"Everyone, please be seated," Emperor Adrian Long commanded, gesturing gracefully before taking his place atop the grand platform with Empress Snow White and Princess Sarah Long by his side.
"Tonight is my daughter's birthday; there's no need for formalities," Sarah announced warmly to the gathered nobles of Sacred Tang, her veiled elegance now fully visible as she revealed a graceful and refined visage.
"Thank you, Your Highness!" The assembled guests replied in unison, their respect evident as they returned to their seats. With music and dance performances in full swing, the atmosphere grew livelier.
Prince Adrian Long (Alternate for Emperor), the crown prince, soon stood and made his way to Sarah, smiling warmly. "Sister, happy birthday! May you enjoy endless happiness for years to come." He opened a box containing a pearl the size of a dragon's eye, luminous and precious—a rare Deep-Sea Night Pearl.
"Thank you, Brother. I'll be sure to treasure it." Sarah's radiant smile as she accepted the gift filled the Emperor and Empress with pride, pleased with Adrian Long (Alternate for Emperor)'s thoughtfulness.
Adrian Long (Another title for the emperor) beamed, patting Jiancheng on the shoulder approvingly. "You've shown great care."
Aware of his sister's importance to the Emperor, Adrian Long (Alternate for Emperor) had spent months searching for the rare pearl to win her favor, knowing that making her happy was akin to pleasing the emperor himself.
Jason Ji looked on, hiding a smirk. If this is the depth of Sacred Tang's crown prince, he mused, it's no surprise Livia plans to bring down the empire.
With the crown prince's grand gesture setting the tone, other nobles began presenting their gifts. Jason, however, sat at his table, sipping his wine with a calm detachment as lavish presents were announced.
"Master Liu presents a thousand-year-old ginseng… Minister Wu, a treasured blade called Vermillion Slash… General Yu Wen, a prized Blackwind stallion…"
Each noble seemed to believe their gift was the best choice, though Jason knew they had failed to understand Sarah. Having spent three years training on Misty Peak, she no longer cared for such material items; her tastes had grown more refined, leaning toward poetry, music, and the arts.
Jason watched as Victor Li, the renowned "First Scholar of Sacred Tang," confidently stepped forward, carrying a scroll in hand. "Princess Sarah, I've composed a poem for you as my gift," he announced, then added, "And I hope this conveys the admiration I hold for you."
The crowd gasped at his bold declaration. Emperor Long Yuan's eyes glinted with interest. "Ah, so Sacred Tang's First Scholar presents a love poem to my daughter? Very well; let's see if it's worthy of her."
He gestured for the scroll to be unfurled. The poem's structure was simple, yet its sincerity resonated with all. Even Sarah's gaze softened.
"Through distance we traveled, and our hearts grew apart,
In this autumnal eve, a restless heart starts.
The path fades away as night settles in,
Snow upon peaks; loneliness begins."
Everyone knew that Sarah had left Chang'an three years prior for Misty Peak, and in that same year, Victor Li had embarked on his own journey across the land, unwilling to remain in Chang'an without her presence. The short poem encapsulated his longing for her perfectly.
Jason nodded slightly, admiring the poem's elegance. Though I could never compose such verses, he thought with a wry smile, reciting some forgotten classic? That would truly shock them all.
Empress Snow White, touched, looked at Sarah, her expression encouraging. "Well, what do you think, my dear? This is such a heartfelt piece."
"Yes, and the poet himself is right here!" Emperor Adrian Longteased, glancing at Sarah with a playful smile. Sarah, however, felt a pang of discomfort. She appreciated Victor Li's work, but her feelings for him were purely respectful.
Just as Sarah began to feel cornered, her eyes landed on Jason, who sat quietly enjoying his wine, his hand resting on a rolled-up scroll. For some reason, she felt compelled to ask, "I'd like to see what Lord Ji has prepared as a gift."
The crowd immediately turned their attention to Jason, who sipped his wine, seemingly indifferent to the spotlight. Sarah gracefully approached his table and pointed to the scroll. "Might this be my birthday gift, Lord Ji?"
Jason glanced up, giving her a calm nod. "If you wish to see it, feel free. I can't promise you'll like it, though."
Sarah laughed softly, lifting the scroll with a gracious smile. "If it's from the heart, I'm certain I will."
The curiosity in the room peaked as all eyes followed Sarah's hands, eager to see what the renowned Immortal Slayer Sword Master had drawn. Even the Emperor and Empress leaned in, intrigued.
As the scroll unfurled, an image of a veiled woman with a sword came into view. The figure stood tall and ethereal, exuding a cool grace, her eyes filled with a sense of distant beauty and mystery, like a celestial maiden descended to earth.
"Is… is this supposed to be me?" Sarah whispered, captivated by the likeness.
"Yes, it's the impression I had of you when we first met, at Chang'an's gates," Jason replied with a gentle smile.
Sarah's gaze softened, a mixture of joy and nostalgia flooding her heart. She vividly remembered that day—the way he'd arrived with flames trailing him like a divine being, a memory so vivid that it often appeared in her dreams. She hadn't realized he, too, had remembered her so clearly.
Then, her eyes moved to the poem he had added beneath the image. As she read, her expression shifted, her initial delight replaced by an inexplicable sorrow. The scroll slipped from her fingers, and she stood frozen, her eyes glistening.
The crowd, puzzled by her reaction, couldn't understand what had moved her so deeply. A nearby guard picked up the scroll and handed it to the Emperor Adrian Long glanced over the poem, reading aloud:
"Autumn wind pure, autumn moon bright,
Fallen leaves scatter, then gather by night.
Crows startled and shaken, retreat to their nest,
Wishing for love but finding no rest.
In yearning's embrace, no hour, no end,
Long is the memory, long does it rend.
How could I have known the heart's deep regret,
That it would be bound since the day we met."
Silence fell over the room, the crowd held in thrall by the poem's poignant words. It was a masterpiece of longing, and it left everyone stunned, each word resonating with the depth of unrequited love. To the bystanders, the poem and portrait painted a tale of star-crossed lovers who could never be.
Victor Li slumped, a self-deprecating laugh escaping him. Next to Jason's verse, his own poetry felt hollow. He no longer felt like a "First Scholar" at all.
The realization dawned on everyone, and they couldn't help but imagine a tragic love story. In Chang'an's shadow, a boy, the master of flames, met a veiled girl. A spark ignited between them, but fate would not allow it. How could they be mere acquaintances when such words of longing had been written?
"Jason Ji," Sarah whispered, her voice trembling. "Don't you remember that you have a fiancée?"
Her voice held a hint of accusation, yet all could hear the anguish hidden beneath it—a cry of disappointment. Jason refilled his cup, draining it in one gulp, and finally rose to face her, his voice calm.
"I remember very well. But love, left unfulfilled, is simply part of life. Your Highness needn't dwell on it." He paused, his gaze steady. "Consider tonight's events a jest, a fleeting moment. Laugh at it, then forget it."
Sarah bit her lip, her heart breaking. "After hearing that, how am I supposed to forget?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
Jason stepped closer, his hand briefly touching her shoulder in a gentle embrace. He whispered, "Time heals all wounds, Your Highness. When you choose to forget, it will fade."
He released her, retreating a few steps, feeling a surge of tension within. His Flying Dragon's Reach technique had failed to detect any authorization token for the Lingyan Pavilion on her person.
What now? he wondered, glancing around with growing frustration.
Meanwhile, Sarah stood rooted to the spot, visibly shaken. At that moment, a commotion erupted outside the Purple Smoke Pavilion.
"Stop the intruder! Catch the assassin!"
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]