After unloading the wine, Qin Wushuang came out from the back door of the Wuwang Mansion and drove the carriage on Xuanwu Street.
At this time, officials and gentry from all over the country flocked to the front door of the Wuwang Mansion. They handed over their greeting cards one after another, and the housekeeper stood at the door and sang and read the gifts.
"The Jiangnan weaving factory sent a hundred pieces of Shu brocade."
"The Haining County Magistrate sent a coral."
"The leader of the Salt Gang sent a box of pearls."
Qin Wushuang was listening and was sighing at the wealth of these dignitaries, when suddenly a team of brocade-clad people and horses came in a roar.
"The Crown Prince, Princess Zhaoning, and Princess Jialing are here..." the attendant who led the way sang.
In an instant, all the people watching around knelt down on the ground.
Then the guards set up the carriage stool, and the attendants carried the red carpet, which was laid from the imperial carriage to the front door of the Wuwang Mansion. At the same time, two attendants held the curtain hooks and lifted the curtain of the imperial carriage high.
A young man in a bright yellow palace robe was the first to walk out of the imperial carriage, followed by a graceful and elegant girl. There was also a handsome young man supporting the girl next to her. The last one to come out was the pretty Princess Jialing.
When Qin Wushuang saw the man, his expression froze: "Chen... Young Master Chen."
The man saw the beautiful Qin Wushuang in the crowd at a glance. His eyes immediately dodged and a trace of embarrassment appeared on his face.
After the prince and the two princesses entered the palace, the onlookers dared to stand up. Qin Wushuang hurriedly stepped forward to stop a servant and asked: "Brave man, may I ask who is the young man accompanying the prince and the princess?"
"That is Princess Zhaoning's son-in-law, Chen Shimei."
It was a bolt from the blue.
Hearing Chen Shimei's name, Qin Wushuang stood there in a daze.
The scenes of the past appeared before his eyes.
"Why? Why? Were the vows we made all lies to me? I'm still waiting for him, but he has already become my husband."
Qin Wushuang's world collapsed.
...
Huo Chenan naturally didn't know the situation of Miss Wushuang. At this moment, he was being baptized by the jealous eyes of everyone.
He was handsome, there was nothing he could do.
Everyone simply walked off the stage under the arrangement of the housekeeper of the Prince Wu's Mansion.
For the birthday banquet, the Prince Wu's Mansion specially built two high platforms in the garden, one for performances and the other for the Prince Wu and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to watch.
There were dozens of round tables between the two high platforms for the guests to eat and sit.
There were many potted plants between the round tables. In order to increase the height of the potted plants, a few blue bricks were placed underneath.
When His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and the Prince Wu arrived, the banquet basically began. The previous programs were all old-fashioned songs and dances. They were beautiful but there was nothing new. The guests were all concentrating on dealing with the wine and food.
"Father, Your Highness, please taste this Du Kang wine," the prince of Wu filled the wine for the king and the prince like offering a treasure. The wine table was instantly filled with the aroma of wine.
The king of Wu tasted it and it was indeed extraordinary. This wine was clear and strong, mellow and fragrant, and it was a rare good wine.
"Uncle, cousin, although I have just arrived in Jinling, I have heard the name of Du Kang. Today I am fortunate to get what I want. It is indeed a good wine." The prince said.
"Oh?" The king of Wu was curious about why the prince said that, so he asked, "I don't know where your highness heard the name of Du Kang."
So the prince repeated the "Short Song" he heard from Mr. Wang to the king of Wu and his son.
After listening, the king of Wu and his son murmured and repeated the sentence: "How to relieve worries, only Du Kang."
"Good poems and good wine really complement each other." The king of Wu couldn't help but praise.
…
All the guests praised Du Kang after tasting it. Among them, there were many literati who had heard of the short song and spread the famous line "How to relieve worries, only Du Kang can do it".
Just when Huo Chenan was preparing backstage, the short song of Cao Aman had already spread among the upper class of Jinling.
After tonight, Du Kang's reputation will soar.
After three rounds of wine and five kinds of dishes.
Huo Chenan and Miss Mudan walked onto the stage with their musical instruments.
Everyone looked at the golden boy and jade girl on the stage, and they all showed envy.
When the prince of Wu saw Huo Chenan and Miss Mudan on stage, he said as if offering a treasure: "Father, I have specially invited the master of zither music to celebrate your birthday. This song, "Smiling Proudly in the World", attracted several of us brothers to fall into the river when we first heard it. It can be said to be a unique zither and flute harmony song."
The prince and the king of Wu were interested after listening to it. The other princes who fell into the river lowered their heads in shame.
"There is such a thing, then I must listen carefully."
The sound of the zither started, the world stepped on the waves, the singing started, and the rivers and lakes were vague. For a time, everyone present was immersed in the joy of the "Smiling Proudly in the World".
After the song, the king of Wu laughed: "Hahahaha, how happy, how happy. Life should be like this, and the body will be wrapped in horsehide. How happy, how happy. Come and drink this cup."
The prince was also shocked on the side. Such a melody was unheard of. He heard both lofty aspirations and helplessness and sadness in the song.
But the most shocked person was Princess Jialing. She stared at Huo Chenan on the stage, and she couldn't believe that the handsome guy was actually Huo Chenan.
The audience was also shocked by the song "Swordsman".
"I have no regrets in my life to listen to such fairy music."
"The person playing the piano on the stage is Miss Peony, right? Who is that man?" For a while, Huo Chenan's identity became the biggest mystery.
"This song is really beautiful. What kind of noise did I listen to in the first half of my life?"
"Is this the fairy music from the heavenly palace?"
There were many different opinions for a while, until everyone heard the cheers of King Wu, they reacted and applauded vigorously.
Huo Chenan couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment when he heard the applause from the audience.
He didn't leave the stage, because there was another birthday song below.
…
The Prince of Wu continued, "Father, I have asked Master Huo to compose a birthday song for you."
The King of Wu's expectations were full, and he couldn't wait to say, "Sing it quickly."
When the audience quieted down, the accompaniment sounded, and the cheerful tune soothed everyone's heart.
"I wish you longevity and happiness,
Happy birthday to you!
Every year has this day,
Every year has this day!
Congratulations, congratulations!
I wish you
Old like pine and cypress, young like orchid,
Blessed as the East Sea, long-lived like the South Mountain!
I wish you longevity and happiness,
Happy birthday to you!
Every year has this day,
Every year has this day!
Congratulations, congratulations!"
"Oh, good lyrics, such a festive tune." The audience couldn't help but praise again.
The King of Wu was even happier: "Hahahaha, what a man who is as old as pine and cypress, as young as orchid, as blessed as the East Sea, and as long-lived as the South Mountain! Give me a reward, a big reward." The Prince of Wu quickly bowed and said, "Your son, on behalf of Huo Chenan, thanks your father."