Chapter 68: An Unrivaled Beauty

Ruo Ang said, "I was just strolling around aimlessly, with no particular destination in mind."

Li Ru said, "Since that is the case, why don't we head to the Embracing Jade Tower together? I shall play the host, if only to welcome Brother Ruo to the city."

Hearing this, the corners of Ruo Ang's eyes twitched. He had grown somewhat sensitive to attending banquets hosted by others lately. However, thinking that Dong Yuan was by his side, he figured nothing untoward would happen. He nodded and said, "Since you are so cordially inviting me, it would be ungracious of me to refuse."

Li Ru smiled and said, "Brother Ruo, why such courtesy? Let us set off at once."

Before long, the group arrived in front of the most bustling and magnificent restaurant on the grandest avenue.

Ruo Ang looked up to see a three-story restaurant nestled among countless flowers and trees.

The restaurant was brilliantly lit, filled with the sounds of singing, dancing, laughter, and enthusiastic toasts, creating an extremely lively atmosphere.

Ruo Ang glanced toward the entrance on the ground floor and clearly saw the graceful and elegant characters for "Embracing Jade Tower" inscribed above.

Li Ru led Ruo Ang and Dong Yuan into the Embracing Jade Tower, and a charming young woman immediately came forward to greet them.

Ruo Ang's eyes lit up instantly as he thought to himself: Goodness me, this restaurant actually uses young and beautiful women as attendants; how truly unique!

As soon as the woman caught sight of Li Ru, she approached with a beaming smile and cooed to him, "Lord Li, it has been quite a while since you last graced us with your presence!"

Dong Yuan frowned slightly, but Ruo Ang felt nothing was amiss.

Li Ru smiled and said, "I am entertaining distinguished guests today. Is there still a table available on the third floor?"

The woman glanced at Dong Yuan and Ruo Ang, then quickly said to Li Ru, "Yes, yes, indeed! There is precisely one table left. Please follow this humble maid, my lords."

With that, she led the three of them up the wooden staircase toward the third floor.

Upon reaching the third floor, Ruo Ang discovered the unique architectural design of the restaurant.

In the center of the building was a huge, circular open courtyard. The private rooms on the second and third floors encircled this courtyard, forming a double-ringed gallery structure. Right in the middle of the ground-floor hall stood a circular stage. Such architectural layout was clearly designed for the convenience of patrons who wished to enjoy food and drink while watching the songs and dances on the stage below, which was quite fascinating.

Li Ru was a powerful favorite in Dong Zhuo's inner circle. As he walked along, almost everyone who saw him stood up to bow and greet him.

Soon, following the attendant, they arrived at a private room and took their seats.

The private rooms here were all arranged along the edge of the open courtyard. The side facing the courtyard had only railings instead of walls or windows, allowing guests inside to eat and drink while watching the performances on the stage below—truly an ingenious design.

The young woman bowed and asked, "What would you like to order, sir?"

Li Ru cupped his fists toward Dong Yuan and Ruo Ang, saying, "My lady, Brother Ruo, what would you care to have?"

Ruo Ang said, "I have no preference."

Dong Yuan also said, "I am fine with anything as well."

Li Ru looked at the attendant and said, "Just bring up your signature dishes and wines."

The attendant acknowledged the order, cast a curious glance at Dong Yuan and Ruo Ang, and then turned and left.

Before long, the food and wine were served.

Each dish was exquisitely prepared, yet served only in tiny, delicate vessels. While they looked pleasing to the eye, such small portions were hardly enough to fill one's stomach.

Li Ru pointed toward the stage below and asked, "What performance is scheduled for today?"

The attendant bowed and replied, "Today's performance is *Zhaojun Crossing the Frontier*."

Li Ru nodded and smiled, "Rather a sorrowful and beautiful story indeed."

The attendant smiled faintly, glanced at Dong Yuan and Ruo Ang, and said to Li Ru, "If the honored guests have no further instructions, this humble maid will take her leave."

Li Ru nodded and said, "You may go."

The attendant bowed and withdrew.

Li Ru picked up the wine flagon and poured drinks for Dong Yuan and Ruo Ang.

Ruo Ang smiled and said, "How can I presume to let you pour the wine for me, sir?"

Li Ru laughed, "Brother Ruo is a guest from afar, so how could I, as the host, neglect you? Besides, we have the young lady here as well."

Ruo Ang glanced at Dong Yuan and smiled.

Li Ru filled the cups for both of them and himself, put down the flagon, picked up his wine cup, and said to Ruo Ang and Dong Yuan, "I toast the young lady and Brother Ruo. I shall drain my cup first!"

With that, he raised his cup and downed its contents in one gulp.

Dong Yuan picked up her cup, threw back her head, and finished the wine in a single draught.

Ruo Ang also picked up his cup and drank it all down.

Putting down his cup, Li Ru sighed and said, "Brother Ruo must have heard some rumors. I hope Brother Ruo understands that these rumors are merely intended to drive a wedge between us. Both you and I are officials under the Grand Coordinator, and we ought to cooperate sincerely to ease the Grand Coordinator's burdens. My utmost sincerity is as clear as the sun in the sky, and I hope Brother Ruo can perceive that."

Ruo Ang knew that what Li Ru was saying was essentially lies, but he could not expose them just yet. He nodded and said, "I naturally understand this, otherwise I would not be drinking with you, sir. I have always been a man who clearly distinguishes between gratitude and resentment."

Li Ru smiled and said, "With Brother Ruo's words, I can finally set my mind at ease!"

He sighed again and continued, "Both of you and I hold high positions, which makes many people green with envy, resulting in endless malicious gossip. It is truly helpless."

Ruo Ang smiled and said, "That is quite normal. As the old saying goes, it is lonely at the top!"

Li Ru's eyes lit up, and he exclaimed, "An exquisite phrase! It perfectly captures the state of affairs we find ourselves in right now!"

Ruo Ang froze, thinking to himself: Could it be that this era does not yet have the saying "it is lonely at the top"?

At that moment, a burst of loud laughter and commotion came from several private rooms on the opposite side of the second floor, interspersed with the startled shrieks of women.

Ruo Ang looked in the direction of the noise and saw several coarse-looking nomads dressed in furs sitting there, openly harassing the waitresses with a completely uninhibited demeanor.

The maidservant shrieked repeatedly, struggling with all her might before finally breaking free from their grasp, while the barbarian warriors burst into loud laughter, looking extremely pleased with themselves.

Seeing this, Ruo Ang frowned and asked, "Where did those fellows come from?"

Li Ru replied, "They are envoys from the Xianbei, Wuhuan, and Xiongnu tribes, and they arrived in Chang'an even before Brother Ruo got here. They came to offer birthday congratulations to the Grand Coordinator."

Hearing this, Ruo Ang sneered, "It is certainly rare to see guests behaving in such a manner."

Li Ru smiled, "Barbarians are all like this. Brother Ruo need not take it to heart."

He then pointed to several private rooms on the third floor opposite them and other rooms on the second floor, saying, "I didn't expect the envoys of various regional lords to have arrived as well. It's almost as if they all made an appointment."

Ruo Ang followed Li Ru's gesture but did not see anyone he recognized, so he dismissed the thought.

At that moment, melodious music drifted up from the ground-floor hall.

Instantly, the clamor throughout the entire restaurant subsided, and everyone's gaze turned toward the lower level.

A troupe of graceful and remarkably fair-skinned dancers fluttered like a group of colorful butterflies directly onto the stage in the middle of the hall. Though their dance movements were fluid and charming, they exuded an underlying sense of melancholy.

Then, all the dancers lay down sideways, forming a human wall.

The music shifted, becoming gentle and poignant.

A peerless beauty, clad in furs and veiled with gauze, slowly emerged from the side holding a pipa and stepped onto the stage.

Upon seeing her, the crowd's eyes lit up instantly.

Ruo Ang looked at the dancer portraying Wang Zhaojun, feeling that her temperament and posture were breathtakingly exquisite, surpassing mortal beauty.

Though she wore a veil and only a pair of starry eyes were visible, those very eyes were enough to make one feel utterly bewitched.

"Wang Zhaojun" danced lightly on the stage. Her movements seemed simple, yet they conveyed Wang Zhaojun's helplessness and longing for her homeland.

The audience was completely captivated by her movements.

At that moment, "Wang Zhaojun" parted her lips and began to sing softly.

Everyone present felt a slight tremor in their hearts, for her soft and lingering vocals possessed a soul-stirring quality that caused the listeners' emotions to rise and fall with the undulating melody.

Soon, the troupe of dancers joined in with soft backing vocals, elevating the sorrowful and peerless atmosphere to its absolute peak. It made one involuntarily resent the man who had failed Wang Zhaojun, while fiercely yearning to gather the "Wang Zhaojun" before them into their arms and protect her.