Chapter 120: Lingering Melody (Part 2)

Upon returning to the second floor after parting ways with Yuan Jin'er, the Su family continued to discuss strategies to win over Lü Xia. Although they were aware the Xue family undoubtedly had their own advantages, Su Wengui and the others maintained a degree of confidence. This was primarily due to their frequent patronage of Yan Cui Tower. While Su Wending was aligned with the eldest branch, Su Wengui and Su Wenxing with the second, and Su Wenluo and Su Wenji with the third, and would not usually associate, they had now banded together, pooling their collective connections.

The prospects appeared very promising. Some individuals knew influential managers within the establishment, others were well-acquainted with Madam Chen, and a few had personally championed Lü Xia on multiple occasions, feeling a strong connection. Naturally, they exuded confidence, and combining their efforts only solidified their belief in ultimate victory. By this time, the Su family members had already invested considerable effort and a significant sum of silver, bolstered by Li Pin's poetry, contributing to their high confidence.

Had Lü Xia and Xue Yan not already established a relationship, then merely offering sufficient respect and presenting one or two remarkable poems or lyrics might have secured a victory tonight. However, at this juncture, it was no longer a matter of competition. Yuan Jin'er's suggestion to wait outside until the performance concluded was naturally not a viable solution. Ning Yi approached Li Pin, finishing his explanation with a smile, which Li Pin reciprocated.

"Haha, no wonder they seemed so self-assured downstairs; I had my suspicions, and now it makes sense." His smile conveyed an open and accepting attitude. After a brief jest with Ning Yi, he took out paper and a brush and composed a second poem, which he handed to an attendant to deliver. The poem was neither satirical nor a complaint; it remained a flattering tribute to Lü Xia. Soon after, Lü Xia's second performance commenced downstairs. Once she finished, the Xue family presented two hundred taels of silver, while the Su family offered three hundred, along with their laudatory poems, awaiting Lü Xia's choice.

When the final decision was announced, the hall predictably erupted in commotion, and several members of the Su family expressed their indignation. Shortly thereafter, Xue Yan, Xue Jin, Liu Qingdi, and others ascended, bringing Lü Xia with them to offer greetings. From Lü Xia's perspective, she had already acknowledged the Su family's generous patronage. Xue Yan and the others conversed, beaming with delight.

"Haha, I imagine Miss Lü found herself in an extremely difficult position today; choosing one side inevitably meant disappointing the other. Wenxing, Wenji, we have been family friends for many years, so allow me to apologize first. If there's any resentment, direct it at me. A-Xia was ultimately in an awkward situation, so please don't dwell on this matter..."

Xue Yan's remarks were intended to deflect the Su family's displeasure from Lü Xia. In essence, he was subtly pressuring the Su family to adopt an "I'm not angry" demeanor. Everyone exchanged a few seemingly cordial jokes, and Wenxing, Wenji, and the others could only exhibit an appearance of broad-mindedness, though their eyes discreetly surveyed the entire hall. By then, the attention of most onlookers had already turned towards their group.

As Lü Xia offered her apologies and Xue Yan spoke, Li Pin raised his wine cup and remarked with a smile, "Brother Xue's affection for Miss Lü is something we have long been aware of. The events of today, facilitating such a beautiful union, bring me great satisfaction. I wonder when Brother Xue intends to marry Miss Lü? We would then feel we have contributed to a truly significant and auspicious match..."

"Brother Li... why would you say such a thing...?" Upon hearing Li Pin's words, Su Wenxing and the others appeared slightly bewildered, though they quickly adopted knowing smiles. Xue Yan and Lü Xia, however, subtly altered their expressions. They were privy to the true circumstances. If Li Pin genuinely understood the nature of their relationship and his words gained credence, others might perceive the Su family as magnanimous for facilitating a beautiful union despite knowing they would lose, while the Xue family would appear petty. For Lü Xia, the situation would be even more problematic; if she were to truly marry into the Xue family, it would validate such speculation, potentially jeopardizing her prospects of ever joining the Xue household.

The light was slightly dim. Liu Qingdi, having heard Li Pin's comments, stepped forward, raised his cup, and said, "Thank you for your auspicious words, Brother Li. The Su family was indeed accommodating today. If Li Heng had also presented a poem, I honestly would not have dared to compose one and make a fool of myself. In that scenario, it would have been truly difficult to predict which side Miss Lü would have chosen..."

These disruptive remarks had little impact, as Ning Yi, whom he had mentioned, was currently standing by the railing, gazing down at the stage. Lü Xia felt no reassurance from this; her expression was tinged with apprehension as she watched Li Pin. Li Pin then sighed, raised his wine cup, drained it, and smiled without further comment. When he turned to look at Ning Yi, his gaze also drifted downwards. Shortly thereafter, Xue Yan, Xue Jin, Su Wenxing, Lü Xia, and the others likewise turned their attention to the scene below.

The gentle strains of strings and flutes had quietly begun to fill the air.

Within the still-noisy hall, a dimly lit stage drew everyone's gaze. A woman clad in white sat at the center, gently caressing the ancient zither before her. Her long hair, gathered into a bun at the back of her head, cascaded down, while her white skirt unfurled across the stage like lotus petals. The zither's tinkling notes, soft and comforting, subtly blended with the murmurs of the crowd.

The conversation between the Xue and Su families on the second floor was already a central focus, but now an increasing number of people turned their attention to the stage. The boisterous chatter gradually subsided into whispers, as if soothed by the gentle, unhurried zither melodies. Imperceptibly, the zither's notes seemed to grow clearer and clearer, and the hall became increasingly hushed.

The woman appeared as if she were a figure painted onto the stage with ink wash. As her slender fingers delicately plucked the strings, a natural elegance and captivating allure radiated from her. A veil draped around her face, and when she lowered her head slightly, only her serene, unhurried gaze and soft pink lips were visible. Although her entire face was obscured, she was undeniably a woman of extraordinary beauty. It seemed she paid little attention to the audience in the hall, instead appearing to play leisurely in a secluded mountain range or beside a tranquil lake.

Perhaps only a select few could truly grasp the profound impact that figure created in mere moments.

"Who is that?"

By the railing on the second floor, Xue Jin quietly posed the question, directed naturally at Lü Xia, who, however, shook her head in bewilderment. Xue Yan glanced at those beside him and murmured, "What piece is this?"

Liu Qingdi, standing nearby, frowned and instinctively cast a glance at Ning Yi, who was tilting his head down, lightly tapping something on the railing with his fingers. He then shook his head and commented, "It sounds familiar, but... I can't quite place it at the moment..."

"It sounds like 'Prelude to Water Tune'," Lü Xia responded softly.

"This song has been sung everywhere recently; I've heard it at least ten, if not twenty times. This melody..." Someone whispered, "Did she play it incorrectly?"

The speaker's words lacked conviction, and before their voice fully faded, the woman on stage finally lifted her head. Her clear gaze swept across the entire hall, briefly pausing on the second floor. From behind her veil, a tranquil melody began to drift.

"How long will the bright moon shine..."

"Prelude to Water Tune."

This melody had been sung countless times throughout Jiangning over the past year, offering little novelty to many regular patrons of the pleasure houses. However, this rendition of the song differed from typical performances. While it still adhered to the original musical framework, the singing conveyed a leisurely, ethereal, and gracefully undulating quality. Simultaneously, it retained the grandeur of the lyrics, making it hard to categorize whether the interpretation was traditional or unconventional. A brief flurry of whispers rippled through the hall, only to quickly fade as the audience likely recognized the song's beauty and chose to listen in silence before commenting.

Of course, regardless of how the melody might vary, the subsequent lyric always remained consistent.

It was: "Holding wine, I ask the azure sky."

"I wonder what year it is tonight in the celestial palaces... I wish to ride the wind and return, yet I fear the jade towers and grand mansions..."

Few voices broke the silence in the hall. The zither and singing instantly captivated everything around them: the white attire, the ancient zither, the flowing hair, the subtle veil. Amidst the clear, gracefully winding melody, the scene evoked a profound impact, as if a pure, untouched fairy had descended. The music and vocal delivery differed from the usual, yet they were not unconventional; the underlying structure remained consistent. Rather, every turn, every vibrato, and every rise and fall of the melody seemed imbued with its own distinct soul. Coupled with an ethereal and exquisitely beautiful voice, a completely novel artistic ambiance was distinctly forged.

"The heights are too cold, to dance with my clear shadow, how unlike being in the human world..."

After completing a stanza, the woman offered a slight smile before refocusing on her zither. Ning Yi, from the second floor, had caught her seemingly casual glance and gently shook his head. Naturally, this did not disrupt the serene composure and smile in the woman's eyes below. She had not performed in this manner for three years, and initially, there had been no compelling reason for her to do so.

Prior to this, Ning Yi had never truly heard Nie Yunzhu sing in such an ancient, refined style. However, he understood the origin of this particular piece. Ning Yi had taught her the modern vocal interpretation of "Prelude to Water Tune" and expressed his fondness for that style. She had been somewhat unimpressed at the time but never contradicted him, until this very performance. It was as if two distinct melodies had been magically interwoven, yet without any jarring abruptness.

"It's several stories high..."

"At least in this regard, whether it pertains to various poems and songs or the folk ballads you just mentioned, young master, if Yunzhu cannot achieve it, it is likely that few others in all of Jiangning city could either..."

Recalling her playful or confident remarks, and her hesitant expressions upon hearing his songs, Ning Yi likely understood now. However, for the moment, he could only, like everyone else, quietly listen as the song continued.

"It turns around the vermilion pavilion, lowers through the embroidered window, illuminates the sleepless... There should be no resentment, why is it always full when people part..."

Meanwhile, from a window on one side of the hall, Yuan Jin'er gazed at the figure on stage, listening intently to the song. Madam Chen, standing behind her, was also listening, though at one point she frowned and murmured, "That's Yunzhu..."

She had previously heard Nie Yunzhu's zither performances and listened with a professional ear. Nie Yunzhu's mastery in this regard at Jinfeng Tower had been exceptional, though her temperament always conveyed a certain proud and lofty aloofness. This aura was initially an admired artistic quality, similar to that of Lu Caicai. However, Lu Caicai's temperament bordered on self-pity, ultimately failing to match Nie Yunzhu's cool, detached pride.

Yet, at this moment, that coolness had vanished, and her formerly somewhat detached pride was gone. In its place was a natural softness and gentle flow, like a tranquil stream, warmly enveloping everything, subtly enriching all it touched. Few seemed willing to disrupt such a song and its ambiance. Her presence on stage didn't demand an overpowering, high-profile approach; instead, it was as if... there was no need for any argument, as she simply captivated everyone present.

There was no need to compare her to Lü Xia or others, as they were fundamentally operating on entirely different levels or systems.

"Humans experience joy and sorrow, parting and reunion; the moon has its waxing and waning, its cycles of fullness and emptiness. Such perfection has been rare since ancient times..."

The woman sang the lyrics with a serene and contented smile. Soon after, as she gently parted her lips to sing the lines, "May we all live long, and share the beauty of the moon, though miles apart," a hint of reluctance seemed to enter her voice. Her singing and the zither's notes lingered for a considerable time before finally ceasing. She sat quietly, head bowed, waiting for a moment before applause finally erupted.

Amidst the applause, conversations erupted. On both the first and second floors, some individuals began asking those nearby about the performer's identity, or excitedly discussed inviting her to their tables.

Amidst the rising clamor, the woman rose from the stage, offering a silent, appreciative bow with a smile. She then walked to one side of the stage, but not towards the backstage. Lü Xia had previously descended from that very spot to pour a cup of wine from a small side table and present it to Xue Yan. This woman, however, picked up a porcelain cup but bypassed the wine pot, instead walking to an adjacent spot and pouring herself a cup of tea.

In the hall, people observed this scene with a touch of bewilderment, whispering among themselves as they watched for what would unfold next.

Today is not Singles' Day, so I will refrain from expressing grievances. Instead, I wish all lovers a joyful union.

My gratitude goes to 紅衣樓丶頭牌 for their support; we now have seven alliance leaders.