Rebirth: Phoenix Riding the Ninth Heaven

As Miss Sun walked down the steps, she saw a beautiful woman in palace dress approaching gracefully. She walked up to the Virtuous Consort and bowed gracefully, saying, "Venerable Consort, your humble servant Liu Yingniang would like to present a dance. I hope Your Majesty will grant my permission." Virtuous Consort raised her hand, motioning for her to stand and speak. Liu Yingniang stood up, bowed again, and stepped aside to prepare.

Under a moonlit, star-studded night sky, the imperial palace's banquet hall was ablaze with lights, as bright as day. A grand court banquet unfolded. Inside, ornate attire, exquisite tableware, fragrant delicacies, and the lively conversation of guests all formed a scene of prosperity and nobility. Yet, amidst this vibrant atmosphere, the melodious and profound sound of a guqin (Chinese zither) quietly emerged, like a clear spring flowing through a mountain stream, instantly capturing everyone's attention and bringing the atmosphere of the banquet to an unprecedented tranquility and depth.

The guqin player, a woman as gentle as water, dressed in elegant palace attire, sat in a corner of the main hall. Before her was an antique-style qin table, upon which rested a guqin. Its body, intricately carved with exquisite patterns, revealed a rich history and rich cultural heritage. With eyes closed, the woman concentrated, her fingertips gently touching the strings, as if recounting an ancient and mysterious tale. As her fingertips danced across the strings, each note flowed like the gurgling of a spring, flowing through the hearts of the guests, transporting them to a tranquil valley, with the sound of gurgling water beside their ears and towering mountains before their eyes. The soul found an unprecedented tranquility and purification.

The guests all put down their cups and drank, holding their breath as they listened. The entire hall seemed frozen in this moment, leaving only the melody of the guqin lingering in the air. A learned scholar exclaimed, "This music belongs only to heaven, rarely heard on earth. Listening to this sound of flowing water over the mountains is like being in nature – truly the greatest joy on earth!" His words were filled with reverence and praise for the art of the guqin, and they resonated with the guests present. A noblewoman nodded gently and echoed, "Yes, this woman not only has exceptional skills, but also a rare state of mind. She can infuse the spirit of mountains and rivers into the sound of the guqin, allowing people to experience the tranquility and harmony of nature even in the bustling palace."

When the piece ended, thunderous applause erupted in the hall, and the guests' praises were endless. Even Empress Defei was moved. Empress Defei smiled and said, "This woman's qin skills are superb, and she has the state of being like a mountain and flowing water. This is truly rare. Come, thank her for bringing us this spiritual baptism."

The woman playing then slowly rose and bowed to Empress Defei and the guests. Her demeanor was as graceful as her piano, revealing an indescribable beauty. Empress Defei softly said, "Your piano music is like flowing water in the mountains, soothing and refreshing. Not only is your technique exquisite, but your artistic conception is also transcendental. You are truly a breath of fresh air in the palace. I hope you will continue to bring us more beautiful music in the years to come, so that those who appreciate music will be enriched by your piano."

Liu Yingniang replied modestly, "Your Majesty, you are too kind. It is my honor to play for you and all the gentlemen. I will practice diligently and live up to your high expectations. I hope that my music can bring more harmony and beauty to everyone."

Liu Yingniang danced a song and then retreated, and singing and dancing continued in the center of the hall.

Ruyan watched them singing and dancing and playing music, and couldn't help but sigh, "Miss Li, how do you think they do it so well?"

She sighed again and said, "You say I'm not good at literature or martial arts, isn't it just that I can't play the piano or embroider. Mother says I can't do anything. My priority is eating. Don't you think this puts us behind? Do you think I'm still alive?"

Li Ruoyue listened to Liu Ruyan's complaints, smiled helplessly, and comforted her, "What's there to compare? Everyone has their own way of living, and everyone has their own strengths. You can't compare your weaknesses with others' strengths! We are all unique, there's no need to envy others."

Liu Ruyan bit the cake in her hand viciously, as if it were her enemy. She was holding back her anger and secretly vowed: "I must not let them outdo me!" As she ate, she thought about finishing all the food. That way, those who only knew how to sing and dance would have nothing to eat. Thinking of this, she couldn't help but feel a little proud. However, when she saw the eyes of the people around her, she felt embarrassed. After all, she was just complaining about others being too noisy. So, she quickly buried her head and started eating. But soon, she found that she was full and might vomit if she ate any more. She sighed helplessly and thought: "This is too difficult..." However, she decided to stick to it. After all, she didn't want to be outdone by those who sang and danced.

Li Ruoyue looked at Liu Ruyan's embarrassment, reached out to stop him, and said with a smile: "Don't be so harsh on yourself. Just do what makes you happy and feel free." She patted Liu Ruyan's shoulder gently and comforted her: "Just do your own thing and let other things go. Don't worry too much. Life is short, why let these trivial matters affect your mood?" After that, she winked mischievously and showed a bright smile.

When Liu Ruyan heard this, she suddenly remembered something important. She was startled and quickly whispered in Li Ruoyue's ear, "Miss Li, did you know? They seem to be competing for the eldest prince and want to marry him!"

Li Ruoyue was surprised when she heard this. She frowned and asked in confusion, "What did you say? They're going to marry the eldest prince?"

Liu Ruyan nodded, a hint of worry flashing in her eyes as she continued, "Yes, I just remembered it too. No wonder they put on such a grand display of singing and dancing at the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet. It turns out they were hoping to use this opportunity to attract Consort De's attention so they could become the Crown Prince's principal wife! I was so foolish that I actually forgot about it and was still sulking here. Now that I think about it, their two families are strong rivals, and the Emperor is hesitating about which one to choose as the Crown Prince's principal wife."

Li Ruoyue's expression grew serious after hearing this. She pondered for a moment and then said slowly, "So that's how it is. No wonder they are so eager to show off. But, will the eldest prince really like any of them?"

Liu Ruyan shook her head slightly, her tone somewhat helpless. "Who knows? We can't decide these matters. However, no matter what, we still have to be careful and not let them get involved. After all, palace struggles are no joke."

Li Ruoyue nodded in agreement. The two of them fell silent, each secretly pondering how to deal with this complicated situation.

As the music faded and the dancers gracefully exited the stage, the formal dinner began. Plate after plate of exquisite dishes were served, emitting an alluring aroma.

Liu Ruyan looked at these delicacies and couldn't help but murmured softly: "This is a real meal!" She frowned and said to herself: "I'm almost full. Oh, I should have eaten less. Now there are so many delicious foods in front of me, how can I eat more?" As she spoke, she couldn't help swallowing her saliva, her eyes staring at the delicacies on the table.

Li Ruoyue, who was standing by, heard her words and shook her head helplessly, thinking: "This little girl is so lucky! She doesn't have to think about anything, and only has food in her mind. But it's good this way, when she's full, she won't think about those troubles anymore." She sighed softly, a hint of envy and emotion revealed in her eyes.

The Imperial Kitchen gathers rare ingredients from all over the country and even the world. The ingredients are so unique and precious that they can be said to be the best in the world. These ingredients not only reflect the nobility and luxury of the royal family,

For example, bird's nests** are nests formed by the saliva of swiftlets congealing on rocks. They are considered a treasure due to their rarity and high nutritional value. In imperial cuisine, bird's nests were often used to make various nourishing soups, such as "Bird's Nest and Snow Clam Soup," which has the benefits of beautifying the skin and nourishing the yin and moistening the lungs.

Shark fin**: Shark fin, derived from shark fins, particularly those of greatfin and hammerhead sharks, is a favorite of the royal family for its smooth texture and nutritious properties. Imperial dishes such as "Golden Broth Shark's Fin" and "Braised Shark's Fin" are meticulously prepared with premium shark fin, symbolizing the royal family's wealth and honor.

Sea Cucumber**: Sea cucumbers are marine creatures with thick flesh rich in protein and collagen. In imperial cuisine, sea cucumbers were often paired with various meats and vegetables, such as "Sea Cucumber Stewed Chicken" and "Sea Cucumber Braised Pork," which were not only delicious but also nourishing.

Bear paw**: Bear paw was considered an excellent tonic in ancient times, with its delicious and nutritious meat. Imperial dishes like "braised bear paw" and "bear paw stewed with pigeon" are no longer recommended due to modern wildlife conservation awareness, but they were once delicacies on the royal table in ancient times.

Deer antler**: Deer antler is the tender, unossified antler of a deer. Rich in amino acids and trace elements, it possesses significant medicinal value. In imperial cuisine, deer antler is often used to make nourishing soups, such as "Deer Antler Stewed Pigeon," which are known for their tonic and nourishing properties.

Ginseng**: Known as the "King of Herbs," ginseng's roots contain a variety of ginsenosides, possessing exceptional medicinal value. In imperial cuisine, ginseng is often paired with meats such as chicken and pigeon, such as in "Ginseng Stewed Chicken," which is not only delicious but also claims to nourish qi and blood, promoting longevity. Hericium erinaceus**: Hericium erinaceus is a rare edible mushroom, named for its resemblance to a monkey's head. Its flesh is thick and tender. In imperial cuisine, it is often used in various vegetarian dishes and soups, such as "Hericium erinaceus Stewed Pigeon," which is not only delicious but also nourishing.

Truffles**: Truffles are a fungus that grows underground in symbiosis with certain trees. They are considered a delicacy for their unique aroma and rich flavor. In imperial cuisine, truffles are often thinly sliced ​​and paired with meat or vegetables, such as in "Truffle Chicken," where their unique aroma greatly enhances the flavor of the dish.

Lingzhi**: Lingzhi is a fungus with extremely high medicinal value. Rich in polysaccharides and triterpenes, it possesses anti-tumor and immunomodulatory properties. In imperial cuisine, Lingzhi was often used to make nourishing soups, such as "Ganoderma Lucidum Stewed Pigeon," which is not only delicious but also nourishing and health-promoting.

Li Ruoyue looked at these without much emotion. Although she had been trapped in the palace in her previous life, she had all kinds of exquisite cakes and precious foods. So she didn't think what she saw now was anything special. Now seeing it again, she couldn't help but sigh at the fleeting time. Although these foods were no longer fresh to her, she was still grateful for their existence, because they reminded her of the good and bad memories she had once had.