The Rebirth of an Ill-Fated Consort (Chapters 1- 203)

Chapter 60: Crown Pressures The Capital

Nodding her head in assent and without anyone's leave, Jiang Ruan had walked to the bow of the ship. The set up of the Ling Long Boat was very unique; for the convenience of being able to freely admire the moon during the Lantern Festival, the bow of the boat had been designed to be extremely spacious and smooth. As a matter of fact, this design had also made it a suitable area for dancing. Extending her hand out, she had effortlessly pulled out the hairpin behind her head that had been pinned into her coiled hair. Immediately, like a flowing waterfall, her head of fine black hair hung down to her waist, emitting an enchanting luster. Nipping on to the two-noded hairpin that she held in her hands in between her lips, her charming eyes, that held much passion, had swept a glance over everyone on the two large vessels. Then, softly, her lips moved.

Unexpectedly, that two noded hairpin was actually an elaborate tube-shaped whistle. Under the reflective contrast between the beautiful landscape and herself, the first note that overflowed from those red lips was clear and melodious.

At first, one felt that the sounds from the whistle were dull and ordinary, as if one had used plain water to boil porridge that would have made one feel that its taste was dry as dust and tedious. Yet, her figure did not move and quietly stood on the same spot without the slightest movement. Then, some people on the vessels began to show evident expressions of ridicule and merely remarked that this Eldest Young Lady of the Jiang family who had just returned to the capital was trying to exhaust her limited abilities and even went so far as to boast shamelessly and propose to dance for everyone.

Xuan Li's expression had slightly stiffened, he knew that the piece that this young girl had played was 'Guangling Verse'[1]. In this very piece of 'Guangling Verse', the contents were about Nie Zheng's revenge for his father during the Warring States period and his historical deed of assassinating the Han Wang. This was exactly a story about revenge, so why would the Eldest Young Miss of the Jiang family chose such a musical composition filled with such a murderous and combative mood at this moment when there are lovely flowers and a round moon, wherein everything is wonderful and everyone is feeling cheerful.

[1] Guangling Verse - Here is some background about this piece, it is a grand Guqin piece of ancient China, originated from the piece "Nie Zheng's Assassin of Lord Han". The whole piece is divided into 45 paragraphs, and the music is bold and exciting, full of rebelliousness as it pictures the exciting scene of one of the most famous assassins on Chinese history. Therefore, it is very difficult for Jiang Ruan to use a flute/whistle to play this alone instead of using a zither.

Although these one or two sections appeared to be ordinary and made everyone remark on her mediocre skills, yet, Xuan Li knew that in these two sections, there was turbulent undercurrents and if one were not genuinely in that deliberate state of mind (where one feels such emotions), then that person would be unable to play the piece out. As for him, from this piece of hers, he could hear the forbearance and loneliness that seemed to span for several centuries.

Apart from Xuan Li alone, there were others who had felt this way as well. When the music note had barely just echoed, Xiao Shao who had been sitting alone before the window had then slightly raised an eyebrow as his gaze fell upon the young lady who was performing a tune all by herself.

After those few sections, Jiang Ruan then unhurriedly began to move. As those red clothes moved in the spry and lively dancing, it was like an alluring phantom that had fallen to the mortal realm, extremely evil yet, extremely beautiful. Spins, standing on tiptoes, lifted arms and kicks, as for what she had executed; never was one movement more graceful, more moving and was just so glamorously stirring that it had made one unable to take their eyes off her. Gradually, everyone began to take back their gazes of scorn and could barely cover up the wisps of amazement in their eyes.