Although the theme of the imperial banquet was a commemoration for the deceased, it was conducted in spring. The set layout was bright and full of floral arrangement, in an attempt to lift the spirits of all those who attended.
The expansive yard in the outer grounds of the palace had been set up with several platforms, circular in arrangement. The highest platform was to host the Emperor and Empress; beneath them was to host the three Royal Princes, then Princess Zhang XiuYa; then the concubines and all the other imperial children.
Various seats and platforms for the officials and magistrates had also been set up in accordance to their ranks; the closer and the higher to the Emperor, the more important positions they had in the Empire.
The Ji clan and Zhen clan's platforms were laid to the left and right of the Emperor's platform respectively, signifying their status.
Another platform had been set up as the center stage, that was to host various performers and dancers for the day.
The center stage became the separation between the seats that had been set up for the public and the Emperor's platform.
Ji ChanFang had taken his seat, along with his main wife WuJianRui, and even his second wife Hai FenChu. Ji SongLi was also there, sitting to the other side of his father.Wu JianRui would never normally be seen in such public outings, let alone Hai FenChu who possessed second wife status. Nevertheless, the Emperor stressed in his edict that all family members of both Ji clan and Zhen clan were to be present.
Even on the platform hosting the Zhen clan, the already retired Old General Xun - Zhen BuFeng's grandfather - made his appearance.
The chosen public, the family members of the deceased soldiers that had been selected to attend the banquet, also had their best attires on. Although this was to commemorate the passing of their loved ones, the banquet was edicted by the Emperor himself; no one would have the gall to appear in tardiness.
The seats gradually filled up, even the Royal Family's children have all taken their seats. Finally, one of the higher ranked eunuchs announced the Emperor and Empress' arrival.
The Empress had her perfectly manicured hand in the Emperor's palm as both made their way towards their seats.
(The Empress)
As all the people bowed and knelt in their greetings towards their Emperor and Empress, the courtyard boomed with their united reverence,
"Thousand of years prosperity towards His Majesty the Emperor. Thousand of years prosperity towards Her Majesty the Empress. Long live the Emperor. Long live the Empress."
Emperor Zhang waved his sleeve, "My good subjects. Zhen1a way of referring to oneself, used by the Emperor. The Emperor usually refers to himself as us/we, instead of 'I'. This is also in third party has received your well wishes. Please be seated."
Fine wine flowed; delectable food and morsels were soon also distributed to all people on the existing platforms. The eunuchs and palace maids were scurrying back and forth to serve the esteemed guests.
Not long after, a series of performance were conducted, different dances performed by acclaimed dancers of the Empire.
Despite their initial nervousness, the public had started to become accustomed to such regality of noble personages' appearance in the same vicinity as them. It was actually the first time for most to catch a glimpse of the Emperor and the Empress. Although from where they were seated, the figures of the dragon and phoenix pair were hardly visible, their majestic bearings were not just idle talk.
When the latest performance ended, two figures in white made their way towards the center stage. One was holding a guqin, the other an erhu.
Both were covered in long white veils. Both were wearing white robes.
When they both reached the center platform, they removed their veils slightly to reveal their faces.
Some of the members of the public gasped as they could recognize the two young ladies. Both were looking slightly more mature than the last time some of them had a chance to see their performance at Lian house, but they were clearly the two qin players from the Ji clan.
As YuLan removed her veil slightly, she did not notice The Empress' fingers were curled against her seat's arms.
The Emperor had a slight frown on his forehead which was quickly eased up as he concentrated on the stage.
Ji LanBai and Bai YuLan bowed towards the Emperor and Empress, then they sat on the platform. YuLan started playing her erhu, marking the start of their performance.
When her short introductory part finished, she stood, allowing Ji LanBai to strum her guqin.
SONG LINK (YOUTUBE) || TITLE: AGING OF A BEAUTY/ 红颜旧 (INSTRUMENTAL)
(Erhu/guqin composition of the song)
YuLan's gaze was solemn as she stared at one fixed direction only, at a certain someone sitting on the platform hosting the Ji clan.
LanBai's qin sound was soft, acting as a background melody as YuLan then took a deep breath. When she opened her mouth, a melodious voice trailed. For the first time ever since her arrival in this world, she sang.
SONG LINK (YOUTUBE) || TITLE: AGING OF A BEAUTY/ 红颜旧 - FEMALE VERSION
[The west wind blows past, cold rain in the mountains.]
[Home and country remembered vaguely in dreams.]
[Thinking of you but not seeing you, brings forth more sorrows.]
[Though arduous, separation is endured.]
When her yet-to-mature but soft sorrowful voice was carried by the wind towards everyone's ears to hear Wu JianRui's tears started falling.
Ji ChanFang's fists balled tightly.
Ji SongLi only stared back at YuLan, who still had not shifted her gaze away from him. After the first verse, she then walked slowly around the platform, gracing everyone present with clear melody of her voice. As she faced the bereaved families who were present, she lingered there longer. She lifted her veil to slightly envelop her figure as her soft gaze fell towards the audience, then towards the ground.
Some people already could not contain their tears from falling as well. They suddenly felt very silly for attending the banquet in bright clothes.
In the sea of rainbow colored garments, the two young women on the platform were the only ones wearing white.
This girl was mourning on their behalf. She was singing on their behalf.
What she was singing, was their never-voiced protest. It was their never-voiced grief.
[When will the flames of war rest?]
[Successes and failures will wash away in the river of time.]
[The candles are spent, but tears will not dry.]
[The rivers and mountains have not aged. But the beauty has clearly aged.]
On the platform, Wu JianRui's body started to tremble in her unleashed wave of emotion. She would be foolish to not know that the verse also applied to herself.
Rivers and mountains have not aged - the kingdom would always shift in power. Despite the changing of dynasties, struggles would always be there. Lives would always be lost. People would always wait for those lost lives.
When lives were lost and the wait became stagnant, who should they - the people who waited - voice their grievance to?
Wu JianRui spent her youth waiting for Ji ChanFang to come back to ask for her hand in marriage. Country was important, never changing despite however many blood the ground had soaked.
What about her?
What about her long passing youth?
It was good that he came back and they finally could tie their hands in marriage, promising to be together until their hairs turn white.
But from her constant experience being the General's wife, if that promise were to be broken by one of the pair, it would most definitely be broken by Ji ChanFang.
He would perish somewhere she could not see. His body would turn cold somewhere she could not reach.
And there would be nothing she could do.
Rivers and mountains would not age. She, would keep on waiting, had been waiting, had to keep waiting, for the anchor of her heart to return to her.
[Separation is to be endured.]
[Though hard to bear, separate we must.]
[Entrusting the wild geese to head south, but where shall this heart go?]
[She is no longer; while time flows as always.]
[These pure feelings will never waver. ]
Even when he almost lost his life and he was brought back from death's clutching hands, Ji ChanFang still had the audacity to torment himself.
Just because he could no longer hold a damn sword.
What about her? Who would hold her heart? Her heart had most definitely already been taken by this man, the one she called her husband.
Did he not promise her that he would look after her forever?
As her figure shook, she felt her body be drawn by a pair of strong familiar arms. The next thing she knew, she was enveloped in a warm embrace by the man at her side.
Ji ChanFang held her shoulders and let her bury her head in his chest, dampening his own robes with her falling tears.
He sighed while staring at the stage. His daughter on the stage had her eyes closed, a trickle of tear also staining her youthful cheeks.
As a husband, as a father, he almost failed the two most precious women in his life.
And it only took a young woman's singing to awake him from his stupidity.
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