Chapter 52: Shocking the Entire Audience

Yu Zhaoyang was completely dumbfounded.

How could this be possible!

This vastly exceeded her expectations.

When did Yu Yuanzheng learn to play the zither? Why hadn't she noticed it at all?

Clearly, Yu Yuanzheng didn't know how to play just moments ago. Testing the strings was merely a deliberate cover-up for her inability.

Yet, reality had just delivered a resounding slap to her face.

This was abnormal.

She had never heard this melody before.

She had played all the famous tunes, but had never encountered anything called "Moonlight over the Lotus Pond."

Crucially, why was this piece so exceptionally melodious? It even had lyrics and could be sung.

Though the lyrics were straightforward and comprehensible even to a three-year-old child, they possessed profound charm.

The Princess Consort was equally surprised to find that her daughter-in-law was not only skilled at the zither, but an even better singer.

This tune was truly delightful—cheerful, graceful, with a distant artistic conception and a brisk rhythm.

Observing her daughter-in-law's fingering technique, she wondered why she had never seen it before.

She played the zither herself, yet why had her tutors never taught her these techniques?

Even a single rocking-finger technique was far beyond her reach.

Her daughter-in-law was actually capable of sweeping and rocking the strings simultaneously.

"Good heavens, what kind of mastery level is this?" the Princess Consort sighed in admiration.

This exclamation prompted the Prince to cast a sideways glance at the Princess Consort.

The Prince said nothing, merely listening intently.

Unnoticed by anyone, the Prince was gently tapping the rhythm on his own knee.

He was also someone with a modest understanding of musical temperament.

Which of the noble scions and ladies had not studied music?

Seated above, the Emperor had closed his eyes, thoroughly enjoying the exquisite music.

The Empress stood up directly, walked over to Yu Yuanzheng, and watched her hands dance together across the strings.

In those days, zither playing was primarily executed with the right hand, while the left hand was used sparingly for pressing and dampening to provide auxiliary support.

Yet Yu Yuanzheng utilized both hands concurrently, their speeds varying between swift and slow, coordinated with incomparable finesse.

The Empress watched in amazement.

An idea blossomed in her mind.

She would send the Eighth Princess to the Prince's Estate to become her student.

As the final note faded away, the lingering resonance still echoed.

Yet the entire hall remained wrapped in utter silence.

Not until the Empress began to applaud did the people awaken from their dream-like trance, followed by thunderous applause.

"Haha... We have never heard such enchanting music before. The eldest daughter-in-law is truly full of surprises. We would love to hear it once more; might you play it again?" The Emperor laughed heartily.

"Certainly." An Emperor's request naturally could not be refused.

Yu Yuanzheng performed the song and vocal rendition once more, while the Empress continued to stand nearby, observing how her hands produced such intricate fingerings.

Yet at times, the movements were so swift that she could not catch them clearly at all.

The assembly enjoyed another taste of earthly beauty.

Amidst the applause, Yu Yuanzheng walked back to her seat.

The Princess Consort beamed and took her hand, leading her to sit beside her.

"I never expected you to give your mother such a tremendous surprise. Zhaoyang claimed you didn't know how to play the zither. Even the tutors I had in the past cannot compare to you."

"Mother flatters me. It is merely a pastime, hardly worth mentioning." Yu Yuanzheng knew that, in truth, the zither scale of this era was incomplete, the fingering was primitive, and it lacked the complex development and tonal range of later generations. Naturally, it lacked that level of shock value.

In reality, her skill was merely average, but placed in this era, she was practically a grandmaster.

"Second Sister, when did you learn to play the zither? Why was I unaware of it? The family never hired a tutor for you." Yu Zhaoyang was consumed by burning jealousy.

Why was it Yu Yuanzheng, rather than herself, who had stolen the spotlight?

Her family had specially retained a zither instructor for her, yet she had never played with such brilliance, whereas someone who had never touched the instrument had captured everyone's ears upon her very first appearance.

"Oh, I simply memorized it while watching you play," Yu Yuanzheng replied casually.

"What? That's impossible." Yu Zhaoyang refused to believe it.

"My capacity for learning is exceptional. I understand it the moment I see it, and I can draw inferences about other things from one instance. Is that not allowed?" Yu Yuanzheng had no desire to converse further with her, shutting Yu Zhaoyang up with a single remark.

Shangguan Zishu pulled back Yu Zhaoyang, who was still eager to retort.

"There is no need to be petty. Eldest Sister-in-law playing well brings honor to the Prince's Estate," Shangguan Zishu soothed.

Yu Zhaoyang had no choice but to let the matter drop, though suppressing the fury in her heart was a bitter struggle.

"Yuanzheng."

"Yuanzheng."

Two young ladies hurried over.

"When I perform later, will you accompany me on the zither?" Cao Jingxuan made her move first, preemptively denying Yue Yuying any chance.

Both of them had chosen to dance.

"But your dance might not necessarily match the tune I play," Yu Yuanzheng said, speechless. Dances and melodies had to correspond; not just any piece would fit.

"It doesn't matter. As long as you choose a gentle melody, I can dance according to your rhythm." Cao Jingxuan was determined to secure her accompaniment.

"Very well."

The performances continued. When their turn arrived, seeing Yu Yuanzheng accompany them, the audience fell silent, eager to savor the music.

For Cao Jingxuan's dance, Yu Yuanzheng played "Moonlit Night on the Spring River," and for Yue Yuying's dance, she performed "Evening Song of the Fishermen."

Both were classic masterpieces. Although the zither was subpar and the tonal register was limited, to the ancients, it sounded truly like entering an immortal realm on earth.

It enhanced the two maidens' dances immeasurably.

The applause goes without saying.

After the performance, both young ladies rushed over, declaring they had never danced so well before. Accompanied by such music, it was truly a pairing of beauties in magnificent attire, each complementing the other perfectly.

The two maidens chattered endlessly, one vowing to learn the zither from her, the other offering to teach her to dance.

Yu Zhaoyang watched with burning eyes of envy.

Upon venturing out for the very first time, Yu Yuanzheng had made intimate female friends, and upon her second entry into the palace, she had won the favor of Commandery Princess Lingxuan, becoming fast friends with her as well.

As for herself, she had merely made an enemy, the Palace Lady of Nanhua.

The performances proceeded one after another. When all twelve acts concluded, the Emperor stood up and praised all the young lords and ladies who had taken the stage.

Yet without a doubt, first place fell to Yu Yuanzheng.

As she accepted the hundred liang of pure gold, Yu Yuanzheng felt as though she had been struck by a bolt of pure happiness.

Previously, the silver notes given by the Prince had lacked visual impact.

This was the first time she had witnessed such a vast quantity of gold so tangibly.

In later generations, how many gold necklaces could this make?

About ten grams would suffice for one.

One hundred liang, converted to modern weight, was six jin and four liang—enough to craft roughly three hundred gold necklaces.

Yu Yuanzheng grinned foolishly.

In essence, it was only worth a thousand liang of silver.

At this thought, she no longer felt it was quite so astronomical.

"Eldest daughter-in-law, could you write down the scores for the three pieces you played earlier? This palace will have the palace musicians practice them, so everyone may hear these tunes when they enter the palace hereafter," the Empress requested graciously.

"Certainly. I shall write them out for Your Majesty in a couple of days." Yu Yuanzheng was exceedingly generous; after all, this was not her proprietary invention.

However, the moment the words left her mouth, she remembered that she had no idea how musical scores of this era were written.

"What is the matter?" the Princess Consort asked, noticing her sudden stiffness.

"Mother, she doesn't know how to write musical scores at all," Yu Zhaoyang seized the opportunity to expose her shortcoming.

Yu Yuanzheng felt deeply embarrassed.

It wasn't that she didn't know how; she simply didn't know the notation of this era.

"No matter, when we return, Mother will help you write them down. As long as you play them, Mother can transcribe them based on the musical pitch," the Princess Consort comforted her, gently patting the back of Yu Yuanzheng's hand.

The banquet proceeded, with various families mingling and exchanging pleasantries.

Many people came to toast the Prince.

At that moment, a young lord attired in brocade robes approached their table with a wine cup in hand.

His hair was tied high in a bun, secured by a gold hairpin embedded with precious gemstones, while a few strands of hair dangling before his forehead gently brushed his well-defined cheekbones, lending him an even greater aura of youthful heroism.

Though a smile graced his features, Yu Yuanzheng sensed something somewhat gloomy beneath it.

"Greetings, Eldest Uncle, Eldest Aunt, Second Grand-aunt, Second Uncle, Second Aunt."

Upon hearing his forms of address, Yu Yuanzheng instantly knew who he was.