The Fourth Lady novel Chapter 48

Cui Hanxue listened to what Qingyan said, still with a look of disdain, "Su Qingyan, don't talk nonsense. If when the time comes and you lose, don't come crying to me."

"That is natural." Qingyan still carried a smile on her face, but that smile was brimming with confidence.

At that moment, Liu Shang also thought through some things. He very much wanted to know just what kind of surprises this young girl before him could bring, especially that shred of ruthlessness under that confident look.

"Since Miss Su was able to recognized this Guqin, then I will let you borrow it." Liu Shang said this as he took the guqin from his back and placed it in Su Qingyan's hands. Based on this guqin's weight, it wasn't something that a young girl like her could carry, yet Su Qingyan was able to firmly hold it.

She lightly bowed to Liu Shang, "Thank you very much mister Liu Shang, I definitely won't let you regret letting me borrow this."

Qingyan carried the Fengyao Guqin and slowly walked to the center of the stage. However, she didn't removed the Charred Tail Guqin that was already there, but instead placed the Fengyao Guqin vertically in front of it.

Everyone burst into laughter at how Su Qingyan placed the instrument. But only Liu Shang knew that only the previous pavilion master, Qilian Qingyan, would play like this. And she would play out the most heart moving melodies in the world.

"Su Qingyan, how can you compete with me when you can't even place the qin right." Cui Hanxue look to Su Qingyan, still sneering at her.

But Su Qingyan ignored her and strum the strings, releasing an unworldly and pleasant sound.

As soon as the sound escaped, everyone present momentarily fell into silence. This was precisely what's impressive about the Fengyao Guqin; it can endlessly magnify the sound of the qin, evoking a surreal image.

Qingyan lastly placed the qin horizontally on her lap and slowly stroked the strings.

The first part of the tune was ethereal and lingering, as if it could let one sink into nature and feel the cries of a hundred birds.

The second part was deep and melodious, as if one could sense the parting sorrow and grief of the player, making them can't help but to tear at the cruelty of fate.

The last part of the tune was soothing and light, as if one could feel that light hearted and relaxing mood of the player. It was as if this person didn't have anything that made them sad.

It was precisely the so called saying, 'the willow trees make the shade, the flowers give the light*'.

(*TN: Idiom meaning at one's darkest hour, a glimmer of hope, or there's light at the end of the tunnel.)

Just when everyone still wanted more, the tune had already ended.

The judges present were once fortunate enough to hear someone play this peerless masterpiece of a tune, and this piece was precisely the [Thousand Beasts and Phoenix] that had been lost in Jianghu for more than 5 years.

Liu Shang never had thought that he could hear this familiar tune again in this kind of setting. Aside from the fact that Qingyan's appearance playing the qin was all too similar to Qilian Qingyan, as her once most loyal guardian protector, towards Qingyan's every move and smile, he was all too familiar with. To think that this girl could let him feel as if she was Qilian Qingyan.

But Qilian Qingyan had already passed away, this was a reality that no one could change.

"What kind of lousy tune was that, why haven't I heard of it before? Su Qingyan don't use some unknown piece that no one knows about to mess with us." Cui Hanxue look to Su Qingyan still with a look of disdain.

Su Qingyan didn't acknowledge her words and instead nonchalantly walked up before Liu Shang carrying the qin. "Thank you mister Liu Shang for lending me the qin. This Fengyao Guqin is truly worthy to be called the number one guqin in the world."

Seeing Qingyan's undisturbed calmness, Liu Shang smiled, "I wonder if Miss Su knows how to play the flute."

"If I can find a good piece of blood jade, then naturally I can play this piece with it." Qingyan still looked to a shocked Liu Shang with a smiling face.

Liu Shang, did you know that at the time, I was most worried about what kind of disaster that rude and reckless behavior of yours would bring the Thousand Beast Pavilion. But fortunately, the others stopped him. And it was also fortunate that she could be reunited with Liu Shang under these circumstances.

She leaned in next to his ear and whispered, "Xuanwu*, I trust you've been well, I've returned."

(*TN: Must be his other name, it means black tortoise.)

When Liu Shang heard this, he tightly clenched both his fist. But by the time he looked to Qingyan, she'd already went back to her smiling face. It was as if the one that had said that wasn't this girl before him.

Qingyan didn't bother to see what kind of expression Liu Shang had, and instead directly headed back to her own seat. It was as if nothing had happened, and that she'd never played the [Thousand Beasts and Phoenix] tune.

"Minister Cui, I hope you will properly educate your daughter. After all, this piece is the highly regarded [Thousand Beasts and Phoenix] that's been lost in Jianghu for more than five years. Naturally, it's fine to want to take first place, but it's not proper for something like that to be said during the talent conference."

Cui Chujun, hearing this voice, immediately stepped out and bowed to the ground, "Fourth Prince is right, I will definitely properly educate my daughter."

Cui Hanxue hadn't thought that what she said would end up affecting her father. When she look to Cui Chujun, she had an apologetic look, and in the end, she also kneeled down to ask for forgiveness.

Chunyuan, seeing Qingyan's calm manner, grew a bit fonder of her. Especially just now, when she played that tune, that manner was quite similar to Qilian Qingyan.

Liu Shang was still in a state of shock and has yet to come to his sense. Qilian Qingyan was probably the only one that could call out the name Xuanwu. But the young girl before his eyes wasn't Qilian Qingyan. Could it be that everything he'd just experienced was all an illusion?

Liu Shang turned his gaze towards Qingyan as he thought of this. Yet, that girl just calmly sat there, staring at the game of chess before her eyes. That look made him once again combine the earlier scene.

Just who was she? Su Qingyan or Qilian Qingyan?

Qingyan unsurprisingly obtained first place; to this ranking, Qingyan was nonchalant about it, especially when she played that [Thousand Beasts and Phoenix] piece.

Thus, she was not the least bit surprised to receive this kind of ranking.

"Mother, when did Su Qingyan learn to play the guqin, why didn't I know about it?" Su Qingyuan look to the not too distant Qingyan and asked in a soft voice, "She's taking all the spotlight."

"Yuan'er, there's no need for you to worry, isn't there still the other category performances as well? Aside from the main one, isn't there still more? Just beat her in those when the time comes." Ning Siyao patted Qingyuan's arm as she said this, "I'm very confident in our Yuan'er's abilities."

Su Qingyuan turned to Su Qingyan with an intimidating look in her eyes. But as if Qingyan had never seen her, she continued to keep her eyes on the chessboard before her, minding her own business.

"Fourth brother, seems like you're going to have to surrender your Azure Dragon Falling Crescent sword now." Xuanyuan Yukai look to Xuanyuan Yuzhen and whispered, "The tune that girl played was really astonishing."

Xuanyuan Yuzhen looked at the confident looking Murong Jingxuan and grinned, "Seems like you already knew that girl can take first place?"

Murong Jingxuan turned towards Qingyan's direction and confidently says, "Naturally."

Since the beginning, she has never once disappointed him before.