Xu Jiang stopped and looked for a moment, then smiled and called out softly, "Thank you, Madam."
Xie Hongxing wiped her tears and turned back, forcing a smile and saying, "Madam Xu, are you coming out for some fresh air too?"
Xu Jiang stepped forward and took her hand, "I came to see you to reminisce about the past."
Xie Hongxing glanced towards the waterside pavilion and said worriedly, "My wife came here with the adults. If she associates with me, it might harm her reputation."
"What's the harm of a little false reputation? I've done plenty of things that have harmed my reputation, so one or two wouldn't hurt me." Xu Jiang didn't let go of her hand, but instead clapped it tightly. "Besides, a person of integrity has nothing to fear from his own shadow. We don't steal, rob, cheat, or deceive. Even if someone talks too much, it's just a reflection on ourselves, a self-humiliation. What does it have to do with us?"
Knowing that she was trying to persuade him not to worry about what happened in the waterside pavilion, Xie Hongxing was touched. "Thank you, Madam Xu. I know Jiang Gu will not make a mistake in choosing someone."
When Jiang Guxu was mentioned, Jiang's expression of pity disappeared, and he raised an eyebrow and said, "Don't mention him. His eyesight is not very good. Otherwise, how could he have been nearly killed by Feng Miao?"
Xie Hongxing chuckled softly, and her melancholy immediately dissipated. She then sighed, "I wonder how he's doing in Furong City."
"A friend of mine went to Furong City a few days ago. I asked him to take a letter to Jiang Gu. I'll have news when he returns to Beijing. I'll let you know then."
"Thank you very much, my lady."
"We're all friends, so don't be so secretive." Seeing her cheerfulness, Xu Jiang felt a little relieved. Then, he glanced around and asked in a low voice, "Do you know the Lord Mu sitting here?"
Xie Hongxing nodded, "I've met him a few times before when I went to the official's house to perform."
It seemed that she didn't know that Mu Cong was also an old friend of Jiang Gu. I guess Jiang Gu was afraid that she would be involved in these things, so he didn't say it explicitly.
Seeing her lost in thought, Xie Hongxing asked, "Is there something wrong with him?"
Xu Jiang shook her head and asked, "Are you coming to the banquet today to join the Imperial Music Academy?"
Xie Hongxing was startled for a moment, then lowered her eyes and said, "Of course I want to come in, but I'm afraid I'm not qualified."
"My lady, please do not underestimate yourself. Your pipa skills are at the pinnacle of excellence. I believe you will definitely be selected."
"It's not because of this, but because I was born in a brothel and I'm afraid I won't be able to marry into an official family."
"That may not be the case. I see that the gentlemen present here are quite impressed with you, and the court has no regulations prohibiting brothel musicians from joining the imperial music academy. Madam, please do not be discouraged, and do not let external things affect your mood and state of mind."
Xie Hongxing felt relieved after hearing her words, and regained her confidence. She said, "That was only the first round. I believe that after the adults have discussed it, they will select someone to compose the second round of music. I originally prepared two songs, but I'm a little undecided. Madam Xu, why don't you help me decide which one is better."
"Which two?"
"One is 'Xunyang Qu', and the other is 'Remembering Qin E. Pipa Music'."
"'Remembering Qin E. Pipa Music', how come I haven't heard of it?" Xu Jiang suddenly realized, "Was it written by Jiang Gu?"
Xie Hongxing nodded. "Every pipa player knows 'Xunyang Qu'. Although I play it well, it's hard for me to come up with something new. Xiaoping wrote this 'Pipa Music' just for me. It resonates with me, so I feel more confident about it."
Xu Jiang sighed and asked her to make the decision, but her words showed her decision.
However, although Jiang Gu was highly favored by musicians and conductors, he was shunned by officials. With the exception of her, all present today were officials. If his piece were performed, the outcome would be unpredictable. Furthermore, there was also Mu Cong, and Xu Jiang was unsure of his intentions.
So he advised: "If you ask me, I would choose "Xunyang Qu". Although Jiang Gu's work is good, most of the people who come to evaluate the music today are court officials. The risk is too great."
Xie Hongxing shook her head and said, "It shouldn't be a big deal. This piece of music hasn't been circulated outside, and I've never played it in front of anyone. If anyone asks, I'll just make it up and say it was composed by someone else."
Since she had chosen this song as an alternative, she had already thought it through carefully.
"That's fine." Xu Jiang nodded, then jokingly said, "You've already made up your mind, so why are you asking me?"
Xie Hongxing blushed slightly and said softly, "Actually, I was hesitant before I met Madam Xu. I only decided to play it after seeing you."
Xu Jiang rubbed his face and asked in surprise, "How dare I be so shameless?"
Xie Hongxing sneered, then said quietly, "I'm often troubled. I want others to know that this song was composed by him, but I don't want to spread the word and let others criticize me. If my wife doesn't come, even if I play this song, no one will know it was composed by him, and no one will know why I play it. Since no one knows, what difference does it make whether I play it or not?"
"Aren't you afraid of my criticism?"
"Will my wife be able to do this?"
"Of course not. On the contrary, I'm looking forward to it. That's Jiang Xiaoping's unpublished work, and it's played by a pipa expert like you. It's a stroke of luck that you came across it."
The two smiled at each other.
Xie Hongxing glanced towards the waterside pavilion and saw that the adults in the side hall had stood up, so she said, "Let's go back. The second round should be starting soon."
Xu Jiang also looked back and then agreed.
The two returned to the water pavilion, and Zhong Lu and others happened to come over, so everyone returned to their respective positions.
Xu Jiang whispered to Zhong Lu, "What was the result?"
Zhong Lu glanced at Xie Hongxing and nodded to her.
It seems that we have entered the second round, Xu Jiang smiled.
Sure enough, after everyone sat down, Wu Qingye called a few musicians and asked them to play another song. Among them was Xie Hongxing, and the flute player from before was not surprisingly eliminated.
He seemed dissatisfied, but dared not speak out. He could only hold the bamboo flute tightly and his face turned ashen.
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