77: Chapter 72 Peerless Beauty_4 77: Chapter 72 Peerless Beauty_4 Jiang Li said, “But she lacks a musical heart.”
“Musical heart?” Liu Xu was startled.
“When ‘Wild Geese Descending on the Sandbank’ is played to the end, the composer expresses a realization that the ways of the world are dangerous and not as simple as the nature of wild geese.
Once settled, the sand is flat and the water distant – the mind is content and at ease, friendships are without suspicion, and males and females communicate freely.
The music is serene and beautiful, extending gently, with stillness in motion and motion in stillness, both action and quietude are suitable, and the posture is light,” Jiang Li explained.
“But because Jiang Youyao’s musical heart lacks a bit of ‘indifference,’ her zither music also lacks a touch of ‘lightness.'”
Liu Xu listened intently to Jiang Li’s words.
“My youngest sister has indeed played ‘Wild Geese Descending on the Sandbank’ to perfection, but even if she played it a thousand times, or even ten thousand times, as long as she hasn’t grasped the essence or touched the musical heart, there will always be something missing from her music, and she won’t be the best,” she said.
“You make sense,” Liu Xu said, gradually understanding as she listened, but then shook her head.
“It’s easy for you to talk about the musical heart, but it’s not so easily touched upon.
There are zither masters who, even if they spend their whole lives, cannot touch it.
I’m afraid that none of the students from Mingyi Hall could possess it.
It’s just too difficult to grasp such artistic conception!”
Jiang Li smiled slightly.
Indeed, it was so.
To expect daughters brought up in boudoirs to comprehend the open expansiveness and heroic indifference of wild geese, seemed like the ramblings of a madman.
Not to mention daughters of nobility, even common folk who’ve grown old may not ever come into contact with it.
As they were speaking, Jiang Youyao’s zither music was nearing its conclusion.
She gracefully finished the last section, the music ceased, and soon after, the Inspection Field erupted with waves of applause and cheers.
This had not occurred with any of the other female students before.
Jiang Youyao reveled in this rare honor, her smile beaming even brighter.
She courteously bowed to the examiners and walked down from the Inspection Field with unhurried steps.
Liu Xu’s palms were sweating with nervousness as she said to Jiang Li, “What should we do?
It’s your turn now.”
“It’s okay,” Jiang Li reassured her in return.
“I’ll be back very soon.” With that, she was about to leave but Liu Xu grabbed her sleeve.
“Wait!
I haven’t asked you yet, what are you planning to play?” Liu Xu asked.
Jiang Li smiled at her: “Something that no one else has played.” Then she left first.
Liu Xu stood there, murmuring, “Something that no one has played, that no one has played…
she…” Her gaze suddenly stiffened, disbelievingly watching the figure heading up to the Inspection Field.
“No way…”
When Jiang Li went up, she just happened to pass by Jiang Youyao coming down.
As they crossed paths, Jiang Youyao smiled sweetly, “Good luck, Second Sister.”
Without turning her head, Jiang Li replied, “Of course.”
A young boy wearing a red kerchief stood on the Inspection Field and called out, “Number thirteen, Jiang Li.”
The whole place was quiet.
Jiang Li stepped onto the Inspection Field.
“Look, your younger sister is up,” a mischievous youth nudged Jiang Jingrui, trying to stir up excitement.
“Be quiet,” Jiang Jingrui grew somewhat irritated.
Seeing his expression, the boy wondered, “What’s the matter?
Are you waiting to hear your little sister play a divine melody?
Young Master Jiang the Second, you aren’t ill, are you?”
The youths all knew about the disgrace from eight years ago concerning Miss Jiang the Second, and they were also aware that the Second Miss had spent eight years in a temple, leaving everyone to presume she was nothing more than an ignoramus without any real accomplishment.
Even if she had achieved the top position in Mingyi Hall, it would have been difficult to change this deeply ingrained impression overnight.
Furthermore, while books, mathematics, and rites might be taught in a temple, the skills of zither, riding, and archery were not something one could learn there.
Jiang Jingrui, his face dark as the bottom of a pot, although not confident himself, felt indignant when others spoke ill of Jiang Li, retorting, “Are you blind?
Just watch and you’ll know, won’t you?”
“We’ll watch and see then,” the youths replied cheerfully.
They chattered excitedly among themselves, not noticing that the Heir of Marquis Ningyuan nearby kept his gaze affixed to Jiang Li on the field, reluctant to look away.
Jiang Li was preparing by burning incense and washing her hands.
When she first started to learn the zither, she knew nothing about burning incense and washing her hands before playing.
Incense was a luxury item used by wealthy families.
Tongxiang was poor, and the paltry salary Xue Huaiyuan brought home was never quite enough, let alone affording a decent zither.
Xue Huaiyuan carved a zither out of wood for her, which Jiang Li used when she began learning.
It was very difficult to play, and its sound was muffled and dull.
After Jiang Li learned to play the zither, she refused to use it again.
Her second zither was a prize won by Xue Zhao in a martial contest.
Xue Zhao had been challenged, and his opponent came from a wealthy family that owned a very fine seven-string zither.
Knowing her longing for a good zither, Xue Zhao cunningly set up a wager, where if his opponent lost, he would have to give him the zither.