bullyxtreme Chapter 175 Pipa Tunes
Chapter 175 Pipa Tunes
Yang Jianwu had no interest in showing off her talents and continued eating by herself.
Seeing that she remained calm and composed, Li Leru couldn't help but feel a sense of helplessness, like she was hitting a brick wall...
Emperor Dongli recalled that Yang Jianwu had once been chosen by Phoenix Star, but she was removed from the selection because she was playful and later disfigured. He wondered what she looked like now. His gaze swept around and stopped on a figure eating happily. A beaded curtain covered most of her face, but he could see some resemblance to General Yang's wife, Madam Yuan, between her brows. He thought that this must be Yang Jianwu!
"Miss Yang, don't you need to go down and make some preparations?"
Yang Jianwu looked up upon hearing this. Was it Emperor Dongli asking her?! She put down her chopsticks, stood up, and bowed.
"Your Majesty, I am ignorant. I grew up in the rough and uncivilized borderlands and have not learned my mother's dancing skills. If you ask me to show my talents, I would be ashamed and cover my face. I am usually playful and have no skills to show off. It would be harmless for me to play the pipa and sing a little song for everyone to have some fun."
"Hehe~ Sing a little tune? Other girls prepare with all their might, are you just going to throw caution to the wind?"
Yang Jianwu's face was full of worry. "Your Majesty, there's nothing I can do about it. The Seventh Prince's Consort has already asked me to demonstrate, so I have no choice but to comply. Even if it's a broken pot, I have to make a sound before it breaks!"
She mentally cursed Li Leru again: "Hmph, you just want to tell everyone that I have no talent, don't you? Now I've said it all. Even if the performance is bad, let's see how you try to make things difficult for me! You want to show off and gain favor in front of everyone? Then I'll make you lose face! I don't believe that the shrewd old man, Emperor Dongli, can't see through your deliberate attempt to make things difficult?"
Emperor Dongli could indeed see that Li Leru was deliberately making things difficult, but he couldn't say it outright. He was somewhat disgusted by Li Leru's actions. Tonight was a farewell banquet for the envoys from Xipan. It was really inappropriate for her to reveal her little schemes and make herself a laughing stock!
"Le Ru, not everyone is as talented and beautiful as you; you are a true role model!"
Seeing Emperor Dongli's expression darken, realizing that his words, though praising her, were actually a warning, Li Leru knew things were about to go wrong and tried to explain, "Father..."
Before she could speak, Yang Jianwu interrupted, "Your Majesty, the Seventh Prince's Consort is a role model for the women of Dongli. Since you asked her to make the arrangements, she naturally wanted to do her best and take everyone into consideration. I suppose she was worried that I would be left out, so she asked me to participate in the demonstration. It was a kind gesture!"
Li Leru could only awkwardly reply, "Yes, that's what I meant..."
Seeing Li Leru's discomfiture, Yang Jianwu felt a surge of satisfaction. He had made Bai Lian's path so that she had nowhere to go. How satisfying!
The Empress also noticed the situation and acted as a peacemaker, saying, "The other young ladies have all gone to make preparations. Since Miss Yang doesn't need to make any other preparations, why don't you perform a song first? It would be a good opportunity to change up the palace's music!"
Yang Jianwu raised an eyebrow. The Empress's words were interesting. Was she trying to change the tone of the palace? At first glance, it didn't seem like much, but upon closer inspection, it was quite intriguing. Did she dislike Li Leru?
Yang Jianwu was not interested in their grudges; after all, the enemy of my enemy can be my ally for the time being.
Yang Jianwu stood up to greet him and went to the musician to borrow a pipa.
A palace servant automatically moved a small stool to the center of the stage. Yang Jianwu sat down in the center with her pipa in her arms, calm and composed without the slightest hesitation. She casually pressed a few scattered notes with her fingers and then made some simple adjustments.
Nalan Yuanli watched Yang Jianwu on the stage with great interest. This girl always surprised people every time they met! Could she be General Yang's daughter, the daughter of General Yang who has been stationed in Anshun?
Yang Jianwu tuned the instrument, and slowly the music flowed from her fingertips, her voice accompanying the song...
"At the head of Xunyang River, I saw off a guest at night; the maple leaves and reeds rustled in the autumn breeze."
The host dismounts, the guest remains on the boat; raising a cup to drink, there is no music playing.
Unable to find joy in my drunken state, I was saddened by our parting; at the moment of parting, the vast river was bathed in moonlight.
Suddenly, the sound of a pipa was heard on the water; the host forgot to return home, and the guest did not depart.
Following the sound, I secretly inquired who was playing the pipa. The music stopped, and the player hesitated to speak…
The unfamiliar melody instantly drew everyone's attention, and many people unconsciously hummed along...
"...
The large strings clang like a sudden rainstorm, the small strings whisper like a private conversation.
The music played a cacophony of notes, like pearls of all sizes falling onto a jade plate.
......"
A musician skilled in music exclaimed from the side, "Who composed these lyrics and music? They're so beautiful!"
"Yes, the lyrics are good too!"
"...
A hidden sorrow and resentment arise; at this moment, silence speaks louder than words.
A silver bottle suddenly shatters, water gushing forth; iron cavalry charges forth, swords and spears clashing.
......"
The young master, who was fond of poetry, couldn't wait to have his servant bring him the Four Treasures of the Study (writing brush, ink stick, inkstone, and paper).
"Write it down quickly!"
"Where did you get to? I missed two sentences!"
"It's alright, I'll ask Miss Yang for some pointers later!"
"That suits me perfectly!"
"...
I sighed upon hearing the pipa, and now I sigh again upon hearing these words.
We are both wanderers in this world, why should we need to have known each other before?
……
Living near the Pengjiang River in a low-lying, damp place, the house is surrounded by yellow reeds and bitter bamboo.
What sounds can be heard between dawn and dusk? The cuckoo's mournful cry and the ape's lament.
......"