The fleet continued forward, but no longer traveled in a single line. On the wide river channel, the main ship was flanked in the middle, with the two ships behind sailing side by side.
This was precisely so more people could witness today’s finals!
Now, the three great ships sailed abreast, and the decks and railings were packed with people, bustling with excitement.
The contest itself would be short, but its spectacle was considerable—this was exactly the kind of event no one wanted to miss!
What were the highlights of this contest?
The first, naturally, was Consort Qin’s qin skill. Word had it that only palace insiders had ever heard Consort Qin play—one rumor claimed it was unbearably dreadful, like someone tone-deaf trying to sing; another claimed her music was heavenly, a once-in-a-lifetime treasure!
The second highlight was the skill of the three envoys. The people of Nanzhao were unfamiliar with the music of the Central Plains, the Western Regions, or even the Northern Di—unknown, fresh things were always the most alluring.
The third highlight was the result—or rather, less the result itself than the verdict of the three judges.
Situ Haonan had devised a very intuitive and direct scoring system: good got a smiling face, bad got a crying face. All three judges now held paper fans, smiling face on one side, crying face on the other.
The order of performance had been arranged personally by the King of Nanzhao: Fanna, Shunji, Xuanyuan Zhaoxi, Chu Feiyan, Consort Qin, then Ziqing.
But the moment this order was announced, Consort Qin spoke up lazily. “Your Majesty, how could you place Prince Yao’s consort last?”
“This order was drawn by lot. Does my beloved consort have some other idea?” the King of Nanzhao asked, doting on her. This order had indeed been drawn by lot in front of him that day by Situ Haonan—there weren’t many competitors, and the performance order wouldn’t have much bearing on the outcome anyway. Who went first or last was a trivial matter!
Consort Qin covered her mouth and laughed sweetly. “Your Majesty, I only signed up for fun—I never truly intended to compete. That prize you offered was even given by me in the first place! How could I possibly have any real desire to contend for it?”
At these words, Ziqing felt a flicker of alarm. What was Consort Qin planning to do with the order? Please, don’t let her be moved up front! Or her whole plan would fall apart!
“Ha, my beloved consort is so understanding. Could it be that you’d like to open the contest with a piece yourself?” the King of Nanzhao asked, delighted.
“Your Majesty, you’re embarrassing me. I won’t make a fool of myself—I’d like to go last, and switch places with Prince Yao’s consort!” Consort Qin said, turning to look at Ziqing with deliberate politeness. “I wonder if Prince Yao’s consort would agree?”
How could Ziqing possibly believe Consort Qin was placing herself last out of modesty?
This was clearly an attempt to secure the most advantageous position in the contest—going last generally earned the best scores, and Consort Qin would fight for even the smallest advantage! The three great clans certainly wouldn’t show her any favoritism just because of her status!
This woman, who upon first meeting the four envoys had scrutinized their looks and attire without pause—how could she possibly be a magnanimous woman, how could she possibly lose to another woman in public, especially in front of the King of Nanzhao himself?
What was the most fatal weakness of a young woman who’d attached herself to an old man? It was the appearance, beside that old man, of another woman just as beautiful, just as young, and even more outstanding than herself!
No matter who that woman might be, she would guard against her with the utmost vigilance—on one hand flaunting her favored status to other women, on the other hand making sure she never fell short of them in front of the old man.
Since Consort Qin dared to enter this contest, she certainly hadn’t prepared to lose! Whatever prize she’d put up, she was determined to take it back!
Ziqing was quite willing to switch places, saying politely, “Of course. Consort Qin is too modest. As they say, the finale is always the best act.”
“No, no, this consort is only here to make up the numbers. I heard Prince Yao’s consort received the qin Wuzheng as a gift from Xuanyuan Lige—I wonder if this is true or false?” Consort Qin said with a smile.
At these words, the entire crowd erupted at once—Xuanyuan Lige’s name was nearly as famous as Jun Beiyue’s, known to everyone across the Longyuan continent. He was the greatest qin master under heaven!
For the information-starved people of Nanzhao, this news was undoubtedly a bombshell!
Consort Qin watched the crowd’s reaction, a flash of contempt crossing her eyes, though she kept smiling with easy grace.
“Yes. Ziqing had the good fortune to earn Young Master Xuanyuan’s regard,” Ziqing admitted readily, her gaze unconsciously sweeping the surroundings, but she didn’t spot that touch of purple anywhere.
“Truly? Wonderful, we’re in for a real treat today!” Consort Qin said, smiling as she looked toward the King of Nanzhao, whose eyes clearly flickered with anticipation.
“I’m no genius—simply lucky,” Ziqing said modestly still.
“Ha, Prince Yao’s consort, I never knew you had such talent! Ha, no need to be so modest—receiving a qin gift from Young Master Xuanyuan speaks for itself!” the King of Nanzhao said, delighted.
“Let’s begin, let’s begin! I can’t wait any longer!” Consort Qin said enthusiastically, though cold calculation flickered ceaselessly in her eyes.
She’d only just learned, after looking into it, that the King had suddenly decided to hold this qin contest at Situ Haonan’s suggestion—which surely meant it was Han Ziqing’s idea.
This woman, who had already stolen so much of the spotlight—did she still want to keep showing off in front of everyone?
If she really dared to walk away with that prize, in the days that follow, she would absolutely have to start dealing with her!
The contest was about to begin.
Following the order—Fanna, Shunji, Xuanyuan Zhaoxi, Chu Feiyan, Ziqing, Consort Qin—each would play one piece, receiving a smile or a frown from the judges. Whoever received the most smiling faces would win. If there was a tie for the most smiles, an additional round would be held!
Fanna and Shunji both gave it everything they had, playing so beautifully the crowd was entranced, but sadly, each of them received only one smiling face out of the three judges.
The third to perform was Xuanyuan Zhaoxi. She sat properly at the qin table, her hands lightly resting on the strings. She had originally worried whether this might offend Consort Qin, but Consort Qin’s earlier lavish praise of Han Ziqing had completely put her mind at ease—if she was going to give it her all, she’d rather beat Han Ziqing and make her brother regret everything.
“Chink—”
The opening note rang out, immediately filled with deep, powerful force, at once seizing everyone’s attention—even the three judges grew serious.
Then, resounding and clear, the qin’s tone was both deep and heavy, yet also urgent, urgency forcing its way stubbornly up out of that heaviness into a stirring, impassioned momentum!
Everyone present felt their hearts leap along with the music, unknowingly soaring to the very peak of a mountain!
Only Ziqing remained as still as calm water. Compared to that piece “War’s Beginning” she’d once heard at the innocent ravine’s cliff edge, this piece of Xuanyuan Zhaoxi’s was frankly garbage!
Between the two siblings, the gap was as vast as heaven and earth!
Even Chu Feiyan found herself listening, entranced, and only once the music stopped did she suddenly startle, realizing that besides Han Ziqing, she now had another formidable rival to contend with.
The music ended, and a satisfied curve touched the corner of Xuanyuan Zhaoxi’s lips. She rose and bowed to the crowd, at which point the entire audience finally erupted into thunderous applause.
“Tsk tsk tsk, Consort Qin, our Nanzhao truly has no music worth the name!” the King of Nanzhao couldn’t help but sigh. Compared to Xuanyuan Zhaoxi, nothing in Nanzhao could really be called music at all.
“Indeed,” Consort Qin said with a faint smile, glancing at the departing Xuanyuan Zhaoxi—her eyes were plainly filled with hatred!
With Xuanyuan Zhaoxi’s performance finished, it was Chu Feiyan’s turn now…