I rode and slashed unparalleled in the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 883: Performing Arts and Granting Marriage (5K)

"She is the legitimate wife of the current emperor, Lord Tang?"

Yuan Xiaoyu's eyes were involuntarily attracted to the woman in front of her. She saw that the empress was about sixteen or seventeen years old, wearing a red dragon robe. Although her cheeks were a little plump after giving birth, it made her look more graceful and elegant. Her eyebrows were like distant mountains, her skin was like peach blossoms, her phoenix eyes were majestic, and her every move showed royal majesty. How could she look like a puppet as rumored?

Yuan Xiaoyu lowered her head quickly, not daring to look directly at the emperor. She heard the empress's gentle voice coming from above:

"Everyone loves you."

Everyone thanked her and stood up. Yuan Xiaoyu then noticed that there was a familiar figure standing next to the empress - it was Su Yao who had visited her three days ago. At this moment, he was wearing a black brocade robe, with a jade belt around his waist, and he was handsome and upright. He stood side by side with the empress, like the sun and the moon shining together, making people dare not look directly at him.

Yuan Xiaoyu lowered her head in panic, her heart beating like a drum. She had never thought that she would have to share a husband with such a noble woman.

"This must be General Yuan's beloved daughter?" The empress slowly approached, with a hint of curiosity in her voice.

Yuan Xiaoyu quickly bowed again and said, "I, the humble girl Yuan Xiaoyu, pay my respects to His Majesty the Emperor."

The empress walked slowly over, looked down at Yuan Nu and said, "Raise your head and let me take a look."

Yuan Xiaoyu raised her head tremblingly and met the empress's scrutinizing gaze, which immediately made her shudder.

The gaze was as sharp as a knife, looking her up and down carefully, making her feel cold down her spine.

"She is indeed a beauty."

Suddenly, the empress smiled and turned to Su Yao and said:

"General Huoqi has a very strict upbringing. Miss Yuan is so dignified and beautiful, and she knows how to act appropriately. No wonder Lord Tang is full of praise for her."

Su Yao chuckled and his eyes stayed on Yuan Xiaoyu for a moment: "Your Majesty, thank you for the compliment. Miss Yuan is new here, I hope Your Majesty will take good care of her."

The empress glanced at Su Yao meaningfully, then turned to Yuan Xiaoyu and said, "Stand up, Miss Yuan, there is no need to be restrained. Lord Tang is hosting a banquet today, and I want to see you."

"Come, follow me to the table."

After saying that, Wannian actually reached out and personally pulled Yuan Xiaoyu up.

Yuan Xiaoyu was flattered and quickly agreed. She followed the empress carefully, and she caught a glimpse of the envious or jealous eyes of the guests around her, which made her feel even more uneasy.

The banquet was held in the garden of Lord Tang's mansion. Dozens of low tables were arranged in a circle, with an open space in the middle for singing and dancing performances.

The one sitting in the main seat was naturally the Empress of the Han Dynasty. Her husband, Duke Tang Su Yao, also sat with her. The two of them sat parallel to each other, looking quite intimate.

What Yuan Xiaoyu didn't expect was that the empress actually asked her to sit a little lower on the other side of her, a position closer to the front than many important officials in the court. Princess Yun of the Xiongnu and Lord Zhen Jiang of Zhongshan were on her left and right. Obviously, this was the seat for "family members"!
Such generous treatment made Yuan Xiaoyu's heart beat like thunder. She knelt carefully on the seat, folded her hands on her knees, not daring to overstep the line in the slightest.

She could feel the curious or jealous looks from those around her, making her feel uneasy.

"Miss Yuan, don't be nervous."

Wannian clapped his hands and asked Hong'er to pour her a glass of fruit wine:
"I heard that Miss Yuan also lived in the capital when she was young. I wonder if you are used to it now that you are back in Luoyang?"

Yuan Xiaoyu took the wine glass with both hands, her fingertips trembling slightly. She took a deep breath and tried to make her voice sound steady:

"Your Majesty, I only stayed in the capital for a short time when I was young, so my memory is a little vague. This time I return to my hometown, and I deeply feel that Luoyang is more prosperous than before. It is all because of your Majesty and Duke Tang's good governance of the country. I am very happy to see it."

"Oh? Miss Yuan is really good at talking." The Wannian Empress chuckled and narrowed her eyes. "Then do you know the scenery in Luoyang? What is the most famous one now?"

Yuan Xiaoyu's heart tightened. She had been away from Beijing for many years and didn't know much about the new look of Luoyang. As she was hesitating, she saw Su Yao holding a wine glass and looking at her gently, as if encouraging her.

Suddenly, Yuan Xiaoyu's nervous mood calmed down a little.

"Your Majesty," Yuan Xiaoyu said confidently, "When it comes to the scenery in Luoyang today, the most famous one is the high price of paper in Luoyang."

"Oh? What is the saying that paper is in great demand in Luoyang? Why don't I know about it?"

Then Yuan Xiaoyu explained:
"Your Majesty, I heard that the paper produced by the new paper mill in Luoyang last year is as white as snow and has a strong texture, but the price is much lower than before. Once it was launched, it was deeply loved by scholars all over the world."

"With this paper, and Tang Gong's promotion of printing, the teachings of the sages were printed in large quantities. Almost every one of the 108 districts in the capital had a bookstore, and countless children from poor families were able to buy books and study. For a time, everyone in Luoyang City was in fashion for reading and learning, and scholars frequently came and went. Scholars from all over the world gathered in the capital, and many excellent works were produced."

"Due to the huge increase in demand for paper, the originally relatively low price of paper has also risen sharply, hence the saying 'paper is expensive in Luoyang'."

"I believe that the great achievements of Your Majesty and Lord Tang are the most famous thing about Luoyang today."

"What a great price for paper in Luoyang!"

The Wannian Empress' eyes lit up, and she couldn't help but applaud:

"Miss Yuan is indeed well-informed. Your words comfort me. It seems that the Yuan family has a strict tradition, and even the ladies in the boudoir are so concerned about current affairs."

Yuan Xiaoyu blushed slightly, glanced at Su Yao and said softly: "Your Majesty, you are too kind. I just heard my father often mention the new policies of Lord Tang, and I have admired him for a long time."

This is of course a complete lie.

In fact, she was able to answer so fluently thanks to Su Yao's instructions three days ago.

That day, Su Yao told her that the emperor would be attending a banquet today and asked her to prepare in advance. Yuan Xiaoyu immediately became fully alert.

Whether out of etiquette or a woman's intuition, Yuan Xiaoyu was very clear that meeting the emperor today would be a severe test.

Therefore, she had been cramming these few days, asking the servants to inquire from many sources and carefully prepare so that she could memorize all kinds of information before she dared to attend this banquet.

Seeing that the empress was satisfied, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but on the surface she remained respectful and humble.

But obviously, this is only the first level.

Sure enough, next, Princess Yun, Zhen Jiang, and other wives and daughters of the powerful in the capital came out one after another. Amidst the greetings and compliments, the topic gradually turned from the scenery of Luoyang to the daily life in the boudoir and talents, and they tested her in many ways on the talent and tolerance of this young lady of the Yuan family.

Fortunately, Yuan Xiaoyu received a strict education from an aristocratic family since she was young. She dabbled in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry and songs. Although she was nervous when facing the tests from everyone, she handled them well.

The calligraphy learned from a famous teacher and the poems full of spirit attracted the nods of praise from the celebrities present. Even Cai Yong nodded and praised:

"Miss Yuan has a great handwriting. Her strokes are strong yet elegant. Her poems are full of talent. She is a rare talent in the boudoir. Given time, her achievements will surely be limitless."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Xiaoyu quickly stood up and bowed to Cai Yongying, saying earnestly, "Mr. Cai, I really don't deserve your praise. I am so lucky to have Mr. Cai's advice. I often read Mr. Cai's articles, and every word is so precious that I have benefited a lot from them. Today, I am honored to hear Mr. Cai's praise in person."

Cai Yong stroked his beard with a satisfied smile on his face, and he admired Yuan Xiaoyu's humility and politeness.

Just as everyone was immersed in the praise of Yuan Xiaoyu's talent, Zhen Jiang gently shook the fan in his hand, a faint smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, and his voice was gentle but sharp:
"Sister Yuan is talented, there is no doubt about that. But for a woman in this world, talent alone is not enough. She must also know how to manage a household, how to assist her husband, and how to run the family business. This is her duty. Sister Yuan, do you think so?"

Zhen Jiang's words seemed to be praising Yuan Xiaoyu, but in fact they led the topic to a more practical and sensitive direction. Everyone pricked up their ears, wanting to hear how Yuan Xiaoyu would answer.

Yuan Xiaoyu's heart trembled. She understood that Zhen Jiang was testing her understanding of her future responsibilities as a wife.

So, after thinking for a moment, Yuan Xiaoyu raised her head and responded in a neither humble nor arrogant manner:
"Mr. Zhongshan is right. Although I have been learning calligraphy, poetry and songs since I was young, my parents have always taught me that women should be virtuous and kind, and that it is their responsibility to assist their husbands and manage the family business."

"In the Yuan Mansion, my mother takes care of everything in an orderly manner, so that my father can go out to fight without any worries. I have seen it with my own eyes and I remember it in my heart. If I am lucky enough to be a wife in the future, I will take my mother as a role model, do my best to support my husband and raise our children, share my husband's worries, and add glory to the family."

Yuan Xiaoyu's answer was well-reasoned and demonstrated her deep understanding of traditional women's duties. She also cleverly mentioned her family's good education, leaving Zhen Jiang unable to find any reason to refute.

In this way, the banquet continued. Below the stage, the guests were toasting each other, and on the stage, the geishas were singing and dancing, creating a scene of peace and prosperity.

So much so that even Princess Yun of the Xiongnu became excited. She took off her cumbersome palace clothes, changed into military uniform, and went on stage to dance with a sword to liven up the atmosphere.

After three rounds of drinking, Empress Wannian suddenly raised her glass and said to all the guests: "Today we are holding a banquet to celebrate Lord Tang's achievement in pacifying the north, and to introduce Miss Yuan, the new talent, to everyone."

Wannian turned to Yuan Xiaoyu and smiled: "I heard that you are proficient in music, chess, calligraphy and painting. I have just seen your attainments in poetry and calligraphy. I wonder if you can play a song for me and the general to liven up the atmosphere?"

Upon hearing this, Yuan Xiaoyu quickly stood up and saluted: "Your Majesty, I am too humble to praise you. I am afraid that my skills are not good enough for your Majesty to hear."

"Hey, don't refuse." The empress interrupted her with a smile, "Lord Tang boasted to me that Miss Yuan's zither skills are the best in Nanyang."

"Huh? I didn't say that, did I?" Su Yao cleared his throat.

The empress glanced at him and said, "Why, Lord Tang, are you feeling bad? Are you reluctant to let Miss Yuan perform?"

This conversation caused everyone at the table to laugh, but Yuan Xiaoyu felt her ears burning.

She took a deep breath and said respectfully, "Since your majesty has ordered me to do so, I will do my best to perform my duties."

The servants quickly brought an ancient zither. Yuan Xiaoyu sat in front of the zither and stroked the strings with her slender fingers. With just this light touch, she knew that this was a top-quality zither, in no way inferior to the treasures in their Yuan Mansion.

The Han Dynasty is about to rise.

Yuan Xiaoyu still remembered that just a few years ago, she heard the servants in the mansion say that the imperial court was in decline and even the utensils in the palace were in disrepair. All the valuable items were sold among the people to raise money, not to mention such a high-quality guqin.

And now, the zither that was casually taken out from Lord Tang's mansion was so extraordinary, which shows the prosperity of the court under Su Yao's assistance.

With this thought in mind, Yuan Xiaoyu collected her mind, plucked the strings of the zither lightly with her fingertips, and a melodious song "The Phoenix Seeks the Phoenix" began.

The melodious sound of the piano flowed like a gurgling stream in the garden of the Tang Mansion, and every note seemed to be endowed with a lively life. Yuan Xiaoyu devoted herself to the performance, and her fingertips trembled slightly at first. After all, in front of the nobles and the emperor, she felt a lot of pressure. But as the sound of the piano progressed, she gradually immersed herself in it and forgot everything around her.

Sometimes the sound of the piano is like a spring breeze, gently expressing love; sometimes it is like a heavy rain knocking on the window, eagerly expressing the desire for a soulmate. The guests put down their glasses and indulged in this wonderful melody.

Even Su Yao, who was not very interested in ancient music, leaned on the table, supporting his chin with one hand, his eyes lingering on Yuan Xiaoyu's focused profile, with a faint smile on the corner of his mouth.

Seeing this scene, Wannian felt a complex emotion in her heart. She quietly observed Su Yao's expression, then looked at Yuan Xiaoyu who was concentrating on playing the piano, and suddenly coughed lightly.

The sound of the piano suddenly stopped. Yuan Xiaoyu woke up as if from a dream, and hurriedly stood up to apologize: "I am disrespectful."

"No problem." The Wannian Empress waved her hands. "Miss Yuan is an extraordinary zither player. This piece of music, "The Phoenix Seeks the Phoenix", made me intoxicated. However, I heard that this piece of music was composed by Sima Xiangru to seek Zhuo Wenjun, and it contains a lot of love. Miss Yuan played this piece in public, but do you have someone in your heart?"

When Yuan Xiaoyu heard this, her cheeks instantly turned red, just like peach blossoms in spring. She twisted her sleeves in panic, lowered her eyes, and did not dare to look directly into the eyes of the empress, with a thousand horses galloping in her heart.

It's really bad.

She clearly knew the friendship between His Majesty and Lord Tang, so why did she play the song "The Phoenix Seeks the Phoenix" for some unknown reason?

The story behind this song is too ambiguous in front of everyone in the court.

Yuan Xiaoyu glanced at Su Yao secretly, only to see him looking at her with a half-smile, and her heart began beating rapidly.

"Your Majesty is wise." Her voice was as soft as a mosquito's. "I just... I just think this song can best express it."

"What do you mean?" Wannian narrowed his eyes slightly and asked with a smile.

The garden was suddenly so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. Yuan Xiaoyu felt as if she was being watched by countless gazes, and beads of sweat oozed from her forehead. At this critical moment, Su Yao suddenly chuckled:
"Your Majesty, why do you have to embarrass a little girl?" Su Yao raised his glass and sipped. "Miss Yuan has just arrived. It is rare for her to perform to liven up the party today. As for this "Phoenix Seeking the Phoenix"..."

He glanced at Yuan Xiaoyu and said meaningfully, "It's quite appropriate."

As soon as these words came out, a good-natured laugh suddenly rang out at the table. The Wannian Empress glared at Su Yao with a look of anger and joy, "Lord Tang is really kind to women."

She suddenly smiled and personally picked up the pot to pour a glass of wine for Yuan Xiaoyu: "Come, I'll toast you a glass. It was just a joke just now, Miss Yuan, don't take it to heart."

Yuan Xiaoyu was flattered and quickly took it with both hands, but accidentally knocked over the wine cup. The amber liquid splashed on the moon-white skirt, leaving a dark mark.

"I deserve to die!" She knelt down hurriedly and begged for forgiveness, her voice filled with tears.

Wan Nian unexpectedly reached out and helped her up: "It's just a wine stain, what's the crime? Hong'er, take Miss Yuan to change clothes."

After Yuan Xiaoyu left with the palace maid, Wannian approached Su Yao and said in a low voice, "This girl from the Yuan family is quite interesting. She is obviously scared to death, but she pretends to be calm."

Su Yao played with the jade cup in his hand: "Your Majesty, what do you think of this woman?"

"She looks handsome and well-educated." Wannian's fingertips twirled her hair, "but she's too young. I'm afraid she can't stand Mr. Tang's torture."

Su Yao coughed because of the wine he drank: "Your Majesty, are you jealous?"

The Wannian Empress snorted and leaned on Su Yao's shoulder: "If I were really jealous, I would not come to your banquet today. But Yuan Benchu ​​is ambitious, and his little daughter is very talented. I always feel uneasy leaving such a woman with you."

"Do not worry."

After sitting down for a while, Su Yao gently squeezed Wannian's little hand and said:

"The world's trend is no longer something that can be stopped by Yuan Benchu ​​and his ilk. As for Yuan Xiaoyu, she's just a 15-year-old girl. Are you still afraid that she will stir up some trouble here?"

"No matter how ambitious Yuan Shao is, he can't make any waves. As for Yuan Xiaoyu, she is just a simple girl and can't cause any waves."

Wan Nian nodded upon hearing this, and then a sly look flashed in his eyes: "When does the husband plan to take her into his room?"

Su Yao laughed: "Your Majesty is more anxious than I am."

"I'm just curious." Wannian leaned close to his ear and lowered his voice, "I heard that the dowry sent by Yuan Shao contained 30,000 taels of gold alone, as well as countless jewels and silks. Doesn't Lord Tang want to eat such a fat sheep as soon as possible?"

Su Yao raised his eyebrows: "When did my little Wannian become so mercenary?"

"That's not your fault"

Wannian blinked mischievously and said pitifully:

"You don't know how expensive firewood and rice are if you don't manage the household. My husband, you have to fight on the front line and implement new policies in the rear. How can our court afford such a toss?"

"Now that Yuan Shao has given me such a generous dowry, I naturally want to put this benefit into practice as soon as possible to subsidize our national treasury."

Su Yao laughed when he heard this: "Good fellow, you have learned to scheme against your husband."

While the two were chatting and laughing in low voices, Yuan Xiaoyu had already changed her clothes and returned.

She was wearing a lavender dress and her hair had been re-combed. Although it was not as gorgeous as before, it looked more elegant and refined. However, there was still a look of fear between her brows.

Seeing this, Wan Nian beckoned her to come closer: "Miss Yuan, you've come just in time. I have good news to announce to everyone."

The Wannian Empress raised her hand to signal everyone to be quiet. She glanced around and finally landed on Yuan Xiaoyu:

"Today, I have seen that Miss Yuan is both talented and beautiful, and she is also virtuous. She is indeed a good match. Since this is Yuan Huoqi's filial piety, I will make the decision: from now on, the daughter of the Yuan family will be canonized as 'Lord of Ruyang', and she will be allowed to live in the old house of the Yuan family. An auspicious day will be chosen to marry her in the Tang Mansion."

(End of this chapter)