Chapter 31: Jade Workshop Dreams and the Heartstrings of the Pipa

In the shadows cast by the prosperity of the Li Dynasty lay a mysterious place known as the Mingyu Pavilion—an abyss of desire and depravity, and the starting point of Mingyue’s nightmares.

When she was still a mere child, the crushing wheel of fate ruthlessly shattered her world. The death of her mother was like a cruel storm, followed immediately by the mysterious disappearance of her father. Left as a helpless sapling, she was tossed in the tempest until she was finally swept into the mire of the Mingyu Pavilion.

When Mingyue first arrived at the pavilion, she was nothing more than an ignorant child, surrounded by faces that were either sycophantic or numb, the air thick with the scent of cosmetics and despair. Yet, an indomitable flame burned within her; even in such a filthy place, she refused to bow to destiny.

To survive in this brutal environment, she practiced the pipa day and night. Her delicate fingers rubbed against the strings, and through the pain of her clumsiness, thick calluses gradually formed. Every note was a challenge to her fate; every melody was her perseverance in the dark. Eventually, through her extraordinary mastery of the pipa, she became a unique courtesan of the pavilion—a pure soul in the mud, like a white lotus stubbornly blooming amidst sewage.

Time slipped away in this land where noise and loneliness intertwined. Mingyue grew into a graceful woman, like a pearl veiled in dust, emitting a unique luster.

In the tapestry of the capital’s prosperity, the Mingyu Pavilion was like a brilliant gem, weaving together worldly clamor and the tenderness of romance. Whenever night fell and the lanterns were lit, the place transformed into a magical realm, where the melodious notes of strings and the fluttering of dancers drew scholars and high officials alike. In this place of pleasure, Mingyue became the brightest star in the night sky, renowned for her heavenly voice and graceful dances.

Then, one day, she discovered the truth behind the massacre of her family. In that moment, it felt as though her heart had been sliced open by a sharp blade. The mastermind behind it all was none other than the Grand Chancellor Gao, a man whose power held the court in his grip.

At that instant, Mingyue felt her world consumed by an endless darkness. The light in her eyes extinguished, leaving only a raging fire of hatred. The flames ravaged her heart, burning away her reason, her tenderness, and her kindness. Clenching her fists, she vowed with fierce determination, "Grand Chancellor Gao, you will pay for your crimes. Even if I am shattered to pieces, I will make you pay for your blood debt."

Driven by hatred, Mingyue began searching for an opportunity for revenge. She was no longer the simple songstress; she had become a woman living solely for retribution. She lurked in the capital, searching for every possible flaw, every chance to bring the Grand Chancellor to his ruin.

Meanwhile, Li Chengyin was secretly plotting the downfall of the Grand Chancellor and the Empress. He keenly sensed Mingyue’s potential utility. Like a cunning hunter, he approached her quietly, extending an olive branch of cooperation. His voice was low and resonant: "Mingyue, I know the hatred in your heart. The Gu family was also destroyed by the Grand Chancellor, and I, too, long to see his fall. We can join forces to achieve this goal."

Mingyue gazed into Li Chengyin’s deep, calculating eyes, and ripples stirred within her. She knew this man was equally dangerous; his proposal could be a trap, or it could be her salvation. But the thirst for revenge was like a wildfire that finally consumed her doubts. She took a deep breath, nodded, and chose to trust him, choosing to walk with him along that thorn-ridden path of vengeance.