Chapter 187: Musical Instrument Competition (1/2)
Translator: Guy Gone Bad
Su Nanxiang stood up, walked to the center of the square, and curtsied to the Emperor. ”Your Majesty, the summer resort banquet is only held once a year. If we just eat and drink, it will be rather boring. Please allow me to play the zither to add to the fun.”
”Good!” The Emperor nodded approvingly. The Mountain Resort was far away from the Imperial Palace, so the imperial musicians and dancers didn't follow him here. The summer resort banquet was actually a little boring. It couldn't be better if someone wanted to put on a show.
An insidious, malicious smile flicked across Su Nanxiang's lips, as she said, ”I think it will be monotonous if I play the zither alone. So I want to invite a young lady to play the vertical bamboo flute. We can play a tune together. Your Majesty, what do you think of it?”
”I give you permission to do that!” The Emperor waved his hand, giving his seal of approval.
”Thank you, Your Majesty.” Su Nanxiang gave a curtsy, with a malicious smile hovering on her lips. Her eyes swept over other young ladies and finally settled upon Murong Xue. Then she said smilingly, ”Miss Murong, please come forward and play a tune together with me.”
On hearing this, Murong Xue, who had been just reaching for the fruits on the table, paused and knitted her brows. There were so many young ladies in the square. Why did Su Nanxiang choose Murong Xue to play instruments with her? Obviously, she was brewing a plot. Murong Xue gave a firm refusal, ”Sorry, Miss Su. I can't play the vertical bamboo flute.”
Su Nanxiang didn't get angry at being refused. She looked at Murong Xue with a smile and said, ”I've heard that Marquise used to be the first talented woman in the capital, and was thoroughly accomplished in lyre-playing, chess, calligraphy and painting. You are her daughter. It's impossible that you can't play the vertical bamboo flute...”
Murong Xue gave a brittle laugh. The original owner's mother, Lady Shen was indeed thoroughly accomplished in lyre-playing, chess, calligraphy and painting, but she passed away when the original owner was four years old. So she didn't have the chance to teach her daughter anything although she was such a talented woman.
Su Nanxiang knew what Murong Xue didn't learn anything from Lady Shen, but she still asked Murong Xue to play a tune with her. Clearly, she wanted to make Murong Xue look dumb...
'I just came here to avoid summer heat. I haven't done anything to provoke Su Nanxiang. Why does she try to make me look bad?' Murong Xue thought.
Murong Xue lapsed into silence. Su Nanxiang twisted her lips into a sardonic smile. She knew clearly that Murong Xue couldn't play the vertical bamboo flute. The reason she invited Murong Xue to play a tune with her was because she wanted to humiliate Murong Xue.
Su Nanxiang said, ”Miss Murong, His Majesty has acceded to my request. If you refuse to play the vertical bamboo flute, it means that you are defying His Majesty.”
A cold smile formed onto Murong Xue's lips. 'Defying His Majesty? Su Nanxiang is trying to pin labels on me. If I refuse her, she will certainly make a mountain out of a molehill and advise His Majesty to punish me and my family. In order to play a tune with me, Su Nanxiang has racked her brains in scheming. All right, I will satisfy her request, but...' Murong Xue thought to herself.
”I really can't play the vertical bamboo flute. Can I use other instruments?” she asked.
”Yes, of course.” Su Nanxiang nodded, as a small, unobtrusive and sardonic smile curved her lips. Murong Xue would lose face, no matter what instrument she used.
”Thank you,” Murong Xue said indifferently. She stood up, walked to a big tree, picked a green leaf and wiped the dust off it...
”I'm going to play the zither. Miss Murong, please listen carefully!” said Su Nanxiang with an air of superiority. She put her slender fingers on the strings, and then gently twanged them. A melodious sound of the zither was wafted to everyone's ears.