Chapter 46: Building the First Structure
Chen Bai looked at the secret order in his hand. It bore the royal seal, so it could not be fake.
There was only one instruction written on it: at all costs, no matter what condition Lu State put forward, he had to obtain the Qishan Pill that Lu State had inherited from the Western Zhou period.
The Qishan Pill was, according to legend, Lu State’s national treasure, something left behind from the Western Zhou period. Legend said a phoenix once descended upon Mount Qi, and an alchemist took the phoenix’s blood to refine this pill. It was said that the Qishan Pill could cure all illnesses.
Whether that was true or false, no one knew. There was only one Qishan Pill, and it was currently in the Lu royal family’s possession. No one had ever eaten it, so no one could judge whether its effects were truly as miraculous as the legend claimed.
Chen Bai’s pupils constricted. A chill rose in his heart.
The king was willing to pay any price to obtain this pill that could “cure all illnesses.” Why?
And he had even sent Chen Bai all the way to Lu State under the name of study travel in the middle of winter. No matter how he looked at it, this seemed far too urgent.
This only proved one thing: the king very likely was not unaware of his own physical condition.
Then… when Chief Imperial Physician Sun Huairen risked his life to tell Crown Prince Jiao this secret, did the king truly not know?
Or had it been deliberately arranged by the king from the very beginning? The king had personally spread news that he was critically ill. Was this not… actively pushing Great Qian into chaos and conflict?
Someone who had spent his entire life fighting in the vortex of power really was not someone Chen Bai could understand.
Chen Bai even wondered whether the king had deliberately leaked the news to Crown Prince Jiao, then let Meng Huanchao, who was at Crown Prince Jiao’s side, leak the news to Qi Zheng, one link after another, all to achieve some unknown goal.
Did the king truly not know about Meng Huanchao’s double-agent identity, or was he only pretending not to know? The more one thought about it, the more terrifying it became.
Chen Bai quickly shivered, only then driving away the chill in his heart.
Perhaps things were even more complicated than he had imagined. However…
Chen Bai disliked this secret order. Although he had never expected those in power in this era to care about his feelings or ask whether he was willing, to send him far away on study travel like this, then abruptly give him such a difficult task—the Qishan Pill was Lu State’s national treasure. How could it be obtained just because someone wanted it?
Chen Bai felt like a puppet on someone else’s strings, controlled however they pleased, without even the slightest room to resist. The feeling was truly suffocating.
Moreover, he was to agree no matter what terms Lu State put forward? The king’s meaning was that even if Lu State wanted cities, he had to agree. Chen Bai understood the deeper meaning behind those words. To the king, his own body was more important than cities.
But that was precisely the problem. Who would bear the crime of ceding land and losing cities? This was a secret order. Probably even the guard who delivered it did not know its contents. In other words, this blame was destined to fall on Chen Bai’s head.
Perhaps later history books would forever nail him to the pillar of shame and have him cursed for all ages.
Chen Bai lowered his eyes, his brows deeply furrowed. But he had no choice except to carry out this order. The Qishan Pill was so important to the king that Chen Bai could imagine what he would face when he returned to Great Qian if he failed to complete the mission.
His heart felt so stifled that he could hardly breathe. This damned era could eat a person alive until not even bones remained. Against the backdrop of such a great age, Chen Bai felt like a duckweed floating on the water, utterly powerless.
As for why the king had sent Chen Bai to carry out this mission, he could more or less guess.
He had facilitated the weapons trade between Lu State and Great Qian. To Lu State, he had done them a favor. To put it more seriously, if he had not persuaded Great Qian to sell weapons to Lu State, perhaps Lu’s capital would already belong to Ba State by now.
Lu State valued ritual propriety, so if Chen Bai put forward a request, Lu State could not possibly ignore it. He would be more useful than any Great Qian envoy sent here.
Chen Bai smiled bitterly in his heart. This was making him use past kindness to demand repayment from Lu State, forcing others into a difficult position. This was another point Chen Bai disliked.
Chen Bai thought that since the king was so urgent, his body was probably in a poor state. In the king’s heart, the Qishan Pill might be his only hope now, his life-saving straw. Although Chen Bai felt that if one ate an ancient alchemist’s pill, nine times out of ten one would die even faster, the king certainly would not believe him no matter what he said now. Besides, he had no opportunity to say anything anyway.
He sighed. He had thought he was merely coming to Lu State for a vacation, but instead he had encountered such a dilemma.
He could only see whether he could obtain the Qishan Pill without using cities to exchange for it. That way, he could both complete the king’s task and avoid being nailed to history’s pillar of shame.
Troublesome.
Chen Bai glanced at the last sentence of the secret order again: This matter is top secret. It must not be spoken of to anyone, including Prince Zheng.
The corner of Chen Bai’s mouth twitched. Truly, when those in power patted their heads and made a decision, the people below could worry themselves white-haired.
He burned the secret order over the flame and took a deep breath. Life in chaotic times was difficult, but there would always be a way to survive. For now, he should first take his students to Lu Palace’s welcome banquet and not miss the time.
The one who came to receive them was Zuo Qiu.
“I’ve been somewhat busy these days. Grand Scholar Zhaoxue, please don’t take offense. After today, I’ll have more free time, and I’ll certainly take Grand Scholar Zhaoxue all around Qufu.”
Chen Bai smiled. “I look forward to it very much.”
Damn it, he could not have come to Lu State for nothing. He still had to enjoy himself. He could deal with the annoying matters after returning.
Chen Xiaobu and the others followed beside him, their eyes darting everywhere. This was their first outing since arriving in Lu State.
Lu Palace had the feeling of little bridges and flowing water. It was indeed very different from Great Qian’s colder-toned architecture, much more delicate and refined.
Chen Bai and the others were treated as honored guests. Every time they walked a certain distance, the sound of bells and fou instruments rang out, crisp and pleasant to the ear. This was a welcoming ritual.
The rites were performed with precision and consistency, without the slightest error.
Quite an interesting country.
Chen Xiaobu and the others felt too embarrassed to chatter noisily. Only when no one was paying attention did they lean close to one another and whisper.
“Lu people really are too particular.”
“Exactly. In Great Qian, an inner attendant only needs to shout once and it’s done. Our Great Qian inner attendants all have huge voices.”
“Look at the tiny steps of those Lu inner attendants. They walk like Corgis. So pretty.”
The Lu inner attendants indeed walked with a unique charm. This was probably also a part of Zhou ritual.
The strictness of Zhou ritual was something Chen Bai had heard of even thousands of years later. He had heard there were rules for sitting, lying, standing, and walking.
“Aiya, and those palace maids! How do they bow at exactly the same angle?”
“Unbelievable. When they stand in a row, I almost think they were carved from the same mold.”
Along the way, these little fellows saw plenty of interesting things. This study trip should not be wasted on them. What was called experience was accumulated exactly like this. Only with more knowledge would their thinking become more open, and the height of one’s thinking determined the height one could stand at.
Chen Bai also looked around curiously. To him, these were also extremely fresh and novel things.
When they entered the banquet hall, it was already full of people. An inner attendant announced in a voice neither too loud nor too soft, “Great Qian’s Grand Scholar Zhaoxue and the accompanying students have arrived…”
Because Princess Le Xun and Prince Ning had not reported their identities to Lu State, they were classified among the accompanying students.
Zuo Qiu led Chen Bai and the others to their prearranged seats. Zuo Qiu sat at the side to accompany them.
Lu State also used an individual dining system. Each person had a low table and sat cross-legged. This was similar to Great Qian.
The one in charge of the welcome banquet was Lu’s Crown Prince Ban, a gentle and refined person whose voice was like jade.
“I have long heard Zuo Qiu mention that Great Qian has a Grand Scholar Zhaoxue, who redressed grievances for the common people and possesses the legendary ability of photographic memory. I have long admired you. Seeing you today, you are indeed extraordinary…”
Chen Bai froze for a moment. This man actually had the same ever-smiling face as Crown Prince Jiao, but his smile looked much gentler, and the words he spoke sounded far more sincere, like something that could moisten one’s heart.
Chen Bai hurriedly replied, “I dare not accept such praise. To be received by Lu’s Crown Prince is truly Zixiu’s honor…”
Indeed, just as the king had predicted, once he came to Lu State, the Lu people would certainly treat him with courtesy. Everything was within the king’s calculations.
Chen Xiaobu and the others kept exchanging looks beside him. Why did this crown prince speak so slowly and gently? But his voice was really pleasant, like glutinous rice.
After exchanging a few polite words, Crown Prince Ban ordered the banquet to begin.
Lu’s food was much more delicate. The dishes were even arranged beautifully on the plates. Chen Xiaobu and the others blinked as they looked. Great Qian’s dishes only needed to be plentiful, with good food and lots of meat. They were not this particular.
The food was arranged so beautifully that they felt a little embarrassed to eat. They were away from home now, no longer in Shangjing. What they represented was Great Qian.
Who knew what these little ones were thinking in their young minds all day?
Only after the singing and dancing began did the atmosphere become livelier.
Chen Xiaobu and the others, who had originally been somewhat restrained, began to learn from others, lifting their wine cups with smiles and taking little sips. Today, they were the main characters, acting just like little adults.
Crown Prince Ban asked a question from time to time, and with Zuo Qiu accompanying them, the atmosphere was quite harmonious.
However, once the wine was drunk, Lu people valued culture and education, so someone began to steer the topic in that direction.
“I did not expect Great Qian’s Hongwen Pavilion Grand Scholar to be so young. It truly makes one see him in a new light. And these young students as well, beginning their study travels at such a young age. It is admirable. Since everyone present is a scholar, why don’t we play a drinking game?”
People carried people in flower palanquins; at least on the surface, the words were pleasant to hear.
Drinking games were the games Lu scholars loved most while drinking. Great Qian had them too, but Great Qian people were not as passionate and obsessed with them as Lu people. Great Qian people preferred playing polo.
Chen Bai glanced around. Most of the people present were not very old. They were probably taking Chen Bai and the others’ ages into consideration, so the banquet was filled with young masters from Lu’s meritorious families. Every one of them looked refined and scholarly, carrying the air of a reader.
From this, one could see how deeply Lu State valued literature and education. But in this violent and chaotic era, whether that was good or bad was hard to say. No wonder Ba State had chosen Lu State as its first target. At least from what Chen Bai had seen and heard in the past few days, Lu people did seem somewhat weak and scholarly. In peaceful times, perhaps this would not matter, but in the chaos of war, they would probably bear the brunt first.
There was indeed reason behind the saying: in prosperous times, culture and education flourish; in chaotic times, martial power rules. If this were a prosperous age, Lu State would probably shine like the brightest star and be admired by the world. But now, it was truly hard to know what to say. This kind of atmosphere could not be changed just because someone wanted it changed. It was carved into their bones, a bearing they took pride in.
Chen Bai thought for a moment. It was only a game. It could not be considered bullying. Winning or losing was just for fun. It would also let these students witness the elegance of Lu scholars, so that they would not fall asleep again during classes at Shangjing Academy.
Just as he was about to speak, a voice suddenly sounded from a corner. “Wait. Drinking games are indeed one of the pleasures of scholars…”
That person suddenly pointed at the small group of female students beside Chen Bai, who had been eating and chatting as if no one else existed. “But what are they supposed to be?”
The lively banquet suddenly went quiet.
Everyone looked at that person.
Chen Bai frowned. To be honest, in order not to cause trouble for him, these female students had mostly stayed within their own little group from beginning to end, chatting among themselves and giving no one a chance to provoke them.
Unexpectedly…
Chen Bai looked toward Zuo Qiu. Zuo Qiu was also frowning. He muttered, “He wasn’t on the invitation list. He was sitting in the corner, so I didn’t notice him for a while. This person doesn’t get along with me or Crown Prince Ban. But you don’t need to bother with him. Crown Prince Ban will naturally send him away. This time, Lu urgently needs an alliance with Great Qian, so as long as you don’t do anything particularly excessive, no one will trouble you. By acting this way, he’s simply courting death.”
Chen Bai thought, If that was the case, then he really was courting death.
However…
He had already pointed his finger right in front of them. Was Chen Bai supposed to pretend he had not seen it?
Besides, what had to be faced would eventually have to be faced. Since this group of female students had followed him to Qufu in Lu State for study travel, he could not possibly let them remain forever in their own small circle. He insisted on letting them live openly and honestly in Qufu, no different from ordinary students on study travel.
Up above, Crown Prince Ban’s ever-raised smile lowered slightly. He said, “I heard Young Master Zi has been drinking heavily lately. Why did you come here and drink yourself into such a state? You’ve already begun speaking nonsense. Men, escort Young Master Zi out…”
But before he could finish speaking, Chen Bai’s voice suddenly rang out. “Young Master Zi of Lu State, is it? Are you looking down on Great Qian’s female students?”
“How about this? Let us have a simple contest. Whether it is literary talent or martial skill, if you cannot even beat a female student of Great Qian, what right do you have to look down on others? You would merely add to the joke.”
With him assisting from the side, it would be hard for them to lose. As for martial arts—heh. There should not be many people present who could beat Princess Le Xun. There was no need to worry.
As soon as Chen Bai said this, everyone present froze.
That Young Master Zi burst into laughter. “Could it be that Great Qian’s women not only enter academies like men, but also practice martial arts like men and prepare to go to battle? What a joke, truly a huge joke. I originally thought this Grand Scholar Zhaoxue, whose name has been spreading all over Qufu, had some real ability. Now I have yet to see any ability, but I have seen your skill at boasting. A woman should stay at home, assist her husband, and teach her children—”
Before Chen Bai could speak, a cold snort rang out.
Le Xun walked out. She directly took down the two swords from her back and pointed them at the man’s face. She said nothing, merely looked at him coldly, her provocation and disdain fully displayed in her eyes.
Lu scholars often wore swords as well. They were ornaments and part of etiquette, and could also be used to meet enemies in dangerous moments. Of course, more often than not, they wore them as an indispensable ceremonial accessory for important occasions.
So it was not rare for many people at the banquet to be wearing swords.
The room fell silent. A woman had actually drawn her sword in challenge. This woman’s attire was also somewhat unusual. Her high ponytail made her look extremely capable, quite different from the hairstyles of ordinary women.
Chen Bai smiled. “How about this? For the first contest, let it be swordsmanship. Do you dare?”
Do you dare?
To be honest, Young Master Zi had spoken out and accused others at someone else’s welcome banquet, which was indeed lacking in grace. But as a man, to have a woman point a sword at his nose—was that not humiliation?
Asking whether he dared—if he did not even dare accept a woman’s challenge, would he not become a laughingstock if word spread?
Young Master Zi stepped forward with a dark face and some anger in his expression. “I shall let you Great Qian people know where the difference between women and men lies…”
He had happened to practice martial arts since childhood, and his master was from a reputable school.
Crown Prince Ban frowned and glanced at Zuo Qiu, giving him a look, hoping he would stop this. Young Master Zi’s swordsmanship was indeed not bad. It would not be good if someone got hurt. This time, Crown Prince Ban was receiving Grand Scholar Zhaoxue partly because the other party had helped Lu State, and partly because he hoped Lu and Great Qian’s alliance could proceed smoothly. There could not be any mishaps.
But… the two on the floor had already started fighting.
The first to strike was Princess Le Xun. The sword in her right hand thrust straight out, followed by the sword in her left hand. Her movements were bold and open, truly like a graceful female swordsman.
Young Master Zi sneered inwardly and directly met her attack, his sword heading straight for her throat.
But Le Xun did not even dodge. It was as if she could not see the sword coming at her. The two swords in her hands did not retreat or hesitate at all. They continued stabbing toward him exactly as before.
Young Master Zi froze. Did this woman not want to live?
After hesitating for a moment, he changed his sword movement and retreated slightly. Because even if he could kill the other party, he himself probably would not survive either.
But with this retreat, Princess Le Xun’s swords never gave him the chance to recover. She pressed him down and attacked relentlessly.
It was fortunate that Young Master Zi had studied under a famous master. Otherwise, he would already have lost. But from the current situation, losing was only a matter of time.
Chen Xiaobu and the others had already begun chattering.
“I thought he was so powerful. Turns out, this is all?”
“Anyone can be good with their mouth. I can also say I can beat Sword Saint Cao Qiu.”
“Haha, bragging and then getting exposed on the spot. How thick must his skin be?”
Their words could anger a person to death. The key was… they truly thought this person had been bragging and were not deliberately mocking him.
Clang.
Young Master Zi’s face turned red. The sword in his hand was knocked to the ground.
Le Xun did not even glance at him. She turned and walked back to her seat, merely muttering, “Looking down on women, yet he’s a thing not even equal to a woman. I don’t know what he was showing off for just now.”
Unfortunately for him, in the quiet hall, that mutter happened to be heard clearly.
“…”
Young Master Zi’s hands trembled. Right now, he was like a jumping clown. If he had won, that would have been one thing, but he had lost. How could he argue?
His face flushed red. “Who exactly are you? What you used just now was Empress Dowager Zhaosheng’s Eight Directions Sword Style. I refuse to believe every woman in Great Qian knows the Eight Directions Sword Style.”
Chen Bai smiled. “You are, after all, the descendant of a meritorious family of Lu State. Don’t lose your bearing after losing and let others look down on you for no reason.”
Above them, Crown Prince Ban’s expression also looked unpleasant. “A loss is a loss. Victory and defeat are common in martial contests. Young Master Zi, stop making a scene.”
It had been a perfectly good welcoming banquet, and the atmosphere had been quite pleasant, yet he had insisted on making it like this.
At this moment, Chen Bai said, “Still unconvinced? Fine. I happen to like making people accept defeat wholeheartedly. Since we came out on this study trip, we prepared a few artistic performances to exchange with Lu State. Why don’t you first watch our program?”
What?
What artistic performances? Everyone was utterly confused.
Crown Prince Ban froze for a moment and could not help glancing at Chen Bai. Why did it feel as though he had come prepared?
Chen Bai thought to himself, Hadn’t he been busy with this these past few days? “It is only a little exchange of talents between scholars.”
Crown Prince Ban pondered for a while. “Since that is the case, let us see what is so extraordinary about this artistic performance of Grand Scholar Zhaoxue’s.”
Chen Bai thought, Just wait and see. Then he led his people to the back to prepare.
After Chen Bai and the others left, the hall immediately became lively again.
“That woman’s swordsmanship just now was truly impressive. That was Empress Dowager Zhaosheng’s Eight Directions Sword Style. I thought it had been lost, yet today I saw it with my own eyes.”
“Great Qian women really are quite different from our Lu women. They look valiant and spirited, not inferior to men. Though I still feel it is a little strange, our Lu women are still gentler and prettier.”
Just then, the sound of a qin rang out.
Everyone froze. Could the artistic performance Grand Scholar Zhaoxue spoke of be qin playing?
Who did not know that among all the states, Lu State was the best at the qin? Was this not showing off a trivial skill before an expert?
The qin continued, but no one appeared. Instead, singing came from behind.
Rites and music were originally part of culture and education. Lu State, in particular, had inherited Zhou ritual and had studied them deeply.
The people in the hall stopped talking and began listening to the qin and the song. But once they listened, their mouths opened.
“…I ride a white horse through three passes; I change into plain robes and return to the Central Plains. I leave my horse in Western Liang with no one to mind it; my heart thinks only of Wang Baochuan…”
(Note: From the song “Riding a White Horse.”)
What a strange singing style. A style they had never heard before. Yet beautiful things, even if one had never experienced them, were still enjoyable to the soul.
Moreover, if they listened carefully to the lyrics, a vivid scene came rushing toward them.
Riding a white horse through ancient, desolate passes; changing into plain robes; fearing not the long journey; thinking only of meeting Wang Baochuan…
It was a completely different form of expression from the songs of this era. It felt refreshing and new. The emotion in the song was also extremely fitting for this group of travelers.
As Lu State was the most developed state in rites and music among all states, they were actually a little entranced as they listened.
Even after the qin and singing stopped, they still had not come back to themselves.
At this moment, Chen Bai walked out. “This time, we prepared two programs in total. Please first watch our first program: the Great Qian Girl Group Fashion Show.”
Everyone: “…”
What? It had not started yet? They had thought that the song just now was the so-called cultural performance.
Chen Bai thought, Of course it has not started. That was only the opening music. What program does not have a song at the beginning to warm up the atmosphere?
Chen Bai withdrew. The sound of the qin began again from behind, only this time the sound was distant and long, and much softer. One had to prick up one’s ears to hear it.
This was the background music Chen Bai had arranged.
Everyone was still somewhat dazed. They could not hear it clearly. What exactly was going on?
Just then, a young woman walked out from the back.
No, she was an immortal maiden, a little fairy who seemed to have walked out of a painting.
Her clothes fluttered like those of an immortal.
Everyone watched without even wanting to blink.
It was actually Han-style clothing with long sleeves like a dance. These clothes had been brought in the carriages by the female students. They had worn them once at the loom launch event. Such beautiful clothes were not something they were willing to take out and wear casually.
After the first female student finished walking, the next one followed, wearing all kinds of Han clothing. Compared with the clothing styles of this era that all looked nearly identical, these outfits were indeed much more varied and colorful. This was what they were showing now: the bearing of Great Qian women.
They walked with the steps Chen Bai had arranged for them.
Everyone: “…”
What were they doing?
Where were they right now?
They all looked dumbfounded. Today truly broadened their horizons.
Just a moment ago, they had been saying that only Lu women were the gentlest and prettiest. Now, looking at these little fairies, they did not know what to say.
Fashion always walked at the forefront. Of course, some people might not understand it. But that did not matter. They could just treat it as watching something lively.
The final look was Princess Le Xun’s grand Tang-style palace dress with the sweeping train.
Today was different from the day of the loom launch. Le Xun’s hair had been styled into an especially rich Tang-dynasty coiffure. There was a floral ornament drawn between her brows, and her lips were painted in a bitten-lip style…
The moment she appeared, that cold, graceful, noble aura immediately suppressed the entire hall. She looked like a goddess from the heavens, coldly and beautifully looking down upon the mortal world.
For some reason, Crown Prince Ban felt his heart thumping wildly. This was undoubtedly a goddess from heaven. How had she fallen into the human realm?
Only after an unknown amount of time did someone speak. “Isn’t that the woman who defeated Young Master Zi just now?”
Hiss. Her aura was actually…
It was truly hard to imagine that the clean, decisive, capable woman from before and this noble, cold, breathtakingly beautiful woman were the same person.
At this moment, Chen Bai walked out again and looked at everyone. He thought to himself, This is merely an appetizer.
And indeed, it was only the appetizer he had prepared.
Chen Bai said, “How are Great Qian’s rites and music? How are Great Qian’s women? It is precisely because Great Qian women entered the academy and studied that they have talent and confidence in their hearts. That is why they can be brave, capable, and composed when needed, and gentle and elegant when relaxed. They are the pride of Great Qian and are absolutely not inferior to any man.”
Everyone: “…”
Chen Bai continued, “Next, please watch the second program we have prepared: the stage-play version of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai.”
Originally, because of limited time, Chen Bai had only planned to act out one section of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai. Although it was only one section and the effect would be weaker, the people of Lu State had never seen a stage play before. They would definitely be astonished.
However, his students were unexpectedly impressive. They remembered every line and every scene clearly.
Chen Bai only understood the reason after asking. Chen Xiaobu said he had watched the movie no fewer than twenty times, which left Chen Bai stunned. He had no idea what was so interesting about repeatedly watching the same thing.
And that was not even mentioning those sentimental female students.
In his multifunctional audio classroom, aside from folders for teaching videos, there was also a folder called “Movies.” It contained links to the three films that had already been shown: The Smiling, Proud Wanderer, Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, and Mulan.
He knew these students liked to watch them during breaks, but he had not expected them to watch them so many times that they had memorized all the lines and scenes.
As for why he had chosen Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai to adapt into a stage play? Because the other two had too many fight scenes. Too difficult.
A group of students changed costumes backstage.
The people of Lu State were still confused. What was a stage play?
They had never heard of it. However, they had also never heard of the Great Qian Girl Group Fashion Show, and that had just shocked them terribly.
So now, they all stared unblinkingly at the entrance.
This stage play was performed with Le Xun as Zhu Yingtai, Prince Ning as Liang Shanbo, and Chen Xiaobu as Ma Wencai…
Chen Xiaobu had one flaw. Every time, he could not help smiling like a blooming chrysanthemum. But there was nothing to be done. This boy had even used his rolling-on-the-ground skills to obtain the role of the number one villain through connections.
The entire performance lasted nearly one shichen.
In Chen Bai’s eyes, it was actually somewhat childish and laughable. For example, Prince Ning, with his short little legs, was playing the honest and talented Liang Shanbo, and he and Le Xun were supposed to be a pair of ill-fated lovers. Other students simply pasted on mustaches and played adults…
However, Chen Bai glanced at the Lu people who were already immersed in the story. It seemed these external details did not affect how deeply moving the story was.
As for how well Chen Xiaobu and the others acted, that could be left aside for now. At the very least, they expressed the story clearly.
When the entire stage play ended, the scene was silent. There was a special, oppressive feeling in the air. Chen Bai knew it was the lingering regret caused by the ending, where loyal love received no good result.
Finally, a song, “Butterfly Lovers,” ended this artistic performance.
Quite a few young nobles’ eyes had turned moist.
Scholars, after all, had richer emotions and were more prone to empathy. Understandable.
They were all sentimental souls.
Chen Bai reminded them several times before everyone finally returned to themselves.
Chen Bai said, “As an exchange during our study trip, these are the programs we have brought. Is everyone satisfied?”
Although there had only been two programs, they were definitely shocking enough, especially the last one.
When they looked at the Great Qian students who had changed back into their own clothes and returned to their seats, their gazes were somewhat different.
Chen Xiaobu was a little unhappy. “Brother, they’re glaring at me.”
Chen Bai thought to himself, Who told you to fight to play Ma Wencai? To a group of people who had just finished empathizing with the story, you, Chen Xiaobu, now look absolutely hateful.
He said, “Don’t run around. Otherwise, someone might throw a cloth sack over your head and beat you up.”
Chen Xiaobu quickly nodded. He felt his brother was especially right. These people’s eyes looked as though they could shoot knives. Too terrifying. He decided he would wear a little mask whenever he went out in the future.
And then there was Le Xun, who frowned slightly, because she seemed to have become the focus of everyone’s attention.
Chen Bai said quietly, “Get used to it. When you stand high and become the most beautiful scenery, you must bear certain things.”
At this moment, the people of Lu State finally reacted. Naturally, they began praising them politely, carrying each other in flower palanquins. Only this time, the praise was much more sincere.
They sighed inwardly. All states said Great Qian was full of brutes, with nothing but a bit of martial power. Now it seemed that was not necessarily true.
Chen Bai thought, With these two programs shocking everyone, surely no one would dare challenge him now.
That had been his original purpose. If the other side could not produce something even more brilliant, how could they have the nerve to compete with him again?
But… this time, Chen Bai had made a mistake. That was the code of conduct he had imagined for Lu State.
What he did not know was that Lu State was different. Because its culture and education were extremely developed, literary contests were common practice. Moreover, they were neither arrogant in victory nor discouraged in defeat. What they liked and talked about most was being defeated, climbing back up, and fighting again. Where would they ever retreat just because things looked difficult, as Chen Bai had imagined?
This was the result of making wild guesses without knowing the full picture. Now it was Chen Bai’s turn to be dumbfounded.
Looking at the Lu young masters who came forward one after another like fighting roosters, full of fighting spirit and asking for challenges, Chen Bai: “…”
He had calculated everything, but he had not calculated that Lu people would face difficulties head-on like this.
Chen Bai reacted, and his heart felt somewhat bitter. He might even have stirred up their fighting spirit.
However, Chen Bai’s eyes shifted. One person’s proposed challenge just now was quite interesting. Perhaps he could use it to complete that damned secret order the king had given him.
Chen Bai looked toward the crown prince. “I just heard that the Lu royal family is preparing to build an observatory. I wonder whether Crown Prince Ban has any interest in entering a contest with me. Let us bet on who can build the taller and better observatory. How about it?”
Crown Prince Ban suddenly smiled. “Grand Scholar Zhaoxue truly wants to bet with me on this? Do you know that aside from rites and music, what Lu State is best at is architecture and mechanisms?”
The Lu Gong Secret Records belonged to Lu State. That said enough.
Chen Bai thought, I will build you a “magic tower” reaching into the clouds. Let’s see how you compete.
Chen Bai said, “Then it is settled. But since it is a wager, there must be stakes.”
Crown Prince Ban thought for a moment and shook his head somewhat amusedly at Great Qian’s architecture. “Go ahead and tell me.”
“If I win, the Lu royal family must grant me one item. Just let me choose one thing from your royal inner treasury.”
Crown Prince Ban: “…”
This stake was not small. Their royal inner treasury contained many priceless treasures.
After thinking it over, he said, “Very well. But if you lose, I want the wall-divine painting in your master’s possession. Can you make that decision?”
Chen Bai froze for a moment. That made sense. The wall-divine painting was unprecedented and unparalleled. After it had been shown once in Shangjing, everyone said it was a miraculous painting drawn by Mountain Lord. It had also shocked all of Shangjing, and news of it had spread everywhere. It was not strange for Zhao State to have heard a little about it.
Chen Bai replied, “Yes.”
In any case, he would not lose.
Both of them smiled very happily.
Crown Prince Ban thought, He is actually competing with Lu State in architecture. Does he not know that Lu State specializes in divine craftsmen skilled in architecture and mechanisms? As for Great Qian, all their buildings are cold-toned and uniform.
Chen Bai also thought inwardly, I’ll build a “magic tower” that pierces the clouds and let them see what a miracle is. In the past, in order to draw the magic tower in his game, he had happened to do a great deal of research.
An observatory, right? The taller it was, the more immersive it would feel. It would definitely give people the sensation of riding clouds and driving mist.
He had not expected that the first large-scale building he would construct after coming to ancient times would be in faraway Lu State.
Once Chen Bai and Crown Prince Ban began their wager, the others could only withdraw.
Today’s welcoming banquet ended there. For the people of Lu State, it must have been a refreshing and eye-opening banquet.
For Chen Bai, he now had a plan to complete the king’s secret order, so his heart felt a little lighter.
On the way back, the students were still extremely excited.
“Brother Bai, did I act well?” Gan Xin blinked at Chen Bai.
Chen Xiaobu beside him immediately cut in, “I acted the best. Didn’t you see? They all wanted to beat me up just now.”
“What’s there to be proud of? You played a bad person and you’re still so happy…”
Their laughter and bickering never stopped.
After returning to the relay station, Chen Bai took out his phone and began contacting a friend. This was a gaming friend who often queued with him and Tang Shen in three-player ranked matches. He was also the master architect Chen Bai had consulted when drawing the magic tower in the game. He might have to trouble him for a while.
Building a magic tower in real life was also that person’s dream. Unfortunately, he had never had the opportunity. Perhaps this time, Chen Bai could let him enjoy the thrill of cloud-building one.
