A Dream of Splendor Episode 23 Recap
> A Dream of Splendor Recap
Official courtesans are under the control of the Music Bureau, and while they may seem glamorous and favored by nobles on a daily basis, they are ultimately below the ranks of scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, belonging to the humble status. Zhang Haohao had become accustomed to waiting outside the door for a long time, but Song Yinzhang was new to this experience.
Just as she was feeling a little strained, Gu Qianfan suddenly appeared and instructed her to cheer up, saying that only by treating the pipa as a sword could she live up to her recent hard work. Watching Gu Qianfan walk towards the banquet, everyone present had different thoughts. Xiao Wei felt extremely annoyed, went alone to the courtyard to throw a tantrum, and returned after calming down.
After the performances ended, the old prime minister Ke Zheng felt the singing was just ordinary, but the pipa left him wanting more. Everyone requested Song Yinzhang to play another piece. Zhang Haohao stepped down without changing her expression, her hands already clenched tightly in her sleeves. Unexpectedly, Xiao Wei suddenly spoke, saying the pipa seemed monotonous and uninteresting, and needed someone to add excitement.
He deliberately called out Gu Qianfan, the Deputy Commissioner of the Capital Security Office, asking him and Song Yinzhang to emulate the former dynasty's Gongsun Daniang and Lei Haiqing, by dancing a sword for his father Xiao Qinyan's birthday celebration. Upon hearing this, everyone silently observed Xiao Qinyan, only to see him appear outwardly indifferent. Song Yinzhang used the story from the former dynasty to insult Xiao Wei, leaving him speechless.
Such disrespectful remarks naturally caused the Xiao family to lose face. Gu Qianfan immediately asked for a Yellow River carp and performed a live sword-cutting fish sashimi demonstration for everyone to taste. The exquisite swordsmanship amazed everyone. Ke Zheng, rarely, praised Gu Qianfan, and others readily agreed. Song Yinzhang played Liangzhou Da Bian. After diligent practice during the previous period, she had grasped the meaning of the music.
All the hatred and injustice surfaced in her mind, fully expressing the composer's true state of mind. After the piece ended, applause resounded. Ke Zheng repeatedly praised her and personally inscribed characters on the pipa for it, admonishing the officials present to remember the two characters "integrity and resolve" (风骨). They should not consider extravagance and flattery as good, but rather consider purity and straightforward admonishment as the right way.
As soon as he said this, Xiao Qinyan led the toast to Ke Zheng. Unexpectedly, he did not accept it and simply flicked his sleeves and left. Xiao Qinyan politely saw him off, but still received a cold response. Before leaving, the old prime minister Ke Zheng declared that he feared neither ghosts nor gods above, nor illness and sickness below.
Once the official (emperor) sobered up and was no longer seduced by wicked flatterers, and left the demon empress to establish a new crown prince sooner, he would naturally return to Tokyo to serve the official. It was precisely because Song Yinzhang became famous with one piece that she attracted the envy of other musicians in the Music Bureau. They surrounded Song Yinzhang like stars surrounding the moon. However, Zhang Haohao felt Song Yinzhang had stolen her thunder.
Taking her anger back to Shuangxi Tower, she couldn't help but argue with Chi Yanei. Ultimately, the two parted ways unhappily and completely broke off their relationship. Chen Lian was ordered to inform Zhao Pan'er to pick up Song Yinzhang from the Xiao residence as soon as possible, otherwise she would have to stay overnight there. Zhao Pan'er was also happy to hear that Song Yinzhang had had a great success tonight and rushed to the Xiao residence.
Unexpectedly, the carriage axle broke halfway. Fortunately, she met Gao Hui and rode with her. Since their last parting, Gao Hui had gradually recognized Ouyang Xu's true face and also apologized to Zhao Pan'er. After all, previously, Jiang shi had used her name to harm people everywhere and do evil deeds. Even Ouyang Xu was heartless and unrighteous.
On the surface, he appeared to be a devoted lover, making all sorts of vows, but in reality, he wanted to deceive her into eloping. Once the deed was done, he would force her father to acknowledge the marriage, and then he could naturally return to Tokyo openly. Gu Qianfan brought Song Yinzhang to the west side gate, just waiting for Zhao Pan'er to come and pick her up to go home.
However, when Song Yinzhang left the house, she encountered some dissolute and frivolous men. Fortunately, Shen Ruzuo appeared in time to rescue her, taking this opportunity to get Song Yinzhang to join him on a painted boat and express his admiration for her.
The steward was ordered to guard the garden and wanted Gu Qianfan to have a few drinks with Xiao Qinyan, but Gu Qianfan refused and revealed to him that Song Yinzhang was Zhao Pan'er's sister, so Xiao Qinyan did not need to investigate her further. After leaving the Xiao residence, Gu Qianfan went alone to meet Qi Mu. Through him, he learned that the mastermind behind the 'hat demon' case was none other than Duke Anguo.
Therefore, Qi Mu had dispatched the Palace Front Command to take the prisoner, intending to close the case and ensure Gu Qianfan's safety. Gu Qianfan agreed to transfer the prisoner, publicly announcing that the prisoner had bitten off his tongue and died. Immediately afterwards, he also revealed that he was preparing to get married and hoped that Qi Mu could act as a matchmaker and preside over the wedding.
Qi Mu did not directly respond, but instead mentioned Gu Qianfan's initial aspirations. In fact, he did not like the life of fighting and swordsmanship, but rather intended to serve as a pure and important civil official after being enfeoffed with a fifth-rank title, and spend his leisure time compiling the Gu family's centuries of literary works.
However, this life goal might now be impossible to achieve, because if Gu Qianfan insisted on marrying Zhao Pan'er as his wife, he would surely be subjected to public criticism. Although there was no explicit prohibition in the court against marriage between officials and merchants, Zhao Pan'er had once been a barmaid, which would definitely affect Gu Qianfan's official career, and the censors would certainly not give up easily.
Therefore, Gu Qianfan still wanted to have his deceased mother posthumously granted a noble title. Qi Mu advised him to think carefully and not disregard the facts for his own selfish desires. After Qi Mu left, Gu Qianfan instructed Chen Lian to delay reporting the sudden death and then transfer the prisoner to the Palace Front Command.
Gu Qianfan had originally been unable to understand why the Palace Front Command was taking over the 'hat demon' case, but a casual remark from Chen Lian instantly enlightened him, making him realize that Qi Mu was the true mastermind behind the 'hat demon' case.
