There are too many female protagonists with deceased husbands in the Qin Dynasty's Past Books.

Hu Yu'er, the young lady of Huoyu Manor, sat quietly before the guqin.

She had also changed her outfit today, appearing more dignified and noble than her usual simple and quiet demeanor, radiating beauty and attracting the attention of all the guests.

With slender, fair fingers gently plucking the strings, a melodious tune flowed forth.

This piece was clearly a birthday gift that Hu Yuer prepared for her father. Its music is grand and majestic, captivating the listener. Upon closer listening, it evokes a sense of reverie, as if one could see a phoenix perched on a parasol tree and a hundred birds paying homage.

Many guests' wine glasses froze in mid-air, the clinking of glasses paused slightly, and everyone was momentarily captivated by the mood of the music.

It must be said that talent is indeed related to genetics.

As the daughter of Lady Hu, Nongyu has achieved remarkable skill in the zither at a young age, and Han Fei commented that she has the potential to reach the level of the great zither master Kuang Xiu.

Now it seems that Hu Yuer also has remarkable talent in this field.

Putting aside everything else, this suspected "Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix" score, even if it can't compare to the legendary "High Mountains and Flowing Water," is probably still quite valuable.

However, Huoyu Manor still exists, and Hu Yuer is not short of money.

As a straight man who believes in "if only I had known better" when buying headphones, Jiang Mo really has no musical talent. Forget about guitars, basses, or other chick magnets; he can't even play the harmonica.

There's nothing particularly insightful to say about the piece Hu Yuer played.

However, after listening to the song, Jiang Mo understood the meaning of Bai Juyi's poem "The Song of the Pipa" from back then: "How can there be no mountain songs and village flutes, but their harsh and discordant sounds are hard to listen to. Tonight, hearing your pipa music, it is like listening to celestial music, and my ears are temporarily enlightened."

Of course, Jiang Mo didn't dare say these words out loud.

If Yan Lingji heard him dismiss the tune she casually hummed as "awkward and mocking," this little girl would probably kick him again.

Jiang Mo was confident that he could accurately grab the opponent's ankle.

But in today's setting, being kicked or having one's foot grabbed is somewhat inappropriate.

As the music ended, most of the guests were still immersed in the lingering melody when suddenly a loud voice rang out, cheering loudly:

"Wow! That sounds amazing!"

Without even looking, Jiang Mo could tell that the voice was most likely coming from Liu Yi. He took a sip of his wine and couldn't help but shake his head slightly.

You can't even lick properly, no wonder Mrs. Hu doesn't like you at all.

Jiang Mo could roughly guess what Liu Yi was thinking: he wanted to praise the other person first in order to attract Hu Yu'er's attention.

Praise is appropriate, but it depends on the occasion.

If you see someone performing on the street, stop and listen to their song, and then think it's quite good and lead the applause and praise, then you'll naturally be very supportive.

Of course, it would be great if they could sponsor some real money.

But if you were listening to a performance in a place like the Vienna Opera House and jumped up and shouted "That was great, play again!" you would most likely be kicked out.

At this moment, Hu Yuer was playing elegant music.

Who among those present failed to appreciate the beauty of the music? Even after the piece ended, the audience remained captivated, and the moment of quiet immersion was, in itself, the most heartfelt praise for Hu Yuer's musical skill.

Jumping out and cheering loudly at this point would only ruin the lingering atmosphere.

If you didn't know better, you'd think this was some kind of brothel or entertainment venue.

Liu Yi's attempt to flatter Huo Yugong backfired spectacularly. Huo Yugong couldn't help but show a hint of displeasure, but refrained from doing so in front of the guests.

"Lord Liu comes from a military background and has always been unconventional in his conduct."

As Liu Yi's boss, Li Kai was incredibly unlucky; he even had to cover up the latter's brainless recklessness while having a meal.

He stood up, raised his wine cup to Huo Yugong, and drank it all in one gulp:

"If I have disturbed the enjoyment of Lord Huoyu and all the distinguished guests, it is truly my fault for not being more restrained. I hope you will all forgive me. I will drink this in advance as a sign of respect."

"You're too kind, Lord Li."

As she lifted her fingertips from the strings, Hu Yu'er gracefully rose and spoke up for Li Kai, saying, "A banquet should be lively and enjoyable; there's no need to be overly concerned with formalities."

"Yes, yes, gentlemen, please don't be shy, and enjoy the feast to the fullest!"

Seeing Li Kai apologize and listen to his daughter's words, Huo Yugong forgot his displeasure and happily stirred up the atmosphere of the banquet.

With a wave of his hand, his servants and maids moved about like flowing water.

Various fine wines and delicacies were poured onto the tables in front of each person as if they were free, highlighting the extravagance of "we're not short of money, let's eat to our hearts' content".

Unfortunately, with people from all over the country gathering here, it's hard to avoid conflicts even at a birthday banquet.

"I observe that Lord Li seems to be quite knowledgeable about music. If he truly feels apologetic, why not play a tune on the zither to celebrate Lord Huoyu's birthday?"

A rather flamboyant voice came from the direction of the head of the table.

Like a venomous snake flicking its tongue, it chilled the atmosphere in the banquet hall that had finally become lively.

Chapter 47 No wonder it tastes so good

"Please, Lord Li, play the zither for Lord Huoyu."

"Grapes and fine wine in a luminous cup, lips stained like blood, whose tears are these?" Tianze downed the wine in one gulp, then looked up at Li Kai with a half-smile, but the emotion revealed in his words was undeniably aggressive.

And it sounds strangely familiar.

The previously harmonious atmosphere at the table suddenly turned cold again. As if sensing the chill in the air, many guests chose to stay out of the way.

They didn't dare to breathe loudly, wishing they could disappear immediately.

Tianze was certainly not targeting Huoyu Gong. Rather, he was trying his best to win over the incredibly wealthy Huoyu Manor. Otherwise, he wouldn't have condescended to come and personally celebrate Huoyu Gong's birthday.

What picture?

He just wanted to take advantage of Huoyu Gong's vast wealth to achieve his grand ambition of becoming the Red-Eyebrowed Dragon and Snake, and to make Baiyue great again!

Whether or not he was great before, that's none of your business.

Unfortunately, Huo Yu Gong, who managed Huo Yu Manor so well, was no ordinary person. Faced with Tian Ze's various hints and attempts to win him over, he always smiled and declined vaguely, showing no intention of siding with Tian Ze.

However, Huo Yugong's attitude left Tianze with no reason to criticize him.

Whether it's provisions or military pay, as long as the request isn't too unreasonable, Huo Yugong will agree without hesitation as long as Tianze asks.

The presence of South Korean generals like Lee Kai further deterred Tianze from going too far.

Otherwise, it would be like pushing Huoyu Manor to South Korea, which would not only ruin the reputation that Tianze has worked so hard to build over the years and lose Huoyu Manor, a rare and prosperous place, but would also be an immeasurable loss for Baiyue.

Despite the fact that the main objective was not achieved and other gains were made during the trip, Tianze still couldn't help but feel depressed.

And so it happened during the banquet.

This was aimed at Korea, which was attempting to extend its reach into the Baiyue region, and also served as a warning to Huoyu Gong, who had connections with Korea.

The conflicts between Baiyue and South Korea are almost out in the open.

Jiang Mo, who was watching quietly, seemed to be deep in thought. As the saying goes, one can know that autumn is coming from seeing a single falling leaf. Just from the scene unfolding before his eyes, he could keenly smell the smoke of impending war.

He raised the wine cup in his hand and drank the somewhat spicy wine in one gulp.

However, Jiang Mo was not the only one who remained calm and composed. When he turned to look at Yan Lingji beside him, he saw that the girl was oblivious to what was happening at the banquet and was busy picking at all kinds of delicious food.

While stuffing food into his own mouth, he also piled it into Jiang Mo's bowl.

It had the air of a poor girl from a remote mountain village, who was feasting and eating heartily at a relative's banquet in the city.

As for the situation between Baiyue and Korea, they paid no attention to it.

With a helpless yet indulgent smile, Jiang Mo took out a handkerchief that he had specially carried with him for Yan Lingji and helped the little kitten's face regain its cleanliness.

Li Kai's response, neither humble nor arrogant, rang out at this moment:

"Your Highness is too kind. I have spent many years in the military, and all I have read are military books and all I have heard are war drums. How could I know anything about string and wind instruments or elegant music?"

Li Kai rose gracefully, a smile still on his face, but a sharp glint flashed in his eyes:

"However, since Crown Prince Tianze has already spoken, it would be inappropriate for me to refuse repeatedly. In that case, I will perform a sword dance to entertain you all!"

"Tang Qi, bring me my sword!"

Sending a diplomat abroad is no easy task. If one is too weak and allows the other side to manipulate one, even if no real interests are lost, one will inevitably lose the backbone of the nation.

However, if the approach is too aggressive, it could trigger serious diplomatic problems.

It could even escalate into war.

That would not just be dereliction of duty, but putting nine generations of one's family in mortal danger.

Faced with Tianze's challenge, Li Kai responded with neither servility nor arrogance. It could be described as a strategic retreat, claiming it was a sword dance for entertainment, yet his words and actions revealed a sharp edge.

There was not a trace of weakness or vulnerability on their faces.

On the contrary, when he reached out to take the sword from Tang Qi, he gave people the feeling that he might draw his sword and kill someone at any time.

Fortunately, Li Kai was wearing a wide-sleeved brocade robe instead of the bright silver full-body armor when he came to the banquet today.

Otherwise, it would inevitably give people the impression that he might immediately smash a cup, summon five hundred axemen from who-knows-where, and hack everyone present to pieces.

Whoosh~

The three-foot-long sword was drawn from its sheath, accompanied by a series of crisp sword sounds. The bright blade drew a clear, white light as the evening grew darker, causing many guests to fall silent and dare not make any rash moves.

Without waiting for anyone's permission, Li Kai, sword in hand, leaped into the center of the hall.

He flicked the hem of his robe and tightened the loose cuffs, instantly transforming his brocade robe into a more practical outfit that wouldn't hinder his movements.

Then the sword moved like a swimming dragon.

Although it was called a sword dance to add to the festivities, in Jiang Mo's opinion, Li Kai's sword dance had no performance aspect whatsoever. The concise and efficient moves were filled with the aura of battlefield warfare.

It may not be the most ingenious, but it is definitely practical.

Every move they made was aimed at taking lives, leaving no room for mercy.

That's definitely the style of a military strategist.

It's entertaining, but the guests are mostly high-ranking figures. They don't even need to lift a finger to kill a fish, let alone commit murder.

They simply couldn't appreciate the pure, violent aesthetics that Li Kai displayed in his sword dance.

Everyone was so frightened that their faces turned pale.

However, this did not include Jiang Mo and Yan Lingji. At the banquet, where the atmosphere was becoming increasingly oppressive, the two of them remained remarkably calm and composed.

Eat and drink as you please.