Chapter 49 The Four Arts III

"Min'er, what do you think of Yan'er's performance?" Chunyuan look to Mu Zhimin that was next to her and asked with a smile, "I very much like that girl."

Mu Zhimin casted her eyes on the not too distant Qingyan as she listened to what Chunyuan said. Qingyan's calm demeanor made her admire her a lot. She even was able to see on Qingyan some traces of Murong Jingxuan.

Murong Jingxuan was raised in Diqiu ever since he was young. Although on the surface he looked like a frivolous playboy, she couldn't be more clear to the talent he had behind him. After all, they were both gave off the feeling of 'people of the world's edge*'. That feeling they had was definitely similar, and she did admire that kind of Murong Jingxuan.

(*TN: This is a verse from Bai Juyi's long poem 'Song of the Pipa Player'; it means people that have both wandered far from home brought closer together because of similar bitter experiences.)

But that was definitely not 'like'; she only revered and respected him. And in Qingyan she could see that kind of shadow on her.

"I also like that girl too." Mu Zhimin looked towards Chunyuan with a gentle smile. "Min'er thinks that a girl that brother Jingxuan is interested in must not be ordinary."

Xuanyuan Yufan stared at Qingyan from the start to finish of her performance. He'd never thought that in a year's time, Su Qingyan would have this much of a drastic change. Or rather it was more accurate to say he didn't understand why Su Qingyan would have this drastic of a change. She was completely different from the Su Qingyan in his memories.

"Jingxuan, do you think second brother is also interested in that girl now?" Xuanyuan Yuzhen saw the look in Yufan's eyes and turned his attention to Murong Jingxuan.

Murong Jingxuan smirked, "Naturally I'd be more than happy if a lot of people like that girl."

His girl should be this outstanding.

"Brother Jingxuan, don't regret it, if when the time comes, second brother steals that fourth miss away." Xuanyuan Yukai look to Murong Jingxuan laughing, as he teased him, and behind him Xuanyuan Yuning also nodded in agreement.

"That girl's standards are very high." Murong Jingxuan still had a confident look.

He clearly knew in his heart that, his girl, was only using this as an opportunity to greatly show off in front of these princes. As for who she liked, he thinks that that p

, even if Su Qingyuan were to play [Gaoshang Liushui*], it was unable to raise the crowd's interest. In contrast, Su Qingwen's 'Scattered Plum Flower' painting had won the judges' good opinion.

(*TN: Literally translates to high mountain running water)

"Su Qingyuan was that good at playing the qin, why does it feel like no one is listening?" Cui Hanqun whispered softly to Cui Hanxue next to him.

Hearing her elder brother's words, Cui Hanxue directed her gaze at Su Qingyan, "You don't understand, just now Su Qingyan had already played the [Thousand Beasts and Phoenix], you have to know that all tunes would lose its splendor before this piece. That's why it's natural that everyone wouldn't be interested."

Cui Hanqun turned his gaze to the not to distant Su Qingyan who was lost in thoughts. He smirked.

He thought up a plan. Even though he didn't even exist in Su Qingyuan's eyes, if he could help her vent out her frustration through this, then why would he not do it?

The last portion 'Battle' matches started after the 'Selection' matches ended. Cui Hanqun was the first to stand; he pointed his finger at Su Qingyan and arrogantly spoke, "I want to challenge Su Qingyan, and the competing method will be horseback archery."

Hearing Cui Hanqun's words, they all turned their attention to Su Qingyan. They looked as if they were waiting for Su Qingyan's refusal. She calmly captured a black chess piece on the board. When she stood up she lightly raised her sleeve, messing up all the pieces on the chess board. She look to Cui Hanqun with a smirk, "I accept."