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Chapter 17
Chapter 17
The tutor for the qin walked in, headdress high and sleeves wide, with a few long strands of hair hanging loose across his chest like a celestial being(1). Gao Cheng Feng, a world-famed tutor whose skill with the qin was second to none. Luo Wei had never paid attention to people of this caliber in his past life. As he saw his esteemed tutor today, Luo Wei's emotions were out of sorts, realizing yet again how stupid he'd been.
Gao Cheng Feng looked over his students. His gaze froze as he saw Luo Wei sitting at the very back, surprised that Luo Wei actually picked that particular seat. On the day of the feast in Jin Chun Garden, Gao Cheng Feng had been there to play music. Luo Wei had given him quite a shock. It wasn't only because of the change in his appearance, but Luo Wei's manners had become cultured and elegant overnight, watchful of his every action. He'd become a completely different person.
Gao Cheng Feng taught for half of the time in class, then asked each of his students to come up to the front and play for everyone.
Luo Wei knew that if this had been before, he'd definitely be the first one to go up so that he could curry favor with Long Xuan who loved the qin. The music he'd play would often be difficult to listen to and leave people wanting to run from the room, but he himself would be unaware. This also a hilarious scene that all the other students were waiting to watch every time they came to the study.
Gao Cheng Feng called a few students to the stage and listened, finding each unsatisfactory. Luo Wei didn't jump at the chance to show his incompetence today, but ironically, Gao Cheng Feng kept thinking about Luo Wei for some unknown reason, so he called him up, "Luo Wei, it's your turn."
The atmosphere in the study suddenly changed. Other than Xie Yu who had no idea about the situation at hand, everyone was waiting for Luo Wei to embarrass himself.
Luo Wei sat down at the qin stand and lowered his gaze to his hands. Once upon a time he'd been ripped of all his fingernails and still played perfectly through the pain. At the very least, maybe his skills with the qin might not draw embarrassment from his tutor again.
His fingers glided over the strings lightly, and the sound of the music followed. The soft rain of Jiang Nan, the cold moonlight of the Gobi desert, the murmur of passing streams, the lofty heights of mountains, the whispers between lovers, the homesick thoughts of soldiers, the joy of those returning home, the loneliness of strangers at the ends of the earth, flowers in the wind and snow under the moon, all the facets of life seemed to linger between those fingers plucking at those strings.
The sound of the qin intoxicated all those present, including Emperor Xing Wu who had arrived at the study at some point.
"No wonder he's Zhi Jin's son," Emperor Xing Wu thought to himself. Luo Zhi Jin had once been a master of song and dance, a single song on the qin could touch the entire world. It seemed natural that her son should also be as talented.
Luo Wei's song ended. As the echoes still lingered, Emperor Xing Wu walked into the study, clapping his applause.
"Your Imperial Majesty," Everyone knelt in unison and paid their respects.
Emperor Xing Wu didn't look at Long Xuan. He only stepped forward to help Luo Wei up, smiling as he spoke, "Looks like the masterful tutor has produced a masterful student!"
Gao Cheng Feng was still dazed as he knelt. He was always embarrassed for having a student like Luo Wei, but he didn't expect that a person like this would suddenly be able to play a song like that. Could it be that he'd been putting up a front all this time, and was only showing his true skill when he knew that the emperor would be present?
Emperor Xing Wu had come especially to see Luo Wei. After the revelation that Luo Wei was his biological son yesterday, all of his thoughts and worries have since been about Luo Wei. How he wished he could send down an imperial decree immediately to restore Luo Wei's status as a prince, and bring him into the palace so the emperor could raise him himself. But after calming down, Emperor Xing Wu knew that if he restored Luo Wei's status, it'd only cast the boy into a unbelievably awkward situation. He and Luo Zhi Jin were never husband and wife after all. Luo Wei wouldn't be a chancellor's son. Even if he were made a prince, he'd only be a bastard, not to mention that Luo Zhi Jin's reputation would be ruined for having a son out of wedlock. After considering all the possibilities, Emperor Xing Wu decided that before being able to think of a better plan, it was still best for Luo Wei to remain a son of the chancellor.
"Your Imperial Majesty," Luo Wei was however suspicious of all the kindness that Emperor Xing Wu showed towards him. What is the emperor doing?
"Let me see you," Emperor Xing Wu patted Luo Wei's head.
This show of affection felt like a nail in Long Xuan's eye. Not a single one of the princes has managed to draw a motion like this from their royal father. Luo Wei was the first.
FOOTNOTES:
Title - The original title was "playing a song on the qin that moves people's hearts", but the part it refers to in the text was Luo Zhi Jin being able to move people with her song. Thus the title was shortened.
1. Celestial Being - In Taoist tradition, a celestial being could be one of the minor gods from heaven, or a mortal who has through spiritual cultivate become immortal. Their presence is said to differ from that of a normal person, being more dignified, beautiful, and above everything.