Chapter Thirty-Two: The Grand Ceremony of the Alliance of Five Nations (Part Twelve)

No matter what, Zhao Xu was someone accustomed to grand occasions, yet the opulence and magnificence before him far exceeded what he had ever known. At first glance, it truly resembled a miniature palace.

Qi Guan walked ahead, unconcerned, but when he noticed Zhao Xu hadn't followed, he turned back. "Brother Zhao, why have you stopped?"

"Ah? Nothing, let's go, let's go." Zhao Xu, lost in admiration, only came to himself when Qi Guan called him.

Just as Qi Guan was about to ascend the steps, two attendants who had been soliciting customers outside the door hurried over, grinning, and bowed their heads in unison, "Master."

Hearing this, Zhao Xu grabbed Qi Guan, his face filled with disbelief, and whispered, "This... this place belongs to you?"

"I'm just a hands-off manager," Qi Guan replied with a smile.

Zhao Xu was excited. His silver had nearly run out, and he had been fretting over how to ask Wan Qi Shu and the others for more. Now, with a wealthy patron to rely on, he no longer needed to curry favor with foreign princes.

The more he thought about it, the more exhilarated he became. His attitude toward Qi Guan shifted from arrogant to meek and respectful. Truly, money can make a man serve others like an ox.

The two attendants found it odd that Zhao Xu, somewhat shabby in appearance, was being called "brother" by their master, who even referred to himself as "little brother" in front of him.

They wondered, since when did their master have such an elder brother?

"You rascal... oh, no," Zhao Xu quickly corrected himself, "Ah, what a slip of the tongue—Master, you're truly humble, so humble, ha ha." He patted Qi Guan’s shoulder again, but this time with far less force.

Qi Guan glanced at the attendants, then at the dazzling sun, and said, "It’s indeed hot today. You two needn’t stand outside any longer. Go to the kitchen, get a bowl of cooling soup, and help inside."

The attendants were visibly moved, wiping sweat from their foreheads and noses with their sleeves, smiling, "Thank you, Master."

Qi Guan gestured toward Zhao Xu with a flourish, "Please, brother."

Zhao Xu waved his hand hurriedly, "No, no, Master, after you."

Upon entering, Zhao Xu’s eyes glazed over. To call this establishment a ‘shell palace’ was no exaggeration; it was far from an overstatement.

Inside, the tables were packed with distinguished guests; the aroma of wine and dishes filled the air as attendants sped about, serving food and drink. Laughter and the clinking of cups echoed throughout the hall.

The tables were fashioned from tree stumps, with lifelike growth rings carved upon them.

All the vessels for wine and food were of red jade, astonishingly vivid...

"Tsk, tsk, tsk," Zhao Xu marveled. Any one of these commonplace items could make him fabulously wealthy.

The walls were adorned with calligraphy and paintings, lending the place a scholarly air and making it all the more pleasing to the eye.

Outside, the heat was oppressive, but inside, a cool breeze wafted through unexpectedly.

Zhao Xu looked about, everywhere his gaze fell radiated a sense of grandeur.

"Master, is there some treasure here that wards off the heat?" Surveying his surroundings, a trace of greed flickered in Zhao Xu’s eyes.

"Of course," Qi Guan replied, pointing to the center of the hall. "See there? Inside is a huge block of ice, brought from the frigid polar regions at great expense."

Zhao Xu followed his gesture, "Oh." He had noticed it when he entered, but dismissed it as of little value.

The ice was wrapped in a red mesh, so no one could see what it contained.

Curious, he walked toward it. Qi Guan wanted to call him back, but it was too late, so he let him go.

When Zhao Xu was three or four meters away, he sneezed uncontrollably, but the sound was frozen in his throat.

He hunched his neck, rubbing his arms, and soon his eyelashes were frosted white.

His movements grew sluggish, and suddenly he collapsed with a thud.

Qi Guan, seeing him fall, calmly ordered someone to carry him upstairs.

The onlookers chuckled, shook their heads, and resumed eating and drinking, as if they'd watched a free show.

Perhaps Zhao Xu hadn’t noticed—despite the empty space in the center and no one approaching, he insisted on taking a look.

Liuyun Tower had an unspoken rule: no one could approach the object in the center, or they would bear the consequences.

At that moment, Chu Yue'e, her belly slightly rounded, came to Qi Guan's side. Her hair was swept up, giving her a serene appearance.

"Brother Qi Guan, your neck..." Chu Yue'e immediately noticed the blood mark on his neck and reached out to touch it.

Qi Guan gently took her hand, his eyes full of tenderness, tucked her loose hair behind her ear, and said softly, "It’s nothing, just a scratch. You’re always restless, running about. There are so many people here—what if someone bumps into you? Be good, go back now."

"Next time, don’t be so careless. I just heard you were back and wanted to see you. Who’s that?" Chu Yue'e asked, puzzled by the man lying on the floor.

"He just fainted. Cui'er, help the lady back, be careful."

"Don’t worry, with me here, nothing will happen. Madam, let’s go," the clever maid replied, attentive as ever.

"Wait. You two, go with Madam, don’t let anyone bump into her," Qi Guan added, still uneasy.

The maid smiled mischievously, "Master, it’s quite close from here to the back yard. Isn’t this a bit much?"

"You little rascal, what do you know? Go, help Madam," Qi Guan feigned reproach.

"Alright, alright. As you wish."

Qi Guan shook his head helplessly, amused and annoyed. Was he too easygoing? Even the maid dared to talk back; he’d have to be stricter in the future.

When they were gone, Qi Guan finally went upstairs. Though he longed to stay with Chu Yue'e, more pressing matters awaited him.

Meanwhile, at the training field, the contest continued in full swing.

"Excellent! The Fifth Prince is impressive!"

"The Prince of Nansheng is truly as renowned as his reputation."

"Hey, which country are you from? Must you praise others and belittle your own?"

"I’m just stating facts, speaking from the heart."

After Fu Hua finished playing the flute, the audience could not contain their excitement and began to chatter incessantly.

Though the heat was oppressive, calm hearts brought coolness.

Each voice grew louder, eager to be heard. Where there are people, there is noise—this has been true for thousands of years.

Bai Cheng sincerely praised, "Such music exists only in heaven; how often does one hear it on earth?"

In flute playing, Bai Cheng was a prodigy; even he was so impressed, so Fu Hua must be extraordinary.

Bai Qingye’s gaze suddenly darkened. Fu Hua’s flute was full of tenderness, wholly unlike his usual style. Was he thinking of that beloved confidante?

She smiled bitterly to herself. Fu Hua could express his feelings through music, but who could she confide her own heart to?

Before meeting Fu Hua, she had resisted this marriage from the bottom of her heart, but after meeting him, she knew she would never escape.

Perhaps it was then that Bai Qingye began to hope in her heart.

Fu Hua was indifferent to praise. He simply gazed at Changsun Chengmin.

Changsun Chengmin’s greatest concern now was Fu Hua. If he shone again in the six arts, he would win the people’s favor, making him far more difficult to deal with in the future.

Now, Fu Hua and they were opponents, not friends, and could never stand together. So, his wings must be clipped early.

"Bah, what's so great about him? Why put on airs?" Gu Nanyuan glared furiously, seeing Fu Hua held in such high regard.

"The flute performance is over. Next, the fourth event—pipe music."

...

In an instant, the training ground was filled with melodious, lingering pipe music, weaving through the joys and sorrows of life.

The performers were immersed in their art, emotions flowing from the holes of their pipes.

The crisp, pleasing sounds drifted into the ears of the audience below, while those on stage, each absorbed in their own thoughts, listened absent-mindedly.

Emperor Baixi rested a large hand on the dragon throne, tilting his head slightly, casting a sidelong glance at the expressionless Princess Suhua seated behind him to his left. His look was as if she owed him silver.

The Empress sat upright, pondering what schemes Emperor Baixi and Suhua might be plotting.

Changsun Chengmin seemed calm, but his heart was full of weighty matters. He needed to seek justice for Gu Qiuci and clarify his identity. Yet, the obstacles before him were many: the inscrutable hearts of men and the unfathomable Fu Hua...

Bai Qingye’s mind was consumed by visions of Fu Hua and Huayan laughing together, impossible to dispel.

"Zhao Chen, I vow to tear you to pieces. Just stay alive, and wait for me..." Shen Xinan closed her eyes, her hand clenched in her sleeve.

Bai Cheng and Fu Chen were probably the few on stage who listened to the music earnestly, unburdened, unlike the others with their tangled worries.

"Chengmin, are you uneasy already? This is only the beginning," Fu Hua’s eyes held a chilling smile.

Master Chenyin watched them quietly, having grasped eight or nine tenths of the five men's personalities:

Shen Xi Zhe was gentle and refined, never contending or competing—a model for noblemen in peaceful times.

Wan Qi Shu, wild and uninhibited, possessed a righteous spirit; he belonged in the rivers and lakes.

Changsun Chengjue was sincere and steady. Even if he never ascended the throne, he would be a pillar of the nation.

Gu Nanyuan, proud and ambitious, had unique musical insight. If he did not covet power, he could inherit his master’s legacy.

As for Fu Hua... he had not yet shown his full strength, having long concealed his talents and bided his time. His eyes alternated between murderous rage and deep sorrow. He needed chaos to achieve his ambitions.

The pipe music lingered on, and the evening glow stained half the sky red.