Chapter 27: Ambush from All Sides

  "Your Majesty, what do you think?" The Moon Emperor held his wine cup, slightly raised an eyebrow and looked at Leng Zhuang with a hint of provocation. Would he, as a father, allow Beidong Xiner to humiliate his daughter in public?

  He took a few steps forward, cupped his hands and bowed, saying: "At the imperial banquet, it is up to His Majesty to preside, I dare not say more."

  "Haha, you've agreed, I wonder...". The Moon Emperor's gaze pierced through the crowd and landed directly on that fleeting shadow, his eyes revealing a hint of scrutiny, a hint of probing, and also a hint of interest.

  Following the emperor's gaze, at the imperial banquet, from the emperor and empress to the lowest-ranking servants and palace maids, everyone turned their heads in unison to look at the calm and composed heroine.

  Beidong Xiner wanted nothing more than this scene, there was no greater humiliation than wishing her romantic rival well, she just wanted to let Leng Ziyue see how compatible she and Zhang Xiao were, how happy they were.

  Anyone with eyes can see that the Fourth Princess of Beihanshui not only snatched away someone's fiancé, nearly driving them to death, and now she even asks them to play a tune to congratulate her, it's clear that she is relying on her power to bully others, which is really excessive.

  What can you do? She's a princess, after all, and she has the right.

  "Miss Leng won't refuse to give me this face, will she?" Beidong Xiner deliberately didn't look at Zhang Xiao's pale face, and stepped towards Leng Ziyue one step at a time. The crowd automatically retreated, and the provocative gaze in her eyes was full of disdain and arrogance. She continued, "Then please ask Miss Leng to play a tune to bless my marriage to the prince, wishing us happiness and harmony for a hundred years."

  As soon as this was said, everyone gasped in shock. This fourth princess was simply too much, but who would stand up for an unpopular young lady?

  More than a hundred pairs of eyes fell on the corner, where a woman in a fiery red dress sat quietly. She was so beautiful and elegant that she attracted everyone's attention, her beauty was mesmerizing, charming and lovely, with a hint of playfulness and recklessness, like a dazzling pearl.

  Facing the gaze of many people with different expressions, Leng Xueyu smiled and replied: "Good."

  Do you want to hear her play a tune of Deep Palace Lament? She's not going to do it just because you want her to. However, the Ten-Faced Ambush can give you a tune to lift your spirits and wake up your minds.

  "Someone come, don't you prepare the zither for Miss Leng." Beidong Xiner felt a chill run down her spine and her whole body trembled at the smile in Shang Leng Ziyue's eyes.

  "The scenery here is beautiful, and it's even more beautiful under the cover of night. I'm in a good mood, so I'll reluctantly sing you a song. Hope you enjoy it, don't...". Leng Ziyue elegantly stood up, walked slowly past Beitang Xiner, and just as their silhouettes overlapped for an instant, she whispered: "Don't scare yourself to death."

  Bei Tang Xiner, who had come back to her senses, glared at the slender figure that was already far away, wishing she could kill her with her eyes. Cold Zifei sneered: Let's see who scares whose guts out in the end.

  "Lend me your pipa for a moment." With her eyes cast downward, looking at the pipa she had taken from the palace maid, Cold Zifei's eyes gleamed with a cold light. Since showing weakness couldn't let her live a peaceful life, then from now on, living recklessly and wildly, who could do anything to her?

  On the round stage, under the bright moonlight, Leng Xueying slightly raised her head, her phoenix eyes narrowed, and her slender fingers lightly placed on the strings of the guqin. Her pink lips were pursed, as if smiling but not quite.

  Everyone in the country of Qi Yue knows that the fourth miss of the Zhong Jun Hou Fu is skilled at playing the zither, able to entice hundreds of birds, and has deeply gained the favor of the Empress Dowager. She often invites her into the palace to listen to her play, thinking she could indulge in this delight for a lifetime, but...

  The pipa's sound rose, the strings tightly grasped, and the atmosphere suddenly became tense. The imperial banquet seemed to have turned into a battlefield of golden armor and iron horses in an instant, with gunpowder smoke filling the air and cries of killing rising from all sides. Those who were timid were frightened pale-faced, while even the brave couldn't help but break out in cold sweat.

  Are they true or false smiles, stiff on their faces, each one becoming a wooden puppet, not daring to move.

  The Moon Emperor looked at Leng Ziyue, and saw that her fingers were flying quickly over the strings of the guqin. From the first note, she had brought everyone in the banquet into her music.

  It's as if I've arrived at a military camp and am preparing to go into battle.

  The melody flowing from her fingers was bold and powerful, accompanied by the sound of drums and bugles. The drumbeat started slowly and gradually accelerated, creating a tense atmosphere before a big battle.

  The powerful rhythm is like the war drum that beats people's heartstrings, and the high-pitched long sound is like the bugle call that shakes the valley. The vivid depiction of the battlefield's drum and horn sounds is impressive. The scenes of people shouting, drums beating three times, cannons firing in unison, and iron cavalry rushing forward are all vividly presented before their eyes, summarizing the tense and intense typical environment on the battlefield.

  Immediately afterwards, the tone changes to depict a magnificent scene of pipes sounding in unison during a military march, portraying a disciplined army advancing steadily from afar with big strides.

  The night wind lifts the hem of a crimson skirt, black hair flying in the wind, movements suddenly quickening, music changing rapidly, rhythm urgent, using continuously plucking, sweeping, rolling, twisting, and pressing techniques in performance, expressing intense killing and fighting, shocking heaven and earth, stirring people's heartstrings, close combat, flashing knives and swords clashing.

  She uses a tense, rhythmic motif to develop the melody, creating a sense of tension and terror. It gives people a dark and eerie feeling, like lurking in the shadows under the cover of night, sneaking up on the enemy with an air of mystery.

  The gradually accelerating tempo and melodic motifs create a more tense atmosphere.

  Leng Xueyu glanced at the crowd that had been ready to watch the play just a moment ago, and now they were all sweating profusely, their faces filled with terror, not even daring to wipe away the sweat dripping from their mouths.

  In my previous life, I learned many musical instruments. My favorites were the flute and pipa. I liked the pipa because of its rendition of "Ambush from Ten Sides", which was the most moving and stirring.

  The use of various pipa techniques can depict the loud shouting of thousands of troops and horses, as well as the shocking and earth-shaking fierce battle of clashing swords. The pipa is excellent at simulating the sound of intense and fierce battles, making people feel as if they are on the scene, with a strong sense of infection.

  As the battle came to an end, the melody turned low and mournful, with a sorrowful and majestic tune that emitted a strong sense of sadness.

  The final note faded away, announcing that everything had come to an end.

  However, all those who were trapped in the song and couldn't escape still hadn't come back to their senses. They continued to immerse themselves in the feeling of being powerless, surrounded on all sides.

  In this battle, no matter where they fled, there were pursuers, step by step, with enemy forces on all sides, leaving them no way to escape and forcing them to surrender.

  "I don't know if the Fourth Princess is satisfied with this tune, 'Ambush from Ten Sides'. Although it didn't attract a hundred birds, it's enough to make your legs go weak and unable to stand up, hehe." Cold Ziyue put down her pipa, the moonlight stretching out her shadow. On the huge circular stage, she stood with her hands behind her back, her crimson red dress setting off her jade-like face, beautiful yet dangerous.

  "You——" Beitang Xiner's hand trembled as she stretched it out, and if not for the two maids supporting her from behind, she might have really collapsed to the ground with weak legs.

  She had never been to war and didn't know what a battlefield looked like, but after listening to her play this piece, she felt that the battlefield was so terrifying that it made her want to scream loudly to release the tension and fear in her heart.

  "Hehe..." A crisp and clear voice like jade beads falling onto a plate, ethereal and fleeting, as if coming from the horizon.

  Leng Xueyu couldn't understand Beidong Xiner's intention, asking her to play a congratulatory tune. If she played even the slightest resentful melody, she could use it as an excuse to punish her for disrespect. But how could she have thought that what she heard was not "Deep Palace Lament" but "Ambush from Ten Sides"?

  "Your Majesty, please do justice for Xīn'ér. Xīn'ér only wanted to get Lěng Miss's blessing, how could she...how could she take advantage of this..." Běi Táng Xīn'ér suddenly burst into tears, allowing the two maids to support her as she faced Yuè Dì and poured out her grievances.

  The Emperor's sharp eyes scanned the room, and all the ministers sitting in their seats were lowering their heads, wiping away cold sweat from their foreheads. It was clear that they had been frightened by this tune. Those thousand-gold misses looked pale, as if they might fall over at any moment, evoking sympathy.

  His gaze fell again on the straight back, the clear and beautiful face. He had never known that she could still play such a melody. In the past, when he listened to her playing the piano in the Yongshou Palace of his mother, it was always some melodious and pleasant tunes.

  Is this melody with murderous intent really from her hand?

  "It's said that on the day of the Fourth Princess' grand wedding, the Regent will personally officiate the ceremony. I'll definitely present a special gift to Her Highness." Cold Ziyue stepped down from the stage, looking at Emperor Yue and saying indifferently: "Your Majesty, the Fourth Princess of Beihancheng specifically requested that my daughter play a piece to congratulate her, but didn't specify what piece, did she? Besides, playing this particular piece has another deeper meaning - let's see who can guess it."

  "Leng Ziyue, what exactly do you mean?" Beidong Xiner glared at her, she repeatedly brought up the Regent King, what was her goal.

  "Literal meaning, Your Highness the Fourth Princess, I don't know if you've heard of a saying, 'Those who snatch people will be snatched by others.'" Leng Ziyue slightly curled up the corner of her lips, her voice neither loud nor soft, just enough for everyone to hear clearly.

  "You -" What's called a man-stealer, someone who must be snatched away, Beidong Xiner glared with wide eyes, wishing she could rush forward and kill her.

  Not even a glance of sympathy was given to Beidong Xiner, Leng Ziyue said: "Your Majesty, I'm not feeling well and would like to leave the palace early to rest at home."

  "It is decreed." The Moon Emperor's eyebrows were deeply furrowed, and she actually dared to stare straight into his eyes without flinching in the slightest. That one fall had truly changed her temperament, or perhaps this was the real her all along.

  "Thank you, Your Majesty." Leng Ziyue turned around and walked towards the exit of the Imperial Garden without looking back.

  As for rumors around one's ears, neither confirm nor deny.

  It seems that she is a very powerful pawn in the hands of the Empress Dowager, otherwise, how could she be so presumptuous in front of the Emperor.

  "What a wonderful move, ten-faced ambush, you're indeed the little guy I've been eyeing, and you're getting more and more likable." On the palace rooftop, under the bright moonlight, in crimson red clothes, utterly enchanting.

  The voice that was dyed with excitement was pleasant and moving, making people want to listen again, truly leaving a lingering sound that lasted for three days.

  Long fingers stroked the sensual pink thin lips, red sleeves fluttered by, and the figure had already disappeared into the darkness of night, leaving no breath behind.

  "Little one, do you know that your performance tonight is enough to bring you a disaster? The dark eyes flashed with a strange light, which was an unprecedented determination. Silently telling himself: "Little one, no matter who it is, as long as he dares to move you a little bit, I will make him pay back a hundred times, a thousand times, and not let him off until he dies."

  After one song, Xiao Ran, who was not the protagonist, left the scene. The entire banquet had just begun and it was announced that it was over, and everyone went their separate ways.

  Night, mysterious and dangerous, is just the protective color of conspiracy and assassination.

  Digression

  Momo, recommend friend's article "The Pampered Wife of a Tyrannical Husband".

  Don't miss it when you pass by, take it, Wenwen looks very good.