by Ning er
But Hai Tian is biting Yun Qian Meng without letting go. Seeing her refusing like this, her eyes showed coldness. With a trace of unhappiness, she said: “Miss Yun being like this is like tearing ben junzhu’s face. Would this not make it look like that xiangfu doesn’t know the etiquette of hierarchy?”
After everyone heard that, in their hearts they wiped a sweat for Yun Qian Meng. Although the empress dowager and Fu Guo Gong Fu is at Yun Qian Meng’s back, but Hai wang’s family property really surprised everyone. Moreover, Hai wang’s title is given by the previous emperor and that previous emperor is the empress dowager’s husband. If Yun Qian Meng refuse now, they are afraid that even the empress dowager wouldn’t be able to protect Yun Qian Meng.
It’s just that today, the crowd has also seen too much. This Hai Tian junzhu has made up her to make it hard for Yun Qian Meng, that’s why she is being so difficult. This also let the people look at Yun Qian Meng with eyes full of sympathy but in their hearts they rejoicing at other’s misfortune. After all, the ‘River on a Spring Night’ was really fascinating plus the fact that Chu xiang didn’t even put Hai Tian in his eyes, but he made a poem for Yun Qian Meng, it immediately let the ladies’ hearts taste sour. Since they have no chance to perform in front of Chu xiang and Chen wang, they’ll be happy to see Hai Tian make things difficult for Yun Qian Meng to let Yun Qian Meng become a joke!
“O? Didn’t know that junzhu’s prejudice against xiangfu is so deep. Today I’ll like to ask some advice from junzhu! In the end what kind of etiquette can enter junzhu’s eyes? Everybody who has come today is a guest. Wangye and junzhu are the hosts today. This should have been a scene of joy. But I don’t know why junzhu said those words and spoiled the scene?!”
Not waiting for Yun Qian Meng to say anything, Chu Fei Yang raised the peach shaped purple cup in his hand. A pair of bright eyes stared at the purple cup. With a breathtaking cold voice he said those words.
Hai Tian’s expression stiffened a moment. Her heart immediately tightened. Her eyes immediately turned to Chu Fei Yang. She saw that he preferred to stare at the cup in his hands and didn’t even want to look at her once. Rage immediately went into her heart. The hands in her sleeves clenched into fists in resentment. Barely suppressing the wroth in his heart, she said in a low voice: “Chu xiangfu is naturally good, but it’s……”
“Tian er!”
At this time, Hai wang who didn’t open his mouth for a long time suddenly shouted. Eyes full of dissatisfaction stared at Hai Tian and are blaming Hai Tian for being reckless.
Knowing that in Xi Chu are two ministers, but because of jealousy, Hai Tian has forgotten the meaning that her words can have. Because of a carelessness and actually offended Chu Fei Yang, this made Hai wang’s eyes which were like spring immediately have a layer of coldness. A chill aura unconsciously emitted from his body.
Hai Tian has been woken up by this shout. She immediately shut her mouth. But her heart is still unwilling. She turned around and where the crowd couldn’t see her, she glared once at Yun Qian Meng full of hate.
Yun Qian Meng only felt really wronged. It’s obviously the fallen flower which wanted to do a ruthless thing but accidentally fell onto the wrong place and vented its anger on her. She felt really wronged!
In particular at this time, Hai Tian is glaring at her. Although it won’t generate pressure for Yun Qian Meng, but it’s a bother. So she can only lift her eyes and looked at Hai Tian’s beautiful eyes which are spitting fire. She smiled very innocently provoking the jealousy in Hai Tian’s eyes even more.
“But since, junzhu has asked warmly, can miss Yun play one song. This will also add fun for everyone. Don’t know what Chen wang think of this?”
Chu Fei Yang suddenly changed the subject. His dark eyes turned and looked at Jiang Mu Chen. He asked with a smile on his mouth.
Because Hai Tian making things hard for Yun Qian Meng, Jiang Mu Chen’s eyes have always been on Yun Qian Meng. At this time hearing Chu Fei Yang changed to subject to himself, he retrieved his gaze. With eyes full of frost topped with ice, he looked at Chu Fei Yang. He saw Chu Fei Yang has smile in his eyes, Jiang Mu Chen’s heart immediately flashed unhappiness. Then he said coldly: “Is Chu xiang’s mood today especially good or is it that you favor miss Yun’s qin?”
Everyone heard that that the words are filled with traps. They seemed like swords. Everyone stayed silent to not be cut by them.
Hai wang at the same table already restored his previously warm expression. His eyes have little smile in them. It seemed like he didn’t feel the tense atmosphere between the two. At the other side of the table, Hai Chen Xi is sipping at his cup of wine. His seductive eyes are staring at the lake outside.
Hai wangfei glanced slightly with pain in her heart at Hai Tian. Seeing that this Chu Fei Yang has an uncertain temperament and because of Hai Tian’s words, he made things difficult for Hai Tian. She put the blame on Yun Qian Meng.
At this time, the atmosphere inside the ship is awkward, making everyone uncomfortable. Hai wangfei smiled elegantly. Eyes full of prestige looked at Yun Qian Meng. She then followed Chu Fei Yang’s words and opened her mouth: “Since Tian er and Chu xiang has asked miss Yun to play one more song, then I can only thank miss Yun for your trouble!”
Chapter 71: Vengeful feelings on the lake in Hai wangfu | Chu Wang Fei
君主 junzhu – title given to a princess who is a descendant of royalty
祖父 zufu – grandfather
臣女 chennü – I, a (female) subject addresses herself with this when speaking to royalty
Just a few minor corrections from Chapter 70. The place “Sui Yi Yuan” was translated as “Casual Yuan”. Ironically, Sui Yi means to do as one wishes, or in other words, to act willfully. The ship was also incorrectly described to be “about three feet high and five feet long”, when it is actually 100 feet (30 meters) tall and 500 feet (150 meters) long, with three floors! The song that Hai Tian played was the solo piece “Ambush from ten sides”, which shares a name with the wuxia film “House of Flying Daggers”. Anyway, without further ado……
Nevertheless, Hai Tian was not willing to just let Yun Qian Meng off. Seeing her refuse like this, her eyes became extremely cold as she said unhappily, “Yun xiaojie is not giving ben junzhu any face. Doesn’t this show that the xiangfu has no respect towards the hierarchy between seniors and juniors?”
Hearing this, the crowd broke into a sweat as they felt for Yun Qian Meng in their hearts.
Even though Yun Qian Meng had the Empress Dowager and Fu Guo gongfu behind her back, the resources at Hai Wang’s disposal was just too astonishing! Moreover, Hai Wang’s title was bestowed to him by the previous Emperor. That previous Emperor was exactly the Empress Dowager’s late husband! If Yun Qian Meng continued to refuse, perhaps even the Empress Dowager would be unable to protect her!
Still, everyone today was able to discern exactly what was going on. Princess Hai Tian was clearly set on making life difficult for Yun Qian Meng. That was why she was being hard on her in every possible way. Everyone looked at Yun Qian Meng with eyes full of sympathy, but still, in their hearts, there was a bit of joy and excitement at witnessing another’s misfortune!
After all, the song, River on a Spring Night, was truly mesmerizing. Not only that, Chu Xiang who had not even batted an eyelid at Princess Hai Tian, chose instead to compose a poem for Yun Qian Meng’s song, leaving only a sour taste in those young maidens’ hearts. Since they themselves did not have the opportunity to present themselves before Chu Xiang and Chen Wang, they were all too happy to watch Hai Tian cause problems for Yun Qian Meng and humiliate her!
“Oh? I didn’t think that junzhu’s prejudice against the xiangfu was so deep. It seems that benxiang will have to seek advice from junzhu today! Just what kind of respect is necessary for it to be pleasing to junzhu’s eyes? Everyone here is a guest, while wangye and junzhu are the hosts today. This was supposed to be a joyous occasion, but for I just cannot fathom why junzhu would
feel the need to throw a wet blanket over everyone by saying such things!” Before Yun Qian Meng could reply, Chu Fei Yang had raised the purple goblet shaped like a Peach of Immortality, gazing into the cup indifferently with his brilliant eyes as he spoke with a soul-shaking, cold voice.
Hai Tian’s expression momentarily stiffened as her heart tightened. Her eyes darted towards Chu Fei Yang, only to find that he would rather keep staring at the red wine he was holding instead of sparing her a glance. Her heart was almost overcome with anger for a split second, as the hands she held limply by her sides formed bitter fists over her resentment. She had to forcefully push down the anger in her heart before she managed to calm down and humble herself to respond, saying, “Chu xiangfu is fine, naturally! It’s just, some……”
“Tian’er!” At this moment, Hai Wang who had kept silent all the while suddenly shouted severely. He glared at Hai Tian with eyes filled with dissatisfaction, seemingly reprimanding Hai Tian for her recklessness!
She should be fully aware that West Chu had two ministers, the Left and the Right. But due to a bit of jealousy, Hai Tian had forgotten that some things should never be said! In her moment of carelessness, she had already offended Chu Fei Yang. Because of this, Hai Wang, whose gaze was previously as gentle as the spring breeze had become a frozen pool of water in the blink of an eye; as a chilly aura was unconsciously released from his body!
Hai Tian was woken up by the loud shout and immediately shut her mouth. Still, she was nevertheless dissatisfied, and turned until the crowd could not see her expression before glaring fiercely at Yun Qian Meng!
Yet Yun Qian Meng only felt extremely wronged by the situation. Obviously, the falling flower wanted to get close to the running water, while the water cared not about the fallen flower. But just because the flower had accidentally fallen into the wrong place, she had decided to take out her anger on her! Just what kind of injustice was this?!
In particular, Hai Tian continued to glare at her like a tiger eyeing its prey. Even though Yun Qian Meng did not feel much pressure from her actions, it was still a considerable bother. She could only raise her eyes to meet with Hai Tian’s that were spitting flames and give her an innocent smile, somehow ending up provoking Hai Tian’s jealousy even further.
“Still, since junzhu has made such a warm request, Yun xiaojie should play one more song and liven things up for everyone. Isn’t that right, Chen Wang?” Chu Fei Yang suddenly changed the subject, turning his dark eyes towards Jiang Mu Chen as he asked with a smile on his lips.
Jiang Mu Chen had been staring at Yun Qian Meng when Hai Tian was purposely making things difficult for her when Chu Fei Yang had brought him into the conversation. Retrieving his gaze, he shot a frosty look at Chu Fei Yang, only to find his opponent smiling back at him. Somewhat unhappy, he coldly rebutted, “Is Chu Xiang’s mood really good today, or do you really think so highly of Yun xiaojie’s skill with the zither?”
Watching the two of them cross swords with their words full of hidden meanings, almost seeing blades of light flashing between them, everyone stayed fearfully silent to avoid being drawn into the line of fire.
Hai Wang who was sitting at the same table as them had returned to his gentle and refined appearance, with even a slight smile in his eyes. It was almost as if he did not notice the hostile atmosphere between the other two!
On the other side, Hai Chen Xi just enjoyed another cup of wine by himself, staring at the night sky reflected on the lake with a seductive look in his eyes.
Hai wangfei looked at Hai Tian with a bit of heartache. She was still unable to make sense of Chu Xiang’s temperament. Just now, he had sharpened his words against Hai Tian because of something she said, yet now, he had turned around to put Yun Qian Meng on the spot!
Just as the atmosphere on the ship was getting awkward, making everyone feel uncomfortable, Hai wangfei smiled elegantly and shot a look at Yun Qian Meng with a dignified expression. She then followed Chu Fei Yang’s words to say, “Since Tian’er and Chu Xiang have both invited Yun xiaojie to play another song, we can only thank Yun xiaojie for your trouble!”
These words were full of hidden implications. On one hand, it was telling everyone Chu Fei Yang and Tian’er had similar views, both of them thinking highly of Yun Qian Meng’s zither skills!
On the other hand, she was using her status as Hai wangfei to command Yun Qian Meng to play a song on the zither, leaving Yun Qian Meng with no way to decline!
Qu Fei Qing stood to the side, glancing nervously at Yun Qian Meng while also sending an angry glare towards Hai Tian.
Hai Tian was clearly doing this on purpose! Meng’er grew up in that kind of household without receiving any attention from her father. There was no way any famous teachers would have taught Yun Qian Meng any zither skills!
Hai Tian, targeting this weakness of hers, as well as being an expert at the zither herself, was naturally not afraid that Yun Qian Meng would surpass her!
Qu Fei Qing was just about to step out to help Yun Qian Meng when she was stopped by Qu Zhang Qing, who said, “Meng’er can take care of this by herself!”
After that, Qu Zhang Qing took a meaningful look at Yun Qian Meng. From the way she played the pipa just now, he managed to realize that his little cousin was no beginner. As for the reason she declined to play the zither earlier, it was only because she did not wish to appear like a show-off, to avoid arousing jealousy in others!
But now, Hai Tian and Hai wangfei were certain that they could humiliate Yun Qian Meng, which was why they were so determined not to let her off!
It seems that unless Yun Qian Meng played a song for everyone to judge, they simply would not let the matter drop!
Hence, contrary to Qu Fei Qing’s worried feelings, seeing Yun Qian Meng’s steady expression, Qu Zhang Qing actually felt a firm confidence in her, believing without a doubt that she would once again cause everyone to drop their jaws in shock!
Still, the sound of Qu Fei Qing’s hurried footsteps were somewhat ear-piercing on the quiet deck. Yun Qian Meng turned towards Qu Fei Qing who was planning to rush over, and saw that her eyes were full of worry. Smiling slightly, she sent her a reassuring glance before bowing to Hai wangfei and saying, “chennü obeys.”
Finishing, Yun Qian Meng slowly sat down and raised her arms, gently placing the zither on her lap. Her slender, white fingers suddenly danced forcefully, creating a mellow yet graceful melody. The rising rhythm somehow embodied the scenery of the misty peaks of Mount Yangming as well as the graceful rippling of the lake water. With the deep tone of the zither, the opening tune created a soft and melancholic atmosphere.
As the movements of her fingers changed, the melody gradually unfolded from the opening, immersing everyone in the picturesque landscape. Surging through the clouds and oceans, and breaking through the heavy mood from the opening tune, the melody rose up to its climax, as Yun Qian Meng ingeniously combined various techniques of staccato, vibrato, damping and harmonics to embellish the tune; bursting out with intense, passionate and unrestrained emotions, as if she was urgently venting everything that was on her mind. Yet it also felt like a sigh of helplessness, only weaving the scene of an endless horizon under a cloudy but bright sky, overflowing with the patriotic feelings of love and pride towards their country.
All of a sudden, a slight twang was heard from Yun Qian Meng’s flashing fingers……
Just as the crowd began to break into an uproar, they found that one of the zither’s strings had unexpectedly snapped. Qu Fei Qing immediately frowned when she saw the badly damaged zither, quickly figuring out that Hai Tian had done something to it beforehand. Her heart couldn’t help but tighten as she looked towards Yun Qian Meng with worry.
Yet Yun Qian Meng seemed as if she did not realize that one of her strings were broken. She only made use of glissando, gliding the pitch up and down to perfectly make up for the hole left by the broken string, causing the entire audience to become dumbstruck with awe!
Taking another
look at Yun Qian Meng’s expression, they found that she was still calm and collected, not at all affected by the broken string!
Lit by the moonlight and candle flames, her appearance was lucid and elegant. Her purple coat patterned with roses and chrysanthemums, pale moon-white pleated skirt, neatly arranged ink-like black hair decorated with a freshly picked hibiscus and held together by fine silver tassels, as well as the slightly flickering red jewels on her ears highlighted her natural and poised bearing.
As for her zither playing posture, Yun Qian Meng’s head leaned slightly to a side, exposing a slither of her elegant neckline. Like fresh grapes, her skin sparkled under the moonlight, becoming all the more translucent. A light smile never left her face, as her eyes, brilliant like the stars, blazed with limitless self-confidence, while the slight dimples on her left cheek became faintly discernable. It was almost as if a pure, unpolluted fairy had fallen down to the mortal word, leaving all the men on the boat feeling like they had suddenly lost their souls!
And at this moment, the melody suddenly swung back into a deep bass, as the rhythm diverged yet again. This final tune created a distinct and intense contrast with the previous section, as the current melody was like a powerless sigh, just a feeble echo of the surging waves from before. Shattering against the mountains and rivers, and laying bare the drifting feelings of helplessness, Yun Qian Meng led the audience out of the dream, sharing an endless sorrow through the bond between a zither player and the listeners.
The song ended, but everyone was still lost in a dream. They just couldn’t understand how Yun Qian Meng, a young lady who grew up in a boudoir, would play a song that could borrow the scenery in such a way and give rise to such patriotic feelings. For a while, their eyes were filled with curiosity as they stared closely at the currently breathlessly attractive Yun Qian Meng.
Jiang Mu Chen’s eyes also seemed to lose their coldness, as a feeling that he never felt before rose within them.
