Great Zhou Martial Immortal

Chapter 52 The Luoshui Festival: Talented Scholars and Beautiful Women
The Luo River manifested its divine power, and Heaven bestowed upon the capital a divine capital.

Since Wu Zetian ascended the throne as the "Holy Mother," the Luo River has never been an ordinary river again.

In the fourth year of the reign of Emperor Chuigong, Wu Chengsi presented a white stone from the Luo River with the prophecy "Eternal Prosperity of the Emperor" engraved on it. The Luo River was then honored as "Xiansheng" (Manifesting Sage), and a temple was built to offer sacrifices to it. It became a symbol of the mandate of heaven for the Wu Zhou dynasty, and the Luo River sacrificial ceremony became a major national event from then on.

Originally, after the grand banquet on the first day of the tenth month, there would be the Luoshui Festival, where envoys from various countries were invited to attend.

Unexpectedly, an assassination attempt occurred during the grand banquet. The Empress was injured, and the remaining rebels fled. The Luoshui Festival had to be postponed until Ashina Yan and the other assassins were all captured before the festival could resume.

This time, instead of Wu Chengsi presiding over the ceremony as originally planned, Princess Taiping, Li Lingyue, presided over it, which can be regarded as a recognition of the outstanding contributions of the Kite Guards in capturing the rebels.

Li Lingyue takes this very seriously.

Power is something that always means one less piece for another.

Only by handling things well can one maintain control. Otherwise, even if Wu Zetian forces someone to do something, if one lacks the ability to do it well, one will only end up like Ma Su. Zhuge Liang could break the rules and "promote Ma Su against the majority" the first time, but there would never be a second time. After Ma Su lost face at Jieting, even if he didn't die, he would never have any hope of leading troops again.

In the afternoon, at the beginning of the 11 PM.

The vermilion gates of Princess Zhengpingfang's residence were wide open.

"Princess Taiping has arrived!"

Three hundred armored imperial guards stood in two rows, their black armor gleaming in the sunlight, their spears sharp and menacing.

Twelve eunuchs led the way, carrying golden gourds and dragon flags embroidered with phoenixes holding peonies, subtly implying that the princess was of "Li Wu bloodline and noble lineage of two dynasties." Eight palace maids followed, carrying incense burners and whisks. Amidst the swirling smoke, a royal carriage slowly drove out.

The carriage shaft was adorned with gold, the curtains hung with gauze, and four white horses pulled the shaft, their foreheads adorned with red tassels, their hooves thundering.

Princess Taiping sat upright, her posture dignified.

This time she was dressed in her finest attire, wearing a golden crown adorned with seven treasures and flowers, decorated with pearls, jewels, and agates, its brilliance shimmering and highlighting her beautiful features. A touch of emerald feather on her forehead added to her noble air, and golden phoenix hairpins with pearls dangling from her temples trembled slightly with the movement of the carriage, sparkling brilliantly.

She wore a brocade robe embroidered with gold phoenix patterns, made of the finest cloud brocade from Sichuan. The gold thread was used to embroider phoenixes amidst flowers, making it dazzling. A nine-ringed jade belt was tied around her waist. The jade was warm and lustrous, and the jade pendants jingled. A gold-embroidered shawl was draped over her shoulders, fluttering lightly in the wind like flowing clouds reflecting the sun. She wore phoenix-head silk shoes with pearls on the toes, as if she were walking on clouds.

This attire not only highlights the princess's dignity but also subtly reveals the extravagant style of the Wu Zhou imperial family.

When pedestrians saw it, they all stepped aside, bowing their heads and lowering their brows, for fear of overstepping the dignity of the imperial family.

This was the grand spectacle of Princess Taiping's outing, as radiant as the bright moon amidst the clouds, while the streets and alleys remained completely silent.

"..."

Lu Chenyuan rode his horse alongside the carriage, glancing sideways frequently, thinking to himself that he hadn't expected this little vixen to have such an imposing presence!

Is this still the same guy who gets red in the face at the drop of a hat?

Scared me!
"What are you looking at?" Li Lingyue maintained her dignified posture, keeping her eyes straight ahead, but asked in a low voice.

Lu Chenyuan smiled and replied in a low voice, "Your Highness's graceful demeanor reminds me of the lines 'Graceful as a startled swan, lithe as a swimming dragon' from the Ode to the Goddess of the Luo River, but..."

He paused deliberately, noticing that although the princess was still sitting upright, the tips of her ears had turned slightly red, before continuing, "The goddess of the Luo River in Cao Zhi's writing is described as 'radiant as autumn chrysanthemums and flourishing as spring pines,' but she is not even a fraction as beautiful as the princess at this moment, with her 'lofty cloud-like hair and delicate, arched eyebrows.'"

"..."

Upon hearing this, Li Lingyue's face remained impassive, but her fingers unconsciously tightened around her sleeves as she gently scolded, "There are so many people watching outside, don't make me laugh..."

Seeing her feigned dignity yet unable to conceal her smile, Lu Chenyuan softly recited, "'Gentle and charming demeanor, alluring in words,' the ancients were truly right."

Li Lingyue's ears turned even redder, and she lowered her head slightly, her voice so soft it was almost inaudible: "I told you to stop talking..."

"Okay, I won't say anymore."

“…We’ll talk about it when we get back.”

"They won't tell you when they get back."

Upon hearing this, Li Lingyue finally couldn't help but glare at him, only to see Lu Chenyuan smiling smugly.

"cough!"

Yuan Qingshuang couldn't stand it any longer and quickly stopped them with her eyes: "You two can stop now. You should restrain yourselves a little in public. Although everyone knows about your affair, this is a formal occasion after all. Be mindful of your behavior!"

Li Lingyue took a deep breath and quickly changed the subject: "Is Nuoga keeping a close eye on things?"

Yuan Qingshuang said, "He returned to Princess Qianjin's residence and continued to refine medicine. After that, it was not easy to keep an eye on him..." Li Zhaotang was, after all, a princess, and there were capable people in her residence. She couldn't just openly enter the residence. Yuan Qingshuang added, "After he entered the alchemy room, he never left the residence again. More people were also sent outside the residence to keep a close watch on him."

"Don't let your guard down."

Li Lingyue had already learned from Lu Chenyuan that Nuoga might be plotting something big, but her mother had already agreed to let him enter the Mechanized City to participate in solving the problem, so she couldn't go against her. She could only keep a close watch and wait and see.

As they spoke, the carriages soon arrived at the "Gaocheng Altar" on the banks of the Luo River.

Doulu Qinwang, the Minister of the Imperial Workshop (a Xianbei, originally surnamed Murong), was supervising the last batch of craftsmen to repair the steps of the altar when he saw the princess's procession arrive. He immediately straightened his clothes, led the craftsmen forward, and stood three zhang away from the carriage. He bowed and said, "Your humble servant Doulu Qinwang, along with the officials of the Imperial Workshop and the craftsmen, respectfully welcomes Your Highness. All preparations for the altar are complete. We humbly request Your Highness to inspect them."

Li Lingyue, supported by Yuan Qingshuang, slowly stepped down from the carriage. As her toes touched the ground, the pearls on her phoenix-head silk shoes shimmered with a warm glow in the sunlight: "Minister Doulu, you may dispense with the formalities."

Doulu Qinwang straightened up, still maintaining a respectful posture, and stepped aside to lead the way, saying, "Your Highness, please follow me. The main structure of the altar has been completed, and we are just waiting for the auspicious time in ten days to lay out the offerings."

Li Lingyue nodded and followed him, with Lu Chenyuan acting as her attendant behind her.

The altar was built of bluestone, with a square base and nine tripods in the center. The tripods were decorated with mountain and river patterns, symbolizing the territory of the Wu Zhou dynasty.

Li Lingyue raised her hand and gently stroked the handle of the cauldron. It was icy cold to the touch. She asked, "After this cauldron was cast, was it tested by fire?"

Doulu Qinwang replied, "Your Highness, the 'burning ceremony' was performed three days ago. Pine and cypress trees were burned in the cauldron, and the smoke rose straight up without obstruction or dissipation. The Directorate of Astronomy said this was an auspicious omen."

Li Lingyue's eyes flickered slightly, and she asked again, "Has the water level of the Luo River changed unusually recently?"

Doulu Qinwang pondered for a moment: "Since last winter, the Luo River has been shallow, but three days ago it suddenly rose by three inches, and the water became clear and blue. Fishermen along the shore all said it was the breath of the dragon god."

Li Lingyue's lips curled slightly, a half-smile playing on her lips: "Oh? That's a good omen."

Lu Chenyuan wanted to laugh as he listened. It must be the work of the Wu family again, putting on airs and making up all sorts of auspicious omens.

Li Lingyue slowly walked to the edge of the altar, looking down at the Luo River. It was late autumn in October, and the forests on both sides of the Luo River were ablaze with color. The red maples on the mountains were like fire, and the entire river was immersed in a crimson color.

As the autumn wind swept by, thousands of maple leaves rustled and surged like red waves, a breathtaking sight.

Li Lingyue longed to go boating with Lu Chenyuan, but she didn't forget the important matter at hand. She suddenly turned her head and asked, "Who is the second officiant at the ceremony? Has the Ministry of Rites made a decision?"

Doulu Qinwang bowed his head and said, "According to the decision of the Ministry of Rites, the King of Wei should present the offering as a second offering."

"..."

Li Lingyue subtly curled her fingers within her sleeve, her expression remaining impassive. She simply said, "Hmm, the Prince of Wei is steady and reliable, which suits him well. Who will ultimately offer this?"

Doulu Qinwang remained calm: "The imperial heir shall be responsible for the final offering."

Li Lingyue breathed a sigh of relief; it seemed these people still cared about the Li family after all.

The chief priest is responsible for the first offering, which is self-evident. The second offering is second only to the chief priest. In the "Wu Zhou" sacrifice, the mother would not choose the fourth brother. Choosing Wu Chengsi to highlight the status of the Wu family is also to recognize his contribution in helping Wu ascend the throne, which is inevitable.

As for the final offering, it could be given to Wu Sansi, or to a key minister such as Cen Changqian, Di Renjie, or even Doulu Qinwang, who is in charge of the sacrifices. However, the Ministry of Rites has proposed the fourth brother as the candidate, which is to balance the interests of the Li and Wu families as much as possible.

Li Lingyue said solemnly, "You've worked hard, Vice Minister."

Doulu Qinwang's brows twitched slightly, seemingly surprised that Li Lingyue had reacted so quickly. He looked quite pleased, as all their hard work as old ministers had not been in vain. He then composed himself and solemnly cupped his hands, saying, "Your Highness is too kind. We were merely doing our duty."

Next, Li Lingyue answered Doulu Qinwang's questions fluently about the sacrificial procedures, various ceremonial guards, and the garrison of the imperial guards.

Lu Chenyuan raised an eyebrow – this princess truly possesses the bearing of an emperor.

With nothing else to do, he decided to multitask and quietly cultivate his skills.

After nearly an hour of work, Li Lingyue finally settled everything and ensured that nothing went wrong. Only then did she have some free time to let the entourage return to the princess's residence. She then led Lu Chenyuan straight to the painted boat that was moored not far away.

This is her boat. It is five zhang long and two zhang wide, and is made entirely of century-old redwood from Lingnan, with a wood as hard as iron.

The ship's exterior is engraved with fine patterns, which are "water-avoiding talismans" personally drawn by the old Taoist priest of the Imperial Observatory. These talismans allow the ship to sail swiftly and fearlessly through wind and waves. The bow is carved in the shape of a phoenix's head, with a bright pearl the size of a pigeon egg in its mouth, shimmering with a pale blue halo—this is made from the tears of mermaids from the South China Sea, and can ward off all evil.

Stepping into the cabin is like entering a tranquil and elegant world.

The ground is paved with large pieces of green jade, the stone patterns resembling ink wash paintings, creating a natural and interesting scene.

Several original works of art hung on the four walls:

Wang Xizhi's "Letter After Snowfall" is written with vigorous strokes, Gu Kaizhi's "Nymph of the Luo River" is ethereal and otherworldly, and the "Peace and Prosperity" inscription, personally written by his cousin Cen Wenben and presented by the then Prime Minister Cen Changqian, is powerful and profound.

As soon as Lu Chenyuan entered, his eyes were drawn to the calligraphy and paintings.

He walked slowly closer, his fingers lightly tracing the white strokes of the "Timely Clearing After Snowfall" calligraphy, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes.

"The book says that the way of calligraphy and painting, like the way of chess and the way of the zither, once you enter the realm, you can also use your mind to understand the profound and move the primordial energy of heaven and earth like runes."

His fingertips traced the characters, carefully sensing their spirit: "During the reign of Emperor Daye of the previous dynasty, the great calligrapher and Zen master Zhi Yong once used a copy of the 'Thousand Character Classic' to suppress seventy-two bandits in Jiangnan. When those bandits broke into the temple, they saw the characters on the wall suddenly transform into golden spears and iron horses, and they killed each other. I don't know what purpose this piece serves, but after all, it is an authentic work of the Sage of Calligraphy..."

Li Lingyue walked to his side and smiled, “‘Jiaxiang Anshan’ is a famous piece that can help people calm their minds and gain enlightenment. Once the true meaning of the words is revealed, the entire calligraphy will glow with a blue light, and clouds will seem to flow between the lines, gradually forming a hazy radiance. Being in it, whether you break through the fifth or sixth realm or the first or second realm, there is no risk of going astray. It is currently sealed. Every time it is unsealed, the true meaning of the words will be reduced by one point. I don’t need it, so it’s a bit of a waste to hang it here.”

Lu Chenyuan looked at her and deliberately said, "Knowing that Your Highness is exceptionally talented, I truly feel ashamed of myself."

Li Lingyue glared at him and raised her hand as if to hit him.

Lu Chenyuan coughed lightly and immediately turned to the "Nymph of the Luo River" painting, asking curiously, "What about this one? Could a beautiful woman really walk out of the painting? Has Your Highness seen her? Is she beautiful?"

Li Lingyue narrowed her phoenix eyes slightly, looking at him with half-closed eyes: "What? You want to see more?"

"Forget it, I won't watch anymore."

Lu Chenyuan, being quite perceptive, immediately turned around, his gaze falling on Li Lingyue like a spring breeze caressing willow branches. He took a half-step forward, bringing with him a faint, ethereal fragrance of bamboo dew: "A mere fairy in a painting, no matter how beautiful, is still an illusion." He spoke in a low voice, deliberately leaning closer, enunciating each word clearly: "How can it compare to the vibrant, fragrant beauty before my eyes..."

"you!"

Li Lingyue felt a heat rising from behind her ears, causing her neck to flush a faint pink. She instinctively wanted to back away. This lecherous man! He knew perfectly well she couldn't resist this kind of teasing, yet he always pulled this stunt… What made her feel most secretly embarrassed was that she actually enjoyed listening to it…

The thought made her even more ashamed and angry, and she raised her hand to hit him.

Lu Chenyuan swiftly grabbed her wrist, his thumb pressing precisely on her throbbing pulse. Li Lingyue struggled symbolically but couldn't break free. Instead, he pulled her along, causing her to stagger forward half a step.

The distance between them suddenly shortened, and she could even see her reflection in his eyes.

"Your Highness..."

His voice was tinged with laughter, and his breath brushed against the stray hairs on her forehead.

Li Lingyue's feigned anger immediately crumbled.

She lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes casting a trembling shadow beneath them, like the wings of a startled butterfly. The princess, who had been so fierce just moments before, now had only a pair of watery eyes that shimmered in the slanting sunlight.

Outside the window, the Luo River gently lapped against the hull of the boat, making a rhythmic "splashing" sound. The painted boat swayed gently with the waves, causing the teacups on the table to tremble slightly, and the tea in the cups to create tiny ripples.

Lu Chenyuan's gaze fell on her slightly parted lips, the vermilion color like the finest rouge, gleaming with an alluring luster. He involuntarily leaned down, but stopped halfway, carefully observing her reaction to see if she was truly willing.

Li Lingyue held her breath; she could smell the unique scent of pine breeze and bamboo dew on him, refreshing and intoxicating.

My heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was going to burst out of my chest, but somehow I didn't flinch; instead, I gently closed my eyes.

At this ambiguous moment.

Just as Lu Chenyuan was about to kiss her, he suddenly heard clear and melodious zither music coming from the Luo River. The piece being played was "Phoenix Seeking its Mate".

The melody of the zither was tender and poignant, like a lament or a yearning, yet it sounded particularly jarring at this moment.

Startled, Li Lingyue took a step back and covered her slightly burning lips with her hand, her eyes filled with a mixture of shyness and helplessness.

"..."

Lu Chenyuan sighed softly and turned to look at the uninvited guest playing the zither outside. When he saw the person's face, his expression immediately turned extremely ugly: "I have never been so annoyed! This bitch really knows how to pick her timing!"

Not far away, on a painted boat, a young man in white was playing the zither. It was none other than Gao Jian, the chief disciple of the Cloud-Covered Gentleman of the Peak.

Lu Chenyuan exuded a murderous aura, and his eyes were filled with frost.

Seeing his appearance, Li Lingyue's shyness slowly faded, and she felt both amused and secretly pleased.

"Humph!"

Upon hearing the music and seeing his flamboyant attire, Lu Chenyuan immediately understood what he was up to. "You really don't take me seriously," he thought, tapping his long fingers heavily on the window frame.

"Boom-"

A resounding boom, like the grandest of bells, exploded on the water's surface!

The surrounding天地元气 (heaven and earth energy) responded instantly, and visible sound wave ripples swept out!

Gao Jian's zither music suddenly stopped, and several water columns suddenly rose up around the painted boat beneath him, with a thunderous sound!
"The music of the zither is profound?"

Gao Jian suddenly looked up; he too had reached the Profound Realm?!
"Is it rare?"

Lu Chenyuan looked around. Li Lingyue knew what he was looking for. She smiled slightly and casually waved her hand. A crimson ancient zither flew out from the elegant room next to her. It was one of the ten most famous zithers in the world, the "Duyou" zither. Its body was made of a thousand-year-old paulownia tree and its strings were made of icy silkworms. Its body was crimson and its strings were cold and ethereal. Hence the name "Duyou".

Lu Chenyuan held the zither in his hand and plucked the strings with his five fingers.

"boom!"

The seven strings of the zither vibrated simultaneously, causing the Luo River to surge with waves ten feet high.

Gao Jian's white robes were instantly soaked by the water mist, but his playing of "Phoenix Seeking Phoenix" did not stop. Instead, he changed the tune to "Yangguan Sandie". The sound waves condensed into a tangible force that broke through the waves and rushed towards him.

"Little tricks!"

Lu Chenyuan pressed the strings with his left hand, and suddenly flicked his fingers with his right hand. The sound of the zither turned into seven beams of blue light, precisely piercing the key change interval of the third section of "Yangguan Sandie".

Unable to change the tune in time, Gao Jian had no choice but to raise his hand and use the first question of the "Nine Questions of Tianxu" [Wind and Willow], using his flowing sleeves to deflect the true energy and deflect the force, causing the incense burner on the zither table to explode with a loud bang!

His expression was extremely solemn.

A simple exchange was enough to illustrate the point. Lu Chenyuan was at the early stage of the third realm, and his internal energy was not as abundant as mine, but his understanding of "the profound meaning of the zither's sound" was higher, and he could borrow more of the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, so he was not at a disadvantage in terms of moves.

He also possesses a skill on the piano that is no less than his own, and perhaps even greater...

First came mechanisms, then military strategy, and then the way of the zither...

Same as always!
Lu Chenyuan! Lu Chenyuan! Lu Chenyuan!
Gao Jian's eyes were bloodshot as he roared inwardly: Why doesn't he just die?!

Gao Jian's ten fingers moved in a zither-like motion, and suddenly he changed to playing "Flowing Water." The music caused the Luo River to surge, and three water dragons rose into the sky from the center of the river with great momentum.

Lu Chenyuan pressed the strings as if embracing the moon, and also began to play "Yangchun Baixue". In the clear and melodious sound of the zither, the water vapor in the sky condensed into frost and snow, freezing the water dragon in mid-air. He suddenly changed the tune, and the snow particles instantly turned into thousands of ice needles that shot out.

Gao Jian hurriedly changed the tune to "Chu Song," and the sound wall barely blocked the attack. The two went back and forth, and ancient tunes such as "Pheasant Flying to the Morning" and "Crow Crying at Night" were performed in turn. The river surface was sometimes filled with surging waves and sometimes frozen solid. The spectators who had gathered on both banks at some unknown time were already dumbfounded.

"..."

Li Lingyue stood by the window of the painted boat, watching his back.

Her gaze remained fixed on Lu Chenyuan. The gasps of the onlookers on the shore and the waves crashing on the river became distant background noise to her. Only his music could be heard clearly.

She was still savoring the ambiguous scene from just now, gently touching her red lips, a childlike, innocent smile appearing on her lips. In her heart, she secretly said to herself, "Lu Chenyuan... I'm increasingly wanting to tie you up..."

(End of this chapter)