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墨書 Inktalez
Today, those who came were either former students or close friends and relatives. Yang Su sat calmly on the couch, waiting for everyone to come forward to pay their respects. As the Grand Minister of the Sui Dynasty and the Minister of Rites, he held enough power to act with such authority.
Li Jian Cheng approached along with Dou Dan Yuan Shibi and others. They clasped their hands and bowed, acknowledging him, but just as they were about to step back to take their seats, Yang Su called out, "Li Family Young Master, please hold on a moment."
Upon hearing this, Li Jian Cheng halted. The once lively hall fell silent for a brief moment, as countless gazes turned towards him from all directions.
Most people recognized him; over the past two months, Li Jian Cheng had become a topic of conversation among many in the Capital City. However, much of it was in jest and mockery. It wasn't until he boldly spoke out against Duke of Qi Gao Shan that some praise began to circulate.
Of course, the praise was not sincere; it was merely a means to belittle Gao Shan through his words. The Duke of Qi had been in power for many years, blocking others' paths to advancement while also suppressing numerous individuals.
They lacked the courage to confront Gao Shan directly, but they felt emboldened to speak ill of him through Li Jian Cheng. As word spread, it was exaggerated into a tale where Li Jian Cheng had publicly shamed Gao Shan before the Emperor and Empress, forcing him to kneel in apology.
There were also Gao Shan's disciples who criticized Li Jian Cheng as a mere child lacking experience, claiming he had no achievements for the country and only dared to be disrespectful to the Chancellor due to his background and the Empress's protection. They argued that he should be stripped of his official position and sent home to study propriety.
However, these individuals did not dare to confront Li Jian Cheng directly. After all, while the Li Family may have fallen on hard times, they still held considerable influence through military connections and noble lineage. Moreover, with the Queen and Matriarch of the Li Family still alive, they were not figures that ordinary officials could provoke.
Such noble families could easily retaliate; if they were beaten in public, they could pursue their assailants home and deal with them ruthlessly. Just look at how the Emperor had reacted in anger recently—he merely issued a light punishment; had it been them, they would likely have faced execution on the spot.
The Wuchuan Nobility was deeply rooted in the State; while they could be gradually suppressed, it was not an easy task to eliminate them entirely.
Soon enough, noise resumed in the hall, but everyone's peripheral vision remained focused on this exchange. Li Jian Cheng turned to meet Yang Su's gaze and cupped his hands in respect. "What instructions does Duke of Yue have?"
Yang Su regarded him for a moment before saying, "Since you claim that Duke of Qi is merely lacking in death, how do you view me today?"
The crowd was taken aback; they initially thought Duke of Yue intended to elevate a junior by disparaging Duke of Qi. Instead, it seemed there was an element of challenge in his words.
Li Jian Cheng felt somewhat puzzled but did not let that hinder his response: "I stated that Duke of Qi is merely lacking in death because the Left Minister has already achieved great merit and holds a high position among ministers. He is wealthy and prosperous with a full family life; all his ambitions have been fulfilled. When the Empress inquires about what reward he should receive, I dared not evade her question and thus answered accordingly."
“Junior from the Built-up Area, with no contributions to the nation and no benefit to the State, my shallow and clumsy opinions are regrettable, and I dare not speak further. I hope the Duke of Yue will not make it difficult for me.”
Yang Su asked a few more questions, but Li Jian Cheng kept his head down, self-deprecating and refusing to say anything further, which left the eager listeners somewhat disappointed.
Everyone had heard of the eldest son of the Li Family, a person bold enough to openly defy the Imperial Decree and advise the Duke of Qi to meet his end. He was favored by the Queen and known for his arrogance. Yet today, he appeared quite honest, even somewhat timid.
After a moment, Yang Su could no longer delay the banquet for one person and had no choice but to let Li Jian Cheng take his seat.
Li Jian Cheng seemed to breathe a sigh of relief on the surface, but he was grinding his teeth slightly. He understood that Yang Su was merely putting on an act; he wanted to bring down Gao Shan but did not wish to see a rival who had oppressed him for over a decade be criticized by a junior.
Such a direct question was clearly intended to embarrass him publicly; any answer Li Jian Cheng gave would be wrong. This was Yang Su's residence, and without the Empress watching over them, there was no need for restraint like Gao Shan had to maintain.
Self-deprecation was certainly better than being trampled upon in public.
However, after a moment, Li Jian Cheng adjusted his mindset. If Yang Jian could tolerate Gao Shan for over ten years, how long could Yang Guang tolerate Yang Su after ascending the throne?
He had come here intending to present Yang Su with significant achievements that would elevate Prince Jin to the esteemed position of Left Minister, bringing the already illustrious Yang Family into an even more prosperous state.
Now he was merely being put in a difficult position; it was nothing serious.
If Yang Guang, as a prince, could endure and restrain himself, then naturally Li Jian Cheng could as well. Everyone was vying for that position; there was no need for hostility.
Once everyone had taken their seats, nearly a hundred dancers adorned with jewels and bright colors appeared in the hall without anyone noticing when they arrived. Each table also had two Green-Clad Maids serving wine.
Outside the South Wall, dozens of musicians with Sheng Konghou, pipa, five-stringed instruments, sheng, dizi, xiao, shawm, Mao Yuan Drum, Dutan Drum, Dala Drum, Waist Drum, kettledrum, Jilou Drum, and cymbals gathered.
As the gentle dance music played on, various fine wines and delicacies were served one by one. When everyone raised their glasses, the music began to change. The Heavenly Bamboo Music was a beautiful dance dedicated to the Buddha and Bodhisattvas, leaving a lasting impression with its melody and movements.
The music from the Western Regions, known as "Kucha Music," was exhilarating. The dancers, led by the Hu women, began their light and graceful steps, snapping their fingers and moving their necks and heads in expressive motions, spinning rapidly like the wind.
Following that were performances of "Koryo Dancer," "Wenkang Dance," and "An Guo Ji," among other foreign dances. Aside from the palace, only the Duke of Yue's Residence had such a complete ensemble of musicians known as Maiko.
At this moment, Yang Su finished conversing with the distinguished guests seated on the platform, distributing the benefits among them. He then stepped down from the wooden couch and approached the guest table to raise a cup and enjoy the music and dance together.
After the dancers withdrew, Yang Su turned to Minister of Internal Affairs Xue Daoheng and said, "Would you drink this cup fully and sing a song for this old man?"
Xue Daoheng, nearing sixty but still with a full head of black hair, stood up gracefully and replied, "Since the host offers wine, I shall not decline. But please sing first, my lord."
Yang Su drank from his cup and sang: "In the mountains I gaze far and wide, clouds and winds come at dawn and dusk. Ancient trees cross deep streams; empty cliffs rest upon secluded stones. The sun rises over distant peaks brightening the scene; birds scatter in silent woods... As the sun sets in the mountains' depths, I look to the wind for travelers."
As the song concluded, everyone applauded and cheered. After expressing his admiration, Xue Daoheng hurriedly raised his glass in toast. Yang Su held his arm with one hand while drinking with the other and laughed, saying, "You offer me wine; I shall not refuse. Please sing; do not delay!"
Xue Daoheng immediately sang loudly: "Willows shade the golden embankment; Muwu leaves grow thick. Water floods the lotus marsh; flowers drift along Peach and Plum paths. A girl from the Qins gathers mulberries; a wife from the Dou family weaves brocade. Parting from a wandering son at mountain passes; winds and moons guard an empty boudoir... Once gone without news, how can one cherish horse hooves?"
After finishing his song, they toasted with fine wine. Yang Su encouraged others to join in singing and drinking. If someone was not skilled in lyrics, they had no fear; they only needed to drink five cups fully and then give their jewelry to a serving maid to have her sing on their behalf.
The songs rose and fell in harmony with the music played both above and below, creating an extraordinary lively atmosphere filled with joy.
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