I just wrote a love poem, how did that make me so powerful?

Xiao Mingyuan glanced at Xu Qing.

Thankfully, I brought a wrench with me today...

So, he rolled his eyes and put down his teacup.

"Zhiyi, look at these lyrics, I've already written them for you. As for the melody, I can only listen to it, I would never dare to offer any guidance."

As he spoke, noticing that Gu Zhiyi's expression had turned somewhat ashen, he continued.

"But then again, I didn't come here for free today."

Xiao Mingyuan grinned and pointed at Xu Qing in a carefree manner:

"My study companion has come to the right place today. He is especially skilled in music. He has an unforgettable memory for any piece he has heard; he can even discern the nuances within it. Why don't we have him explain it to me?"

Xu Qing's hand holding the teacup paused slightly, and she cursed inwardly:

You're really exaggerating when you say you have a photographic memory. I told you to shift your attention to me, not to start creating a god out of thin air.

Xiao Mingyuan's mouth can now lie without batting an eye, he's more of an actor than an actor.

But he didn't show any of this on the surface. He put down his teacup and cupped his hands in a respectful gesture.

"Miss Zhiyi, Young Master Xiao flatters me. My family is poor, and I haven't received any formal training in music since childhood. However, those present today..."

He turned his head and looked at Li Yan and the two classmates sitting next to him.

"Young Master Li, Brother Fang Jing, and Brother Zhao Xuan are all well-versed in the Four Books and Five Classics, and their musical skills far surpass mine. I would like to take this opportunity to invite the three of you to appreciate their work together. If there are any shortcomings, I hope Young Master Li and the other two will not hesitate to offer their guidance."

As the saying goes, "Three cobblers with their wits combined can equal one Zhuge Liang." But the three of them together are no match for the God of Literature.

These words pleased the three of them greatly.

After all, from the moment she entered, Gu Zhiyi's attention was entirely focused on Xiao Mingyuan.

They were just there to benefit from the situation; they didn't show any real presence at all.

Now that Xu Qing has said that, at least they won't feel so awkward.

Upon hearing this, the two classmates finally relaxed, but they quickly waved their hands.

The slightly chubby Fang Jing repeatedly said, "You flatter me! Young Master Xu, what are you saying? We've studied at the academy for three years, and we haven't even touched the headmaster's zither. How could we possibly have any expertise?"

Another slender man, Zhao Xuan, also shook his head: "Young Master Xu, please don't flatter us. It is an honor to witness Miss Zhiyi's talent performance. How could we dare to offer any guidance?"

Li Yan laughed heartily, raised his teacup to Gu Zhiyi as a gesture of respect:

"Young Master Xiao's poems have been making headlines lately. Since they were written by him and are favored by Miss Zhiyi, they must be of the highest quality."

"It is our good fortune to witness Miss Zhiyi's previously unseen performance today. Since Young Master Xu has invited us to judge, we will shamelessly listen. Whether it is good or bad, it is up to each of us to decide."

Gu Zhiyi smiled slightly, got up and walked behind the zither table, picked up the pipa, and slightly adjusted her sitting posture.

Holding the pipa close to her chest, she turned her body slightly to the side, her left arm encircling the instrument, her right hand's five fingers gently resting on the strings...

Even a simple starting gesture exudes a unique composure and elegance.

She closed her eyes briefly, pausing for a moment...

Then, with a gentle pluck of his right hand, the sound of the strings flowed freely.

As soon as the intro started, the air in the room seemed to change.

The melody was neither the cheerful tunes of a typical brothel nor the straightforward narrative of a common folk song; rather, it was filled with ups and downs.

If you were to immerse yourself in that situation, it would be like standing on the riverbank, watching the river flow eastward...

Silence speaks louder than a thousand words.

She started singing.

"Seeing off guests at night by the Hengyang River, the maple leaves and reeds rustle in the autumn breeze..."

Gu Zhiyi's voice was completely different from when she spoke just now...

When she speaks, she is gentle and calm, but when she sings, the power hidden in her throat brings out an unparalleled voice. She is like a human musical instrument, and the chords are so well-matched that they are hard to distinguish.

The voice wasn't always high-pitched; instead, it was like a thin silver thread, stretching from near to far, connecting people's hearts to the distance.

When she sang, "The large strings are loud like a sudden rain, the small strings are soft like whispers."

The right hand moves rapidly across the strings, producing sounds that are sometimes dense and sometimes soothing.

Still as a virgin, swift as a rabbit...

It was more like someone whispering in the pouring rain.

……

As the song ended, the last note fell on the string.

The lingering sound echoed around the beam for a long time before finally dissipating.

The room was quiet for a while.

Fang Jingxian realized what was happening; his eyes were already a little red, and his voice was somewhat hoarse.

"This is the first time I've ever heard Zhiyi sing. I'm speechless. It's just... beautiful."

Zhao Xuan chimed in, her tone slightly more restrained than Fang Jing's, "It's not just that it sounds nice; it makes you feel a tightness in your chest after listening to it, as if you've experienced that farewell yourself."

Li Yan gently patted the table:

"Zhiyi's singing skills are unmatched in Hengyang City. Even in the prefectural city, she would be a worthy success. This 'Pipa Xing' is a rare masterpiece, and it is truly a great honor to have it in your hands."

Gu Zhiyi's expression did not relax after listening to the three people's words.

Holding her pipa, she looked at Xiao Mingyuan and asked, "What do you think, Young Master Xiao?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Mingyuan's heart tightened.

He racked his brains for a long time, only to find that the few words he had were simply not enough to praise a performance of this caliber...

Saying it sounds nice is too perfunctory, and saying it's impressive is too weak.

What the hell should I say...?

You only realize how little you know when you need it!

Fatty Xiao wished he could immediately rummage through the Four Books and Five Classics to find some adjectives.

He was about to make up a couple of lines to get by when he remembered what Xu Qing had told him: whenever you don't know how to respond, just act profound.

So Xiao Mingyuan shifted his body and leaned back slightly in a tactical manner.

He adopted an air of having seen through everything, slowing his voice to appear sophisticated.

"Zhiyi's performance is undoubtedly the best in the world. I don't need to say more. Besides, I wrote the lyrics, so I really can't say much more."

He glanced at Xu Qing, who nodded slightly, and continued.

"However... as I just said, Xu Qing is always meticulous, so let him speak."

Upon hearing this, Xu Qing first bowed to Gu Zhiyi, and then spoke:

"Zhiyi's singing has indeed reached a state of perfection. Her timbre, rhythm, and breath control are all flawless. But if I may be frank... she is still a little lacking in the lyrics of 'The Song of the Pipa'."

Upon hearing this, Fang Jing's face immediately fell:

"Young Master Xu, I don't like hearing that. We both heard Miss Zhiyi sing that part just now, how come you've made it sound like it's 'almost there'?"

Zhao Xuan also frowned, his tone becoming more polite, but still conveying a sense of protectiveness towards Gu Zhiyi:

"Young Master Xu, I don't know how long Miss Zhiyi practiced for this piece, but after she finished singing, Fang Jing and I were both completely captivated. We've never felt anything like it before. Is it too harsh of you to say it's still a little lacking?"

Li Yan glanced at Xu Qing and slowly spoke, his words carrying a hint of reminder:

"Xu Qing, if you're trying to elevate yourself by belittling Zhiyi and then attract her attention, that's inappropriate. Scholars must be mindful of their words."