Chapter 10: Astonishing Skill Shocks the Audience

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  Soon after, Qin Mubai brought the medicinal wine and wine utensils, and naturally, it was Qin Shubao who personally poured a cup for the Emperor. As soon as the wine was poured out, Li Shimin exclaimed: "Shubao, what kind of medicinal wine is this? It's so fragrant that it fills the room as soon as it's opened!"

  "Your Majesty, why don't you try it?" Qin Shubao smiled and started selling the pass.

  Li Shimin was very curious, picked up the cup, and carefully sniffed it under his nose, laughing: "It seems that I am ignorant and have never heard of this wine? Never mind, after tasting it, I will know."

  Having said that, he took a sip.

  As the Son of Heaven, Li Shimin's taste in wine was naturally extraordinary. The moment the wine touched his lips, he curled up his tongue to savor it carefully, and suddenly opened his eyes wide, his face flushing slightly, as if he wanted to spit out what was in his mouth, but constrained by dignity, he awkwardly swallowed the wine with some difficulty.

  "Cough, cough!" Li Shimin coughed repeatedly, "What a strong wine! Strong! Strong!"

  He said "strict" three times in a row, scaring Li Ke under him: "Your Majesty, are you okay?!"

  Qin Shubao was calm and unhurried, stroking his long beard and chuckling: "Your Majesty, how is this wine?"

  Li Shimin waved his hand repeatedly, took a few deep breaths to calm down, and burst into loud laughter: "Good wine! I have never had such strong good wine in my life! If it were ten or twenty years earlier, drinking a cup before charging into battle would make one's blood boil with excitement, fearless of killing people like flies, haha!"

  "Your Majesty is indeed as heroic as he was in his younger years!" Qin Shubao also burst out laughing. The two men, who had fought side by side on the battlefield and bathed in blood together, seemed to have returned to their old days once again.

  "This is such a strong wine, who dares to say that drinking a dou (a unit of measurement) is impressive? Uncle Bao, you and I have always been considered top-notch drinkers among the crowd, but this wine only needs half a pot to estimate that it will knock us to the ground - quickly tell me, what kind of wine is this? It's so peculiar!" Li Shimin asked Qin Uncle Treasure with great interest.

  Qin Shu Bao chuckled and pointed at Qin Mu Bai: "Your Majesty, you'd better ask my son about this wine. He's the one who brought it."

  "Hmm?" Li Shimin raised an eyebrow in surprise and turned to Qin Mubai standing beside him, saying, "Qin Sanlang, where did this wine come from?"

  Qin Mubai's heart lit up, and he thought to himself that his father must have intentionally let him make a good impression in front of the Emperor... Such an opportunity was clearly one that could not be sought out.

  Qin Mubai calmly cupped his hands and bowed, saying: "Your humble servant dare not deceive Your Majesty. The brewing method of this wine is unique in the great Tang Dynasty, it was taught to me by a mysterious and accomplished Taoist master who had accidentally obtained it."

  "Is this really happening?" Li Shimin's thick eyebrows furrowed slightly in surprise, and he nodded thoughtfully. "Since it's a secret method of the enlightened ones, I suppose it's indeed an immortal wine from the Taoist school? Since it's an unheard-of divine wine that comes from your Qin Manor, I'll grant this wine the name... Qin Divine Wine! Uncle Bao, don't think me greedy, today we'll drink to our heart's content. I'll also bring some back to the palace for my consorts and I to slowly savor. You won't be stingy about it, will you? Haha!"

  Qin Shubao laughed and said, "Your Majesty, in that case, the village wine from my humble home has become imperial wine, hasn't it? Haha! I wouldn't dare be stingy, so I'll offer half a jar to Your Majesty - the remaining half jar is for my son to bring back and pay respects to me for treating my rheumatism, can't give it all to Your Majesty at once, haha!"

  "You, Qin Lao Er, are really petty!" Li Shimin's hearty laughter turned to Qin Mu Bai, "Qin San Lang, aren't you skilled at brewing this wine? I'll give you an imperial decree, from now on, every time you brew a batch for your father, also brew one for me, and I'll buy it with a handsome sum."

  "I obey your orders. It is my honor to serve Your Majesty." Qin Mu Bai bowed his hands and smiled, thinking that Emperor Li Shimin was quite decent and understood the importance of respecting "intellectual property rights", not forcing him to reveal the method of brewing wine.

  Since he likes it, I'll take the initiative to offer it next time, who knows, maybe it's a way to make a fortune. Even if it can't make me rich and famous by using the emperor as a living advertisement, it's still an endless business opportunity with unlimited financial resources.

  Since it's an opportunity, there's no reason to let it go!

  Today, within the Qin Manor, it's just like a family banquet, with monarch and ministers in the same room, drinking together. Qin Mubai couldn't help but think that Li Shimin treating his subordinates like family members wasn't just an exaggerated rumor after all.

  "It seems that I have come at the right time today, and it's not a wasted trip!" Li Shimin laughed with great joy, "Come on, Qin Sanlang, you don't need to be polite either. Sit down next to Ke'er and share a cup with him, let's enjoy this beautiful wine from Qin Xian together!"

  "With wine but no meat, it's not a feast." Qin Shu Bao clapped his hands, "Someone, set up the banquet!"

  "Uncle Bao, I know you've never been fond of music and revelry, but with wine and meat without music, it's not a feast. I, however, enjoy this sort of thing." After saying that, Li Shimin shook his head and smiled somewhat self-mockingly, "Ever since the Empress passed away, I haven't had a day where I've relaxed and enjoyed myself like this in a long time. Would you mind playing some music for me, letting me indulge just this once?"

  "Since it is Your Majesty's decree, how dare I not comply? But I indeed do not have any musicians or entertainers in my household." Qin Uncle Treasure naturally knew Li Shimin's hobby and smiled, "Someone come quickly to the West Market..."

  "Hold on." Li Shimin mysteriously chuckled and interrupted Qin Shubao's words, saying, "Uncle Bao, you have a top-notch musician in your own household, why bother inviting someone from outside?"

  Qin Mubai, who was sitting in the lower seat, had a sudden movement in his heart: What did the emperor mean by this? It seemed to be somewhat directed at him!

  Qin Shubao was stunned, blinking his eyes and thinking for a moment, shaking his head in confusion: "Your Majesty's words, I don't understand. My whole family, including servants and maids, not one of them is proficient in music."

  "So I say, you don't really understand your own son." Li Shimin smiled mysteriously, "When the father drinks and feasts, the son serves him, presents music and dance, and performs a spinning dance. It is both a pleasure of human relationships and in accordance with the way of filial piety." Having said that, he pointed his hand at Qin Mubai: "Qin Sanlang, what are you waiting for?"

  Qin Mubai was slightly surprised in his heart: Strange, why did the emperor suddenly put on this act?

  Qin Shubao was even more surprised: "Your Majesty, why did you say that? Liang'er has not understood music or practiced dance since childhood. It's better to let me send someone to invite the musicians and performers!"

  "No need, no need!" Li Shimin waved his hand repeatedly, smiling brightly as he looked at Qin Mubai.

  Qin Mubai had no choice but to stand up and cup his hands in respect, saying: "I don't know what Your Majesty wants, which instrument would you like me to play?"

  Li Shimin smiled and said with great interest: "Of course it's a pipa."

  Qin Mubai's heart skipped a beat: How strange! How did the Emperor know I could play the pipa? Did he hear it from someone in Zhao Ling, or did he personally go to Zhao Ling and heard it himself?

  As soon as he thought of that mysterious order, Qin Mu Bai was convinced: it's very likely!

  "Liang'er... can you play the pipa?" Qin Shubao asked with some trepidation. Although the emperor was generous and kind to talented individuals, deceiving him was not a crime that could be easily borne.

  "Father, rest assured." Qin Mu Bai was indeed calm and composed, standing up with a slight smile and bowing his head, "Since Your Majesty has given the order, this humble subject can only offer his poor skills."

  Li Ke's eyes narrowed suspiciously as he looked at Qin Mu Bai, thinking to himself: "No way, Father Emperor was talking about becoming a master and learning an art, could it be the pipa? Impossible! I've known Qin Mu Bai for so many years, but I've never seen him play any musical instrument. Moreover, when it comes to music, he's simply a complete novice... On the other hand, I've long heard that my father emperor has been playing the pipa since childhood and his skills are unmatched even by some of the palace musicians... Today's events are really strange!

  The pipa has arrived.

  Li Shimin was excited, Qin Shubao was hesitant and uncertain, Li Ke was curious and surprised - under the gaze of three people with different expressions, Qin Mubai smiled slightly and said: "I don't know what song Your Majesty wants to hear?"

  "Of course it's your best piece." Li Shimin didn't know what the name of the tune he heard that day in Zhao Mausoleum was.

  "By your Majesty's order." Qin Mu Bai saw the emperor's eyes and felt even more certain in his heart: it seemed that the emperor had indeed gone to Zhao Ling, and had heard it with his own ears!

  Embracing the pipa, her fingers danced on the strings. Qin Mu's expression was solemn and his right hand moved swiftly over the strings of the pipa, producing a few notes that made the three people present tremble slightly in their hearts.

  These few notes, as if they had a magical power that pierced the soul, firmly attracted their attention. Coupled with Qin Mu Bai's unique skills and gestures in playing the pipa, it made Qin Shu Bao and Li Ke even more astonished.

  "Is there still someone in the world who plucks a pipa with their hands? This is truly unheard of!"

  Li Shimin held his wine cup with a solemn expression, his dragon eyes and phoenix eyes slightly closed, as if he was already fully absorbed in the appreciation of the music.

  A piece of "The Hegemon's Armor" burst forth. Qin Mu Bai held the pipa in his left hand, holding the neck, stroking and pressing the rhythm, while his right hand's five fingers nimbly swept across the four strings like flying. The melody of "The Hegemon's Armor" rose and fell, with a bold and majestic rhythm. When the music reached its climax, his left hand added pushing, pulling, hitting, grasping, and plucking techniques, the sound was strong and thick, full of vigor, as if an entire orchestra was playing together.

  Li Shimin was completely absorbed in the music, unaware of when he had put down his wine cup, and unconsciously imitated Qin Mubai's gestures as he plucked the strings, his body swaying gently from side to side with a rhythmic motion, as if intoxicated.

  Always like the ancient forest in front of Mount Tai, Qin Shubao's collapse did not change color. He was stunned on the spot, slightly opening his mouth and widening his eyes, with a thousand changes in his eyes, as if he had returned to the passionate years of galloping horses and iron armor on the battlefield. With thousands of troops and horses, the enemy general in front of him, he charged forward alone, rushing into the rain of swords, guns, and arrows, all retreated, only I am supreme!

  Li Ke held a cup of wine up to his lips, but forgot to drink, his movements frozen in place.

  The music reached its climax, and it was the moment of "The Hegemon's Armor". The Han army besieged Yu Ji, who danced a final, most beautiful dance, then took her own life to bid farewell to Xiang Yu...

  Generous, passionate, desolate and majestic! --- Beauty is short-lived, heroes are late in their twilight years!

  Li Shimin's movements came to a halt, and he unconsciously thought of the late Empress Changsun; Qin Shibao also became somewhat numb and stunned, recalling how heroic and majestic his first half of life was, but now he was bedridden with illness like a useless person... A thousand sighs, ten thousand regrets.

  Two men who had bled but never cried suddenly found their eyes moistening.

  Li Ke was shocked and didn't dare to look up at the main seat on the upper floor, so he lowered his head and pretended not to know.

  "Bang! Boom! Boom!"

  The four strings snapped, and the music came to an end.

  The room is silent.

  With a loud crash, Li Ke's wine cup fell onto the table, spilling wine everywhere, filling the room with the fragrance of wine.

  "Your son has been rude, I hope Your Majesty will forgive his crime!" Li Ke hastily got up from his seat and kowtowed.

  Li Shimin, who was sitting upright, suddenly came to his senses, and with an unintentional movement, he wiped his eyes with his sleeve and waved his hand, saying: "Forgive you for your crime, get up."

  Qin Mubai stroked the zither with a smile, thinking to himself that this Li Ke was indeed an intelligent person with meticulous thoughts and cleverness, using his seemingly rough action to shift everyone's attention and cover up the emperor's loss of composure.

  Qin Shubao held up a wine cup and stared at his son, who felt a bit strange to him. For a long time, he didn't speak, as if he hadn't come back to himself yet.

  "How is it, Uncle Bao?" Li Shimin's mood and expression changed rapidly, and he turned his face to smile.

  "This... I'm not good at boasting, it's hard for me to say." Qin Shubao couldn't help but bitterly smile and reply.

  "Haha!" Li Shimin laughed, "If I were to evaluate it - Qin Sanlang's pipa skills are unprecedentedly high and unparalleled, the melody is bold and stirring like a military march, yet sentimental and profound, moving people's hearts. It's completely different from any popular pipa piece of this era. Therefore, Qin Sanlang can be called a pioneer and master of pipa music!"

  "I dare not." Qin Mu Bai put down his pipa and bowed with his hands clasped together.

  Qin Shubao and Li Ke were both shocked: a master of the generation?! The emperor rarely gave such high praise to anyone!

  "Uncle Bao, now you believe that I have come to pay respects and learn from you, don't you?" Li Shimin said with a relaxed smile. "Qin Sanlang, are you willing to take me on as your student and teach me how to play the pipa?"

  "Ah?" Even Qin Mubai was amazed at this point.

  "Your Majesty, this is absolutely impossible!" Qin Shubao hastily said, "I, your humble subject, am unworthy and incompetent, how can I assume the role of imperial teacher?"

  "Alas, Shu Bao - learning has no age or seniority, and the best teacher is the one who is superior! Li Shimin waved his hand indifferently, "Who in the world is all-powerful? Even I have many areas where I am not as skilled as others, so I must learn with humility!"

  "Absolutely not, absolutely not! In short, it's absolutely out of the question!" Qin Shubao's face turned serious as he kowtowed and firmly refused.

  "That... I'll let him present the score of this song, and I'll work on it myself when I return to the palace. This should be okay, right?" Li Shimin helped Qin Shubao up, laughing at his helpless headshake. He understood Qin Shubao's personality, so it seemed he had no choice but to settle for second best.

  Qin Mubai cupped his hands and bowed: "I should follow orders, I can write down the score now."

  "Come, take the Four Treasures of the Study!"

  Qin Mubai sat down and wrote a score of "The Hegemon's Armor" in the ancient style of "Gong Shang Jiao Hui Yu", finishing it in an instant.

  Li Shimin held the score with ink still wet in his hands, carefully examined it again and exclaimed: "Good word! It's really a unique good word written with one stroke of iron hook and silver slash!"

  Qin Shu Bao had already seen Qin Mu Bai's handwriting, and the astonishing things that happened today were really too many, he was already somewhat numb to see strange things.

  "Qin Sanlang, this font is unheard of by me, could it be that you created it yourself?" Li Shimin asked in surprise.

  "Your Majesty, yes." Qin Mubai could only awkwardly respond. There was no way he would tell him that this font was created by a foolish Song Dynasty emperor hundreds of years later.

  .??，！