Chapter 380: I'm Not Borrowing It Anymore

Cheng Nianjia's gaze was like a hook, pinning itself to Lin Sicheng's hand: "This is... Six Yao?"

Lin Sicheng nodded: "Correct, Six Yao!"

"Where did you get it?"

"Bought it at a street stall!"

What on earth, a street stall?

Are there any more? I want to buy a copy too—

Assuming Lin Sicheng was just pulling her leg, Cheng Nianjia's expression was both strange and complex: "Do you have any idea what Six Yao is?"

Lin Sicheng was caught off guard by the question.

He could basically understand why this Group Leader Cheng had such an expression and tone: it wasn't that she lacked manners, but that she was overly shocked, extremely suspicious, and even more so, unable to accept it.

To use an analogy: for her, the "Six Yao Score" was like a swordsman in a novel encountering an peerless secret manual. Could something like this really be picked up at a street stall?

Anyone would be suspicious: is this really that legendary score? And even more suspicious, does this young man in front of her actually understand it?

But one couldn't blame her: because those who aren't extremely professional don't even know what the two characters "Six Yao" represent.

For example, the two dancers he had met before, and even more so, Jing Zeyang by his side.

Seeing Cheng Nianjia's face full of strangeness and half-belief, Jing Zeyang leaned in, blinking his eyes: "Cousin Lin, what is Six Yao?"

"An ancient dance score, 'Willow Waist'!"

Jing Zeyang was stunned for a moment: Six Yao, Willow Waist—doesn't that mean you didn't say anything at all?

Seeing his blank look, Lin Sicheng explained: "It's the commonly known Lüyaowu, also called Six Yao, Willow Waist, Lüyao—"

"Oh, so it's Lüyao—" he muttered subconsciously, then Jing Zeyang suddenly froze: what the hell, Lüyao?

No matter how unlearned or ill-informed he was, he knew what "Lüyao" was: Tang Dynasty Yan Music, a Gongtingdachu.

Second only to "Rainbow Skirt Feather Garment"—

"Wait—didn't it go extinct long ago?"

Lin Sicheng sighed: so after I talked for so long, you didn't hear a single word?

"Brother Jing, I've said it eight times already; this is an ancient dance score that has been lost. Did you only remember the 'dance score' part and not the 'lost' part?"

Staring at the paper in Lin Sicheng's hand, Jing Zeyang moved his lips, speechless.

When they had just entered the Bian Dao Shi, Lin Sicheng had said when he took out the manuscript: these are all ancient dance scores that have been lost, and he also said that since they were copying anyway, copying this at least wouldn't get anyone sued.

Jing Zeyang had felt like Lin Sicheng was joking: this isn't a math problem where there's a standard answer and you just copy it.

Later, after calling Wang Qizhi, Lin Sicheng suggested again: Brother Jing, if it doesn't work, just give it a try; these are ancient lost dance scores, and changing even one or two pieces could win a gold medal.

At the time, Jing Zeyang really wanted to tell Lin Sicheng: if gold medals were that easy to get, Lan Laotaitai wouldn't be the only one standing alone as the leading authority in the world of classical music and dance.

Finally, the three of them got into the elevator, and Lin Sicheng said again: Brother Jing, if we really have no other options, let's treat a dead horse as if it were alive; the worst that happens is getting fired, but what if the adaptation succeeds?

If nothing else, with these lost dance scores as a foundation, it couldn't be that bad.

At the time, Jing Zeyang had even made a joke: Cousin Lin, you don't understand, this isn't Cultural Relics, this is art—

Right, Lin Sicheng had indeed said more than once: this is an ancient lost court dance score. But he hadn't said it was the legendary Lüyaowu?

But what shocked him wasn't that, but the origin of this thing.

Jing Zeyang tried hard to recall: on the day Lin Sicheng had his incident, the day he got stabbed at Panjiayuan, he had watched with his own eyes as Lin Sicheng spent one thousand yuan to buy three old books.

A yellowed ancient erotic novel "Gu Wang Yan", a Ming Dynasty physiognomy book "Jade Marrow True Scripture", and a dance score called something like "Hu Ji Fan Xiang Tu".

He hadn't paid much attention at the time, and Jing Zeyang didn't remember if there was any Six Yao on it, but there were definitely those line-drawing figures on the paper in Lin Sicheng's hand.

He was studying exactly that, so he definitely wouldn't remember wrong: the exact same dance postures, the exact same clothing and ornaments.

And he remembered very clearly, Lin Sicheng's expression at the time: extremely natural, extremely calm, just like he had spent one yuan to buy three steamed buns.

Therefore, although Lin Sicheng had said several times that this was a lost dance score, Jing Zeyang hadn't taken it to heart at all.

Well, to be precise, he hadn't believed it at all: it being lost was possible, but to say it was "court" was like a joke.

Although Lin Sicheng mentioned it every time, the two characters "court" were automatically filtered out by him before they could reach his ears—

But Jing Zeyang at least knew that most of the waist-bending dances, sleeve-flicking dances, and skirt-spinning dances after the Tang Dynasty were derived from the Tang Dynasty's "Lüyao". To put it simply: the ancestor of soft-waist dances.

Lin Sicheng was actually using something like this to help him adapt?

Jing Zeyang was both moved and amused: it was like Lin Sicheng hugging an Atomic Bomb just to help him swat a mosquito—

While he was sighing, Cheng Nianjia looked at Lin Sicheng, then at Jing Zeyang: "Little Jing, is this your friend?"

Jing Zeyang nodded.

"What is your surname?"

"I am surnamed Lin!"

"Which dance troupe are you in?"

"I'm not in a dance troupe!" Lin Sicheng smiled, "Group Leader Cheng, I am a graduate student at Xida."

Cheng Nianjia was stunned for a moment: Northwest University, it seems they don't have a music and dance department?

But it didn't matter; what she was focused on wasn't that, but the paper in Lin Sicheng's hand.

According to research, the "Six Yao Score" had been lost since the Song Dynasty, but one had suddenly popped up?

If it were real, it felt like a joke: Tang Dynasty court music scores appearing at a street stall?

But if it were fake, those pictures and those annotations couldn't be faked: they were definitely Tang and Song Dynasty waist-twisting soft dances.

The point was the extremely unique paradigm structure in the score: only Tang Dynasty Gongtingdachu were divided into a three-part structure. Like the annotation in Bai Juyi's "Nishangyuyige": the scattered prelude of six movements had not yet moved the garments—the middle prelude began to have a beat—the break had twelve repetitions.

Namely, the scattered prelude, the middle prelude, and the break, three sections.

After it spread to Japan in the late Tang Dynasty, Japan just changed the name, which is Yue. Although it was still a three-part structure, the names were different. It was exactly the kind seen on the paper just now: Jo, Ha, Kyu.

And only Tang Dynasty Yan Music and Japanese Yue had this structure; after it spread to the Song Dynasty, it was simplified.

What was even more critical: she had studied classical dance for over twenty years and had never seen the set of dance postures on that paper?

Therefore, the more she thought about it, the more it looked like the *Six Yao Score*—

Adjusting her expression, Cheng Nianjia tried hard to squeeze out a proper smile: "Student Lin, it's like this, could you lend me those few pages of manuscript to look at?"

Lend?

Jing Zeyang instinctively wanted to refuse and was just about to shake his head when Lin Sicheng stepped forward and blocked him behind his back.

Then, he looked at Cheng Nianjia: "It's not that it's impossible, but Group Leader Cheng, in what capacity are you borrowing them?"

Ah, it needs a capacity?

Cheng Nianjia was confused and thought very seriously: "You are Xiao Jing's friend, and I am Xiao Jing's Group Leader?"

"

"But he is about to be fired!" Lin Sicheng said with a smile, "How about this, Group Leader Cheng, I will lend you this music score, could I ask you to help him choreograph a dance—"

Before he finished speaking, Cheng Nianjia's eyes popped out with a "whoosh."

What the hell, help Jing Zeyang choreograph a dance?

Do you believe that if I were to choreograph it, Jing Zeyang would be the first to get fired, and I would be the second?

Without a hint of hesitation, Cheng Nianjia shook her head violently, like a wave drum: "Student Lin, I won't borrow it anymore!"

Don't—

Lin Sicheng's face was piled with smiles: "Group Leader Cheng, don't refuse yet: you don't even have to borrow it, it's just a photocopy anyway, I'll give it to you directly. Besides *Six Yao*, I'll give you two more pieces: one is *Yizhou*, one is *Liangzhou*—although they are both incomplete scores, their value for Artifact Research is extremely high—"

It was no exaggeration: Cheng Nianjia's eyeballs almost popped out.

All are lost Tang Dynasty Yan Music, and all are multi-movement Yan Music Grand Suite?

Student Lin, are you running a wholesale business for lost scores?

But Cheng Nianjia still shook her head without hesitation: "I won't borrow it!"

Lin Sicheng's tone was extremely seductive: "Group Leader Cheng, these three pieces are all Yan Music Grand Suite!"

"I know, and I heard you clearly!" Cheng Nianjia's attitude was exceptionally firm, "But Student Lin, even if you were counting *Rainbow Skirt Feather Garment*, I still won't borrow it—"

Before she finished speaking, she turned and left, as if chased by a dog, even faster than when she arrived.

Resolute, and determined!

Lin Sicheng was completely dumbfounded.

Watching Cheng Nianjia enter the elevator lobby, he finally came back to his senses and stared blankly at Jing Zeyang.

At this moment, he finally understood a little of what Jing Zeyang said: as long as the old lady doesn't nod, among the tens of thousands of dance instructors and choreographers in all of Beijing, not one dares to help me—

Was it true?

Jing Zeyang sighed: "Learned something new, right?"

Lin Sicheng nodded: Indeed learned something new!

Even Jing Zeyang knew how rare the *Six Yao Score* was, let alone this Group Leader Cheng?

Clearly so tempted, but as soon as she heard about choreographing for Jing Zeyang, it was like being stung by a hornet?

Lan Laotaitai's prestige is terrifyingly high—

Lin Sicheng suddenly lost heart: looking at this situation, even if this dance were choreographed, it probably wouldn't save Jing Zeyang.

"Brother Jing, make plans early!"

"It's fine!" Jing Zeyang curled his lips, "Even if I have to drag it out, I'll drag it until New Year's Day at least—"

After a slight pause, he remembered again: "Cousin Lin, do you really have the original scores for *Yizhou* and *Liangzhou*?"

Lin Sicheng nodded: "I do have them, but they are quite incomplete—"

*Yizhou* is fine; if he puts in some effort, Lin Sicheng can at least restore eighty percent: the *XJ Kizil 38 Cave* mural, the pipa score *Slow Tune Yizhou*, is the first half of the Tang Dynasty Grand Suite *Yizhou*.

The *Yuedian Collection* brought back from Yuncheng contains one-half of the second half.

The *XJ Kizil 38 Cave* mural of the celestial musicians is the dance posture for the scattered prelude of *Yizhou*. The pair of dance figurines unearthed in 1982 from the tomb of the Princess Tang'an (eldest daughter of Emperor Dezong of Tang) in Xijing is the breaking movement of *Yizhou*.

As for *Liangzhou*, at most half: there is a *Most Liangzhou* in the *Yuedian Collection*, which is the scattered prelude of *Liangzhou*; the musician painting in Dunhuang Cave 154 is the fast movement of *Liangzhou*.

The Gold-gilding dancing figure in the Famen Temple Underground Palace contains a part, but at most one-tenth—

Lin Sicheng spoke lightly, but Jing Zeyang was stunned and dumbfounded, and even more moved to a mess: "No—Cousin Lin, you're just giving away things like this?"

It was hard to explain for a moment, so Lin Sicheng just smiled: the "giving" he spoke of was only the incomplete pieces from *Yuedian Music*.

The key lies in: the Tang Dynasty notation system is too brief; whether for the zither or music, there is only fingering, no rhythm.

One must combine it with other supporting materials for speculation, such as poetry, historical records, and even more so, the small tunes derived from the Grand Suite that still exist today; otherwise, an incomplete score is just an incomplete score.

If the music alone is this difficult, let alone a complete dance?

Just like Japan's *Yue*, which almost encompasses seventy percent of the Tang Dynasty banquet music Grand Suites, but what has been restored is not even one-tenth.

To put it bluntly: if given to Cheng Nianjia, she would at most take a look and reminisce. Even if all the materials were given to her, without a professional team of thirty or fifty people, and without ten or eight years, don't even think about it—

While thinking to himself, Shen Xiaomeng drove the car to the entrance, and the two talked as they walked out of the lobby.

Just as they stepped down the stairs, a figure flashed out from the elevator lobby, with Cheng Nianjia peeking out sneakily.

Regardless of whether Lin Sicheng really has *Yizhou* and *Liangzhou*, just speaking of *Six Yao*, which student of classical dance wouldn't be tempted?

But as luck would have it, she actually had to choreograph for Jing Zeyang?

This is the Central Song and Dance Troupe; can one just come and go as one pleases? If she couldn't even keep her job, what use would she have for lost dance scores?

Cheng Nianjia tried hard to talk herself into it, but her eyes were fixed on Lin Sicheng, unable to look away for even a second.

Watching the two leave the lobby, watching them get into the car, and watching the car drive away until it disappeared—

This is the *Six Yao Score*?

With this thought in mind, Cheng Nianjia gritted her teeth and took out her phone.

Just asking, not really choreographing for Jing Zeyang, the General Manager shouldn't be angry, right?

If she's angry, let her be angry; she's just going to ask—

After hesitating for a long time, Cheng Nianjia dug out General Manager Lan's number and dialed it.

It rang three or four times before being answered; there was a lot of static on the line, and there were people shouting out the beat, as well as the sound of dance steps landing in unison on a wooden floor.

Then, a slightly stern voice came through: "Little Cheng!"

Even though she couldn't be seen, Cheng Nianjia instinctively put a smile on her face: "General Manager, I just saw Jing Zeyang. He brought a young man about his age, it looks like they're going to choreograph a dance—"

Before she could finish, she was interrupted by the old lady, whose tone was a bit impatient: "Little Cheng, get to the point!"

"Yes, yes—" Cheng Nianjia hunched over, "General Manager, that young man was holding a few sheets of paper, they looked like they were photocopied from an ancient score. To me, it looked like the Tang Dynasty 'Six Yao Score'—"

There was a sudden pause on the other end of the line: "Little Cheng, did you see it clearly?"

"The head of the score did indeed say 'Six Yao', and the content was also Tang and Song dynasty sleeve-flicking and waist-twisting dance moves. The key is, I've never seen them before—"

"But I only saw them for two glances before he covered them up. I asked to borrow them, and he said I could, but only if I help Jing Zeyang choreograph a dance—"

Whether out of anger or a cold sneer, the old lady let out a "Heh": "Where are they?"

"They've already left!"

Cheng Nianjia glanced outside and said cautiously, "General Manager, should I call them back?"

"No need!" The old lady thought for a moment, "Isn't there surveillance in the Bian Dao Shi? Have the security department pull it up—"

"Understood, General Manager, I'll go notify them right now—"

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