Pampered Consort of the Fragrant Orchard Chapter 72.3 - Eastern Li's Third Princess (3)

Chapter 72.3 – Eastern Li’s Third Princess (3)
T/N: Chapter sponsored by Zarate, Melanthe, and Anon! Thank you for sponsoring!
“Hehe, didn’t expect Changle to also join in on the fun!” Hearing Han Ming Xiang’s name the Empress Dowager
and them all smiled.
“Heard that in order to prepare for this performance, she’d been staying at the estate outside the city for the last few
days to practice!” The Empress said.
“This kind of group performance is rather rare.” Han Ming Ze gazed towards the stage, faintly looking forward to
this group performance somewhat.
‘Shua—-‘ Just as the eunuch in charge stepped off the stage, something suddenly dropped from above the screen
behind the stage, startling everyone present, who’d thought that the screen had fallen. Next, the lanterns from the
stage to the middle of the banquet all went out. Instantly, the stage was surrounded in darkness with only the
moonlight left illuminating.
“What’s this?”
“Could there be assassins?”
“Quick protect the Emperor!”
Just as everyone was on the border of panic, the lantern behind the screen suddenly lit up. Everyone finally saw that
the red cloth curtains from earlier, at this moment, had already turned into a layer of thin writing paper. Because of
the bright light from behind, the words on the paper were clearly shown.
“This is a poem?”
“Doesn’t seem like a poem either? This kind of rhyming scheme has never been seen before.”
“This is very well written!”
“Not bad, not bad!”
After everyone finished reading the words, they began studying it one after the other. It can be seen written on the
paper in the back was the piece, ‘Ballad of Mulan’, the lines flying off the tongue, a complete narrative, and the
beautiful and carefree calligraphy, instantly winning the praise of everyone present.
“Could it be that they wanted to show everyone this calligraphy? I see this handwriting is probably also from a
single person’s hands.” The Empress Dowager said as she looked to the large writing paper on the stage.
“It is a single person’s handwriting, but I believe Changle and the other’s performance isn’t just this.” The Empress
said with a smile.
“En, let’s just watch for now.” The Empress Dowager also felt it wasn’t just this bit.
Just as everyone finished reading ‘Ballad of Mulan’, the lights surrounding the stage suddenly lit up again. Those
palace maids finished lighting the lanterns and then withdrew back to the side. The bright light illuminated the
stage, and three figures appeared on the originally empty stage.
Han Ming Xiang was on the left side of the stage, while Fu Ya Lan was on the right. In front of them was the stand
for their instrument. Additionally, in the middle of the stage, there was also a woman kneeling on the ground.
Fu Ya Lan and Han Ming Xiang mutually nodded at one another. Han Ming Xiang then had the bamboo flute placed
to her lips and began playing. After playing a few nots, the person kneeling on the ground began standing up.
Everyone all recognized that this was precisely Imperial Tutor Meng family’s Meng Jiang Zhuo.
Shortly after, the zither joined their ranks, together showcasing the happy life of a young lady of the boudoir, then in
the later half, display an enormous amount of worry and melancholy.
Because of the words behind them, in addition to embellishment of the music and dance, everyone instantly
understood the meaning it wanted to transmit. Facing such a creative performance, everyone all couldn’t help but
nod to express their praise.
The zither’s sound ended first, following which the flute’s sound gradually softened. At the same time the flute
sound ended, Meng Jiang Zhuo retreated to the edge of the stage. At this time, the lanterns surrounding the stage
extinguished once more.
“This is the end?”
“But we still haven’t seen General Ji’s daughter? Didn’t they say she’d be performing together?”
“Zheng—-” The sound of the pipa pierced the darkness, and at the same time, answered the audience’s doubts.
Meanwhile, the lanterns were once again lit by the palace maids.
“Zheng—-”
After the second sound of the pipa dropped, Ji Liu Xia spun onto the center of the stage from the side holding the
prop sword, and following the music, began dancing the sword dance Du Xiao Li taught her.
The tune of ‘Ambush on Ten Sides’ seemed to have brought everyone into a place filled with war fire, and Ji Liu
Xia’s dance was just like an unyielding woman killing enemies to defend the country, making everyone be unable to
avert their eyes, enjoying the impact of this moment with their eyes and ears.
Everyone’s costumes all were from the same set, but Meng Jiang Zhuo’s clothes has more of a gentle beauty of a girl
of the boudoir look, while Ji Liu Xia’s embodies the unwavering determination of a young woman taking her
father’s place in joining the army.
“Good!” Ji Liu Feng saw his younger sister’s stunning performance and couldn’t help but clap his hands and
applaud. Even Ji Lun, who was sitting in the front, also had a big smile.
“Not bad, not bad!”
“Danced really well.”
“What dance is this, never seen before. Looks different from the dances we’ve seen in the past!”
Du Xiao Li watched Ji Liu Xia’s performance from the side and couldn’t help but cheer for her, guessing whether if
it really was that feast’s appeal that made Ji Liu Xia, who still had stage fright earlier, instantly become thus
confident?
Following the pipa sound’s end, Ji Liu Xia spun off the stage from the left, and at the same time, Meng Jiang Zhuo
spun on from the right. Despite being the same move, the two gave everyone different feelings.
In order to let Fu ya Lan have time to change instruments, the xiao flute sounded first, letting the stage’s atmosphere
that was filled with dense battle spirit just now turn, becoming the honor and great changes of a woman returning
home in triumph, and at the same time, also carry faint sentiments.
Although it was the same person, the same clothes, yet Meng Jiang Zhuo gave off an entirely different feeling this
time, brilliantly portraying the form of a woman returning home in glory after experiencing hardships.
“Good!” Even the Emperor exclaimed in admiration.
Han Ming Yi’s eyes shifted from the stage to the figure hiding behind the tree. Never thought that she actually
designed such a brilliant performance! What he saw at the persimmon orchard yesterday was a completely different
feeling from what he was seeing right now!
“Good! Good! Good!” After the performance ended, the Empress couldn’t help but say three words of good.
“Really was great. Looks like they’ve indeed put their hearts into it.” The Empress Dowager also nodded in
agreement.
All the way until the four of them came on to the center of the stage to give thanks did the crowd below finally burst
out the warm applauses. Regardless whether it was the officials or the womenfolk, or even the servant girls, servant
boys, and guards, all were applauding with all their might.
Ji Liu Xia saw the praise in Ji Liu Feng and Ji Lun’s eyes and smiled like a flower.
“Hahaha, Xiao Li, we did it! Look at them cheering for us!” As soon as Ji Liu Xia jumped down from the stage, she
had Du Xiao Li pulled into a hug and excitedly said.
“En, I just know you all could do it!” Du Xiao Li said with a smile.
“We’ll be waiting for your feast!”
“Alright, no problem!”
Just when they were laughing, Eunuch Shan’s voice came through, “Summoning Princess Changle, Ji Liu Xia,
Meng Jiang Zhuo, Fu Ya Lan before the Emperor——”
T/N: I wasn’t able to finish 2 chapters for today but I’ll have 2 for tomorrow! One of my favorite moments is in part
5. I realize I have a masochistic relationship with cheesy lines, cringes but still feels fluffy inside.