Chapter 863: Keep Playing, Keep Dancing

Jianghuai Zeye Yixing Town.

Boats come and go, water birds dart through the air; the fierce pounding of hooves stirs fallen leaves, making the young fisherman at the net stand straight and look up.

"Good news! Good news…"

On the blue stone street, a jet-black steed gallops past; imperial messengers whip their horses, shouting the joyful announcement.

In moments, Chen Zhao leads the townsfolk in a tight circle around them.

The messengers aren't annoyed; they know the villagers want to ask what's happened, and they rein in their horses.

"Chen Chen Xianglao!"

"In a bad mood?"

No error edition? This book is originally published on 69shuba reading! +6! 9shuba original novel.

Liang Qu rolled over on E Ying's lap, his face flushed hot, exhaled deeply, shook off his drowsiness, grunted twice, and sat up.

"Keep playing the music! Keep dancing!"

"To honor Liangjiang Zongshi! To honor the first of Great Shun!"

He fixed his gaze.

Afterward, one after another, colorful lights filled the entire sky.

"Hugging your Long Dragon Lingxiao in the room with the river otter and the beaver, unwilling to let go."

The sharpness of the wine stirred everyone's spirits; laughter and chatter mingled with music and playing.

…

The messenger tugged his whip, teasing: "I've long heard Chen Chen Xianglao of Yixing Town is a sensible man—surely you know imperial titles cannot be duplicated!"

... of his grandmother..."

"I watched the moon."

Gurgling~ Midnight.

"Not quite."

Yesterday, when the imperial messenger brought the good news, everyone in Yixing Town rejoiced—except Liang Liang Guangtian, who, upon hearing that Liang Qu's deceased parents had been granted titles, collapsed with a thud, no chill, no illness, yet fell into a high fever that night; the townsfolk all said he'd been cursed.

The woman stammered.

Villagers gathered in twos and threes, surging forward in a noisy crowd.

Moonlight flowed like water, illuminating the golden brocade.

Guests seated in the banquet hall could look directly down through the thirty-zhang floor-to-ceiling windows and behold the entire capital's magnificent night view.

"Learned it in Saibei. My master could play several Huqin instruments, but rarely performed." Lu Gang replied.

"Oh no, Master! What's wrong? Wake up! Wake up!"

Liang Qu rolled up the imperial decree.

Meng Meng Qiang and Lu Jia led the toast; amber wine caught the moonlight, sprinkling tiny foam.

He didn't even know how much he'd spent.

Row after row, line after line.

The messenger shook his head: "I'm not entirely sure. Given Liang Ye's abilities, he must've been promoted. But I heard Yang Jiang Zongshi and his wife were granted honorary titles, formally enfeoffed in court—and afterward, even his deceased father and mother received posthumous honors, bringing glory to the family!"

At the end of the red carpet.

The balcony is wide.

Hu Qi and Xiang Xiang Zhangsong were both astonished.

"Where's Little Stone?"

Long Eying released her grip.

Liang Qu clenched his palm; the imperial decree shrank to the size of his hand and slipped into his pocket.

Before the words had finished.

"Come! To honor Liangjiang Zongshi!"

In the sweltering heat, he shivered as if in winter; the bedframe creaked and rattled.

Large red lanterns hung high; on the long street, red lions swayed their heads and tails, drums and gongs thundered.

By the riverbank.

"Where? Where?"

Xu Xu Yue leapt onto the bench, joking loudly.

…

"Liang Ashui!"

"Alright!"

Carriages flowed like water, horses surged like dragons.

"Your Excellency!" Chen Zhao, surrounded by the crowd, hurried forward and asked the question the townsfolk cared most about: "Your Excellency, the Baron of Baron Xingyi—is he our own Liang my lord of Yixing Town?"

The long street erupted in cheers.

The Imperial Capital's Tianbo Tower.

"Younger brother, where have you been?"

Shh! Pop! Fireworks exploded overhead.

"Guess what…"

Candles ignited; countless orange-red sky lanterns drifted through the air, while countless lantern boats entered the pond, each lighting a single glow, reflected in the water, merging into a stream of light, rising and falling silently.

"Uncle Ran!"

He turned and walked from the terrace into the banquet hall; cold light became warm light.

Silken strands brushed his ears, tickling.

The sanxian and konghou began to play.

Yang Yang Dongxiong, his face flushed, laughed heartily, turned on his seat, snatched the sanxian from the old man on the wooden stage, and plucked it with a chopstick pad; the vibrant, soaring music suddenly burst through the banquet hall, and even the wind seemed to dim the candle flames.

Thus, by imperial grace, we honor your ancestors; your family's legacy endures, and virtue is passed to the next generation. Your merit deserves reward; your honor shall be proclaimed. You, Lady Chen, are the mother of Liang Qu, General of Huai River—your conduct as a wife sets the model, your motherly virtue shines bright…

Bang! A heavy thud struck the ground.

"The moon? Forget it, hurry up, hurry up—I see General Xu's carriage!"

"Not exactly," the woman shook her head, rubbing her sleeve, tentatively asking, "Doctor, can he recover on his own? Should I cover him with a blanket to sweat it out?"

"Quick, quick, there's a big feast! And meat!"

... of his grandfather..."

"Baron of Baron Xingyi!"

Is there any place better in all the world than Yixing Town? "Has Liang Ye been promoted?"

The cheerful melody shifted to a solo guqin.

"Liang Liang Guangtian?"

The vast Tianbo Tower was filled with festivity—not a festival, yet the firecrackers at the gate were louder than during New Year's, drowning out cheers and laughter.

Boom! Brilliant golden chrysanthemums lit the sky, reflecting in the water, making the courtyard dogs bark.

For today's banquet, Yang Yang Dongxiong had rented the entire top floor of Tianbo Tower, hired renowned musicians, and planned to launch eighteen thousand eight hundred and eighty-eight sky lanterns and eighteen thousand eight hundred and eighty-eight lantern boats.

"Hahaha, rest easy—it's our Pingyang Prefecture's own Liang my lord! Yang Jiang Zongshi's top disciple! Liang my lord has broken new ground for Great Shun; His Majesty is overjoyed, so he has declared a two-day nationwide feast!"

The crowd turned; a woman was desperately pulling at her husband, who lay on the ground foaming at the mouth.

Meng Meng Qiang and the Tianyu Guards gradually departed; only Xu Xu Wenzhu and a few old friends remained, drinking and playing dice. With outsiders gone, everyone had loosened their clothes, the hall buzzing with voices.

"I had some thoughts."

Liang Qu blinked in surprise: "Where did these fireworks come from?"

"My mother sent you to find me?" "Mm, time's running short. Dry-mother wants you downstairs. If you don't want to go, I'll go for you."

Liang Liang Guangtian curled on the bedframe, clutching his chest, teeth clenched, gasping heavily.

Thus, by imperial grace, we posthumously bestow upon you the title of Zhongxian Daifu, and grant you the honorary decree…

"Doctor, doctor, how is he?"

…

"Overheated qi, triggered a hysterical episode. Once the fever breaks, he'll recover." The physician lowered his wrist. "I'll prescribe a formula. Go to Changchun Clinic and get one dose. Boil it twice daily: add three bowls of water each time, reduce to one."

"Yes!" The messenger laughed heartily, circling his steed in place. "This time, not only Pingyang Prefecture's satellite counties, but all fourteen counties of Pingyang Prefecture—except Lanzhou—have had their head tax waived for three years, including the Twenty Jiaoren's Jiangchuan County!"

Imperial edict:

Imperial edict:

"Master has this skill too?"

"The titles are different, but I feared similar sounds—when you get older, your hearing fades."

As he greeted guest after guest, Liang Qu was surprised to find he knew quite a few people in the capital.

"Liang Ashui, come quick—the sky lanterns are being released!"

Bronze bells on the carriage jingled; carriages lined up before the tower.

"Liang Ye is benevolent!"

"Huh!"

A broad, soft red carpet stretched endlessly, dividing the banquet hall into two halves; crimson silk draped the rafters; eunuchs wiped tables and chairs; every five steps stood a twelve-branched bronze beast-head lamp, fixed to the ground like a small tree, casting luxurious, warm light.

…

"Meng Brother! Lu Brother!"

"Here they come!"

Pavilions linked together, brocade like clouds…

But.

"No taxes?"

A few days ago, during the grand court assembly, Yang Yang Dongxiong and Xu Xu Shila were formally ennobled; the deceased biological parents and grandparents were posthumously honored by the Ministry of Rites.

"Master Liang is mighty!"

Unlike gongs and drums, all were stringed and wind instruments.

Three years, three years again! The joy of another tax exemption surged through his heart—just as the three-year tax exemption for tiger hunting ended, they had paid grain taxes early this summer, and now another three years!

"Uncle Xu!"

Red gauze shadows flickered.

…

Long Long Eying wrapped her arms around his neck from behind, resting her chin on his shoulder, sharing the night view with Liang Qu.

The spacious table filled one seat after another, lanterns spilling light.

By the grace of His Majesty…

The next day.

Liang Qu inhaled the fragrance, reached back, and scratched Long Long Eying's hair.

"…"

The villagers exchanged joyful glances.

It was a folk tune from Pingyang Village, "Fine Weather," hummed by nearly everyone in Pingyang City.

Time to receive guests!

The strings were noisy and chaotic, yet Liang Qu still faintly recognized it.

Some impatient villagers shouted out right away.

"No money?" the physician looked up. "This prescription isn't expensive, is it?"

Dishes and cups lay scattered; porcelain cups rolled in circles and fell onto the carpet, spraying two droplets of water; the air still carried the scent of evaporated liquor.

The zither melody was serene.

"We bought it!" Xu Xu Yue jumped out, throwing his arm around Liang Qu's neck and laughing loudly. "How's that? Surprised? Delighted? We pooled our money—twelve hundred taels—and bought the Heavenly Vessel Fireworks Festival!"

The name of his cheap father, long forgotten in memory, surfaced again in Liang Qu's mind through the content of an imperial decree.

"He… heatstroke?"

"By the grace of Heaven and the mandate of the Emperor: Virtue profound, its radiance flows from ancient origins; merit abundant, rewards extended to honor your legacy. We bestow special grace to proclaim your former glory. You, Liang Dajiang, father of Liang Qu, Commander of the Huai River, are of pure and noble character, upright and sincere in conduct…"

"No rush, no rush."

Flowers and moonlight in spring breeze.

He glanced around.

Everyone was smiling at him.

Liang Qu raised his thumb.

"Brother, you're a real friend!"

(End of Chapter)