Cuando el amor se acerca, es como la nieve

Capítulo 39

That kind of soft, desolate moonlight.

With a determined look, I pointed at the woman and said, "If she participates in the Spring Festival singing competition, she will definitely win first place!"

Ye Zhi Qiu said, "Alright, I will suppress Rou Nu in the struggle for spring."

The singers from various houses began to perform, but I didn't listen carefully. I only wanted to hear how the voices of Rou Nu and the mysterious woman were.

After a while, Rou Nu gracefully stepped onto the flower boat to pay her respects. The pipa in her hand exuded an antique charm, clearly a fine piece. Rou Nu parted her lips slightly and said in a sweet voice, "It is truly an honor for me to play and sing for various masters at the Spring Festival. And to be bestowed with a four-line poem by Master Ye of Qiuye Pavilion is an even greater privilege. I am but a humble woman, and I have composed this poem for your appreciation and critique." She then gave another curtsy. A maidservant brought over a wooden stool, and Rou Nu held the pipa in her arms. With a flourish of her fingers, the sound was indeed like pearls bursting forth, carrying on the sound of the Qinhuai River, quite melodious. Rou Nu played for a while before softly singing:

"Spring comes and spring goes, my heart is at ease; whether I have a topic or not, I am free to do as I please."

I recite poems and discuss lyrics to express my longing; what lingers in my heart most is a white robe.

It is better to record one's romantic moments in writing; rather than to share one's sorrows with you.

Flowers bloom and fade, thoughts wander; clouds disperse and open, what words can we say when we meet again?

My beloved son, so devoted to me; how I long to meet a stranger, to play the zither and flute for him.

The wind is without emotion, the moon is silent, lingering and waiting, singing a joyful song…

The music was melodious, and her eyes sparkled.

The pipa music was sometimes melodious, sometimes gentle, sometimes urgent, sometimes serene, sometimes joyful, sometimes sorrowful. At its highest points, it seemed to soar to the heavens, yet at its lowest, it lingered and lingered. Furthermore, Rou Nu's enunciation was clear, like a nightingale's song, and when she sang with deep emotion, it seemed to captivate the listener and move them to tears. Before the piece was finished, a sharp "clang" echoed across the river, lingering for a long time. Rou Nu stood holding her pipa, gave a slight bow, and said with a smile, "This humble servant has made a fool of herself, hoping to amuse you all."

A long silence fell over the river before thunderous applause and endless praise erupted! A scholar in his forties from a nearby merchant ship swayed his head and exclaimed, "The melody lingers for three days! Truly lingers for three days! The tone is pure and beautiful, the tune melodious and lingering. What a wonderful voice, what a beautiful rhythm, what wonderful lyrics!!" He repeated "wonderful" three times in a row, smacking his lips as if the music were still ringing in his ears. Another merchant clapped and laughed, "The lyrics were written by Master Ye of Qiuye Pavilion in Jiangnan, so of course they're first-rate! This Rou Nu's singing skill is so great that even the famous courtesan Youhua from last year might not be her match!"

Hearing the chorus of flattery from the surrounding boats, I smiled slightly and remained silent. Ye Zhi Qiu said calmly, "Rou Nu has finished singing. May I ask what advice you, White-Robed Lord?"

I said, "I don't know anything about music, so how can I teach you?" After thinking for a moment, I added, "If there is any comparison, we should wait until that woman in white sings."

My gaze seemingly casually swept over the white curtain, behind which Ye Zhi Qiu leaned lazily against the chair, his gaze unreadable.

I recite poems and discuss lyrics to express my longing; what lingers in my heart most is a white robe.

I coughed lightly, covered the slight blush on my cheeks with my sleeve, and quickly looked away.

After the river became completely silent, the singer in the moon-white dress slowly stepped from the small boat onto the huge flower boat of the Spring Festival.

She had no maidservants, nor a fine pipa like Rou Nu's.

Her clothes and pipa were already worn out and faded, and even the stool she was sitting on was something she had brought herself, so it didn't seem to be anything new.

Her features weren't beautiful, much less stunning. Her clothes and makeup were also quite ordinary; her long hair reached her waist, and she didn't look very old, but her thin eyebrows seemed to convey weariness and loneliness.

Her pipa also seemed to contain weariness and loneliness.

Unlike typical courtesans who approach with a smile before even uttering a word, or Rou Nu whose eyes sparkled with affection, she didn't look at the people on the river—in fact, she didn't look at anyone. Everyone else seemed transparent to her; her gaze pierced through those who didn't exist in her eyes, staring blankly into the distance.

She tuned the strings, and it faintly played the melody of "Partridge Sky." After a short while, she began to sing softly:

On a spring day, we stroll along the path, our faces flushed with laughter and our hair in green. Longing is strongest under the moon over the Qin Tower, while the heartless winds of the Chu Pass rage on.

Mountains upon mountains, rivers upon rivers, how many times have my soul and dreams been with you? The duckweed blossoms fall, people grow old, so many sorrows of parting remain unspoken…

Her voice wasn't loud, and the melody wasn't particularly melodious; it wasn't even as soft and alluring as other singers' voices. Yet, her singing was crystal clear, each word carrying beyond the sound of the river, each phrase seeming to be played right beside your ear. The pipa's melody was incredibly delicate, seemingly full of joy, yet deeply imbued with a sense of melancholy. Combined with her leisurely singing, it created a strangely peculiar feeling! It was as if your heart wasn't with you, but rather moved with the rise and fall of the music. The lyrics weren't particularly mournful, but sung by this singer, they seemed to be mixed with a very strong and complex emotion!

The most ruthless wind is that of Chu Pass... The most ruthless wind is that of Chu Pass... The most ruthless wind is that of Chu Pass...

This emotion grew so intense that it almost crushed the person!

I suddenly stood up, and as I did so, my sleeve accidentally brushed the teacup onto the deck—

Whoosh!

I slowly exhaled a breath of stale air and said, word by word, "What a beautiful line, 'The moon over Qin Tower is the most poignant expression of longing'!"

Ye Zhi Qiu did not answer, but instead took out a jade flute from his sleeve and slowly placed it to his lips. Suddenly, a stirring and clear melody rang out, and the river surface instantly became as clear as if the sky had been washed clean, suppressing the all-pervasive sound of the pipa!

The white-clad singer remained expressionless, her fingers swishing across the pipa, and the music ceased. In an instant, that moonlit aura returned to her.

After she finished singing, she remained silent, quietly stepping off the boat's railing, not looking at the intoxicated crowd on the river, and walked towards the shore.

"Good!" I clapped my hands and laughed, "Pavilion Master Ye's flute playing skills are as good as ever, still as clear and bright as ever."

Ye Zhi Qiu chuckled and said, "But after that woman left, it's unclear whether she or Rou Nu is the best."

I shook my head: "Who is right and who is wrong is just a joke, why should Pavilion Master Ye be so persistent?" I stood up and bowed slightly to Ye Zhi Qiu, "Thank you for your hospitality, Pavilion Master Ye, but I, Bai Yi, am honored to decline! Now that the music has ended and everyone has left, I, Bai Yi, must also take my leave."

Ye Zhi Qiu nodded faintly from behind the white curtain and said, "Very well... I dare not keep you any longer... May I ask, Mr. White Robe, are you going with Young Master Shang?"

I smiled and asked, "Why does Pavilion Master Ye ask this?"

Ye Zhi Qiu slowly said, "Because when I see you now, the look on your face is slightly different..." After a pause, she continued, "...there's a touch more of a woman's sentimentality..."

I was slightly taken aback, then couldn't help but smile and say, "Pavilion Master Ye is joking. Don't forget, I, Baiyi, am a woman." I bowed and said, "It's getting late, Baiyi must take her leave." With that, I turned and walked out of the boat.

As I was about to step off the boat, Ye Zhi Qiu suddenly asked, "Why is your name Baiyi (White Robe) but you like to wear black?"

I turned around and smiled, and casually said, "Because black clothes are easy to wash and don't get dirty easily, that's the reason."

Ye Zhi Qiu's flower boat docked, and I jumped off the boat, constantly scanning my surroundings, trying to find Shang Shao Chang in the crowd.

With so many people watching the Spring Festival music performance, and Shang Shaochang's figure in his blue robe not appearing anytime soon, I wandered through the crowd, but still couldn't find him. Finally, after searching for a while, I somewhat awkwardly squeezed out of the crowd and casually looked ahead—

My eyes suddenly widened.

Ahead stood a figure dressed in moon-white robes. It wasn't Shang Shaochang, but rather the mysterious singer.