Passing on the torch
On the Yan Ge Terrace, Changqing drank wine, welcoming all who came.
But the young girl Sun Ci, from the unreachable distance between them, gazing at his broken and desolate expression beneath his mask, suddenly understood something.
As a maiko, one can never be truly free. She can neither love freely nor live another life.
To gain the respect of the entire court through one's own genius, like Shi Changqing, is already an unparalleled achievement.
But even Shi Changqing probably cannot get what he desires simply because he longs for it.
So, what is the meaning of life?
All the youth, the emotions hidden in public, the daily hard work behind the scenes, even with the talent that Shi Changqing could squander at will, what meaning does it have for the geisha herself, other than fulfilling the imagination of the world?
Xue Hongbi said, "At that time, I didn't think about the meaning. I just wanted to live a better life. I didn't have to get up early every day to practice martial arts, regardless of the weather, and suffer the hardship of being driven by others. I also liked to hear others praise me."
Sun's wife finally smiled and said, "That's what I admire about you."
Xue Hongbi asked, "So, did you find the answer later?"
Sun Neiren quietly raised her head, gazing at the Kui Dragon statue overlooking all living beings, and said softly, "I've found it."
Beginning with the pear tree, ending with the pear tree. Born of the pear tree, dying of the pear tree. This is the path I, as a maiko, wish to take in this world.
Even if there is an afterlife, I would still want to be a giant pear tree. Every spring, I would watch dancers and singers dance to the beat of drums amidst the snow-like falling blossoms beneath the tree, and listen to their songs echoing through the corridors and resounding throughout the palace all night long.
The music of Yuefu was never beautiful, but every person's existence is like a star, and they all have their place in the world.
It's either here or there. And there may not be a perfect Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss in this world.
The way of dance and music is the shared spiritual home of every musician.
The Yuefu (a type of classical Chinese poetry) was never beautiful, but I deeply love this place. I spent my childhood, adolescence, and middle age here.
I loved someone deeply when a dynasty was at its zenith.
I am willing to dedicate my life to protecting these memories and this music hall.
All the candles suddenly went out at the same time.
The Kui dragon statue, perched high on the altar, was also plunged into endless darkness.
Both inside and outside the hall were shrouded in a seamless darkness.
But none of the geisha girls cried out in surprise.
Even in the darkness, they could hear each other's breathing and heartbeats.
They simply held each other's hands tightly, feeling the heat and warmth emanating from them.
For A-Qiu, darkness was not an isolation.
She could picture a woman gracefully entering the hall from outside simply by listening.
Her clothes fluttered, her steps were slow and gentle, almost silent and invisible.
Ah Qiu had already recognized this almost floating footwork in his memory.
That was the "ghost step" used by the ghostly performer encountered on the lakeside boardwalk that night.
Wherever she went, people, though unable to see her, automatically sensed her presence and parted to make way for her.
The silvery laughter seemed to come from all directions, penetrating through the walls.
"After all these years, you've finally deigned to contact me once."
"Don't you know that even gods feel lonely?"
"I really am a god who is not needed!"
Sun's wife stood straight and replied, "At that time, although you claimed to be the god of music, I know that you were just trying to comfort me. Even if you were really the god of the Music Bureau, how could you protect the tens of thousands of musicians at the bottom of society who have lived for nearly a thousand years from persecution, bullying, and the suffering of war and displacement?"
The woman's silvery laughter stopped, and she sighed softly, "You seem dull, but you're actually too clever for your own good, and sometimes too sensible. I can only say that I haven't misjudged you."
Her tone turned wistful: "And you paid for it, almost your whole life."
Lady Sun kowtowed deeply and said, "My wish has been fulfilled, and I have no regrets."
The woman said softly, "If you have no regrets, why have you come today? And why have you brought so many people with you?"
Although it was dark and no one could see her figure clearly, they could feel that when she said those words, everyone, whether in the courtyard or in the hall, was instantly drawn into her gaze.
However, it was also clear that she didn't seem to be angry; rather, it seemed to be something she had expected.
However, A-Qiu, who was in the middle of it, could feel that the other person's gaze swept over her for a little longer than that of others.
That brief pause seemed to be an unexpected shock.
A-Qiu was confident she had concealed her arrogance; outwardly, she was no different from the other geishas. Perhaps she was prettier, but in the dim light, with so many people around, how could this senior possibly pay particular attention to each person's appearance?
There is only one explanation. That is, this senior musician who has always remained hidden in the shadows has seen him before.
She couldn't help but feel a little uneasy.
Sun's wife solemnly bowed again to the unseen Kui Dragon statue and said, "There are two things that only you, senior, can answer."
The woman's voice this time held a hint of curiosity: "What is it?"
Judging by her voice alone, she sounded like a teenage girl, not much older than these geisha girls, and even exuded a charming innocence.
But from the fact that when Sun Neiren first met her, she was still a young girl, it was clear that this senior could not possibly be so young.
However, since she calls herself the "Goddess of Music," she may very well possess the secrets to eternal youth and longevity.
Sun Neiren reported: "Firstly, according to the rules of the dance troupe, those who are over twenty-five years old are no longer allowed to perform on stage. However, the head of the troupe of 'Bai Zhu', Shi, proposed that the two instructors, Xue and I, perform on stage in the last act of 'Bai Zhu' to dance the waterwheel and spinning wheel, to show the cycle of time, the passing of the torch, and the undying light of the heart."
She continued, "Senior, may we be made an exception? Were there similar exceptions in previous generations?"
The gods observed both the inner and outer worlds, and suddenly fell silent.
Sun Neiren and Xue Hongbi, not hearing a reply from the woman for a long time, became quite nervous, and their palms began to sweat.
Every profession has its own rules and traditions, which are a sign of respect for the founders and the profession itself. Those who violate these rules will be scorned by their peers or regarded as a laughingstock.
A geisha over the age of twenty-five should not perform on stage, as a sign of respect for the audience. She does not wish to be seen with an aged and frail figure or a melancholy appearance.
As the Music Bureau, the highest authority in the Southern Dynasties' dance and music tradition, it was especially important not to overstep its bounds. Otherwise, people might say, "With such a vast and resource-rich country, how could there be no suitable women? They couldn't even find a few young and beautiful women, and had to send an old woman on stage, making themselves a laughingstock."
Sun's wife was conservative throughout her life and regarded the rules of her elders as the ultimate guide, but A Qiu's suggestion deeply touched her heart.
It's not that she likes to be in the limelight or is unwilling to give the stage to younger generations.
"White Silk" was the focus of her life's emotions. More importantly, as an art form, should dance only, and should only, showcase youthful beauty, while avoiding the inevitable aging and decline that everyone must face?
Is the meaning of dance simply to present a beautifully embellished feast to dignitaries, without any other superfluous presentation?
Sun Neiren was extremely simple-minded, so her first thought was not whether the officials of the Music Bureau or the Court of Imperial Sacrifices would agree.
What she wanted to inquire about was simply the belief she had held dear since her youth as a geisha, the god of music who represented that belief, and the senior who had always silently protected the dance troupe.
After a moment of silence, the woman's voice rang out, but it surprised everyone: "Who is the Shi family head of the 'White Silk' brothel who made this suggestion?"
In the darkness, A-Qiu felt her gaze slowly sweep over everyone present, finally landing on her.
Sun's wife, of course, was unaware of this. After only a slight hesitation, she gently pushed A-Qiu in front of her and softly urged, "Quickly pay your respects to the senior."
A Qiu dared not raise her head, and bowed, saying, "This concubine, Shi Wanqiu, greets Senior."
The sound of flowing clothes grew louder as footsteps approached. They were a pair of purple satin shoes, adorned with golden phoenix hairpins at the toes.
A Qiu cultivates internal energy, giving her eyesight far superior to ordinary people. Therefore, even in complete darkness, people close at hand are as clearly visible to her as if it were daytime.
The woman's voice rang out above her head: "Your nickname is A-Qiu, isn't it?"
A Qiu wasn't sure if she had misheard, but she felt that the woman's tone suggested a special kind of warmth and affection towards her.
Fearing she might reveal her true identity to such a powerful figure, she dared not raise her head and said respectfully, "My nickname is A-Qiu."
The woman chuckled twice, then said, "Now we can officially exchange names. My surname is Zhongli, Aqiu, remember that."
Sun Neiren and Xue Hongbi, who were standing to the side, were puzzled and did not know why this senior musician favored A Qiu so much and specifically chose to talk to her.
Startled, A Qiu suddenly looked up.
Because she had already remembered who the woman was.
The four masters of the previous generation who hid in the palace and were known as the Four Celestial Masters were Rong Yuexian, the "Elegant Scholar"; An Shihe, the "Master of the Flute"; Zhongli Wuyan, the "Purple-Clad Immortal"; and Chu Yuanyi, the "Wind and Thunder Slayer".
The Four Stars of Tianji entered the palace nearly forty years ago and have since disappeared from the martial world. However, since Lanling Hall arranged for A Qiu to enter the palace, they would naturally try to gather information about these four people. Therefore, A Qiu had heard of their names before.
In fact, among the four constellations of Tianji, the first one she saw was the white-haired, one-eyed old woman known as "Wind and Thunder Slash" Chu Yuanyi, who had been guarding the Qiwu Palace for many years.
However, the reason she didn't recall this detail when she heard the name "Yuan Yi" was because the name "Yuan Yi" evoked a different memory in her heart, one that belonged only to her.
Gu Yi later said that she had learned the "Wind and Thunder Slash" palm technique from Chu Yuanyi. This is probably why A Qiu felt that Yuanyi's name was familiar but did not realize that she was one of the "Four Constellations of Heavenly Secrets".
This elusive and mysterious female elder who has been guarding the Music Bureau for many years, since she claims to be surnamed "Zhongli," must undoubtedly be Zhongli Wuyan, the "Purple-Clad Immortal" among the Four Mansions.
Aside from a martial arts senior like her who has been living in seclusion in the palace for many years, who else would have the leisure to take care of the descendants of the Music Bureau and know so much about the palace affairs of these years?
As soon as A Qiu looked up, she met a pair of beautiful eyes that seemed to be smiling but not smiling.
The delicate lines around the eyebrows and corners of the eyes have blossomed like the petals of a rose in full bloom.
But the gaze that looked at her was clear and bright, as vivid and radiant as a clear stream.
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