Chapter 306: Chapter 306

Han Ruzi returned to the prince’s residence, his heart finally at ease. The fifty thousand Northern Army troops would all arrive within three days. Even if they could not annihilate the Xiongnu, they would be sufficient to defend the city and repel the enemy. At least he no longer had to worry about external threats. On the other front in Qi, Cui Hong was overly cautious, but given time, he would eventually be able to encircle and destroy the rebel forces.

Distributing grain, selecting personnel, eliminating traitors… next, he would handle these matters one by one.

Before returning to his room to rest, he went to see Meng E once more, still speaking through the door with no outsiders around.

“The Xiongnu haven’t arrived yet.”

There was silence from behind the door for a moment. “I only told Your Majesty what I knew.”

“I understand. The Holy Strategist is a fate seer and extremely cunning. He very likely deliberately leaked this information and let you escape the city. But it’s useless – Great Chu has abundant troops and capable generals, sufficient to simultaneously quell both internal troubles and external threats.”

There was another moment of silence from behind the door. “Escaping Linzi was not easy. If that was all arranged, the Holy Strategist would need the ability to predict the future.”

Han Ruzi returned to his room to rest, feeling regretful. Meng E remained one of the people he trusted most, but her connections with the rebel army ran too deep, making it difficult to keep her by his side in the future.

Ever since “accepting bribes by imperial decree,” Ni Qiu had been reporting every word he heard to the Emperor, especially when he felt it was useful, becoming even more talkative. “The third young lady of the Cui clan has really made a name for herself this time. Eleven men, all famous sons of noble families, including princes and imperial grandsons – five dead, five injured, and one in prison. Tsk tsk, who has such ability?”

“Well… news always comes bit by bit,” Ni Qiu said, completely oblivious to anything unusual, his face still wearing an excited smile. “The third young lady of the Cui clan is really something now. Everyone says she has a hard fate that specifically counters men – those who see her die, those who get close suffer misfortune…”

“Cui Teng is fine, and Cui Hong is doing even better – the Cui clan is quite prosperous,” Zhang Youcai interrupted.

Ni Qiu was stunned and scratched his head. “Family members don’t count. Anyway, she has a hard fate, and ordinary people can’t subdue her. Only someone with a supreme body could – are they talking about Your Majesty?”

Zhang Youcai glared coldly, and Han Ruzi chuckled, but then felt something was wrong and asked, “Who said this?”

“Many people are saying it. When I walk around the streets, this is all everyone talks about.”

Han Ruzi decided to move out of Jincheng City tomorrow and live with the Northern Army soldiers to avoid attracting more gossip, but he found it strange that this round of rumors was coming on too fiercely.

Just as he got into bed, the zither music from outside arrived punctually. These past days he had fallen asleep to the zither music almost every night. That ethereal feeling had become much rarer, but he felt mentally refreshed after waking up, making him increasingly addicted to it.

Tonight was somewhat strange. The zither music remained melodious, but he tossed and turned unable to sleep, feeling the music was too subdued, requiring him to prick up his ears to listen. The more he listened, the more excited he became.

“Zhang Youcai,” Han Ruzi got up and called out.

“Present, Your Majesty,” came the immediate response from the outer room.

Han Ruzi had originally wanted to ask for the zither music to be played louder, but many people lived in the prince’s residence, and only a very few enjoyed and appreciated the zither music. So he changed his mind. “Summon the zither masters – father and daughter both.” He specifically added this phrase to prevent Zhang Youcai from only calling Zhang Qinyan alone.

Han Ruzi had clearly sensed that those around him were overly concerned about certain aspects of his life. Presenting women to him was like offering rare and precious medicinal materials that were hard to find in the world, as if the Emperor was gravely ill and absolutely needed this particular medicine for treatment.

At first he was very angry, thinking this was the work of sycophantic subjects, but he found justification in a historical text: an emperor of the previous dynasty had reigned for many years without an heir, which was considered potentially destabilizing to the state. From the imperial palace to the court, everyone tried to solve this problem. Thousands upon thousands of women were presented, monks were brought in to perform rituals, Taoist priests were invited to teach bedroom arts, and some ministers even offered detailed suggestions to the emperor directly in their memorials…

The current Emperor faced the same situation. He felt he was still young, but his subjects hoped to see a crown prince as soon as possible.

Han Ruzi could understand the urgency of his mother and Liu Jie and the others, but he would not accept it, because the emperor of the previous dynasty had ultimately never obtained a son either, and instead died young at the prime age of thirty-something. Although the historical records were characteristically evasive about it, Han Ruzi could already read between the lines—that emperor had died from excessive indulgence.

Ni Qiu came in to light the lamps, spreading mats and setting up a table on the floor. The zither master and his daughter soon arrived, paid their respects to the Emperor, and prepared to play the qin.

“Wait a moment. We have listened to the zither for many days, yet We don’t even know what a zither is. We would trouble Master Zhang to explain it to Us briefly.” Han Ruzi had been constantly marching and attending to matters of state, and only today had the leisure to learn about the precious zither.

Zhang Qinyan kept her head lowered as usual, while Zhang Zhuhe knelt on the mat and kowtowed to the Emperor, then said, “This commoner is honored. May I ask how much Your Majesty knows about the precious zither?”

“We know nothing at all… We know it has seven strings, and We have heard that playing the zither has many taboos, yet Master Zhang shows no signs of making excuses.”

Zhang Zhuhe smiled and said, “Zither master is a gracious title. This commoner is actually a zither craftsman who has specialized in this art since childhood—it’s merely familiarity through practice. What taboos could there be?”

“Master Zhang is too modest. If there are any taboos, please speak freely. We will not force anyone to do what is difficult.”

Zhang Zhuhe kowtowed again. “Thank you for Your Majesty’s concern. This commoner was born among the common people and has moved through halls, inns, and mansions for decades, seeking out famous masters throughout the realm. I have not only learned a manual skill, but also a mental art.”

Han Ruzi became somewhat interested. “The manual skill is playing the zither —what is the mental art?”

“Returning to one’s true heart, and not being moved by external things. When this commoner plays the zither, I neither rejoice in things nor grieve for myself. Though I may be on a precipice, it is as if I were in a spacious hall. Even if there is lightning and thunder, this commoner hears only the murmuring sound of the zither . Others may break the zither’s sound, but cannot disturb the zither’s intent. This commoner calls it mental art.”

“What excellent mental art—it seems even more difficult than the manual skill.”

“Your Majesty understands me. Your Majesty wishes to know about the zither —there are these two aspects, manual skill and mental art. Which one interests Your Majesty more?”

Han Ruzi had heard the “Book of Music” and was not very fond of music theory, so he said, “We would like to hear about the way of mental art.”

Zhang Zhuhe extended his left hand and lightly plucked the zither strings. His entire person immediately transformed. Where before he had been an old zither master kneeling respectfully on the mat, suddenly he had become a transcendent sage who could stand as an equal with emperors, his back straight and his expression detached.

Han Ruzi had heard the father and daughter play live once before, but at that time he had only paid attention to the sound of the zither. Now he saw the transformation in the person.

“Music is born from the heart, and the heart is moved by music. Millions of soldiers hear the horn and rise, hear the drum and advance, hear the gong and retreat. Though the sounds are simple, their effect is great.”

Han Ruzi nodded. “Military forces everywhere use musical instruments as signals—there must be a reason for this. Though We do not understand music theory, We can still be moved by ethereal melodies, which follows the same principle.”

“Your Majesty has profound insight.” As soon as Zhang Zhuhe’s hand left the zither strings, he immediately reverted to being an old zither master who watched for reactions. “Still using soldiers as an analogy, drum sounds are inspiring, but they only need repeated training so that soldiers will feel the urge to charge forward eagerly whenever they hear drums.”

“Is Master Zhang’s mental art the same as this?”

“Exactly. Drum sounds move people’s hearts, but ‘repeated training’ is the key. Ordinary people hear drums and their hearts are moved, but when the sound stops, their hearts become calm. When soldiers hear drums once, they are stirred; when they hear them again, they are stirred again, like climbing a high peak, rising step by step until they reach the summit, abandoning life and death, forgetting sorrow and joy, focused solely on killing the enemy. When this commoner first learned the zither, I also learned many rules when playing the zither—one had to burn incense and bathe, select a quiet room, and play specifically for one or two appreciative listeners. Later, by chance I received guidance from a famous master who helped me incorporate all these rules into my heart, then forget them one by one. When the zither sounds once, I am like a soldier hearing drums. When the zither sounds again and a third time, this commoner’s heart is already in bloody battle. When human voices sound, this commoner is like a soldier hearing the gong—I abandon my weapons and retreat without any reluctance.”

Han Ruzi praised him, saying, “What excellent ‘mental art’! Not only is learning the zither , but all trades and professions are the same. One can advance to attack and retreat to defend. When immersed within, the heart becomes obsessively mad; when positioned outside, one becomes like a stranger.”

Zhang Zhuhe plucked the zither several times with considerable joy, and Zhang Qinyan also plucked and picked at the strings. Though she was a delicate woman, she played with generous spirit.

Han Ruzi had originally been making casual conversation, but his interest grew increasingly high. “Why does the Empty Sound melody have such a profound effect on me alone?”

“The profound meaning of the Empty Sound melody lies in the character ’empty.’ It adapts to each person and changes according to their heart. Your Majesty, as the supreme ruler with the world in your heart, urgently desires to accomplish great things. Therefore, when first hearing this melody, you would feel a sense of soaring. Your Majesty has traveled on throughout the realm, and wherever you have passed, the people have shown reverence. You have achieved success in quelling rebellions and encouraging agriculture. Your Majesty’s concerns have gradually stabilized, so hearing this melody again should evoke no particular feeling—merely calming the mind. Common people lack Your Majesty’s aspirations, so naturally they also lack Your Majesty’s state of mind.”

Han Ruzi felt he should have spoken with Zhang Zhuhe much earlier.

“So it seems the Empty Sound melody has not changed, but my state of mind has.”

“All changes remain rooted in the same principle—it all comes down to the character ’empty.’ Please listen to this melody again, Your Majesty.”

The Zhang father and daughter played the zither together.

Han Ruzi deliberately relaxed his mind. After listening for a while, he gradually felt his concerns were weighty yet not burdensome—it was a kind of confident assurance of victory, which he very much enjoyed.

Precisely because of this, when the zither music was interrupted, he felt angry.

“I must see His Majesty! I know His Majesty hasn’t slept yet. If this delays important matters, can you bear the responsibility?”

The Zhang father and daughter could only stop playing.

“Let him enter,” Han Ruzi called out loudly.

Cui Teng entered the room with a cheerful smile, saying to Zhang Youcai who followed him in: “I told you earlier… Oh my, Master Zhang is also here, and Miss Qinyan, I hope you’ve been well. Your Majesty truly has leisure and refined interests, listening to music at night without calling me. Drinking wine while listening to music would be much more enjoyable…”

“Cui Teng, what business do you have?” Han Ruzi asked. The anger in his heart gradually dissipated—for him this was also “mental art.” Upon hearing Cui Teng’s clamor, he should retreat.

Seeing that Zhang Zhuhe was also present, Cui Teng felt much more at ease. He stepped forward and said, “I just remembered—next month on the seventh day is the Empress’s birthday. Has Your Majesty made preparations? My sister cares very much about such things…”

“The Empress’s birthday is the fifteenth of the fifth month, still more than a month away,” Han Ruzi said coldly. Thɪs chapter is updatᴇd by NoveIꜰire.net

Cui Teng slapped his forehead. “Look at my memory—I got it wrong. Then whose birthday is next month on the seventh?”

“Cui Teng, have you been drinking too much again?”

“No, no, I haven’t had a single cup today.” Realizing his excuse was too poor, Cui Teng became somewhat afraid. In his desperation, he had a flash of inspiration and said, “Actually, I came to suggest that Your Majesty inspect the city walls.”

“Because… because the Xiongnu might attack,” Cui Teng said earnestly, unable to think of any other reason.

Han Ruzi stared at Cui Teng for a moment. “Very well, go prepare the horses. You’ll accompany me on the city inspection.”

Cui Teng regretted this deeply. Had he known it would come to this, he should have found a different excuse. But glancing at Zhang Qinyan with her lowered head, he felt it was worth it. “Yes, Your Majesty, I’ll go right away…”

Cui Teng ran out, and the zither master father and daughter also took their leave. After Zhang Youcai saw them off and returned, he said, “Is Your Majesty really going to inspect the city?”

“I couldn’t sleep anyway, and the Northern Army has just arrived with the main force still on the road. I do indeed have some concerns.”

Zhang Youcai cursed Cui Teng in his heart. After the numerous guards got up, they all complained about Cui Teng as well.

Cui Teng himself was unaware of this and happily rode alongside the Emperor as they left the prince’s residence and climbed the city walls. Prince Donghai had not come along, which made him even happier. None of them yet knew that Cui Teng had rendered great, meritorious service that night.

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