Tangli Fried Snow

Seeing Lin Pianyue stand out like a crane among chickens among a group of beautifully dressed women, immediately catching everyone's eye, Empress Jin couldn't help but scrutinize her closely. She bore a striking resemblance to her mother, Madam Song, but was even more delicate and beautiful. Especially striking was her tall stature, long and graceful neck, smooth and fair skin, bright eyes, white teeth, and elegant demeanor; sitting there, she was as radiant as a magnolia blossom. In terms of looks, she was more than a match for her younger brother.

The more the Empress looked at her, the more she liked her, and said softly, "Pianyue, come here."

Lin Pianyue was surprised that the Empress Jin would call her by her name directly and in such a friendly tone. She quickly got up, walked to her side, and bowed gracefully, saying, "Your Majesty."

Empress Jin said gently, "Your marriage to Jin Cheng is almost settled. He's currently at the front lines, and he'll return in a few months to arrange the marriage. With such a beautiful wife like you, what more could a husband ask for?" After saying this, she took out a beaded hairpin that she had prepared and gave it to her.

Lin Pianyue accepted the gift with a flattered expression, thanked him repeatedly, exchanged a few more pleasantries with the Third Prince, bowed to the Empress, and then withdrew.

Everyone couldn't help but show expressions of envy, jealousy, and resentment.

The men's and women's seats were separate. The women's seat was naturally presided over by the Empress, while the men's seat was on the other side. Originally, it should have been presided over by the Emperor, but since the Emperor was ill, it was naturally handed over to the old Prime Minister, Shen Shibai, and the Crown Prince. The Empress and her son made an appearance with the male guests, drank a couple of cups of wine, and then sat down at the women's seat. A dazzling array of delicacies were served one after another. After a few cups of wine, everyone began to flatter the Empress and the Third Prince in various ways.

Empress Jin was in a good mood. She drank a few cups of wine and chatted with several ladies and young women she was on good terms with.

The Empress also ordered people to bring forward the birthday gifts for the Third Prince and instructed the palace maids to report them one by one.

"This is a 'Purple Gold' brush ingot, this is top-grade Huizhou ink, these are various colored white marble fan pendants, this is 'Ice God Pill'..."

She and her son carefully examined the gifts presented by the various officials and ladies. There were many items, and because they were for the child, each gift was thoughtfully chosen. They weren't particularly expensive, but their charm lay in their ingenuity. Zhao Xi'an's favorites were a fine bow suitable for his use and a wooden eagle with a mechanism that could fly. The Empress specifically praised the officials who presented these two gifts.

She also held up a set of finely crafted clothes and shoes, held them up against him a few times, and said to Zhao Xi'an, "This was made for you by your sister Yaoguang. The fabric and embroidery are of the highest quality. I heard that she spent two whole months making it. Today, she and the Empress Dowager are praying for you and your father in the Buddhist hall, so she didn't come. You should go and thank her in person in a few days."

Zhao Xi'an obediently agreed.

After a few rounds of drinks, the atmosphere became lively.

Inside the grand hall, wine cups clinked and people mingled. The men began a poetry contest, while the women held their routine matchmaking events, all promoting their sons and daughters. Those whose sons and daughters were already married were now urging each other to know when they would have children. Just as the hall was bustling with activity, a group of graceful women entered from outside and began a song and dance performance.

First came a middle-aged man carrying a guqin (a seven-stringed zither). Some of the people recognized him and couldn't help but whisper among themselves, "This is the world-renowned Ruan master."

"I met him once at the Prime Minister's residence last year. He was very talented and handsome. This trip has been worthwhile."

"I heard his appearance fee has risen to a hundred gold coins..."

Ruan Wenkang was about thirty years old. He was gentle and refined, with delicate features. He wore a pink round-necked robe, a light green belt around his waist, and a black knitted hat with two red flowers stuck in it. He had a short mustache, which added to his elegant and scholarly demeanor.

His fingers were long and slender, with distinct knuckles. Some ladies who liked to look at hands were already mesmerized. You know, a man's beautiful hands are more attractive than a handsome face. Just as men like a woman's beautiful legs and feet, women like to look at a man's hands and chest and abdominal muscles even more.

The music seemed to descend from the heavens as Ruan Wenkang played "Drunken Fisherman's Evening Song." To match the joyous and festive atmosphere in the hall, he emphasized the music's cheerfulness and passion, displaying a carefree and unrestrained demeanor reminiscent of someone intoxicated, his own elegance flowing freely. His virtuosity was flawless, reaching a pinnacle of perfection, elegant and moving, captivating everyone's attention. Those with a keen ear for music were utterly mesmerized.

After the piece ended, heartfelt applause and applause filled the air. Master Ruan gracefully departed with his guqin, leaving the crowd still discussing his appearance and talent.

Suddenly, a commotion arose at the entrance, and two groups of dozens of beautiful women gracefully entered. They were dressed in identical costumes and shoes, half carrying silk ribbons and the other half carrying exquisite colorful fans. A beautiful melody began to play, and the beauties began to perform a dance. Their graceful movements drew everyone's attention, and in an instant, the hall was filled with beautiful women, celestial music filled the air, and everyone was delighted by the sight.

Several of the most beautiful and talented dancers, wielding feather fans and veils, gave a passionate performance, displaying various poses and challenging moves. For a moment, fair arms and legs filled the hall, and the dance floor was filled with a subtle fragrance. The audience was deeply impressed; everyone's attention was captivated by the beautiful dancers.

The beauties split into two groups, changing their positions in countless ways. Suddenly, they merged into a single formation, slowly shifting like flowers, then like circles, then like ocean waves. As the music changed, the beauties began to sing, their beautiful voices melodious and captivating. Suddenly, like butterflies and cranes dancing, everyone withdrew from the center, and a stunningly beautiful woman appeared prominently in the center of the stage.

No one saw how she appeared; all they saw was her captivating beauty. Seemingly unaware that everyone was watching her, she calmly began to sing. Her voice was melodious like a nightingale's song, ethereal and otherworldly, as if she were a woman in her boudoir awaiting her lover, or a celestial being gazing at her reflection in the water, a gentle sadness lingering within her.

Or perhaps it's a soldier who, after a bloody battle on the frontier, thinks of his hometown girl under the cold moon, feeling a sense of relief and melancholy born from the experiences of life. That poignant and moving song touches only the heart; who could not be captivated by it?

Her superb singing skills and gifted voice did not overshadow her beauty; on the contrary, her stunning looks complemented her singing perfectly. What is even more amazing than her slender and perfect figure is her captivating eyes and the occasional shy smile on her lips, making her seem as pure as an innocent young girl.

Suddenly, the music changed, and the beautiful woman in a plain yellow gauze dress, just as stunning as she was, unexpectedly began a difficult dance. With a back leg lift, her slender foot was raised to the back of her head, and her yellow silk skirt was displayed to everyone like a peacock spreading its tail. Her face was completely free of any makeup, but her skin was as smooth as cream, a hundred times more beautiful than any heavy makeup.

A series of high-difficulty spins around the arena, along with elegant dance moves, allowed her beauty to flow freely.

What captivated people most was her languid beauty, as described in the line "She rises lazily to paint her eyebrows, lingering over her makeup and toilette." This made all the elegantly dressed and exquisitely made-up women in the entire hall pale in comparison.

Lin Pianyue glanced at her several close female friends, who, like herself, all showed jealous looks in their eyes.

The men couldn't help but sigh softly, forgetting even to cheer.