As Ji Mo's words fell, everyone around him looked at him as if he were an idiot.
The后台 of Tianxiang Pavilion was managed by Grand Marshal Yue Longgang. Not only did he hold the military power of the Great Qin Dynasty, but he was also a Spirit Emperor himself. Who would dare to provoke such a figure?
Even the current Great Qin Emperor might not dare to dine and dash here.
Now, a rustic villager, speaking with great arrogance, actually declared he would dine and dash. Was he out of his mind, deliberately seeking death?
Li Qiufeng's face changed greatly, and he quickly reached out to cover Ji Mo's mouth. Such reckless talk could easily lead to death. If Yue Longgang acted impulsively, he wouldn't even give face to the Emperor. Even bringing up his father might not be enough to protect Ji Mo.
Ji Mo immediately caught a faint fragrance. Why did his brother Qiufeng's hands smell so milky and fragrant? His heart couldn't help but flutter.
Hong Xing, standing beside them, almost had her eyeballs pop out. Her young lady had never had physical contact with a man before. Even Crown Prince Ying Tianci hadn't managed to touch the hem of her clothes. Yet now, her young lady was actually covering a man's mouth with her hand. Such an intimate gesture, if the Crown Prince found out, would lead to great trouble!
She hurriedly pulled Li Qiufeng away, hoping this matter would never be exposed.
"You want to dine and dash, are you truly seeking death?"
Man Yin was stunned. Did the other party have a problem with his brain? Was he not afraid of death?
Ji Mo said lightly, "Not at all. I just plan to dine and dash with my skills. Doesn't Tianxiang Pavilion have a rule that payment isn't necessarily in money, but can also be in talent?"
Since its establishment, Tianxiang Pavilion had an unwritten rule that literary scholars and great Confucianists did not need to pay for their consumption.
Upon hearing this, the surroundings fell silent. Then, a wave of uproarious laughter erupted.
"You, with talent? Go pee and look at yourself in the urine. Do you really think you're a literary scholar or a great Confucian?"
"A scoundrel like you actually dreams of paying with talent. You truly don't know the immensity of heaven and earth."
"Even the top ten talents of the younger generation wouldn't dare to speak such arrogant words. Only a few people can get a free meal at Tianxiang Pavilion, such as the master of the music world, Master Li Xiao, and the great figure of the literary world, Wen Zhong. They are all world-renowned titans."
These people completely treated Ji Mo as a clown. A young country bumpkin actually dared to expect the same treatment as these masters?
"Young Master Ji, I beg you, can you stop embarrassing yourself?" Hong Xing whispered, even she couldn't stand it anymore.
"I'll give you a chance. Play the zither, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, and song. Show us whatever you can. As long as you can convince everyone, not only will your meals be free for life, but I, this humble girl, will also apologize to you."
Man Yin, to avoid being accused of bullying with her status, generously gave Ji Mo an opportunity.
Li Qiufeng knew that Ji Mo was quite talented and had a deep understanding of poetry. If he were to compose a poem, he might have a chance to shock everyone. Her tense heart relaxed, but Ji Mo's next words made her gasp in shock.
"Then I'll just sing a song casually," Ji Mo said indifferently.
Sing a song?
Immediately, the surroundings erupted in another round of boisterous laughter. It was well-known that only women sang songs, as it was an innate advantage that men could not compare to. Man Yin was well-versed in this art and was a leader among them. Now, this fellow actually wanted to show off his singing voice in front of Man Yin. Wasn't that like showing off in front of a master craftsman, asking for humiliation?
Li Qiufeng didn't understand why Ji Mo didn't choose to compose a poem but instead chose to sing. Wasn't this attacking with his weakness against their strength?
"Although my singing is off-key, it's still passable," Ji Mo said, seeing Li Qiufeng's worried eyes, offering an explanation.
His explanation, however, only made people worry more. You yourself admit you're off-key and passable, so why would you go and make a fool of yourself?
"Young Master, we've met the wrong person and are going to be disgraced along with you," Hong Xing said with a bitter expression. If you, Ji Mo, want to be disgraced, do it alone, don't drag us down with you.
"I believe in him," Li Qiufeng said. Although she didn't know why, she just felt that Ji Mo wasn't someone who sought attention.
"Singing? I advise you to change to something else. Can you compare to my 'Sigh of the Beautiful Woman'?" Man Yin kindly reminded him. Her "Sigh of the Beautiful Woman" was a melody composed by Master Li Xiao. It was not something someone like Ji Mo could challenge. If they were to compare songs, the other party would have no chance of winning.
"No need. May I borrow your guqin?" Ji Mo said calmly. Without waiting for Man Yin's consent, he walked directly behind the beaded curtain and sat down in front of the platform where the guqin was placed.
Man Yin wanted to refuse, not out of stinginess, but because she never let outsiders touch her beloved guqin. However, before she could speak, she swallowed her words. This was because Ji Mo had already begun to strum the strings. An expert's touch, one could tell immediately. The moment the sound started, it made the soul tremble. A single note made Man Yin's expression change dramatically.
As the prelude began, the entire venue fell silent. Everyone present was instantly immersed in the mood of the melody.
"A play unfolds, sleeves rise and fall, singing of joy and sorrow, separation and reunion, none of it concerns me. A fan opens and closes, gongs and drums sound and fall silent, emotions within the play, people outside, who can tell..."
Ji Mo began to sing a song called "The Red Ling." Instantly, a tragic and beautiful scene appeared before everyone's eyes. Their faces showed endless sadness and melancholy, and some even shed tears uncontrollably.
Not long after, Ji Mo finished singing. The audience remained immersed in the sorrow of the song for a long time. After a long while, the crowd finally reacted.
"I heard that the enemy country is invading again, and the border is in flames. How can we still have the face to drink and make merry here?"
"I am truly not a person. I indulge in debauchery every day, living in a daze and wasting my years. The country needs me, the people need me. We men should defend our homes and country."
"I will enlist today."
Many young masters pounded their chests and slapped their own faces hard. After one song, the emotions of concern for the country and its people spread, igniting a burning fire in everyone's hearts, making them eager to join the army immediately and defend their homeland. Even the maids looked excited, only regretting that they were not born men.
Hong Xing covered her wide-open mouth, completely speechless. Earlier, she had said, "If you can do it, you do it." She never expected that Ji Mo could actually do it, and do it exceptionally well. What was even more terrifying was that Ji Mo had clearly only played and sung perfunctorily, yet it had such an effect, making everyone present fall into emotions of concern for the country and its people. If he were to play and sing with all his might, wouldn't he make everyone fall into it completely, unable to extricate themselves?
Man Yin's mind was completely occupied by the lyrics. Her heart was filled with emotion. The line "Do not mock the affairs of love and romance" touched her deeply.
"Though humble in position, I dare not forget my duty to the country; even if no one knows me!" Li Qiufeng murmured this line, her eyes shining with brilliant starlight as she gazed at Ji Mo. Through his song, he expressed his feelings. Young Master Ji, despite his humble origins, was still concerned for the country and its people. Such a noble spirit was as vast as the mountains and rivers. The young masters she usually saw were all pleasure-seeking and mediocre individuals, not even a fraction of Ji Mo. At this moment, she stared blankly at Ji Mo, her heart in turmoil.