Chapter 120: A Voice Like Pearls, A Dance Divine

Today, beyond the appreciation of song, dance, and beauty, the most important agenda for those gathered was the appreciation of treasures. However, although the proprietor of the Thousand Treasures Pavilion had already attracted wealthy merchants and magnates from all quarters, and despite the many rare curios on display, for these young scions of noble houses—accustomed to the finest things—common gold and jade no longer caught their eyes. Especially for a young nobleman like the Tenth Master Dou, who prided himself on his refinement and was renowned throughout Chang'an for his mastery of the Hu Teng dance, the news of the Losa sandalwood pipa reported earlier had undoubtedly left him itching to see it.

Hearing these words from Du Shiyi, his eyes lit up, and he immediately asked with curiosity, "Oh? What do you mean by that?"

Seeing that the noble youths of Chang'an—whether well-versed in music or not—were all as curious as the Tenth Master Dou, Du Shiyi smiled and said, "The day the Great Master Gongsun first performed her sword dance at Anguo Temple, I happened to be seated with the Assistant Prefect Zhang of the Eastern Capital and the Great Master Wu. After the dance, Assistant Prefect Zhang invited me to visit his residence in Wenrou Ward. A few days later, I went there with Brother Wang the Thirteenth. Seeing the Duanxi inkstone and pine soot ink I brought, Assistant Prefect Zhang could not put them down, and he ended up trading this Losa sandalwood pipa and several scrolls of calligraphy for that set of ink and stone."

"Assistant Prefect Zhang of the Eastern Capital and the Great Master Wu... could it be 'Zhang the Mad' and 'Wu the Wild'?"

"Indeed, it is Zhang the Mad, whose cursive script is the best under heaven, and Wu the Wild, whose painting skills are peerless."

A stir of astonishment rippled through the room. Some were enlightened, while others remained skeptical. The Tenth Master Dou, however, asked directly, "Master Zhang’s wild cursive script shakes the heavens; he has seen every fine ink and stone imaginable. Why would he hold the set you brought in such high regard?"

"The stone is from Duanxi, and the ink is made from the pine soot of Mount Wangwu. The former is rare in the north, and as for the latter—it may sound trivial, but during my time on Mount Song, I found the ink pellets I used lacking in perfection. Thus, I followed the methods of ancient kilns I had seen in old scrolls, hired ink-makers to build a kiln on Mount Song, and once we achieved success, the craftsmen went to Mount Wangwu to burn the pine soot. The finest soot obtained was used to make the ink sticks. Besides the gold-traced decorations, it also features the 'Ten Aspirations of the Thatched Cottage' recently composed by Master Lu, hence the name 'Thatched Cottage Ten Aspirations Ink.' After Master Zhang wielded his brush and wrote with it, he deemed it extraordinary and, in a fit of grand inspiration, wrote: 'Duanxi Stone Inkstone, Mount Wangwu Pine Soot!'"

"You said you went with Wang the Thirteenth... does that mean he has returned to Chang'an as well?"

"That is correct. He and his brothers arrived in Chang'an with me just three or four days ago."

Seeing Du Shiyi speaking with such composure and grace in front of so many noble figures, Zhang Jian felt a surge of envy. Noticing the silence surrounding them, he took a soft breath, then tugged at the sleeve of the Kunlun slave beside him. Seeing Tian Mo turn his head in surprise, he opened his mouth to speak, but realizing the absolute stillness of the room, he feared being noticed and suppressed the impulse, waving his hand instead.

"To receive such high praise from Zhang the Mad, the ink and stone must be truly marvelous! But, Du the Nineteenth, you must quickly bring out that Losa sandalwood pipa so we may admire it!"

Though he spoke thus, the Tenth Master Dou was most interested in the instrument itself and could not help but urge him. When Du Shiyi smilingly took the leather bag from Tian Mo, untied it, and produced the pipa, Dou was unable to tear his eyes away. When the instrument was presented to him, he took it without hesitation. Although he was skilled in music and dance, he lacked the seasoned experience of the old man from earlier. After scrutinizing it for a long while, he looked up at Du Shiyi and asked, "Could the Nineteenth Master play a piece for us?"

"To play but a single piece would be rather dull," Du Shiyi said with a smile, before the Tenth Master Dou could call for dancers. "Last time at the residence of the Duke of Bi, the Tenth Master Dou, I had hoped to see your Hu Teng dance, which is famous throughout the capital, but alas, the opportunity never arose. To tell you the truth, during my year in the mountains, I composed a new piece that perfectly matches the nimble steps of the Hu Teng dance. I wonder if the Tenth Master would be willing to try it?"

The Tenth Master Dou had performed at the imperial court several times and often showcased his talent at the grand banquets at the Dou residence, leading everyone in the capital to hail his Hu Teng dance as the finest. Now that Du Shiyi had initiated it, the surrounding noble youths immediately echoed the suggestion with boisterous cheers. After a moment of surprise, the Tenth Master Dou laughed aloud, "Today, we have not only a priceless Losa sandalwood pipa but also a master of the instrument praised by both the Great Master Gongsun and Wang the Thirteenth. What more is there to say? It is a new piece, so if I make any mistakes or oversights, I ask you all to bear with me!"

"Naturally, naturally! To witness the Tenth Master's Hu Teng dance is a feast for our eyes. If anyone dares to find fault, we shall push him onto the stage ourselves. Is that not so, gentlemen?"

"Indeed!"

Amidst the raucous encouragement, the Tenth Master Dou stood up from the floor. His robes were wide and flowing, so he tucked a corner into his waistband and looked at Du Shiyi with a smile. Du Shiyi, having carefully tuned the strings and donned his finger picks, looked up and gave a slight nod. With a cheerful, festive flourish of his right hand, a series of bright notes flowed from his fingertips. Those in the room who understood music exchanged glances, seeing the same answer in each other’s eyes.

It was indeed a new piece!

The Tenth Master Dou performed a few opening movements, and upon hearing the unfamiliar melody, he was immediately filled with vigor. After a few simple, rhythmic steps, he clapped his hands to signal a pause and shouted, "Someone, bring a copper basin!"

In a formal Hu Teng dance, a copper basin was required, and the dancer was not permitted to step even an inch beyond its rim, or it would be considered a failure. By making this request, the Tenth Master Dou was clearly treating this as a serious performance. The crowd urged him on. When the proprietor of the Thousand Treasures Pavilion hurriedly had a servant bring a basin, and a maid presented it, everyone gasped. The basin was barely a foot and a half wide, less than half the size of those usually used for the dance. Yet, to everyone's surprise, the Tenth Master Dou waved his hand and said, "No need to look for another; this one will do!"

The music resumed. After the opening, Du Shiyi saw that whether the Tenth Master Dou was twisting his waist or leaping in dance, he handled it with ease. After two repeating phrases, Du Shiyi switched to a rapid finger-rolling technique. As he watched the Tenth Master's nimble and joyful dance, those with a keen ear listened closely, finding the timbre like the clashing of jade beads—crisp and melodious. Watching Du Shiyi's finger technique, one could see a plum-blossom pattern in the motion of his palm, a sight of exquisite beauty. As the music quickened and slowed, so too did the Tenth Master's steps. During the most perilous movements, when it seemed he would surely tumble off the basin, the Tenth Master remained rock-steady, drawing rounds of thunderous applause.

Amidst the roar of cheers, the music remained perfectly steady, its resonance seeming even more piercing. As it finally drew to a close, the perspiring Tenth Master Dou let out a long breath and laughed, "If I hadn't danced it myself, I would have thought you had rehearsed this with me many times! This melody seems tailor-made for my Hu Teng dance. A fine piece, truly a fine piece—I must have this score!"

"That is easily done; I shall have a copy made for you another day!"

"I cannot wait for another day!" The Tenth Master Dou stepped forward, pulled Du Shiyi to his feet, and bowed to the crowd. "I shall not compete for the remaining treasures today. There is a grand banquet at the Dou residence tonight; I previously felt the music was lacking, but now that the Nineteenth Master has appeared, I have found my treasure. If any of you are free this evening, do come to the Dou residence for some revelry. Now, we shall take our leave!"

Seeing the Tenth Master Dou looking at him, Du Shiyi bowed to the room with a bitter smile. "I had hoped to enjoy the excitement here at the Thousand Treasures Pavilion, but it seems I shall have to wait for another opportunity to feast my eyes."

Before Du Shiyi could turn to leave, the proprietor of the Thousand Treasures Pavilion hurried forward and took a polished bamboo calling card from a servant, saying with a smile, "Since I cannot keep you today, Master Du, please, when you have time, come back to the Thousand Treasures Pavilion. Present this card at the door, and you shall be welcomed inside."

"Very well, my thanks."

Emerging from the pavilion, Du Shiyi saw the Tenth Master Dou mount his horse surrounded by his attendants. After mounting his own, Du Shiyi turned to Tian Mo and Zhang Jian and said aloud, "Please go ahead, Tenth Master; I shall follow slowly."

The Tenth Master Dou had naturally assumed Tian Mo and Zhang Jian were Du Shiyi’s servants. Seeing one on foot and the other on a donkey, he realized they could not keep pace and said, "The residence of the Duke of Bi is in Qiren Ward, southwest of the East Market, east of Qixia Gate Avenue, the seventh ward from the north. Just ask the ward patrol to lead you. If only Wang the Thirteenth were here, that would be truly perfect—yes, just like that... Nineteenth Master, I go ahead!"

Watching the Tenth Master Dou ride off with his entourage, Du Shiyi smiled at Zhang Jian, "Since the Tenth Master has extended an invitation, would you be interested in joining us, Master Zhang?"

During his years in the capital, even while living frugally, Zhang Jian had exhausted his funds, relying on copying manuscripts for bookstores to make ends meet. Even knowing his meticulously designed ink scrolls might be treated as waste paper, he had gritted his teeth and persisted in presenting them. Faced with this sudden opportunity, he jumped off his donkey and bowed low without a second thought. "Thank you for your patronage, Master Du!"

Du Shiyi, unable to dismount in time, gestured for Tian Mo to help him up. Seeing the flush of excitement on Zhang Jian's face, and how he still seemed dazed even after mounting his donkey, Du Shiyi sighed inwardly.

The talents of the world gathered in Chang'an. Though he had accumulated much in his past and present lives, he dared not claim to be peerless. To seize the future, he had to seize the present. Upon arriving in Chang'an, he had many choices, including seeking an audience with Princess Yuzhen. But she had many temples and estates in and around the city, and he might not find her; besides, such a visit would lack the impact of a grand entrance.

Thus, he had learned of the treasure-viewing assembly at the Thousand Treasures Pavilion, where the Tenth Master Dou appeared daily, seeking not only instruments but also scores for the upcoming birthday banquet of the Imperial Consort Doulu. He had made his move, and it seemed he had gambled correctly.