"What do you think? Bai Mingzhu is clearly after you. Although she didn't quite reach the seven-one-three-four mark in your piece, she did get two-three." The chess master, being the most rational, asked the leisurely zither master beside him.
When the Qin Sage heard Luo Zhiheng say she needed a zither, he immediately deduced that she intended to perform. He was quite pleased with himself, naturally assuming that Luo Zhiheng was indeed the most skilled zither player, truly making him proud. He thought, "Let's wait until Luo Zhiheng's piece stuns everyone, and let that old fellow Zhuge Huahun see for himself whether Luo Zhiheng is qualified to be his apprentice."
"Her playing wasn't very good, but for someone her age, it's not bad. However, she's definitely not as good as Luo Zhiheng," the Qin Saint said proudly.
"How do you know Bai Mingzhu is inferior to Luo Zhiheng? Have you heard Luo Zhiheng play?" Zhuge Huahun asked in surprise.
Old Master Tong and the Chess Saint laughed again, their expressions enigmatic. General Murong and the Great General also laughed. This left Zhuge Huahun completely baffled.
Zhuge Hualuan, who had been stunned by the painting and looked pale, finally came to her senses. She had always thought that Bai Mingzhu would be an obstacle to her maintaining her title as world champion, and she had always thought that the person she had to deal with was Bai Mingzhu. But she never expected that Luo Zhiheng would suddenly appear out of nowhere.
Luo Zhiheng's painting was incredibly impressive; a dark horse had unexpectedly burst onto the scene, and with overwhelming force. Zhuge Hualuan even felt a chill run down her spine, thinking that if Luo Zhiheng were to compete with her using this painting, she might not be confident of victory. Painting had always been her forte, something she was incredibly proud of. If she were to lose to Luo Zhiheng in this area, her life would be over, forever living in Luo Zhiheng's shadow.
Zhuge Hualuan steadied herself and stopped paying attention to Mu Yunhe. Instead, she focused her gaze entirely on Luo Zhiheng. She wanted to see what Luo Zhiheng would do next. From now on, she would no longer underestimate Luo Zhiheng.
As the music reached its climax, Bai Mingzhu's focused performance made the already grand piece even more poignant in the vast desert, filled with a sense of desolation, a melancholy tinged with sadness and bewilderment. It was truly beautiful and captivating.
As the piece ended, the last note of Bai Mingzhu's zither lingered, emitting a heart-stirring vibrato, like a young girl weeping through the rain, truly touching the heart.
The entire audience fell silent, seemingly lost in the beautiful music, unable to snap out of their reverie for a long time. Only when Bai Mingzhu stood up and gracefully took her bow did thunderous applause erupt from all directions!
She did indeed play well, and the piece she chose was excellent; she is truly capable and has every reason to be proud. At the same time, she is destined to become Luo Zhiheng's nemesis and put immense pressure on Luo Zhiheng. 16.
Bai Mingzhu walked gracefully from the center of the competition arena, stopped in front of Luo Zhiheng, and said condescendingly, "If you want the championship, you'll have to beat my piece first. However, it's usually hard to distinguish between two identical pieces, which is quite difficult for the judges. You'd better be prepared."
Everyone understands this principle: unless two exceptionally talented individuals are competing, judges will notice even the slightest flaw in one person's performance. This is especially true in a competition of musical skill, which relies heavily on listening and technique. The first performer has an advantage, as judges tend to give extra credit to the first performance. Unless the first performer performs poorly, those who perform well later will face immense pressure. A single mistake means defeat, and with the achievements of those who performed well before them, subsequent performers will feel even more pressure and are more likely to make mistakes.
Bai Mingzhu herself had confessed to her sinister intentions, so Luo Zhiheng naturally wouldn't be polite to her anymore. Luo Zhiheng had plenty of ways to deal with such a vicious woman!
She stood up, towering over Bai Mingzhu by half a head. Who was really looking down on her? She raised an eyebrow and chuckled, her eyelids lowered, her expression full of disdain. She said playfully, "You think you're so clever and I'm an idiot? You know not to say what you're going to perform, so do you think I don't know that too? Someone as smart as you, don't you find it strange that I said I needed a zither?"
Bai Mingzhu's expression changed, but she still couldn't believe that Luo Zhiheng could think so comprehensively and far ahead. This woman didn't seem like the kind of person who planned things step by step! She tightened her voice and said, "What do you mean?"
"Shh!" Luo Zhiheng pouted playfully, lowered her face slightly, and looked into Bai Mingzhu's eyes with a smile. Suddenly, her gaze turned fierce as she laughed, "So you've been tricked by me! You fell into my trap, got into my snare, and I played you terribly. And you still dare to act all high and mighty with me? You're such an idiot, it's hilarious!"
The instant Bai Mingzhu's face turned pale and unsightly, Luo Zhiheng had already stood up straight and separated herself from Bai Mingzhu. She smiled again with her innocent and harmless demeanor, and said in a gentle and loud voice, "Congratulations, Miss Bai! I am truly ashamed of my inferiority in your musical skills, but I will still do my best."
Luo Zhiheng wrapped herself in her cloak and walked step by step onto the competition field amidst enthusiastic cheers from the audience.
Behind her, Bai Mingzhu's face had lost its previous smugness, provocation, and arrogance, replaced by astonishment and disbelief. How could this be? It couldn't be! How could Luo Zhiheng have predicted that she would change her mind at the last minute? How did she know that she would use the talent she had chosen to suppress her? Bai Mingzhu was completely baffled and simply refused to believe that Luo Zhiheng was so clever.
But how could someone remain so calm and composed when faced with provocation and blatant bullying? Bai Mingzhu certainly couldn't, so she didn't believe Luo Zhiheng could. Yet Luo Zhiheng genuinely didn't seem angry. She had rushed to perform her talent first; was Luo Zhiheng truly not angry? Did she really have something else planned?
Bai Mingzhu suddenly felt uneasy. She sat there and looked at her younger brother, Bai Mingyue, who was far away opposite her. She hoped that Bai Mingyue could see the emotions in her eyes.
The man opposite her had a calm expression, a refined face even bearing a faint smile. He was a very dashing man with an exceptional air, yet he possessed an unspeakable arrogance, seemingly displaying his uniqueness without his presence. He didn't offer Bai Mingzhu any comforting glances; in fact, his eyes remained fixed on Luo Zhiheng, his gaze unwavering, almost glued to her.
Bai Mingyue had noticed Luo Zhiheng long ago. From Luo Zhiheng's beautiful arrow to her stunning masterpiece just now, everything had amazed the young man. A strange, fervent flame inevitably ignited within him, and his gaze towards Luo Zhiheng was tinged with an inexplicable light, completely captivated. He had no time to pay attention to his own sister.
"The second round, Luo Zhiheng will showcase her talents," Madam Song announced loudly.
The entire venue quickly fell silent, and the sound subsided like the receding tide.
After Luo Zhiheng's amazing performance in the first round, everyone was looking forward to her second round, wondering what kind of amazing performance she would bring them next.
Luo Zhiheng was wrapped up tightly, appearing from the outside as if she were encased in blood. Her fiery red cloak moved through the golden sand. Suddenly, a wind picked up, and her steps seemed to slow as well. Each step felt like she was walking against a gale, difficult yet incredibly beautiful, each step as if she were walking out of a flower garden.
A zither has been placed in the center of the competition venue. She stands in front of the zither table. At this moment, everyone is eagerly anticipating it!
But at that very moment, a sharp voice rang out from behind the crowd: "The Emperor has arrived! The Empress has arrived! Princess Yu has arrived!"
A commotion broke out in the crowd. Everyone turned their gaze to the back of the front, staring in shock and fervor, unable to believe that it really was His Majesty the Emperor. For so many years, the Grand Tournament had been held in various dynasties, but none of the emperors had had the leisure to watch. The emperor of the Southern Dynasty was even busier; how could he possibly come?
But when a large number of imperial guards and eunuchs rushed over, quickly clearing a path through the crowd, and two magnificent royal carriages slowly drove in, people had no choice but to believe it and became even more excited! But they dared not cheer for the emperor. Tens of thousands of people knelt down when they saw the emperor, and even people from other countries had to kneel down at this moment.
But the princes of Silver Moon Kingdom didn't kneel, the Four Saints didn't kneel, the family of General Murong didn't kneel, and the soldiers of the Mu Dynasty didn't kneel to this emperor of the Southern Dynasty. Since Mu Yunhe didn't kneel, naturally Luo Zhiheng didn't kneel either.
But Bai Mingzhu and Bai Mingyue have to kneel!
Hidden behind the Prince, Luo Ningshuang also decided not to kneel. After all, she was with the Prince now. Although she was pleasantly surprised to meet the emperor and empress of another country, seeing that Luo Zhiheng hadn't knelt, she didn't want to be inferior, especially not to Luo Zhiheng. However, she thought her decision was quite reasonable, unaware that her competitive decision immediately appeared even more despicable and disgusting in the eyes of the princes.
Luo Zhiheng may not have a high birth or a strong background, but she married into a powerful clan. The direct line of the Mu Dynasty's royal family supports her, so her refusal to kneel is a matter of status. What makes you, Luo Ningshuang, stand out? Just because your father is a minor third-class noble? Just because Luo Ningshuang refused to kneel today, the Southern Dynasty emperor could easily punish her if he investigated, and it would be a disgrace to the Mu Dynasty as well.
The first carriage to emerge was naturally occupied by the emperor of the Southern Dynasty. The handsome emperor alighted, but the empress did not emerge from her carriage. Instead, the empress and Princess Yu stepped out from the second carriage. The crowd shouted "Long live the Emperor!" three times, "A thousand years live the Emperor!" in a grand and resounding voice.
"Rise, all of you. I'm here today in disguise, just to relax with my wife and daughters. Do as you please, don't be restrained just because the Empress and I are here," the Emperor said with a kind smile, instantly drawing respectful praise from all directions.
"Luo Zhiheng?" Princess Yu's face flushed with excitement. She spotted Luo Zhiheng across from her at a glance, her eyes shining. If it weren't for the words Luo Zhiheng said to her father before leaving, she and her mother would probably still be trapped in the palace. What surprised her even more was that her father was willing to come out with them to watch the game.
Luo Zhiheng smiled faintly and remained silent. When she saw the Emperor and Empress looking at her, she slightly curtsied.
The Queen smiled and said, "Rise, and focus on the competition. I hope our arrival won't put any pressure on you."
The Empress's heart still leaned towards the Mu Dynasty, because it was her homeland, but she couldn't say it too clearly, after all, she was still the mother of the Southern Dynasty.
"I will definitely do my best." Luo Zhiheng nodded slightly.
Just then, Murong Qianxue's joyful voice came from Mu Wangchao's seat: "Sister! Yu'er! Come here, we're here."
"Auntie!" Princess Yu's eyes lit up, and she excitedly grabbed the Empress's hand, saying, "Mother, can I sit with Auntie? The Ancestor is over there, and Uncle is over there too!"
Princess Yu was indeed happy; she was much more lively than usual. The Empress was naturally pleased to see her daughter so happy and close to her family, so she said, "I will go with you."
"Empress!" The Emperor hurriedly spoke in a low voice when he saw that his wife and daughters were about to abandon him. If he didn't speak up, given the Empress's personality and her increasingly cold attitude towards him recently, he was afraid they would really abandon him.
"Your Majesty should take the main seat. The Sixth Prince has already come to invite you personally," the Empress said with a cold smile, then took her daughter's hand, bowed, and left. No one could tell that the Emperor and Empress were at odds.
The emperor's expression turned ugly for a moment, but then returned to the delighted tone of the Sixth Prince's voice: "Your Majesty the Emperor has graced us with your presence! If the Emperor Xian knew that Your Majesty attaches such importance to the National Games, he would surely be very pleased. Your Majesty, please take a seat."
The emperor didn't say anything more, so he pretended to be normal and followed the Sixth Prince forward. When he passed Luo Zhiheng, the emperor paused for a moment and said jokingly, "I've already given you face, so you have to give me some face in return. Don't let the people of the Southern Dynasty win too badly."
"Your Majesty is joking. Miss Bai Mingzhu of your dynasty is highly skilled in the zither, and I am truly ashamed of my inferiority. I could only change my performance at the last minute to avoid her sharp edge. This is all I can do. I implore Your Majesty and the capable people in the court to be lenient and not push me to the brink of ruin with what little I know." Luo Zhiheng said softly with a smile, her words seemingly a self-deprecating joke, but they made the Sixth Prince's expression change.
This move, which inadvertently and effectively wounded Bai Mingzhu, was both ruthless and vicious! If the emperor were to investigate further, Bai Mingzhu would undoubtedly face dire consequences. After all, Luo Zhiheng was a foreigner, and Bai Mingzhu's provocation involved more than just one person; it could potentially escalate the conflict between two nations. 16434146
The emperor, being an emperor, naturally had his own strengths, and he naturally understood the implication in Luo Zhiheng's words, and laughed, "Definitely not, just relax and enjoy the competition."
The Emperor and the Sixth Prince continued walking. When they passed the Bai siblings paying their respects, the Emperor walked straight past them without pausing, not uttering a word or calling out to them, leaving the two siblings standing there awkwardly. The siblings' expressions changed instantly.
The Prince narrowed his eyes. The Southern Dynasty Emperor's attitude made the Prince, who had originally intended to treat him coldly, instantly change his mind. The Prince, who had been languidly showing no intention of getting up, sat up slightly and smiled at the Emperor, saying, "It is truly an honor to have the Southern Dynasty Emperor grace us with his presence. Please take a seat."
The emperor didn't stand on ceremony and walked straight to the throne of the Prince Shi. The moment he turned around and sat down, he saw Luo Ningshuang behind the Prince Shi and was slightly taken aback. Then, without changing his expression, he sat down and greeted the Prince Shi with a smile, while his mind was already wandering elsewhere.
This woman must be Luo Zhiheng's twin sister. Although they look alike, they are easily distinguishable. But what's going on? When he saw Luo Zhiheng that day, she seemed extremely familiar, and anyone he, as the emperor, recognized must be an extraordinary person, or at least a member of royalty. But he just couldn't remember Luo Zhiheng.
At that time, he felt that Luo Zhiheng lacked a certain quality, being somewhat too weak. But upon seeing Luo Zhiheng's twin sister, that feeling intensified. This even more delicate sister lacked Luo Zhiheng's forthright and spirited nature. He felt even more that Luo Zhiheng resembled someone he knew. But who could it be? The emperor racked his brains, his brow furrowing, but he couldn't figure it out.
Seeing the Southern Dynasty Emperor's expression, the Prince Shi's eyes turned cold. He assumed that Luo Ningshuang's failure to greet him and her lack of manners had displeased the Emperor, which made him even more dissatisfied with her. Sitting next to him, people would assume she was someone he had brought, yet her lack of manners only brought shame upon the Prince Shi.
"Greetings, Ancestor! Greetings, Uncle!" Princess Yu greeted everyone cheerfully, then rushed to Murong Qianxue's side, pulling her along and laughing heartily, "Auntie, your friend is so kind! She told Father that it wasn't good to always be cooped up in the palace, and suggested that Mother and I come out for a walk so that any unhappiness would disappear faster. And Father actually let us out! Luo Zhiheng is so amazing! I've told Mother so many times, but she can't take me out. Father never allows Mother and me to leave the palace..."
Princess Yu chattered on and on without anyone asking, blurting everything out herself. Murong Qianxue's lips twitched, and she quickly interrupted her, "It's good that she's out. Let's watch the competition first. Luo Zhiheng is going to perform. Let's cheer her on and help her defeat that shameless white-black pig."
"Haha! Is the white and black pig the same pig? Why is Luo Zhiheng fighting with a pig?" Princess Yu laughed heartily, and her words made a group of old men laugh so hard they were doubled over.
A black and white pig, just one pig? Well said!
Murong Qianxue said with a wicked smile, "Well, Luo Zhiheng won the second round by defeating that pig. Isn't that pig your country's Bai Mingzhu?"
“White Black Pig, White Pearl…” Princess Yu murmured the two names, excitedly saying, “So you’re talking about that annoying woman! Great, let Luo Zhiheng defeat that wretched woman and vent Mother’s anger.”
"Did Bai Mingzhu bully my sister?" Murong Qianxue's expression turned cold.
"Yes, she and that damned Consort conspired to bully Mother. Just recently, they even made Mother sick from anger, and Father didn't care. Mother was so heartbroken. Yu'er hates that black pig! And she hates that Consort too." Princess Yu didn't have much cunning and said a lot, unaware that the expressions on everyone's faces had changed.
Old Master Tong's face darkened. Without even asking, he knew that the "dead concubine" Princess Yu was referring to was Mu Qingya. This wasn't originally his business, but hearing it still made him feel ashamed and indignant. To be so disrespectfully cursed and reprimanded by a child, Old Master Tong naturally wouldn't blame the child for being ill-mannered, because children are children, and that's precisely because they don't understand. But adults must be sensible; it was only because an adult's behavior was bad that a child would be so defiant. This showed that Mu Qingya's usual behavior was also poor.
Mu Yunhe, who had been so happy, now had a face as pale as a sheet, looking extremely ugly. He stared at Princess Yu's back with complicated emotions. Was the girl talking about his sister?! How could his sister be such a despicable person? How could she conspire with others to bully the Empress? It couldn't be like that!
However, Mu Yunhe couldn't help but think of Luo Zhiheng, who had been imprisoned for over two days, never mentioning the Imperial Concubine, but instead repeatedly mentioning the Empress and Princess Yu. He trusted Luo Zhiheng's judgment and insight; if Luo Zhiheng said something was good, it must be good, so he trusted those two as well. But what about his sister? How could the gentle and kind sister he remembered have changed so drastically?
What Mu Yunhe found most unacceptable was that his own sister was mentioned in the same way as the Bai family!
The Bai family of the Southern Dynasty were their enemies! The inexplicable pursuit was something Mu Yunhe could never forget. How could his sister be involved with them? Mu Yunhe suddenly felt a sharp pain in his chest, and even his breathing became heavy and painful. He slumped heavily against the back of the chair, the pain so intense that it quickly broke out in a cold sweat.
"Master, what's wrong?" Xiao Xizi asked anxiously.
"It's nothing." Mu Yunhe's voice sounded relaxed, but he was just suppressing his pain and didn't want anyone to know. He had to hold on until Luo Zhiheng's competition was over and couldn't let Aheng be distracted.
"Stop talking, let's watch the match, it's about to start." Murong Qianxue glanced at Mu Yunhe carefully, then quickly pulled Yu'er, who was looking at her with curiosity, around.
Luo Zhiheng kept smiling as she watched her friends and family. Seeing Murong Qianxue waving vigorously at her, and Princess Yu'er imitating Murong Qianxue and waving excitedly, she felt full of energy. As Madam Song announced the start of the performance once again, Luo Zhiheng slowly sat down in front of the zither table.
Chapter 1 is here! There will be more updates and bonus chapters today. I'll try to upload the next chapter, "Painting Silk," as soon as possible. Love you all! Please vote, leave comments, and give me monthly tickets! Group kisses!
209 A Phoenix's Dance Stuns the Audience: The Desert Goddess! (Part 1)
Updated: 2013-07-27 17:13:03 Word Count: 3349
The scene fell silent once again.
Luo Zhiheng sat upright before the zither, her hand, which had been hidden beneath her cloak, finally emerging. Her fingers lightly pressed the strings, producing a crisp melody, followed by a series of monotonous notes. Each note seemed slow and disjointed, heavy and forceful, each one striking like a blow to the hearts of everyone present, a heavy, painful blow, as if each person were suffocating with unreleased agony. There was absolutely no beauty in it.
But she sat there quietly, her whole body wrapped in a cloak. In the sunlight, the red cloak resembled a mass of dark blood, enveloping her and making her appear dark, mysterious, and isolated from the world, bringing a sense of desperate loneliness!
The crowd exchanged bewildered glances, some utterly disappointed. This piece couldn't even be considered a piece of music; it was monotonous, heavy, pale, and numb. If this was Luo Zhiheng's performance, then she had already lost!
"How could this be?" Murong Qianxue was extremely shocked and couldn't help but nervously grab Yu'er's hand. Her face remained calm and still.
Yu'er looked bewildered and asked, "What is Luo Zhiheng doing? Can't she play the zither?"
Murong Qianxue's face was grim, but the Qin Saint had already lost his composure and smashed a cup, angrily shouting, "What the hell is she doing? When did she learn to fluff cotton?" If the Chess Saint hadn't stopped him, he would have rushed up to question Luo Zhiheng about what she was doing. Why wasn't she playing the zither properly, embarrassing him like this?
Mu Yunhe, however, kept his eyes fixed on Luo Zhiheng. He believed that Luo Zhiheng must have her own purpose. Although the music sounded simple and straightforward with nothing new, Luo Zhiheng herself was the source of all that was new. He had confidence in her.
However, regardless of everyone's thoughts, Luo Zhiheng's melody remained unchanged, causing even the confident Prince Shi to tense up. He sat up straight, staring intently at Luo Zhiheng.
The other princes finally relaxed. Judging from Luo Zhiheng's performance, she was destined to miss out on the championship. As long as the champion wasn't from a country under the rule of the World King, that was fine. The princes couldn't help but feel smug again.
Gradually, the murmurs grew louder, a buzzing sound echoing throughout the arena. They couldn't bear to listen to that dull, monotonous, and oppressive sound any longer; the music had completely extinguished their enthusiasm and joy.
However, just as people were expressing their different emotions and wanting to tell Luo Zhiheng to stop playing, the dull and dark zither music suddenly changed. It was as if a giant dragon that had submerged in the sea suddenly soared into the sky, its roar resounding through the heavens!
The music suddenly quickened, startling everyone, and then everyone fell silent again. Suddenly, Luo Zhiheng's hands pressed down on the strings, and with a whoosh, she tumbled off the zither table, one hand reaching over it, and she was kneeling on the desert floor!
Everyone was shocked! Thinking something had happened to her, gasps of surprise arose, and Mu Yunhe even stood up abruptly.