The difficulty of playing “Feng Qiu Huang” is not due to the high and obscure melody, but because of the rich variety and high requirements for fingering techniques.
The song “Feng Qiu Huang” consists of four sections, each of which is said to have at least twenty variations in melody. The most classic section, “Feng Ming,” can even reach more than thirty types. According to legend, “Feng Qiu Huang” was created by Marquis Duan of Qi, who devoted all his heart and effort to his beloved. The song not only brings joy to meeting and staying with his beloved, but also the painful cries of heartbreak when parting ways with them. Ordinary zither music may only be a combination of melody and rhythm, while “Feng Qiu Huang” is a heart and soul that twists and turns repeatedly. Previously, there was a person with weak willpower who attempted to play this song but ended up vomiting blood and became a madman.
There are even some people who cried uncontrollably for three days after listening to “Feng Qiu Huang” and eventually jumped into the river with their beloved to die for their love too.
In short, due to the complex and varied melodies, as well as various absurd legends, there are very few people in the world who can truly learn “Feng Qiu Huang.” The only one who has obtained the true transmission is Qi Ziqi, the son of Marquis Duan of Qi.
That’s right, although “Feng Qiu Huang” has a sad melody, Marquis Duan’s personal experience is extremely legendary. After losing the love of his life at a young age, he went to the capital of Qi and was recognized by King Lie, and became the most powerful Marquis Duan, who was under one person but above ten thousand people. And by chance, he reunited with his former lover and gave birth to a common child, Qi Ziqi, the Young Master of Qi.
Although King Lie had a violent temperament, but Marquis Duan had an excellent reputation among the Qi’s people. Nowadays, almost all military and political affairs in Qi are under this Marquis Duan’s control.
He can be called an inspirational role model.
Although Marquis Duan himself rarely plays “Feng Qiu Huang” again, but this does not prevent it from becoming a world-renowned song that musicians are eager to learn.
It’s just that “Feng Qiu Huang” is difficult to play after all. It’s just a matter of learning and practicing in private when you have nothing to do, but when you’re playing in a competition, it’s very easy to make mistakes.
The Spring Banquet has been held for so many years, and no one dares to play this song during music competitions.
The musician sent by the Crown Prince’s mansion, who participated in the Spring Banquet for the first time, dared to directly challenge this extremely difficult piece of music. It was shocking and surprising.
On the jade platform, the sound of the chilly zither resounded like flowing water.
The crowd couldn’t help but be enlightened, for this was the first verse of “High Mountains and Flowing Water” from “Feng Qiu Huang,” which tells the beautiful scene of lovers who have similar interests playing opposite each other in the high mountains and flowing water. The melody is leisurely and peaceful.
“What an authentic tone.”
“The Crown Prince’s Mansion has really invited experts this time…”
Someone below couldn’t help but admire.
Luo Fengjun also turned around and returned to the field holding the zither, slowly sitting down under a willow tree.
“Feng Qiu Huang” is an extremely pleasing tune, and as the sound of the zither gets better and better, more and more people are drawn to this side to watch the competition.
Jiang Yun also raised his head and looked at the musician’s figure, which was hidden by the black veil.
A gentle breeze blew by, lifting a corner of the black veil from time to time. Jiang Yun could see a piece of his chin, but he never managed to see the musician’s true face.
Jiang Yun then went to look at the musician’s hand again.
Those are a pair of fair and delicate hands, like condensed fat, with very sensitive finger joints, so they can adapt very well to the changing melody of “Feng Qiu Huang” and quickly change their fingerings.
To those who don’t know how to do it, it looks like his ten fingers are flying, it almost becomes an illusions.
Seeing Jiang Yun looking seriously, Shi Fang couldn’t help but wonder, “What is the Young Master looking at?”
Jiang Yun pointed to him and asked, “Can you guess if this Musician is male or female?”
After looking for a moment, Shi Fang said, “It looks like a woman.”
Jiang Yun shook his head and said, “I guess it’s a man.”
“A man?”
Shi Fang was confused: “How can a man have such hands?”
Moreover, why does a big man have to cover himself with a layer of black veil in broad daylight? There’s nothing that can’t be seen.
Is it because he’s too ugly?
“Ordinary men naturally couldn’t, but he’s not an ordinary man.”
“I guess he is a Kunjun.”
Jiang Yun answered his questions for him.
Shi Fang showed a surprised expression.
“How did the Young Master find out?”
Jiang Yun said, “Although his musculoskeletal structure is soft and delicate, his fingers are much longer, and his height is much higher than that of ordinary women. It should be because he has been taking medication for a long time that he can have such fingers.”
Shi Fang also felt that this woman was too tall, and it was only after hearing Jiang Yun’s words that he suddenly realized it.
The melody of “Feng Qiu Huang” on stage has reached the climax of “Phoenix Crying.” The originally cheerful melody suddenly turns into a mournful cry.
It’s as if the crowd heard the sound of Kunshan Jade shattering and the phoenix weeping blood, their emotions uncontrollably rising with an indescribable sadness following the melody, some even shedding tears.
“Wonderful, wonderful ah.”
“This is the real ‘Feng Qiu Huang’ ah!”
Someone stood up with red eyes and shouted excitedly.
Most of the people who play string music have a bit of an obsessive look, and when this man started, he immediately caused a large number of loud claps and shouts.
Even Luo Fengjun showed a hint of surprise.
At the end of the song, the Musician on the stage slowly got up and bowed to everyone. As he was about to step down, someone suddenly asked, “Can you show your true face?”
After a moment of silence, the musician smiled and said, “It was my family’s rule to not show my face when playing the zither, so I hope that brother won’t mind.”
It was actually an androgynous male voice.
Shi Fang cast an admiring gaze at Jiang Yun.
Jiang Yun was still focused on looking at the figure on the stage.
At this moment, someone asked, “I wonder where the expert settled? With such exceptional skills, why has he never shown them before?”
The musician said, “I am just an ordinary performer. The last time I played this song, ‘Feng Qiu Huang’, was seven years ago. Recently, my skills have become rusty, I’ve made everyone laugh.”
Your technique is rusty, but you can still play at such a level?
It’s just that seven years ago…
Suddenly, someone said, “It was rumored that when the Crown Prince of Jiang was eleven years old, he spent a lot of money to find someone to play ‘Feng Qiu Huang’ on his behalf in order to build a reputation. Is it possible that the expert is the footman?!”
As soon as these words fell, everyone was in an uproar.
Because of the question of whether or not the Crown Prince of the Jiang Empire can play “Feng Qiu Huang,” truth and falsehood have been a topic of constant debate without a clear conclusion.
But in the recent Liushang Banquet, the Crown Prince of Jiang personally admitted that he did not know how to play any music, so the substitute playing thing was pretty much a done deal.
The identity of the substitute has always been an unsolved mystery.
After all, if they want to make this matter seamless, they can’t find a substitute who is too different in age from the Crown Prince of Jiang. What kind of genius is it that could play a song like “Feng Qiu Huang” at the age of eleven? If that’s the truth, even the Prince of Music like Luo Fengjun would be inferior.
And now this musician, regardless of age or experience, seems to fit in.
For a moment, everyone’s gaze was fixed on the musician.
Luo Fengjun even stood up directly while holding his zither.
As a musical genius, he has always held himself high, looked down upon ordinary mediocre talents, and disdained to compete with those mediocre talents. He only harbors a grudge against Jiang Rongyu, who can play “Feng Qiu Huang” at the age of eleven, and has always wanted to find an opportunity to compete with him. Unexpectedly, last time at the Liushang Banquet, he challenged him in public, but the other party avoided fighting and instead took the initiative to surrender in front of a group of subordinate countries.
He was unwilling in his heart but there was nothing he could do.
But if that rumor is true, wouldn’t his obsession over the past few years also be a joke?
Luo Fengjun stared at the musician, gritted his teeth, raised his voice, and asked, “Seven years ago, did you really play for the Crown Prince of the Jiang?”
There has been a clamor in the field.
Someone exclaimed angrily, “The expert doesn’t have to worry, the Jiang Empire is at the end of its power. The expert just needs to speak the truth boldly without worrying about Jiang Rongyu’s retaliation.”
“That’s right, His Highness the Crown Prince has built a talent recruitment platform in the capital of Chen, collecting evidence of Jiang Rongyu forging of his virtuous name. If the expert really dares to step forward and expose him, you may even receive His Highness’s recognition and heavy rewards.”
The musician remained silent, seeming hesitant. After a while, he said, “I am just a common person; everyone, please don’t make things difficult for me.”
Although this statement is not directly stated, but it is almost a disguised agreement.
Everyone gasped for breath, followed by boundless anger and verbal abuse.
“I didn’t expect that Jiang Rongyu was really a person fishing for fame and reputation!”
“What ‘Feng Qiu Huang’ or ‘Jiangdu Fu’, they seem to be all fake now! That so-called virtuous name is mostly a fabrication. I hate that we are blind and have been deceived by him for so many years!”
Luo Fengjun stood in place in a daze, and then anger rose in his eyes.
The musician’s lips lightly curled, he picked the zither up, and prepared to step back. Suddenly, amidst the noise, a clear and moist voice came: “Stay where you are.”
The musician looked up and saw a green figure standing below the jade platform.
Jiang Yun looked at him quietly and said, “You played ‘Feng Qiu Huang’ with a few errors.”
The musician was startled, his eyes slightly shrank under the black veil, and he instinctively clenched his sleeves.
The angry protesters also shut up in shock, not understanding what the situation was.
Errors?
How could there be errors in such an authentic melody?
How could that be?!
Why didn’t they hear it?
The musician quickly regained his composure and asked, “Young Master said that I’ve made some mistakes while playing, is there any evidence?”
He did make a few mistakes, but there are too many changes in “Feng Qiu Huang.” Unless it is Marquis Duan himself or the person who is said to have obtained the true legend, it is impossible for anyone to notice.
After a moment of panic, the musician immediately regained his confidence.
Jiang Yun said, “In your first and third sections, there was a missing tick. In the second and fourth sections, there was an extra plucking of the strings, and the lower finger was too deep when plucking. In the third section of ‘Crying Phoenix’, there were at least three missing stacks. Am I right?”
The musician suddenly paled.
It’s just that it wad hidden under the black veil, so no one sees.
But he remained calm and said, “Who can’t engage in idle theorizing? I have already finished my music, and if the Young Master must accuse me with empty words, then the Young Master can naturally say whatever you want.”
The onlookers and several judges also looked at Jiang Yun with suspicion.
Because, as far as they personally heard, the song ‘Feng Qiu Huang’ was indeed played successfully and impeccably. ‘Feng Qiu Huang’ has too fast tone changes and too many finger movements, and few people know it. The musician in front of them is already of an extremely high level, so the flaws pointed out by Jiang Yun are not very convincing.
“Of course, these technical loopholes are not your biggest problem.”
“Your biggest problem is that you haven’t understood the essence of ‘Feng Qiu Huang’ at all.”
Jiang Yun spoke again, amidst the shock in everyone’s eyes. His voice was not loud, it’s even gentle, but it was hard to ignore.
“The song ‘Feng Qiu Huang’ is not a sad song.”
Jiang Yun said.
This is even more outrageous. “Feng Qiu Huang” was written by Marquis Duan of Qi, who missed his lover. Because it was too sad, some people died in love after listening to this song. He actually said it was not a sad song.
“If it’s not a sad song, can it be a joyful song?”
“That’s right, it’s ridiculous!”
Shi Fang, who was standing behind him, was somewhat worried about the young gentleman’s current situation. Although he has unconditional trust in Jiang Yun, but the other party has a large number of people, and they clearly agree with the musician just now. It may be difficult for the young gentleman to convince others just by talking.
Moreover, this is the person recruited by Military Advisor Chen, he represents the Crown Prince’s Mansion.
Isn’t this move of the young gentleman against His Highness?
The most important thing is that the young gentleman looks weak, while these musicians all look fierce.
When Shi Fang was worrying, he saw Jiang Yun extend his hand and say to the famous musician, “Can I borrow the zither for a while?”
The musician frowned.
A cold voice suddenly sounded, “I can lend it to you.”
Surprisingly, it was Luo Fengjun.
After a while, Luo Fengjun replaced and repaired the broken strings.
Jiang Yun let out a thank-you. He took the zither from Luo Fengjun’s hands, stepped up the jade platform, and sat on the high platform.
A judge couldn’t help but say, “This…”
The other few people said at the same time, “No problem, let him play!”
Seeing that the situation was beyond his control, Shi Fang quickly followed and protected Jiang Yun from behind.
Jiang Yun lowered his eyes and plucked the zither’s strings.
When the familiar yet unfamiliar, gurgling sound of the zither suddenly sounded, everyone’s spirits couldn’t help but shake, revealing stunning expressions.
Although both are part of “High Mountains and Flowing Water,” this section not only allows people to feel the beautiful scene of lovers playing against each other but also brings the pine breeze, bright moon, clear spring, mountains and rocks surrounding the two, even the fish swimming up and down, the elegant birds spreading their wings, and even the wildflowers blooming in the mountains and rocks to life as well.
The bright moon shines among the pine trees, and the clear spring stones flow upstream.
Lovers walk hand in hand, stepping on the stream.
By the time they get to the section of ‘Phoenix crying’, the tune does not turn sad and somber. Instead, it rose steeply, noisily, and densely like rain, as if a crane were crying out in the nine heavens. Amidst the sadness, there is a heart-wrenching cry and a strong sense of pride, making people almost suffocated.
Clang—
When the tune reaches a terrifyingly shrill height, there is a sudden surge of almond blossom spring rain-like serenity and calmness from the shrillness.
After finishing the song, the whole arena fell silent.
After an unknown amount of time, an official judge with gray hair stood up and applauded.
“Good zither, good music.”
“After listening to your song, ‘Feng Qiu Huang,’ this old man has no regrets in this life.”
Jiang Yun didn’t say anything. He put away the zither and looked at the musician, who was still standing in place. “Are you convinced?”
The musician’s face was as pale as paper, looking at Jiang Yun incredulously.
“How could you…”
He murmured, unable to believe it.
Jiang Yun didn’t look at him anymore and returned the zither to Luo Fengjun.
Luo Fengjun’s eyes lit up as he wanted to say something. However, Jiang Yun had already bowed lightly and turned to leave.
Shi Fang is busy keeping up.
“Master, so this is the real ‘Feng Qiu Huang’?”
Zhao Yan stood outside the crowd with Jimo Qingyu, not hiding his stunning question.
Jimo Qingyu stroked his beard with a smile, clearly still immersed in that unparalleled melody and unable to extricate himself.
After a while, he asked, “What did you say?”
Zhao Yan: “……”
Zhao Yan then changed the topic and said, “Does Master still plan to take him as a disciple?”
“What? I can’t?”
“But after all, he is…”
“Is what? The Crown Prince’s person? Heh.”
Zhao Yan: ?
What does master mean? Is he planning to compete with the Crown Prince for the person too?!
“Where is the young gentleman going?”
Seeing Jiang Yun walking in a hurry, Shi Fang followed closely and asked.
Jiang Yun stopped, turned his head, and said gently, “I’ll go to the river to wash my hands. You can wait for me here.”
Before Shi Fang could answer, Jiang Yun walked away.
When Jiang Yun reached a vacant spot by the river, he frowned and spat out a mouthful of black blood.
He kneeled down, washed his fingers, took out a handkerchief to wipe the corners of his mouth clean, and suddenly felt someone was peeking behind him.
Turning his head, he saw Fan Qi standing stealthily behind a willow tree.
