Seasons after seasons passed, time waited for no one.
The townsfolk of Ming had a new habit.
On clear days every third day passing, approximately around mid-morning, they would gather around the walls of Ji estate. Lately, some were even bold enough to bring along small tables or benches, which they set against the tall walls.
Different kinds of people gathered there. There were some merchants squatting by the walls, their trade goods bundled in various burlap sacks they carried, ready for them to sell later. There were also some people from the wealthier families, with their servants accompanying them to prepare small tables they had brought along. Some were even leisurely having teas while they chatted in hushed but excited voices. Every single one of them seemed to be waiting for something.
One morning, a group of people had once again faithfully set up their temporary camps, positioning themselves as comfortable as possible around the Ji residence's walls. Some stern-looking guards, belonging to Ji family, were stationed every few feet length of the walls, to make sure there would be no disturbance.
About a year ago, people had started this gathering habit. It was initially small in number, but they gradually became substantial in size. The guards had tried to chase them away numerous times, but the crowd would always come back, if not becoming more. Finally, the guards gave up after First Madame Wu JianRui asked them to leave the townsfolk be. As long as no one created disturbance and tried to access the residence, they were free to stay around the walls. The guards would only keep watch.
From around the corner, where the front gate was, one person hurriedly ran towards the group and exclaimed excitedly,
"He-laoshi and Sun-laoshi have just arrived and they have entered the gates! It won't be long now!"
The murmur and initial chattering amongst the people immediately ceased. The person who had brought the news also took his place that one of his accompanying friends had saved for him.
A few more minutes passed.
Then a soft sound of a qin was heard, followed by a melodious ringing sound of a dizi.
SONG LINK (YOUTUBE) || TITLE: 畫心 (HUA XIN). INSTRUMENTAL VERSION
Inside the estate, in the middle of the courtyard, two young girls sat side by side. Two low tables had been set in front of them, a guqin was on each table. Their bodies lightly swayed with the melody their fingers produced through their zithers' strings, their sounds complementing each other.
Standing next to the two sitting girls, a young man wearing white robe had his dizi close to his lips, his tune interluding two qin melodies in harmony. He had a handsome clean appearance, his light robe emphasized his scholarly aura. The man was He-laoshi, full name He Shan, a young music teacher in his mid-twenties. He had specially prepared himself for today's private performance.
(He Shan)
Approximately five years ago, when He Shan accepted tuition employment request from the famed General Ji's residence to teach the Ji's children, he had not thought too much of it. He was a disciple of a renowned master in the Empire who was currently residing in the capital of Da Lang. Initially, the tutelage request was directed for He Shan's teacher. However, the elderly scholar had retired and would only perform on special requests from the Imperial Family. Not willing to accept any more students, he dispatched HeShan to the neighboring Ming town for this task.
Truth be told, He Shan preferred teaching Ji SongLi rather than Ji LanBai. The son clearly had talent and more interest in qin. On the other hand, Ji LanBai's zither only gathered dust. Back then, He Shan only attributed it to her young age, or perhaps her lack of talent.
He could not nurture Ji SongLi in qin too much though; he clearly knew General Ji would much rather his son be nimble in sword than in zither. About three years ago, when he found out Ji SongLi had left with General Ji for his military expeditions, He Shan just went through his days in motion, still trying to show the art of various musical instruments to Ji LanBai. Yet, none of it appealed to the little girl. How could a teacher be motivated if the student herself was not interested in what he taught? In fact, he got so bored he once considered submitting a request to his employers so he could return to the capital.
Then one day, another young girl joined his class. Her name was Bai YuLan. He soon also found out that although Ji LanBai treated Bai YuLan as though they were sisters, the latter was actually the former's personal maid.
It took a while for YuLan to get used to the strings and the way of strumming trembling melody only a qin could produce. But once she could fly her fingers on the seven strings on the guqin with ease, she soared. Her favorite instruments seemed to be the guqin and erhu.
He Shan genuinely thought, to say she was merely a genius would probably be an insult to her.
The repertoires she performed were previously unheard of, even for He Shan who was very much knowledgeable in past or present music. Of course, there were a lot of composers in Zhang empire, so self-created music scores were normal. But what defined YuLan was her way of playing.
She poured her heart and soul in it. The depth of emotions surging from the sound her qin produced was deeper, more desolate, more desperate. It almost evoked an otherworldly feeling when he listened to the surging waves produced by the strings she strummed. He Shan thought she must have been possessed, whenever she played her guqin or erhu.
Then Ji LanBai, as though suddenly enlightened, also started to be very interested in music. In fact, she then constantly sought guidance from He Shan, more than she had ever done previously. This was all in order to be able to play the melodies that Yulan could produce. To He Shan's bewilderment, it was YuLan who managed to draw Ji LanBai's musical talent, as well as invoking the latter's own initiative to learn different techniques of various instruments available. In the end, like most renowned noble young ladies, Ji LanBai settled on a guqin as her instrument of choice.
In less than a year time, He Shan had two best students he could ever hope for. He started to look forward to his allocated lesson times, regretting that he could not come more often. Every three days, he was allowed one hour of the day to impart his knowledge. Nonetheless lately, he had been looking forward to be graced by the two girls' increasingly enthralling performances instead. Although Ji LanBai's play lacked that heart-rendering emotion YuLan never seemed to have any difficulties with, her techniques were excellent. In fact, YuLan preferred to let Ji LanBai play the more difficult parts of a song, while she merely served as accompaniment.
Today, He Shan brought his friend, Sun Chen, along. Sun-laoshi was not a stranger to the Ji family, being Ji LanBai's calligraphy teacher as well. Both He Shan and Sun Chen were accomplished educated young scholars, with their own reputation even well-known in the capital city. Both men had been residing in the town of Ming to provide tutelage to Ji LanBai. After all, Ji clan was a prominent family in Zhang empire and General Ji was also personally close to the Emperor. How could they refuse a personal request from Ji ChanFang and Wu JianRui themselves?
(Sun Chen)
As a music teacher, He Shan was also adept in multiple musical instruments. He had been wanting to play a piece with his students and finally voiced his wish to YuLan a few months ago. After some thinking and weeks of discussion, YuLan suggested a score she had been working on, that could accommodate a flute. Then the three of them worked together on the actual score arrangement. Hence, he had specially brought his dizi with him.
After the performance ended, there was silence in the courtyard. Even the birds had stopped singing ever since they started playing, seemingly afraid to disturb them. Then the two Madams, Sun Chen, and the servants who had been crowding at the courtyard started to clap their hands, smiles and awe on their faces.
The servants were very emotional; this was definitely a perk of being Ji family's servants. They bet even the professional performers in the capital city of Da Lang would pale in comparison to their Young Miss and Bai YuLan. Given their status, they would normally never have a chance to be indulged in such beautiful art usually only reserved for the wealthy.
While the two young guqin players bowed gracefully to their spectators, He Shan promised in his heart that he would do his utmost to have these young girls' future performances be heard by as many people as possible. To hide such talents behind stone walls would be a crime!
Outside the estate, around the walls of the estate, the gathering crowd also burst into excitement. Some clapped their hands so hard they turned red, wishing the performers inside could hear their appreciation.
"A new piece," a noble looking youth sighed after the last strand of flute's sound echoed out.
"Aye," his friend softly muttered. Finding his throat very dry due to the music he just heard, he sipped his tea, "Truly wonderful. I shall remember this piece for the rest of my life."
Some people had traces of tears at the corner of their eyes. Such soulful melody awakened the deepest emotions in their hearts. For some, it was their long gone youth and love. For others, it was their wish to have a tale as deep and sweet-sounding as what they just heard. They began to chatter in discussion,
"The dizi should be He-laoshi's. I have had the fortune to hear him performed before. But the qin... .," another person lamented, "Double zithers... ."
"How fortunate," one young woman said to her friend with dreamy look in her eyes, "To be able to perform accompanied by the dashing Master He Shan... ."
"When I first listened to the guqin about a year ago, I thought it was one of the two Madames. But He-laoshi surely wouldn't be teaching music to married ladies. Then it dawned on me it might be Young Miss Ji."
"But then, gradually two guqin, sometimes three, could be heard. One might be He-laoshi. But when we heard three zithers playing... who was the other?"
"One of the Madames? Surely not? They have always been sheltered and raised in boudoir, they would not have been able to evoke such rich emotion."
"But then again, neither should the Young Miss. She is still too young, right? Does General Ji have another daughter or an accomplished young lady living in the estate?"
"Speaking of, Young Miss Ji should be quite a little beauty now."
"If I can just be in presence of the goddesses when they perform, I can die happy... ."
"I'd die happy just to personally see Master He Shan perform in front of my eyes... ."
"Did you get a glimpse at Master Sun Chen when the both of them arrived? Oh my deities.... ."
"Pity we can only hear from outside. How incredible would it be if we were to see and listen to their performance up close and personal."
"Surely those fingers capable of producing such sound would be as flawless and beautiful as the highest quality jade... ."
Various theories and guesses were thrown and passed around the townsfolk. But basically, unbeknownst to her, YuLan, now already past eleven years of age, had become an enigma. In fact, both herself and Ji LanBai had inadvertently formed quite a small cult in this normally calm town of Ming. They were not aware yet, that soon enough, their fame would force them to leave their nest inside the Ji residence.
(Ji LanBai and Bai YuLan)
Dizi is a type of chinese flute.
Erhu is a two-stringed chinese violin. If you are not familiar with it, I suggest taking your time to listen to various erhu rendetions (youtube will be a good place). The range of sound that can be produced just by two strings... is amazing and beautiful.
The song I used in this chapter is titled 'Hua Xin' (English Title: Painted Heart). The vocal version is sung by Jane Zhang, who, imo, has one of the most beautiful and ethereal-sounding voice ever. She is well suited to sing this kind of song.
