The Crown Prince looked curiously and said, "Oh? Really? Since there's such a talented person on the scene, why hasn't she come out to show her skills?"
Jiang Lanyi looked at Su Yuanyuan and raised her voice, saying, "Sister Yuanbao, I heard that when you were competing with Miss Yu Qiuhan before, you defeated Miss Qiuhan with a piece called 'Wild Geese Descending on the Sandbank'. Why are you so timid today and still dare not show your piano skills to everyone?"
The competition between Su Yuanyuan and Qiuhan on the arena was indeed wonderful. However, this competition was mostly spread among the common people. There were still many noble ladies and young masters from prominent families on the scene who hadn't heard of this. For a moment, their looks at Su Yuanyuan were full of suspicion.
They hadn't seen Su Yuanyuan play the piano, but most of them had heard Miss Qiuhan from the Good Music Workshop play. Miss Qiuhan's piano skills could rank among the top three in Shengjing City.
The number one, of course, was Mr. Shanyin. As for the second, it used to be Su Yuanyuan of the Pingyang Marquis Mansion. After Su Yuanyuan's death, the second place was defaulted to become Su Qingyu, the eldest legitimate daughter of the Pingyang Marquis Mansion.
If Su Yuanyuan's piano skills were even better than Miss Qiuhan's, it meant that her piano skills were above Su Qingyu's. How could Su Qingyu's little sisters be convinced?
They didn't believe that Su Yuanyuan really had the ability to defeat Miss Qiuhan. They thought she must have used some means to win. Taking this opportunity today, they wanted to find out Su Yuanyuan's true skills. They hoped that she would make a fool of herself in front of Mr. Shanyin and the Prince of Xuan, so as to avenge Su Qingyu!
Su Yuanyuan had long guessed that this piano appreciation banquet wouldn't go so smoothly. After all, it was really hard to convince everyone just by winning one competition if one wanted to become famous.
There was no sign of panic on her face. She stood up and said, "I did win Miss Qiuhan on the arena of the Fragrant Wine Mansion. But it was because Miss Qiuhan saw that I was young and voluntarily gave in. It wasn't because I have much talent or outstanding piano skills."
The Prince of Xuan couldn't help but praise, "Miss Su, the fourth daughter, really has a broad mind. She is indifferent to fame and fortune. I admire you so much."
Hearing the Prince of Xuan praise Su Yuanyuan, Jiang Lanyi was even more dissatisfied. Coupled with the fact that she had been refuted face-to-face by Su Yuanyuan and Zhang Yingxue before, she laughed and said, "Since that's the case, Sister Yuanbao, what are you waiting for? Hurry up and show your piano skills to the Crown Prince!"
"Or, Sister Yuanbao can only play this piece 'Wild Geese Descending on the Sandbank'?"
Su Yuanyuan came to this piano appreciation banquet today aiming to win the first prize. For this purpose, she even brought the "Wangchuan" piano that had been repaired by Cang Xuan.
She wanted to make the "Wangchuan" piano and her piano skills famous in Shengjing City again.
But...
She looked at the Crown Prince on the stage who was obviously hostile, and Xiao Zisheng beside the Crown Prince. Suddenly, she changed her mind.
The "Wangchuan" piano was modified from the Jiaowei Qin. Although there were some changes to the body of the piano, it was still the Jiaowei Qin made by her master for her. Once it appeared in public, it might arouse people's suspicion. This wasn't a good opportunity for the "Wangchuan" piano to appear.
Looking around, Zhang Yingxue wasn't good at playing the piano. What she brought today was a bamboo flute. Finally, Su Yuanyuan walked towards Qin Wanrong. She curtsied and asked,
"Sister, can Yuanbao borrow your piano?"
Hearing her say this, Jiang Lanyi burst into laughter. "Look, she comes to the piano appreciation banquet without even bringing a piano. She has to borrow one from others. I'm sure she used some underhanded means to win Miss Qiuhan before."
After saying that, Jiang Lanyi deliberately said, "Sister Yuanbao, Miss Qin has been sick for a long time. If you use her piano, be careful of getting infected with the bad luck on her."
Then, there were laughter from others around.
"Cough, cough, cough..." Being laughed at so openly by Jiang Lanyi, Qin Wanrong's face remained unchanged from beginning to end. She coughed lightly a few times, and then waved to the maid behind her. The maid presented Qin Wanrong's piano with both hands.
"Sister Yuanbao, don't mind. I'm in such poor health that I can't do anything. I haven't even touched this piano since I got it. You can just take it and use it."
Qin Wanrong's voice was very weak, but she tried very hard to make every word smooth.
Su Yuanyuan's eyebrows softened. After taking the piano, she said, "It doesn't matter even if it's the one you've used, Sister. Yuanbao isn't afraid."
After saying that, she took Qin Wanrong's piano and turned to walk towards the demonstration platform.
Seeing the two of them looking like affectionate sisters, Jiang Lanyi snorted heavily and waited proudly to see Su Yuanyuan make a fool of herself.
It was obvious that Su Yuanyuan was being targeted. Bai Jun watched Su Yuanyuan calmly deal with the situation. She had a little more affection for Su Yuanyuan in her heart.
Being able to remain calm in the face of many difficulties and doubts, such a steady temperament was really suitable for learning the piano. She was a bit similar to Yuan'er. She just didn't know what level her piano skills were?
Bai Jun had a problem. The more she loved talent in her heart, the more she wanted to make things difficult for the person. This could temper a pianist's state of mind.
Just now, many people had shown their piano skills and musical talents. Bai Jun hadn't said a word from beginning to end. But at this time, she said to Su Yuanyuan,
"Many people have already answered the topic of 'Snow Filling' just now. It's too ordinary to test your piano skills. How about this? The Crown Prince, the Prince of Jin, the Prince of Xuan, and I will each give a musical note. You will use these four musical notes to compose a piano piece within one incense stick's time and play it on the spot."
"Remember." Bai Jun's tone became a bit heavier. "This piano piece can only have these four musical notes from beginning to end, and the musical segments can't be repeated. If there's a repeated musical note or a repeated musical segment, you will be considered inferior in today's piano appreciation banquet. Well, do you dare to accept this challenge?"
As soon as Bai Jun's question came out, Jiang Lanyi showed a proud expression and exchanged a knowing look with Su Qingyu.
So what if she got a good piano? This question was so difficult. With the level of this little girl from the Yongguo Duke's Mansion, she simply couldn't play it. It was obvious that Mr. Shanyin was just making things difficult for this little girl.
Now there would be a good show to watch!
The Prince of Xuan frowned and couldn't help but say, "Mr. Shanyin, isn't this question a bit too difficult?"
Su Yuanyuan looked up slightly at her most respected teacher. Her nose felt a bit sour, and tears welled up in her eyes.
For her, Bai Jun's requirement wasn't a difficulty at all. On the contrary, seeing Bai Jun put forward such a high requirement for her, she was extremely happy in her heart. This meant that Bai Jun was taking her seriously.
Back then, when she was noticed by her master in the Imperial College, her master also set a difficult problem for her on the spot.
But now, the difficult problem that her master set for her wasn't because she was Su Yuanyuan, but because she was Su Yuanyuan.
Restraining her excited heart, Su Yuanyuan stood up and bowed to the people on the main seats, saying, "Please instruct me."