For Qin Dingshan, the temptation was too great. Thus, he remained silent, indirectly consenting to Qin Jia’s nonsense.
An Yiqing did not choose the piano. She lowered her head and whispered something into the ear of a staff member. Shortly after, three staff members carefully carried a guzheng into the hall.
They carefully set up the guzheng and then respectfully retreated.
Under the breathless gaze of the audience, An Yiqing gracefully walked to the guzheng and sat down elegantly. She lifted her head, gave a light smile to the guests below, and her jade-white fingers gently plucked the strings, as the clear sound of the guzheng began to resonate softly.
As a few notes entered the piece, the audience was astonished to discover that An Yiqing was playing the very same piece as Qin Jia, "Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai," seemingly indifferent to playing this song during Gu Yelin’s proposal.
As the crystalline melody gradually unfolded, the audience’s wandering thoughts slowly vanished, immersing themselves in the poignant score.
The entire banquet hall was quiet, except for the clear and pleasant sound of the guzheng, with everyone reluctant to make any extraneous noise. The lady in the red dress sitting silently before the guzheng, with slender arms and jade-white fingers tenderly caressing the strings, each gesture filled with restrained elegance as she played "Liang Zhu" with a unique expression.
Gradually, the tune began to change, and the relaxing atmosphere took on a tinge of sorrow. It was as if everyone were transported into the story of the pair transforming into butterflies, witnessing the lovers’ constant struggles and separations, their fight against social conventions, sacrificing their lives, and breaking through taboos with their blood and deep affection to become butterflies in flight.
Although everyone was in a position of power, there was a soft spot in their hearts, preserving those precious emotions. The mournful "Liang Zhu" seemed to take everyone back to that year when their feelings first bloomed, filled with lingering affection.
As the piece neared its end, everyone’s eyes were red, immersed in the sorrow of the butterflies, waiting for the final lament.
However, just at that moment, the melody suddenly shifted. An Yiqing’s fingers rippled, playing a succession of rapid notes that made everyone’s heart skip a beat! They were jolted awake from the entwined tenderness!
Immediately afterward, the previously soothing "Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai" was completely overwhelmed by the rousing melody. An Yiqing’s performance, suddenly intense, then gentle, tugged at everyone’s hearts!
After a few rapid notes, those knowledgeable about musical instruments began to recognize the piece.
It was the renowned "Beating the Tiger"!
"Beating the Tiger" is a guzheng piece of tremendous difficulty and fame. The style is passionate and heroic, filled with fervor and a sense of battle, giving listeners the exhilarating feeling of fighting courageously.
An Yiqing switched from the sorrowful "Liang Zhu" to "Beating the Tiger" on the spot with not a single mistake, and the transition between the two pieces was exceptionally smooth and thrilling! Such skill on the guzheng was truly masterful!
The connoisseurs were delighted by what they heard, and even those who didn’t understand music could sense the brilliance of the performance.
In just a few minutes, "Beating the Tiger" gradually approached its end, and An Yiqing modified the last note, a vibrato lingering in the hearts of the audience, leaving them longing for more.
As the piece concluded, her pearly hands gently pressed against the surface of the guzheng.
In the banquet hall, where everyone had been holding their breath while listening to the music, they now exhaled deeply, feeling as if their chests had cleared up a lot.
A loud round of applause led the way, followed by all the guests eagerly clapping their hands, expressing their endless admiration for the girl’s guzheng skills!