Chapter 446
Sun Qiyan crossed her arms in front of her chest, with Chu Ting simply standing there with a proud smile waiting for Lu Xinyi to embarrass herself.
However, as soon as Lu Xinyi plucked some strings, making a harmonious melody; the smile on their faces swiftly vanished and replaced with a scowl.
Sun Qiyan frowned, a hint of irritation glint in her eyes. Lu Xinyi probably couldn’t know how to play the guzheng, right? Even Qiushan—who was the most talented musician on their family—couldn’t play one so how could Lu Xinyi possibly know how to play it?
Chairman Sun was also curious if Lu Xinyi was able to play this guzheng. Of all his children, Sun Meixiu was the only one capable of playing guzheng. As Lu Xinyi’s slender fingers hovered over the strings, he held his breath in anticipation.
Lu Xinyi lifted her head and stared at Sun Qiyan with a mocking gaze. If she thought she’d win by forcing Lu Xinyi to play a guzheng, then she’s greatly mistaken. Did this bitch think that she was above her? There were still things that Sun Qiyan didn’t know about her. She could only blame herself for giving Lu Xinyi the spotlight tonight.
She might not be as good as Qiushan or her mother in terms of playing instruments, but she surely picked up and learned some skills from her mother.
The guzheng was like a piano but with many strings to be plucked. For beginners, it would be very hard to recognize each string and play one short song. However, after one becomes familiar with the string location, one would be able to play a lot of easy songs; and everything would be fun.
This was why after trying to learn so many musical instruments from her mother, Lu Xinyi found the guqin and the guzheng easier to learn but hard to master.
However, as soon as her fingers plucked the strings, it started to move like it had its own memories. Each melody and sound was played as if she’s been doing this thing for a long time.
Mesmerizing notes filled the room, leaving everyone speechless as Lu Xinyi’s fingers dance and pluck the strings.
The magic of guzheng was encapsulated by its ambidexterity as both a solo voice and an accompanying voice to an ensemble. This instrument was also known for its unique depth of its string resonance.
Lu Xinyi’s fingers moved fluidly and with confident movement, making everyone think that she was a frequent player of the guzheng. Every turn of her wrists… every pick of a string was flawless and precise, leaving no room for mistakes.
The melody started slow and then started to pick up its pace. Those elders who had a profound understanding of the guzheng easily recognized the piece Lu Xinyi was playing. It was called ‘A Moonlit Night on the Spring River’.
Originally, this piece was known as one of the most popular poems in the country. How did Lu Xinyi able to learn to play such an amazing piece?
The poem could be divided into nine quatrains and three sections. The first section described the scenery of the moonlit Yangtze River in spring. The second and third lamented the ephemerality of life, as well as the sorrow of travelers and the loved ones they leave behind.
In spring the river rises as high as the sea,
And with the river’s rise the moon uprises bright.
She follows the rolling waves for ten thousand li,
And where the river flows, there overflows her light.
The river winds around the fragrant islet where
The blooming flowers in her light all look like snow.
You cannot tell her beams from hoar frost in the air,
Nor from white sand upon Farewell Beach below.
No dust has stained the water blending with the skies;
A lonely wheel like moon shines brilliantly far and wide.
Who by the riverside first saw the moon arise?
When did the moon first see a man by riverside?
Ah, generations have come and passed away;
From year to year the moons look alike, old and new.
We do not know tonight for whom she sheds her ray,
But hear the river say to its water adieu. ρꪖꪕᦔꪖꪕꪫꪣꫀꪶ
Away, away is sailing a single cloud white;
On Farewell Beach pine away maples green.
Where is the wanderer sailing his boat tonight?
Who, pining away, on the moonlit rails would learn?
Alas! The moon is lingering over the tower;
It should have seen the dressing table of the fair.
She rolls the curtain up and light comes in her bower;
She washes but can’t wash away the moonbeams there.
She sees the moon, but her beloved is out of sight;
She’d follow it to shine on her beloved one’s face.
But message-bearing swans can’t fly out of moonlight,
Nor can letter-sending fish leap out of their place.
Last night he dreamed that falling flowers would not stay.
Alas! He can’t go home, although half spring has gone.
The running water bearing spring will pass away;
The moon declining over the pool will sink anon.
The moon declining sinks into a heavy mist;
It’s a long way between southern rivers and eastern seas.
How many can go home by moonlight who are missed?
The sinking moon sheds yearning o’er riverside trees.
To Shen Yi, the piece made him imagine a lonely woman waiting in the middle of the night for someone. She might be missing that person so badly that she couldn’t sleep; hence, she went to the riverside and watched the reflection of the moon over the water.
Was her husband traveling somewhere, and she was left pining for him to return?
It seemed the moon understood the loneliness of this person and offered her his company as she waited, to make her feel that she wasn’t alone.
Lu Xinyi finished her song before gently placing her hands on her lap. Even after the song had ended, the guests realized the solemn and stirring feelings of life dispersed from the deepness, quietness, lightness, and elegance from it. There was also a meticulous and feeble disturbance on their life and soul as they listened to the song.
There was a moment of silence before someone, who ended up being Shen Yi, clapped for Lu Xinyi’s astounding performance. He’d never thought that his little naughty wife had other hidden talents aside from cooking. Ah, he was one proud husband for having a talented wife like her. He thought he could never find a better wife than Lu Xinyi.
Her performance had surely caught everyone off-guard, especially Sun Qiyan and Chu Ting who were both shocked and in disbelief after witnessing Lu Xinyi’s performance.
How could Lu Xinyi know how to play such a masterpiece?! Sun Qiyan thought.
During Lu Xinyi’s stay at the Sun Estate after her mother’s death, she never participated in any events or played musical instruments. The Lu Xinyi Sun Qiyan knew was that girl who would rather stay with the servants at their dirty kitchen and play with Qiushan than attending their lessons.
So how was it possible that Lu Xinyi ended up proficient in playing a guzheng?
Lu Xinyi gracefully stood up and thanked everyone before leaving the stage. She walked past Sun Qiyan and chuckled loud enough for the other woman to hear.
“Better luck next time, Qiyan.” Also known as ‘Spring River in the Flower Moon Night’ by Zhang Ruoxu. The piece is famous for the beautiful scenery it evokes and for its feelings about passing human existence. The moon rises with the tide, the river sparkles in the moonlight. The poet is said to seek the meaning of life. He recognizes human frailty and transience by comparing the limits of human life with the eternity and constant renewal of nature.