Chapter 293: A Fool's Dream
The more difficult it was for Xiao Xixi, the more Concubine Jing didn't want to let her go.
Concubine Jing suffered too much at the hands of Xiao Xixi tonight, and she must make Xiao Xixi lose face.
She believed that with her own "Moon over Lonely Mountain" in front, even if Xiao Xixi's performance was decent, it would definitely be outdone.
Xiao Xixi wanted to cry but had no tears. Don't force me! I don't want to play the suona!
Duan Liangdi, who had been watching coldly, suddenly chuckled and spoke.
"Looking at Concubine Xiao, she seems very nervous. Why not let Concubine Jing play with her? With Concubine Jing by her side, Concubine Xiao should be able to relax a lot."
Upon hearing this, Concubine Jing couldn't help but look at Duan Liangdi.
Duan Liangdi smiled sweetly, looking really innocent and cute.
She thought to herself that Concubine Jing had just stepped on her to gain attention, so she had to find some trouble for Concubine Jing.
The emperor looked at Concubine Jing and asked her what she thought.
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Concubine Jing couldn't refuse, so she could only smile and agree: "It is my honor to play another song for Your Majesty."
The emperor was pleased with her response.
Duan Liangdi returned to her seat. She looked coldly at Concubine Jing and Concubine Xiao on the stage, praying in her heart that the performance of these two people would go wrong.
When a palace maid passed by, she accidentally spilled a glass of wine on Duan Liangdi.
The palace maid quickly knelt down and admitted her mistake.
Duan Liangdi was very unhappy, but there were many people sitting around her, so she couldn't get angry and could only glare at the palace maid fiercely.
Qin Liangdi advised: "While no one is paying attention to you, go and change your clothes."
The clothes were stained with wine and smelled of alcohol, so they really couldn't be worn anymore.
Duan Liangdi had no choice but to get up, take Yingxiang around the crowd, and quietly go upstairs.
There is a room upstairs specifically for concubines to change clothes.
…
Luo Qinghan couldn't help but frown as he watched Xiao Xixi walk towards the stage.
With Xiao Xixi's personality, she probably wouldn't take it to heart even if others said she played badly.
But Luo Qinghan still didn't want to put her in such an embarrassing situation.
He was thinking about how to help her out.
Since Xiao Xixi still needed to prepare musical instruments, in order to avoid keeping everyone waiting in vain, she let the others perform a dance first.
Xiao Xixi ran to the musicians to borrow musical instruments.
Because of the distance between them, Concubine Jing could not hear what Concubine Xiao said. She could only see that the musicians' faces became strange after hearing what Concubine Xiao said.
One of the musicians asked someone to go back to the Music Bureau.
Soon the man brought back a rectangular wooden box.
He handed the box to Concubine Xiao.
Xiao Xixi opened the box and took out an exquisitely crafted suona.
Concubine Jing was stunned for a moment: "Is this the Surnai you were talking about?"
Xiao Xixi said yes.
“But isn’t this a suona?”
Although Concubine Jing had never played the suona, she had seen others play it.
In the past, when there was a funeral at home, someone would play the suona, and the sound was simply amazing!
Xiao Xixi: "Sournai is another name for suona."
Concubine Jing: “…”
She suddenly felt a little panicked.
How to play Guqin together with Suona?
Isn't this funny?!
It would be fine if Concubine Xiao was embarrassed, but Concubine Jing didn't want to be embarrassed along with her.
But the emperor had already spoken, and everyone was watching them, so Concubine Jing had no way out.
Concubine Jing could only try to calm herself down. She asked, "What are you going to play?"
Xiao Xixi said casually: "It's up to you."
"Then play "Moon over the Lonely Mountain"?"
Xiao Xixi tilted her head and thought for a moment: "I haven't learned this song, but I can give it a try."
Concubine Jing thought to herself that this woman really didn't know her place!
The difficulty of playing "Moon over Lonely Mountain" is well known to all. Concubine Xiao actually wants to learn it on the spot. This is simply courting death!
But it’s better this way. If Concubine Xiao doesn’t play well, she will be the only one who will be embarrassed.
The dance on the stage is over.
Concubine Xiao and Concubine Jing walked onto the stage holding their respective musical instruments.
When everyone saw the suona in Concubine Xiao's hand, their expressions became quite strange.
Banquets were often held in the palace, but no one ever performed suona at the banquets.
Tonight has set a precedent.
The eldest prince Luo Yechen had been avoiding the crown prince recently and was afraid to see him. But when he saw that the crown prince's concubine was going to perform suona, he immediately became excited.
Luo Yechen turned around and looked at the prince, and smiled in a deliberately sarcastic tone.
"I didn't know there was someone in the East Palace who could play the suona. She's truly worthy of being the prince's woman. Her talent is simply amazing!"
Compared with elegant instruments such as the guqin, the suona is really not up to standard.
Generally, suona is played only during weddings and funerals. Who would play this kind of thing at other times?
The noble families would never touch this kind of stuff.
Now the prince's concubine is going to perform suona at the Mid-Autumn family dinner. It's so hilarious!
Luo Qinghan sneered: "Compared to your behavior of asking for forgiveness, playing the suona is nothing."
Luo Yechen: “…”
He had finally forgotten the shame of asking for forgiveness, but the prince actually brought it up again!
Ahhhhh!
He really wanted to beat this poisonous-tongued prince to death!
He turned around angrily and stared at the two women on the stage, hoping that they would mess up the show and embarrass the prince!
On stage.
Concubine Jing has already sat down next to the guqin.
She raised her hands and placed her slender fingers lightly on the strings.
She looked up at Concubine Xiao who was standing next to her.
"Are you ready, sister?"
Xiao Xixi answered truthfully: "I have never heard this piece of music before. This is the first time I heard you play it. I am not very familiar with this piece of music. Could you please start the tune first?"
Concubine Jing smiled slightly: "Okay."
It is simply a pipe dream for Concubine Xiao to think that she can learn this difficult piece of music by just listening to it once!
It seems that Concubine Xiao is destined to be embarrassed tonight!
Concubine Jing suppressed the gloating in her heart, calmed down her good mood, gently plucked the strings of the zither, and beautiful music rang out.
It was still the same song "Moon over Lonely Mountain".
The melodious and pleasant tune floated in the Bigui Pavilion.
Everyone listened with fascination.
Xiao Xixi listened very carefully.
Although she may not be good at other things, she has a pretty good attainment in music. When she was learning suona with her third senior brother in the mountains, she could basically learn every piece of music after listening to it once.
The third senior brother even joked with her, saying that if she couldn't make it in the future, she could set up a stall and perform. With her suona playing skills, she should be able to get a lot of tips.
After Xiao Xixi roughly figured out the melody of "Moon over Lonely Mountain", she gradually felt more at ease.
She raised the suona and blew it hard.
A loud voice suddenly rang out!
Concubine Jing was so frightened by the sudden sound that her hands began to tremble, and the sound of the piano became out of tune.
(End of this chapter)
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