinking to herself, "My God! No wonder Ding Dang was in such a panic, she came out to meet her lover! Tsk tsk, that young prince was still chatting and laughing in the front hall, unaware that he had already been cuckolded!"
Chu Tong had loved peeping at the girls entertaining customers in the brothel since she was a child. Now, her playful nature was aroused, and she just wanted to see what Ding Dang's lover looked like. So she slowly crept to the window, and heard the sound of kissing coming from inside. Ding Dang said coquettishly, panting, "You rascal! You haven't been here for so long, have you already forgotten about me!"
The man chuckled wickedly, "How could that be? I think about you day and night. On the contrary, you enjoy wealth and luxury all day long, serving a delicate young prince like a young lady, living a carefree and happy life."
Chu Tong was immediately taken aback upon hearing the voice. It turned out that the speaker was Ding Wuhen! Chu Tong couldn't help but sigh, thinking to herself, "Damn it! I knew long ago that Ding Wuhen was something else. He actually managed to hook up with the most beautiful girl among the Twelve Beauties and make the young prince a cuckold!"
Dingdang said resentfully, "Pah! You heartless bastard! I've been longing for you day and night, my heart is about to break! Ever since I followed you, every time the prince asked me to serve him in bed, I would use the excuse of being unwell to push it to other sisters. Now I'm serving the prince, and it's all for you!"
Ding Wuhen said, "Yes, yes, you did it for me. You ran out before the banquet was even over. Won't the Prince become suspicious?"
Dingdang giggled and said, "The prince is a music fanatic. There are so many experts sitting in front of him, how could he care about me? Don't worry, I have a clever plan to escape."
Ding Wuhen laughed, "You little fox!" No sooner had he spoken than Dingdang let out a soft cry, followed by a low moan, "You bastard! You're so naughty... Ah... When will you finally take me away to a distant land..." Chu Tong pricked up her ears, but Dingdang's next words turned into ambiguous whimpers. Then, soft, lingering kisses filled the room, accompanied by Dingdang's seductive moans and Ding Wuhen's panting.
An ordinary young woman would have been ashamed and fled in shame, but Chu Tong, having seen much since childhood, was fearless. She was adept at peeping, and tiptoed to a dark window where no one inside could see her reflection. She then poked a small hole in the bottom of the window with her saliva and peered inside. There stood a tall man, his muscular upper body bare, facing away from her. Who else could this be but Ding Wuhen? Ding Dang sat on the table, her legs wrapped around Ding Wuhen's waist, her delicate hands caressing his back, her body writhing like a snake. Her robes were half-undone, her bodice slipped down, revealing her full, white breasts. Ding Wuhen held her with one arm, kneading her round breasts with the other, burying his face in her chest and biting. Ding Dang gasped softly, and the two became passionately entangled.
After a while, Ding Wuhen, panting heavily, kissed Dingdang's pink neck, saying indistinctly, "After I finish what I'm doing, I'll naturally take you away."
Dingdang's hair was slightly disheveled, and she moaned passionately, "...Mmm...my little darling, don't forget..."
Ding Wuhen chuckled and said, "How could I forget? My darling, did you find out what I asked you to investigate?" He then thrust forward and Dingdang let out a soft moan, "Of course, of course I investigated for you. There is indeed a white jade box in the Prince of Jinyang's mansion, in the Prince's bedroom, but I don't know the specifics."
Upon hearing the words "white jade box," Chu Tong immediately sprang to her senses, so excited that she put her fist in her mouth to stop herself from screaming.
Ding Wuhen frowned slightly and said calmly, "Don't make the same mistake again this time. Last time you said that the Shoushan stone seal was still in the Prince's Mansion, but it was actually lost several years ago."
Dingdang straightened up, pressed her red lips to Ding Wuhen's lips and kissed him, giggling, "This time it's definitely true. Last time I heard it from the eunuchs in the manor, but this time I asked the Prince himself." She then shifted her body, eliciting a muffled groan from Ding Wuhen. Dingdang then pouted seductively, saying, "Trust me one more time. I found out for you, how are you going to repay me?"
Ding Wuhen looked down and saw that Dingdang's pretty face was full of lust in her eyes and brows. He chuckled wickedly, "You little hussy." Then he kissed her.
Chu Tong had no interest in the erotic scenes inside; her mind was entirely focused on the white jade box. She wanted to find a maid or servant to ask where the storeroom was. She walked forward a while when suddenly someone patted her shoulder hard. Chu Tong was startled and almost jumped. Turning around, she saw Qin Ye standing behind her, smiling, and asking, "What are you doing here?"
Chu Tong patted her chest and said, "Your Highness, I didn't do anything. I was just tired from practicing swordsmanship and wanted to take a walk." After saying that, she chuckled a few times and asked, "Why didn't Your Highness greet the guests in front? Why did you come out?" In her heart, she thought, "Could it be that the young prince already knows that Ding Dang is cheating on him and wants to catch them in the act? If that's the case, I'll report it immediately. That would be a great achievement, so the young prince won't think I'm hiding something." But then she thought again, "No, if Ding Dang's affair is exposed, the young prince will feel ashamed and kill me to silence me. That would be terrible."
As she was weighing the pros and cons in her mind, Qin Ye suddenly leaned close and whispered in her ear with a smile, "I came out to find you."
Chu Tong was taken aback, thinking to herself, "I don't have a lover, why are you looking for me?" Qin Ye's handsome face was all smiles as he said, "After your sword dance just now, everyone in the hall was stunned and kept praising your graceful demeanor. Later, whether it was Dong Xiaoyu, the number one singer in the music academy, or Zhang Tiefeng, one of the Four Heroes of Nanhuai, playing the erhu, I found it all rather dull, so I made an excuse to come and find you."
Chu Tong chuckled dryly, "Your Highness is too kind. I'm tired right now and would like to go back and rest."
Qin Ye gripped Chu Tong's hand firmly in his palm, his slender eyes holding a hint of ambiguity, and said with a smile, "After everyone has dispersed, come to my Jingbo Pavilion. I want you to perform a sword dance for me alone again."
Chu Tong's heart skipped a beat. She thought, "Oh no, it seems this young prince wants me to become his concubine tonight! I've already found out where the white jade box is, so I'm not leaving yet. If this young prince catches me, it wouldn't be good if my future husband was cuckolded like him tonight." But then she thought that this was a good opportunity to enter the prince's bedroom to find the white jade box, and she couldn't help but be tempted.
Just then, a voice called out from afar, "Your Highness! Your Highness, where are you?"
Qin Ye released Chu Tong's hand and said softly, "I'll head back now." He then kissed her on the cheek and left with a smile.
Qionglin Jade Palace Under the Slanting Golden Sun
After Qin Ye left, Chu Tong stood there for a moment, then went back to her residence to retrieve the brocade pouch containing sleeping pills and other items, before heading towards Jingbo Pavilion.
As dusk settled, the grand feast at Jinbu Tower continued, the sounds of string and wind instruments and the boisterous laughter of men and women emanating from within. Jingbo Pavilion, though only a few feet away, was eerily quiet. Chu Tong stepped into the courtyard and saw only an old woman standing guard under the eaves. Chu Tong approached her and struck up a conversation. The old woman, who had seen Chu Tong once before and was now aware that the Prince had ordered her to wait there, immediately rose and led her to a side hall. She then offered her tea with a fawning smile, saying, "Please wait here, young lady. Many distinguished guests have come to the manor today, and the young ladies and maids have all gone to join the festivities. There are only a few people left in the pavilion, and I must stand guard at the gate, so I cannot keep you company." Chu Tong thought to herself, "I'd love for you not to keep me company," and with a smile, saw the old woman off.
After the old woman had gone far away, Chu Tong sat in the hall for a while, then picked up the candle on the table and walked straight to the bedroom through the main hall. She lifted the curtain, expecting Qin Ye to leave one or two maids to guard the door, but the room was pitch black. Chu Tong raised the candle and saw a sixteen-panel screen in front of her, all made of nanmu wood with openwork carvings, inlaid with Li Yang's ice seal script, Zhang Xu's wild cursive script, Bian Luan's flower and bird paintings, and Zhang Zao's pine and rock landscapes, all exquisitely beautiful. Passing the screen, there was a rosewood eight-immortal table in front, on which sat an ancient zither, beside which were a jade lion-shaped incense burner, an eight-treasure box, a fruit plate, teacups, and other items. Behind the table was a long rosewood table, on which sat a pair of beautiful vases, filled with fresh flowers and plants with auspicious meanings such as "Flowers Bloom in Wealth" and "Peace in All Seasons." Above the table hung a painting by Hua Yan, "Bamboo and Birds in Winter," with lifelike birds painted in meticulous brushwork. Beside the long table was a window, beneath which sat a small wooden table with a large aquarium filled with colorful fish. Next to the table was a chaise lounge, covered with a large, gold-embroidered cloud-patterned brocade cushion. To the right, against the wall, stood two large sandalwood cabinets carved with auspicious patterns of ten thousand blessings and longevity. To the left was a large nanmu bed carved with landscapes, inlaid with colorful gold and jewels, and draped with a soft canopy of gold-centered green satin, through which one could vaguely see the embroidered python robes and silver-red floral pillows inside. Beside the bed was a large window, with a colorful, intricately patterned curtain hanging from it.
Having grown up in a wealthy family, Chu Tong naturally knew how to appreciate fine things. She recognized that the items in the room were all extraordinary. As she looked around, she admired them, thinking, "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If I don't find the jade box now, when will I?" She placed the candle on the octagonal table and headed straight for the large cabinet on the right. She pulled the cabinet open, revealing a dense stack of clothes of various colors. She reached inside and rummaged around, but found nothing. She closed the cabinet door and went to search another cabinet. Just then, she suddenly tripped, exclaiming, "My goodness!" and nearly fell, grabbing the cabinet door. Already feeling guilty, her heart pounded even harder.
Chu Tong steadied herself and looked down, only to be horrified to see a woman's arm tripping her! The arm protruded from behind a long, trailing curtain, lying limp and pale on the ground. Chu Tong's hair stood on end. Despite her fear, she boldly lifted the curtain, revealing a maid lying face down behind it, her life hanging in the balance. Chu Tong tried kicking the maid, but she didn't move. Suddenly, a sword's aura emanated from deep within the curtain. Startled, she dodged to the side, only to see a gleaming sword already aimed at her. Chu Tong screamed, "Mother!" and ran towards the fish tank, clutching her head. Looking back, she saw a burly man in black standing behind her, wielding a sword and slashing at her.
Chu Tong dodged hastily, her movements incredibly fast. Using the "Lotus Steps" technique, she swiftly reached the bed. The sword's aura was now upon her. She leaped onto the bed, the sword striking the edge with a clang. Startled, Chu Tong pulled back, shuffling to the corner. In her panic, she saw the carved bed frame at the headboard had been lifted, revealing a hidden compartment. The contents of the compartment were in disarray. The man in black raised his sword to thrust again. Chu Tong quickly rolled away. Fortunately, the bed was quite large. She scrambled to the other side, her undergarments soaked with cold sweat. The man in black stopped chasing her, instead lying by the bed, panting heavily. Then, his legs gave way, and he collapsed to the floor. Still shaken, Chu Tong grabbed a duster and used it as a weapon, her eyes wide as she stared intently at the man in black's every move.
Suddenly, light footsteps sounded, and a slender, alluring woman hurried in, saying, "Ding Lang, I've brought the pills!" She quickly walked to the man in black, ripped off his mask, and shoved the pills into his mouth. Chu Tong peeked through the soft curtains of the large bed. In the dim candlelight, she saw Ding Dang half-squatting on the floor, Ding Wuhen leaning against her, his rugged, handsome face covered in sweat, his lips pale.
Chu Tong thought to herself, "Ding Wuhen seems to be seriously injured. No wonder he couldn't hit me after several attempts. If it were any other time, I would have been dead by his sword long ago!"
Dingdang choked back tears, "Ding Lang, are you feeling better? Luckily, I remember that Manao accidentally discovered this hidden compartment earlier. When she touched something inside, she convulsed and vomited blood. Your Highness took a jade bottle and poured out a pill, saving Manao's life. I was terrified, so I stole a pill from that jade bottle and hid it. Fortunately, I hid this pill, otherwise, if you had died, who would I have relied on?"
Chu Tong was overjoyed: "So Ding Wuhen has been poisoned. Now is the time to leave!" Thinking this, she subtly shifted her body, intending to escape, but then felt something dig into her side. Looking down, she saw a bright, lustrous white jade box lying among the brocade bedding! Chu Tong was overjoyed and was about to reach for it when she remembered that the box might be poisoned. So she took out a handkerchief from her sleeve, wrapped the box in it, and put it into the brocade pouch at her waist.
At this moment, Ding Wuhen's expression softened slightly. He coughed up a mouthful of black blood and said weakly, "As expected, everyone in the Northern Liang royal family is skilled in using poison."