New Achi
The woman was dressed in a gorgeous purple robe, with a gold hairpin in her hair, and her face was covered by a light purple veil.
But judging from her eyes and demeanor, one would immediately think she must be an outstanding beauty.
A Qiu glanced at her briefly before immediately bowing her head and saying, "A Qiu will remember Senior Zhongli's instructions."
Zhongli Wuyan observed her expression for a moment, then smiled and said, "For a junior member of the dance troupe to have such a broad mind and vision, not limited by age but with the intention as the goal, what's wrong with breaking the centuries-old conventions of the Music Bureau?"
When Sun's wife heard that she had agreed so readily, she was overjoyed and said, "Since you have agreed, Senior, I have no more doubts! Thank you for making this decision and for setting a new precedent for the Music Bureau!"
Zhongli Wuyan turned gracefully to the side, and said with infinite loneliness, "Sun Ci, nowadays, you are the only one in the entire Music Bureau who still cares about my opinion."
The support or opposition of the people often depends on power, not on gods or tradition. To break the century-old precedent set by the Music Bureau, one only needs to ask the Chenghua Ling (a high-ranking official in charge of music), and then one must ask the Taichang Temple (another high-ranking official in charge of music).
Zhongli Wuyan was merely a powerless and reclusive senior, and someone like Huang Chaoan would never care about her opinion.
Lady Sun replied, “Since I understood where my heart lies, all I care about are heaven and earth and the gods. You have guarded the Music Bureau for nearly forty years. In my heart, although you are not the god in charge of music, you are equivalent to the incarnation of a god. I don’t care what those in power think, but I care a lot about whether my actions are in accordance with my conscience.”
She bowed again and said, "Since you have granted my request, I would like to make a second request."
Zhongli Wuyan smiled and said, "You haven't made any requests in decades, but now you've made two. Alright, tell me, and I will do my best to fulfill any request I can."
Sun's wife said, "This request is certainly something you can fulfill, senior."
She emphasized, “In the beginning of heaven and earth, there were the symbols of Qian and Kun and the Eight Trigrams. The symbols of women are young girls, middle-aged women, and old women. 'White Silk' features young girls like A Qiu, E Xu, and Lü Zhu, as well as middle-aged women like the concubine and Hong Bi. I, Sun Ci, have boldly invited seniors to participate in this performance, both to clearly depict the changes in a woman's life and to create a legendary performance of three generations of the dance troupe on the same stage!”
Sun Neiren was truly a woman who, when she spoke, astounded everyone. Even Xue Hongbi was speechless, her mouth agape.
Twenty years ago, Zhongli Wuyan took a liking to Sun Neiren among the dancers of the dance troupe, taught her the Ghost Step, and instructed her to vow that no matter what turmoil occurred in the future, she would do her best to preserve the dance troupe.
At that time, she used her superb martial arts skills to come and go without a trace, claiming to be the Goddess of Music. Although Sun Neiren did not completely believe her, she guessed that this senior must have come from the dance troupe.
However, due to the passage of time, it is unknown which dynasty or generation of Yuefu ancestors they belonged to.
Now that she had already promised Sun Ci and Xue Hongbi that they could break the century-old precedent and perform on stage, Sun's wife went a step further and proposed that she also perform on stage. If we were to talk about spanning two or even several dynasties and witnessing the vicissitudes of the music bureau over a long historical period, no one would be more suitable than Zhongli Wuyan.
Zhongli Wuyan's veil trembled slightly. After a long while, she quietly said, "Your idea is excellent, but I am bound by an oath and can no longer appear in front of the public or anywhere as a member of the Music Bureau."
When Lady Sun proposed this idea, she had mustered all her courage; it was truly the greatest innovation of her life, and she had been inspired by A-Qiu to come up with it. She had anticipated that Zhongli Wuyan might refuse, but she never expected the reason for the refusal to be this. She was momentarily stunned and at a loss for words.
Before she could react, Zhongli Wuyan continued, "However, I can promise you that on the day of the performance of 'White Silk,' whether on or off stage, in front of or behind the scenes, I will do my part for you."
She chuckled softly, as if making a decision, and said, "It's settled then."
As if by unspoken agreement, everyone felt a warm breeze brush past them, carrying a faint fragrance, which then vanished in an instant.
The red candles on the incense table suddenly lit up again, and the flickering flames cast the shadows of the five people in the hall onto the wall.
The Kui Dragon statue seemed to come alive again from the darkness, its figure outlined by candlelight, quietly overlooking the crowd from the altar.
Sun's wife said softly, "The senior has left. Let's go back too."
Tomorrow is the Mid-Autumn Festival, and the dance troupe's performance of "White Silk" will be held tomorrow night.
After several days of intensive rehearsals and training, even Ah Qiu felt a bit nervous.
Fortunately, Xiao Chang'an was among the musicians. He always managed to witty remarks at the right moment, making the dancers laugh and easing the tense atmosphere.
Xue Hongbi couldn't stop Xiao Chang'an now, because the rehearsal location had recently changed to Jixian Hall by Jinming Pond, which was also the venue for the official Mid-Autumn Festival banquet. All the musicians and dancers were rehearsing there, and she couldn't very well stop Xiao Chang'an from going to Jixian Hall to rehearse with everyone.
Moreover, even at this point, Xiao Chang'an was still the main person in charge of composing the music for "White Silk".
Gu Yi, the Junior Tutor and Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, naturally wouldn't attend the rehearsal, and no one dared to ask him to practice with them. His position was currently filled by a musician. On the day of the performance, Gu Yi could simply be brought in.
Perhaps infected by everyone's excited and nervous mood, A-Qiu hadn't been sleeping well for several nights in a row.
As the most important figure in the "White Silk" dance, her performance directly impacts the success or failure of the entire show. It's impossible to say she feels no pressure.
Both Sun's wife and Xue Hongbi had been through similar experiences, and they provided her with a lot of psychological support.
Xue Hongbi said, "No one is not nervous before going on stage! Once you step onto the stage, hear the music, and start dancing, you'll be fine!"
Sun's wife said, "You just need to proceed at your usual pace. There's no need to worry too much."
For A Qiu, who had assassinated thirteen states at night and wielded a blade in military camps, stage fright was not an option.
What makes this event special for her is a shift in her psychology and identity.
She was once the renowned Master of the Divine Weapon Hall of Lanling, famous throughout the martial arts world, and ranked first on the Immortal Exile List as "Jing Ke." However, only her name was known to the public; no outsider had ever seen her true face.
As an assassin, she was famous, but she always kept her tracks hidden. She would not reveal herself to the world if she could avoid it. This was an instinctive caution.
She trusts only those within her own sect. To outsiders, no matter how famous she is, she is nothing more than a legend, a myth, no different from a divine weapon or famous sword.
But this situation changed after she entered the palace.
Gu Yi was the first person to notice her. After her came Sun Neiren, Zhang Exu, Cui Luzhu, Xue Hongbi, Xiao Chang'an… and then Zhongli Wuyan. These people might know her true identity, or they might not know it at all. But the one thing they had in common was that she met and befriended them as she was.
She appeared before them as a flesh-and-blood girl named A Qiu.
What A-Qiu sensed was that an ordinary geisha, "A-Qiu," who was completely different from the former head of the Divine Weapon Hall, was gradually taking shape in people's sight.
Unlike the independent, decisive, calm, and resourceful "Jing Ke," this "A Qiu" is so ordinary that she even needs the protection and help of others.
Gu Yi protected her, Sun Neiren protected her, and even that little eunuch Xiao Chang'an protected her.
She had unknowingly developed feelings for these people. The formation of her new identity was largely due to the affection and care they had given her.
This time, because of her role in "White Silk", she is essentially putting herself in front of the world.
From now on, it will probably truly be a case of "Don't worry about having no friends on the road ahead, for who in the world doesn't know you?"
A Qiu was naturally not afraid of anything, but this was rather unusual for a Lanling assassin.
She couldn't help but think that perhaps this was her master Wan Qiqing's intention. He had long anticipated that she had to make sure everyone in the imperial court and the inner palace knew her.
Only then can she obtain what he has planned for her.
But this day came so quickly, which was beyond A-Qiu's expectations.
The performance is scheduled for tomorrow, and there are still some things about "White Silk" that she feels she hasn't fully grasped.
When I first met my beloved, our hearts were as one. But as I unraveled the threads on the broken loom, I realized they could not be made into a pair. Who can bear to think of you without singing? Who can go hungry without eating? As the sun sets, I lean against the door, filled with sorrow, unable to forget you.
Sun Neiren once explained the general meaning of this "Midnight Song" to them. In keeping with Sun Neiren's usual "pure and innocent" style, she simply said: "It expresses the feelings of a woman in love, longing for her lover day and night."
"White Silk" is a dance genre. All dances that use white silk as a prop can be called "White Silk" dances. Of course, since white silk is a specific prop, specific dance postures will also arise. Just like the dance postures depicted in the scrolls in Qiwu Palace.
However, the version of "Bai Zhu" circulating among the people has specific lyrics.
Life is fleeting, like a flash of lightning; joyful days are few, and sorrowful days are many. The crane lingers, its beauty radiant; you sing to greet me, your heart as steadfast as ever.
In fact, both "White Silk Dance Song" and "Midnight Song" depict the melancholy and longing of lovers.
A Qiu's dance at this moment was first passed down from Qi Wu Hua Juan, then her breath was adjusted by Gu Yi's zither music, and then she was carefully polished by Sun Nei Ren and Xue Hong Bi, the two leading ladies of the previous dynasty. She had reached a magnificent state where every gesture was graceful and every glance was full of charm.
But she herself was very clear about one thing: all the emotions in Bai Zhu Wu belonged to others, not to her.
The composer infused "Midnight Song" with a profound emotion that is repetitive and evocative.
The lyrics, written by the lyricist, express a poignant and enduring longing in their heart.
The choreographer's every movement is exquisitely beautiful, both static and dynamic, ethereal like a soaring swan, hesitant as if about to depart. It reflects the wavering of the heart and the uncertainty of emotions.
Ah Qiu could portray all of this so vividly and perfectly. But deep down, she knew one thing very well: she didn't understand why people had such feelings.
Therefore, when she opened her eyes in Qiwu Palace and saw the paulownia trees and the bright moon outside the window, she felt a sense of both unfamiliarity and as if she had known all along that this would happen.
The walls were lined with brand-new, tall bookshelves, exuding the elegant fragrance of nanmu wood. In addition, the subtle scent of ink wafted through the air.
Before her hung a soft, white veil, loosely draped from the ceiling beams to the floor. A figure behind the veil was vaguely visible in her vision.
It was the figure of a young girl with long, flowing hair, dancing with her sleeves raised. Her features were obscured by the light moonlight and a thin veil.
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