*Before Xiuying entered Ming and Xianyao's room*
"I can't believe you requested that to his Majesty! What you did is simply handing out my sister in front of wolves!" Qi Ming slammed his fist on the table.
Zhao Xianyao just came back from the palace and had a closed door discussion with his brother, the current emperor of Great Yan. Xianyao is the youngest blood related brother of Emperor Zhao Jin.
Though there was competition before his brother was crowned it wasn't dangerous as the former Emperor have announced that if one royal family member was killed due to the power struggle he will divide the country and give it to the kingdoms surrounding the Great Yan. Most high ranking officials before were concerned of the citizens thus they acted accordingly. However it was unknown when the changes began that even though the current emperor is competent and still in forties, his sons have started to compete dangerously harming the influential families supporting e
"Is it time?" Xiuying asked Xue upon returning to the third floor. "Yes young miss..." Xue's pitch was two notes higher than usual and her eyes are brightly shining worshipping her young miss. "Xue don't expect too much from your young miss, you're making me nervous..." Xiuying playfully reprimand her maidservant. "Young miss you are so good I bet after this every person here will know that they are wrong!" Xiao Hua exclaimed. "That's true young miss!" Xue seconded both earning a flick on their forehead. "Fine, Xue is it ready?" Seeing Xue nodded she gets up from her seat and push the side of the book shelves causing it to rotate by ninety degrees and revealing the secret passage connected to all floors of Ying Yue Huayuan. "I'll be back soon." Xiuying said to her two maidservants before going down. Xue hurriedly put the book shelves to its original position and open the window facing the stage in the first floor.
Ying Yue Huayuan became famous since the first day they've opened, some even ask if they can talk to its owner for partnership or collaboration. Xiuying always visits her tea house every three days playing two songs, the customers can't get enough of it and are amaze how the young lady plays different songs each time not repeating the ones played previously. This caused for the avid listeners to reserve private rooms either individually or in groups so they can afford the cost, resulting to having all customers wait for two weeks or a month for a private room be available that it became a way to show off one's status and wealth. Few music fanatics always gather every three days to listen and observe all customers to look for the mysterious young lady and some speculate that she is related to the owner. Some ladies from prominent families and even daughters of government officials reserve the stage to show off their skills or compare with each other. They requested to not use
"That wrench! I will make sure you will suffer and regret offending me today!" Qi Fan shouted and grips on her skirt. The shout startled her maidservant Jin, looking at her young madam she immediately went to the private room where the young masters are. Jin lightly knock and was greet by Guanting's servant Lou. She whispered that the young madam needed her husband. Seeing the worried look of Jin, Lou approach Guanting and whispered the message to him. They excused themselves from the rest, thankfully they are done discussing the important matters. Opening the door Guanting was welcomed by the crying Qi Fan. He feels like something is gripping his heart hard, making it difficult for him to breathe. He slowly sit beside his wife, fix the strands of Qi Fan's hair and placing it behind her ears. "Fan'er what happened you were just happy bonding with your friends and cousin?" Guanting's aggrieve tone reached Qi Fan's ears and she slowly look up. Her beautiful eye
Qi Fan noticed that her husband wasn't himself and in daze these past month. Though he always pay attention to her and always visit her courtyard she noticed that there are times when his eyes isn't seeing her but another person. This shaken her confidence as a woman and began to worry if Guanting is planning to take in a concubine. Guanting isn't any better as well, he keeps on remembering the musician of Ying Yue though he loves Qi Fan. These past month he felt his grandfather's disappointment to him, thinking that the old man have a great impression of Ying Yue's owner he started to think that if the musician is his then her connection to the owner would be his as well. Unfortunately despite asking Manager Ba a few times, his request to meet the owner and musician is always declined. His grandfather's birthday banquet is in two weeks but his plans to make him be glad again to him is fruitless. Meanwhile in Qi Chen's family residence Xi Hui has been worried since r
In the market's busy street, a lady wearing red hanfu with a cloth dr.a.p.ed on her head to hide her face can be seen buying a bunch tanghulu together with her maidservant. Everyone who sees this noticed that the corner of the maidservant's mouth is twitching as she sees that her young miss keeps adding more in her hands. "How much is it?" a melodious yet serene voice can be heard under the veil attracting the people passing by more. "..." the seller was unable to answer as she is hypnotized by the young miss' eyes who looking straight at her. The two orbs are the darkest black eyes she have seen for the first time and she feels being suck in it. Seeing the seller blankly stare at her young miss, Xue cough lightly to call the attention of the old woman. "Oh...It is 4 coins each but since you bought a lot I'll give it to you for 3 coins each." Xiuying signaled Xue, which the maidservant get
Xiuying flung Xianyao's hand after entering her office. "Who invited you in?" She coldly said as she looks at the man who just always appear in Ying Yue. Xiuying even started to think if this man planted a tracker as he always appear when she arrives in her office these past months. "I invited myself in, besides Ying'er we're partners." Xianyao shameless declared while meaningfully emphasizing the last word. Seeing her beloved frowning at him he reached out to smoothen her forehead. Xiuying suddenly felt his hand on her forehead and can't help but blushed earning chuckles from the handsome man. "Who is partnered with you cut sleeve! Stop trying to curry favor from me I won't give my brother to you!" Xiuying points at the young man as she glowered at him. One, who is in his hiding, seeing this felt a sweat drop from his forehead. Ahhh!!! Young miss if you aren't beloved by the prince even if you are a woman your hands will cut off! You even dare to call master
The usual morning in Ying Yue Huayuan wherein people of noble and common birth are in line waiting for it to open are not present as they have announced two weeks ago that they will be closed today to host a small gathering. Some are speculating that its owner will be present thus they have tried to get information who are the attendees of the gathering and if they can be added to the guest list by bribing the employees but none of them returned successful. In the owner's office Xianyao, Qi Ming and Xiuying are busy preparing for the banquet for their guests. All guests are close and trusted confidant of Emperor Zhao aside from being friends with Left Prime Minister Long and Old General Xi. They specified in the invitation that they should arrived in disguise. Two hours before sunset, the guests one at a time arrived. The first one to arrived is young general of Lou clan and eldest young master of Ji clan
While the guests are chatting with each other, Xiuying walks up to the stage and started to play the guzheng. All stopped talking and silently enjoyed the melody they are hearing all have the same thought that Xiuying is a hidden jewel. The first song sounded adventurous as they listen they can see Xiuying's eyes sparkles, every stroke to the strings evokes everyone's imagination and emotion of warriors at heart. Qi Ming, Young General Lou, Xianyao and Old General Xi were smiling ear to ear remember the happy moments when they were in the barracks together with their brothers. After the first song, the servants set the guzheng aside place an unusual instrument in the eyes of the guests. They haven't seen anything like and are curious how Xiuying will play using it. Xiuying glance and nodded at Qi Lian who stand up from their table when she is already beside Xiuying, the latter handed her the sticks with a circular shape at the end of it. Xiuying started beating the i