As the melody ended, everyone remained deeply immersed, unable to pull themselves away. Even Wang Ruo took a long while before letting out a deep breath.

Dowager Consort Zhao smiled at Empress Wang and asked, “What do you think?”

Huang Zixia only then noticed that among all those present in the hall, only Empress Wang maintained a serene expression. When Dowager Consort Zhao asked, she finally said, “It was indeed impressive, though I couldn’t find much to appreciate in it.”

Huang Zixia recalled what others had said about how the Emperor greatly enjoyed luxurious feasts and entertainment, while Empress Wang was of a quiet and aloof disposition, showing no interest in song and dance festivities. It seemed this was true.

Jin Nu set down her pipa, rose to bow to those on the dais, and said, “My master once said my pipa playing possessed endless splendor but lacked tranquil resolution. I suppose this must be the limit of my artistry in this life.”

Empress Wang responded, “You are young and beautiful now, living at the height of the capital’s prosperity. You shouldn’t yet comprehend such things.”

Dowager Consort Zhao laughed, “The Empress speaks truly. How can one understand desolation and stillness without experiencing great sorrow and suffering? This young girl shouldn’t know of such things in this lifetime!”

As Jin Nu was about to bow and withdraw, Dowager Consort Zhao continued, “Since we have nothing pressing today, tell us about your master. Is she still in Yangzhou? With such excellent skill, when might she come to play pipa for me in the palace?”

Jin Nu managed a faint smile and said, “My master has passed away.”

Dowager Consort Zhao’s face showed regret, “What a pity. I love the pipa best, and once summoned a descendant of the Cao family to the palace, but alas, the Cao family’s talents have also declined. From your tone, your master must have possessed extraordinary skill?”

Jin Nu replied, “Yes. My master’s pipa playing was unmatched in this world. If the Dowager Consort is interested, I can tell you a story about my master from those days.”

Empress Wang’s face showed signs of impatience as she turned to quietly ask Wang Ruo, “How are you feeling? Would you like to rest?”

Wang Ruo shook her head, saying, “I would just be lying down if I went back. I might as well listen.”

Princess Qile interjected with a sarcastic tone, “Indeed, Lady Wang should stay where there are more people, lest…”

She left the sentence unfinished, but everyone understood her meaning. Even Dowager Consort Zhao gave her a look, though fortunately, she said nothing more.

Jin Nu sat on her stool, holding her pipa as she began her tale: “Sixteen years ago, in Yangzhou’s prosperous times, my master and five sisters together founded the Yunshao Garden. They were known as the Six Ladies of Yunshao. Later, my master married and had a daughter. It was just when the Late Emperor ordered a grand gathering of musicians throughout the empire. The other five ladies of Yunshao received the imperial summons to the capital, but my master had just given birth and was in her month of confinement.

“At that time, there was another entertainment house in Yangzhou called the Jinli Garden. They were disgruntled because people said ‘Yangzhou’s prosperity lies in Yunshao,’ so they specially recruited thirty-six Persian courtesans to Yangzhou. Every winter solstice, the Jiangdu Palace would open its doors, and people of all ages would flood in for linked-arm singing and dancing—an annual grand event in Yangzhou. Before the festivities began, the most renowned entertainment house in Yangzhou would be chosen to perform the opening dance.

“That year, as usual, it was the dancers from Yunshao Garden performing on the main hall’s stage. Before the first dance segment was even complete, music suddenly rang out from the opposite pavilion. Among the thirty-six Persian courtesans, twelve played various instruments—vertical konghou, sheng, xiao, and flutes—while twenty-four danced and sang. The Persian women, barefoot in gauzy clothing, moved with enchanting grace. Their golden hair and blue eyes, combined with their whirling movements, created a uniquely bewitching charm. The crowd immediately surged toward them, competing to glimpse the Persian courtesans’ grace. The scene descended into chaos and clamor.

“The Yunshao Garden dancers were caught off guard, standing helplessly on stage with their hands at their sides. I was only eight years old then, accompanying my master, who had just given birth a month ago, in the rear hall. Hearing the commotion from the front, my master handed her child to me and walked to the doorway to look. She saw the crowd surging and gathering toward the other side. The thirty-six Persian courtesans played their instruments with urgency, their bodies supple, casting flirtatious glances everywhere, drawing cheers from those below, creating an intensely heated atmosphere. Meanwhile, their side was left cold and empty, with only a few observers gathering their things to move to the other side.

“Seeing this situation, my master walked to a pipa player, took the instrument from her hands, sat in a chair by the hall, and following the rhythm of the processional song, raised her hands to pluck the pipa.

“With just one note from the pipa, clear sound resonated throughout the Jiangdu Palace, startling birds into flight, with echoes reverberating through all the mountains and valleys. After just a few phrases, the twenty-four Persian dancers lost their steps, their freely swaying hips unable to keep time. Before half the song was complete, all twelve Persian musicians fell out of tune, their konghou and wind instruments falling silent. Throughout the entire Jiangdu Palace, only the crystalline echoes of the pipa could be heard, like a shower of flowers from heaven, like scattered pearls. Before the song ended, snow began to fall on that winter solstice day, snowflakes swirling and soaring with the pipa’s notes, as if the mundane world’s dust was carried straight up to the ninth heaven by the music, reaching the ears of heaven above and covering all people below. At that moment, thousands in the Jiangdu Palace stood in complete silence in the falling snow, listening to that pipa song, not one person daring to breathe loudly enough to disturb the music.”

The listeners were so caught up in Jin Nu’s description that they held their breath. Even Dowager Consort Zhao couldn’t help but clap her hands, saying, “What divine skill!”

Huang Zixia also silently imagined the scene from that day, lost in reverie, feeling deeply moved.

“Yes, perhaps in this lifetime, I will never hear such pipa playing again,” Jin Nu smiled, her expression full of longing and admiration. “After that processional song ended with its lingering echoes, my master played another piece. This time, the pipa’s sound was no longer extremely high and passionate, but instead became clear and bright, seeming to urge movement in people’s limbs, making them restless to dance. The Yunshao Garden dancers on stage came to their senses and immediately formed their lines to lead the processional dance. All the palace visitors were enchanted, joining arms and dancing in the snow to the music through the night until dawn. Afterward, a legend remained in Yangzhou: that Mei Wanzhi’s single pipa performance countered a hundred demon dances.”

“I don’t believe it,” Princess Qile suddenly interrupted, saying, “How could there possibly be such miraculous pipa playing in this world? You must be lying.”

Jin Nu smiled and looked down at the ground, saying nothing.

“Perhaps time has beautified the memory,” Empress Wang said quietly, then turned to instruct her female official Chang Ling, “Have the Inner Music Bureau send an imperial pipa to give to Lady Jin Nu.”

Jin Nu quickly bowed in thanks and said, “My pipa is called ‘Autumn Dew Treading Frost,’ gifted to me by my master years ago. I’ve grown so accustomed to it over these many years, I’m afraid I couldn’t replace it.”

Empress Wang then said, “Then have the imperial household send jade picks, pipa strings, and rosin powder—these should be useful.”

Jin Nu bowed in thanks again. Dowager Consort Zhao waved her hand, saying, “Very well, now that we’ve seen Prince Qi’s wife, I should go rest. Lady Wang, you should also rest well. In a few days, it will be your wedding day. I’ll send someone to drink to your happiness then.”

“Thank you, Dowager Consort,” Wang Ruo curtsied deeply.

After Dowager Consort Zhao left with her entourage, Chang Ling indicated to Jin Nu that she should return first, and the palace gifts would be sent to her later.

Huang Zixia also rose with Wang Ruo to go rest in the side hall.

As they descended the steps, Princess Qile spoke just loud enough for Wang Ruo to hear: “Beauty is truly nothing special. I see this pipa girl’s looks are even more beautiful than some noble young ladies.”

Though Wang Ruo knew she was mocking her, she remained composed. Jin Nu, who had been lost in thought until then, suddenly gave a cold laugh and said, “The Princess jests. When it comes to beauty, I don’t qualify. My master was truly a peerless beauty.”

“Your master?” Princess Qile didn’t take her seriously, saying only, “In the world today, besides Her Majesty the Empress, who dares claim the word ‘peerless’?”

“The Princess speaks truly,” Jin Nu wasn’t bothered by the rebuke, just smiled brightly and turned to look at Huang Zixia, her eyes curved like new moons as she said, “Master Yang, do you remember what I told you last time? I know many ladies who admire Prince Qi—for instance, several sisters in Yangzhou and in the Music Bureau. It would be wonderful if you could get Prince Qi to visit the Music Bureau more often.”

Huang Zixia just smiled slightly and nodded, saying nothing.

After she left, Princess Qile finally exploded in anger: “She… she mentioned Music Bureau sisters admiring… admiring Prince Qi… what was she trying to say?”

Huang Zixia remained silent, thinking: if you can compare a pipa player to Prince Qi’s wife, why can’t she compare Music Bureau sisters to you?

She watched Jin Nu’s graceful departing figure, feeling somewhat satisfied yet also worried about her offending Princess Qile.

Wang Ruo went to rest in the side hall. Huang Zixia sat outside with Su Qi, Xian Yun, Ran Yun, and others, afraid of disturbing Wang Ruo.

Su Qi was looking at new palace flower designs with Official Chang Ling. In the spring afternoon, Huang Zixia, who hadn’t slept well the previous night, was starting to doze off. Suddenly, from behind the screen in the inner hall came the sound of a golden bell, followed by a bird’s cry, and then Wang Ruo’s scream from within.

Huang Zixia instantly awoke, jumping up to find that Su Qi and Chang Ling had already dropped the palace flowers and run into the inner hall. She quickly followed, only to see Wang Ruo curled up on the couch, trembling, with a lock of her hair cut and lying on the bedding.

Chang Ling pointed at the window, saying in panic, “There… I saw the assassin escape through that window!”

Huang Zixia immediately ran to the window to look, but found only the foundation of the hall, with no one in sight.

She immediately examined above and below the window and the decorative brackets and eaves, checking if the assassin was hiding there. But she found no one. She was stunned—in such a large space, with nothing obscuring her view, if Chang Ling had seen an assassin climb over the wall, they absolutely couldn’t have escaped her field of vision.

But in that instant, where had the assassin gone?

She hesitantly turned back to look at Wang Ruo, who sat sideways on the bed clutching her quilts. The evening light fell on her face, and the cut lock of hair hung loose at her temple, neither long nor short, casting a thin shadow on her cheek, making her appearance seem even more ethereal.

Empress Wang came from the main hall, and after hearing their account, became furious: “In broad daylight within the Great Ming Palace, an assassin dares to break in and attempt to harm Lady Wang! What are the palace guards doing!”

Everyone fell silent, not daring to speak.

“I must go see His Majesty. This matter is no small thing,” the Empress said, walking to the hall entrance. She turned back to sweep her gaze over everyone in the side hall, saying, “If this matter spreads, the already rampant rumors in the capital will only grow worse. I command that everyone in the palace is forbidden to speak of this to outsiders. Yongqing, go immediately to inform Prince Qi at his residence to come to the palace at once.”

The Great Eunuch Yongqing of Penglai Hall quickly complied, hurrying out.

After the Empress left, everyone tried to comfort Wang Ruo. Xian Yun gratefully said, “The Empress truly thinks of everything. With her showing such care for Lady Wang, she will surely keep Lady Wang safe and sound.”

But Wang Ruo seemed terrified, sitting in a daze without speaking.

Soon, the Emperor’s decree came down: Prince Qi’s wife would temporarily reside in the Yongchun Hall of the Great Ming Palace, with one hundred capital guards dispatched from the inner court, led personally by Wang Yun, the Right Commander of the Capital Defense Commission; and one hundred guards from Prince Qi’s residence. The two hundred men would take turns guarding Yongchun Hall day and night, just to be safe.

“That’s wonderful! With two hundred men here, plus the three thousand Imperial Guards already guarding the Great Ming Palace day and night, no suspicious person can slip through,” Ran Yun exclaimed jubilantly. Wang Ruo’s face finally showed a slight forced smile.