Half a month later, Peach Blossom Flat, on a rest day. The weather was fine, with white clouds veiling the sun and a gentle breeze blowing.
Yi Xiaoqian had brought Ning Zhiqi. Liu Qingyan had invited Li Hanyu and Zhu Yushan. Wang Xiaowan had come with Old Steward Wang. The entire Liu family had also made a rare appearance together. Peach Blossom Villa was bustling with voices and full of life.
Shen Ying cast a spell to set up the stage. With a wave of her hand, the stage transformed into a garden, fragrant with flowers and alive with fluttering butterflies. A young woman in colourful robes drifted onto the scene and began to dance.
Hu Caina played Yang Yuhuan.
Shen Ying played Emperor Ming of Tang.
Bi Xinyu played Gao Lishi.
Lin Jing’er played Li Bai.
Bai Ting’er played Li Guinian.
Tao Rui played An Lushan.
Tao Zhen played Guo Ziyi.
Hua Yixing played Yang Guozhong.
…
This time, Liu Qingyan did not perform. She simply sat with Lu Zheng in the audience to watch.
The stage was enveloped in illusion. It shifted from the grand Yang family courtyard to a luxurious imperial palace, then to serene mountains and rivers, and finally to a military tent amid battlefields.
Scene by scene, the plot was built around Bai Juyi’s Song of Everlasting Sorrow, using the structure of The Palace of Eternal Youth for its turning points. It told of Yang Yuhuan’s talent and growth, her meeting and betrothal to the emperor, their happy days in the palace, the sudden rebellion, her death at Mawei Slope, and finally the emperor sending a daoist to search for her in heaven and on earth. In the end, the two met in a dream and renewed their bond.
Like Liang Zhu, the ending of Song of Everlasting Sorrow offered no firm resolution. It closed on their mutual longing, leaving open whether this was their only meeting or whether more would follow.
At the finale, Hu Caina and Shen Ying shared a parting kiss. Shen Ying descended on a cloud while Hu Caina rose toward the heavens. They reached out to each other in reluctant farewell, vanishing gradually into layers of mist. Then Peach Qing, whose voice was the finest, began to recite slowly. The full Song of Everlasting Sorrow resounded, ending with the line, “Heaven and earth may last forever, yet this sorrow is endless and without cease.”
When the performance finished, the audience sat in a daze, lost in melancholy, until the stage lights brightened again and the cast returned for their bows.
Clap, clap, clap. Thunderous applause erupted.
“Brother Lu’s genius is unmatched.” Zhu Yushan nodded and sighed. “This Song of Everlasting Sorrow is in no way inferior to Liang Zhu.”
Old Steward Wang sighed too. “In all my years of listening to storytelling and watching plays, I have never seen anything so fine. I predict that if this opera is published, it will sweep the entire Dajing Empire.”
Ning Zhiqi held Yi Xiaoqian’s hand. The two exchanged a smile. One human, one ghost, they rather resembled the emperor and Yang Guifei. Yet as a poor scholar and a little ghost girl, without the grandeur and tragedy of the other pair, their quiet, ordinary life somehow felt even happier.
Si Lingxi watched from start to finish. She was especially pleased with the climactic Rainbow Skirt and Feathered Robe Song and the closing Paired Wings and Flying Together, both composed by her own hand. Seeing how music, illusion, and performance blended so perfectly gave her a deep satisfaction, a feast for eyes and ears she had rarely experienced before.
She sipped her tea, cracked a melon seed, and nodded approvingly. “Not bad.”
…
The Song of Everlasting Sorrow ran from morning until the wei hour. Xiao Cui had long prepared a lavish feast. Everyone gathered again for the meal, filled with cheerful talk and laughter.
After dinner, they rested and amused themselves in various ways.
“Brother Lu, my chess has improved lately. Care for a game?” Zhu Yushan asked eagerly.
Lu Zheng nodded. “Certainly. Brother Ning, join us.”
Ning Zhiqi smiled and shook his head. “My skill is poor. I will just watch.”
Hearing the conversation, Si Lingxi’s gaze drifted over. She looked at Zhu Yushan with surprise and doubt.
She knew Lu Zheng’s chess level all too well. Yet this Zhu Yushan, clearly aware of it, still dared to challenge him.
Were young people nowadays all this formidable?
Or was Tonglin County truly a land of hidden talent? It had already produced Lu Zheng, Shen Ying, Liu Qingyan, and even humbled a Yuan Sheng Sect saintess. Another chess master did not seem impossible.
Then Peach Hui brought the board and pieces. Lu Zheng and Zhu Yushan sat opposite each other and began placing stones.
Moments later…
Si Lingxi: ???
Shen Ying happened to pass by. Seeing the confusion in Si Lingxi’s eyes, she could not help a quiet laugh and transmitted, “When Lu Lang plays chess, he usually wins by the narrowest margin.”
Si Lingxi shook her head, speechless. “Pointless.”
One could imagine her feelings by picturing Nie Weiping locked in a tense, inseparable game against a complete beginner.
“Ting’er feels that two passages in the Rainbow Skirt and Feathered Robe Song lacked full intent. She wishes Palace Master to guide her further.” Shen Ying said with a smile.
Si Lingxi had no interest in watching Lu Zheng and Zhu Yushan’s “fierce battle” any longer. She rose and left. “Bai Ting’er has decent talent, but she dabbles in too many instruments without mastering any. She is still young. Have her focus on one, grasp its true spirit, use music to reach the divine, refine herself, then extend that understanding to others.”
Shen Ying nodded repeatedly, then departed with Si Lingxi.
…
Lu Zheng and Zhu Yushan played while chatting. Ning Zhiqi occasionally added a comment.
“The provincial examinations are approaching again.” Ning Zhiqi said seriously. “Brother Zhu, do not be late this time.”
Zhu Yushan’s hand paused. He smiled helplessly. “That is not entirely up to me.”
Lu Zheng chuckled and placed a stone. “Though Brother Zhu always misses the exams, he gains something each time. Who can say which path is better.”
Zhu Yushan shook his head, smiling bitterly.
Ning Zhiqi blinked. “If that is the case, why not stay early at an inn beside the prefectural academy?”
Zhu Yushan: “…”
Lu Zheng: “…”
Silence suddenly fell. Sensing the odd atmosphere, Ning Zhiqi asked, “What is it?”
“Nothing. I simply always believed I could arrive in time, so the thought never crossed my mind.” Zhu Yushan sighed and placed a stone.
“Very well. This year I will go early.”
He resolved firmly. “If even that fails, then I truly have no fate with the examinations. I will give them up for good.”
…
Soon after, Lu Zheng “narrowly defeated” Zhu Yushan with difficulty. Then Shen Ying brought out Lu Zheng’s calligraphy of the Song of Everlasting Sorrow again for everyone to admire.
“Liang Zhu, Qiannü Youhun, Song of Everlasting Sorrow…” Old Steward Wang stroked his beard and laughed. “I am already looking forward to Young Master Lu’s next tale. Do not keep this old man waiting too long.”
“Yes, yes.” Everyone nodded together, their eyes full of anticipation as they looked at Lu Zheng.
Lu Zheng: 눈_눈|||
No wonder Old Steward Wang was the only mortal present. With that insight, cultivation would never amount to much for him.
Lu Zheng laughed it off vaguely, then turned to leave.
Just then, Si Lingxi, who had been listening to Bai Ting’er play nearby with eyes closed, opened her phoenix gaze. With a point of her finger, a strand of golden light shot forth and entered Lu Zheng’s brow.
Lu Zheng did not resist. He let the light sink into his sea of consciousness, where it formed several thousand characters of text.
Starfire Incantation
It was a technique to condense fire into stars that burst into flame on contact. At high mastery, it appeared as a faint spark yet rivalled the Qingwei Sect’s Taiyi Five Thunder Incantation in power.
An easy-to-learn but hard-to-master fire control method, its might grew even greater with exotic flames.
“Thank you, Palace Master.” Lu Zheng’s eyes brightened as he bowed in gratitude.
“You have earned it. Song of Everlasting Sorrow is a work for the ages.” Si Lingxi nodded and smiled. “By comparison, the Starfire Incantation is merely an ordinary fire attack spell. Think nothing of it.”
Lu Zheng: “…”
She was definitely doing it on purpose, but it smelled wonderful.
Lu Zheng was already pondering his next story. The Romance of the Western Chamber or The Peony Pavilion? Or perhaps Dong Yong and the Seventh Fairy, or Cowherd and Weaver Girl?
He could not just drop the ultimate bomb right away.
