118: Chapter 103: Slapping the Rival’s Face, Shocking the Whole Audience (Part One) 118: Chapter 103: Slapping the Rival’s Face, Shocking the Whole Audience (Part One) Note: The first update of 3500 words is here, begging for monthly tickets, begging for automatic subscriptions, thank you, everyone.
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There were a hundred guests at the banquet.
Every two people shared a table, with Gui Xingfu and his daughter Gui Qinshu sitting at the main seat.
As a Duke and a royal offspring, Crown Prince Zhi You held the noblest status and sat alone at the topmost seat.
Suo Lun and Suo Ningbing, the guests of honor for the evening, were seated at the first table on the right side, facing Sword Master Bi Xiao’s disciple, Qingcheng Zi, who also sat alone.
At Gui Xingfu’s signal, the feast began, and the delicacies and exotic dishes flowed like water to the tables.
Suo Lun glanced at the table and saw that whether it was at or vegetables, or wine and fruit, most were everyday items, but all prepared with exquisite skill.
Only occasionally was a dish exceedingly rare.
This indicated that Gui Xingfu was a man who paid great attention to the fine details of life yet was never extravagant.
Having been hungry for a while, Suo Lun rolled up his sleeves and tucked in heartily.
The nobles present, on the other hand, usually only tasted a little of the spread on the table.
Seeing Suo Lun eating so freely, they couldn’t help but show slightly astonished expressions.
Of course, openly showing disdain was sothing nobody did.
After all, everyone there was a notable figure.
Gui Xingfu, looking at him, had nothing but affection in his eyes, and when Suo Lun paused from eating, he lifted his glass and said, “Today’s first toast is to our King, may he live long and prosper, and may our kingdom flourish.”
Upon these words, everyone raised their glass and drained it in one gulp.
Gui Xingfu then refilled his cup and with a sorrowful look said, “The second toast is to my brother beneath the nine springs, Suo Long.
He fought in all directions for the sake of the kingdom, worked tirelessly until his untily death.
His loss is a pain for the kingdom, a sorrow for the Suo family, and a sharp ache in my heart.”
After speaking, Gui Xingfu poured out half the wine from his cup and drank the rest.
Suo Lun and Suo Ningbing left their seats and knelt to the ground, pouring their drinks onto the floor as an offering to Earl Suo Long below in the wine springs.
Then, Gui Xingfu poured another cup of wine and said, “This third toast carries three anings.”
Everyone listened intently.
Gui Xingfu continued, “The first aning is to thank Crown Prince Zhi You for gracing my mansion and adding luster to it.”
Imdiately, everyone lifted their glasses, toasting from a distance to Crown Prince Zhi You.
Gui Xingfu said, “The second aning is to welco and cleanse the dust off my nephew Suo Lun.”
This ti, the toast toward Suo Lun was almost nonexistent.
Gui Xingfu then said, “The last aning is to wish my young daughter a happy 20th birthday.”
After saying that, Gui Xingfu drained his cup, and the rest of the guests followed suit.
Suo Lun was taken aback for a mont.
It didn’t seem like today was Gui Qinshu’s 20th birthday; it was still almost a month away.
Gui Xingfu said, “Of course, my daughter’s birthday is still over twenty days away.
However, taking this opportunity of welcoming my nephew Suo Lun, I decided to also hold the birthday banquet now and not on her actual birthday.”
“It doesn’t matter,” said Gui Qinshu, her attitude still very haughty.
After the three toasts, the guests began to present their gift lists, all were birthday gifts for Gui Qinshu.
And each gift was incredibly precious.
Except for Suo Lun, who had prepared nothing, he slightly narrowed his eyes; he had been tricked.
No one had told him that in addition to welcoming him, tonight’s banquet was also for Gui Qinshu’s birthday, and even more, it was eleven days early.
All the guests had prepared gifts.
Suo Lun was the only one who hadn’t, and it was far too late to prepare anything now.
Not only was Suo Lun Gui Qinshu’s fiancé, he had planned to propose to her tonight.
Now, to have forgotten a birthday gift was a grave oversight.
How would he even begin to propose?
After everyone had given their gifts, the last three most significant individuals had yet to present theirs.
These three were Sword Master Bi Xiao’s chief disciple, Qingcheng Zi, royal kin Zhi You, and Suo Lun himself.
Qingcheng Zi stood up from his seat, holding a box and said, “Sister apprentice, this gift isn’t from , but from our master.
He asked to give it to you to wish you a happy birthday.”
“Thank you, Master.
Thank you, senior brother,” Gui Qinshu said as she took the box and opened it to look inside.
Inside the box lay a sword that caused her beautiful eyes to light up imdiately.
The sword, from hilt to blade, was of one seamless piece.
Crystal-clear and seemingly transparent.
With bright eyes, Gui Qinshu trembled, “Autumn Water?
Has Master finally decided to give it to ?”
The Autumn Water Sword had been Sword Master Bi Xiao’s choice of weapon until he turned thirty.
The entire sword, forged from mithril, was as light as water, incomparably sharp, and indestructible.
Regardless of its monetary value, just the mithril needed to forge this sword would cost thousands of Gold Coins.
Several factors, including the craftsmanship and the fact that Sword Master Bi Xiao had wielded it, made it priceless.
Gui Qinshu had coveted this sword for a very long ti and had often tried to ingratiate herself with Bi Xiao, always receiving the sa reply: “The ti is not yet right.”
To her astonishnt, at today’s banquet, her master had given her this treasured sword, a surprise of the grandest scale.
Eager, Gui Qinshu swung the treasured sword with ease.
The blade moved as if it were a dragon swimming through water cascading in all directions.
Its lightness, finesse, and agility were incomparable to any other sword, and she beca utterly attached to it.
Qingcheng Zi, presenting the gift on behalf of his master, dazzled all in attendance.
Now, only two people had yet to present their gifts.
Suddenly, everyone’s gazes turned to the last two important guests, one was the noble Crown Prince Zhi You, the other was Suo Lun, who was nominally betrothed to Gui Qinshao.
Upon seeing all eyes converge on him, Crown Prince Zhi You rose and said, “Miss Gui Qinshao, knowing it is your birthday, I have prepared no material gift.”
At these words, the crowd hurriedly began to flatter, claiming that the re presence of Crown Prince Zhi You was the best gift of all.
Zhi You then continued, “However, I have composed a piece of music especially for you.
This piece, I’ve roughly been…
conceptualizing it for over three years, and it wasn’t until just now, upon seeing you again, that I finally settled on it.”
At these words, admiration burst forth from the crowd, proclaiming this to be truly the most precious gift—a present three years in the making.
So even went so far as to lean close and clap their ears lightly, even dampening their kerchiefs with wine to clean their ears, signifying their eager anticipation to listen attentively.
“Ladies and gentlen, consider yourselves fortunate to be here,” Gui Xingfu said.
“Do you know who the Crown Prince studies music under?”
The crowd shook their heads in ignorance.
Gui Xingfu declared, “The Grand Mage Byron from the Yanjing Divine Dragon Sanctuary.”
These words left everyone utterly astonished.
Who was Byron?
He was the pinnacle god of musical arts in the world, a figure all looked up to.
Although most people in the world had never heard Grand Mage Byron’s music, his na was known by all.
If King Dongli Jiang Shang was recognized as the world’s number one expert, then Grand Mage Byron was even more universally acknowledged as the foremost master of the arts.
In an instant, everyone in attendance could not praise him enough, and all the noble ladies looked at Crown Prince Zhi You with even more fervor in their eyes.
Gui Xingfu stated, “Moreover, every year at the royal banquet, it is not Princess Zhining who plays for His Majesty the King, but the Crown Prince Zhi You before you.”
With these words, the enthusiasm in the room increased even more, and everyone stopped their wining and dining, so even going as far as to bring out incense to calm their hearts, preparing their spirits to listen to the heavenly music played by Crown Prince Zhi You.
anwhile, Suo Lun sensed the strong sll of a love rival.
The aning in Crown Prince Zhi You’s words was very clear: Three years ago, when he first saw Gui Qinshao, he was struck by her as if by a vision, consud by thoughts of her both day and night, to the extent that he dedicated three years to composing a piece expressly for her.
The affection in that act was so apparent, even a blind person could see it.
And with this public confession, it was as if he, her betrothed, didn’t even exist.
At that mont, Gui Qinshao temporarily diverted her attention from the treasured sword in her hands and resettled into her seat, her beautiful eyes sparkling with anticipation and curiosity.
At such gatherings, there would be a dedicated team of musicians, numbering at least dozens.
Zhi You approached the clavichord and said to the musician seated there, “Excuse .”
Seeing how courteous and refined Crown Prince Zhi You was, the musician was delighted and honored, quickly kneeling to give his respects before stepping aside.
Zhi You didn’t imdiately sit down, but instead looked over at Suo Lun and said, “Count Suo Lun.”
Suo Lun rose and replied, “What advice does the Crown Prince have for ?”
Zhi You said, “I’ve heard in the Southeast Province that during your graduation from Royal City Academy, you perford a piece that took the audience’s breath away, earning a very high score.”
Being awe-inspiring and achieving high scores at such occasions didn’t an much in the eyes of the upper-class artists.
Soone like him, Zhi Li, was talented in both the literary and martial arts, yet he had played in sacred places such as the Yanjing Royal Palace and the Holy Temple of the Divine Dragon Sanctuary, and the Rage Wave Kingdom Palace.
To be awe-inspiring at the Royal City Academy graduation music hall was…
laughable.
Therefore, there was a clear note of ridicule in Crown Prince Zhi You’s tone.
As if not hearing the sarcasm, Suo Lun said, “That did happen.”
Zhi You continued, “Why don’t we do this: while we are at Miss Gui Qinshao’s birthday feast, why don’t you too perform a piece?
Of course, if you haven’t composed any yourself, that’s alright.
Performing an existing piece to enhance the rrint is also acceptable.”
It was clear what Crown Prince Zhi You intended—he wouldn’t be as dazzling without Suo Lun’s diocrity to contrast with his brilliance.
As a mber of the royal family, he couldn’t simply overshadow his rival by status alone.
Suo Lun, as Gui Qinshao’s betrothed, would serve as the perfect stepping stone tonight.
“I shall follow your gracious suggestion,” Suo Lun said.
At that mont, his mind was filled with shock; he really had not considered performing any piece that evening, let alone thought of showing anyone up.
Yet, to his surprise, soone was offering him that opportunity on a silver platter.
Thus, Suo Lun stood up from his seat and approached another clavichord.
The musician by that instrunt was a woman who, noticing Suo Lun’s handso features, paused for a mont in taken aback.
Suo Lun gave her a wink, causing the female musician’s cheeks to flush red and she glared back at him sternly.
Unexpectedly, Gui Qinshao witnessed this scene, and her heart flared with anger.
This Suo Lun was truly beyond help, still flirting with won even at such a mont.
This scoundrel, obviously a good-for-nothing and a philandering pillow.
During her years at the Royal City Academy, Gui Qinshao had co to understand this all too well.
Suo Lun took a seat at the opulent clavichord, turned to Crown Prince Zhi You and said, “The Crown Prince may go first.”
Zhi You said, “This piece cos from three years ago, upon my return to Yanjing for the royal evening banquet.
That night, it was the first ti I laid eyes on Miss Gui Qinshao, as if it struck the most sensitive chord in my heart.
That night, the moonlight was like water, and hence, I nad my piece ‘Moonlight’.”
Then Zhi You closed his eyes as if to imrse himself in the world of three years prior, to the first night he saw Gui Qinshao.
And all those present also closed their eyes in anticipation, waiting for the heavenly music to be played by Crown Prince Zhi You.
Even Gui Qinshao gently closed her beautiful eyes and pricked her ears, as translucent as jade, concentrating and listening intently.
In the banquet hall, silence fell in an instant.
Exhaling slowly, Zhi You’s prince’s fingers, long and strong, lightly touched the keys.
Suddenly, the marvelous sound of the piano drifted out like flowing water.
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