76: Chapter 72: Stunning Beauty_3 76: Chapter 72: Stunning Beauty_3 Immortal Jing Hong felt annoyance in her heart, but she also knew that what Mian Ju said was correct.
She knew Jiang Youyao’s problem and had tried to help her, but with zither music, teachers could only teach finger techniques and skills.
The musical heart had to be grasped by oneself, and no one else could assist.
Jiang Youyao couldn’t grasp the musical heart, which was an unfortunate matter.
“However, the young girl, being so young and carefree, it’s normal for her to be unable to comprehend such artistic conception.
To be able to play in such a manner is already quite remarkable.
Unless there are any surprises, today’s top honor will probably go to this young lady,” Mian Ju added with a chuckle.
Hearing this, Immortal Jing Hong’s heart finally felt a bit better.
She had never taken on a disciple or given guidance to anyone; if Jiang Youyao, who had received her instructions, failed to get the top honor, it would be utterly laughable if word got out.
While the two of them were conversing, Xiao Deyin and Music Officer Shi Yan both kept silent.
Xiao Deyin habitually kept his own counsel, not speaking much, while Shi Yan’s arrogance made him indifferent to their discussion.
On the other side, Jih Heng was propping his chin with a fan, half-closing his eyes as if he was dozing off from sheer boredom.
Jiang Youyao on stage possessed an elegant posture, and her zither music was incredibly fluent and pleasant to the ear.
Furthermore, she was playing the challenging “Wild Geese Descending on the Sandbank,” becoming without doubt the focus of everyone’s attention at the Inspection Field.
“That Miss Jiang the Third is quite beautiful indeed,” Li Lian suddenly remarked.
Ye Shijie felt some aversion in his heart.
Regardless of the circumstances, discussing a young lady’s appearance in public was not the conduct of a gentleman.
However, Li Lian’s comment was immediately met with agreement from others who began to express their admiration for Jiang Youyao one after another.
At another side, a young woman was staring at Jiang Youyao on stage, and spitefully said, “She’s really flaunting herself, utterly distasteful!”
This person was Shen Ruyun.
Shen Ruyun admired Zhou Yanbang and naturally harbored no good feelings towards his fiancée, Jiang Youyao.
Seeing Jiang Youyao becoming the center of attention on stage, she felt even more bitterly jealous.
Mother Shen, hearing her words, also chimed in, “She doesn’t behave like a proper lady from a prominent family.”
Yet she didn’t consider that Jiang Youyao was, in fact, the daughter of the current Grand Secretary.
In terms of background, it was the Shen family that truly came from a humble poor scholar’s family.
If Shen Yurong hadn’t become a top scholar, even if Shen Ruyun wanted to be a maid for Jiang Youyao, she would first have to be carefully scrutinized.
“She thinks she plays so well, yet she’s not even half as good to listen to as my sister-in-law was back then,” blurted out Shen Ruyun.
No sooner had the words left her mouth than Mother Shen pinched her hard, and Shen Ruyun immediately realized she had said something wrong.
The Shen family never mentioned Xue Fangfei nowadays; if that person were to find out and get angry, how would they cope?
It was wiser to be cautious in all things.
Shen Ruyun thus fell silent.
At the Jiang family’s seats, the usually silent Jiang Yu Yan couldn’t help but say, “Third sister is playing beautifully.”
Jiang Yue felt extremely displeased, wondering why Jiang Yu Yan was praising Jiang Youyao at this moment.
However, with Ji Shuran beside her, she managed to force a smile and said, “Of course.
Third sister has always been intelligent; she has a natural gift for music, and the first place today undoubtedly belongs to her.
‘Wild Geese Descending on the Sandbank’ is a piece that others dare not attempt, but only our third sister dares to try, and manages to play it impeccably.
If you ask me, in a few more years, no one in Yanjing City will be her match.”
Ji Shuran said, “Yu E, don’t praise your third sister too much.
If outsiders hear you, they might mock her for not knowing her own limits.
There’s always someone better out there, and your third sister still has much to learn.”
Despite saying that, Ji Shuran’s smile couldn’t be concealed, and the pride in her eyes irritated Jiang Yue.
Jiang Yue thought bitterly that she was no less talented than Jiang Youyao, but because the main branch of the family had money and influence, they could hire the best teachers.
If she could also learn the zither from those famous masters like Jiang Youyao, she too could stand out at the Inspection Field.
Why was she not born in the main branch?
Why were her parents just illegitimate offspring?
If only they were ordinary folk, it would have been fine, but in the third branch of the Jiang Family, why was her own family the most ordinary?
Jiang Yue felt extremely aggrieved.
Her grievance went unnoticed by everyone.
At this moment, Jiang Li was also watching Jiang Youyao’s examination.
“She plays…
really well,” Liu Xu said with difficulty, seemingly very reluctant to admit this fact.
However, the reaction of everyone else had already said it all.
This year, compared to the last, Jiang Youyao had put even more distance between herself and the rest.