Father stood in a hurry, facing the emperor and Qing fei who sat at the principal seat while saying that he did not dare.1
Qing fei merely smiled charmingly, interrupting Father’s niceties: “Prime Minister Murong, you need not be overly modest. All I have to ask today is whether or not you’ll let me witness the talents of your treasured daughters.”
Given that her words had already reached this point, it had become too difficult to shirk away. Furthermore, she held the honor of gui fei and had even played a song to add to the liveliness, what excuse would a daughter of the Murong Family have to decline?
I looked at the Son of Heaven sitting at the top of the jade steps. A thin smile swept across his face. He made no noises of support, but neither did he make a move to oppose.
I sighed inwardly. The arrow was already on the string, so there was no choice but for it to fly.2
Eyes lowered, my line of sight met with Nan Cheng Yao’s lackadaisical smile. I couldn’t help but become vexed, breathing a soft sigh: “Your Highness must be quite happy right now.”
As I spoke, I gently reached out and nudged him. Yan’er was with child so it would not be good to have her come out and perform. Right now, nearly all eyes in the entirety of the grand hall were on my person. The only path was to forge ahead and pray for the best in avoiding loss of propriety.
“What do I have to be happy about? With your temperament, you utilizing just seventy-percent of your skills is already quite considerable.” He smiled lazily and straightened up: “However, to be able to watch your perform under the eyes of everyone here and avoid losing face for Murong Family whilst also restraining yourself–so as to avoid stealing Qing fei‘s thunder–that in itself is quite interesting.”
I sent him a vexed glare and his black eyes seemed to darken. However, I wasn’t in the mood to decipher them as I readied myself to stand up and partake.
But, I instead heard a clear and elegant voice come forth in the hall: “Since Niang-niang instructs as such, Yan’er will make a crude performance.”3
While I was in a slight stupor, Yan’er had already walked slowly to the center of the hall, her deportment graceful and beautiful in all aspects.
Evidently, Qing Gui fei did not expect that she would do this. After a start, her reaction came quickly. With her coquettish voice, she smiled: “What sort of instrument does Crown Princess wish to play?”4
Yan’er smiled faintly: “Flute.”
At once, a palace maid brought over a new jade flute. Yan’er received it, and without saying much else and without obtaining any further comments, gently pressed it to her lips and began playing a song.
Inside the hall was void of any other noises. What she was playing just so happened to be the song that Qing fei niang-niang had just played, with not even a hair of a difference. But while Qing fei‘s melodies were gentle and charming, Yan’er’s was clear and elegant.
I saw Mother’s expression shift imperceptibly before swiftly recovering its usual calm.
At the end of the song, the entire room once more filled with applause. Qing fei niang-niang laughed coquettishly and spoke: “The reputation of Murong Family’s daughters are indeed justified, ah.”
Yan’er passed the jade flute to the palace maid at the side, smiling faintly: “I don’t dare accept Niang-niang‘s praise. Yan’er is merely one that enjoys foolishness,5 but as chance would have it, loves this song as well and trained with much difficulty to get to this point.”
Qing fei continued to smile: “As one that also enjoys foolishness, then Crown Princess must also have heard the legend of the three songs that attracts phoenixes and moves others. On such a lovely, festive night, the other daughter of the Murong Family also happens to be present. Why don’t we ask Third Wang fei come out and play a song so this legend can be fulfilled?”
I sighed softly. In the end, she still refused to make things easy for me.
Before I could answer, Yan’er’s voice had already sounded, still carrying with it a gentle smile: “Niang-niang agrees that this is a mere legend, so why be so dedicated to the cause?”
Qing fei smiled coquettishly: “I’m merely seeking some splendor. Third Wang fei won’t deny me the honors, right? That said, with the Son of Heaven here, who knows, we may actually be able to attract a phoenix. Don’t you think so, Your Majesty?”
The emperor looked at Qing fei and laughed aloud: “What Beloved Consort says is very true.”
Now that the Son of Heaven had spoken, how could I dare refuse to obey? I couldn’t help but feel that Qing fei niang-niang had levied the higher-up, intentionally bringing forth the emperor. In this situation, in the eyes of everyone else, regardless of how excessively she behaved, it was all just to help the emperor cut down Murong Family’s might. No one would ever suspect an ulterior motive.
So I accepted my fate and rose, my deportment composed as I walked to the center of the hall and spoke up amiably: “Since His Majesty and Niang-niang both command as such, Qing’er will play a song to add to the liveliness. However, Qing’er does not understand the workings of playing the flute, is it possible to play zheng6 as a replacement?”
Qing Gui fei‘s lips curled into gentle laughter as she said: “This makes things rather difficult for me. The musical instruments in the palace are plentiful, but there just happens to be no such zheng. If we ordered someone to go search for one on the streets and in wine parlors, the fear is that it will not arrive in time. Fortunately, zheng and yao qin7 are fairly similar, one just happens to be a bit more grandiose while the other cannot be brought into this magnificent hall. If Wang fei is willing to put up with this, I’ll order someone to bring over a good jin-tao gu qin.”8
Before I had a chance to say something, Yan’er had already spoken up mildly: “This song, by nature, is incredibly difficult to learn, let alone perform on yao qin. It’s unlikely anyone in the world would be able to accomplish that. Naturally, Niang-niang is very clear on this as well. Why not give up on the yao qin and fetch the flute. Why continue to make things difficult for us…”
“Yan’er, Niang-niang is merely joking.” A gentle voice interrupted Yan’er’s words. I saw Nan Cheng Yao stand and move to the enter of the hall, protectively moving Yan’er behind him. Then, he paid obeisance to Qing Gui fei and said: “Er-chen‘s9 consort is thoughtless. Imperial Father, Niang-niang, please take no offense.”
The emperor continued to smile, mildly waving a hand: “No such matter, frank and outspoken maidens are adorable.”
Qing fei‘s emotions were hidden so well that not even a single drop of water could leak.10 She said with charm: “Ben-gong has always hoped for a mei-mei that would protect me like this.”
Nan Cheng Mian thanked his father genially, then took Yan’er back to their seats. Yan’er’s expression shifted slightly, but she ultimately spoke no further and quietly followed the crown prince back to sit down.
In the emptiness at the center of the great hall, all that remained was myself as I looked up the jade steps at the smiling Qing Gui fei.
Her voice sounded once again with gentle, charming laughter: “Since the crown princess misunderstood that I was troubling Third wang fei, then I can only drop the matter. And since Third wang fei is well-versed in the zheng, someone, hurry and go to the closest wine parlor11 and fetch one.”
I smiled faintly. She actually likened my to a streetside dancer. Even if I didn’t care, the Murong Clan could not be insulted.
So I drooped my lashes and said amiably: “How could Qing’er dare mobilize the masses to make everyone happy? Niang-niang, please lend a yao qin, Qing’er is willing to give it a try.”
Though I was not completely unconfident, I was ultimately still a little nervous.
My abilities in qin zheng (秦筝) were learned from Su Xiu Mian. Under the moonlight and amongst the mountains and rivers, each note like moving clouds and flowing water. This, I played well. This, was what I knew.
After returning to the xiang fu, Mother found someone to teach me the techniques of playing yao qin. Though I learned it, I always felt that the yao qin could not compare to the unshackled freeness of the zheng, so I did not expend much energy on practicing.
But now, I had to use this yao qin to play a song I was not familiar with. Calmness and serenity existed only on my exterior.
It took no less than a moment for the jin-tao gu qin to get brought to the center of the grand hall. I silently recited those notes that Qing Gui fei and Yan’er played just now and slowly sat down.
Just as I was about to play, Nan Cheng Yao’s voice suddenly rang, carrying with it mild laughter: “Imperial Father, if my wang fei‘s playing is acceptable to Your Sacredness, then I’ll be taking this ‘jing-tao‘ back to the fu.”
I looked sideways at him. Though he was smiling and speaking to the emperor, his eyes were on Qing Gui fei, sending an implicit warning.
The Sacred One smiled and agreed while repeatedly shaking his head. On the one hand, it was due to this headache-inducing son who behaved like a wild card. On the other hand, there was a sense of helplessness stemming from his love and favor.
Qing Gui fei spoke no more, lowering her head slightly as she quietly sat anew next to the emperor.
As for Nan Cheng Yao, he seemed to perceive my gaze, so he looked over at me and smiled lackadaisically: “I’ve had my eye on this ‘jing-tao‘ for a long time and finally have a chance. Wang fei, don’t let me down.”
I raised my fingers, placing them on the strings. Naturally, my thoughts of deliberately seeking victory did not emerge as a consequence of his words. But at this point, I no longer dared harbor any thoughts of hiding my abilities. All I prayed for was to play the song to completion; even better if I made no mistakes and avoided losing the dignity of the Murong Clan.”
One by one, notes rang between my fingers. At the very beginning, there was a slight, unavoidable roughness, but at last, it became akin to tranquil spring waters, slowly becoming fluid.
I could not pay any heed to the expressions of everyone in the hall; I couldn’t even spare the time to differentiate between the notes I was playing. I could only follow my instincts and let the strings take flight between my fingertips.
At the very last strum, my finger pulled back slightly. A drop of fresh blood slid along my fingertip and slowly fell to the surface of the qin.
Next to my ear came an incredulous cry of shock from Mother, which brought me back to my senses. The entirety of the great hall was a sea of silence; not a single voice could be heard.
It made me feel as if that cry of shock from just now was merely a hallucination.
I did not know how much time had passed. All four corners were so quiet that it was almost bizarre. I turned back and looked at Mother, but her expression was blank and she did not react to me at all.
Then, I subconsciously turned to the side and sought out Nan Cheng Yao. He was looking at me impassively, his eyes dark and so deep that there was no end in sight.
I was at a bit of a loss, but at this moment, a lone applause emerged from ahead of me and to the right, breaking the stillness that flooded the room.
I lifted my gaze and looked over. On the crown prince’s face was a thread of a genial smile. He stood up and looked at me with eyes of praise, applauding gently.
As if roused by the sounds of his applause, the entire great hall instantly grew into a thunderous applause that did not stop for a long time.
Father stood in a hurry, facing the emperor and Qing fei who sat at the principal seat while saying that he did not dare.1
Qing fei merely smiled charmingly, interrupting Father’s niceties: “Prime Minister Murong, you need not be overly modest. All I have to ask today is whether or not you’ll let me witness the talents of your treasured daughters.”
Given that her words had already reached this point, it had become too difficult to shirk away. Furthermore, she held the honor of gui fei and had even played a song to add to the liveliness, what excuse would a daughter of the Murong Family have to decline?
I looked at the Son of Heaven sitting at the top of the jade steps. A thin smile swept across his face. He made no noises of support, but neither did he make a move to oppose.
I sighed inwardly. The arrow was already on the string, so there was no choice but for it to fly.2
Eyes lowered, my line of sight met with Nan Cheng Yao’s lackadaisical smile. I couldn’t help but become vexed, breathing a soft sigh: “Your Highness must be quite happy right now.”
As I spoke, I gently reached out and nudged him. Yan’er was with child so it would not be good to have her come out and perform. Right now, nearly all eyes in the entirety of the grand hall were on my person. The only path was to forge ahead and pray for the best in avoiding loss of propriety.
“What do I have to be happy about? With your temperament, you utilizing just seventy-percent of your skills is already quite considerable.” He smiled lazily and straightened up: “However, to be able to watch your perform under the eyes of everyone here and avoid losing face for Murong Family whilst also restraining yourself–so as to avoid stealing Qing fei‘s thunder–that in itself is quite interesting.”
I sent him a vexed glare and his black eyes seemed to darken. However, I wasn’t in the mood to decipher them as I readied myself to stand up and partake.
But, I instead heard a clear and elegant voice come forth in the hall: “Since Niang-niang instructs as such, Yan’er will make a crude performance.”3
While I was in a slight stupor, Yan’er had already walked slowly to the center of the hall, her deportment graceful and beautiful in all aspects.
Evidently, Qing Gui fei did not expect that she would do this. After a start, her reaction came quickly. With her coquettish voice, she smiled: “What sort of instrument does Crown Princess wish to play?”4
Yan’er smiled faintly: “Flute.”
At once, a palace maid brought over a new jade flute. Yan’er received it, and without saying much else and without obtaining any further comments, gently pressed it to her lips and began playing a song.
Inside the hall was void of any other noises. What she was playing just so happened to be the song that Qing fei niang-niang had just played, with not even a hair of a difference. But while Qing fei‘s melodies were gentle and charming, Yan’er’s was clear and elegant.
I saw Mother’s expression shift imperceptibly before swiftly recovering its usual calm.
At the end of the song, the entire room once more filled with applause. Qing fei niang-niang laughed coquettishly and spoke: “The reputation of Murong Family’s daughters are indeed justified, ah.”
Yan’er passed the jade flute to the palace maid at the side, smiling faintly: “I don’t dare accept Niang-niang‘s praise. Yan’er is merely one that enjoys foolishness,5 but as chance would have it, loves this song as well and trained with much difficulty to get to this point.”
Qing fei continued to smile: “As one that also enjoys foolishness, then Crown Princess must also have heard the legend of the three songs that attracts phoenixes and moves others. On such a lovely, festive night, the other daughter of the Murong Family also happens to be present. Why don’t we ask Third Wang fei come out and play a song so this legend can be fulfilled?”
I sighed softly. In the end, she still refused to make things easy for me.
Before I could answer, Yan’er’s voice had already sounded, still carrying with it a gentle smile: “Niang-niang agrees that this is a mere legend, so why be so dedicated to the cause?”
Qing fei smiled coquettishly: “I’m merely seeking some splendor. Third Wang fei won’t deny me the honors, right? That said, with the Son of Heaven here, who knows, we may actually be able to attract a phoenix. Don’t you think so, Your Majesty?”
The emperor looked at Qing fei and laughed aloud: “What Beloved Consort says is very true.”
Now that the Son of Heaven had spoken, how could I dare refuse to obey? I couldn’t help but feel that Qing fei niang-niang had levied the higher-up, intentionally bringing forth the emperor. In this situation, in the eyes of everyone else, regardless of how excessively she behaved, it was all just to help the emperor cut down Murong Family’s might. No one would ever suspect an ulterior motive.
So I accepted my fate and rose, my deportment composed as I walked to the center of the hall and spoke up amiably: “Since His Majesty and Niang-niang both command as such, Qing’er will play a song to add to the liveliness. However, Qing’er does not understand the workings of playing the flute, is it possible to play zheng6 as a replacement?”
Qing Gui fei‘s lips curled into gentle laughter as she said: “This makes things rather difficult for me. The musical instruments in the palace are plentiful, but there just happens to be no such zheng. If we ordered someone to go search for one on the streets and in wine parlors, the fear is that it will not arrive in time. Fortunately, zheng and yao qin7 are fairly similar, one just happens to be a bit more grandiose while the other cannot be brought into this magnificent hall. If Wang fei is willing to put up with this, I’ll order someone to bring over a good jin-tao gu qin.”8
Before I had a chance to say something, Yan’er had already spoken up mildly: “This song, by nature, is incredibly difficult to learn, let alone perform on yao qin. It’s unlikely anyone in the world would be able to accomplish that. Naturally, Niang-niang is very clear on this as well. Why not give up on the yao qin and fetch the flute. Why continue to make things difficult for us…”
“Yan’er, Niang-niang is merely joking.” A gentle voice interrupted Yan’er’s words. I saw Nan Cheng Yao stand and move to the enter of the hall, protectively moving Yan’er behind him. Then, he paid obeisance to Qing Gui fei and said: “Er-chen‘s9 consort is thoughtless. Imperial Father, Niang-niang, please take no offense.”
The emperor continued to smile, mildly waving a hand: “No such matter, frank and outspoken maidens are adorable.”
Qing fei‘s emotions were hidden so well that not even a single drop of water could leak.10 She said with charm: “Ben-gong has always hoped for a mei-mei that would protect me like this.”
Nan Cheng Mian thanked his father genially, then took Yan’er back to their seats. Yan’er’s expression shifted slightly, but she ultimately spoke no further and quietly followed the crown prince back to sit down.
In the emptiness at the center of the great hall, all that remained was myself as I looked up the jade steps at the smiling Qing Gui fei.
Her voice sounded once again with gentle, charming laughter: “Since the crown princess misunderstood that I was troubling Third wang fei, then I can only drop the matter. And since Third wang fei is well-versed in the zheng, someone, hurry and go to the closest wine parlor11 and fetch one.”
I smiled faintly. She actually likened my to a streetside dancer. Even if I didn’t care, the Murong Clan could not be insulted.
So I drooped my lashes and said amiably: “How could Qing’er dare mobilize the masses to make everyone happy? Niang-niang, please lend a yao qin, Qing’er is willing to give it a try.”
Though I was not completely unconfident, I was ultimately still a little nervous.
My abilities in qin zheng (秦筝) were learned from Su Xiu Mian. Under the moonlight and amongst the mountains and rivers, each note like moving clouds and flowing water. This, I played well. This, was what I knew.
After returning to the xiang fu, Mother found someone to teach me the techniques of playing yao qin. Though I learned it, I always felt that the yao qin could not compare to the unshackled freeness of the zheng, so I did not expend much energy on practicing.
But now, I had to use this yao qin to play a song I was not familiar with. Calmness and serenity existed only on my exterior.
It took no less than a moment for the jin-tao gu qin to get brought to the center of the grand hall. I silently recited those notes that Qing Gui fei and Yan’er played just now and slowly sat down.
Just as I was about to play, Nan Cheng Yao’s voice suddenly rang, carrying with it mild laughter: “Imperial Father, if my wang fei‘s playing is acceptable to Your Sacredness, then I’ll be taking this ‘jing-tao‘ back to the fu.”
I looked sideways at him. Though he was smiling and speaking to the emperor, his eyes were on Qing Gui fei, sending an implicit warning.
The Sacred One smiled and agreed while repeatedly shaking his head. On the one hand, it was due to this headache-inducing son who behaved like a wild card. On the other hand, there was a sense of helplessness stemming from his love and favor.
Qing Gui fei spoke no more, lowering her head slightly as she quietly sat anew next to the emperor.
As for Nan Cheng Yao, he seemed to perceive my gaze, so he looked over at me and smiled lackadaisically: “I’ve had my eye on this ‘jing-tao‘ for a long time and finally have a chance. Wang fei, don’t let me down.”
I raised my fingers, placing them on the strings. Naturally, my thoughts of deliberately seeking victory did not emerge as a consequence of his words. But at this point, I no longer dared harbor any thoughts of hiding my abilities. All I prayed for was to play the song to completion; even better if I made no mistakes and avoided losing the dignity of the Murong Clan.”
One by one, notes rang between my fingers. At the very beginning, there was a slight, unavoidable roughness, but at last, it became akin to tranquil spring waters, slowly becoming fluid.
I could not pay any heed to the expressions of everyone in the hall; I couldn’t even spare the time to differentiate between the notes I was playing. I could only follow my instincts and let the strings take flight between my fingertips.
At the very last strum, my finger pulled back slightly. A drop of fresh blood slid along my fingertip and slowly fell to the surface of the qin.
Next to my ear came an incredulous cry of shock from Mother, which brought me back to my senses. The entirety of the great hall was a sea of silence; not a single voice could be heard.
It made me feel as if that cry of shock from just now was merely a hallucination.
I did not know how much time had passed. All four corners were so quiet that it was almost bizarre. I turned back and looked at Mother, but her expression was blank and she did not react to me at all.
Then, I subconsciously turned to the side and sought out Nan Cheng Yao. He was looking at me impassively, his eyes dark and so deep that there was no end in sight.
I was at a bit of a loss, but at this moment, a lone applause emerged from ahead of me and to the right, breaking the stillness that flooded the room.
I lifted my gaze and looked over. On the crown prince’s face was a thread of a genial smile. He stood up and looked at me with eyes of praise, applauding gently.
As if roused by the sounds of his applause, the entire great hall instantly grew into a thunderous applause that did not stop for a long time.
