Half of Chu Yuan’s Body Went Numb at Once.
Lu Rongshen was stunned.
Through a single contest, his Third Brother and Third Sister-in-law had taken the city of Wendu from Chu.
How exhilarating.
Everyone else thought much the same. Even after the second contest began, they were still quietly discussing it with their companions.
The Crown Prince lowered his eyes toward Lu Ronghuai, who was speaking with Chu Yuan. The sight of that proud and spirited look upon Lu Ronghuai’s face stung his eyes.
He turned his gaze away. When he looked toward Emperor Hongjia again, a smile had already appeared on his face. “Father Emperor, this son wishes to take part in the qin contest.”
Emperor Hongjia asked, “Does the Crown Prince have confidence in winning?”
Lu Rongluo answered modestly, “This son will do his utmost and try.”
The Empress wore a dignified smile. “Your Majesty, let Luo’er give it a try. These past days he has devoted himself to practice without rest. Several blisters have already formed upon his fingers. This Empress knows he wishes to win glory for Lu, and his desire for victory is earnest.”
Emperor Hongjia nodded in approval and granted the request.
Lu Rongluo stepped into the competition ground. Opposite him sat Duan Feijing. He had long heard of Duan Feijing’s skill with the qin, and today regarded him as his greatest opponent.
The others he did not deign to consider.
He had already studied Duan Feijing’s technique. He was certain that today he would defeat him.
Lu Rongluo raised his hand and brushed it across the surface of the qin. A trace of proud self-satisfaction passed through his eyes.
What did it matter if Lu Ronghuai had taken one city? Once he won, he would tear a great piece of flesh from the six kingdoms himself.
At the edge of his left eye, he caught sight of someone taking his seat with calm ease. Lu Rongluo turned his head and saw Nie Siran smiling at him, nodding lightly.
Lu Rongluo’s pupils widened slightly.
His fingers curled, catching upon the strings, and a short abrupt note sounded from the qin.
“Young Master Nie is also participating in the contest?”
Nie Siran nodded and replied carelessly, “This one’s skill at the qin is nothing to speak of, merely here to amuse myself.”
Lu Rongluo quietly let out a breath of relief.
Yet his heart did not truly relax in full.
Nie Siran’s reputation was too great. Though he had spent these years traveling and studying in many places and seldom returned to Ye Jing, it had done nothing to prevent his talent and name from spreading through the city.
“The contest begins,” a eunuch announced in a raised voice.
When it came to Lu Rongluo’s turn, he began to play a carefully prepared ancient piece, which required a considerable skill. The melody was long and resonant. At times it was like a rushing torrent through a deep valley; at times it was like the morning breeze, clear and gentle.
Once the piece ended, warm applause rose all around.
Then with a clear “ding,” a brief note rang out, drawing everyone’s eyes away.
Nie Siran’s fingers danced across the strings. Movements that ought to have been simple became, in his hands, as effortless and beautiful as clouds drifting and water flowing. The assembled crowd fell into a collective trance.
The qin notes first rose high and clear, then turned smoothly into lingering softness, like lovers murmuring private words to one another. Every note carried a tenderness too deep to name, leaving the listeners’ thoughts in confusion and sending ripples through their hearts.
It was an ordinary folk tune. Yet Nie Siran’s method was singular and his qin skill unrivaled, so that he forced an ordinary melody into elegance.
In the end, Nie Siran took first place.
He returned to his seat amid everyone’s praise. Lu Rongshen ran over, laughing so hard that he nearly tripped over himself.
“Third Brother, look at Second Brother’s expression, hahahaha. Young Master Nie won the contest. He is nearly angered to death, hahahaha.”
Lu Ronghuai’s thin lips curved upward. “You are laughing too loudly. The Empress is looking at you.”
“!!”
Lu Rongshen immediately covered his mouth and curled himself into a ball behind Lu Ronghuai.
Chu Yuan looked toward Nie Siran and praised him, “Young Master Nie’s qin skill is truly excellent. It has been a long time since I heard such pleasing qin music. It was exquisitely beautiful.”
Nie Siran replied, “My father’s qin skill is even better. When my parents return from their travels, I will invite the Prince Consort to my residence to hear it.”
Chu Yuan’s brows curved with a smile. “Gladly.”
Seeing that he was interested in the qin, Nie Siran said gently, “Should the Prince Consort of Prince Li ever wish to learn, you may come to me in future. I shall teach you.”
Lu Ronghuai said, “Do you take this Prince for a dead man? Is it your place to teach him?”
Nie Siran looked at him with amusement. “Does Your Highness know how?”
Lu Ronghuai leaned bonelessly against Chu Yuan, dangerous light moving through his dark eyes. “This Prince may hire the finest music master to teach Ah-Yuan.”
Expectation stirred faintly in Chu Yuan’s gaze. “Truly?”
Lu Ronghuai paused and lowered his head. “Does Ah-Yuan truly wish to learn the qin?”
Chu Yuan nodded, his long lashes lowering. “This subject’s Mother Empress played the qin beautifully. Only this subject was too willful as a child and would not learn. By the time this subject wished to, it was no longer possible.”
Lu Ronghuai held him and gently stroked the middle of his back with his broad palm. His heart ached for him beyond measure and his voice thick with tender feeling. “It is all right. In future, whatever Ah-Yuan wishes to learn, you may tell me.”
While the two were speaking, the third contest, the art of weiqi, was already underway. The Crown Prince again participated. Seeing this, Nie Siran slowly rose once more and strolled over with his fan in hand.
Chu Yuan asked, “Did Your Highness not say that Young Master Nie disliked participating in such contests?”
To his eyes, Young Master Nie seemed rather eager to compete.
Lu Ronghuai narrowed his eyes slightly. “Who knows what he is thinking. Perhaps he is too idle.”
The result of the weiqi contest was no surprise. Nie Siran once again took first place.
The Crown Prince’s face had gone dark as charcoal.
“Hahahahahahaha!”
This time Lu Rongshen laughed so hard that he clutched his stomach and rolled about upon the round mat seat. Yet as he rolled, he bumped into someone.
“Eh?”
He raised his head and looked upward, only to meet a pair of ice-blue eyes.
Lu Rongshen went utterly still.
Bai Qingyu lowered her head to look at him. After a long moment, she spoke gently. “Eighth Prince, this subject’s daughter has something to discuss with Your Highness alone.”
Lu Rongshen’s face reddened at once. He immediately scrambled up from the round mat and hurriedly straightened his robes twice, stammering as he spoke. “Al-all right. Where shall we speak?”
Bai Qingyu nodded toward Lu Ronghuai, then led Lu Rongshen away.
Chu Yuan watched the two figures recede. Then someone pinched his little finger, rubbing upward from his fingertip. Tingling numbness spread through him. He could not help shrinking his fingers back, and by his ear came Lu Ronghuai’s low laughter.
“Worried for Xiao Ba?”
“Mm.”
“Do not worry. Bai Qingyu knows her measure.”
After saying this, Lu Ronghuai signaled for him to look to the other side.
“The painting contest is about to begin. Will Ah-Yuan give it a try?”
Chu Yuan raised his eyes. “Does Your Highness wish this subject to go?”
“Mm. I want all under heaven to know how outstanding my Ah-Yuan is.”
“And if Ah-Yuan wins, then after the Wanchao Hui ends, I will take Ah-Yuan away from Ye Jing. We shall wander through mountains and play by the waters together.”
He leaned close to Chu Yuan’s ear and blew softly into the hollow of it. Warm breath wrapped itself with ticklish heat and struck him. Half of Chu Yuan’s body went numb at once.
He rubbed his ear. Only after quite some time did he realize what Lu Ronghuai had just said.
“Your Highness wishes me to accompany you out to see the mountains and waters?”
“Mm. So Ah-Yuan must perform well.” He rose to his feet, drew Chu Yuan up from the cushioned seat, and took his hand as they made their way toward the painting contest ground.
Along the way, peach blossoms and pear blossoms stirred in the wind. Flower petals drifted through the air like rain. Quite a few pale pink and white blossoms settled upon the black hair and shoulders of the two men.
Both were exceptionally handsome. One was graceful as an immortal of jade; the other cold, lofty, and straight as a pine. Today both wore splendid robes of violet hue. Together they resembled immortals stepping out of a painting, dazzling to behold.
Somewhere in the crowd, a single voice gave a soft exclamation of wonder. Thereafter, more and more people openly turned their eyes toward them.
Hidden among the crowd, Su Ruhe walked alone to a painting board. Taking up his brush, he began to paint the image of Lu Ronghuai and Chu Yuan standing side by side.
After bringing Chu Yuan to the ground, Lu Ronghuai hooked his little finger lightly around Chu Yuan’s and said, “Ah-Yuan must not forget our agreement.”
“The contest begins.”
Nie Siran walked to Nie Chouwen’s side and pulled over a chair to sit. “Grandfather.”
Nie Chouwen was the chief examiner for this painting contest. He sat there with his eyes closed in rest. Hearing Nie Siran’s voice, he still did not open them.
“Have you shown off to your satisfaction?”
Nie Siran laughed softly. “Mm. Quite satisfied.”
Nie Chouwen gave a cold snort. “Do not think this old man cannot see that you are deliberately targeting the Crown Prince.”
Nie Siran praised him. “Grandfather is wise. Your grandson never intended to hide it from you.”
Nie Chouwen opened his eyes a narrow slit and looked toward Chu Yuan, who was concentrating on his painting in the field. “You did it to avenge that child Chu Yuan, did you not? You were too conspicuous about it. The Crown Prince and the Empress are not without their wits.”
Nie Siran answered calmly, “Indeed, which is precisely why your grandson has come to find you.”
“This old man has no intention of cleaning up your mess. Since you caused the trouble, you may resolve it yourself.” Nie Chouwen showed no mercy.
Nie Siran leisurely opened his folding fan. “When your grandson went out to compete, Grandfather did not stop me. Was that not silent approval? We are grasshoppers tied to the same rope.”
Nie Chouwen’s head ached. He raised a hand and waved him away. “Once the Wanhao Hui is over, be gone at once. Do not remain in the capital merely to vex this old man. I am much more at ease alone.”
With his aim accomplished, Nie Siran glanced toward Chu Yuan in the field, then returned with a light heart to his own seat.
Nie Chouwen sat there for half an hour. Once the inspectors had collected all the paintings, they placed them before the five judges.
Nie Chouwen sat at the very end. He was the chief examiner who would determine the final ranking. After the four judges before him had finished their review, they presented the three best paintings to him.
“Prime Minister Nie, these three are judged the finest. We invite your review.”
Nie Chouwen unrolled the first painting. Beneath distant mountains and high ravines stood pine trees and cranes, the lonely shadow of evening wind accompanying them. It was an excellent painting of pines and cranes.
“Flowing as clouds and running water, lifelike in every stroke.”
He then opened the second painting. Upon it rose towers and pavilions and palace halls in layered abundance, near and far in pleasing variation.
“Exquisite brushwork, both form and spirit in complete accord.”
When the third scroll was unfolded, Nie Chouwen lowered his head to look at it. For a very long time he said nothing.
“Prime Minister Nie, is there some problem?”
Nie Chouwen shook his head. He placed his hand upon the painting. His eyes shone with spirit as he stared at it. When he spoke, his voice rang like a great bell, resonant with the deep, unhurried generosity of one who has seen something truly worthy.
“A heart holding heaven and earth, creation speaking without sound.”
“Excellent. Excellent. Excellent.”
He used the word “excellent” three times in succession to express the joy and admiration within his heart.
“This painting is first place beyond all question.”
His praise stirred everyone’s curiosity until their hearts itched. They all leaned forward, wishing to behold the painting for themselves.
Upon the paper, one half showed a mirage city, outlining an illusion of drunken gold and paper revelry. The other half carved out the desolation of crumbled walls and scattered ruins, the land strewn with the bodies of the starved. Two worlds were set upon a single sheet, and the transition between them was rendered with marvelous naturalness. Contradictory, yet harmonious, they answered one another across a distance.
“This is the world of men. This too is the world of men.” An elderly scholar nearing his seventieth year pointed at the two scenes upon the painting. The longer he looked, the more his eyes filled with tears.
His hand trembled as he raised his sleeve to wipe them away. The people beside him were equally moved.
“Who painted this?”
“Indeed. To possess such painting skill at such an age is truly extraordinary.”
Nie Chouwen picked up the scroll and opened the case. From within he took out the slip of paper and slowly unfolded it before everyone.
“Of the Lu clan, Chu Yuan.”
✧ A Word from the Author ✧
At first: Kingdom of Chu, Chu Yuan.
Then: Kingdom of Lu, Chu Yuan.
Now: Of the Lu clan, Chu Yuan.
Lu Dog is is overcome with joy.
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