Flames of Ambition

21: Unique and Alluring talent

Chapter 21: Unique and Alluring Talent

Zexel did not even mind changing clothes for her performance, as if it was just a normal circumstance.

Zexel gestured for the palace maid to bring the big drum on the side and place it in front of her, which the palace maid immediately did and positioned the drum at the center.

Zexel grabbed the mallet-like stick from within the drum. No one even knew what she was planning to do.

A lot of people began to be confused and curious about what Zexel would do.

Everyone was silent when the first beat began to linger in their ears. Another two beats, then multiple beats that made a pleasant tone within everyone's ears.

The initially worried Fan Yaoli began to relax as she saw Zexel perform in front of everyone.

While beating the drum, everyone could see the elegant and alluring dance moves that Zexel was doing. Even the beats and every step that Zexel took were too perfect in everyone's eyes, and they completely forgot how Fan Qinyou had performed a while ago.

Another beat, then she stopped as Zexel began to rotate the stick around her finger.

The drums were booming out;

Then she beat.

We're busy all about,
Building walls high and low.

Another beat, then she performed some stunts.

Alone I go southward.

Two beats with a slight dance.

I follow Sun Zizhong
To fight with Chen and Song.

Another series of beats, and her other hand rotated the stick again.

I cannot homeward go;
My heart is full of woe.

A slow multiple beat began to linger in the four corners of the Palace Main Hall.

Where stops and stays our force?
I've lost my battle horse.
O where can it be found?
It's buried underground.

A low beat, slowly but continuous, as Zexel began to speak another verse.

"Meet or part, live or die,
We've made oath, you and I.
Give me your hand I'll hold,
And live with me till old!"

The beat became slower and slower, affecting everyone's emotions. Even the way Zexel delivered the poem—it had an emotion that could affect one's mind and personal feelings.

With my man, I've long parted.
Can I live broken-hearted?
Alas! the oath we swore
Can be fulfilled no more.

Another slow beat, but this time it had a gap. The beat was like a heart that slowly began to stop, making most of them cry. Until Zexel stopped and raised her right hand with the stick.

The poem expressed the homesick mood of a female general on the battlefield. The verse, "Give me your hand I'll hold, And live with me till old!" became the best love oath for later generation lovers. The message was simply heartbreaking.

And in just a second, the audience began to clap their hands while wiping their tears. At this time, it was already clear to everyone who had won this round.

It was none other than Zexel.

Fan Qinyou began to feel jealousy over Zexel as her limelight was snatched away.

'It was clearly mine, mine alone. Why did that bitch dare to steal the limelight from me? I am the only one who fits to have that limelight. Only me!' Fan Qinyou gritted her teeth in jealousy.

A while ago, she had clearly mocked Zexel, questioning if she could best her in playing a hard piece of music on the Guqin in a perfect and clean way.

But who knew that Zexel had also prepared a talent. A talent that was only seen now.

It was a combination of drum beating, dancing, and reciting a poem in one performance.

Fan Qinyou wanted to kill Zexel instantly, but she managed to stop herself for the sake of her own face. Especially later, the Crown Prince would give her a title and request the Emperor to cancel the engagement between him and Fan Yaoli.

Thinking about how Fan Qinyou would become the future Empress of this Country, the bad mood she felt changed into a good one.

"Zhen[1] will now decide who wins in this round. Zhen chooses the Seventh Daughter of the Prime Minister, Miss Fan Lihua," the Emperor smiled and nodded at her.

Zexel kowtowed to the Emperor in front of everyone.

"This humble one thanks Your Majesty for your blessing." The Emperor let her rise, so Zexel returned to her seat and lazily ate her food.

She could feel that Feng Zhengying had been staring at her ever since she started performing.

He was emitting a dangerous aura right now, his eyes were blank, his face showed no emotion, and he was releasing a cold aura that sent chills down everyone's spines.

Zexel knew that Feng Zhengying was jealous, but she would just deal with him later after the banquet.

Although everyone knew that Zexel would be the winner, nobody expected that Fan Qinyou would be eliminated in the first round. They all thought she would be the toughest opponent they would have, but now, they considered Zexel to be their toughest opponent.

The competition finished, and Zexel was the winner. She performed five different and unique performances in front of the Emperor.

The second performance was a painting using a Guqin. Zexel applied black ink to the Guqin and played it. She moved the Guqin according to the painting, and the finished product was a painting of a Guqin as well.

The third one was a sword dance with paper cutting. Using the sword, she cut paper into different images she desired.

The fourth one was the instant making of a poem that made everyone cry because of its tragic message, leaving everyone unable to help but admire her.

And the fifth one was a stunt performance with archery. She did ten stunts that a normal archer couldn't do, making her the winner of the entire competition.

This also made Fan Qinyou almost lose her façade.

--*--

1:Zhen - Emperor's way to address his self

Resources of the poem:
http://www.chinawhisper.com/top-10-classic-chinese-love-poems/

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