Chapter 57: A Repeat Performance
The talent competition had no strict rules, but since the men aboard the Evergreen Pine Boat showed little interest in the rabbit lanterns, the contest was limited to the women. The noble ladies on the Exquisite Boat showcased their finest skills, and the one who garnered the most praise from those on the Evergreen Pine Boat would emerge victorious.
Xu Ruoxi’s face flushed crimson, her discomfort evident, yet she maintained her icy demeanor with great effort. "Since it’s a festival, I’ll simply write a character," she declared.
As the daughter of the Hanlin Academy’s chief scholar, Xu Ruoxi hailed from a prestigious scholarly family and had been immersed in books since childhood. Her calligraphy was quite impressive. Still young, she took up the brush without hesitation when a maid presented her with rice paper and a fine wolf-hair brush.
Calligraphy abhors hesitation, and she wrote with fluid grace, her expression wholly absorbed. Xu Ruoxi was naturally a delicate beauty, though her usual aloofness often overshadowed her features. Now, immersed in the act of writing, her sharp edges softened, revealing a gentle beauty that was uniquely captivating.
Many on the Evergreen Pine Boat had already taken notice of her. Some young gentlemen remarked, "Truly talented and beautiful—a true scholar’s daughter!"
When Xu Ruoxi set down her brush, the maid displayed her work to the crowd. It was a single, simple character: "fortune." Written with bold, rounded strokes, it exuded an ancient, dignified elegance. They say the handwriting reflects the person. Having suffered at the hands of the Eighth Prince in her past life, Jiang Ruan no longer believed such sayings. Yet even she had to silently admire this piece.
Though somewhat rigid, the strokes were square and grand, radiating uprightness—much like Xu Ruoxi herself, a woman unafraid to love or hate.
The assembled guests, all well-read, recognized the quality of her work and applauded enthusiastically. Zhao Jin remarked, "Ruoxi’s calligraphy has improved again. In the entire capital, only the Eighth Prince’s writing could compare."
"What nonsense is that?" Dong Yinger chuckled. "Our Ruoxi is a lady, and the Eighth Prince is a man. Comparing them would only give him an unfair advantage."
Laughter rippled through the crowd. Amid the praise, Xu Ruoxi stole another glance at the Evergreen Pine Boat, then frowned, her expression dimming.
Jiang Ruan observed this. Just as in her past life, Jinying Wang was the dream of every woman in the Da Jin Dynasty. Unfortunately, he was an unfeeling iceberg, leaving countless hearts unrequited.
Xu Ruoxi returned to her seat. Her performance had drawn the attention of many young gentlemen aboard the Evergreen Pine Boat, but once seated, she sank into melancholy, ignoring their admiring gazes and squandering their goodwill.
After Xu Ruoxi, another noble lady playfully asked who would go next. But with the dazzling performances of Rongya Junzhu and Xu Ruoxi setting such high standards, no one wished to embarrass themselves by following.
Amid the silence, a timid voice piped up, "Second Sister, aren’t you an excellent qin player? Why not perform? Dan’er would love to hear you play the seven-stringed zither."
Jiang Ruan’s gaze sharpened as she turned toward the speaker. Jiang Dan fidgeted nervously with her sleeve, seemingly fearful—yet she had spoken all the same.Seated beside her, Jiang Susu cast a somewhat surprised glance at Jiang Dan, then blushed slightly, her delicate face tinged with pink. "Dan Niang, how could I possibly play the seven-stringed zither?" Her eyes shimmered with unease, as captivating as a startled fawn.
"What kind of talk is this, Second Miss Jiang?" Princess Rongya remained amiable, her smile unwavering. "Everyone knows your unparalleled skill with the zither. Why not grace us with a performance today? Back then, Madam Jiang's mastery of the seven-stringed zither was renowned throughout the capital, though we never had the fortune to witness it. Today, you could play a piece and let us marvel at your talent, wouldn't that be splendid?"
Xia Yan had once been the capital's top talent, her seven-stringed zither playing nothing short of divine. Now that she had passed this skill to Jiang Susu, whose reputation for brilliance was already widespread, it was like adding flowers to brocade. Princess Rongya wasn’t without envy, but she was ever the diplomat, knowing full well that men disliked seeing the ugly face of jealousy in women. Better to appear magnanimous. Besides, Jiang Susu’s artistry truly had no equal—this year’s Rabbit Lantern was as good as hers already.
The noble ladies around them chimed in—some eager for spectacle, others feigning flattery, and a few genuinely curious about the sound of the seven-stringed zither. Wen Feifei frowned and asked, "Does she really know how to play it, Ruan Meimei? Have you ever heard your second sister perform?"
"Never," Jiang Ruan replied with a gentle smile. "But I imagine it would be celestial music, so enchanting it lifts one’s spirit."
Lin Zixiang snorted disdainfully. "Nothing but pretentious posturing!"
Dong Yinger gave Jiang Ruan an apologetic smile, to which Jiang Ruan responded with indifference.
Originally, it should have been several years later during the Lantern Festival when Jiang Susu’s performance on the seven-stringed zither, with its lofty artistic conception and unparalleled elegance, would truly captivate all. And with Jiang Ruan’s own disheveled state as a foil, rumors would quietly spread among the capital’s nobility: the Jiang family’s two daughters—one as pure and untouchable as celestial snow, the other as filthy as mud on the ground.
Now, dressed in white with minimal makeup, Jiang Susu’s delicate beauty stood out with an ethereal purity amidst the sea of gaudily dressed noblewomen. A soft smile bloomed on her lips as she said, "Since everyone insists, I’ll humbly oblige. I only hope not to offend your ears."
Her modest demeanor immediately drew another wave of admiration. Soon, a maid brought forth an elegant and exquisitely crafted seven-stringed zither. Jiang Susu took her seat before the instrument, closed her eyes, and began burning incense to set the mood.
All eyes on the Evergreen Pine Boat were fixed upon this peerless beauty. Mo Cong nudged Xiao Shao. "Third Brother, that’s the legitimate daughter of Jiang Quan’s household. There isn’t another in the entire capital who can match her in talent and looks. What do you think?"
Xiao Shao cast a fleeting glance toward the Exquisite Boat, his expression as cold as ever. Mo Cong, sensing the rebuff, turned away sheepishly to watch Jiang Susu’s performance.
With a crisp zheng , the zither’s notes pierced the air like a sword unsheathed. Jiang Susu opened her eyes, her slender fingers dancing across the strings like a snow-white butterfly. The melodious tune flowed effortlessly into the listeners’ ears—she was playing Solitary Orchid .
The music was graceful and fluid, without a single pause. The more serene and distant the melody grew, the more her white robes seemed to blur into the vision of a solitary orchid in a secluded valley, quietly expressing its sorrow and melancholy. It was impossible not to feel a pang of pity for her.The choice of this piece was indeed brilliant. Not only did it highlight Jiang Susu's ethereal and pure demeanor, but it also elevated her in the eyes of the audience. Who wouldn’t admire such an untainted and graceful woman?
Xu Ruoxi frowned slightly. While everyone was immersed in the serene and enchanting melody, Jiang Ruan alone leaned against the window, gazing at the flowing river by the shore.
Just as in her past life, Jiang Susu had once again stirred the capital with her fame. Yet, one couldn’t help but wonder if she could truly bear the weight of such overwhelming praise.
Sure enough, as the music concluded, a young nobleman aboard the Evergreen Pine Boat was the first to applaud. “Such divine music is rare even in the heavens, let alone the mortal realm!”
(End of Chapter)
OpenNovel