Chapter 125: A Melody That Belongs Only in the Heavens

Dou Shilong’s voice, clear and resounding as a great bell, echoed throughout the main hall, drawing gasps of astonishment from the assembly. Although it was common during festive celebrations for children of noble families to perform music or dance, and though some were renowned in the capital for their exceptional artistry—such as Dou Shilong himself, or those adept at various instruments—even the current Emperor, a master of the pipa, flute, erhu, and jie-drum, had once performed in consort with the Prince of Ning and two other brothers during a palace banquet. However, to have a group of nearly twenty performers, all of whom were sons of distinguished families with not a single professional musician among them, was practically unprecedented.

Consort Doulu was delighted and exclaimed, "You have truly put in such effort! Come, step forward!"

Upon hearing the name "Du Shiyi," Princess Yuzhen had initially shown a trace of surprise, but by the time she saw him approach from the back, she had regained her composure. She watched with a smile as Dou Shilong, after performing a formal salute, respectfully introduced those behind him one by one. Consort Doulu, who had been quite taken with the younger Dou children—only seven or eight years old—had been too busy enjoying the performance to speak. Now, she beckoned them closer. Hearing them say they admired their eldest brother’s mastery of the "Hu Teng" dance and had spent anywhere from half a year to two years learning it, she laughed and remarked, "If this continues, the Hu Teng dance, traditionally performed by those of Western descent, will soon become a signature art of the Dou family!"

Dou Shilong laughed, "Fortunately, these younger brothers have been practicing, otherwise, it would have been difficult to choreograph this piece within a mere ten days."

Since the Dou family was well-favored by Emperor Li Longji, the others present could not help but offer a few complimentary remarks. At this moment, the Prince of Song, who was more interested in the music, smiled and spoke up: "Wang Shilang, you return to Chang'an and do not come to see me first! Your pipa skills are increasingly exquisite, and today’s piece was unheard of—could it be a new composition?"

"In reply to your Highness, the piece is indeed new, but it is not of my own composition," Wang Wei replied. Having only just arrived in Chang'an and not yet had the chance to visit the Prince’s residence, he performed a deep bow of apology. "I have not been in the capital for even a few days, and I was invited by Dou Shilong to discuss today’s performance, so I have yet to pay my respects. I beg your Highness's forgiveness."

"This piece is not yours? Then where did it come from?"

Seeing the Prince of Song’s profound astonishment, Du Shiyi stepped forward to salute. "Du Shiyi of Jingzhao, greetings to your Highness. The piece you ask about today is the work of Pei Sanlang of Hedong. He is a fellow disciple of mine, and a master of the pipa."

"So you are the Du Shiyi that Lady Jiu mentioned... Ah, I remember you!" The Prince of Song finally noticed Du Shiyi. He examined him for a moment, his eyes lighting up as he exclaimed, "When Master Du of Jingzhao brought you to see me years ago, I thought it remarkable that such a young child could speak with such eloquence. Later, I heard of the changes in your family, that you had lost your spark after such a shock, and had fallen into a long illness. I felt a pang of pity. I never expected that two years later, Lady Jiu would tell me you had surpassed your former self. I did not believe it at first, but considering you were not skilled in music back then, to play the pipa so transcendentally after only three years—this is true genius!"

The Prince of Qi also laughed, "The Prince of Song is right. That day at the Dou residence, when Dou Shilong introduced us, I nearly thought I had mistaken the person! Du Shiyi was quite clumsy with music back then. Truly, one must look at a person with fresh eyes after three days of parting, let alone three years! If there is an opportunity, you must introduce this Pei Sanlang of Hedong to me!"

Princess Yuzhen was about to tease them when her maid, Huo Qing, gave a subtle signal. She feigned annoyance and said, "Brother Song, Brother Qi, I know you are as obsessed with music as my brother, but do not show off in front of me. I have had a Taoist hymn rehearsed for many days; though it may not be as 'sincere' as Dou Shilong’s performance, it is the result of great effort. It is about to begin, so clear the space!"

As she spoke, she grabbed Consort Doulu’s arm, smiling, "Mother Consort, the next piece is my Taoist hymn!"

***

Princess Yuzhen had previously mentioned that the Emperor, Li Longji, would be attending in disguise. Seeing her coaxing, Consort Doulu smiled and ordered a separate seat to be set up for Dou Shilong, Du Shiyi, and Wang Wei at her lower left, while letting the young Dou children sit around her. Before long, the sound of bells and chimes rang out. Compared to the secular music of the pipa, flute, and jie-drum heard earlier, this Taoist hymn was elegant and refined. The guests, having heard the Princess's earlier remarks, all listened in silence. The music drifted through the rafters, possessing a quality that seemed to cleanse the soul.

Moments later, to the bells and chimes were added the pipa and cymbals, expanding the range and variety of the sound. As Du Shiyi listened, he scanned the guests and spotted the bored-looking "Little Fatty Cui" in a back row. Not far from him, he noticed Liu Ximing frequently looking toward the entrance. His heart stirred, and suddenly, he felt two piercing gazes fixed upon him. He pretended not to notice, focusing on his wine, but when he looked up unexpectedly, he caught Du Ruo’s hostile glare. As Du Ruo hurriedly turned away, Du Shiyi offered an impeccable smile without a second thought. He then noticed someone else he recognized near Du Ruo, smiling and nodding at him.

It was none other than Jiang Du, son of the Duke of Chu, Jiang Jiao.

At that moment, a flute melody suddenly joined the harmonious Taoist hymn. Though there were dozens of musicians on stage, the flute soared above all other instruments. Whether in its turns or its structure, it acted like a banner leading the others, infusing a sense of lighthearted joy into the otherwise ethereal Taoist music.

The princes, who had initially only been giving the Princess face, now grasped the significance. The Prince of Qi, Li Fan, sitting opposite the Princess, poured himself a drink and downed it in one gulp, gripping his golden cup tightly with narrow eyes. Du Shiyi, observing this from behind the Prince of Song, felt his suspicions—piqued by Little Fatty Cui’s earlier words—turn into certainty. Especially when he saw the Prince of Song pull a purple jade flute from his sleeve, he had no remaining doubts.

As the music paused, the Prince of Song brought the flute to his lips. Its sound was deep and vast, forming a sharp contrast to the high-pitched flute. Though the bells and chimes remained ethereal, no one cared to focus on them; all ears were strained to catch the harmony of these two instruments. Many watched the princes on the dais, wondering who would join next. Under the gaze of all, the Prince of Qi continued to drink, but the Prince of Xue smiled, took a pipa from his attendant, and joined the melody with a wooden pick. Now, the sound of the flute and pipa completely drowned out the bells and chimes.

Though the three had clearly not rehearsed, the music was perfectly synchronized, as if they had practiced a thousand times. When the piece ended, the hall remained silent for a long time before the applause erupted. The Prince of Qi then lazily remarked, "A truly fine piece! Brother Song’s flute is excellent, Brother Xue’s pipa is superb, and... the flute melody was even better!"

No sooner had he spoken than someone clapped and praised, "A melody that lingers in the rafters—it is truly unique in this world and has opened our eyes! Should we not all compose poems to praise such a fine performance?"

Seeing Liu Ximing, who had proposed this, looking self-satisfied, Du Shiyi could not help but offer a faint, mocking smile. However, he then heard Princess Yuzhen’s lazy voice: "We have had enough poems for the birthday wishes. Besides, today is for Mother Consort’s birthday. No matter how wonderful the music from Brother Song and Brother Xue is, it cannot compare to the sincerity of everyone’s hearts. Isn't that right, Mother Consort?"

Seeing Consort Doulu looking wistful—clearly still moved by the fact that Li Longji had come in person to play the flute—Princess Yuzhen looked at the table of Dou Shilong, Du Shiyi, Wang Wei, and Zhang Jian and asked, "Dou Shilong, you are a master of music. What did you think of my Taoist hymn?"

*I didn't pay attention to the hymn, but this lineup of performers is likely the only one of its kind in the entire world!* Dou Shilong thought, though his face remained beaming. "Naturally, it was the finest performance of the day; none could compare!"

***

Princess Yuzhen turned to the remaining three. "And you three?"

Even without Little Fatty Cui’s previous hint, seeing the Princes of Ning and Xue join in, Wang Wei understood the situation. He replied calmly, "Ethereal, elegant, and rare. Especially the harmony of the flute, the xiao, and the pipa—it was as if the bright moon shone among the pines and a clear spring flowed over the stones, giving the Taoist hymn an even more otherworldly atmosphere."

"The bright moon shines among the pines, the clear spring flows over the stones!" The Prince of Qi applauded without hesitation. "Excellent! It is only a pity that Taoist music does not use the jie-drum, otherwise we would have been treated to an even greater feast for the ears!"

This was a blatant hint. Even if Zhang Jian was slow to catch on, he carefully weighed his words. "My ears are dull, but I feel that to have heard this piece in my lifetime is to have no regrets."

Seeing Princess Yuzhen’s amused gaze upon him, Du Shiyi glanced at the seething Liu Ximing across the room and said with a smile, "Your Highness, I dare not claim to be a master of music. I have only studied the pipa for three years and my experience is shallow. Upon hearing that hymn, I had only one thought: This music belongs only in the heavens; how often can one hear it in the human world?"

"A fine line! 'This music belongs only in the heavens; how often can one hear it in the human world!' Your eyes and ears are sharp indeed!"

Following this voice, which rang like a great bell, a burly man strode into the main hall. Despite the presence of princes, princesses, and nobles, he looked straight ahead, walked to within seven or eight paces of Consort Doulu, and knelt on one knee. Holding up a silk-covered box with both hands, he announced, "Grand General of the Auxiliary State, Grand General of the Left Martial Guard, Acting Commissioner of the Imperial Stables and Pastures, Duke of Huo, Wang Maozhong, presents his respects for the Consort’s birthday!"

The long string of titles left the room in silence. Du Shiyi, who was closest to him, scrutinized the man's formidable physique and silently acknowledged that his reputation was well-deserved.

When Consort Doulu signaled for him to rise, the seven-foot-tall man surveyed the room with such a haughty air that even the princes seemed diminished. As his gaze brushed over Du Shiyi, Wang Wei, and the others, it felt like a sharp arrow. He then said nonchalantly, "My sons have also prepared a sword dance for the Consort’s birthday. May I ask the Consort to judge it? The high platform outside is too far—would it be acceptable for them to perform here in the hall?"