The melodious sound of the zither carried a profound weight, and the surrounding silence was enveloped in its humming.
Ke Luozhiheng really can't play the zither! Although she learned the guqin when she was still a young lady from a wealthy family, the piano already existed at that time, and her teacher who had returned from the West had taught her many piano pieces. She can only play a handful of guqin pieces, and even those are not all of them.
Throughout the competition, Luo Zhiheng remained calm, often confidently stating that she would be number one, even though she herself wasn't entirely sure. She could only give it her all. But at this moment, when her "giving it her all" transformed into a strange sense of responsibility, she didn't want to lose. Nor could she afford to lose.
Should she give it her all and not let down the guqin that inexplicably moved her? But that would inevitably make Luo Ningshuang and her people wary of her, making her path ahead extremely difficult. Or should she continue to play dumb, pretending to be an idiot to the very end and then rise to prominence unexpectedly? But that would mean she was destined to let down the guqin.
After thinking for a long time, she seemed to suddenly become connected with the guqin, both of them becoming still objects.
In the past, she didn't believe in ghosts and gods, so she acted lawlessly and boastfully. But now she herself is a lonely soul, possessing the body of the ancient Luo Zhiheng. Do ghosts and gods really not exist? Perhaps there really is a lonely spirit hidden within this zither?
It was a strange feeling; she was actually hesitant because of this zither. But when she touched it, she couldn't help but think of Mu Yunhe. She felt that this zither, which should have been radiant, was dull and lifeless because of a dead heart, just like Mu Yunhe, who should have lived in the sunlight, carefree and unrestrained, but was lying on the bed like a living dead because of a dead heart.
An indescribable pain filled her heart, a suffocating ache that made her increasingly unwilling to harm the zither because of her own foolishness. If only this zither could be given to Mu Yunhe! They were so alike, it made her want to awaken the zither as if she were helping Mu Yunhe.
The chief judge truly didn't want Luo Zhiheng to ruin this zither. Wouldn't it be wonderful if Luo Ningshuang had chosen it? She was certain Luo Ningshuang would have chosen it the moment she saw it. But unfortunately, Luo Ningshuang was ranked after Luo Zhiheng today, thus missing out on the zither. However, they couldn't let Luo Zhiheng ruin such a timeless masterpiece!
Those who love the zither absolutely cannot tolerate anyone treating it like that.
"Luo Zhiheng, the competition has decided to give you another chance. You can choose a different instrument to play; this one isn't suitable for you," the chief judge said in a relatively calm voice. Everyone else understood that the chief judge was actually trying to save the instrument; in Luo Zhiheng's hands, it was doomed.
The Minister's daughter's face lit up with joy. If only she could get the instrument back! That zither was clearly a masterpiece; if she could play it, it would definitely earn her many points. In Luo Zhiheng's hands, it was simply a waste of a treasure.
With a kind and gentle smile, the daughter of the Minister said, "Miss Luo, you can exchange with me. I will give you this fine zither that I have here, would that be alright?"
Luo Zhiheng snapped out of her reverie, raised her eyelids to look at the Minister's daughter, gently stroking the zither with her hand. Her words were sharp yet mischievous, as if she were just a cheerful child who spoke her mind, laughing as she said, "Does the Minister's daughter think Zhiheng is a fool? This zither of mine is wonderful, isn't it? Listen to how beautiful the sound is! You want to use my playing, don't you? And then beat me, don't you? How could you be so wicked?"
Even if it's the truth, she shouldn't have said it!
The Minister's daughter's face instantly changed colors, turning bright red as she didn't know how to defend herself. There were still a group of people watching, and it was too embarrassing to be ridiculed by Luo Zhiheng like this.
"Miss Luo, please don't judge others by your own petty standards. I only chose the worst zither because I felt sorry for you. If you are rejected, don't blame others for not giving you a chance!" the Minister's daughter said sarcastically.
Luo Zhiheng's large eyes gazed at the Minister's daughter from afar, her quiet gaze sharp and domineering, making the Minister's daughter feel an urge to lower her head and avoid eye contact. However, Luo Zhiheng made a decision after just one glance: even if the road ahead became increasingly difficult, even if the competition was guarded against, it didn't matter.
Many things happen only once in a lifetime. Since she felt so moved, she decided not to waste the instrument and give it a little performance. Regardless of the outcome, she wanted to have a clear conscience.
"Should you go first or should I perform first?" Luo Zhiheng asked in a nonchalant tone.
The daughter of the Minister glanced longingly at Luo Zhiheng's zither, but could only reluctantly begin to play. She ultimately believed that Luo Zhiheng knew nothing and would never be able to beat her.
The daughter of the Minister played a rather gentle and pleasant piece. Although she was completely focused, when she played a particularly enjoyable part, the crowd would cheer, which made her even more smug. She wanted to see Luo Zhiheng's ugly expression, so she looked up, and then felt a blinding light shine from the other side. She instinctively closed her eyes in tension, her hand paused, and she played the wrong string, producing a chaotic sound.
A piece of music that was originally absolutely perfect inevitably developed flaws.
Disappointment was evident on everyone's faces, even the judges shook their heads in regret. But everyone knew that even so, the daughter of a high-ranking official could still surpass Luo Zhiheng, because Luo Zhiheng probably couldn't even play a complete piece of music.
The Minister's daughter knew that Luo Zhiheng was behind it all. She was resentful and furious, secretly hating herself for being tricked by this despicable person. While trying her best to salvage the performance, she couldn't help but look up, wanting to glare at Luo Zhiheng as a warning.
However, just as she cautiously lifted her eyelids, although the blinding light was gone this time, she noticed Luo Zhiheng's hand gracefully brushing against her temple. Then, a sharp blade appeared between her fingers. The Minister's daughter was utterly shocked. She saw Luo Zhiheng press her fingers on the strings of the zither, and the strings suddenly pulled back, making the sharp blade seem like a fully drawn bow, ready to be released. If Luo Zhiheng let go, the blade would fly towards her!
The Minister's daughter's expression changed drastically! She couldn't even continue playing the piece; her hands had already left the strings, and she fell backward in shock, looking both ridiculous and abrupt.
Luo Zhiheng smiled, her fingers already withdrawn, the razor blade subtly slipped into her mouth as she stroked her veil. Even if the Minister's daughter accused her of threatening her with a dangerous object, no one would dare convict her if no such object could be found.
She admitted she was despicable, but she would do many things to survive. She wouldn't steal someone else's love, wouldn't do anything against morality or principles, and wouldn't kill without cause. But this competition was no longer just a competition for her. It was also a contest between her and Luo Ningshuang, an opportunity for her and Mu Yunhe to stand before the world, a turning point where she, Luo Zhiheng, was no longer that infatuated fool!
For her, the competition was a chance to change her fate and survive! As for those young ladies from prominent families who came to gain prestige, they wouldn't die without the competition; in fact, they could even find a good match by participating.
Thinking this way, Luo Zhiheng suppressed the guilt in her heart. After all, these people didn't like her and even hated her; she didn't need to be a saint and love every enemy.
The sudden fall of the Minister's daughter caused an uproar. Gasps of surprise filled the air, and then everyone turned their angry gazes toward Luo Zhiheng. Without a doubt, Luo Zhiheng must have done something wrong again; otherwise, how could the Minister's daughter have fallen down so easily?
"What's going on?" The chief judge suddenly stood up and shouted angrily. This competition should have been held smoothly and come to a successful conclusion, but because of Luo Zhiheng's appearance, the competition was full of crises and variables, which was simply intolerable.
"You...you actually tried to assassinate me!" The Minister's daughter, who had just gotten up, hid behind the zither table in terror and roared sharply.
Upon hearing this, everyone's faces showed surprise. The accusations and insults against Luo Zhiheng were unrestrained and uncompromising.
"Get out of here! Stop harming people! You jinx! You've harmed your own sister, the prince who should have been your brother-in-law, yesterday you harmed the prefect's daughter, and today you're harming the minister's daughter. You're a jinx, bringing harm wherever you go!" Someone angrily accused Luo Zhiheng, their voice clear, instantly leading a wave of insults against Luo Zhiheng among the crowd.
Luo Zhiheng heard it clearly. She only glanced at the man standing near the front of the arena, but that glance revealed an undeniable sharpness!
What a shill! I just don't know if this is Luo Ningshuang's shill or the Li family's shill? But it doesn't matter, there are quite a few people who are looking forward to Luo Zhiheng's death and humiliation, this isn't the only one, it's just this time.
"What on earth is going on! What have you done now, Luo Zhiheng?" the chief judge demanded angrily. Was this still the First Talent Competition? Because of Luo Zhiheng, this competition had become the most chaotic and controversial event in its history. This was practically a criticism session for Luo Zhiheng!
People were furious to see Luo Zhiheng sitting there calmly amidst all the insults and accusations. Did this woman truly possess such magnanimity and courage, or was she simply too foolish, utterly devoid of fear and shame?
Luo Zhiheng simply sat there, slightly raising her head, her voice just loud enough for those around her to hear: "I didn't do anything. I've just been sitting here obediently, enjoying the performance of the Minister's daughter. What? Is it wrong for me to be obedient?"
The surrounding crowd was stunned for a moment, then erupted into a deafening uproar of insults and curses! They accused Luo Zhiheng of being shameless and of the competition being extremely unfair, arguing that after two such incidents, she hadn't been disqualified. People were truly enraged. If Luo Zhiheng could demonstrate any real talent, they might have been more forgiving, but what could she offer? Only a silver tongue and a roguish, idiotic personality—how could that possibly convince anyone?
The chief judge and those in charge of maintaining order brought the scene under control, quieting the atmosphere. The chief judge asked, "Why did the Minister's daughter accuse you of assassinating her when you did nothing wrong?"
Luo Zhiheng was confident. The young lady of the Minister, who was closest to her, could see her movements clearly, while the judges were too far away to see them. As for the spectators around her, they were all focused on listening to the young lady of the Minister's performance, so who would have noticed her little movements?
"Why are you all so prejudiced against me? I've been sitting here obediently, doing nothing, so why are you accusing me? Why don't you think that maybe she suddenly forgot how to play and was afraid of losing face, so she acted like this to try and gain your sympathy and get rid of me in one fell swoop? Wouldn't that mean she won the competition? Why can't you understand such a simple logic?" Luo Zhiheng suddenly stood up and loudly and aggrievedly analyzed.
What she said... actually makes some sense! 15461810
The already quiet scene grew even quieter, and the judges' expressions grew increasingly grim. While their reasoning was sound, why did this little fox exude such smugness? Wasn't Luo Zhiheng just lacking a tail? Otherwise, wouldn't she be wagging her tail right now?
Luo Zhiheng touched her forehead with her gleaming golden hand, concealing the amusement and malice that filled her eyes. She sighed inwardly, "So being a bad woman isn't easy after all." In the dramas she'd read before, the kind-hearted heroine was always framed by the vicious female supporting characters, then the righteous masses and the male lead would come to her rescue and seek justice, and the female supporting characters would die tragically...
Luo Zhiheng was both amused and exasperated. She'd actually become a universally hated, despised, and ostracized villainous supporting character. Wouldn't a man suddenly appear and rescue the vulnerable female lead, whom she was constantly framing? Being a villain was tough; she had to be prepared to get beaten up at any moment.
"You... stop accusing me! I'm so upset. My own sister is siding with Li Xian'er. When Li Xian'er's family came to cause trouble for me, you kept cursing at me. Did I owe you money or did I jump into a well with your child? Can't you have a little decency? Aren't you afraid of having a son who's born without an anus...?" Luo Zhiheng continued viciously, pushing the image of a hateful idiot to the extreme.
So the insults increased, but they were still afraid of not being able to have sex if they had a son, so they didn't dare to go too far with their insults.
Luo Zhiheng said this because she had had enough of the endless shouts and curses. As she said, she didn't owe these people anything, so why should she be subjected to their endless insults and curses? Yes, curses! Someone even cursed her to be a widow! Although she didn't hear where the curses came from, Luo Zhiheng found them unbearable.
Damn it! My little Hehe will definitely live to be a hundred years old, you're the one living like a widow!
Suppressing her anger, Luo Zhiheng said, "My competition will continue. Although she wronged me and tried to suppress me, her company knows that she is only doing this because she is not confident that she can beat me. I will forgive her."
The judges' mouths twitched violently, feeling as if they were about to throw up everything they had eaten the night before. They waved their hands helplessly and agreed with Luo Zhiheng's words.
They had no evidence, and Luo Zhiheng had taken advantage of the situation. They suddenly realized that Luo Zhiheng was managing to deceive them time and time again. Was it just a coincidence, or was she just incredibly lucky?
This group hasn't yet come up with a single phrase: "playing dumb to fool the enemy!" Luo Zhiheng is currently playing the role of that tiger—the one the other despises and thinks is their meal. The road ahead is fraught with difficulties, but the light at the end of the tunnel is just around the corner.
Luo Zhiheng calmly poured a bucket of cold water and placed it on the zither table. Then she sat down, wet a handkerchief, and began to carefully wipe the zither. This action surprised the judges, and their gazes toward her became even more intense.
She gradually polished the zither until it shone, but that was all. Unexpectedly, she suddenly soaked a handkerchief in water and poured it on the strings, and the zither became wet in no time.
The sunlight was perfect at that moment, and clean water poured onto the white strings of the zither, which shimmered brilliantly against the dark body of the instrument. Perhaps because of Luo Zhiheng's silence and lack of further argument, everyone quieted down, and all eyes once again focused on Luo Zhiheng and the zither.
Luo Ningshuang and Li Xian'er watched Luo Zhiheng being attacked from their resting place, both of them laughing with their own thoughts. In their eyes, Luo Zhiheng's actions were pretentious and hypocritical, because they knew very well that Luo Zhiheng was incompetent. She was just stalling for time, but she would embarrass herself sooner or later.
"Your older sister is really too arrogant and ignorant," Li Xian'er arrogantly commented.
Luo Ningshuang's smile deepened beneath her veil, but she hesitated before saying, "My sister is just a little nervous."
Li Xian'er gave a noncommittal sneer. Luo Ningshuang was also full of anticipation, hoping that Luo Zhiheng would make a fool of herself soon. However, why did Luo Zhiheng's zither look so familiar?
"This Luo Zhiheng is too reckless! She'll ruin the Dragon and Phoenix Qin! I'll go and snatch it back!" One of the judges couldn't hold back any longer and suddenly stood up and said.
"Sit down! Luo Zhiheng may not understand the rules of the competition, but don't you? Since the master brought out the Dragon and Phoenix Qin, he must have already considered that it might be damaged. Although it is a pity that this treasure has fallen into Luo Zhiheng's hands, we cannot break the rules of the competition," the chief judge said sternly.
"Then we must get rid of Luo Zhiheng after this competition! She can't stay here any longer. You should know that the next competition is the main event! It will determine the outcome of our confrontation with other countries in the Mu Dynasty." The judges unanimously agreed with this statement, and the head judge also nodded.
Therefore, regardless of how well Luo Zhiheng performed in this round, she was destined to leave the competition. Of course, they were certain that Luo Zhiheng would lose this round without a doubt.
After the zither was almost completely submerged in water, Luo Zhiheng pressed her hands on the strings, completely submerging them in the water. Then, to everyone's astonishment, her ten fingers plucked the strings rapidly, and an even more melodious and captivating melody flowed out quickly.
This was a piece of music of unknown style and genre, sounding chaotic, but upon closer listening, it subtly evoked a sense of grandeur and desolation, like the clash of swords and the thunder of war. Her fingers plucked the strings at a speed never before seen or tried by the people; it was less a vibration and more a vibrating strumming, rising and falling with remarkable elasticity as they danced lightly, gracefully, and playfully on the skeletal strings.
In the sunlight, water droplets splashed from her fingers. With each press of the strings and each pluck, countless droplets of water cleaved from the strings and shot out, making the violin seem to come alive, like spring water striking glass, a melodious tinkling sound. Suddenly, it was like a massive ocean wave crashing against rocks, heavy and powerful, stirring the heart.
However, her unique playing style and the magnificent yet chaotic melodies truly made people look at Luo Zhiheng in a new light! But the magnificence was yet to come!
When people saw those colorful things gradually emerge from the hazy to the clear, from nothingness to existence between Luo Zhiheng's fingers and the strings, the entire audience fell silent. Everyone held their breath at this magical scene, rubbing their eyes vigorously. Disbelief, shock, bewilderment, and even astonishment and fear appeared on everyone's faces and in their eyes, crashing against the deep-seated awe of the divine in their hearts!
Red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, purple...
Colors gradually appeared, and her fair fingers swiftly passed through those magical colors. In the sunlight, the mist increased, and her hands became almost transparently pale, leaving only the gemstone rings on her fingers, equally colorful in the sunlight, shining brightly, reflecting the rainbow light that appeared out of nowhere. This scene was nothing short of mythical!
"What...what is that?!"
Many people gasped in surprise at these words, even Luo Ningshuang was stunned for a moment, and Li Xian'er stood up abruptly, her face not showing jealousy, but rather a dazed infatuation: "So beautiful, what is that?"
Then the magical thing appeared more and more, and grew bigger and bigger. It slowly emerged from head to tail on the guqin, which was about 1.2 to 1.3 meters long, just like the tail of a phoenix, gradually covering the entire body of the instrument!
Luo Zhiheng, however, seemed to have merged into a realm of solitude. The unknown melody in her hand, which could hardly be called a piece, was no longer important. Even she herself had become a mere backdrop. People's senses were shocked and overwhelmed to the limit by the magnificent scene that was gradually unfolding.
Luo Zhiheng's eyes grew brighter and brighter, her fingers moved faster and faster, pressing, plucking, hooking, releasing, water splashing everywhere!
Her movements gradually became afterimages, and the colors became more and more vibrant and intense. Finally, someone recognized it, and someone was willing to admit what this magical scene was!
"That's... a rainbow!!"
Upon hearing this, the people were shocked and exclaimed, but out of awe for the heavens, they swallowed their exclamations. However, they could no longer hide the amazement and shock on their faces and in their hearts!
In ancient times, rainbows were called "heavenly rainbows." They believed that the heavenly rainbow was an auspicious and still object created by the heavens, a gift from the Creator! It represented peace, tranquility, serenity, and beauty!
However, this celestial spectacle only appears occasionally after the rain has stopped and the sun has come out. It is a gift from heaven and cannot be created by human hands!
But at this moment, a strange sight, exactly like a rainbow after the rain but much smaller, appeared on Luo Zhiheng's zither table!
Was the zither too wondrous, or was Luo Zhiheng an extraordinary person? How could she conjure up a rainbow?!
There were no more insults, because at this moment, in the midst of this awe-inspiring spectacle, their blasphemous thoughts became insignificant and humble.
No matter what happens next, at this moment, Luo Zhiheng used her own abilities and wisdom to wipe out all the vicious insults!
Luo Zhiheng used to love rainbows, but later her foreign teacher came back and told her the principle behind the appearance of rainbows. For her foreign teacher, who believed in God, rainbows were the covenant between God and the world and man!
There must be a reason for every wonder of the world, and Luo Zhiheng was willing to believe that the rainbow originally came from the hands of God. Her foreign teacher had also told her that water vapor could also create a rainbow. 122.
Today, she knew she had no choice but to keep this group in check. Her current performance was too risky, and she really didn't know any legendary songs, so she had to find another way.
If she can create a powerful visual impact and shock the audience, causing them to overlook her music, and given that the Minister's daughter's performance is riddled with flaws, then she might have a chance of winning. Let's see if this scene can truly captivate the audience!
She was truly giving it her all. She couldn't use all her abilities unless it was absolutely necessary, but at this moment, she was trying her best. The melodies and rainbows she brought with this guqin probably wouldn't disgrace this ancient instrument.
Suddenly feeling a sense of triumph, she abruptly raised her hand, her cool gaze sweeping across the crowd opposite her, landing on the dumbfounded daughter of the Minister. Luo Zhiheng smiled slightly, her eyes sparkling as her fingers gradually slowed down, the gentle melody flowing through the rainbow, passing through the air and reaching the clouds!
With a light, solemn, and sacred voice, she softly chanted an ancient and grand verse describing celestial phenomena. Her voice was perfectly synchronized, gradually drawing the audience into a magnificent celestial scene of harmony between humanity and nature. At that moment, even the heavens seemed to be on her side. The magnificent clouds above obscured the sun, slicing the sunlight into countless rays. These rays, both awe-inspiring and majestic, burst forth from the clouds, and amidst the cascading sunlight, Luo Zhiheng, her voice burning with a fiery intensity, gradually faded away.
Her piece didn't start grandly, but at the end, Luo Zhiheng used the ending of the only ancient piece she knew a little bit of as a rhyme. The soaring sound of the zither was like a dragon's roar, soaring straight to the sky, ending in a stunning way!
This was a piece she cobbled together from various sources, but the sheer awe and visual impact of the rainbow appearing out of nowhere made her the most outstanding performer in the history of the First Talent Competition! And Luo Zhiheng's final, timeless rhyming ending was absolutely the finishing touch! It stunned the entire audience!
She hadn't intended to be too flashy, but this instrument forced her to disrupt her plans. However, seeing the instrument shimmering and full of life under the rainbow, Luo Zhiheng smiled gently, and the frustration from being scolded earlier vanished.
Gently stroking the still-damp strings, her playing this time was nothing short of chaotic, yet this haphazard playing allowed her to truly vent her emotions, bringing a great deal of peace to her heart. In that quietude, however, all she could think of was Mu Yunhe—Mu Yunhe's protection and safeguarding, Mu Yunhe's reserve and bleak life. Unconsciously, she murmured, "Mu Yunhe, one day, I will make you shine so brightly in my hands!"