"Since a beauty is to dance, how can there be no music?"
Upon hearing Roy say that after this dance, the two of them would spend the night together at Hongmen, Liu Ji was instantly overjoyed. Her voice and demeanor became exuberant as she called out loudly, and naturally, servants brought forth various musical instruments for her to choose from.
Without further ado, Liu Ji selected a seven-stringed zither, setting it up properly before sitting in front of it.
The seven-stringed zither was a traditional Chinese instrument. Ancient texts recorded that Fuxi created the zither, Shun set it to five strings, King Wen added one string, and King Wu added another when he overthrew the Shang Dynasty. It had already flourished during the Western Zhou and Spring and Autumn periods.
Seeing Liu Ji's elegant posture, which didn't resemble that of a mere farmer, Roy asked curiously, "...The King of Han actually understands the zither?"
Liu Ji plucked a string and replied somewhat sheepishly, "...Back in Pei County, there was a young widow who loved listening to the zither. I couldn't win her over, so I practiced hard to master it."
Hearing this, Roy burst into laughter, while the others present stifled their amusement. Given their lower status compared to the Overlord of Western Chu and the King of Han, they dared not laugh as freely as Roy did.
Liu Ji wasn't angered—these were her own past actions, and since she had done such things, why would she care about others laughing at her?
After plucking the strings a couple of times, Liu Ji turned to Roy and asked, "...Where is the beauty?"
Roy clapped his hands without answering. "...Xiao Yu, come out already. The King of Han is personally playing the zither—this is a rare honor."
"Coming~"
A soft, seductive voice rang out, one that made hearts melt upon hearing it. It sent shivers down the spine, an itch that couldn't be scratched, leaving one eager to see just how beautiful the woman behind such a voice must be.
Tamamo-no-Mae was naturally cheerful and loved lively gatherings—though if she had a beloved, she would prefer spending time alone with them. But since she hadn't yet found her "husband," she went wherever the excitement was.
Hearing Roy ask her to dance didn't upset her. On the contrary, she loved dancing, cooking, and even needlework—anything a good wife should know how to do, she excelled at. If someone were to marry this fox, they would surely enjoy endless blessings for a lifetime.
To call her a virtuous wife—or rather, a virtuous fox—was absolutely fitting.
The sound of the zither played, and though Liu Ji's skill was not that of a master, it was still above average. Accompanied by the melodious notes, a slender young girl, barefoot, stepped in with a dance. Roy's eyes lit up at the sight of Tamamo-no-Mae's attire today, his heart stirring subtly.
Tamamo-no-Mae wore an outfit with a distinct ethnic style, somewhat reminiscent of garments from the land of India at first glance. A veil covered her face, and her slender, soft waist revealed a charming navel, her abdomen devoid of any excess fat. The smooth, fair skin resembled fine jade, making her waist appear as delicate as a willow branch when compared to the rest of her figure.
The tinkling of jade pendants and bells at Tamamo-no-Mae's waist, wrists, and ankles resonated through the air. The moment she appeared, the entire mansion seemed to lose its light, as if this beautiful fox spirit had become the sole focus of all attention. Even Liu Ji's fingers trembled slightly as she plucked the strings of the seven-stringed zither.
'What a peerless enchantress, no less captivating than the legendary Yu the Beauty.'
Liu Ji sighed inwardly. Though the woman before her wore a veil, obscuring her breathtaking beauty, just the sight of her graceful form and the innate allure emanating from her very bones was enough to know she was a femme fatale capable of toppling kingdoms.
Had this been the Liu Ji of the past, he would have already been drooling, scheming ways to win her over. But the present Liu Ji had gradually lost interest in women. Now, upon encountering such a stunning beauty, her first thought was to compare herself. She had fully embraced her identity as a woman, no longer merely disguising herself as a man.
This comparison left Liu Ji feeling somewhat disheartened. Though she considered herself quite beautiful—few women she had met in her life could rival her—she could never match Tamamo-no-Mae's feminine charm and allure. Having spent so long playing the role of a man, Liu Ji possessed a dignified, unconstrained aura distinct from typical femininity. While equally striking, it lacked that seductive quality.
Others present also gasped in admiration at the veiled Tamamo-no-Mae dancing to the zither's melody, secretly envying the Overlord of Western Chu for somehow acquiring such a woman. Her enchanting yet refined, bewitching yet elegant demeanor was not something ordinary women could possess.
Roy simply sat on his cushion, chopsticks in hand, lightly tapping his wine cup in rhythm with Liu Ji's zither, providing percussion accompaniment. To have the founding emperor of the Great Han Dynasty play the zither and the ancient goddess, the legendary nine-tailed fox, dance gracefully—for a man, this was a privilege to be envied for a lifetime.
Once the dance concluded, Tamamo-no-Mae bowed gracefully, her golden eyes flickering briefly toward Roy before curiously glancing at Liu Ji. Then, swaying gracefully, she left the room.
She enjoyed dancing and found chatting with Roy delightful, so performing a dance for him was no trouble. However, if asked to continuously perform as a dancer, she would refuse—unless it was for someone she truly acknowledged as her 'husband.' In that case, not only would she dance willingly, but she might even joyfully perform dances where her garments grew fewer from winter to summer.
Seeing Tamamo-no-Mae depart, sighs filled the room as people lamented the beauty's departure. Yet remembering she was the favored concubine of the Hegemon-King of Western Chu, many quickly averted their gazes, not daring to look further.
Watching Roy acquire yet another peerless enchantress, Liu Ji lost all interest in playing the zither. She had servants remove the seven-stringed instrument and sat there in obvious displeasure.
"The meal is eaten, the dance enjoyed. Since it's been months since I last saw the King of Han, let us retire to the rear courtyard to reminisce."
Roy was clearly issuing a dismissal.
Though the room was crowded, only Roy and Liu Ji occupied the main seats—the others were mere attendants. Recognizing their host's intent, none overstayed their welcome and soon took their leave.
Had this been earlier, Zhang Liang might have left worried. But having gained clarity, he was now the first to depart, quicker than anyone else.
Soon, only Roy and Liu Ji remained in the room, with even the Chu soldiers stationed outside on guard.
Liu Ji stayed seated, head bowed, her heart pounding like a startled deer—so fiercely it left her breathless with tension.
Roy chuckled at the sight. Without a word, he rose, took Liu Ji's hand, and led her toward the rear courtyard.
...
Xiao He hadn't attended the banquet, waiting outside instead. Seeing Zhang Liang emerge first, he greeted him with a smile. "...Zifang, leaving so soon? Didn't you stay to counsel the King of Han?"
Zhang Liang studied Xiao He, sensing mockery in his grin. He clasped his hands. "...The King of Han no longer needs my counsel. Even if she asked me now, I couldn't answer what weighs on her mind."
With that, Zhang Zifang shook his head and walked away, unburdened.
Only after he was gone did Xiao He's stunned expression fade into a sigh. "...Truly, Zhang Zifang is formidable. I pale in comparison!"