Do You Know?: Rule the World.

Chapter 171 Song Yinzhang's Performance, Sheng Changbai's Resume

"This servant greets Your Majesty."

Song Yinzhang stood inside the hall, his face respectful. He bowed gracefully, his eyes cautiously glancing at the throne above him.

A tall and noble figure came into view.

Her heart tightened, and she quickly lowered her head, her fingertips secretly clenching in her sleeve as she tried to calm herself.

This was her first time meeting the Emperor!
She has been quite comfortable in the Jiaofangsi (Imperial Music Bureau) during her time in the capital.

The people and things he encountered were completely different from those in Qiantang; even the envoy Yuan Changhe treated him with great courtesy.

She also wrote several letters to Qiantang to inquire about Zhao Pan'er's situation.

He was overjoyed to learn that the teahouse was thriving and had become the preferred tea-drinking spot for scholars and literati in Qiantang.

Zhao Han glanced at her and smiled, "No need for formalities. I know your zither skills are excellent. If you play well today, I will reward you handsomely."

Upon hearing this, Song Yinzhang smiled and replied softly, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty. This servant will do my best to play the instrument."

Having said that, she lifted her skirt and sat respectfully on the soft stool, holding the pipa steadily in her arms, her fingertips hovering over the strings for a moment.

Song Yinzhang took a deep breath, his wrists slightly lowered, and the pipa music flowed out, generous and passionate, containing the force of war.

Her wide sleeves fluttered gently with her movements, and the melody gradually changed from passionate to desolate.

A lone plume of smoke rises from the vast desert, iron cavalry tramples across the Gobi, and wild geese fly past the setting sun!

Zhang Fu and several other veteran generals were initially surprised, but then they straightened their backs and slowly closed their eyes.

Through the sound of the pipa, they seemed to see themselves as they guarded the frontier in their youth.

Gu Tingye opened his eyes wide and looked straight at Song Yinzhang. He really didn't expect that such music would come from a girl who was not yet of marriageable age.

It's amazing.

After the song ended.

The civil and military officials in the hall praised it repeatedly, while the eunuchs and palace maids serving on one side listened with rapt attention.

Song Yinzhang gently withdrew her wrist, stood up, curtsied, and said in a soft yet steady voice, "This servant makes a fool of herself and respectfully requests Your Majesty's appraisal."

Zhao Han clapped his hands and laughed, "What a wonderful 'Liangzhou Grand Recitation'! You truly deserve to be called the number one pipa player in Qiantang!"

"Your Majesty, I believe that after today, this woman can be called the number one pipa player in Bianjing!" Gu Tingye replied with a smile.

Not far away, a Ministry of Rites official, who was over fifty years old, squinted.

Stroking his beard, he exclaimed, "This music should only exist in heaven! I have been immersed in music for decades, and only this person has played out the essence of Liangzhou Dabian!"

"Incredible, absolutely incredible!"

Song Yinzhang lowered her eyes slightly, appearing calm and composed. She had been learning to play the pipa since she could remember, for ten years now.

In terms of her skill on the pipa, she has yet to find anyone who surpasses her.

Zhao Han put down his wine cup and said gently, "Your performance has won the hearts of me and all the officials. Now, tell me, what reward do you desire?"

Song Yinzhang pursed her lips and cautiously looked up at him.

After a moment of hesitation, she knelt down and said, "It is already a great favor that I was able to come to the Jiaofangsi from the Qiantang Music Camp. I dare not ask for anything more."

Hearing this, Zhao Han couldn't help but be a little surprised.

If he remembered correctly, Song Yinzhang's greatest wish in life was to escape the life of a courtesan and become a respectable man, just like Zhao Pan'er.

However, since Song Yinzhang didn't bring it up, he naturally wouldn't bring it up himself.

So he smiled slightly and said, "By imperial decree, Song Yinzhang is to be rewarded with one hundred taels of gold and granted a token for imperial musicians. From now on, when entering and leaving the Jiaofangsi (Imperial Music Bureau), he will not need to perform the etiquette of ordinary musicians."

"This servant thanks Your Majesty for the reward!" Song Yinzhang respectfully expressed his gratitude.

Outside the Hall of Heroes, she held the pipa named Lonely Moon in her arms and exhaled a long breath. It was still Song Yinzhang's lifelong wish to be freed from the status of a musician.

But Zhao Pan'er had earnestly advised her that after arriving in Bianjing, she would definitely make a name for herself in front of important people.

If she were to win the favor of a nobleman by playing the pipa in the future, she must never ask to be released from her noble status as soon as she opens her mouth.

To legitimately leave the brothel, one must first establish a firm foothold in the brothel and build a solid relationship with a patron who recognizes one's talent, before seeking a suitable opportunity to propose leaving the brothel.

Otherwise, you might not only fail to gain favor, but also lose most of the goodwill you previously had. If you offend the important person, you might even ruin your future prospects.

Song Yinzhang kept these words firmly in mind, so he did not mention the matter of leaving the household registration today.

She was already content with the reward money.

As dusk fell and the banquet ended, Gu Tingye, Sheng Hong, and other officials walked in turn along the flat bluestone path toward the palace gate.

Sheng Changbai patted Gu Tingye on the shoulder and said softly, "I ran into your fourth and fifth uncles by chance when I left court a couple of days ago."

"Han Niu said they were spitting and shouting everywhere that the current Marquis of Ningyuan was cold-blooded and ruthless, disregarding clan ties, and that you had driven them to a dead end."

"Your status is different now, and we must not let these rumors continue to spread."

Gu Tingye clenched his fists and snorted coldly, "These ignorant fools need to be taught a lesson again!"

“While the lesson was certainly satisfying, I think it would be better to find a way to send them back to their ancestral home.”

"This will prevent them from spreading rumors. At that time, the emperor will be far away, and if you want to deal with them, it will only be a matter of a word."

“It’s nothing like being restricted in the capital.” Sheng Changbai looked at him earnestly.

Gu Tingye raised his hand and touched his chin. The ancestral home of the Gu family in the capital was in Qingcheng.

Their ancestors originally made a living by fishing, logging, and other odd jobs.

Just as the world was in chaos, our ancestor led his two sons to join the army and made great contributions, which led to the Gu family we have today.

“You’re right. I’ll have Shi Tou take some men and tie them up and take them to Qingcheng to guard the ancestral hall. However, we can’t guarantee they won’t catch a cold on the way.”

Sheng Changbai knew about Gu Tingye's childhood experiences, so he didn't say much.

He sighed softly and said in a low voice, "You need to figure out the right balance yourself. You must not let anyone have a handle against you."

"Don't worry, I know."

"By the way, has your Hui'er's marriage been arranged yet? Why don't you take a look at my Chang'er!" Gu Tingye chuckled, his usual playful expression returning.

Sheng Changbai glanced at him indifferently and said decisively, "Don't dream about it. Our two families can't."

His lifelong wish was to become a Grand Secretary. With Gu Tingye's talent, he was sure to become a top military general in the court.

The Sheng and Gu families must absolutely not form a marriage alliance.

-

Meanwhile, after the banquet for the ladies of the court and the women of the palace ended, Minglan left Yanran, Zhang Guifen and others behind, and headed straight for Ninghui Palace with Xiaotao.

Out of consideration for Wei Ling and Minglan, Zhao Han specially arranged for Wei Shuyi to enter the palace today to meet with Minglan.

This was Wei Shuyi's first time entering the palace. He and his maid Xiaodie were very reserved along the way, afraid of doing anything impolite that would embarrass Minglan.

She was sitting gracefully on a soft stool inside the hall.

She wore a moon-white brocade dress with cloud patterns, her hair was neatly styled, and a few simple yet elegant hairpins were inserted diagonally.

Now over forty, Wei Shuyi inevitably has some wrinkles around her eyes and brows. But thanks to her good skincare, her cheeks still have a radiant glow. In addition, her extensive reading and calm temperament give her a more gentle and quiet demeanor than other women her age.

Until they heard Minglan's voice coming from outside the hall.

Wei Shuyi finally breathed a sigh of relief, quickly stood up, and took a few steps forward with a smile in her eyes.

"My dear!" Minglan lifted the hem of her skirt and threw herself into her arms.

Wei Shuyi wrapped his arms tightly around her back.

After a moment, she looked down at her daughter in her arms and said gently, "It's been many days since I last saw you. Your Highness is even more radiant and composed than when you were in your boudoir."

Minglan smiled and, holding Wei Shuyi's hand, headed straight for the inner hall. The mother and daughter sat on the soft couch by the window.

"There's no one else here, so please just call me Ming'er. I want to get closer to you and let's skip the formalities."

Wei Shuyi nodded gently, "Okay, tomorrow."

Standing to the side, Xiaodie couldn't help but raise her hand to wipe away the tears from the corners of her eyes.

Although she was only ten years old when Minglan was born, she had watched Minglan grow up.

"Your Highness, has Xiao Tao, this greedy and playful silly girl, taken good care of you?"

Minglan's eyes flickered slightly, and she smiled, "Don't worry, Sister Xiaodie, our Xiaotao is not stupid at all; she is wise in disguise."

In the past, everyone in the Sheng family, including those in Linxi Pavilion and Weirui Pavilion, thought Xiao Tao was a bit dull.

They thought she wouldn't understand any of those intricate rules, and no one would think to guard against her.

Therefore, if Minglan wants to know their news, she only needs to send Xiaotao, and she'll be able to succeed.

More importantly, she was loyal to Minglan and never acted presumptuously. She always followed orders and was a woman of her word.

"That's good!"

"This palace is so beautifully decorated, it's like the place where fairies live in heaven."

"If it weren't for the eunuch leading the way, my mistress and I don't know where we would have ended up," Xiaodie said with a smile, affectionately taking Xiaotao's hand.

Xiao Tao chuckled and turned around to bring over several plates of pastries. She personally picked up a piece and put it into Xiao Die's mouth.

"My dear mother, how is my seventh brother doing these days?" Minglan blinked and asked softly.

Wei Shuyi nodded. "He's fine. Second Brother is at home now, and he doesn't dare to be like before, jumping around like a little monkey."

"The only thing you're lacking is your studies; you've been scolded by your father quite a bit."

Upon hearing this, Minglan picked up her teacup and took a small sip. When it came to raising their sons, Shenghong always treated them equally.

Then she leaned closer to Wei Shuyi, "And you, young lady? Has Madam...?"

"No, that's not true. With your uncle around, and your father forbidding her from interfering in the affairs of my courtyard, we rarely see each other except for the morning and evening greetings."

"Your second sister-in-law is a good person. No matter what good things she gets, she will always think of me and Brother Liu. Don't worry, just take care of yourself."

"If that Aunt Kang comes to visit again, I will go to Shou'an Hall to serve the old lady."

"The old lady has long disliked her. Even if she had ten times the courage, she wouldn't dare to act recklessly in front of the old lady," Wei Shuyi said softly, appearing serene and content.

Minglan gave a soft "hmm" and then nestled in her arms. Xiaotao and Xiaodie sat behind the screen, their cheerful laughter occasionally escaping.

A moment later, Wei Shu suddenly asked, "Ming'er, how does the Emperor treat you?"

Minglan blushed and snuggled closer to her, saying in a muffled voice, "The Emperor treats his daughter very well."

"Now that Consort De is pregnant, it is inconvenient for her to serve. Apart from the Empress and Consort Xian, my daughter is the most favored."

"The Emperor has saved our lives, so you must serve him wholeheartedly and give birth to his offspring as soon as possible, so that he will have someone to rely on in the future."

Upon hearing this, Minglan nodded repeatedly.

As night fell, Wei Shuyi and Xiaodie left the palace amidst Minglan's reluctant gaze.

Escorted by Wei Ling, the master and servant toured the city for a while before returning to the Sheng residence.

-

Inside the Renming Hall, the lights were bright, and a faint fragrance of flowers wafted around.

Zhang Ge'er was tired from playing and had been taken to the side hall to sleep by his wet nurse.

Hua Lan smiled as she leaned against the soft couch, needle and thread in her hand.

Although the Imperial Clothing Bureau had many skilled embroiderers, and Minglan and Yanran could help, as a mother, she still wanted to do something for Zhang Ge'er herself.

The sentiment behind it is something that no one else can replace.

Zhao Han turned her gaze to Jing Ge'er. Since he started learning martial arts from Gu Tingye, he had indeed become much stronger, and his brows had gained a touch of heroic spirit.

Although he wasn't particularly talented in martial arts, he was very diligent.

Zhao Han was extremely satisfied with this.

“Father, I met my uncle a few days ago, and he told me many things.”

After saying that, Jingge stroked his beard like Sheng Changbai and said, "To correct the mistakes of the ruler is loyalty, to uphold the family is filial piety, to act as a son is propriety, and to defend the law is integrity."

He also said that as the eldest son of his father, he should first establish good character and then cultivate his skills.

"The title of eldest son is not a title that grants him special privileges, but rather a responsibility that he must shoulder."

"Your subject thinks that what your uncle said makes a lot of sense."

Zhao Han put down his teacup and smiled faintly.

If I were to pass away someday, I would feel much more at ease knowing that my uncle, Sheng Changbai, is still around.

He was a veteran of two dynasties, served in the cabinet four times, was appointed prime minister three times, was named a distinguished minister, and held positions in six ministries and thirteen provinces. His students and former officials were all over the country.

Two princes escorted the officials to the funeral; such an honor would surely make Sheng Hong and Wang Ruofu beam with joy if they knew it on their deathbeds.

However, many things have changed now, and it is not impossible that Sheng Changbai will pass away before him.

Looking into Jingge'er's clear eyes, Zhao Han pulled herself out of her thoughts, raised her hand and gently patted his shoulder, "You are still young, there is no need to rush to be perfect in everything."

"However, your uncle has been a diligent student since childhood and has always been upright in his conduct. You can learn from him in this respect."

"Your subject understands!" Jingge bowed respectfully, his expression solemn.

After he left, Hua Lan put down her needlework, smiled, and personally stepped forward to remove Zhao Han's outer robe.

-

It's already mid-September, the autumn sky is high and the air is crisp and clear.

Zhang Guifen gave birth to the fourth prince smoothly. Because she had been practicing martial arts since childhood and was physically strong, her delivery took much less time than that of Hualan and Shulan.

The Duke of England's mansion was filled with joy. The Duchess of England even went to Yuqing Temple to fulfill her vow, donate money for incense and oil, and instructed the Taoist priest to perform rituals for seven consecutive days to pray for the fourth prince and hope that he would grow up safely.

Zhao Han even summoned Zhang Fu to the palace to jointly name the fourth prince Zhao Yan, giving the Zhang family a great deal of face.

(End of this chapter)