Chapter 10: Renowned Throughout Shangyun Prefecture (Part One)

For the following three months, Su Yue practiced the zither every day by the Moon Lotus Lake.

Lingzhi, as Su Yue’s partner, suffered quite a few hardships.

Boom—

A massive wave drenched Lingzhi from head to toe, leaving her like a drowned rat.

“I’d say you did that on purpose,” Lingzhi squinted her waterlogged eyes and complained.

Su Yue offered an embarrassed smile. “No… I was just trying to practice controlling the output of spiritual power, and got a bit careless…”

As she spoke, Su Yue began plucking the green strings of the Silk-Tethered Zither with vigor. The lotus flowers in Moon Lotus Lake bloomed and closed repeatedly, opening and shutting in a mesmerizing rhythm.

“Stop tormenting those lotuses. Your problem right now is controlling the water in the lake, and that’s the key to the Moon Lotus Lake Dance. You’re already good at using earth spiritual power to create the stage and synchronizing the blooming of the lotus flowers. But I see you plucking the strings without actually playing a tune—though your hand movements are quite correct.”

Lingzhi had studied the ancient zither for a few days herself, so she understood.

Watching Lingzhi’s earnest efforts, Su Yue secretly resolved to master the Silk-Tethered Zither.

“I think even though you lost control at the end, everything before that was quite good,” Xiao Baisu, who had been observing in secret, nodded and appeared to praise them.

“Supervisor Xiao,” Lingzhi and Su Yue quickly bowed.

“Rise, both of you. It seems this year, at the Hundred Flowers Banquet, our Yan Manor will have two radiant ladies to astonish the world.” Xiao Baisu smiled.

Su Yue inwardly retorted: Whether we’ll have two radiant ladies, she didn’t know. But she was sure her destructive power had reached new heights.

After Xiao Baisu’s inspection of their performance that day, the Hundred Flowers Banquet soon arrived.

The entire Yan Manor, from top to bottom, was in motion. Even rare and precious flowers, which weren’t in bloom, were coaxed open with various spells, ensuring the banquet lived up to its name—a true gathering of all flowers under one roof.

Competing with the brilliant blossoms at the Hundred Flowers Banquet was the annual talent contest. The Yan family, the Jiang family, and even the Heavenly Prosperity Immortal Kingdom—every famed family and power in the Eastern Domain participated.

“Every year, the Hundred Flowers Banquet draws so many noble guests. It’s clear that the Yan clan of Shangyun has won more hearts than even our Heavenly Prosperity,”

A languid young gentleman, fanning himself, spoke softly to the tall man beside him, clad in dark robes.

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The man in dark robes glanced at the young noble and said, “The weather’s not hot anymore—aren’t you tired of waving your precious fan every day?”

The young noble looked glumly at him. “Elder brother…”

“Flowers never bloom for a hundred days. The Yan family and this garden full of blossoms are no different. Just a family, after all. Rather than sighing, you’d do better to focus on your cultivation.”

With that, the elder prince no longer paid attention to his younger brother and sauntered away.

“What an arrogant fellow—who is he?”

Unbeknownst to the two princes, behind them in a garden pavilion, a young girl in red combat attire pointed her whip at them and asked.

“Miss, those are the eldest and fourth princes sent by the Heavenly Prosperity Immortal Kingdom—Prince Situ Yu and Prince Situ Kong.”

Behind the young lady, a woman dressed in elaborate robes laughed as she replied.

“Yao-nian, can you believe there are such shameless people in the world? Admiring the flowers in someone else’s home, yet cursing their hosts—what nerve.”

Yao-nian dared not respond. She cautiously glanced around, relieved that no one was paying attention.

“Dear Miss Jiang, perhaps you’d best not say so much. What does it matter to us what others say about the Yan family?”

Miss Jiang cast a glance at the cautious Yao-nian, finding her dull, and left the pavilion. Yao-nian hurried after her, fearful Miss Jiang might stir up more trouble.

Behind the screen inside the pavilion, Lingzhi and Su Yue quietly emerged.

“Hey, who’s that? Such an extravagant young lady—her whip is made of fire dragonhide, definitely a top-tier spiritual artifact,”

Su Yue’s eyes sparkled with admiration for the whip.

“You’re a sword cultivator, why covet someone else’s whip? That’s Miss Jiang Tianzhi, eldest daughter of the Jiang family,” Lingzhi chided Su Yue, while she herself couldn’t help but gaze at Jiang Tianzhi’s attire.

Her red silk robe, patterned with crimson, was a heavenly-grade treasure crafted by the Cage Garment Pavilion—a rare, non-sale item. No one knew how Jiang Tianzhi acquired it.

[Task Four: (Mainline) How can one reincarnate without several confidantes? With so many flowers in the world, why cling to just one? Attract Jiang Tianzhi’s attention and earn her favor. Completing the task grants a Foundation Establishment Spirit Package.]

Su Yue stared speechlessly at the system’s task. Getting recognition from the Yan Manor’s steward and performing on the zither had been troublesome enough, but this was even more shameless.

Question: As a servant girl, how could one possibly gain the favor of a noble lady?

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Answer: According to the typical male reincarnation novel trope—flirt with her!

Su Yue: …

Forget it; there was no relying on this idiotic system.

As night deepened, the guests attending the Hundred Flowers Banquet only grew more numerous.

The Hundred Flowers Banquet was for flower viewing in the morning, lanterns and performances in the evening.

“I say, this year Master Yao from the Jiang family will surely win. Yao-nian is a music cultivator, her performances can invoke spiritual phenomena—no other family can compete with that.”

Several renowned guests gathered, discussing which performer might shine brightest at this year’s banquet.

“Not so fast! Yan family’s Xiao Baisu may not follow the path of dance, but she is a spiritual cultivator. Years ago, her dance made many men lose their hearts at first sight!” another corpulent guest countered.

“In my opinion, the sword-dancing maid sent from the Heavenly Prosperity Immortal Kingdom is even better…”

Their debate drew the attention of other guests, and soon everyone was discussing this year’s talent showcase.

“Boss Hu, how’s business at your zither shop lately?”

“Oh, Pavilion Master Su, my little shop can hardly compare with your grand estate. Business is as usual—just enough to get by.”

Had Su Yue been there, she would have recognized Boss Hu—the very shopkeeper whose zither she’d snapped with a single string.

“You’ve never attended before, so what brings you this year? Who do you think will win—Jiang family or Yan family?”

Regular attendees knew the talent contest at the Hundred Flowers Banquet was always a showdown between the Jiang and Yan families. The other families were decent, but nowhere near as competitive.

“This year, I’m betting on Yan family,” Boss Hu replied with a bow and a smile.

“Yan family? Xiao Baisu has lost to Yao-nian three years in a row. I doubt she’ll pull anything new this year.”

“I’m not betting on Xiao Baisu, but on another Yan family performance—‘High Mountains and Flowing Water.’”

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