Chapter 44

Gongsun Yi sat upright before the ancient zither, its form simple yet elegant. His long, pale fingers plucked the strings with grace, producing a melody that was lingering and melodious. It sounded like a heavenly strain, leaving everyone intoxicated and entranced.

When the piece ended, the people of the Marquis of Changle’s Manor remained dazed for a long while, still immersed in the beautiful music.

Only Cheng Ruyi was not swept away. Instead, she had used her powerful mental strength to carefully memorize Gongsun Yi’s every step: his movements, the timing of his intervals, and the exact placement of his fingers on the strings. She glanced around strangely and asked with a hint of disappointment, “Master Gongsun, I heard your playing could attract many birds and butterflies. How come I don’t see any?”

The startled crowd: “…”

Gongsun Yi gave a light chuckle. “That is merely hearsay and exaggeration from outsiders; it is not to be believed. As for the fingering I just used, how much of it did you understand?”

Cheng Ruyi replied with absolute confidence, “I’ve memorized it all. I have already learned this piece and can play it.”

The Marquis was incredibly proud, giving his daughter a big thumbs up. “My daughter is amazing! She learned it after just one listen. She’s more talented than any of those so-called ‘Four Great Talented Ladies’ in the capital.”

Rong Susu, doting on her daughter, immediately chimed in: “…Yes, yes, my daughter is the best.”

Cheng Yu had stars in his eyes. “Sister is the most incredible!”

Gongsun Yi felt somewhat helpless: “…”

The zither hadn’t even been touched yet, and the Marquis’s family had already praised the eldest Miss Cheng to the heavens.

Rong Mo looked at his little fiancée’s smug expression, a flicker of amusement passing through his eyes. She was truly adorable. Although her reason for learning the zither was a bit bizarre, he was still very happy to see her being so proactive. He didn’t care how she actually played.

“Master, may I play a piece?” Hearing her family’s praise, Cheng Ruyi’s confidence exploded. She looked at Master Gongsun Yi with an eager expression.

Gongsun Yi gave a helpless smile. Trying to run before she can walk. Well, she would have to learn the hard way that mastering the zither wasn’t something achieved in a day or two. “You may.”

Hearing the Master’s consent, Cheng Ruyi grew quite excited. She sat happily before the ancient, rustic zither and quickly adjusted her posture. The more one looked, the weirder it seemed.

The Marquis found it strange. “Susu, what do you think our daughter is doing?”

Rong Susu shook her head and said hesitantly, “She must be nervous.”

“Sister wouldn’t be nervous. Sister is a genius! She’s gathering her strength, preparing to amaze the world with a single stroke,” Cheng Yu said, clenching his small fists with sparkling eyes.

Rong Mo’s lip twitched: “…”

With his keen eyes, how could he not see that his little fiancée was mimicking Master Gongsun Yi’s movements? He couldn’t help but glance at Master Gongsun, whose expression was becoming a bit subtle.

Watching Miss Cheng’s movements, Gongsun Yi felt more and more awkward. It felt bizarre. He comforted himself by thinking that since it was her first time, she simply didn’t know how to pose and was copying him. But her subsequent actions proved he was being too naive.

Cheng Ruyi’s sitting posture was exactly the same as Master Gongsun Yi’s had been just moments ago, without a hair’s breadth of difference. She was extremely satisfied; her powerful mental strength was truly a legendary cheating tool.

Cheng Ruyi swept her gaze around. Seeing her father and the others’ shocked expressions, she felt incredibly smug.

Master Gongsun Yi was a man, and his sitting posture was indeed handsome—every gesture possessed a natural elegance that suited his age and refinement. However, as a beautiful young girl, Cheng Ruyi’s deliberate replication was like a child wearing an adult’s clothes—completely out of place and mismatched. Yet she felt nothing of the sort; instead, she was immensely proud of herself.

“I’m going to start playing now. Don’t let my genius status scare you.”

Rong Mo desperately wanted to laugh. He really, really wanted to laugh. Ruyi was just too cute.

Gongsun Yi, who was known for his lifelong elegance, felt a lump in his throat.

The Marquis threw his earlier awkwardness aside and immediately said with a smile, “My daughter is so capable. I’m going to enjoy the beautiful music you’re about to play.”

Rong Susu also encouraged her with a smile, “Daughter, don’t be nervous. I’m waiting for you to stun everyone.”

Cheng Yu was full of confidence: “Sister is the best.”

The music hadn’t even begun, and the Marquis’s family was already singing her praises.

Gongsun Yi: “…”

“Ruyi, I’m waiting to hear your music,” Rong Mo said, the corners of his mouth curling into a smile.

Hearing everyone’s praise and support, Cheng Ruyi felt like she was walking on air. She was as energized as if she’d been injected with chicken blood, full of ambition.

However, remembering Master Gongsun’s advice to clear one’s mind and have no stray thoughts—like a monk attaining “Emptiness”—she took a deep breath. She settled her heart quickly while her brain whirred at high speed, letting the memorized movements surface bit by bit.

Following Gongsun Yi’s exact motions, her pale, slender fingers began plucking the strings with the same amount of force.

As soon as the first note rang out, everyone was jolted.

What a familiar sound.

Gongsun Yi was stunned. He had expected the eldest Miss Cheng’s first attempt to be poor, but to his surprise, it was excellent. The opening notes were identical to what he had played earlier.

The subsequent music was even stranger; it was exactly the same as his own playing, even down to the pauses. If one didn’t know better, they would have thought he was the one playing.

The Marquis and Rong Susu were beaming with joy, utterly surprised. They hadn’t expected their daughter to have such a talent for the ancient zither. To play such a beautiful and melodious tune on her first try—she truly was a genius!

Compared to his daughter, the “Four Great Talented Ladies” of the capital were like mud compared to the sky. The Marquis felt smug, casting a small, boastful look at Master Gongsun Yi.

The Marquis’s family didn’t understand music, so naturally, they couldn’t hear the nuance. They simply felt their daughter played beautifully, though perhaps with a slight gap compared to the Master.

Rong Mo’s lips turned up, the smile in his eyes impossible to suppress. He hadn’t expected his little fiancée to be so confident because she intended to replicate Master Gongsun Yi’s playing exactly. However, this music had no soul. It was merely a hollow shell; upon careful listening, it was completely empty.

Still, this was already quite impressive. Her memory was incredible—truly a photographic memory.

“Master, I’ve finished. Please critique it and see if there’s anything that needs improvement.” Cheng Ruyi felt wonderful about herself. She had replicated Master Gongsun’s movements perfectly. The music sounded exactly like what he had played.

Who knew playing the zither was this easy? I really am a genius, she thought smugly.

Gongsun Yi remained silent, feeling as if a mouthful of blood was stuck in his throat.

Critique it… how do I critique this?

If he didn’t know better, he would have thought he was the one playing. Even with the same piece, different people bring different emotions to the performance. Even if the notes are identical, it cannot hide the soul of the music. To those who don’t understand the zither, the music was lingering and beautiful. But to Gongsun Yi, the Imperial Musician, it felt hollow—there was nothing there, as if she were simply completing a task. It felt extremely awkward.

The zither reflects the person; the musician’s temperament dictates the sound. But Gongsun Yi didn’t feel a shred of emotion in Cheng Ruyi’s playing.

“Daughter, you played wonderfully! You’re on par with the Master!” The Marquis was the first to jump out and praise her.

Cheng Ruyi smiled smugly. “Of course! Look who I am. Playing the zither is a piece of cake.”

Rong Mo: “…”

“Master, hurry and give me a critique. This is my first time playing, so it’s very meaningful,” Cheng Ruyi said, looking at Master Gongsun Yi with anticipation. She felt a special connection to this man who looked so much like her father from the post-apocalyptic world. Naturally, she wanted his approval.

The Marquis and the others all looked at Master Gongsun with eager eyes.

Gongsun Yi stared at the eldest Miss Cheng’s expression—she was practically begging for a compliment—and felt his throat go dry. He didn’t know what to say, so he cleared his throat.

“Miss Cheng’s fingering and melody were without error. This is very good.”

It wasn’t just “without error”; it was as if it were carved from the same mold as my own playing.

Cheng Ruyi was overjoyed, flashing a bright, brilliant smile. She knew it; mental strength was a great cheating tool. On the surface, she modestly waved her hand. “The Master flatters me. It is all thanks to the Master’s excellent teaching.”

Inside, she thought: It really was good teaching. Without the Master’s demonstration, I couldn’t have played a single note. Of course, she couldn’t say that out loud. She had to maintain the image of a genius.

Hmm, next I’ll have the Master play some cheerful tunes. Those are better for playing to the hens. Those mournful, tragic songs are out—I’m afraid if I play those for the hens, they might commit suicide.

Gongsun Yi looked at the slightly smug Miss Cheng and felt a momentary pang of frustration, but he had to say what needed to be said. After all, she was learning from him. If she learned poorly, it would reflect badly on his reputation.

“Your mimicry is excellent, but you lack your own ‘zither state of mind.’ Every player infuses their music with their own emotions. I didn’t hear any emotion in your music just now. I wonder, Miss Cheng, what were you thinking while you played?”

After speaking, Gongsun Yi picked up his teacup, clinked the lid, and took a sip.

Cheng Ruyi frowned, looking troubled. “A ‘state of mind’? Isn’t that just when bored people sit there daydreaming and letting their thoughts wander? How could I have something like that?”

“I never daydream.”

“Does one need to think about things while playing? Didn’t the Master say at the beginning that I should be like a monk with ‘Four Elements are Empty’ and think of nothing? I just emptied my brain.”

“I wouldn’t let my thoughts wander.”

“I know many people can’t do it, but who am I? I’m so smart that emptying my mind is easy. I never cut corners,” Cheng Ruyi said with great pride.

“ Pfft! ” The usually elegant Gongsun Yi choked on her words. He sprayed out a mouthful of tea, his gaze toward Cheng Ruyi shifting from shock to sheer disbelief.

No wonder everyone in the capital says this eldest Miss is uncultured.

Rong Mo’s handsome face twitched slightly. His little fiancée truly has a way of leaving people speechless.

“When playing the zither, you need to incorporate your emotions. Everyone has different moods, so the music they produce is different. You weren’t thinking of anything just now, so it sounded as if there was no emotion at all…”

Gongsun Yi took a deep breath, comforting himself that since it was her first time touching the zither, it was understandable she didn’t get it. It was his failure. Actually, her aptitude was quite good—she was a fine seedling, he just had to make sure she didn’t grow crooked.

Cheng Ruyi nodded. She understood. To put it simply: before playing, one must be calm and empty the mind; while playing, one must infuse their emotions.

In other words, if she were playing for the hens, she should be thinking about making them lay eggs more frequently…

If the hens heard the inner voice within her music, they would surely lay eggs diligently. Those scholars who failed must have not played a “voice” the hens could understand.

I’m so smart; I can definitely do it.

Sansukini: Her mind flows on a different wavelength. I can’t wait for her to play for the hens.

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