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Chu Qingzhi smiled as she accepted the sachet, “It’s beautiful, I like it.”

Seeing that the Empress seemed to like the sachet Chu Qingzhi received, the Emperor quickly seized an opportunity to try his luck at getting a sachet too, “I’ll choose the one on the far left.”

Upon opening, a dark red sachet was revealed, exquisitely made, similar in style to Chu Qingzhi’s but differing in color and embroidery. This one featured peony flowers, perfectly suiting the Empress’s stature.

After receiving the sachet, the Emperor immediately presented it to the Empress, “Yuning, this is for you.”

The Empress’s face lit up with a smile, clearly cherishing the sachet. Of course, as the Empress, there wasn’t much she hadn’t seen, but what she appreciated was the Emperor’s thoughtfulness, “Thank you.”

The Emperor whispered in the Empress’s ear, “I would give you the whole world if I could.”

“Flatterer,” the Empress said softly, her eyes filled with laughter.

Chu Qingshuang tugged at Chu Qingzhi’s sleeve, “Sister Five, won’t you choose one?”

Chu Qingzhi responded, “You go ahead, I’ll choose after you.”

“Alright.” Chu Qingshuang chose a bracelet worth three taels of silver, delighted with her good fortune.

Chu Qingzhi raised her hand, “I’ll choose one too.”

As soon as she spoke, the lively atmosphere quieted down instantly, all eyes on her.

The servant asked, “Which one will the lady choose?”

“The middle one.” Chu Qingzhi randomly chose without using any magic or spiritual power, not knowing what it would be.

The package chosen by Chu Qingzhi became the focus of everyone’s attention, and even the servant was nervous as he opened it, revealing a man’s white jade ring.

Chu Qingzhi thought it was quite suitable. She took the ring and slipped it onto Tang Jinghong’s middle finger, a perfect fit, “Do you like it?”

Tang Jinghong nodded, a smile playing on his lips, “Very much.”

“Then it’s yours,” said Chu Qingzhi.

“I will treasure it,” Tang Jinghong said, his smile widening, feeling a surge of affection towards Chu Qingzhi.

Everyone continued to eagerly open their gift packages.

Some found treasures, others did not, and the atmosphere was filled with laughter. The next segment was a talent show, where the winner could receive a mysterious gift.

This segment was usually the time for a few outstanding scholars from the academy to shine.

The dean provided a new sheet of music that anyone could perform, on any instrument of their choice.

All kinds of instruments were available in the banquet hall for personal selection.

The dean handed the music sheet to the servant, who distributed it among the students, ready for performance.

Pan Yuheng suggested giving the guests from the Imperial College a chance to perform, a proposition supported by everyone.

Thus, the servant brought a music sheet to the Imperial College students’ table, “Please, go ahead.”

After some hesitation, they bravely faced the music sheet, not willing to concede defeat directly.

The scholars from Yunfei School watched the Imperial College students mockingly, having instigated the challenge.

The Emperor observed the scene, noting the inevitable rivalry among scholars.

After receiving a music sheet, the Emperor and the Empress studied it together.

The Emperor, having been meticulously trained by the previous emperor for fifteen years, was proficient in all arts and would have ranked high if he were to take the imperial examinations. His talent was no less than anyone else’s.

Tang Jinghong and Chu Qingzhi also reviewed their sheet together.

The music sheet titled “General’s Order” evoked the desolation and heroism of the vast desert. It was challenging to convey this grandeur through most instruments.

Tang Jinghong, not well-versed in musical instruments, asked Chu Qingzhi for advice on the best instrument for this piece.

“Chime bells,” Chu Qingzhi explained. “Only the sound of chime bells can fully express the grand and tragic atmosphere. Other instruments would add a soft beauty, which wouldn’t suit the piece.”

Asking if Chu Qingzhi knew how to play, she admitted to having played a few times but not delving deeply into it.

Tang Jinghong regretted not being skilled with instruments himself; it would have been wonderful to perform together with Chu Qingzhi.

While they were talking, the Emperor and the Empress decided to perform a duet, wanting to create more beautiful memories together. They informed the dean and moved to where the chime bells were set up.

Positioned at either end, they exchanged a loving glance before picking up the mallets to begin their duet.

The audience watched in silence as the young prince turned to see his parents perform.

As the chime bells rang, their sound seemed to travel through millennia, stirring the soul with its deep resonance, perfectly complementing the “General’s Order” and showcasing the instrument’s ability to evoke profound emotions.

After about fifteen minutes of playing, the audience remained spellbound by the performance, taking some time to return to reality.

The Emperor and the Empress looked at each other and smiled, their connection unspoken. They then returned to their seats hand in hand.

The young prince praised, “Dad, Mom, that was so beautiful.”

The Empress tenderly touched her son’s head, “If Qi’er likes it, you can learn too when you’re older.”

“Okay,” the young prince nodded.

Applause erupted, “Well done!”

No one else needed to perform after such a display. After a while, the dean announced, “Since no one else has performed, shall we give the mysterious gift to this lord and lady?”

“Dean, please do. They truly deserve it.”

The scholars were deeply moved by the performance, their spirits stirred, readily acknowledging the Emperor and Empress’s merit.

The servant brought the mysterious gift to the Emperor and Empress, who decided to open it at home.

As the banquet drew to a close, the dean signaled to the servant at the door, who then announced, “Serving the Classic of Poetry Glutinous Rice!”

Everyone immediately began whispering amongst themselves…

“Classic of Poetry Glutinous Rice?”

“What an odd name, what kind of dish is that?”

“I heard the highlight dish of our banquet was ordered from Chu’s Trade. The name might be strange, but it’s definitely delicious.”

“From Chu’s Trade? Then it’s worth looking forward to.”

Amidst the murmurs, large plates were brought out and placed in the center of the tables, becoming the center of attention.

“Are we sure this is for eating, not just for looking?”

“This dish is too beautiful, isn’t it?”

“It looks so good, I almost don’t want to eat it!”

At Xu Guannan’s table, the white large plate displayed the words, “Before my bed, the moon is shining bright, I suspect it’s frost on the ground.” These ten characters were made from glutinous rice of different colors, creating a visually stunning and artistic arrangement, surrounded by various