"Was that you playing the pipa just now?" Nangong Yu steadied his mind and asked.
"Your Highness Qin." Hearing the voice, Xiao Man immediately rose to salute.
"Fourth brother, even if you heard a different style of 'Lu Yao', you don't have to barge into someone's room so excitedly. Fortunately, it's an old acquaintance. Xiao Man, I never knew you could play the pipa." Nangong Yi followed in and sat by Xiao Man's table. "It seems I don't need to come to Xianle Fang to listen to music anymore. I can just go to the general's place to find you."
"Your Highness Qi always jokes. I just happened to know this tune." Xiao Man handed back the pipa in her hand.
Hua Rui took it and stood by, unsure whether to stay or leave. She simply stood aside, observing with her eyes, listening with her ears, and waiting for orders.
Nangong Yu sat down in front of Xiao Man and, seeing her composure, immediately suppressed the surprise in his eyes. "Today's 'Lu Yao' truly shocked me, Your Highness. You... played it exceptionally well."
"Thank you for your praise, Your Highness Qin. This humble daughter has merely shown off."
"Xiao Man, you are the first person to receive praise from my fourth brother. He never praises anyone usually!" Nangong Yi poured himself a cup of wine. "Why did you come to Xianle Fang to listen to music today? And with Xue Kun."
"Why can't we come to listen to music together?" Xue Kun immediately became unhappy upon hearing him. What was wrong with him coming to listen to music with her? It wasn't illegal.
"We met on the way. He saw that my eyes were inconvenient and kindly brought me here." Xiao Man's smile remained unchanged. If an ordinary person suddenly lost their sight, let alone going out, they would probably not even dare to leave their courtyard. Only Xiao Man, even with her sight lost, dared to come to Xianle Fang to listen to music.
Nangong Yi looked at Xue Kun, who immediately puffed out his chest. He had no ill intentions; he genuinely worried about Xiao Man being bullied because she couldn't see and had accompanied her.
"You've come at the right time. Xianle Fang has a highly skilled courtesan who is unparalleled in singing and playing. Why don't we go down together and listen? I guarantee it will be worthwhile."
Xiao Man nodded, got up, and extended her hand. Xue Kun immediately flicked his sleeves and offered his hand for Xiao Man to lean on. Nangong Yi's breath hitched at his fawning demeanor.
"Come, walk around the table, slowly." Xue Kun led Xiao Man out, while Nangong Yi and Nangong Yu walked behind.
"I didn't know that the son of Duke Xue was such a considerate and caring person!" Nangong Yi sneered. As Xiao Man crossed the threshold and prepared to go downstairs, Nangong Yi flicked his finger, and a luminous pearl hit Xue Kun's popliteal fossa. Xue Kun's legs went weak, and he tumbled down the stairs.
Xiao Man almost fell due to the sudden accident, her foot slipping. Nangong Yi was about to step forward to help her, but Nangong Yu was faster. The moment he took a step, Nangong Yu was already by Xiao Man's side, supporting her shoulder.
Nangong Yi looked at the two with surprise. After Xiao Man regained her balance, Nangong Yu let go of her, and Yingxue quickly helped Xiao Man. "Miss, be careful of the stairs."
Xue Kun, dazed from the fall, got up. Yingxue was supporting Xiao Man as she came down. "I'm so sorry, Xiao Man, I slipped. Fortunately, you weren't hurt."
Xiao Man smiled. "Are you hurt?"
"No, no, I'm tough, I'm not hurt!" Xue Kun rolled up his sleeve, acting as if he was completely fine.
A waiter led them to seats by the stage downstairs, the best seats in the front row, offering a clear view of the stage. A painted screen stood on the stage. Suddenly, the candlelight dimmed and then brightened. Behind the screen, a person was already seated, dressed in flowing red, playing a melodious tune with a charming voice.
The fingers plucking the strings seemed to pluck at people's heartstrings. Wisps of smoke rose from the incense burner, like a lingering fragrance, making one want to inhale more. Everyone present was entranced, lost in the beautiful dream woven by the courtesan.
Xue Kun, at the side, was already infatuated, his face flushed with desire. He held a wine pot, his face a deep red. Although the Prince of Qin remained relatively calm, a fine sheen of sweat had broken out on his forehead, and his expression showed signs of struggle.
Yingxue felt an intense headache. She knelt on the ground and reached out to pull Xiao Man. There was something wrong with this song...
However, no matter how she reached, she couldn't touch Xiao Man, as if Xiao Man were drifting further and further away from her.
"Master..." Su Dan Xiaoshuo Wang
Ding, a clear sound rang out, piercing the courtesan's enchanting melody, like a clear spring entering still water. Nangong Yu immediately came to his senses, his eyes sharp, piercing towards the woman behind the painted screen. How audacious! However, due to the influence of the bewitching incense, he was still unable to move.
The ding-ling sounds continued one after another, light and lively, like water droplets hitting stones, or a clear spring flowing through the heart, invigorating the spirit.
Xiao Man's chopsticks were rapidly tapping on the wine glasses in front of her. The wine glasses contained different amounts of wine, producing different tones. Although the sounds were faint, they were enough to bring Nangong Yu back to his senses.
Her red lips parted slightly, and her song began: "Zhao ke man hu ying, Wu gou shuang xue ming, Yin an zhao bai ma, Sa ta ru liu xing, Shi bu sha yi ren, Qian li bu liu xing..."
Nangong Yi and the others were still struggling in their illusions, their expressions pained. The courtesan in red looked at Xiao Man, beckoned with her finger, and the strings under her hand transformed into lethal weapons, lunging directly at Xiao Man!
Xiao Man sat still, her melody unchanged, her singing continuous. Just as Xiao Man was about to be bathed in blood, Nangong Yu reached out and intercepted the strings.
The courtesan discarded her zither and, wielding a sharp weapon, lunged at Xiao Man. The wind blew aside her veil, revealing a beautiful face – it was Li Sanniang.
Nangong Yu frowned slightly. A survivor!
"Xiao Man, die!"
Xiao Man's smile became even gentler. "Even if I die, my chivalrous spirit will be fragrant, and I will not be ashamed of the heroes in this world. Who can write in their study, with white hair, the Tai Xuan Jing."
As her song ended, the chopsticks in her hand transformed into sharp projectiles, directly piercing the courtesan's throat. The courtesan fell to the ground, blood gushing out and dyeing the floor red.
"Murder!" Those who woke from their illusions saw the courtesan lying on the ground, her blood staining the floor, and screamed and fled. The entire Xianle Fang descended into chaos.
Yingxue got up from the ground and shielded Xiao Man. Xiao Man picked up the wine cup in front of her and brought it to her lips, about to drink, when Nangong Yu grabbed her wrist.
Xiao Man was slightly startled and turned to look at Nangong Yu. However, Nangong Yu showed no sign of letting go. Instead, he exerted a slight force, compelling Xiao Man to bring the wine cup to his lips. Nangong Yu, using the cup from her hand, drank the nectar within.
Nangong Yi's jade fan fell onto the table, overturning a wine cup, but he seemed oblivious, his gaze fixed on the two.
So, what exactly happened just now?