I have to put a big warning on this chapter. Reading on the paragraphs about the music is on your own risk. I’m guessing that there might be some music words that are being used on this chapter because using a literal translation makes no sense at all but I’m not good enough to interpret what the differences in music melody especially using this ancient music. I even asked my friend who is very fluent in Chinese if he can help with some of the translation but he can’t really help me either. Plus I’m not a music major either&h.e.l.lip;
This chapter was translated by Sian for only and edited by Din2.
By Qian Lu
Chapter 48
Finding Out
If she did not play a song today, she was afraid that Hai Yue would not cooperate, so Murong Shu Qing forced a smile, if she had known it earlier, she should learn how to play the guqin. Lightly sighing, Murong Shu Qing smilingly said: “I really can not play the guqin, but I can give one song to Miss.”
“Oh?” She was unable to play the stringed instrument but she could give a song to her? Hai Yue sat down next to her, and wanted to know how.
Murong Shu Qing muttered several sentences to Lu Yi who was by her side, Lu Yi lightly nodded her head, she got up and went to sit down in front of the guqin.
Hai Yue was puzzled and just about to ask, when a skillful and tranquil melody was flowing from Lu Yi’s fingertips. As if the ocean was extending into the distance, with no ripple for far away. Who would have thought that this woman’s guqin skill was unexpectedly outstanding like this. Putting away her question, Hai Yue listened to it attentively.
Suddenly, the melody gradually changed, like the tide from a distant place was slowly pushing closer, the speed was faster and faster until it reached a high pitch, as if the raging waves were beating against the sh.o.r.e. On the sea surface, the fishes and whales were jumping and floating with the tides, the undercurrent on the bottom of this ocean was rapid, in silence of the hidden danger, that was extremely capable to change things in the entirety. After the torrential current, the sound of the guqin stopped in the middle, as if the tide retreated from the sea surface, so the water level was even as a mirror.
Lu Yi’s song finally concluded, Hai Yue excitingly stood up with a somewhat unstable breathing, she anxiously asked: “What is the name of this song?”
Looking at her excitement like this, she was indeed a person who had knowledge about music, Murong Shu Qing replied: “Bi (blue) Hai (sea) Chao (waves) Sheng (life) Qu (song). Song of the Sea and Waves.”
This song was initially a musical composition for Jin Yong’s martial arts novel that was about Huang Yao Shi who began his martial art feats. Later on, Liu Xue Xuan used the song to make the musical compositions for flute and guzheng (larger stringed instrument than guqin) and played them on the stage for the first time. Murong Shu Qing had heard the song for several times in the past and she liked it. However, even though she could understand the music score, she could not play the guqin so she gave up. After she came here, she became aware that Lu Yi’s guqin skill was very good, within the ‘Bi Hai Chao Sheng Qu’ nine pieces, she picked the vast blue ocean, dark turbulence, the wind whistling while the cloud flying, the hot ocean as if it was boiling, and the water as if it was a level mirror parts. (I guess Lu Yi was playing 5 out of 9 parts of the song). She played these several pieces and added some of her own ideas, and so Lu Yi could play it out. She could actually use it effectively today.
Hai Yue clapped her hands and smilingly said: “Good song, good name for the song.”
Finished speaking, Hai Yue came to the front of the guqin, she thought for a moment and slightly raised her hand, it was really the Song of the Sea and Waves music score!!
Murong Shu Qing did not expect that only listening one time, she could know ‘hot ocean as if it was boiling’, this piece that was just played out. Even though there was nothing lacking, but Murong Shu Qing seemed to add her own understanding in the music and it even had more of its spirituality and personality. When Lu Yi played this song, her skill was somewhat lacking in strength, if Hai Yue used the great big waves that surged up violently on the sea surface, white waves on the Shan mountain, the wind whistling while the gull flying’s technique, it would be very vivid and thorough. (I think these are the other parts of the song that Lu Yi didn"t play) Murong Shu Qing sighed and said: “Miss is really exceptionally intelligent.”
Once the song was finished, Hai Yue got up, and came to Murong Shu Qing’s front, she seriously and sincerely said: “Qin Shu, Hai Yue intends to make you as my friend. What do you think about this?”
Looking that she said it candidly, Murong Shu Qing admired this talented and refreshing woman, so she nodded her head and smilingly said: “I am willing to be your friend.”
“Good, then, do not address Miss or Gongzi in the future anymore.” Picking up the wine that was on the table, Hai Yue smilingly said: “Drink one cup.”
“Alright.” Taking the wine, the two people were looking, smiling at each other and toasting to drink. Hai Yue drank the cup of wine, and she bowed her head to look at Murong Shu Qing’s neck that was raised up. Her neck was spotlessly white and slim, there was only a faint pink scar on her neck, and no Adam’s apple!! Hai Yue bewilderingly murmured: “You&h.e.l.lip;&h.e.l.lip;”
When she wanted to look again, Murong Shu Qing already finished drinking the cup of wine.
When she saw Hai Yue’s surprise and pondering gaze, Murong Shu Qing did not avoid her eyes. From the time when she looked at her raising her neck up, Hai Yue should already saw that she did not have an Adam’s apple. She did not intend to deceive her at first, but she had no choice to dress as a man at Qing Feng Lou last time. Since she found out today, it was even better.
The him who always had a light smile and was in front of her, with a thin figure, delicate and bright skin, Hai Yue hesitatingly said: “You are&h.e.l.lip;&h.e.l.lip;”
Murong Shu Qing was still lightly smiling like before, she calmly said: “I am. I do not know if Hai Yue still wants to be my friend or not?”
She was actually a woman! Hai Yue slightly opened her almond eyes and covered the anger that were in her eyes, she was deceived by him! She was actually harmed herself by being tempted by this woman, and was ashamed and angry. Hai Yue faintly clenched her hands into fists, the atmosphere inside the decorated boat became somewhat oppressive in a flash.
Murong Shu Qing did not retreat back, her face still had the same smile, and still peacefully sat down and remained silent. She did not try to explain in a hurry, nor did she apologize pointlessly.
For a long time, Hai Yue released her anger by throwing away the wine cup, looking at the woman in front of her who was still calm and collected, the anger in her heart was gradually subsided, so Hai Yue loosened up her fisted hands. Let it be, let it be, she did not really deceive her, it was her own strongest first impression. Moreover, even if she was a woman, but she still appreciated her.
Removing her melancholy feeling out of her heart, and putting aside that she was not a man, it was worth it to have this kind of friend. Hai Yue pa.s.sed on the cup that was on the table, and directly picked up a wine pot, she said: “I, Hai Yue, once I have said something, how can I take it back, someone comes, bring a couple more of wine jugs.”
The young child who was beside her, immediately brought two jars of good wine, and poured it into the wine pot for them to drink, Hai Yue took the pot and stuffed it into Murong Shu Qing’s hand, then she said: “We will enjoy ourselves to the fullness, then you will be allowed to leave!”
Murong Shu Qing drank a mouthful first, and smilingly said: “That will not be a problem.”
The two people took the wine and went to the inner room of the decorated boat, the room was covered with a white wool rug with a big soft couch that looked warm and cozy. They could look at the river surface during this autumn’s tranquil day from the huge carving window. Hai Yue was lying down on the soft couch and she toasted to Murong Shu Qing. Murong Shu Qing was leaning by the side of the window and drinking with her.
This wine was really enjoyable, it was as clear as water, and it was completely lacking the smell of alcohol. Murong Shu Qing was shaking the wine pot, it really did not have any wine taste, which should have that rich and mellow taste. When she drank it a mouthful a moment ago, she could taste a slight sweetness, but after she drank it again, she could taste the after taste from the sweet alcohol, and unexpectedly could feel a slight sweet-smelling gra.s.s!
Murong Shu Qing lightly sighed: “Good wine!”
One of Hai Yue’s hands was supporting her head, and the other hand was shaking the wine pot, lying on the wool rug, she carelessly said: “Tasteless (Wu-no, Wei-taste, smell) is its name.” But this was the best wine from her home.
Tasteless? Murong Shu Qing softly repeated in her heart. Good name.
Hai Yue used her hand as a pillow, and said to Murong Shu Qing who was beside her: “Qin Shu is not your real name, right!” After she met her that night, she had some people to investigate her ident.i.ty, but she did not get any result. Not to mention this Qin Shu’s name, but there was no gentle youngster like this within the Capital.
Murong Shu Qing was leaning by the side of the window, enjoying the autumn wind that was caressing her lightly, and a.s.sessing this tasteless and mellow after taste, then she lightly smiled and answered: “How could Hai Yue your real name also?” But this name, Hai Yue and her were really suited, the blue ocean (Hai) and bright moon (Yue), she should be a woman made by heaven!
Hai Yue suddenly got up, and sat cross-legged, her beautiful almond eyes showed brilliant lights, she interestingly said: “Why don’t we play a game, I am sure that you are not an average person either, we will use a maximum of 10 days to investigate each other’s ident.i.ty. At that time, regardless of what the result of the investigation will be, we will be honest, how about that?”
Murong Shu Qing straightforwardly answered: “Alright.” She was really different than any ordinary woman in this era, a woman who was this intelligent and bright was not many. But a woman who was being honest and refreshing like this, and a woman with knowledge and understanding, was really rare. Calling this kind of woman, her friend, was a pleasure.
Hai Yue got up and walked to Murong Shu Qing, she leaned on the window, and smilingly said: “If you lose, you just have to give me a song, how about that?” That ‘Song of the Sea & Waves’ was unpredictable, the big waves were surging up violently occasionally, sometimes there was no wave for far away, she liked it, there had never been a musician who could move her heart with a song like this. She believed that this brilliant and elegant woman would surely have another exquisite and extraordinary masterpiece.
Rewarding her another song again?! That would not be difficult, among the music scores that she appreciated, she only needed to find one that would suit Hai Yue, and just had to secretly steal somebody else’s song again. Murong Shu Qing lightly nodded her head, she shook tasteless wine that was on her hand, raised her eyebrows and smilingly said: “Sure thing. How about&h.e.l.lip;. if you lose?”
Hai Yue slightly frowned her eyebrows and pondered deeply, suddenly, the corner of her mouth raised a beautiful smile, she mysteriously said: “I will reward you a rare treasure of the world!”
Looking at her full confidence, her somewhat arrogance and mysterious appearance, Murong Shu Qing’s curiosity raised up, she raised the wine jug that was on her hand and lightly touched it with Hai Yue’s wine jar, then smilingly said: “I look forward to get your treasure.”
Hai Yue also picked up the wine on her hand, forthrightly drank a mouthful, shaking the the wine that was almost on the bottom of the jug, she smilingly said: “I also look forward to get your song.”
Sian’s notes:
Wow, I’m rather surprise that Lu Yi can play guqin. And how about MSQ"s stealing people"s music??? Lol&h.e.l.lip;.. the beauty of knowing the future.
That reference about Jin Yong’s martial arts novel, I have no idea which book that she was trying to referred to. The only Jin Yong’s novels that I’m familiar is that 3 books series that have been adapted into dramas so many times, which are Legend of Condor Heroes, Return of Condor Heroes and Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber. I’m sure I have watched most of Jin Yong’s other novels that were adapted into drama in the past, but I couldn’t remember who this Huang Yao Shi that was referred to. It didn’t help that when I watched most of these Jin Yong’s dramas in the past, we used Hokkienese dialect so the names were slightly different than the pinyin names. For example the male lead in Legend of Condor Heroes’ name was Kwok Cheng in hokkienese as opposed to Guo Jing in pinyin. So I can’t recall who this Huang Yao Shi was, in one of Jin Yong’s novels. Website for Jin Yong: found it. This Huang Yao Shi was indeed a figure in Legend of Condor Heroes. He’s one of the Five Greats who were in the novel & happened to be the father of the female lead. See in hokkienese, his name was Ong Yuk Su. His daughter’s name in pinyin is Huang Rong, while the name that I was familiar for her was Ong Yong. The greatness of Wikipedia&h.e.l.lip; Liu Xue Xuan aka Liu Shueh Shuan (in Taiwanese) is a Taiwanese composer. His music combines elements of traditional and modern cultures. Here’s the website if anybody is interested. the Wikipedia, the t.i.tle of the song was Song of the Sea and Waves, which is a Xiao (a type of flute) piece whose tune has hypnotic effects on people. The melody can put a trance and the person feels like he’s floating in the ocean. Huang Yao Shi is an awesome flute player and he uses the flute for his weapon too. Ah, I miss that drama. I should watch that drama again, but my favorite Legend of Condor Heroes was the older version that Hongkong TVB produced in the 80s, with Felix Wong, Barbara Yung, Michael Miu as the leads. I bet most of you don’t even know who those people are. Hehehehe&h.e.l.lip; Felix Wong retired from acting a long time ago. Sadly, Barbara Yung committed suicide when she was on the top of her young career. I believe only Michael Miu is still acting now. Am I showing my age now?
I knew that Hai Yue isn’t just a prost.i.tute. I’m guessing that she’s actually that Queen from Hai Yu. But she can also be that Shang Jun (which isn’t her real name, btw. I don’t even know what her real name is. Shang Jun is a name that she’s using when she pretends to be a man).