Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 160 - 158: Autumn Whispers

Chapter 160: Chapter 158: Autumn Whispers

It was at the turn of autumn and winter, and Xiao’er played "Whispers of Autumn".

As the beautiful melody began, everyone in the room gradually sat up straight.

Different autumn scenes appeared in each person’s mind...

It might start with a falling red leaf, or the opening of the round sun through the foggy mist, or the moment when big hands held small hands and started to run...

Each person depicted different autumn scenes in their minds, be it a fairy tale, warm moments, romance, poetry, or endless affection...

The music led everyone into a world of both reality and illusion.

The music guided everyone on a magical musical journey.

With the beginning, climax, and final note of the music, everyone felt as if they had returned to the most beautiful autumn time in their memories, recalling the most unforgettable autumn impressions or fantasizing about spending future autumns, picking strands of poetic imagery!

Their thoughts accompanied each note of "Whispers of Autumn", carried by the rich spirit of autumn, drifting far away.

There was a pause in the music.

Silence.

Even the falling leaves in mid-air stopped.

Xiao’er breathed out imperceptibly, slowly stood up, and bowed: "Thank you, everyone."

Everyone woke as if from a dream.

There was thunderous applause.

So this was the true music that came out of this massive instrument!

So this was a real piano piece!

It turned out that the piano solo was so pleasant to the ear!

Many people watched Xiao’er return to her seat with their eyes.

This young lady is the Lady of Rui’an county, such talent and beauty, astounding!

"Isn’t the Lady of Rui’an County even younger than the previous girls?" A gentleman uttered.

"Isn’t it? She looks quite young, probably only eleven years old! Yet her piano skills are so impressive! Her abilities will only grow! The capital’s talented woman must be her!" Another young man agreed.

"That girl is not even eleven years old! But she’s already incredible!" Di Shaowei, overjoyed, corrected the person, and felt honored. This was praise for his own sister. He felt enormously proud!

Shangguan Xuanyi gave Di Shaowei an unhappy stare: What did he want, sharing so much about Xiao’er with people who were not related to her?

"From the sound of it, Brother Di, you seem quite familiar with her? In addition to her impressive piano skills, does the Lady of Rui’an County excel in the Four Arts too?"

After receiving a warning from Shangguan Xuanyi, how dare Di Shaowei say more! While he looked like a harmless character, he was cunning on the inside. He didn’t want to be tricked unknowingly, so he shook his head.

The man, seeing his reluctance to speak, found someone else to discuss it with. Taking Di Shaowei’s head shake for a denial, he assumed she only had musical talent.

That made sense. How could a girl from a farmer’s family excel in all areas, even more than the older ladies of the worldly families? Was she the reincarnation of the goddess of literature and art, Wenquxing!

The First Prince turns his head to ask his companion, "Is this the Lady of Rui’an County that Father recently recognized? She looks pretty! Just a bit young!"

"She is pretty! Wait a few years for her to grow up, she’ll be even more beautiful. Then Prince can make her a concubine!" Understanding the Prince’s tastes, the companion flattered him, hinting that his first priority should be to decide on a main consort and leave the matter of concubines for later.

"Making her a concubine would be honoring her. But if she is indeed of unparalleled beauty, then I can make an exception!" said the First Prince, in a gracious tone.

"Prince speaks rightly. Elevating a farmer girl to be Prince’s concubine would indeed be a promotion." The man hurriedly agreed, with nods and bows.

The First Prince listened and found truth in his words.

Shangguan Xuanyi swept them with a cold gaze.

Upon Xiaoxiao’s return to her seat, the Empress said with a smile, "As expected, Xiao’er’s piano skills are extraordinary. It’s my first time hearing such a captivating piano piece. I think Xiao’er plays better than the master I hired for the princess!"

While I don’t quite understand these things, it sounded lovely to me!" the General’s wife added her opinion.

"What the Empress said is true, I also think it was better than the Master. Lady Rui’an, you’re really impressive." A certain Madame genuinely agreed.

"Lady Rui’an has truly made a name for herself!" The Prime Minister’s wife, suppressing her grinding teeth impulse, managed to say this with a normal tone.

Li Yunning and the other girls, full of dissatisfaction, refused to admit and believe that they were defeated by a girl from a farmer’s family!

"It’s not a big deal. We just started learning, even though she may have been learning for a very long time!" A lady looked disdainfully at Xiao’er’s direction and whispered.

The others, hearing this, thought it made sense. It was a mistake, comparing their weak points against someone else’s strengths.

"Look, the Second Prince, Fourth Prince, and Sixth Prince are all looking in her direction!"

On hearing this, they all looked over. Indeed!

This couldn’t continue! If the princes thought that mountain chicken was better than them, what would happen!

They might have been better off not performing! At least they wouldn’t be said to be inferior to a mountain chicken!

"We only just started learning the piano, so it’s normal to be outplayed by her, but why don’t we challenge ourselves more to poetry? Li Yunning proposed what was on her mind.

"Great, this truly tests our foundational skills!" Ma Yuqing, the scholar’s daughter, responded enthusiastically.

The other girls also nodded in agreement.

"Lady Rui’an really lives up to her reputation, just now we learned a lot about the piano from her. Why don’t we exchange more on poetry? Consider it as learning from each other?" Li Yunning suggested with a laugh.

Xiao’er glanced at the girls. Is this them not admitting defeat? Attempting a comeback?

Xiao’er nodded in agreement: "Sure."

The girls felt a sudden chill in their hearts. In the piano competition, Xiao’er had casually agreed as well. Poetry wouldn’t be her strong suit too, would it?

The girls looked at each other, then all secretly shook their heads. For a farm girl to compose poetry, that would be a laughing matter!

The Empress and the elderly Madame also enjoyed the entertainment, and they had to choose daughters-in-law or grand-daughters-in-law, just as these girls needed more activities to show their abilities they also needed more chances to observe.

Composing poetry was something many cultured ladies knew, so the participation doubled.

"Let’s use ’Autumn’ as the theme!" The Empress casually proposed a topic.

Over on the men’s side, when they heard about the poetry competition, the First Prince let his people start a gambling game, inviting people to place bets.

Thinking about earning a fortune.

When Shangguan Xuanyi heard about it, he told Xiao Fuzi to take out 10,000 taels to bet on Xiao’er’s victory!

Upon hearing that, Di Shaowei also unhesitatingly followed suit, betting 10,000 taels.

Xiao Fuzi also placed a bet of 200 taels.

Li Yunning’s odds were one to three... Xiao’er’s were one to ten!

Now even Little Fuzi was attentive, silently praying for Xiao’er to definitely win!

Poetry eh! Xiao’er confessed that she really didn’t know how to write!

But how does the saying go?

Even if you don’t know how to write, you can steal some lines from the three hundred Tang poems you’ve memorized!

The feeling of being thousands of years in advance in culture was truly sour and satisfying!

Looking at the group of thoughtful daughters of rich families, Xiao’er without any hesitation started to write passionately!

This scared some of the daughters into losing their thoughts, making the others feel tense!

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