If this song was likened to a play, perhaps everyone would be angry and frightened due to the performance of the actors or due to the sorrow and happiness of the play itself. After all, it would involve people's state of mind. In the circumstances where everyone was all immersed in the drama then suddenly saw a sober person, it would make a person astonished.
Jiang Li stared at that pair of beautiful phoenix eyes and for a moment, couldn't figure out the mood contained in those eyes. Only feeling slightly cold in her chest as if almost being seen through.
That temperamental beauty, Duke Su, was sizing her up. Probably still trying to discover her secret.
Jiang Li lowered her eyes, covering up the myriad emotions in her heart and saluted towards the audience. She had finished playing.
Everyone was dumbstruck, looking at her.
Momentarily, all those ridicules, sneers, disdain and even abuse came to an end. If Jiang Li getting first place in the previous three exams was hard to convince the people, that was because it wasn't conducted in front of everyone. Now those people who were questioning her also had nothing to say.
The one playing on the stage was precisely the genuine Jiang second miss.
Among the examiners, that happy little old man Mian Ju called out first: "Young girl, who taught you how to play the qin?"
A noble daughter from the chief assistant's family was called "young girl", was somewhat rude. However, this person was precisely Hong Xiao emperor's most favorite court musician. Jiang Yuan Bai also gave him face and no one would actually say anything.
Mian Ju's question broke everyone's daze. Indeed, everyone saw Jiang Li's guqin skill. The finger technique was proficient, unlike a person who just touched guqin for the first time. By her performance, it's very likely that she had learned for many years. But there wasn't a musician in the nunnery, could an expert have come from somewhere? One who hid from the secular world.
Jiang Li took a glance at Mian Ju's glistening eyes and immediately understood what Mian Ju was thinking in his mind. She might as well took advantage of the situation and said: "Master has already travelled the far distance......."
Ho, as expected, there's an expert giving direction!
Mian Ju nearly unable to hold back and rushed forward, repeatedly asking: "What's your teacher's name? Where does he live? Where did he go to? How to find him?"
Jiang Li glanced at him embarrassedly and vaguely said: "This student also doesn't know......."
Hearing this, Mian Ju was at first feeling anxious. But suddenly recalled something and sighed: "Never mind, never mind, probably this expert also does not wish to reveal their own whereabouts. A free life like the wind, how would he be willing to get tired because of the vulgar world." He again looked at Jiang Li and opened his mouth with a bit of envy: "You, this young girl actually have very good luck. Such a young age, yet was able to get directions from this kind of expert. It won't be exhausted in this lifetime. Why didn't I have such good luck? Ay!"
Jiang Li didn't know whether to laugh or cry upon seeing his moaning and groaning. However, Mian Ju's words made the other people puzzled.
All the people talked about this.
"As it turns out, Jiang second miss received the directions from an expert. No wonder she played this well. I think compared to Jiang third miss just now, her skill is higher?"
"Isn't that so? Didn't teacher Mian Ju say, able to be admitted by teacher Mian Ju as an expert, naturally very good. Jiang second miss was taught by an expert, how could other people compare?"
"Jiang second miss is really lucky, perhaps in the future she could be a musician. Look at teacher Mian Ju's appearance, this has the mind of raising talented people ah."
"Pooh, not being a proper chief assistant noble daughter but going to be a musician? Is Jiang second miss sick?"
The discussion by his ear from then up till now seemed to be changed 180 degrees at once. Ye Shijie was stunned by this abrupt change. After thinking about it, he couldn't help laughing in spite of himself.
From the beginning, he couldn't help worrying about Jiang Li. But he faintly feel, perhaps Jiang Li had her own method.
From the beginning, he couldn't help worrying about Jiang Li. But he faintly had a feeling that perhaps Jiang Li had her own method. That powerful noble eldest miss who looked down on merchants had now grown up, turning into a vastly different person from before. The most obvious was that she had become much more intelligent than before.
Jiang Yuan Bai listened to the compliments made by the surrounding colleagues and was momentarily feeling complicated. On one hand, no matter what, outsiders praising his own daughter was always a happy matter. On the other hand, looking at Jiang You Yao's wronged appearance, he felt somewhat heartbroken.
After all, she was the little daughter who grew up like a pearl in his hand. In this particular skill, Jiang You Yao was always very good at. Now being compared by Jiang Li, Jiang You Yao was certainly feeling sad and in despair.
As a matter of fact, Jiang You Yao felt more jealous than sad, more hate than despair. When Jiang Li started playing 《Eighteen Songs of a Nomad Flute》, Jiang You Yao immediately knew that today's situation afraid would once again be confused by Jiang Li. She looked at Ji Shuran and saw a heavy expression on her face. Her heart right away felt faintly at a loss.
After the loss, she had a deep feeling of shame.
To be defeated by Jiang Li, to be defeated by Jiang Li who was thrown into a nunnery and had nothing since an earlier time, this felt more difficult to bear than killing Jiang You Yao. Especially seeing the surrounding people praising Jiang Li's qin skill. It was the same as resolutely slapping Jiang You Yao's face.
Praising Jiang Li had played well, then what was she?
Just when Jiang You Yao was almost unable to suppress her feelings to show on her face, Ji Shuran, who was sitting by her side, lightly patted her hand and said: "Don't panic, it's not the end yet, not necessarily will be losing."
Hearing Ji Shuran's words, Jiang You Yao gradually calmed down. Although she felt unreconciled, in the end it wasn't the right time.
Jiang You Yao's changing expressions were taken in by Jiang Yu'e. Though she was puzzled to what Ji Shuran finally said to Jiang You Yao, what she was even more puzzled with was, how was Jiang Li able to play the guqin so outstandingly?
She originally thought the Jiang Li who just returned to the residence would be more pitiful than her....... But one after another, the facts proved otherwise. Jiang Li was still able to step on her head.
Jiang Yu'e stared at Jiang Li hatefully. Unknown whether it was because she wasn't reconciled to her father being a shu born, or because she was unable to compare with Jiang Li that she was so unwilling.
At this moment, Meng Hong Jin was also feeling completely uncomfortable. Everytime Jiang Li received any praise, the people always glanced at her with pity. Each person reminded her not to forget the bet made with Jiang Li. Looking at Meng You De's unsightly complexion, Meng Hong Jin felt extremely afraid. If Jiang Li truly came first in all Ming Yi hall's exams, she had to take off her outer garment at the Imperial College's gate and kneel down to apologize.
When that happened, she would be reduced to become the object of ridicule in the entire Yanjing and caused the Meng family to be unable to lift their heads. Father definitely would not forgive her.
Suddenly there's a slight chill in Meng Hong Jin's back, as if she could already see that dreadful scene.
Impossible, she consoled herself, Jiang You Yao also played well, Jiang Li may not necessarily win, impossible.
Jiang Li walked down the stage. She didn't return to the Jiang family's side, instead she walked towards Liu Xu who was waving at her.
Liu Xu pulled her to sit down excitedly. This was still the first time Jiang Li saw this girl with so much emotion. Liu Xu said: "Jiang Li, just now when you played 《Eighteen Songs of a Nomad Flute》, it's really too awesome! No wonder just before you went on the stage you said that you were going to play something that had never been played before. 《Eighteen Songs of a Nomad Flute》, this was still the first time for someone to play this during the examination. I think you played much better than Jiang You Yao. Even I, this person whose guqin skill was average, could feel the mood of your gin tone. Using your words, the heart of guqin, it seems, on this stage, you'll come first!"
She spoke very confidently, as if she was the examiner.
Jiang Li smiled faintly: "That may not be necessarily so." She glanced at the stage.
On the examination stage, Mian Ju was directly facing Shi Yan as he said: "Small Yan Yan, what do you think of the song from the Jiang family's daughter just now?"
"Small Yan Yan", the music official Shi Yan, with a straight face and declined to comment on the name Mian Ju called him, said: "Pretty good."
Everyone knew that the music official Shi Yan was the most arrogant and picky. His evaluation for the majority of the people was nothing else but "too unpleasant to listen to", "awful", "not good". That single "pretty good"indicated that Shi Yan acknowledged this person.
Mian Ju obviously understood Shi Yan's personality very well and at once clapped his hands. He said: "I know that small Yan Yan has the same opinion as I do. Experts like us, both think like this!" Then he looked towards Jinghong fairy and Xiao Deyin to ask: "Fairy and teacher Xiao, how do you see it?"
Jinghong fairy felt somewhat awkward.
She took Ji Shuran's silver. "Bribing an examiner", this matter, never occured in Ming Yi Hall before. Jinghong fairy did this due to originally thinking that inside the current Ming Yi Hall, there's nobody who could compete against Jiang You Yao in guqin. Even if Jiang You Yao just relied on herself, she could obtain the first place. Ji Shuran giving her those silver was as a thank you gift for giving directions to Jiang You Yao. But that gift was somewhat a bit too generous.
Jinghong fairy also immediately accepted it, thinking this was just a matter of pushing the boat with the current. In any case, it went without saying that Jiang You Yao could get first place, not weakly giving personal affections towards the Ji family. Not only that, in the end Jiang You Yao could be considered half her disciple. Whether public or personal, she had to be a bit more partial towards Jiang You Yao.
It was originally a definite matter, who would have imagined a Jiang Li came out attacking halfway. To be honest, Jiang Li's skill was above Jiang You Yao's . Especially since Jiang Li could comprehend "the heart of guqin" at the age of 15. It was actually very rare.
Jinghong fairy admired talented people and was also aloof from politics and material pursuits, but all year round, she was mixed in Fengyue place. Even though she was just a hired hand, she understood the ways of the world. Jiang Li was admittedly very good, but she took Ji Shuran's silver. Between the two di daughters of Jiang Yuan Bai, Jiang Li was sent off at seven years old while Jiang You Yao grew up beside Jiang Yuan Bai. Jiang You Yao was more favored, Jiang You Yao still had Ji Shuran and the Ji family, but Jiang Li had nothing.
"Jiang Li is pretty good, equally matched with You Yao." Jinghong fairy deliberated for a long time before finally speaking.
When these words came out, she didn't think that Mian Ju would immediately laugh and said: "Perhaps fairy is biased because Jiang You Yao is your disciple? The way I look at it, Jiang Li, this little girl's skill level is much higher than Jiang You Yao. Leaving aside the fact that《Eighteen Songs of a Nomad Flute》 is more difficult to play than 《Wild Geese on the Shoal》, in regards to understanding the artistic mood, Jiang You Yao was just outside the door while Jiang Li, this little girl, has already entered the door. Fairy, why are you becoming more worldly now? In a few years, afraid including your "heart of qin" will be lost!"
These words were extremely rude, practically not giving Jinghong fairy any face at all. In Wang Xian Lou, Jinghong fairy started as a clear and pure hired hand. She was even constantly flattered by scholars and literati. When had she ever been reprimanded this rudely by anyone? Her face at once turned beet red from endless anger and humiliation.
"Never mind, how does teacher Xiao look at it?" Mian Ju also asked Xiao Deyin.
Xiao Deyin pondered for a while and unexpectedly opened her mouth to say: "I also think Jiang Li is equally matched with Jiang You Yao."
This was the same as not admitting that Jiang Li was better than Jiang You Yao.
Mian Ju sneered, his gaze as he looked at Xiao Deyin also changed. He asked: "Is it possible that teacher Xiao also accepted Jiang You Yao as a disciple? How did one and two both talk while concealing their conscience."
Xiao Deyin said: "That's not true. Although admittedly Jiang Li played very well, the bleakness in 《Eighteen Songs of a Nomad Flute》 was too heavy, not as good as 《Wild Geese on the Shoal》's open concept. 《Eighteen Songs of a Nomad Flute》 's hand movements are not the same as 《Wild Geese on the Shoal》, the difficulty lies in the artistic mood. After all, it's hard for ordinary people to feel the mournful heart of the person playing the song. But still it's just Deyin that is not fond of mournful tones. The heart of the qin is like the human heart, I am actually more fond of the thought of vastness."