24 A Stunning Debut

"Lei Bao" pondered for a moment, recalling the "Qingping Diao" verses by the Poet Immortal Li Bai, and thus wrote:

*Dedication to Jing Lan*
Clouds recall her attire, flowers her countenance;
Spring breezes brush the railing, dew-kissed blossoms lush.
Had I not seen her atop the Qunyu Mountains,
I would surely meet her beneath the moon at the Jade Terrace.
— Inscribed by "Leopard Head" Lei Bao

*Queqiao Xian: Jing Lan*
Soft clouds weave wonders, flying stars carry grief,
Across the vast Silver River, they meet in secret.
Once the Golden Wind and Jade Dew meet,
They surpass the countless unions of the mortal world.
Tender feelings flow like water, the tryst is but a dream,
How can one bear to look back on the path from the Magpie Bridge?
If the two hearts remain constant,
What need is there for daily, nightly companionship?
— Inscribed by "Leopard Head" Lei Bao

The beautiful, minuscule regular script leaped off the paper. While others were still buried in thought, "Lei Bao" had already submitted his work.

"Ah..." A gasp shattered the silence of the arena. Su Xiaoxiao could not contain herself. "It is wonderful, simply wonderful! It deserves to be immortalized for all eternity." Her eyes glistened with tears of excitement.

She handed the scroll to Jing Lan, who trembled upon reading it. It was magnificent! Unrivaled under heaven. Jing Lan finally understood why Li Lingli had fallen in love—why she loved Jing Chen so deeply. To worry for him? How laughable. Compared to his mastery of poetry, her own was like a lone star against the full moon. He had not just surpassed the era; he had left it centuries behind.

Jing Lan had Su Xiaoxiao show it to Emperor Hong, who was struck with shock, and as it passed among the officials, they were all left in awe. Kong Sen, the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, bowed deeply to "Lei Bao" and said devoutly, "Brother Lei, you are fit to be my teacher! Your calligraphy is unfathomable, and your poetry marks you as the greatest poet of the Great Yin. None in the world can compare!"

The entire arena was stunned. What was the point of competing now? When some remained unconvinced, Chancellor Kong read the poems aloud, leaving the venue in absolute silence. Seeing that "Lei Bao" was older than himself, Emperor Hong frowned and declared, "We shall wait until the musical competition is concluded."

Within moments, a zither was brought to the center of the stage. Dong Wanwan sat before it, her left hand raised high and her right hand poised over the strings. With a slight tilt of her head, her fingers plucked the strings. The music soared; with just a few notes, a chilling aura of slaughter swept over the audience. It rose sharply, then plunged into deep, somber tones. The spectators instinctively closed their eyes, feeling the encroaching sense of crisis and lethal intent. Every hair on their bodies stood on end—the design of an ambush, the formation waiting, the command given, the deafening cries of battle, and the desperate, life-or-death struggle. It was a masterful rendition of "Ambush from Ten Sides," heart-stopping and perilous.

Before Jing Chen had crossed over to this world, his fiancée had been a zither teacher, and he had learned to play to win her heart. Thus, just by observing Su Xiaoxiao’s posture—the raised left hand and the graceful right—he knew the extent of her skill. He silently applauded her: a true master of the zither.

The arena was deathly silent. After several moments, applause erupted. Wanwan bowed at a ninety-degree angle. Then, "Lei Bao" strode onto the stage with the vigor of a dragon and the spirit of a tiger. Su Xiaoxiao and little Ya looked on, their eyes shining with affection. Dong Wanwan stared fixedly at Jing Chen; though he did not look back, he could feel her gaze.

"Lei Bao" said in a low voice, "My mother and brother have passed away. I have never played this for them. This is a story sadder than sorrow itself. In life, there are three thousand afflictions of aging and sickness, but only lovesickness cannot be cured. The scenery remains, but the people have changed; all is lost. Before I speak, tears already fall. I dedicate this piece to my mother and brother."

Jing Chen knew that to play well, one must pour their soul into the music. Physical movements and facial expressions influence the listener’s emotions. As he prepared to play "The Butterfly Lovers," he thought of his past and present lives, and he knew he would weep. He sat down slowly and said, "May all lovers in the world be united! In the heavens, we wish to be birds flying wing to wing; on earth, we wish to be branches entwined."

Jing Chen played with the bold, sweeping style of a man. His left hand held high, his right hand low, his fingers slightly arched. Dong Wanwan, a master of music, knew that one hero appreciates another. She watched with wide, incredulous eyes: a kindred spirit! This man was a grandmaster of the zither!

Jing Chen closed his eyes slightly, his head bowed and tilted to the left—a gesture of longing, a reflection on the past. His right hand gently plucked the strings, and the melody of "The Butterfly Lovers" began to resonate. This era lacked this specific tale, but the elite of the ancient world understood the arts. A sense of mournful, desolate, and heart-wrenching sorrow seeped into the hearts of everyone present.

Jing Chen swayed his head to the rhythm of the melancholic melody. Jing Lan was already bathed in tears; Su Xiaoxiao’s tears fell onto the wooden platform, uncontrollable. Dong Wanwan’s eyes were brimming with moisture, and Jing Chen himself was weeping. No one in the audience was unmoved; their eyes were bloodshot, and many had wiped away tears countless times. Several women in the audience huddled together, sobbing uncontrollably.

As the piece ended, time seemed to freeze. Everyone remained immersed in the sorrow. The silence was more profound than any sound. The crowd was bewildered—was the Emperor truly going to let the Princess marry this decrepit old man? Emperor Hong felt displeased but could not go back on his word. He asked, "Lei Bao, what do you request?"

"Lei Bao" bowed and replied in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, this old man is nearing the end of his days. I did not wish to become the Princess's consort, but when the country is in distress, every citizen bears a responsibility. I simply could not bear to see the Princess married off to a foreign land, far from her home. If Your Majesty pities me, please grant me these two courtesans. They can accompany me in my remaining days, composing poetry and playing music together. That would be more than enough! I hope Your Majesty will grant this."

Emperor Hong was relieved—as long as it wasn't the Princess, he was content. Jing Wei was livid, cursing inwardly: *You old immortal, can you even handle two courtesans?* The Emperor immediately agreed and ordered the deeds of the two courtesans to be brought from the Wanhua Pavilion and handed them to "Lei Bao." Jing Wei felt a sharp pang of loss; these were two gold mines he hadn't even enjoyed yet. Su Xiaoxiao and Dong Wanwan turned pale—but it was still better than the brothel.

The crowd whispered. The Great Yin had produced a Poet Immortal and a master of music—a white-haired old man named Lei Bao who, instead of becoming the Prince Consort, had claimed two courtesans. His name shook the capital overnight.

"Lei Bao" walked out of the palace with the two women, who were filled with gloom. "Lei Bao" decided to tease them, saying in a deep, gravelly voice, "Xiaoxiao, Wanwan, since you are now the women of Lei Bao, you must follow my rules. At home, you are not permitted to wear clothes; you must remain completely naked. I am an old man, and I do not know how much time I have left. Opportunities are fleeting, so you must be prepared at all times, ready to welcome me whenever I wish..."

The two women turned ghostly pale, their eyes brimming with tears. "Hahahaha!" "Lei Bao" burst into laughter, revealing his true voice. The two courtesans were startled. "Miss Wanwan, I told you we would meet again," he said with a smile.

"Ah... are you the young master?" Dong Wanwan gasped. Su Xiaoxiao was still confused. "Shh, keep your voice down. I am the Prince. I only used this method to save you both. Let’s go home," "Lei Bao" said. Dong Wanwan was filled with joy and whispered into Su Xiaoxiao’s ear. Su Xiaoxiao’s eyes widened, and she looked at "Lei Bao" with pleasant surprise.

Back at the Prince’s mansion, Jing Chen removed his mask and brought the two women to meet the Princess, Li Lingli. Li Lingli took their hands and spoke to them kindly. Yu'er hurried to serve them tea, massaged Jing Chen’s shoulders, and prepared warm water for his bath. Because of the Princess’s marriage selection, the court was on holiday. That night, Pang Renmei seized the opportunity and arrived at the prison...