Chapter 137 - 118: Here Comes Trouble
The next day, when Zhang Mingci and Li Mingyu suggested they accompany the Emperor to Qingliu Hall for his study sessions, or that the list should include young officials they had recommended, the Emperor did not give them a cold, flat-out refusal.
He deliberately put on a displeased expression and warned the two, "My dear ministers, you insist on accompanying me. I don’t wish to refuse your kind intentions, but I fear you won’t understand me and will spoil my fun."
Seeing that the Emperor was already yielding, the two men tacitly agreed and quickly assured him they would not.
The Emperor frowned. "Truly?"
"Truly. Your Majesty is the Emperor. Unless it is a matter that endangers the state, we subjects cannot presume to lecture you!"
Fearing the Emperor would go back on his word, the two agreed to everything.
’What sort of outrageous thing could such a serious and diligent emperor possibly do?’ they thought. ’Judging by the study companions he chose from the Hanlin Academy, most of whom are from poor families, he probably wants to avoid relying on the aristocratic families and cultivate his own trusted followers.’
It wasn’t just Zhang and Li; most of the royal court shared the same opinion.
A star student taking a day off to play? They didn’t believe it.
Qingliu Hall was built near the Plum Garden, separated from the harem by only a single wall.
While one studied, the faint scent of plums would drift in.
It was indeed a place of refined elegance.
Zhang and Li followed behind the Emperor, accompanied by five Hanlin Officials he had personally selected. These were men Li Mingyu wouldn’t normally deign to glance at, yet now they were all to be seated together. The atmosphere was inevitably a little tense.
However, having been noticed by the Emperor, the five young men were composed, keeping their faces straight and showing no fear. Their time as officials had been short. All they knew was that the two elders, Zhang and Li, were Ministers of Care appointed by the late Emperor and were also held in high regard by the current Emperor. Being summoned here... ’Surely we’re not expected to lecture the two elders on the classics?’
The pressure was immense.
If they misspoke, they would be torn to shreds.
They felt like students at a thesis defense who discover the review panel has a grudge against their advisor—they were certain to be ruthlessly grilled.
And so, the question of who would begin became a problem.
They looked at each other, about to defer to one another, when they heard the Emperor raise his voice. "Everyone is here. My beloved concubine, you may enter."
’Beloved concubine?’
The next moment, a eunuch carried in a guzheng, followed by four Dancing Girls who all bowed to them. While they were still baffled, Jiang Xian, radiating all sorts of halos, gracefully walked in.
What a heavenly creature!
The newcomer was modestly dressed and wore a snow-white veil that covered the lower half of her face, leaving only her eyes and brow visible. She did not look toward the ministers. After all, imperial authority was supreme; Concubines were not required to bow to subjects. She walked directly to the Emperor and curtsied in greeting.
The [Fan Filter] was active.
The [Spotlight Halo] was equipped.
The [Harem Intrigue BGM] was also cranked to the max, playing an ethereal, heavenly tune.
From the perspective of the Emperor and his ministers, Jiang Xian was just as breathtakingly otherworldly as she had been on the day of the Longevity Festival. Though she had entered from the same direction as the Dancing Girls, she seemed like an Immortal descended from the Heavenly Palace. Her glistening, radiant eyes were so beautiful they left one dazed, unsure of their own surroundings.
Even the two old foxes, Zhang and Li, were utterly shaken.
’Is it possible for a human to look like that?’
"You may rise."
Even the Emperor, who was supposedly prepared, couldn’t help but be momentarily stunned. "My beloved concubine, please pick a book you like and read from it."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
For this day, Jiang Xian had purchased a Sound Card Halo from the System Mall.
It guaranteed that while she wore the halo, her voice would have a natural surround-sound quality. If needed, it could even produce reverb and a certain degree of voice modulation. Her voice was so melodious it was as if she had devoured a million-dollar audio engineer. She already possessed a pleasant voice, and now with the halo, it was like giving a tiger wings.
The moment Jiang Xian opened her mouth, the crowd was shocked once again.
They all thought the same thing— ’Is it possible for a human to produce such a sound?’
The Emperor was also slightly surprised. Xian’er’s voice seemed more enchanting than usual. Her tone hadn’t changed much, but it was different from the seductive whispers in bed.
After all, a normal person wouldn’t use a sound card while making love.
’This must be Gu Pin, the most favored in the harem!’
The five young Hanlin Officials had not been qualified to attend the performance at the Imperial Palace during the Longevity Festival. They were so stunned they thought they were seeing a celestial fairy in the palace.
Before anyone could snap out of their daze, the music started, the Dancing Girls began to dance, and Gu Pin, standing among them, began to chant...
...the *Comprehensive Mirror for Aid in Government*.
A rap version of the *Comprehensive Mirror for Aid in Government*.
To be fair, it was a bit of a stretch. Jiang Xian didn’t know how to compose music or write lyrics, so she couldn’t produce a divine masterpiece. The melody played by the musicians was generated by the system’s AI and wasn’t particularly catchy. The saving grace was that Jiang Xian’s voice was simply too beautiful. In an era without sound cards or speakers, she was a goddess of song.