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Everyone nodded in agreement, and Madam Guo readily replied, "Li Dajia's request is indeed reasonable; let us proceed accordingly." Upon hearing this, Nangong Shuang felt a tightening in her chest. The chosen piece must be explained, and if Miss Qian performed poorly, it could be seen as a breach of etiquette. She was about to step forward to remind her when she noticed Qian Wan'er had already been pulled to the front row by Guo Chunyi.
Qin Hui officially began the event, and the first performer was Liu Yingying, the daughter of the Minister of Revenue. Dressed in a light pink gown, she moved gracefully onto the stage, instantly receiving applause from the audience. Liu Yingying smiled slightly, bowed, and took her seat at the guqin. Her delicate fingers plucked the strings, and a flowing rendition of "High Mountains and Flowing Water" emerged, its melody clear and refreshing like a bubbling spring, bringing joy to all who listened.
As the piece concluded, thunderous applause erupted. Li Dajia nodded repeatedly, saying, "Miss Liu's skill is remarkable. This piece originates from Bo Ya and Zi Qi; her performance was heartfelt and truly captured the grandeur of 'high mountains' and the clarity of 'flowing water.' It is indeed rare." Liu Yingying graciously bowed in response, "Thank you for your kind words, Li Dajia."
Following her, several young ladies took turns performing, each showcasing their unique styles—some were gentle and melodious while others were passionate and powerful. Nangong Shuang stood to the side, observing keenly when she inadvertently caught sight of a kindly old woman in the corner of the hall who was intently watching the performances, occasionally nodding and smiling.
"Who is that?" Nangong Shuang whispered to Qiao Er beside her.
Qiao Er leaned in to whisper back, "That is Old Lady from Zhenguo Gongfu; she was a consort during the reign of the late emperor and was honored with a title due to her favored status. Later, she left the palace to become Zhen Guo Gong Fu Ren. Now in her eighties, she rarely goes out; I wonder why she has come today."
Nangong Shuang nodded but felt puzzled. Why would such a distinguished Old Lady attend an event at Guo Residence featuring young ladies?
While she pondered this, Guo Chunyi had already taken the stage. She chose to perform "Spring River Flower Moon Night," playing it quite smoothly. Li Dajia nodded in approval: "Miss Guo's guqin skills are exceptional; this piece has beautiful imagery and rich emotions—truly impressive."
Guo Chunyi's cheeks flushed slightly as she happily stepped down from the stage.
"Next, please welcome Qian Family Miss to the stage," Madam Guo announced with a smile.
Qian Wan'er stood up nervously, her trembling hands clutching at her clothing. Nangong Shuang quickly stepped forward to encourage her softly: "Miss, there's no need to be nervous. Remember the breathing technique I taught you: breathe in slowly and exhale gently."
Qian Wan'er nodded, took a deep breath to steady herself, and walked slowly toward the guqin platform.
On the platform rested an ancient guqin made of sandalwood with a glossy finish and taut strings—it was a treasured heirloom of the Guo Family. Qian Wan'er carefully sat down and lightly brushed her fingers over the strings. After several moments of hesitation, she finally spoke: "I am not talented; today I will perform 'Yangguan San Die,' which originates from Wang Wei's poem 'Sending Yuan Er to Anxi' from the Tang Dynasty, symbolizing parting."
Li Dajia nodded slightly to indicate she could begin.
Taking another deep breath, Qian Wan'er’s trembling fingers began to pluck the strings as "Yangguan San Die" flowed forth slowly. Initially smooth enough, but as the piece progressed, her fingers grew increasingly tense, causing her playing to become chaotic. Seeing frowns on the faces of those present only heightened her anxiety; in a moment of panic, she struck a string too hard—snap! The main string broke!
"Ah!" Qian Wan'er exclaimed in shock as her face turned pale; she looked helplessly at the broken string.
A commotion erupted in the hall—some covered their mouths with laughter while others shook their heads in disappointment. Qian Wan'er felt overwhelming shame as tears threatened to spill from her eyes.
Madam Guo hurriedly stepped forward to comfort her: "It's alright; it's alright! A broken string on a guqin is common; there's no need to be nervous."
Li Dajia kindly added: "Miss Qian need not worry; we can replace the broken string and continue later."
At that moment, Liu Yingying chuckled softly: "Miss Qian's skills are still lacking; perhaps it would be better for her to yield to the next performer so as not to spoil everyone's enjoyment." Her words carried a hint of mockery.
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