The guests attending the banquet numbered fully a hundred people.
Seats were arranged with two people per table. Gui Xing Fu and his daughter Gui Qin Shao shared one table and sat at the main position.
Zhi You, as a royal descendant and son of a duke, held the highest status and sat alone at the uppermost seat.
Suo Lun and Suo Ning Bing, as the main guests of the evening, sat at the first table on the right. Opposite them was Qing Cheng Zi, the disciple of Sword Venerable Bi Xiao, who also sat alone at his table.
With one word from Gui Xing Fu to begin the feast, exquisite delicacies and rare mountain and sea treasures were served like flowing water.
Suo Lun took a look. Most of the dishes on the table, whether meat, vegetables, wine, or fruits, were common daily fare but prepared with great refinement. Only occasionally was there an extremely rare dish.
This showed that Gui Xing Fu was very particular and refined in his lifestyle but by no means extravagant.
Suo Lun had been hungry for a long time, so he rolled up his sleeves and ate heartily.
Most of the nobles present only tasted the delicacies lightly. Seeing Suo Lun eating so freely, they could not help showing slightly surprised expressions.
Of course, no one openly showed contempt or curled their lips, as everyone present was a person of status.
Gui Xing Fu looked at him with eyes full of kindness. When Suo Lun paused slightly with his chopsticks, he raised his wine cup and said: “This first cup of wine is to toast our king for a long life as vast as the frontier and to wish our kingdom prosperity and strength.”
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone raised their cups and drank them in one gulp.
Immediately afterwards, Gui Xing Fu filled another cup and said with a sorrowful expression: “This second cup is to toast my elder brother Suo Long, who now rests in the nine springs. He fought in all directions for the kingdom, toiled with utter devotion, and passed away young. His death is a pain for the kingdom, a pain for the Suo clan, and a piercing pain in my heart as Gui Xing Fu.”
With that, Gui Xing Fu poured out half the wine in his cup and drank the remaining half.
Suo Lun and Suo Ning Bing left their seats, knelt on the ground, and poured the wine onto the floor to toast Earl Suo Long in the nine springs.
Then Gui Xing Fu poured another cup and said: “This third cup has three meanings.”
Everyone listened carefully.
Gui Xing Fu said: “The first meaning is to thank Heir Zhi You for coming and bringing glory to my earl’s mansion.”
Everyone immediately raised their cups and toasted Zhi You from afar.
Gui Xing Fu continued: “The second meaning is to welcome and wash away the dust of travel for my worthy nephew Suo Lun.”
This time, almost no one toasted Suo Lun from afar.
Gui Xing Fu went on: “The final meaning is to wish my little daughter a happy twentieth birthday.”
With that, Gui Xing Fu drank the cup in one gulp, and everyone else did the same.
Suo Lun was suddenly startled. Gui Qin Shao’s twentieth birthday did not seem to be today. It was still nearly a month away.
Gui Xing Fu said: “Of course, there are still more than twenty days until my daughter’s birthday. However, taking this opportunity to wash away the dust for worthy nephew Suo Lun, I have combined the birthday banquet as well, so there will be no separate celebration on the actual day.”
“It does not matter.” Gui Qin Shao said, her attitude still very arrogant.
After the three cups of wine, the guests present offered their gift lists one after another, all birthday gifts for Gui Qin Shao.
Every gift was extremely precious.
Only Suo Lun had prepared no gift at all. His eyes narrowed slightly. He had been tricked. No one had told him that tonight’s banquet, besides welcoming him, was also for Gui Qin Shao’s birthday, and it was being held eleven days early.
All the guests had prepared gifts, yet only Suo Lun had none, and it was now too late to prepare any.
He was Gui Qin Shao’s fiancé, and he had even planned to propose to her tonight. Yet now he had not prepared a single gift for her birthday. What a careless oversight. How was he supposed to bring up the proposal later?
After everyone had presented their gifts, only the three most important people had not yet given theirs.
These three were Qing Cheng Zi, the chief disciple of Sword Venerable Bi Xiao, the royal descendant Zhi You, and Suo Lun.
Qing Cheng Zi stood up from his seat, holding a box, and said: “Junior sister, this gift is not from me. Master asked me to deliver it to you. I wish you a happy birthday.”
“Thank you, Master. Thank you, senior brother.” Gui Qin Shao took the box and opened it.
Inside lay a sword. Her beautiful eyes suddenly lit up brightly.
The sword was completely seamless from hilt to blade, crystal clear and almost transparent.
Gui Qin Shao’s eyes shone with excitement as she said in a trembling voice: “Autumn Water? Master has finally been willing to give it to me?”
The Autumn Water Sword was the sword Sword Venerable Bi Xiao had used before the age of thirty.
The entire treasured sword was forged from secret gold. It was light as water, incomparably sharp, and could cut through anything.
Regardless of how much the sword was worth, the secret gold mine required to forge it alone would cost at least several thousand gold coins.
Added to the forging craftsmanship and the fact that it had once been used by Sword Venerable Bi Xiao, it was truly priceless.
Gui Qin Shao had coveted this sword for a very long time and had tried to please Bi Xiao many times, only to receive the same reply each time: the time was not yet right.
She had never expected that at tonight’s banquet, Master would give her this treasured sword. It was the greatest surprise of all.
Gui Qin Shao could not wait to wave the treasured sword. Instantly the sword moved like a swimming dragon, with flowing water spilling in all directions. Its lightness, wonder, and spirit were unmatched by any other sword. She instantly loved it so much that she could not bear to put it down.
The gift sent by Qing Cheng Zi on behalf of his master astonished the entire venue.
Now only two people remained who had not given gifts.
Immediately all eyes turned to the last two important guests: the highest status Heir Zhi You and Suo Lun, Gui Qin Shao’s nominal fiancé.
Seeing all eyes focused on him, Zhi You stood up and said: “Miss Gui Qin Shao, knowing your birthday, I prepared no gift at all.”
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone hurried to flatter him, saying that Zhi You’s presence was the best gift and so on.
Zhi You continued: “However, I specially composed a piece of music for you. This piece has probably been in my mind for more than three years. It was only finalised just now, when I saw you again.”
As soon as these words were spoken, sounds of admiration rose everywhere. People said this was the most precious gift, one prepared for a full three years.
Some even exaggerated by cupping their ears lightly or wetting silk handkerchiefs with wine to wipe their ears, showing they were listening with washed ears in respect.
“Everyone here is truly blessed.” Gui Xing Fu said: “Do you know who Heir Zhi You studied under?”
Everyone shook their heads.
Gui Xing Fu said: “Great Monk Byron of the Divine Dragon Holy Temple in Yan Jing.”
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone was shocked. Who was Byron? He was the pinnacle deity of musical art in this world, a figure everyone looked up to.
Although most people in the world had never heard Byron’s music, everyone had heard his name.
If the acknowledged number one expert in the world was Jiang Shang, the king of East Li, then the even more acknowledged number one master of art was Great Monk Byron.
Immediately everyone present praised him endlessly. All the noble ladies looked at Zhi You with even hotter eyes.
Gui Xing Fu said: “Moreover, every year at the royal evening banquet, the one who plays for His Majesty the King is not Princess Zhi Ning, but the Heir Zhi You before your eyes.”
As soon as these words were spoken, the crowd became even more enthusiastic. Everyone stopped eating and drinking. Some even went so far as to burn incense to calm their minds, preparing to listen to the heavenly sounds of Zhi You’s performance.
Suo Lun, however, smelled the thick scent of a love rival.
Zhi You’s words made his meaning very clear. Three years ago, when he first saw Gui Qin Shao, he was stunned as if she were a heavenly being. He had thought of her day and night, and had even gone so far as to compose a piece especially for her, taking a full three years to do so.
The affection in this was so obvious that even a blind man could see it. Moreover, declaring it publicly was completely treating Suo Lun, her fiancé, as if he did not exist.
At this moment, Gui Qin Shao temporarily shifted her attention from the treasured sword in her hand. She sat back down, her beautiful eyes shining with expectation and curiosity.
Banquets like this always had a dedicated band of musicians, at least several dozen people.
Zhi You walked to the harpsichord and said politely to the musician above it: “Excuse me.”
Seeing Heir Zhi You so refined and courteous, the musician felt greatly honoured. He quickly knelt in greeting and then stepped aside.
Zhi You did not sit down immediately. Instead he looked towards Suo Lun and said: “Earl Suo Lun.”
Suo Lun stood up and said: “What instructions does the heir have?”
Zhi You said: “I heard in the southeast province that during the royal city academy graduation grand examination, you performed a piece that astonished everyone present and earned a very high score.”
Although Zhi You used the words “astonished everyone present”, his gaze was completely disdainful. In his view, the so called art section of the royal city academy graduation grand examination was mere child’s play.
It was like Piano Prince Li Yundi hearing about a university art school’s graduation examination.
Astonishing everyone and earning a high score in such a setting meant nothing at all in the eyes of high level artists.
Someone like him, Zhi You, who was accomplished in both civil and military arts, had performed in sacred places such as the Yan Jing royal palace, the great hall of the Divine Dragon Holy Temple, and the Nu Lang Kingdom royal palace.
Astonishing everyone in the music hall of the royal city academy graduation examination… that was truly laughable. Therefore, Zhi You’s tone was full of mockery.
Suo Lun seemed not to have heard the sarcasm and said: “There was such a thing.”
Zhi You said: “How about this? Taking the opportunity of Miss Gui Qin Shao’s birthday banquet, why do you not also perform a piece? Of course, it does not matter if you have not composed one. Playing an existing piece is also fine, just to add to the fun.”
Zhi You’s purpose was very clear. Without Suo Lun’s mediocrity, how could his own excellence stand out?
As a royal descendant, he could not suppress his love rival through status alone. Suo Lun, as Gui Qin Shao’s fiancé, was the best stepping stone tonight.
“I would be honoured to comply.” Suo Lun said.
At this moment he was full of astonishment. Tonight he had really not thought of playing any piece, nor had he thought of slapping anyone’s face. Yet someone had kindly given him the chance.
Thus Suo Lun stood up from his seat and walked to another harpsichord.
The musician there was a woman. Seeing Suo Lun’s handsome face, she was slightly startled.
Suo Lun winked at her. The female musician’s face immediately reddened and she gave him a fierce glare.
Unexpectedly, this scene was seen by Gui Qin Shao. Her heart instantly flared with anger. This Suo Lun really could not change his dog nature. Even at a time like this he still could not resist flirting with women.
This bastard looked like a good for nothing at first glance, completely a flower hearted pillow with no other use. During his years at the royal city academy, Gui Qin Shao knew this only too clearly.
Suo Lun sat upright before the luxurious harpsichord and said to Heir Zhi You: “Heir, please go first.”
Zhi You said: “This piece was composed three years ago when I had just returned from Yan Jing to attend the royal palace evening banquet. That night was the first time I saw Miss Gui Qin Shao. It was as if she plucked the most sensitive string in my heart. That night the moonlight was like water, so I named my piece Moonlight.”
Then Zhi You closed his eyes, as if sinking into the world of three years ago, the night he first saw Gui Qin Shao.
Everyone present also closed their eyes, waiting for the heavenly sounds of Heir Zhi You’s performance.
Even Gui Qin Shao slightly closed her beautiful eyes, pricked up her crystal jade like ears, and concentrated fully to listen.
The entire banquet hall instantly fell silent.
Slowly exhaling a breath, Heir Zhi You’s long and powerful fingers gently descended.
Immediately, beautiful piano music flowed out like water.