Chapter 105: The Premier Songstress of Dongguan Kingdom

When the piece ended, the dozen or so people present remained seated, lost in thought. Luo Yue felt a flicker of doubt.

“Why isn’t anyone applauding? Isn’t this how it goes in the stories?” she silently wondered.

[Perhaps the master played so beautifully that they forgot themselves.]

The matchmaker auntie was utterly enchanted backstage by Luo Yue’s guqin melodies. A few of the other girls were similarly intoxicated, swaying their graceful forms in rhythm with the music.

“I never imagined Sister Luo Yue’s playing could leap forward so dramatically in just a few days... I feel as if I were there, chasing the moon amidst the clouds, the stars twinkling right beside me...”

Until recently, Luo Yue’s music, though pleasant, had lacked something. Then, a few days prior, she happened to recall the storytellers who transformed themselves into characters, vividly narrating the scenes from their tales.

So why couldn’t the guqin do the same?

Luo Yue tried to merge herself with the instrument, likening herself to the colorful clouds soaring high in the heavens, pursuing the bright moon hanging on the horizon—drawing ever closer to coax out true emotion.

From the second floor, Nanyan observed the silent audience below, noticing the absence of applause but feeling no amusement.

They were simply entranced by the music, forgetting to applaud. Luo Yue was truly a girl full of endless surprises.

Passersby outside couldn’t help but pause, drawn inside for a closer look.

More and more people gathered at the Shadow Pavilion.

The matchmaker was overjoyed. Many passersby were moving toward the pavilion, and a tear of pride slipped from her eye. She looked at Luo Yue with a deep sense of a daughter coming into her own.

Having managed the Shadow Pavilion for so many years, she had witnessed its rises and falls, its glory and decline. More than that, she had seen its true rebirth from the ashes.

Luo Yue, you have truly not disappointed me!

Unaware of this, Luo Yue began playing the next piece, glancing at the other restless girls upstairs and gently beckoning them down.

Surprised, Suli pointed to herself and her sisters beside her, “Sister Luo Yue… you want us to come down?”

For today’s performance, the matchmaker had insisted it be solely for Luo Yue—to dispel rumors—and the others were not to take the stage. Suli and her companions looked toward the matchmaker with pleading eyes.

Unable to resist these girls she had personally trained, the matchmaker could only smile helplessly.

Suli understood the silent approval and immediately led her sisters downstairs, standing obediently behind Luo Yue and forming a neat line.

For a moment, Luo Yue was at a loss as to what piece would best accompany their dance.

“Don’t know what to play to match our steps, Sister Luo Yue? Why not play ‘Shadow Pavilion’!” Lianwu quietly suggested from behind, prompting Luo Yue to summon the familiar score etched in her mind.

“Shadow Pavilion” was a melody personally played by the former master of the Shadow Pavilion. Everyone there could hum a few lines, and if outsiders asked its name, they would proudly say “Shadow Pavilion.”

This score was likely from Luo Yue’s former self’s memories and still playable. She had performed it once before, and it was quite a challenge for her.

Gradually, the audience seats at the Shadow Pavilion filled with curious strangers who had wandered in, the lively scene reminiscent of two months past.

While the joy had just begun here, the Moonlight Pavilion was already beset by a series of problems.

“Lady Yue, this is bad! Quite a few people are heading toward the Shadow Pavilion!”

“Lady Yue! The snacks and refreshments in the pavilion are nearly depleted. Shall we restock? Some guests are already urging us!”

“Lady Yue! Several matronly women downstairs are causing a scene, insisting that our girls are demons, clamoring for official intervention!”

“Lady Yue! The pavilion—”

Sitting upstairs, Lady Yue’s face was tight with irritation as one servant after another relayed news. Her anger had reached its peak.

“Enough! Silence!”

All the servants lowered their heads, falling silent.

Rubbing her temples, Lady Yue thought of how much preparation the Moonlight Pavilion had made for this event. The pavilion master had spent most of the funds catering to these petty-minded guests.

Yet, she had never imagined their greed could be so insatiable.

“How many people remain downstairs right now?”

A servant stammered, struggling with his words, “A hundred, just over a hundred…”

Lady Yue pressed harder, “I asked roughly how many. Is ‘just over a hundred’ one hundred, two hundred, or three hundred?”

The servant shrank back, too frightened to respond. Lady Yue’s nostrils flared, eyes wide and fierce—her usual composed appearance replaced by a terrifying glare.

“Speak! If you don’t, you’ll be as good as dead weight!”

Not wanting to lose her job, the servant hurriedly said, “About one hundred and twenty remain, though some may have already left…”

Though Lady Yue had braced herself for the truth, she still trembled at the number.

“Over a hundred…”

This number was already far less than the Shadow Pavilion’s. Earlier scouts reported that the new guests attracted to the Shadow Pavilion were at least three times more than theirs.

This time… it seemed all was lost. Thoughts of Master Mu Liao locked away with his parents filled Lady Yue with dread.

No, absolutely not!

“Go! Keep purchasing! Buy everything! Whoever comes to the Moonlight Pavilion will be treated to complimentary refreshments and a show!”

Desperation left Lady Yue no choice.

“But, Lady Yue, our pavilion’s reserves are insufficient. Business has been poor since the Shadow Pavilion stole our clientele. We may not have enough funds…”

This news struck like a thunderbolt. Lady Yue dreaded what tortures awaited her parents if Master Mu Liao learned of her failure.

As she stood in turmoil, another servant hurried in with a report. “Lady Yue! Miss Xiangling has fainted!”

Ignoring all else, Lady Yue rushed over. Xiangling was the star performer; many guests stayed solely for her. Why now, of all times, should she collapse?

When Lady Yue arrived, Xiangling was cradled in the arms of a young man. A matron downstairs was being restrained by servants—otherwise, she would have stormed the stage.

“Xiangling! What’s wrong, Xiangling?”

Xiangling lay pale and trembling in the young man’s arms. He shouted in frustration, “Stop jumping! What are you doing? Find a doctor immediately!”

Meanwhile, the other girls, seeing Xiangling’s collapse, began flaunting their charms. They wished to possess the grace and allure that had been overshadowed by Xiangling.

The young man’s helpless cries on stage clashed with the music and dance behind him.

Some of Xiangling’s admirers shouted angrily at these girls, only to be met with counterattacks from their respective suitors. The scene quickly descended into chaos.