Black Myth: The Legend of Tianpeng Seeking Demons

On a summer afternoon, sunlight streamed down like golden silk through the Imperial Garden of Daming Palace. Zhu Rong strolled among the trees, her pale blue dress fluttering gently in the breeze, accentuating her slender figure.

She wore a gold hairpin, jade earrings, and a pearl-encrusted sash, exuding the nobility of an imperial concubine. The garden was ablaze with color; peonies, herbaceous peonies, crabapple blossoms, and osmanthus flowers bloomed in profusion, seemingly celebrating her arrival with even greater splendor.

Inside the Imperial Garden, artificial hills and flowing water, pavilions and towers are scattered in a well-organized manner. A group of palace maids dressed in colorful clothes are pruning flowers and trees, while in the distance, eunuchs push carts full of fruits and vegetables slowly by.

The palace maids and eunuchs around her would occasionally glance at Zhu Rong, their eyes filled with either envy or jealousy. But Zhu Rong was already used to such attention, her expression calm and composed, her eyes full of serenity.

In this seemingly leisurely moment, Zhu Rong's bright eyes suddenly caught sight of a figure in the distant pavilion. Yang Guifei was talking in hushed tones with her trusted palace maid, Chun Tao. The mysterious whispers and occasional cold laughs were like a gentle breeze, ruffling the calm in Zhu Rong's heart.

Zhu Rong tilted her head slightly, her slender fingers gently pinching the nine-bead bracelet in her sleeve. She lowered her voice and called out to the spirit Xiaobai, "Xiaobai, look, what trick is Yang Guifei up to now?" Although her tone was relaxed, a hint of vigilance flashed in her eyes.

The Ringwraith, Little White, immediately warned, "Be careful, don't meddle in other people's business. The palace is rife with intrigue, we shouldn't get involved too easily." There was a hint of worry in her voice.

However, Zhu Rong's curiosity had already been ignited. She gently raised her chin, her gaze calm yet sharp, like a drawn sword. "No, I need to know what they're up to."

Amidst Xiaobai's helpless sigh, Zhu Rong quietly approached the pavilion. Her steps were as light as a cat's, even the sound of the wind rustling through the leaves drowned out her movements. She carefully hid behind a ginkgo tree, listening intently.

From inside the pavilion, Chun Tao's voice drifted out intermittently: "Your Majesty, rest assured, I have made all the arrangements for tonight's Qixi Festival banquet. Zhu Rong will definitely be humiliated in front of everyone." There was a hint of smugness in her tone.

"Very well." Yang Guifei's voice was casual, yet carried a chilling undertone. "I will make her utterly humiliated before the Emperor, never to rise again!"

Zhu Rong felt a chill run through her, as if a cold front had shot up from her feet to her entire body. She bit her lower lip, her brow furrowed, and thought to herself, "It seems they've laid a trap, just waiting to see me make a fool of myself."

She whispered, "Xiaobai, I heard it. Yang Guifei is going to deal with me." A hint of anxiety flashed in her eyes, but more than that, there was a battle intent that was about to be unleashed.

The Ringwraith, however, calmed down. She softly advised, "Listen carefully to what they're going to do. Knowing our enemy and ourselves is the only way we can be prepared for battle."

Zhu Rong nodded, trying to calm her inner unease, and continued to listen attentively.

Chun Tao's voice rang out again: "The musicians have been bribed by me. I've had them alter the score of 'The Rainbow Feather Dance' to be extremely complex. No matter how skilled Zhu Rong is in music, she could never play it perfectly."

"Hmph," Consort Yang sneered, her eyes full of calculation, "Tonight, I will make her lose face in front of everyone. Will the Emperor still favor her then?"

Hearing this, Zhu Rong couldn't help but sneer inwardly: Yang Guifei, do you really think these tricks can leave me helpless? Her gaze became calm and firm, and her thoughts raced like lightning, already having a countermeasure in mind.

"Xiaobai, I have an idea." She turned and quietly retreated, a sly glint in her eyes, a confident smile playing on her lips.

Upon returning to her Chang Le Palace, Zhu Rong immediately sent for the court musicians who had been bribed by Yang Guifei. She sat gracefully before a sandalwood table inlaid with mother-of-pearl, smiling as she requested to see the score of "The Song of Rainbow Feathers," her tone gentle yet brooking no refusal.

Although the musicians had already accepted the bribe, they dared not openly refuse. They could only hand her the revised score, a hint of unease flashing in their eyes.

Zhu Rong took the musical score, transcribed on high-quality Xuan paper, and examined it carefully. Sure enough, the score had been altered to be extremely complex, with disordered rhythms, fluctuating tones, and astonishing difficulty. However, she showed no sign of panic; instead, the corners of her lips curled up slightly, and a glint of excitement flashed in her eyes.

"She thinks this can stump me?" Zhu Rong muttered to herself, her tone carrying a hint of challenge. She took out her beloved pear wood pipa and gently plucked the strings, her fingertips moving nimbly and freely, as if dancing on the strings with a life of their own.

The melodious music flowed gently, permeating the entire room like a clear spring. Zhu Rong closed her eyes, immersing herself completely in the music. She practiced again and again, single-mindedly focused, seemingly forgetting the passage of time. The palace maids stood quietly to the side, feeling sincere admiration for this exceptionally talented imperial concubine.

Gradually, the complex musical score became clear and simple under her comprehension, even radiating a more vibrant charm. Zhu Rong's lips unconsciously curled up, and her eyes sparkled with confidence.

As night fell, the palace was ablaze with lights. Tonight's Qixi Festival banquet was grand and extravagant, bringing together the most distinguished figures of Chang'an. Inside the Hanyuan Hall of the Daming Palace, jewels glittered and goblets clinked. Magnificent brocades hung in the hall, and colorful Persian carpets covered the floor, filling the air with the fragrance of sandalwood and ambergris.

Zhu Rong appeared in a long, red brocade dress, as vibrant and dazzling as a blooming red plum blossom. She wore a golden phoenix hairpin, a pearl and jade necklace, and a jeweled gold belt. The moment she stepped into the hall, all eyes were drawn to her. Every movement she made was elegant and composed, her eyes exuding charm.

Emperor Li Longji, dressed in a dragon robe and wearing a golden crown, sat high on the dragon throne. His gaze was involuntarily drawn to Zhu Rong, and a hint of admiration flashed in his eyes.

"Consort Zhu," Li Longji said loudly, his eyes full of anticipation, "could you play 'The Rainbow Feather Robe' for me again tonight?"

Zhu Rong smiled and curtsied, her voice soft and melodious: "Your Majesty, I obey." She walked slowly to the center, sat down gracefully, and gently placed her hands on the pipa. Her gaze was slightly lowered, but she could feel Yang Guifei's burning gaze and the hidden malice within it.

Yang Guifei, dressed in a magnificent purple robe and adorned with pearls and jade, was stunningly beautiful. She leaned forward slightly, a barely perceptible sneer playing on her lips. She seemed to already see Zhu Rong humiliated in public for being unable to perform, and a smug glint flashed in her eyes.

However, as Zhu Rong's slender fingers plucked the strings, everything changed. Music flowed out like a clear spring; it was the "Rainbow Feather Dress Dance," but at Zhu Rong's fingertips, this complex piece was given a completely new life.

She not only mastered every note in the score perfectly, but also infused it with her own emotions. The rhythm was well-paced, and the melody was smooth and melodious, like a fairy dancing under the moon, refreshing and delightful.

The music sometimes sounded like a babbling brook, sometimes like a cascading waterfall, sometimes like a gentle breeze rustling willows, and sometimes like a sudden clap of thunder, perfectly showcasing the essence of Tang Dynasty music.

The entire hall seemed to be enveloped in this beautiful music, and everyone was so immersed in it that they forgot to breathe. Civil and military officials, palace maids and eunuchs, and even the imperial guards stationed outside the hall were all involuntarily drawn in by this captivating music.

Yang Guifei's cold smile gradually faded, replaced by incredulous shock. Her eyes widened, unable to believe her ears. Zhu Rong had performed the altered piece so perfectly, even more movingly than the original! Her fingers unconsciously gripped the armrest beside her, her knuckles turning white from the force.

Inside the main hall, everyone held their breath, captivated by the beautiful melody. Even Li Longji closed his eyes, as if in a dream, surrounded by celestial music, his mind and soul completely intoxicated. His fingers gently tapped the armrests of the dragon throne, swaying gently to the rhythm of the music.

As the music ended, the entire hall fell silent. Everyone was still immersed in that dreamlike state, unable to snap out of it for a long time. Zhu Rong slowly put down her pipa, raised her head, and looked at him with a calm and confident gaze.

A moment later, thunderous applause erupted throughout the palace. Li Longji excitedly slapped the dragon table and shouted, "Wonderful! Consort Zhu, I have never heard such an exquisite performance of 'Rainbow Feather Robe'! You are truly gifted!" His eyes gleamed with admiration.

Zhu Rong slowly stood up, gracefully bowed to the emperor, and said softly, "Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty. I only did my best." Her voice was gentle, yet carried a hint of barely perceptible pride.

At the same time, Yang Guifei's face had turned ashen. All her meticulously planned schemes had vanished, and her heart was filled with resentment and anger. Her gaze became sinister and fierce, fixed on Zhu Rong as if she wanted to pierce her with her eyes.

However, deep within her heart, an indescribable emotion was quietly surging. In Zhu Rong's melodious zither music, she seemed to see her own deep love for the Emperor and her fear of losing his favor. This subtle emotion was something only she could truly understand.

The banquet continued, filled with singing and dancing, and the clinking of glasses. Zhu Rong became the center of attention, even the usually stern Prime Minister Zhang Yue praised her, saying, "Her musical skills are superb, comparable to celestial music." Emperor Li Longji was overjoyed and bestowed upon her a hundred pearls and a white jade ruyi as a reward.

Yang Guifei forced a smile, but her heart was in turmoil. She gritted her teeth, secretly vowing to find an opportunity to bring down Zhu Rong. However, when she saw the undisguised admiration in Li Longji's eyes for Zhu Rong, a pang of bitterness welled up inside her.