Meet the Gentleman

Chapter 41 A Natural Musical Instrument Player

Qinshi, is it difficult?
Very difficult!
Fang Wang was only an eighth-rank zither player in Yanyu Prefecture, yet he was called a zither genius.

Yanyu Prefecture is one of the most prosperous places in the Zhou Dynasty. The art of playing the zither, chess, calligraphy and painting is more popular than in other prefectures and counties. It can be said that it has become a trend and is sought after by countless people. However, there are not many young zither players who have reached the level. If there were too many young zither players, Fang Wang would not be called a zither genius...

Feng Qingyan looked around Qin Valley for a while and then bowed and left.

The elegant old man and three other teachers all nodded to him and treated him as a gentleman.

In addition to the Qin Valley, the academy also has Chess Mountain, Book River and Art Gallery, each with its own magical use. What Feng Qingyan saw now was only a corner of the Qin Valley.

He left Qin Valley and came to Qi Mountain.

There was smoke billowing from the Qishan Mountain and the sound of fighting, as if countless soldiers were engaged in a bloody battle, which was terrifying.

He did not go up the mountain rashly to avoid being accidentally injured by the chess players.

Music, chess, calligraphy and painting are not only the arts for students to cultivate their character and sentiments, but also the treasures for ancient sages to understand philosophy and govern the country, and they are also the weapons for literati and poets to slay demons and fight on the battlefield.

The four arts of music, chess, calligraphy and painting hide terrifying power.

If one is like a zither player, the sound of the zither can turn into a blade, and in an instant, he can kill dozens or even hundreds of soldiers. If one is as strong as the zither master, he can fight against an entire country, or destroy an entire country alone...

This made Feng Qingyan even more curious about the zither.

You must learn the piano.

But not now, but after the Wen Palace is opened.

Before I knew it, the sky gradually darkened and the day was almost over.

On this day, the second day of the spring examination, there were not many outstanding students in Zangshan Academy. Even those who passed the examinations of music, chess, calligraphy and painting were only a handful, not to mention the students who made it to the national list.

It can be said that on this day, there was nothing outstanding about Zangshan Academy.

However, students from Sanshang Academy, the top ten academies, and even other academies occasionally rank among the national rankings.

Even though it is not ranked among the national lists, it is still famous among the 81 academies.

This made the instructors and teachers of the academy secretly anxious.

Although Zangshan Academy has produced a gentleman who is one of the most accomplished scholars in the world and can surpass all others, an academy cannot rely on just one person.

Academies also need students to debate and let a hundred schools of thought flourish.

Is it spring if only one flower blooms?

Perhaps the dullness of this day was related to the fact that a group of famous students including Mu Yu, Rong Tao, Yan Shan, Yu Yuan, and Mei Lan were in seclusion.

They were not only stimulated by Feng Qingyan, but also wanted to become famous in the spring examination.

Even if I cannot become famous throughout the world, my name must be known among the 81 academies.

Feng Qingyan didn't see Zhou Chang today because Zhou Chang also went into seclusion.

However, what made Feng Qingyan a little strange was that since Zhou Chang participated in "Taiping Youxiang" and was known as a literary talent, would it be useful for him to retreat for a day or two?
When Feng Qingyan returned to the wooden house in a carriage, he found that there were many students around the house.

Many students came to the wooden house because they believed that Feng Qingyan had a kind of glory, and if they could just get some of that glory, they might be able to pass the academy's exam.

At this time, the students scattered around the wooden house all saluted Feng Qingyan.

When Feng Qingyan returned the gift, he found that Lian Muyu was among them. He felt a little surprised. Didn’t he go into seclusion to become a sixth-grade zither master?
"Hello, sir. Mu Yu has been waiting for a long time."

Mu Yu walked out of the carriage, walked to Feng Qingyan and bowed respectfully. She didn't think Feng Qingyan had any glory like other students, but there was something else going on.

"I wonder what the shepherdess wants from me?"

Feng Qingyan returned the gift and asked curiously.

"Practice the piano."

Mu Yu hesitated for a moment and saw the surprise on Feng Qingyan's face, then he said, "Mu Yu is learning the zither, or watching the zither."

"How do you say 'Guan Qin'?"

Feng Qingyan was even more surprised, because he had never heard of it. "Since Mu Yu saw Junzi for the first time, he felt the faint breath of 'tranquility and tranquility' from Junzi."

Mu Yu's eyes are like autumn water, her eyebrows are like distant mountains, her waist is as slender as a willow, and she is as light as a flying swallow.

Although she applied light makeup, her face was still pretty.

Feng Qingyan blinked, not understanding what was going on.

"Qin advocates the correct sound and elegant music, and values ​​'tranquility and simplicity', rather than noise and bustle. Even the zither, flute and flute have soft tones, tranquility and long-lasting melodies."

Mu Yu turned slightly, looked into the distance and spoke softly.

"Qin advocates the beauty of moderation, which is steady, restrained, reserved and elegant." Mu Yu said as he walked slowly, "This is also in line with the Taoist concept of tranquility and inaction. The Supreme One once said: 'The greatest sound is the one that has no sound', and the correct sound should be 'simple and quiet'. Only when quiet can one have a sense of emptiness and remoteness, and only then can one be one with all things."

"A gentleman once said that when one's body and hands are calm and one's eyes are focused on nothing else, one can be in harmony with the great harmony and blend with the wonderful way." Mu Yu added, "One can be focused and forget about the world, and one can make ghosts and gods weep and shock wind and rain."

Feng Qingyan nodded.

"That's very well said."

Mu Yu exclaimed with great admiration in his heart.

"You are too kind, girl." Feng Qingyan said.

"Do not."

Mu Yu shook his head and continued, his voice was melodious and pleasant, like the gentle singing of a gurgling stream, with unique charm, "A gentleman has a 'tranquil and plain' aura, and is a natural qin player. It is easier for others to be calm, with nothing else in mind, to be in harmony with the great harmony, and to blend with the wonderful way."

Feng Qingyan didn't know whether to laugh or cry when he heard this. He couldn't even play the zither and had never even touched it before, so how could he be a natural born master of the instrument?
The three questions about the bamboo building were purely reinforcements brought in to save ourselves.

But he would not slap himself in the face for no reason, so he asked, "What do you want, girl?"

"Mu Yu only needs to observe the gentleman quietly for a day."

Mu Yu hesitated for a moment, but still said it out loud, but her face also turned red with shame, and she lowered her head and dared not look at Feng Qingyan, "Yu, if you want to get a glimpse of the way to 'tranquil and plain' from a gentleman, as long as you get a glimpse of the way to 'tranquil and plain', perhaps Yu will have a chance to enter the sixth rank..."

Mu Yu's voice became lower and lower, and his face was already red, all the way to his neck.

Feng Qingyan was a little surprised.

"If it is inconvenient for you..."

Mu Yu still lowered his head, and said with a lost voice: "It is Yu who is abrupt, please forgive me."

Feng Qingyan pondered for a moment and said, "If so, is there really hope of entering the sixth rank?"

Mu Yu nodded slightly.

"How about I sit on Lingshui Bridge tonight until dawn so you can watch?"

Feng Qingyan thought for a moment and said that the two of them definitely could not be alone in a room, otherwise rumors would surely arise.

You have to watch and be under the watchful eyes of the public.

This is good for everyone.

Although he is a third-class gentleman, a third-class gentleman will not always be a third-class gentleman.

When virtue is gone, the gentleman's tripod will also disappear and he will no longer be a gentleman.

"Rain, thank you gentleman."

Mu Yu was delighted. He bowed to Feng Qingyan and left in the carriage.

Feng Qingyan frowned as he looked at the departing carriage and shook his head. Such a request was really absurd.

Or maybe he is just ignorant.

……

(End of this chapter)