Nan Shiying walked gracefully to the center of the great hall, not sparing a single glance at Qin Yushan, who had collapsed on the ground. She settled herself behind the guqin, her hands gently caressing the strings.
Feeling the tautness of the strings, she couldn't help but feel a touch of regret. If only she could use her own Jiao Wei guqin... But no matter, this would suffice.
She looked up, offering a slight nod to everyone present, and spoke with composure, "Since Miss Qin claims to admire my zither skills, I shall play a piece for you all – 'Ping Lan Xuan'!"
What? She was going to play 'Ping Lan Xuan' too?
Everyone was momentarily taken aback. Was this absolute confidence, or was she planning to self-destruct?
Before anyone could ponder this, a resonant strum suddenly erupted.
It began in the same way.
Just as the crowd was thinking, "So that's all there is to it," Nan Shiying's fingers on the strings suddenly accelerated. Her slender, jade-like hands moved so fast they were almost a blur. The sound, like clashing armor and charging horses, seemed to break through the mists of ancient time, exploding into everyone's ears. If Qin Yushan's performance had merely conjured images of armies clashing in their minds, Nan Shiying's music directly brought that scene to life before their very eyes.
It unfurled like a magnificent scroll, a grand panorama. In their ears, the sounds of slaughter, the clash of weapons, the desperate cries of charging soldiers. Before their eyes, soldiers in armor raised their blades under fluttering banners, their gazes fixed upon the enemy. The sparks from the close-quarters combat mingled with the splattered blood, a dazzling spectacle. The scene shifted to a battlefield of ruins, fires raging, smoke filling the sky, the grim reality of soldiers dying with their horses.
But it was more than just sounds and illusions.
As the music surged, a chilling killing intent seemed to ripple through the air, alongside a surge of hot blood. One moment, it chilled them to the bone; the next, it stirred their very souls. Everyone's hearts felt like duckweed on water, adrift and anchorless, tossed about by the music.
The impassioned melody gradually receded, finally settling into gentleness.
The scene before them was no longer one of brutal warfare, but of a setting sun, the carefree figures and smiles of the elderly and children.
At that moment, a prickling sensation arose in many nostrils. Even the scholars, who typically looked down upon military men, felt a surge of passion and gratitude.
As the final note faded, the great hall fell into a silence so profound one could hear a pin drop. After a short pause, someone, unable to contain themselves, shouted, "Excellent!"
Then, everyone snapped back to reality. Some cheered, some applauded. Among the military men, some even had tears welling in their eyes.
Only those who had truly experienced war could understand and relate so deeply.
Their gazes towards Nan Shiying turned respectful. No longer did they look upon her with disdain based on unfounded speculation and malicious gossip.
If she hadn't truly experienced the bloodshed of the battlefield, she couldn't have played such music. But how could a sheltered young lady have experienced such things? It was either that the Prince had recounted his experiences to her, or she genuinely held a deep respect for them, the warriors.
Either way, it was enough for them to consider her one of their own.
Ji Hong watched Nan Shiying, a hint of surprise on his face. Such zither skill… He glanced at Nan Chaoyin. Nan Chaoyin kept his head bowed, his emotions unreadable.
Could this person be from the Demon Hunter Army?
Ji Hong's thoughts wandered. After all, it was difficult for someone who hadn't experienced battlefield bloodshed to play 'Ping Lan Xuan' with such passion and fervor.
Qin Qiancheng's hands clenched into fists. His gaze towards Nan Shiying was as sharp as a knife, wishing he could conjure a blade right then and there to run Nan Shiying through.
If she lived, his daughter would… He gritted his teeth, veins bulging in his neck. Recalling his eldest daughter, whose whereabouts were now unknown, and looking at his younger daughter collapsed on the ground, Qin Qiancheng had never felt such resentment, even hatred. He, Qin Qiancheng, had been loyal to the Prince, a loyalty as clear as the sun and moon. Yet now, his two daughters had been successively humiliated by Nan Shiying.
If this grievance was not avenged, he would be a disgrace as a father!
Qin Qiancheng's gaze was like a sharpened arrow, making it impossible for Nan Shiying not to notice. However, regarding Qin Qiancheng's hatred, Nan Shiying felt only a slight apology towards Ji Jinmo, but no other emotions. Fear? That was nonexistent. Those who humiliate others will be humiliated in turn. If it weren't for the continuous provocations from the two sisters, why would she bother with them?
Did she really have nothing better to do?
"Good, good…"
Ji Hong was momentarily at a loss for words. It wasn't that he couldn't think of what to say, but rather that he didn't want to praise her. However, to lie and say her zither skills were poor would make him appear petty and provide amusement for the people of Dali.
Nan Shiying gathered her robes and slowly rose, finally directing her gaze towards Qin Yushan.
The moment the music stopped, Qin Yushan knew she was in trouble. She had never imagined that this Nan Shiying not only knew how to play the zither but possessed such extraordinary skill. Her previous boasts were now proven to be entirely accurate; in the face of this zither prowess, her sister was indeed not worthy of being called the foremost in zither music.
Sensing the gaze falling upon her, Qin Yushan's face instantly lost all color. Her body trembled uncontrollably.
Nan Shiying walked to Qin Yushan's side and slowly crouched down. She gently stroked Qin Yushan's hair, then abruptly yanked it, forcing her to lift her head sharply.
The burning, tearing sensation on her scalp made Qin Yushan's eyes instantly redden, tears welling up, threatening to fall at any moment.
"Nan Shiying!"
Witnessing Nan Shiying's actions, Qin Qiancheng's eyes widened in fury. He strode forward from his seat, roaring with anger.
Holding Qin Yushan's hair, Nan Shiying turned to look at Qin Qiancheng. Her placid gaze seemed to simmer with overwhelming killing intent. A smile played on her lips, but her eyes were as cold and barren as a dried-up well, offering only endless darkness and unknown danger.
"General Qin, what did you just call this consort?"
The dismissive voice carried a light laugh, but to everyone's ears, it was as chilling as a scythe forged in an ice cave, cutting through the air and the ice, its coldness seeping into their ears and hearts, freezing their very blood in an instant.
All that remained was stunned silence.