Vol 1 Chapter 1.14 (1/2)
Zhou Wen Wu enters the hall and sees Xu Zhi watching a song and dance performance ent.i.tled “Flying Fairy”. This is the umpteenth time she has seen the performance and although she shows no sign that she is tired of watching the same thing over and over again, Zhou Wen has seen through her disinterest. Over the past month, he has come to realize that beyond her scholarly pursuits, she has little interest in how she dresses, what she eats, what she watches, etc. Her schedule, in fact, her whole life, is arranged by her a.s.sistants and had they not been n.o.bles once upon a time, would Xu Zhi’s dressing and lifestyle follow that of a commoner?
Zhou Wen Wu commands the musicians to halt the performance and they put down their instruments obediently. When Xu Zhi looks at him, he shrugs. “This music is making me sleepy.”
”Oh…” Xu Zhi has no objections and after a minute, she turns to look at the lead performer, Yun Qing. “If that is the case, can you sing me a Xi Xuan love song?”
The whole hall falls silent and Yun Qing lowers his eyes. “Yes.”
“Can you sing the song with feeling? I have always wondered at the difference between a love song sang with feeling versus a love song sang without feelings.”
Yun Qing looks at her but has no idea what she is trying to do. “If that is the case, I will need to invite Da Gu Niang to come to the centre of the stage.”
As she pa.s.ses a fuming Zhou Wen Wu, the latter remarks coldly. “Xu Zhi, do you know what are Xi Xuan love songs meant for?”
“Of course I do.”
As he digests her answer which imply that she sees no special meaning in his kisses, Xu Zhi has moved to the stage centre. “I’m ready. Please start.”
Yun Qing shots Zhou Wen Wu a discrete look before starting to sing. When he has finished, Xu Zhi has a question for him. “Is this love song sang without feelings?”
“Yes.” Yun Qing bites his lip to keep his patience and tries another track to find out what she is angling for. “Would you like me to sing you a love song with feelings next?”
“Yes, please sing me an emotion-packed song.”
Jiang Jiu happens to be pa.s.sing by the hall and hears Yun Qing’s melodious voice. “My shoulders are broad and st.u.r.dy, my maiden, are you willing to lean on me? My body is muscled and strong, my maiden, are you willing to touch?”
Yun Qing circles around Xu Zhi as he sings; all the while looking at her with eyes filled with longing. It is hard to imagine how any woman can resist his request and when Zhou Wen Wu sees that Xu Zhi’s eyes are gleaming, he cannot take it anymore and overturns the table in front of him. “Xu Zhi, are you really going to let a minstrel finish singing the song to you? Do you know how sacred our love song is to Xi Xuan people?”
Xu Zhi is about to praise Yun Qing for his wonderful performance but she swallowed the words which are at the tip of her tongue. She can feel the emotions and is amazed at Yun Qing’s talent. Unlike what Zhou Wen Wu fears, she is unaffected by Yun Qing’s so-called love declaration. After all, they have only met a handful of times prior to this and there is no way she can believe that Yun Qing has fallen for her. Given that he does not love her and yet can inject such emotions into his voice…
Zhou Wen Wu and Jiang Jiu look on in shock as Xu Zhi suddenly grabs Yun Qing’s hands in both of hers. “You are so wonderful! I have never imagine that the same song by the same singer to the same audience can sound so different! So this is a true Xi Xuan love song? If so, any woman who hears it will surely be moved…”
Zhou Wen Wu narrows his eyes dangerously while Yun Qing wonders if he should laugh or cry. Before he can do either, Xu Zhi smiles at him warmly and continues. “Frankly, I cannot tell the difference before today….”
Jiang Jiu wants to control the situation before it goes out of hand. He steps into the hall and is about to suggest Xu Zhi to reward the performers before dismissing them, when he hears her next words. “You are so talented. Have you considered becoming a scholar?”
Yun Qing’s mind turns blank and Jiang Jiu quickly steps forward to help. “Da Gu Niang, he is a former n.o.bleman whose surname is Wei. Do you remember him?”
“No. Does it mean anything?”
“It is understandable if Da Gu Niang does not remember the Weis. They were punished a few years back and decreed to become musicians for life. I am afraid…”
“So what if there is a royal decree to condemn them to remain musicians for life?” Xu Zhi is unconcerned. “There are no boundaries in the realm of knowledge and look at Yan San if you need an example. Who cares if he is a lowly person from Nan Ling…” She trails off when Yun Qing grips her hand tightly and she studies him intently. Is this man trying to contain his inner excitement?
Jiang Jiu continues with a practical question. “Do you think His Majesty will agree to his change in status?” He turns towards Yun Qing and his next words are meant for all to hear although it is addressed at him. “Yun Qing, I know you like to dance, sing and compose. You are incredibly talented and can ch.o.r.eograph the most complicated dances and arrange different type of melodies. You may be unparalleled across the land in arena of music, but are you keen to become a scholar?”
Yun Qing looks at him and hearing the hint beneath his speech, he suddenly kneels down before Xu Zhi and performs a full courtly bow. “I entreat Da Gu Niang to help fulfill my dream of becoming a scholar. In return Wei Yun Qing will gladly repay you in this life and next.”
The third floor of Zui Jiu Lou is reserved and the normally exclusive room becomes totally inaccessible to all who wishes to enter.
“So you mean to say that Xu Zhi will be leaving Xi Xuan after the Hunting Festival?”
“Yes.”
It has started to drizzle and Zhou Wen Cheng looks at the street below him that is dotted with people holding umbrellas over their heads paper. When he spotted a scholar hurrying down the street, he sighs. “The capital of Xi Xuan probably boast of the most number of scholars in the land and it is Zhen (Emperor’s way of saying “I”) wish that Xu Zhi can recover soon and continue to bring glory to our land. Besides being my prized subject, we are also friends on a personal level, and had it not been for the Hunting Festival, I would grant her request to leave immediately.” Unfortunately, the Hunting Festival is a major festival in the Xi Xuan calendar and he needs her to be present for the opening ceremony, least her absence triggers any unnecessary speculation on her well-being, especially among the scholars.
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
“Did the Tu Yue troupe people really agree to bring you there?”
“Yes” Jiang Jiu replies respectfully. “I have tested them many times and they do not appear to be lying. Besides releasing them from prison, I have also befriended them and shown them our culture. They seem like a simple folks who are happy to put the unhappy past behind and this trip does not look like a trap.”
Zhou Wen Cheng pauses and looks at Zhi Jin Wu who is standing at a corner. “How did Ting Wei react to this?”