That midday, Lu Zheng cooked in person. He prepared a lavish lunch, partly to welcome Tu Yujiao, partly to console Zhu Yushan and his wife.
Once the truth about Zhu Yushan’s official fortune was known, Li Hanyu’s hostility towards Tu Yujiao vanished. The two women clinked cups of green plum wine. With that, past grievances were set aside with a smile. Of course, a husband was still not to be shared.
…
Zhu Yushan and his wife departed. Tu Yujiao stayed.
For the next stretch of days, life finally settled into calm and uneventful rhythm.
Nothing urgent arose on either side. Lu Zheng spent less time in the modern world, mostly eating, sleeping, and strolling with Lin Wan on weekends. In the ancient realm he was busier. Besides keeping his two wives company, he discussed music with Si Lingxi and watched operas with the three Tu sisters.
Tu Yuya loved performing. After pointing Liu Qingyan in cultivation, she saw a performance of The Song of Everlasting Sorrow at Peach Blossom Flat. It opened a new world for her. She insisted on playing Emperor Tang Minghuang herself. Surprisingly, she surpassed even Shen Ying.
Tu Yuqing was gentle and quiet. She never caused trouble. Tu Yujiao was loud and boisterous, yet she got along splendidly with Liu Qingquan. They played gobang, Chinese checkers, army chess, and ludo with endless delight. They devoured cakes, orange juice, and chocolate with gleeful cheers.
All in all, the three sisters were easy to please.
…
“What is this?”
“A suona.”
“What a strange timbre.”
“Very distinctive.”
“This piece uses suona, yaoqin, and jade xiao?”
“Exactly.”
“Driving instruments with true qi ultimately falls short in artistic conception.” Si Lingxi spoke with intent.
“For the first half of the piece, the suona can be mine. For the second half, the jade xiao will be mine too. As for the yaoqin that runs throughout, let Bai Ting’er play it.”
“Ah? Will I manage?” Bai Ting’er was nearby.
“Relax. The middle section is relatively easier to grasp.”
“Very well. I shall try.”
“Come.”
When Lu Zheng and Bai Ting’er were ready, Si Lingxi finally asked. “What is this piece called?”
Lu Zheng blinked. “Phoenix Decree.”
…
Phoenix Decree was Lu Zheng’s creation. He blended the modern folk piece Hundred Birds Facing the Phoenix, the ancient Book of Odes section Volume of Ah from the Major Elegies, and an original segment of his own. The result was a three-movement composition.
First movement: Hundred Birds Facing the Phoenix.
The yaoqin provided background sound, painting a gentle spring breeze, blooming flowers, vast sky with pale clouds, and warm sun across the land. The suona took centre stage, evoking birds calling in chorus, lively clamour, and joyful celebration.
Then the phoenix appeared. The birds paid homage. Their delight reached its peak. The qin grew ever more stirring, as though heaven and earth rejoiced at the phoenix’s arrival. The festivity was unrivalled.
Second movement: Phoenix in Flight.
The phoenix emerged, commanding the birds, touring heaven and earth.
Here the yaoqin grew stronger, taking dominance. The suona’s bird calls faded. The qin rang clear and resonant, grand and majestic. It portrayed the phoenix’s dignified grace, virtuous poise, leading the birds across the skies, bestowing happiness and peace upon all creation.
This movement drew its conception from Volume of Ah. Its rhythm drew from successive court musics of ancient China, modified with fresher, more soaring touches. The blend revealed both the phoenix’s ethereal freedom and its noble bearing.
Third movement: Phoenix Soaring Aloft.
Now the yaoqin softened to background. The phoenix rose to the heavens. Flowers fell away. Birds departed. It entered the clouds. The jade xiao gradually sounded. Wind howled. The wilds lay empty. The phoenix stood proud amid the clouds, peerless in splendour.
Pride. Solitude. Cold clarity.
This was Lu Zheng’s creation, founded on Si Lingxi’s own nature. He drew elements from Chinese wuxia melodies, adding much original rhythm. It became a movement of the phoenix soaring to the empyrean.
…
Three movements in one piece. From the initial joyous chorus of birds and all creation heralding the phoenix, to its mid-piece wise and gracious rule over the world, to the final peerless splendour aloft, proud and coldly remote.
It presented the perspective of all things towards the phoenix, the phoenix towards all things, and the phoenix towards itself.
Emotion rose step by step. Conception ascended layer by layer.
As the music played, everyone present sank into it. Before their eyes appeared a fire phoenix, wings beating in the firmament, radiating ethereality, wisdom, grace, nobility, pride, solitude.
Peerless splendour.
At the end, the yaoqin faded to near silence. The jade xiao grew faint and ethereal. That fire phoenix, sovereign of the skies, gave one final beat of its wings, streaked across the horizon, flew ever farther. With the jade xiao’s closing note, that phoenix of matchless bearing vanished into the distance.
…
The piece ended. Everyone felt a lingering sense of loss. They remained silent for a long while before returning to themselves.
Bai Ting’er let out a long breath and blinked. She had not expected this piece to come from her own playing.
“What a Phoenix Decree.” Tu Yuqing sighed in praise. “The phoenix is peerless. It sounds like immortal music.”
Tu Yujiao laughed delicately. “Ethereal as a celestial descending to the mortal realm, gracious as a sovereign among men, soaring as a sage amid the clouds. What a Phoenix Decree.”
Liu Qingquan glanced at Tu Yujiao beside her. She had not expected this sister, who spent whole days playing gobang with her, to be so cultured.
Liu Qingyan looked at Lu Zheng, who had just set down the jade xiao. Her gaze was soft as water, filled with love.
The others also praised it endlessly. They declared Phoenix Decree the most beautiful and moving music they had ever heard.
Shen Ying sat beside Si Lingxi. She turned and saw Si Lingxi’s expression unchanged, yet divine light blazed in her eyes, radiating multicoloured brilliance. Clearly she was deeply pleased.
Lu Zheng flourished the jade xiao in his hand, smiled at Si Lingxi, and said. “This is my recent pinnacle. I invite the Palace Master to offer guidance.”
Si Lingxi lightly pressed her lips together, shook her head with a smile. “You wrote it about me. What guidance could I give? Still, the piece is truly fine. Only Bai Ting’er played the qin for the first time. Her technique was correct, but the conception was lacking. Were it not for your suona opening and jade xiao closing, carrying part of the qin’s conception, the piece’s impact would have fallen by a third.”
Bai Ting’er felt a little embarrassed. Si Lingxi comforted her. “Bai Ting’er need not blame herself. Your progress in music lately has been great. A few more practices and it will improve considerably.”
Bai Ting’er blushed deeply at these words. She nodded repeatedly. “For such a timeless masterpiece, I shall certainly practise diligently.”
Si Lingxi nodded, then said to Lu Zheng. “It is rare to encounter a fine piece. Why not play a duet with me?”
Bai Ting’er quickly yielded her seat. Lu Zheng’s eyes lit up. “Nothing would please me more.”
Si Lingxi narrowed her eyes slightly. She rose and took the seat Bai Ting’er had occupied, sitting face to face with Lu Zheng.
Zheng, zheng, zheng.
Clear, resonant qin notes rang out. The suona joined in response.
