No one could hear her, and the people who had been silent throughout Luo Zhiheng's performance remained still after it ended. However, Luo Ningshuang couldn't believe that these people were mocking Luo Zhiheng, because even she had to admit that Luo Zhiheng's performance was utterly subversive!
It might not be quite brilliant, but it is certainly exquisite and visually stunning!
But how could this be?! How could Luo Zhiheng, who is uneducated, incompetent, idle, and only knows how to beauties, suddenly be able to create such a shocking scene?
Was she prepared, or just incredibly lucky? Luo Ningshuang was shaken. She only wanted to believe that Luo Zhiheng had simply gotten lucky! She didn't care whether Luo Zhiheng won or not, because she firmly believed that the final victory would belong to her, Luo Ningshuang. But she did care how Luo Zhiheng won!
She was happy that Luo Zhiheng won by cheating, but she would never allow Luo Zhiheng to win by her own ability!
"My God, that's amazing!" someone finally exclaimed. Then the entire arena erupted in a frenzy of praise.
Of course, they weren't praising Luo Zhiheng, but rather this magical scene, and they were also praising God! But no one forgot that this scene occurred during Luo Zhiheng's performance, and instantly, everyone's gaze towards Luo Zhiheng changed.
The appearance of auspicious omens, regardless of whether they are related to Luo Zhiheng, will not be taken lightly. And someone like Luo Zhiheng wouldn't fake such a treasure. So, it's just Luo Zhiheng's good luck? Everyone who previously cursed Luo Zhiheng as a jinx now had a rather interesting expression.
The competition organizers had to discuss the matter immediately. Although Luo Zhiheng's playing wasn't great, if she was the one who created the rainbow, then her performance was indeed outstanding. The Minister's daughter's performance wasn't particularly good either, so they really needed to consider who the winner of this round would be. The judges who had previously suggested Luo Zhiheng leave after this round were now silent.
It's also because Luo Zhiheng is too annoying. They don't know what trouble Luo Zhiheng will cause in the competition in the future. So after a very intense and agonizing discussion, the judges unanimously decided to let Luo Zhiheng be eliminated.
At this moment, Luo Zhiheng suddenly calmed down and became indifferent to the result. If she really wanted to prove herself, then the match just now should have reduced some of the hatred she felt towards Luo Ningshuang. As for the competition with Luo Ningshuang, Luo Ningshuang was a petty person; if she continued to take it seriously, wouldn't she be just like Luo Ningshuang?
The spiritual uplift and broadening she experienced allowed her to let go of the past at this moment. She could no longer hold grudges against those who had been framed and hurt. However, if Luo Ningshuang or anyone else dared to offend her in the slightest or harm Mu Yunhe in the future, she would not let it go!
A spiritual elevation is difficult, but Luo Zhiheng was fortunate. Through a spirited guqin and a performance before a rainbow, she experienced a release of her soul. She saw through hatred and the struggle, becoming more willing to let go of what she couldn't forgive. Her soul matured, becoming more resolute and kinder. At the same time, she also became more protective of Mu Yunhe.
You have shown me your true feelings, and I will repay you with my whole heart and soul; I will never betray you!
Nothing else matters. At this moment, all she wants is to return to Mu Yunhe's side, do everything she can to cure him, and then fight against Consort Li's various conspiracies. At this moment, Luo Zhiheng will uphold the principle of "I will not offend others unless they offend me, and I will not hesitate to punish them if they offend me!"
Therefore, Luo Ningshuang would never have imagined that while she was still filled with envy, jealousy, and hatred towards Luo Zhiheng, Luo Zhiheng had already agreed to let her off this time. Unfortunately, she would ruin everything, repeatedly offending Luo Zhiheng by relying on her knowledge of the future, and at this moment, she was still thinking about how to completely crush Luo Zhiheng into the mire, ensuring she could never rise again!
Just as the judges were about to announce the winner of this round as the daughter of the Minister, an aged yet slightly excited voice suddenly rang out. At first glance, it seemed as if it were thousands of miles away, but in the blink of an eye, it was right next to them: "Who was playing the music on the Dragon and Phoenix Qin just now? Huh? Why is there a rainbow on the Dragon and Phoenix Qin?"
Upon suddenly hearing the words "Dragon and Phoenix Harp," Luo Ningshuang's face changed, becoming ferocious, twisted, and filled with regret and greed.
The owner of the voice flew over the crowd in the moment of everyone's astonishment, and after a series of afterimages, appeared in front of Luo Zhiheng and reached out to grab the zither.
Luo Zhiheng's pupils contracted, thinking this person was there to steal the zither. She instinctively reached out to block, but the person turned and attacked Luo Zhiheng instead. Before she could react, she instinctively retaliated. A sharp blade suddenly appeared between her fingers, and she slashed forward. The person was surprised and took a step back. Luo Zhiheng stood up abruptly, and with a nimble and elegant leap, she flipped over the zither table, kicking the person several meters away. Standing in front of the zither, her fiery and alluring beauty instantly revealed her undisguised sharpness!
This is a big update! Because it's a continuous story, there weren't separate updates for Hua Sha, which I think will make it more enjoyable for you all. So, I'm a little late today. Sorry, everyone! Haha, the climax is just around the corner! Love you all! Still asking for recommendation votes, comments, and monthly tickets!
128. Another stroke of luck! Mu Yunhe's little secret!
Updated: 2013-06-26 09:02:26 Word Count: 7695
An elderly man in grey robes and white hair, with a ruddy complexion and a slightly prosperous appearance, appeared, exuding a playful old man's air. Blocked by Luo Zhiheng, he finally looked at her directly, and upon seeing her, his surprise turned to astonishment and disgust. The once dignified man suddenly pinched his nose and retreated abruptly, exclaiming in a loud voice, "Did you just come from a brothel? The smell of rouge and powder on you is unbearable!"
Luo Zhiheng's eyelids twitched. This old man was so strange. Just now, he had given her a strong sense of pressure. He was clearly a very powerful person, but he made such childish movements. Luo Zhiheng wanted to rub her forehead. What kind of monster had she encountered this time?
"Little girl, was that the piece you just played on the Dragon and Phoenix Qin? What was that piece? The closing notes were truly astonishing." It turned out the old man had arrived late, and thus only heard the rhyming endings of the few timeless melodies that followed, missing the chaotic, almost demonic, tunes that followed. For him, a fast-playing qin enthusiast, Luo Zhiheng's 'talent,' despite her feminine air, was enough to earn his favor. Moreover…
The old man glanced at the still magnificent and wondrous rainbow on the dragon and phoenix zither, his heart filled with undisguised awe. Even after traveling far and wide for so many years, he had never witnessed such a wondrous scene before. The appearance of a rainbow on the dragon and phoenix zither was undoubtedly an auspicious sign! Therefore, the woman who created all this must be a person of extraordinary destiny!
Luo Zhiheng's mindset is different now than before, or rather, her soul, which was only seventeen years old, has matured somewhat. But she's still a child at heart, wary yet wanting to tease the old man. She thinks he must be a novice too; what kind of rubbish was she playing? And yet she claims to be amazed.
She adopted a grand and imposing posture, tilting her small face upwards and saying, "It was me who played it, but such a stunning sound can't be played too many times, otherwise the quality would be lowered."
Luo Zhiheng appeared arrogant yet low-key, but she didn't want anyone to make her play that messy tune again. Her goal was to create a rainbow scene, not to play the piano!
Unexpectedly, the old man nodded in agreement, "That's right, exactly! How can those ordinary people listen to a piece like that? How about you play it for me again? Who composed this piece?" The old man loved music more than anything, and he was already itching to hear it after just a few rhyming notes. He couldn't imagine how magnificent and awe-inspiring the previous piece must have been.
The composer? That insane composition that could make everyone dance like demons was obviously made by her, a tone-deaf person. Luo Zhiheng said arrogantly, "I'm the composer, of course! But who are you? Why should I play it for you again? You're not paying me."
The old man's eyes lit up: "You want money? I can give you some, how much do you want?" The old man then began to undress...
Luo Zhiheng's eyes widened, and she arrogantly roared, "You old lecher! I'm a respectable girl from a good family, how dare you do such a lewd and obscene thing in broad daylight! I'll have my little Hehe cripple you!"
"Luo Zhiheng, don't be rude!" The grand judge's authoritative voice suddenly rang out. Luo Zhiheng turned her head and saw the grand judge leading a group of judges hurriedly onto the stage. The group had serious yet respectful expressions and gave the old man a magnificent but strange bow, saying, "We were unaware of your presence, sir. We apologize for not welcoming you properly. This Luo Zhiheng has always been a reckless person. Please don't take her words seriously, sir. The competition will naturally give you an explanation."
The senior judge was always arrogant, looking down on everyone because of her talent. But at this moment, her serious and careful demeanor made Luo Zhiheng's mind start to stir.
Luo Ningshuang took two steps forward abruptly, her eyes shining as she looked at the old man on the stage who had no proper stance. She couldn't hide her excitement and ecstasy.
She never imagined that when she lived her past life again, she would meet the legendary Qin Saint!
In today's world, there are countless people who enjoy music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, and song. While wars may occur, the pursuit of enjoyment has never disappeared. Many people in the world claim to be masters of various arts, but none dare to call themselves saints in this particular field! This is because saints are chosen and revered by great scholars from all nations, each possessing remarkable vision and ability! And saints enjoy the noble status of being unassailable by any nation and able to be treated as honored guests by dignitaries from all corners of the world!
There are few remaining saints in the world today. The Tong family, the royal family, has been a family of scholars for generations. The centenarian ancestor of the Tong family is one of these saints, known as the Sage of Calligraphy! His calligraphy is so skillful that it is unparalleled in the world!
Several other sages have vanished without a trace, and the legendary Qin Sage has never been seen. When the Dragon and Phoenix Qin appeared today, Luo Ning Shuang felt it looked familiar. It wasn't just familiar; she had heard of this qin in her previous life and truly admired this ancient qin that was said to have been passed down from the hands of the Great Emperor Li Shi.
So when the old man appeared, and the judges were so respectful, coupled with the old man calling out the Dragon and Phoenix Zither, Luo Ningshuang immediately concluded that this person was the Zither Saint, one of the few remaining saints in the world!
The status of the Qin Saint is extremely high. Among the four arts of Qin (music, chess, calligraphy, and painting), Qin is the most important. If she could gain the favor of such a saint, her status and position would be greatly enhanced, and she would be treated with courtesy by various countries. If she could become the Qin Saint's disciple in the future, it would not be impossible for her to inherit her master's name as the Qin Saint!
Luo Ningshuang thought about many things, and with each thought she felt excited and thrilled, as if she could see power, status, and wealth waving to her! But when she looked at Luo Zhiheng standing opposite the Qin Saint, and at the Dragon and Phoenix Qin shrouded in shimmering light, Luo Ningshuang almost gritted her teeth in regret and hatred!
Why was Luo Zhiheng chosen to go first? Why did she get to pick that zither? Why did she meet the Zither Master first?! Why wasn't it Luo Ningshuang who possessed all of this?!
"Luo Zhiheng, on behalf of the competition, I announce that you have lost this round!" The judge's voice was firm and resounding.
But this time, the crowd didn't erupt in a thunderous cheer. Their faces still held the shock of receiving the strange rainbow. Everyone unanimously hoped that Luo Zhiheng, that idiot, would get lost, but when the moment finally arrived, they didn't know how to feel.
In short, they couldn't cheer. The competition should have been fair. Luo Zhiheng should have been eliminated in the preliminary round, but she was promoted. However, in this round, Luo Zhiheng performed well, which led to her elimination. She did deserve to be eliminated, but her elimination proved that Tianhong (the rainbow) was also eliminated. 12.
For the first time, everyone was faced with a difficult choice because of Luo Zhiheng, but no one sympathized with her. She was gone, and although the rainbow was a pity, it was also expected.
Luo Zhiheng had already accepted the outcome of this round. If it were before, she would definitely have argued and made a scene, but now she felt that the result was not important.
But she didn't care; the battle had begun, and she could have ended it whenever she wanted. The old man immediately objected loudly. Unlike his relaxed and playful attitude towards Luo Zhiheng, the old man was serious and rigid towards the senior judges: "What did you say? I really didn't hear you clearly. Did you announce that this girl won first place? Did you?"
"Sir?!" The judges and others all looked at him with expressions of confusion and bewilderment.
"You bunch of kids, are you suffering from dementia? Or are you blind and deaf? If you can't handle it, get out of here and find someone else, don't waste time!" the old man said sternly and viciously.
Luo Zhiheng grinned, suddenly finding the old man quite agreeable. Since she didn't care about the result anymore, and no longer needed to worry about the judges who might dislike her, she immediately echoed the old man's words: "You're right! I've long noticed that these old folks are no good. They can't even distinguish right from wrong, and they always wrong me. You have no idea how frustrating it is for me to participate in this competition. The people below insult and slander me, and these old folks are also suppressing me. They've been hoping I'd leave as soon as possible. The legendary fair and wonderful competition turns out to be nothing but a sycophantic competition where you have to be subservient to others to make decisions. I'd rather not participate than embarrass myself!"
Since these people are so obsequious to the old man, and his words carry weight, she wouldn't mind giving them a hard time before leaving, just to spite them!
"Luo Zhiheng, what nonsense are you spouting? It was clearly you..." The old man interrupted the judge's furious accusation.
"What are you yelling about? You're wrong to say that? This girl clearly deserves to be number one. Just based on her performance, she deserves to be number one in the world! What did you guys discuss? Are you really going to go back to your retirement? Or have you really started making your own foot binding cloths, needing to fawn over those vulgar people to earn money for foot binding cloths?" the old man continued viciously.
The judges turned pale, not only because of the old man's insults, but also because their taste had plummeted. Clearly, only the last few notes of Luo Zhiheng's piece could be considered a masterpiece; the beginning was utterly haphazard playing. And yet she was ranked number one? If it weren't for the miraculous appearance of that rainbow, she would have been in last place!
Luo Zhiheng laughed heartily without giving the old man any face, and cheered him on in a playful voice: "Old man, what you said is really insightful. I, Luo Zhiheng, am completely impressed! Keep going, so I can learn a few moves to deal with my bunch of awful women back home."
The old man's cheerful, round face immediately broke into a wide smile, even seeming to fawn over Luo Zhiheng: "You want to learn? That's easy. I'll definitely teach you all the classic quotes I know. But you have to play that piece of music for me again."
The old man was very unwilling and unhappy because he hadn't heard the whole piece.
Luo Zhiheng was adept at reading people. The old man's eagerness for her to play the piece again suggested there might be some trickery involved, and she knew she couldn't possibly play the same piece again, as she might expose herself in front of the judges. To prevent future trouble, and to make these judges who were targeting her suffer a great loss before leaving, she snorted coldly and said arrogantly, "I have decided to withdraw from this competition. I will never forget the humiliation I suffered in this competition today. You have forced me and humiliated me so much. Today, I, Luo Zhiheng, swear once again that I will never play the piano again!"
This vow meant nothing to Luo Zhiheng, but the old man's expression changed drastically!
The old man is a sage of the qin, the godfather of the qin, and a leading figure in contemporary qin music. His love for qin music is naturally obsessive. He has finally encountered someone with extraordinary talent who can create such amazing music, so of course he has developed a fondness for talent. If Luo Zhiheng stops playing, wouldn't the field of qin music potentially lose a pillar of strength?
How could this be?!
The old man was furious, his eyes blazing with anger as he roared, "You bunch of good-for-nothings! Announce the results of the competition again right now! This girl is first!"
These words shocked the entire audience!
Can one person change the outcome of a game with just one sentence? Who does he think he is?
After her initial shock, Luo Ningshuang erupted in fury! How could this be?! Luo Zhiheng had clearly lost, so why was she so incredibly lucky? This turn of events was like a windfall for Luo Zhiheng! Had Luo Zhiheng's good luck not yet run out? Hadn't she already been unlucky enough to marry that short-lived Mu Yunhe? How could she have turned the tide today?
"Who is that old man? How annoying! What if Luo Zhiheng really wins the competition? What will we do then? I need to tell my father right away to stop that damned old man!" Li Xian'er said angrily, turning around and sending her maid home to report. (A phrase implying someone is wasted on a life of leisure.)
Luo Zhiheng was also stunned, and couldn't help but look the old man up and down. The old man was also interesting; seeing Luo Zhiheng looking him over, he immediately straightened his back and gave her a fawning smile. Luo Zhiheng found it amusing, but didn't show it, standing aloofly to the side.
The chief judge, forcing a smile, argued, "Please forgive me, sir. Putting aside whether Luo Zhiheng is qualified to be the first-ranked talent, this is unfair. How can the talent competition still be the fairest competition in the world? The first-ranked talent should be earned through genuine talent and learning. If Luo Zhiheng truly has backbone and pride, she shouldn't accept such a directly bestowed honor, should she?"
The senior judge glared at Luo Zhiheng with a threatening look, but Luo Zhiheng was too arrogant to care, completely ignoring the judge and almost making him furious.
Knowing the rules of the competition, the Qin Saint smiled ingratiatingly at Luo Zhiheng and said, "Why don't you play with them? I trust your talent. How about you win this round? You can win first place yourself!" The old man then asked the chief judge with a cold expression, "First place in this round is acceptable, right?"
The senior judge, with a bitter taste stuck in his throat, said with a forced smile, "We need to discuss this."
"What's there to discuss! Just based on the rainbow they created, this first place is well-deserved! Only you bunch of idiots are still here, arrogantly looking for trouble. Get out of here! I declare Luo Zhiheng the winner of this match!" The old man's words sealed the victory.
Luo Zhiheng was utterly shocked, because none of the judges refuted her, and the crowd remained silent. She had inexplicably won another match? That was just too...unbelievable luck!
Luo Ningshuang's face turned pale. So the Qin Saint has taken a liking to Luo Zhiheng? But that doesn't make sense. Apart from the last few notes, the rest of Luo Zhiheng's playing was terrible. How could the Qin Saint have taken a liking to her?
The old man kept urging Luo Zhiheng to continue participating. Luo Zhiheng didn't care, but it was like taking a bridge—of course, it was meant to be shown to the judges.
The judges were afraid that the unreliable Qin Sheng would make them apologize to Luo Zhiheng, so they slunk away immediately.
Luo Zhiheng also wanted to leave, but the Qin Saint wouldn't let her. He grabbed her and winked at her, saying, "You'll still be playing the qin in the future, right? You seem to really care about this instrument. How about I give it to you?"
Luo Zhiheng stopped in her tracks, a serious look appearing in her eyes: "Are you serious?" She did want the zither, but her principle was not to take what others liked. The zither was obviously good, so she didn't ask, afraid that she would be unwilling. But if someone offered it to her, she had no reason not to accept it.
"Really, really, take the zither with you. Treat it well, like a lover. But this dragon zither is male, more suitable for men to play." The old man was still a little reluctant to part with it.
Luo Zhiheng was delighted. She carefully wiped the water off the zither with her sleeve, then picked it up with both hands and turned to leave. The rainbow, which had not yet completely disappeared, continued to move forward with Luo Zhiheng. As she walked out of the crowd, people automatically made way for her, their eyes reverently fixed on the rainbow, not daring to speak loudly. Only when Luo Zhiheng got into the carriage and left did the crowd erupt in a huge murmur of discussion.
The rainbow mingled with chatter, and among the discussions was a particularly enthusiastic one about the Dragon and Phoenix Zither. It was utterly astonishing that one of the world's most precious treasures, the Dragon and Phoenix Zither, had fallen into Luo Zhiheng's hands!
Unfortunately, after Luo Zhiheng finished her performance, it was Luo Ningshuang's turn. Luo Ningshuang was truly resentful; the Dragon and Phoenix Zither had actually fallen into Luo Zhiheng's hands! How could such a priceless treasure fall into Luo Zhiheng's hands? Immediately, Luo Ningshuang put aside her resentment and jealousy. Because Luo Ningshuang was originally full of confidence, and coupled with her good fortune in drawing the opportunity to perform her musical skills, she was excitedly eager to give a good performance in front of the Zither Saint. She firmly believed that with her ability and the piece she played, she would definitely impress the Zither Saint and earn his favor.
To Luo Ningshuang's astonishment and anger, the Qin Saint suddenly jumped off the stage, leaving behind a blur as he had come.
She had just set up her zither, bowed to the Sage of Zither, and was about to play when he left. This shattered all of Luo Ningshuang's plans, how could she not be resentful? Having missed a major opportunity in her life, Luo Ningshuang was filled with regret, and her hatred for Luo Zhiheng only intensified!
Even so, Luo Ningshuang was still the winner of this round.
This competition eliminated half of the participants, leaving only twenty people. There are still two rounds left in the competition: a final to determine the champion and a ranking competition. The second round of the official competition will select the top ten, who will then face off in pairs. Among the remaining five, one of them must be the champion from the previous year—that's the rule. Then, the final will be a head-to-head battle!
The champion will not participate in the competition. The remaining four will compete in pairs, and the winners of each pair will continue to compete. The last remaining person will challenge the previous champion. If the champion successfully defends their title, they will become the reigning champion. And this champion is naturally Luo Ningshuang! If she successfully defends her title this time, she will be the champion for ten consecutive years, an honor that cannot be described as high.
If the challenger wins, they will overthrow the previous champion's legacy, and their achievements will be evident to all.
However, the biggest highlight of this year's competition is Luo Ningshuang, a veteran champion who is expected to win her tenth consecutive title. If someone can break Luo Ningshuang's legend this time, then the new champion's strength and reputation will surely reach an unparalleled level.
Because the new champion climbed to the top by stepping on all the honor and reputation of the previous nine champions!