Chapter 6

Observing Gu Tianlin's graceful silhouette, A Luo smiled faintly and brushed aside the light veil to enter. The matriarch looked at Qing Luo with confusion, unsure of why she was blocking the maid from the Gu residence from entering

At this moment, the Princess of the Protectorate said: "Such a beautiful time and scenery, if someone were to play a tune, it would be like adding flowers to the brocade. I have heard that the esteemed Gu and Li are both renowned as the Twin Beauties of the Wind City, each excelling in the art of the guqin. I wonder if the two of you would be willing to each present a piece for this palace?"

He Xin's lips revealed a hint of a smile. A Luo was taken aback, thinking that if Qing Lei was as cold and elegant as an orchid, then this He Xin was as unassuming and pure as a chrysanthemum. She suddenly had a feeling that this woman was Gu Tianlin, one of the two exceptional beauties of Wind City

Alo approached the pavilion of Gu Xiangliang and softly said: "This servant has been sent by Madam Li, the wife of the Minister, to deliver flowers to Madam Gu, the wife of the Minister."

Alo lowered her head and offered the flower branch she had just picked with both hands. Upon hearing the kind voice say, "Your lady is being too polite; it is only proper to reciprocate. He Xin, you go with this young lady to thank Lady Li and take some fresh fruits along as well." The young lady named He Xin quickly agreed, picked up a plate of fresh fruits, and walked outside the cool pavilion with Qing Luo.

Alo looked at Qingfei, who shook her head, indicating that the qin was not her forte. Alo whispered to the madam, "Aunt, Qingluo is willing to help Sister, but it must not be leaked out under any circumstances"

Madam, Qingfei, and Qingluo anxiously looked at Qinglei. A Luo could not help but say: "Eldest sister, just treat it as if you are playing the piano at home, playing for yourself alone is enough, there is no need to worry about winning or losing."

As the last note was played, A Luo and Qing Lei exchanged a smile.

A melodious and lingering song emerged: "The orchid blooms in the empty valley, fragrant without anyone to appreciate it; if not for the reclusive soul, who would share it with me"

Alo repeatedly urged Juaner not to speak of the matters by the stream. Juaner dared not say anything; it was already a stroke of luck that the Third Miss did not mention it. She could only nod vigorously in agreement

After Qing Lei responded, she took a deep breath and extended her hands. For some reason, the tips of her fingers were trembling slightly. The madam, feeling anxious, said, "A Lei, you must win; do not bring shame to our Right Minister's residence"

He Xin walked to the outside of the pavilion to convey Madam Gu's gratitude. The eldest lady was just about to call her in when A Luo took the fresh fruit from He Xin's hand and, with a wink and a smile, said: "Sister He Xin, I can help you take it in, so it won't delay you in serving Madam Gu"

The lady exclaimed urgently: "What is the current situation? If we hesitate any longer, others will become impatient, and the princess will also grow annoyed."

The lady asked again, "Have you heard anything else? Have you seen the two princes?"

Qingluo smiled and said, "I have already seen the young lady of the Gu family." She successfully shifted the topic. Several people surrounded Qingluo, listening to her description. Qinglei wore a faint smile on her face, seemingly indifferent. When she heard Qingluo say that Gu Tianlin was graceful and exceptionally intelligent, she let out a low hum. A hint of disdain appeared on her face. A Luo sighed as she looked at her; this elder sister is indeed good, but she is just too proud.

Qing Lei replied aloud: "I would like to respond with 'Autumn Waters'"

Before long, the sound of the zither rose from the neighboring pavilion. The music was mellow and harmonious, reminiscent of the sound of jade pendants in the ninth heaven, perfectly embodying the theme of "Peilan," which is inspired by Qu Yuan's "Li Sao" with the line "I string autumn orchids as my pendant"

After speaking, I sat beside the zither, calming my mind and spirit. With a gentle pluck of the strings, I imagined the moment in autumn when I first saw the sea from a ship. The sky was vast and clear, the azure sea smooth like blue satin, and before me lay only the expanse of the ocean and its embrace. I felt as if I had transformed into a bird, sometimes dipping down to peck at the seawater, and at other times soaring high. I soared through the sky, playing with the sea as if it were a pond.

Aro is astonished, it is a bare PK match. Soon, there will be a return of echoes from the past. Neither family would dare to offend the princess's dignity. The matriarch, holding the position of the left minister in high regard, requests Miss Gu to perform a piece first

Alo let out a light laugh and said, "Perhaps it is better not to, sooner or later the lady will recognize you, a maid from the Gu family, it would be quite embarrassing to let that slip, Sister Tianlin!"

Qing Lei and Qing Fei could not help but smile

Qing Lei smiled bitterly: "If one has gains and losses in their heart, how can one simply let go?" After saying this, she lowered her head, her beautiful face pale. She had been playing the guqin since the age of three, with an extremely proud heart. Usually, Minister Li was strict in his discipline, clearly stating that she was to marry into the royal family. Although she had heard that Gu Tianlin was often compared to her as a dual talent, she did not take it to heart. However, upon hearing Gu Tianlin's performance today, receiving the princess's commendation, and witnessing countless people bowing in admiration to the sound of her guqin, she was utterly shocked. In reality, she and Gu Tianlin were of similar standing, yet Gu Tianlin had taken the lead, making it difficult for her to surpass her! Her heart was filled with turmoil, and she had lost her fighting spirit. With a sigh, she said: "If I had played first, Gu Tianlin would have been the same!" Through the guqin, she had come to understand Gu Tianlin to some extent.

Unable to resist singing: "Auspicious day and good time, we rejoice in the fragrant jade. The peach blossoms are radiant, adorned like the finest flowers. The autumn waters stretch endlessly, my heart soars freely and carefreely..."

At this moment, there were already people outside the account who were becoming impatient and began to whisper to each other

Qing Lei slightly furrowed her brows, and at that moment, A Luo felt a twinge of sympathy for her sister, who was about to compete against Gu Tianlin in front of everyone. Qing Lei was renowned alongside Gu Tianlin as one of the Twin Wonders of Fengcheng, and her musical skills were certainly not lacking. However, if the chosen piece failed to convey the intended meaning, it would result in a loss of momentum, and she would become a great joke in Fengcheng. Not to mention that Qing Lei could not afford to lose face, the residence of the marquis would also be left without dignity.

Qing Lei felt completely weak and, in a state of panic, collapsed onto Juan Er as if she were half-fainting

He Xin smiled gently and said, "Are all the young maidens in the Li residence as graceful as my sister?"

Alo was taken aback, then smiled and said: "Indeed, it's a pity they are all girls; I cannot even compare to a single pinky finger of Sister He Xin."

Alois raised her head: "It's better than having no one to play the lute and produce a foul sound, isn't it? Auntie?"

A smile blossomed on A Luo's face. Gu Tianlin is as remarkable as Lan Mingzhi, and Qing Lei is not inferior either. "Autumn Water" is pure and clear, with lofty aspirations; this piece is no less than that of Gu Tianlin.

At this moment, Gu Tianlin finished her performance. The Princess of the Protectorate lightly coughed twice and praised, "What a wonderful piece of 'Peilan', what a girl with a heart as pure as an orchid! Miss Gu, I happen to have a jade orchid hairpin. Come here, I will personally pin it on you."

Aloya said, and Juan'er’s face began to pale. Qingluo could only respond: "I have not seen the two princes, but the daughter of the Wang family is certainly not as beautiful as my elder sister, not even as beautiful as my second sister."

A Luo's gaze shifted, and she noticed that apart from the Crown Prince and the Fourth Prince, the pavilion across was filled with the promising young men of Wind City. Many were swaying their heads, lost in a daze. Looking at her sister Qing Lei, she too seemed entranced; perhaps this piece "Pei Lan" expressed her feelings as well. A Luo felt a bit anxious, unsure of what piece Qing Lei could choose to respond.

A Luo glanced across and saw that Gu Tianlin's appearance indeed stunned the crowd on the opposite side. Her gaze suddenly swept over a familiar face, causing her to retreat in fright and hide her face behind Qing Fei. Peeking over again, she saw the hero whom she had thrown into the stream, holding a branch of peach blossom and gently sniffing it. He casually handed the flower to the servant behind him.

Alo pondered, there is a saying, "If one wishes to express their innermost thoughts through the qin, few are those who understand; when the strings break, who will listen?" Gu Tianlin chose this piece clearly intending it for the Crown Prince, yet she insists on emphasizing the search for a kindred spirit, comparing herself to the orchid in a secluded valley. She presents her intention of not seeking wealth and nobility. The piece "Peilan" is delicate yet unhurried, rising and falling gradually. It is proud yet not aloof. If one were to have such a woman as a wife, it would be akin to the relationship between Long Yu and Xiao Shi. Perhaps Gu Tianlin is discerning the Crown Prince's intentions, unwilling to choose a woman who is scheming and solely focused on vying for the position of consort. After this performance, even if she were to become the Crown Princess in the future, she would not appear as someone who is desperately trying to climb the social ladder. Even if it does not come to fruition, it would simply be a case of the melody not finding its kindred spirit.

The lady was taken aback and asked, "How is your skill in playing the qin?"

Qing Lei looked at this younger sister, who had no particular skill, with a face full of shock, feeling that her small body seemed to emit a kind of light that was hard to gaze upon. The strokes of her fingers were smooth and flowing, like a torrent rushing forth, dripping with elegance; like towering mountains, majestic and grand, reaching the sky and holding back the clouds; within her chest resided a myriad of valleys and phenomena. If one had not seen it with their own eyes, one would have thought it was the work of a man, rather than that of a small girl.

Qing Lei's voice is clear and bright, expressing gratitude for the Princess's Peach Blossom Banquet while also conveying a lofty demeanor. Accompanied by the vigorous and resonant melodies of Qing Luo's qin, they complement each other perfectly

A gentle voice came from inside the shed: "Come in."

Gu Tianlin stepped out from the pavilion, just like the lotus heart. At this moment, she had changed out of her maid's attire. Her flowing skirt swayed as she walked, her graceful steps slightly lifted, and she knelt before the princess. The Princess of the Protectorate took the orchid hairpin from her head and inserted it into Gu Tianlin's cloud-like hair. Gu Tianlin expressed her gratitude and gracefully rose, slowly making her way back.

Qing Lei's fingers trembled even more violently. She despondently withdrew her hand and said, "Auntie, I have lost; my heart cannot find peace."

A Luo smiled and did not answer. Trying to speak, it turned out that He Xin was indeed Gu Tianlin. It seems she was also very curious to see what Li Qinglei looked like! She went so far as to disguise herself as a maid just to take a look, but she did not expect that being recognized would have such consequences. A Luo thought it would be beneficial to stop her, to prevent any misunderstandings from forming between them. She still wanted to stay in the Xiang residence safely for a few more years.

A sudden shock coursed through He Xin, yet her smile remained unchanged. After a moment's thought, she realized that if she were to appear in the capacity of a maid before Madam Li, it would indeed be quite embarrassing if she were recognized later. She reached out and pinched Qing Luo's cheek, saying, "Little imp, come visit me at the Gu residence when you have time!" As she walked away, she whispered to Qing Luo, "Are you really just a maid from the Li residence?"

The young servant walked towards the Gu residence with flowers in hand. After a while, more young servants began to appear, bustling back and forth in front of the Gu residence. This made the other ladies feel somewhat neglected. The Princess of Huguo also noticed this and smiled, saying: "What piece does Miss Li Xiang wish to present?"

As two people conversed, a group of onlookers in the opposite pavilion stared in awe, all pondering the remarkable elegance of the young woman who had just emerged from the Gu residence. They whispered to one another, speculating about how the Miss Gu must possess extraordinary beauty.

A Luo was quite disappointed. Wasn't it said that Miss Zi Lin, the daughter of the Gu family, would also be coming? Why is it that only Madam Gu and two maids are in the entire shed? She glanced sideways at He Xin and suddenly realized that He Xin was very beautiful. With her head slightly raised, she revealed a slender neck as white as snow, and her hands were as white as jade. A Luo smiled and said, "Sister He Xin, you are so beautiful. I wonder if your young lady is even more beautiful?"

Miss Gu's temperament, Tian Lin, is evident at a glance. The intention of seeking a kindred spirit is gradually conveyed through the sound of the guqin.

He Xin also smiled and said, "No matter what, I must express my gratitude in person"