Chapter Eighty-Six: A Throne for the Ages, Her Imperial Coronation

Outside the window lattice, the distant night sky was punctuated by the constant bursts of fireworks. In the flickering light, one could see the robust Ningwu Army men clad in blue uniforms questioning the maidservants and stewards along the corridor outside the flower hall.

Inside the flower hall, under the gaze of the crowd awaiting a spectacle, Chang Tinglu ordered the long table by the wall to be moved to the center, arranging brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. Even the famed courtesan Hongxiu from Jiangling City had stepped aside, watching as the crowd teased the master of Jiuhua Jade Dew.

Hongxiu had witnessed countless similar scenes, but never had she seen someone so composed and unruffled as Zhao Hengyi, the target of the jest; curiosity stirred within her.

The maidservant in thick clothing kept her head bowed, yet her eyes darted repeatedly toward the corridor. Only when the Ningwu Army men departed did her tense posture relax somewhat.

Amid the crowd’s teasing urgings, Zhao Hengyi dipped his brush generously in ink and began to write.

“Green Jade Table… Millennium…”

Chang Tinglu could see that the young prince seemed particularly interested in teasing Zhao Hengyi, the rustic tycoon from the countryside, and thus applied himself with unusual enthusiasm. With every character Zhao Hengyi wrote, Chang Tinglu would intone loudly, stirring the atmosphere to a fevered pitch.

“East wind releases a thousand blossoms in the night…”

At that line alone, Chang Tinglu straightened his back instinctively! A majestic energy swept forth!

The young prince, still sitting with reserved grace at the chief seat, paused mid-sip of his fine wine, suddenly raising his head in surprise.

Hongxiu, who had been quietly conversing with the musician as she rested, was startled, clutching her silk handkerchief without knowing why.

The boisterous voices of the wastrels dropped abruptly, exchanging looks of astonishment… These men had not all been born wastrels; in their youth, their families had forced them to study diligently for years. Though they could not compose poetry, they could distinguish good from bad… Those who could not were never admitted to this circle.

“Blown down further… stars like rain.”

“Precious steeds… carved carriages, fragrance fills the road…”

“Phoenix flute sounds, jade jug’s light turns… a night of fish and dragon dance.”

For some unknown reason, Chang Tinglu’s voice trembled ever so slightly. Outside, fireworks continued to explode, their distant thunder seeming to beat drums for someone or something.

The wastrels fell completely silent. This verse—no amount of silver could buy it.

Hongxiu stood with parted lips, murmuring the lyrics in tune as if by instinct. Perhaps after tonight, the pleasure quarters would have a new song sweeping all before it!

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The young prince’s lips held a smile, his eyes full of amusement. He glanced at the rustic tycoon still writing fervently, then at Chang Tinglu’s expressive face… Finally, he drained the last of his wine and let out a long breath. Tonight was certainly worthwhile!

Just the first stanza had rendered the flower hall strange and silent; aside from Chang Tinglu’s quivering recitation, only shallow breaths could be heard. Even the thick-clad maidservant cast Zhao Hengyi a curious glance—was what he wrote truly so remarkable?

“Moth brows, snow willows, golden threads… laughter and whispers, subtle fragrance fades.”

Chang Tinglu felt short of breath, as if he had fought a battle unseen by all.

The thick-clad maidservant carefully surveyed the corridor. Seeing that the blue-uniformed Ningwu Army men had gone, she quietly slipped toward the hall’s exit.

“Among the crowd, seeking him a thousand times over… Suddenly turning—”

As if sensing something, the maidservant paused at the threshold, frowned slightly, and glanced back at Zhao Hengyi, who was bent over his writing, seemingly oblivious.

“He stands… where the lights are dim.”

When the “Green Jade Table” was finally complete, Chang Tinglu seemed to awaken, inexplicably dazed and lost.

The wastrels grew lively again, though their expressions were rather peculiar.

The thick-clad maidservant vanished, but it mattered little—she was surely still within Moonview Tower.

“Green Jade Table, Millennium? Ha! Jiangling Prefecture truly is a land of talent and heroes!”

The young prince, momentarily overlooked, poured himself another drink and mused—once this verse spread, surely no one in Jiangling would dare provoke that rustic tycoon again.

The other wastrels merely thought Zhao Hengyi unfathomable—a man of such literary talent, who had endured their probing, only to shine tonight with the prince present!

From now on, this Zhao Hengyi would likely ascend to the prince’s favor.

If the young prince knew their thoughts, he would laugh himself hoarse. With “Green Jade Table • Millennium,” Zhao Hengyi needn’t rely on him—the branches he could climb far surpassed his own!

Millennium… That one—she had not yet been crowned empress.

In ancient times, the empress or empress dowager’s birthday was called the Millennium Festival; tonight, Jiangling City was celebrating Lady Chen’s birthday from afar…

This connection would surely be discovered, but for now, only the young prince understood. The world was drunk, and he alone was sober—life was truly as lonely as snow.

Hongxiu, standing by the wall, gazed intently at the master of Jiuhua Jade Dew, as if to imprint his visage deeply upon her mind.

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“Zhao… young master, didn’t you say those two verses were written by a shabby old Daoist?”

With the truth revealed, Chang Tinglu seemed unwilling to accept it, unable to help but ask.

“That day, the Daoist recited two poems.”

Zhao Hengyi smiled gently, set down his brush, and glanced toward the hall’s exit; the thick-clad maidservant’s figure had vanished into the corridor. “Master Chang, gentlemen, I truly have matters to attend—farewell!”

Before the stunned Chang Tinglu could respond, Zhao Hengyi strode out of the flower hall, his little servant following, disappearing out of sight.

“The Daoist recited two poems? Haha, how amusing, how amusing!”

The young prince, having watched the drama unfold, could no longer restrain his laughter. The wastrels joined in, only Chang Tinglu’s expression remained awkward.

To become the foil of a certain anecdote, and worse, to appear as a clownish villain, was hardly a pleasant experience. At this moment, Chang Tinglu had no idea that his name would spread throughout Jiangling and the capital along with “Green Jade Table • Millennium.”

“Master, that woman…”

“Don’t speak—lead the way.”

Leaving the flower hall, Zhao Hengyi and Wang Erhu entered the central courtyard of the square-shaped tavern. The space was wide, and though surrounded by tall buildings, light was not obstructed. There were artificial hills and pavilions, even a pond filled with ornamental carp.

There were drunken patrons airing themselves, and two or three guests purposely avoiding their companions to speak privately. Everything seemed perfectly normal.

“Master, that person should be here.”

Wang Erhu had been specially trained to tail someone. The woman in black was wounded and focused all her attention on the Ningwu Army, so Wang Erhu had not been discovered.

“Let’s go. I know where she is.”

Zhao Hengyi gazed deeply at several small storage rooms in the courtyard’s corner, then led Wang Erhu out the main door of Moonview Tower.

Tonight, there was much yet to be done.

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