Tang Dynasty Xie Lu Lang

Chapter 159 Disregard for Chickens
This was Zhang Dai's first time attending such a high-end banquet, and he was somewhat nervous. However, once he was seated in the hall, he realized that his nervousness was actually unnecessary.

The Anfu Palace was quite large, and there were plenty of imperial relatives attending the banquet. As relatives of Consort Wu Hui, Zhang Dai and his companions were seated relatively low, and from their seats, they could barely see the emperor sitting in the palace.

So what is there for him to be nervous about? Is he worried that the people around him won't have enough food and will pounce on him and take a bite?
Besides these imperial relatives, Zhang Dai also noticed that Wang Maozhong and other generals from the Northern Army, along with their families, were also seated in the hall, and quite close to the front. For example, Wang Maozhong sat right next to Prince Ning and Prince Xue.

Although Zhang Dai couldn't see their specific expressions clearly, he could see that they were chatting and interacting warmly, just like a family getting along harmoniously.

Seeing this, Zhang Dai couldn't help but sigh inwardly, "Keep spoiling him, he'll cause you a lot of trouble sooner or later!"

Next, the palace maids flitted about in the hall like colorful butterflies, serving wine and food. Soon, the table in front of him was filled with delicious wine and food that looked and smelled wonderful. Zhang Dai was tempted to eat, but when he saw that the others at the table were still sitting still, he gave up the idea for the time being.

"As another year draws to a close and the festival approaches, let us first have a drink together, elder brother. I wish you good health and all the best!"

Above the hall, the Emperor raised his cup to Prince Ning. Prince Ning quickly stood up, cup in hand, and the other princes also rose from their seats to kneel on the left side of the hall in gratitude for the Emperor's grace.

After Prince Ning came Prince Xue. After drinking several cups of wine with his two brothers, the Emperor suddenly couldn't help but feel sentimental and shed tears. Pointing to a deliberately empty seat in the hall, he said, "We were once known as the Five Princes. From childhood to adulthood, we played and slept together, enjoying endless fun. Today, as we gather again, one person is missing. Thinking of this, I cannot help but shed tears!"

The sage raised his hand to wipe away tears, while Prince Ning and Prince Xue also looked sorrowful and sighed, recounting stories of their past friendship. The atmosphere became even more melancholic.

The people inside the hall might not all be able to appreciate their self-indulgent brotherly affection, but since they were guests at someone's house for a meal, they should follow the host's lead and wait until the other guests finished talking before starting their meal.

They waited for almost half an hour. Zhang Dai and the others sitting below couldn't hear what they were talking about. They only saw the crowd at the head of the table getting up one after another to toast the emperor, so they all followed suit.

Zhang Dai left home for the palace in the morning and hasn't even eaten yet. He watched helplessly as the steamed cakes on the table cooled down, and now he has to drink on an empty stomach. Naturally, he has a lot of complaints in his heart.

Fortunately, the alcohol content was not high and it wasn't too spicy. The taste was similar to some craft beers with all sorts of spices added. The color was also clear yellow, but there wasn't much dense foam. It was quite palatable and was one of the few drinks that Zhang Dai had enjoyed since coming to this world.

Only now did the atmosphere of a banquet begin to emerge, with various singers, dancers, and entertainers taking turns to perform. Zhang Dai and his companions, due to their location, couldn't see the best stage effects, but they could still appreciate the music and lyrics without any problem.

Because of its relatively remote location, Zhang Dai could still see some actors from the Imperial Music Academy waiting in line to go on stage when he looked to his side and back.

Watching them nervously check their clothes and accessories, anxiously encourage themselves, or wander around in the area, their various postures were more interesting than the performances taking place in the hall.

In his later years, Zhang Dai enjoyed staying backstage to handle logistics whenever there were performances or external events at the academy. The students' unprofessional preparations, the frequent unexpected situations, and the anxious senior and junior students waiting to go on stage were much more interesting than the performances on the stage outside.

He kept looking back and soon noticed a performer dressed in a gorgeous, colorful feathered robe, his whole body shimmering with light.

This performer was not only more ornately dressed, but also far more exquisite and beautiful than the other performers around her. She sat alone with a pipa in her arms, looking only a teenager, with a somewhat lonely and self-pitying air, and more like a beautifully dressed elf.

The other entertainers and dancers around her were not unattractive, but they now seemed like mere foils surrounding the young woman, like stars around the moon. Even Zhang Dai, after gazing at them for a moment, couldn't help but feel an urge to possess this beauty.

Of course, this feeling of being moved is just a fleeting thought. Anyone with normal aesthetic taste, regardless of gender, will probably be moved by charming people and things several times a day, but few actually take action.

Especially since they were currently inside the imperial palace, even if Zhang Dai was slightly attracted to the young actress's beauty, he wouldn't truly succumb to lust and lose his reason. Therefore, he soon withdrew his gaze and began to seriously appreciate the song and dance performance in the hall.

The cultural performances in the hall continued, and Zhang Dai thoroughly enjoyed the top-notch entertainment of the era. Although the atmosphere was not as frivolous and cheerful as in later generations, it was more sophisticated, with many details worth appreciating.

Emperor Xuanzong of Tang was skilled in music. After ascending the throne, he vigorously promoted the education of court music and entertainment. The Pear Garden, which he founded to teach musicians, became synonymous with music and entertainment, and he himself was revered as the founder of the Pear Garden.

During the prosperous Tang Dynasty, society and art further developed. Based on the original ten musical ensembles, the Yanyue (banquet music) performances developed with a wide variety of themes, rich content, and distinct styles. Although the different musical ensembles were not yet fully integrated, they retained many of their own stylistic characteristics, making them more comparable to other musical ensembles.

The emotions of joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness are expressed through different musical rhythms, yet they achieve a similar emotional resonance, which is quite touching.

Today's banquet is held within the palace, so the performers are mainly from the Imperial Music Bureau and the Left and Right Music Bureau, offering a wide variety of programs including songs, dances, and various other entertainments. The entertainment is particularly rich and lively, with the lyrics sung by the performers mostly being poems written during the current period.

However, court music always had to be dignified and elegant, so the selected poems and lyrics were not necessarily very talented, and were mainly focused on solemnity and elegance.

As Zhang Dai sat at the banquet, he heard many court musicians singing his grandfather's poems. As for the poem "Golden Thread Robe" that he had copied, although it was very popular in the streets and many court musicians knew how to sing it, no one sang it at today's banquet.

Just as he was lamenting that he had missed a chance to show off and secretly planning to enrich his collection of literary works in the future, he saw the eunuch Niu Guier approaching from behind the curtain on the side of the palace.

After arriving at their table, Niu Guier leaned down and whispered a few words to Wu Zhonggui's daughter. The girl immediately looked troubled and, though somewhat unwilling, stood up.

Seeing this, Zhang Dai immediately understood. It seemed his aunt was preparing to make her move, intending to introduce him, her younger sister, to the emperor at today's banquet. However, his aunt appeared timid and reserved; he hoped she wouldn't misbehave or make things worse later.

"Consort Hui, please move to the hall and take a seat, Sixth Prince."

After waking up Madam Wu, Niu Guier did not leave immediately. Instead, he bent down and came to Zhang Dai's side and whispered something to him.

Zhang Dai was taken aback upon hearing this. What does this have to do with me? Why do I have to accompany my aunt on her blind date?

He also had some doubts, but he couldn't refuse, so he could only stand up and follow Niu Gui'er with his aunt, who was walking with a slight stumble, from behind the curtain toward the palace.

As for the other members of the Wu clan, seeing this scene, they couldn't help but show envy. Wu Zhong, the elder brother of Consort Wu Hui who refused to be a favored guest, couldn't help but feel resentful when he saw that his sister had summoned her distant nephew Zhang Dai to the palace but not him.

"Aren't you afraid? Liu... Liulang..."

As Zhang Dai was walking, a faint voice suddenly reached his ears. If there hadn't been no singing or dancing in the hall at that moment, he probably wouldn't have heard it at all.

He turned his head and saw that his aunt's lips were still moving, but he could no longer hear what she was saying. She looked just like a coward about to be executed.

Zhang Dai himself wasn't a socially anxious person, but he had heard some of his socially anxious friends talk about how being the center of attention in public places was like torture, and his aunt was clearly experiencing this. Zhang Dai leaned closer to listen and discovered that she was murmuring Buddhist scriptures.

"My aunt just wants to go into the chicken coop. You're afraid those fighting roosters will jump up and peck at you, and they're afraid you'll catch them, slaughter them, and make soup. My aunt doesn't care about the chickens, and the chickens don't care about me, so we all live in peace."

He moved closer to his aunt and whispered something.

Upon hearing this, Lady Wu froze in astonishment. After a moment, she reacted, then covered her mouth and chuckled. Her demeanor was captivating, no wonder Consort Wu Hui had planned to summon her to the palace to be her helper after seeing her.

"I've never been to the chicken coop. Are the chickens really afraid of me?"

Wu Niangzi looked much more relaxed, no longer as uneasy and nervous as before. After taking a few steps, she whispered to Zhang Dai again.

Zhang Dai didn't know if the chickens were afraid of his aunt, but as they entered the hall, the Emperor looked over with great interest. His gaze lingered briefly on Zhang Dai before quickly shifting to the still somewhat timid and reserved Lady Wu.

It seems that Consort Wu Hui had already revealed this intention to the Emperor, so the Emperor's scrutinizing gaze was quite blatant. After being examined like this, the young Wu's previously relaxed mood suddenly became tense again, and even her breathing became somewhat rapid.

Upon witnessing this scene, Zhang Dai couldn't help but sigh inwardly. His aunt had indeed found a soft target, a good helper, and he wasn't afraid of future repercussions.

He stepped forward and helped his aunt, whose arm was trembling with tension, to sit down beside the table and bow. Only after the emperor indicated that the formalities were off did he escort his aunt to sit down next to Consort Hui.

As for himself, he stood to the side of the table like a little eunuch, and only when Consort Hui instructed the palace maids to set up another banquet was he able to take his seat.

(End of this chapter)