Amidst the banquet, delicate melodies drifted through the air. As the guests followed Your Majesty in raising their cups time and again, the atmosphere gradually relaxed, and officials broke into small groups to laugh and converse freely.
Looking around with delight at the Luyin Pavilion disciples playing their instruments, Fang Tianba wore a look of complete satisfaction. He took the lead in applauding, nodding in acknowledgment to the high-ranking officials and dignitaries present.
Wen Hengzhi sat at his seat, his gaze fixed intently on the fairy-like pipa player beneath a flowering peach tree not far away. She was dressed in emerald-green gauze embroidered with a gold-thread trunk, while white jade and pink pearls formed the branches of lush, brilliantly blooming peach blossoms, making her look as delicate as carved jade. Smiling brightly, she played the pipa with noticeably improved skill; it seemed that during the time they had been apart, she had poured all her heart into mastering her art.
Chapter 40