Xiao Shi Chang'an
Master Yue chuckled and said, "My wife has a good eye. There aren't many people who can still recognize the insignia of Duke An these days."
An Daoling, the former head of the Xianshao Academy and now the magistrate of Chenghua, was originally a eunuch transferred from the Jixian Hall in front of Emperor Wu to the Tangli Garden, where he was in charge of the music bureau. It is said that An Daoling himself was also skilled in playing the qin and xiao and was well-versed in music theory. Given Emperor Wu's talent and strategy, it is unlikely that he would send a eunuch who was ignorant of music to take charge of the Xianshao Academy, which was full of masters.
However, at that time, Xianshao Academy was full of talented people. Shi Changqing alone was renowned for his flutes and xiao. An Daoling, on the other hand, was always low-key, so his reputation did not stand out. However, he had an excellent reputation among musicians and never buried talent when he was in charge of Xianshao Academy. Therefore, under his leadership, Xianshao Academy was full of talented people and was the best in the Southern Dynasty for nearly a hundred years.
It is said that when more than ten musicians played together, with the qin, xiao, bell, and qing resonating in harmony, and there were occasional discordant notes, he could immediately point out which musician made the mistake and where it occurred at the moment the music started.
Although An Daoling was a eunuch, he was also a proud and talented man. After entering the current dynasty, his official position was changed to Chenghua Ling. In fact, his duties were not much different from before. The only difference was that the Xianshao Academy, which was full of national masters, was changed to the three music bureaus. However, the musicians of the music bureau rarely saw him after that.
When he was the envoy of the Xianshao Academy, the emblem he used was a golden lotus. However, in this dynasty, no one cared about such trivial matters, so his golden lotus emblem has been used ever since, although it is rarely seen nowadays.
The young eunuch, with a smile on his handsome face, bowed deeply to Lady Sun: "Greetings, my lady. My surname is Xiao, and my given name is Chang'an. I have only recently become a disciple of Master An. I entered the sect relatively late, and my skills are less than a tenth of my master's. Please forgive me if my performance is not good."
Lady Sun, a veteran of the palace, couldn't understand why the young eunuch exuded such noble air with his bows and salutations, as if he were not a servant but a young prince. She involuntarily returned the bow, saying, "Then please, this young master Xiao… oh, young eunuch Xiao, come this way."
Xiao Chang'an smiled and nodded, saying modestly, "My wife and all the ladies, you can just call me Chang'an. I don't deserve any other title." As a drum used by the dancers for rehearsals was lying on the ground, he flicked his sleeve, lifted his robe, stepped over the drum, and stood on the dancers' side.
He landed right next to A-Qiu.
As their eyes met, A Qiu was startled, feeling that this person had a certain quality similar to hers, but she couldn't figure out why.
Xiao Chang'an quickly lowered his head, trying not to let anyone see his blushing face. He thought to himself, "The dancers here are indeed extremely beautiful. I must have stumbled upon a den of beauties." — Little did he know that he was either unlucky or incredibly lucky; he had bumped into the most beautiful woman in the entire music hall at first glance.
The dancers were all girls aged fifteen or sixteen to sixteen or seventeen, who were usually confined to the west wing of the pear orchard and rarely had contact with outsiders. In the past, those who came from the sitting and standing sections were mostly old musicians or musicians of similar age. They had never seen such a handsome young man before, who spoke so politely and gently. For a moment, thirty or forty pairs of clear black and white eyes were curiously circling around him, filled with surprise, curiosity, and a touch of girlish shyness.
Xue Hongbi coughed, waved the bamboo clappers in her hand, and shouted, "Everyone, perk up!"
The dancers hurriedly prepared their formation, and A-Qiu also scrambled back to the center of the formation to stand at attention.
Xiao Chang'an immediately raised the bamboo flute to his lips, concentrating intently.
A-Qiu immediately sensed a unique aura of tranquility emanating from this man. As he raised the flute to his lips, fully prepared to perform, he was actually listening intently to the movements of the dancers.
Once everyone has quieted down, they find their proper positions and postures.
When the entire space and area enter a unique atmosphere of tranquility.
He gently closed his eyes, his lips moved slightly, and he blew out the first note of "Midnight Song".
Body and mind in harmony, spirit and form in harmony—this applies not only to dance but also to music.
The clear and melodious sound of the flute drifted from the corridor. The fallen leaves on both sides of the corridor, some golden and some crimson, seemed to be dancing like butterflies in the wind.
A-Qiu danced upon hearing the music, her white silk robe billowing like gauze or mist.
Because of the enchanting sound of the flute, the entire corridor and waterside pavilion seemed to transform into a fairyland for a moment.
It is a xiao (vertical bamboo flute) that makes people forget about time.
For some reason, A Qiu felt that the same "Midnight Song" had a strange and lingering exotic flavor when played by Xiao Chang'an on his xiao.
As the music ended, the handsome young eunuch leaned against a pillar in the corridor, watching the dancers finish their performance with a half-smile.
Most of them had just snapped out of their reverie of the dance and blushed instantly when they met his gaze.
This certainly doesn't include A Qiu. Growing up freely among her fellow disciples, she has a skin thicker than a city wall. Even Gu Yi wouldn't blush unless he blatantly confronted her.
So, while more than half of the dancers blushed, A Qiu, with her beautiful eyes sparkling and a smile on her face, looked directly back at Xiao Chang'an. In a moment of mischief, she even gave him a "flirting glance" taught by Xue Hongbi.
Xiao Chang'an appeared to be slightly younger than them, but he looked very composed and experienced. However, the moment A Qiu gazed at him intently, his previously amused expression immediately turned serious, and he lowered his head, clearly trying to avoid the topic.
A Qiu sighed inwardly. It seemed this trick really didn't suit her. She used it twice on Gu Yi and Xiao Chang'an. Gu Yi simply blindfolded himself with a white silk ribbon, while Xiao Chang'an, still a young boy, also wore an expression of unbearable pain.
No one reacted as Xue Hongbi had predicted, such as staring at her intently with lustful eyes that lingered for a moment.
It seems she truly failed. This has even shaken her confidence in her stage performances.
Xue Hongbi coughed and said politely, "Excellent! Excellent! No one in the entire Music Bureau can match Xiao Neishi's flute playing. Truly, a great teacher produces a great student. That's all for today, please return."
When Xiao Chang'an raised his head again, the smile on his lips remained unchanged. He returned the bow to Xue Hongbi and Sun Neiren, and only after the two instructors returned the bow did he calmly bow and retreat.
Watching him disappear into the distance in his blue brocade robe, Lady Sun asked in bewilderment, "Is it over for today? We only had one practice session!"
Xue Hongbi stared intently at his retreating figure until he disappeared, then waved her hand and said, "Go and invite another musician, but whatever you do, don't let it be this Xiao Nei Shi."
Sun's wife asked in bewilderment, "Why is that? He plays the flute very well! Others might not be as good as him!"
Xue Hongbi pointed with her chin angrily and said, "See for yourself."
Following the direction she pointed, Sun Neiren saw that almost all the dancing girls were craning their necks, staring blankly in the direction where Xiao Chang'an had retreated, as if their eyes were rooted to the ground.
Only A Qiu, Zhang E Xu, and Cui Lu Zhu remained normal, staring blankly at the instructor and waiting for instructions.
Lady Sun was both amused and exasperated, and whispered, "He's still just a kid, and a eunuch too. You're probably worrying too much about him."
Xue Hongbi's eyes immediately shot up to her eyebrows: "If I didn't think he was a eunuch, I would have already thrown him out. I will not allow him to show off his talents in the dance department!"
Sun's wife said, bewildered, "He's a perfectly fine young man. I'm afraid he was a disciple that the officials of the Music Bureau begged and pleaded with Lord An. What could he have done to offend you?"
After holding back for a long time, Xue Hongbi finally spat out a sentence through her teeth: "Can't you see that, given time, this child will be a complete Shi Changqing?"
After a moment's thought, Sun Neiren said, "It's not very similar." She wanted to say that Shi Changqing's demeanor was both elegant and domineering, refined yet wild. His free and unrestrained, mixed charm with his Han and non-Han heritage was something that the child in front of her could not possibly imitate.
Xue Hongbi snorted, "Of course I'm not talking about his appearance! Can't you see his seemingly respectful and polite demeanor, but actually unrestrained and dissolute nature?"
She glanced at her dancers and pointed, saying, "They're all completely bewitched. Luckily, he's a eunuch! Anyway, don't come here again."
He added, "However, he is required to perform during the Mid-Autumn Festival. At other times, I'll trouble him to stay in the audience with those balding, toothless old musicians and work hard to improve his skills!"
Xiao Chang'an was naturally unaware that he had been blacklisted by Xue Hongbi. The music department was working diligently on the soundtrack for "Midnight Song," and Xiao Chang'an had undoubtedly become the main composer.
In reality, no one knew where Xiao Chang'an came from. He had been introduced to the Music Bureau by An Daoling four or five days earlier. That was a few days after "White Silk" was chosen as the performance piece for the Mid-Autumn Festival palace banquet.
Although An Daoling rarely appeared in the Music Bureau, giving the impression of being a mysterious figure who appeared only briefly, he was always highly respected and addressed as "Lord An." He seldom interfered in the affairs of the Music Bureau, but whenever he spoke, everyone in the bureau obeyed him with utmost respect.
Because Xiao Chang'an was extremely young and appeared out of nowhere, many of the veteran musicians who had served the music profession since previous generations were dissatisfied and often complained about it in private. However, due to his status as a court musician and his position as a disciple of Lord An, no one dared to speak out openly.
After all, An Gong was a Zhong Changshi (a high-ranking official in the imperial court). Xiao Chang'an was so young, handsome, and talented. He was bound to be a favorite in the palace with a promising future. How could they, old musicians in their twilight years, compare?
Therefore, when Lie Changkong, the "Heavenly Power Charioteer," arrived at Tangli Garden in his tight-fitting clothes and conveyed the imperial edict from Gu Yi, the Junior Tutor and Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, to the heads of the music and music officials, everyone's expressions were complex and subtle, filled with emotion and relief.
The reason for this sentiment is that "White Silk" performed at the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet will undoubtedly become the primary topic of discussion in the music bureau and even among the court and the public this year.
Fortunately, that kid surnamed Xiao wasn't able to steal the spotlight so easily anymore.
Gu Yi conveyed to Lie Changkong the message: "I will personally accompany the Mid-Autumn Festival 'White Silk' dance with the 'Ling Shu'."
The world-renowned "Shaoshi Qin" will once again be played for the world after the "Three Wonders" gathering at Jinshui Tower.
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