Dugu Jingyao is reborn as Li Chu's beloved

Seeing the people at the top chatting happily, all the ministers felt relieved. As the saying goes, a harmonious family brings prosperity!

During the interval, Yang Guifei and Yang Guozhong exchanged glances, and Yang Guozhong raised his wine glass and stood up, saying, "Your Majesty, I respectfully wish you long life in Chang'an!"

The emperor was chatting happily with his son and daughter-in-law when he was interrupted by Yang Guozhong. However, as a superior, he only frowned briefly and put on a smiling face, cursing in his heart: He is so tactless. Can't you see that I am chatting with the prince and the princess?

Yang Guozhong pretended not to notice the emperor's expression. Although the emperor was smiling, the smile did not reach his eyes. He said, "Thank you for your good words, my dear minister Yang." Then he drank a glass of wine, and Yang Guozhong followed suit.

Yang Guifei saw the emperor's displeasure and changed the subject: "Your Majesty, just looking at the singing and dancing girls, every banquet is not much different. I have a suggestion, do you think it is feasible?"

The Emperor became interested and raised an eyebrow, asking, "Oh? Do you have any good suggestions, my beloved concubine?"

Yang Guifei then continued, "Today, many children from aristocratic families have come, all of them talented in both literature and martial arts. Why not see if any of them would like to perform a talent show to entertain the Emperor?"

Hearing Yang Guifei say this, Liu Jingyue's inner alarm bells went off: "This is it! Why is there even this segment? Mainly because I don't have any talent? Is it going to be a live makeup performance? Hmm, that seems like a way out. If it's my turn, I'll do it!"

Most of the children from aristocratic families who grew up in Chang'an City knew that they would most likely have to perform their talents today, so they made preparations early.

Only these outsiders are blind and have not prepared anything.

As expected, just as Yang Guifei finished speaking, Cui Caiping stood up, bowed to the leader and said, "Your Majesty, I would like to present my talents to entertain everyone present."

The Emperor knew that Concubine Yang's proposal was probably just to pave the way for his niece. However, Cui Caiping was an excellent zither player, and since she was interested, I would not reject her. So, he said to her, "Ping'er, get up quickly. I wonder what talent Ping'er will perform today?"

Cui Caiping stood up and bowed her head, saying, "Your Majesty, I would like to play a piece of music for you."

Cui Caiping's zither skills were among the best in Chang'an, and the emperor was delighted to see her play a piece. He said, "Very good! I haven't heard your music for a long time."

Cui Caiping asked someone to bring her zither up, and then sat in front of the zither. She glanced at Li Chu secretly, but found that Li Chu was not looking at her. She felt a little depressed, but in order to play the song well, she could only try to calm down and then began to play.

Cui Caiping played the piece "High Mountains and Flowing Water". At the beginning, everyone was not in the mood, but gradually they seemed to be integrated into the quiet fairyland, which gave people a sense of tranquility. Some people even closed their eyes and felt it carefully, as if they were there themselves. The piece ended.

There was a brief silence at first, and then with the emperor's "good", the Zhengyang Hall erupted in warm applause.

The emperor laughed heartily: "Ping'er is indeed one of the most talented guzheng players in Chang'an. I feel as if I were there myself. Very good."

Cui Caiping was very proud to hear the emperor's high praise for her. She said, "Your Majesty, thank you for your compliment. I am satisfied just to earn your Majesty's smile."

The emperor then waved his hand and said, "Haha, Ping'er is so modest. Come, bring the forget-me-nots from my private storehouse and give them to Ping'er!"

Cui Caiping thought to herself: His Majesty actually took a zither from his private storehouse to reward me. This is a great gift from heaven.

Just as he was about to thank her, Yang Guifei spoke first, "Your Majesty, this is absolutely impossible. Isn't the Wangyou zither your favorite? How can you give it to Ping'er?"

The emperor waved his hand and said, "It's alright. I'm so old now, I haven't played the zither for a long time. It would be a pity to let it gather dust. It's just right for Ping'er to play it."

Yang Guifei wanted to speak up to stop him, but Wangyou had already been brought up, so the emperor said, "My beloved concubine, there is no need to say more. It is settled. Go and give it to Ping'er!"

Then the eunuch beside him personally handed the zither to Cui Caiping, and Cui Caiping hurriedly thanked him: "Your Majesty, I thank you for the reward!"

Only after the emperor called her did Cui Caiping return to her seat and ask her maid to move the zither downstairs. She glanced at Li Chu as she passed by, but received no reply. Cui Caiping was furious!