"Second Prince is considerate, today’s palace banquet is just a private meal, your presence delights me greatly," Empress Min said, her face calm and friendly despite the annoyance in her heart. Empress Min and Crown Prince Li Cheng bore a resemblance of about fifty percent. Though plain in appearance, she had a decent demeanor, evidently cultivated from years of life in the court. Empress Min has managed to stay in power in the harem for many years, surpassing even Empress Li from Great Zhou in certain aspects. She then lovingly grasped Xuan Meimei, scrutinizing her from head to toe, "So you are Meimei, truly as your name suggests, this appearance and figure, even more outstanding than your mother." Empress Min, perceptive as ever, had already guessed the intentions of Crown Prince Li Cheng. If it were earlier, Empress Min would not have approved of Xuan Meimei’s background, as she was not born from the principal wife and her status was not publicly acknowledged. But now that Xuan Wuji had died, the downfall of Madam Bi was inevitable, and Xuan Meimei’s status had changed. Empress Min and Lady Rou had met once before, and she knew though Lady Rou was not a principal wife, she was more astute than the jealous Madam Bi, presumably a daughter raised by such a woman wouldn’t be too bad. Xuan Meimei did not like Crown Prince Li Cheng, which extended somewhat to Empress Min as well. She responded lukewarmly. Seeing Xuan Meimei’s indifferent face, Empress Min seemed to guess something, but she didn’t blame Xuan Meimei, instead turning her gaze to the young men sitting beside them. Though Crown Prince Li Cheng held the highest status, standing next to Yuan Bupo and Li Shao, he was hardly noticeable. "I have been vegetarian for many years, the dishes prepared are also vegetarian. If they don’t suit your tastes, I hope you won’t mind," instructed Empress Min to the palace maid setting the table. The dishes prepared by Empress Min were exquisite, and the drinks, high-quality Tang brews, were sweet as nectar and very mellow, making even the usually abstinent Xuan Meimei’s cheeks flush red from drinking. Li Shao was eloquent, and amidst laughter, brought up many interesting stories from Tangyuan Country, keeping Xuan Meimei laughing nonstop. In contrast, Crown Prince Li Cheng was quite wooden, barely joining in the conversation. Yuan Bupo still looked distracted, eating little and soon began to drink sullenly. Empress Min watched from the side, inwardly anxious for her son, fearing that if this continued, Li Shao would totally captivate Xuan Meimei’s heart. Just then, Second Prince Li Shao mentioned a festive matter, making Xuan Meimei laugh so hard that she trembled like a flower in the breeze. "Cheng, my son," Empress Min frowned slightly and glanced at her own son, "didn’t you recently take up learning the lute? Since Meimei is quite accomplished in that art, why not have her give you some pointers?" Crown Prince Li Cheng also noticed Second Prince Li Shao and Xuan Meimei engaged in a lively discussion, feeling frustrated. With Empress Min’s suggestion, both Second Prince Li Shao and Xuan Meimei turned to look at Li Cheng, even Yuan Bupo paused with his drink. "Oh, does His Highness Crown Prince also play the lute?" Xuan Meimei’s charming eyes, under the illumination of the palace lamps, appeared even more enticing. Li Cheng swallowed, thinking to impress Xuan Meimei with his skills, and quickly rose to his feet, "I’ve only studied briefly. Since Empress Mother has mentioned it, I shall humbly demonstrate." He ordered a palace maid to bring a lute and set up an incense burner. In magic cultivation, Crown Prince Li Cheng was far behind Li Shao, who was a trainee at the Mainland Magic Elite Camp, while Li Cheng, even at the age of twenty, was only a Magic Master. But he enjoyed music since childhood, had studied the lute for fifteen years under a renowned court musician. Empress Min saying he had just begun to learn was an understatement. Emperor Hong City is renowned for its ancient war songs, and both Xuan Meimei and Yuan Bupo are highly skilled in musical theory. Both didn’t have high regard for Li Cheng, but when they heard he was a skilled lute player, their gazes softened slightly. How could Li Cheng not know this was a chance his mother set for him to showcase his skill? He took out a lute, all shimmering in pearly white jade. The incense burner emitted curling wisps of blue smoke that rendered the lute even more majestic. "Oh, isn’t this the famous Magic Zither, Xue Ge?" Xuan Meimei’s expression shifted slightly when Crown Prince Li Cheng took out the lute. There are several famous lutes on the continent, among which the most renowned is the Xuanyuan Nine Dragon Zither used by the first ruler of Dihong City—an authentic Divine Zither, no longer of this world. Other famous lutes include "Xue Ge". Its uniqueness lies in the fact that it isn’t crafted using traditional methods. Most lutes are made from wood or Demon Beast Bones, while special ones are made from Jade or metals; but "Xue Ge" was forged from a block of thousand-year-old ice from beneath ten thousand meters of glacial seas. The thousand-year-old ice was accidentally salvaged by a local fisherman and eventually came into the hands of Tang Yuan. The Mages of Tang Yuan took three years and exhausted various methods but could neither melt nor sculpt this block of thousand-year-old ice. Ultimately, a female Mage from Xianju Country succeeded with a special Artifact Refining Technique to craft this lute. Latterly, "Xue Ge" was sold for a high price, and after changing several owners, three hundred years ago, a magician skilled in musicology used "Xue Ge" to play a melody in June that brought forth a snowfall covering the skies. "Xue Ge" was thus named from this event. "Who would have thought such a lute really existed in the world? Crown Prince, play a tune, I am curious to see if it can really invoke around the legendary snow," Xuan Meimei, being a woman, was most superstitious about these myth-like legends she heard from others. The season is just at the end of September, and if snow suddenly falls, it would indeed be bizarre. Upon hearing this, Li Cheng inwardly swore — Xue Ge was a newfound acquisition intended to impress Xuan Meimei, but had unexpectedly backfired. Whether "Xue Ge" can evoke snowfall remains uncertain. After all, the Crown Prince played the lute three to four times without anything special happening. With his lute skills, let alone manifest the June snowfall, he would likely struggle to conjure even a single snowflake. If he fails to produce the snow, wouldn’t it displease the beauty, and his efforts to curry favor with Xuan Meimei would be wasted. The Crown Prince’s troubled demeanor did not escape the eyes of Li Shao. This big brother of his, frankly speaking, is nothing but a good-for-nothing. Fresh chapters posted on 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭⚫𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦⚫𝘯𝘦𝘵 "Brother, then do play a song properly. Don’t disappoint Lady Xuan," Li Shao’s eyes were full of playful mockery, Li Cheng gritted his teeth in anger, while Empress Min also looked helpless on the side. Yuan Bupo observed the overt and covert struggle between the two, shaking his head inwardly. Such a fine lute, fine scenery, fine alcohol, alas, ruined by these folks who do not understand music. The Crown Prince’s intentions to please were clearly visible to Yuan Bupo, who holds little interest in these Royal Family disputes, but thinking that this assault might have been orchestrated by Li Shao, he was quite infuriated. "If the Crown Prince doesn’t mind, I would be willing to accompany with flute to your lute, what do you think, Crown Prince?" Yuan Bupo’s suggestion immediately eased the Crown Prince’s tension.