Chapter 227

"The tune?!" Yuan Zai's face remained composed, but his heart was sinking steadily.

Tang poetry inherited the Han Han Yuefu tradition, continuing directly from the oldest elegant music poetry of Tian Zhou. From the Feng, Ya, and Song of the Book of Songs to the long narrative Han Yuefu poems of the Han, all poetry at that time was meant to be sung.

Only now have some literati sought to make poetry more "poetic."

They composed verses with regulated tonal patterns and rhyme, yet utterly unfit for musical accompaniment.

But "Qingping Diao" is not among them, for the very name "Qingping Diao" clearly derives from the Han Han Yuefu's combined terms: Ping Diao, Qing Diao, and Se Diao.

These three modes were also called Qing Shang San Diao, Qing Shang Qu…

Among those present, like Xiao Xie Xuan Di, who was deeply versed in music, merely hearing the name of the tune could conjure its general melody. Poets like He He Zhizhang were all masters of Han Yuefu music—proficient in temple sacrifice songs, banquet arrow songs, drumming songs, horizontal blowing songs, harmonious songs, Qing Shang songs, dance songs, qin songs, and miscellaneous songs.

When He He Zhizhang dueled with Brother Qian Chen earlier, the seven poems he used were ancient ritual music for the Earth Goddess—the Tang Dynasty's Chan She Shou Music—and their rhythms followed the Book of Songs, preserving the ancient sounds passed down from Tian Zhou.

To name it "Qingping Diao" and use three short poems as lyrics must imply a corresponding melody.

Now, Brother Qian Chen's implication was that he should sing it…

Out of Xiao Xie Xuan Di's sight, Yuan Zai was drenched in cold sweat. He had passed the imperial examination and knew poetry somewhat, but compared to masters like Li Bai, He He Zhizhang, or even Brother Qian Chen, he was vastly inferior.

Had he excelled in this art, he wouldn't have left only one unmelodious poem in the Complete Tang Poems—"Farewell to My Wife Wang Yunxiu"…

If the tune had been a common Han Yuefu title like "Xing Lu Nan" or "Yan Ge Xing," Yuan Zai might have reluctantly sung it, since Tang dynasty imperial exams favored poetry; without studying these, he could never have become a Metropolitan Graduate.

But "Qingping Diao" was not an old Han Yuefu tune—it was a new composition created by Li Bai and Li Gui Nian at Emperor Xuanzong's command, precisely because he refused to use old lyrics. At this moment, no such melody existed.

In effect, these "Three Qingping Diao" poems were only half-completed—lyrics without music.

Poetry, but no song…

As for the melody of "Qingping Diao," Brother Qian Chen did not know it, and he was certain Master Master Miaokong could not know it either. Unlike poetry, melodies were far more easily lost. By the Tang Dynasty, most Han Han Yuefu tunes had vanished—only the Wei-Jin era preserved more.

Unfortunately, as a music enthusiast, Brother Qian Chen had despised the Wei-Jin aristocrats' empty metaphysical debates, instead collecting many ancient Han Yuefu melodies. Many lost ancient Han Yuefu tunes scattered during the Five Directions Demon Calamities of the Wei-Jin period, he truly knew how to sing.

Compared to his poetic skill, he might not rival the masters of this age—but in Han Yuefu melodies, he was an exception.

Seeing Yuan Zai's prolonged silence, Xiao Xie Xuan Di had already grown certain Brother Qian Chen's poems were all plagiarized from princes and dukes. He turned his suspicious gaze toward Yuan Zai. Though he wished to favor one side, he dared not intervene directly, so he gave Gao Gao Lishi a glance.

Gao Gao Lishi understood: Xiao Xie Xuan Di wanted him to intervene, buying Yuan Zai time to think of a response.

But this glance fell into Li Bi's eyes. Before the Crown Prince could react, Li Bi stepped forward, bowed to Xiao Xie Xuan Di, and said: "Your Majesty, I have never heard the tune 'Qingping Diao.' But the poems Yuan Zai mentioned earlier—'Jun Bu He Jian' or 'Jiang Jin Jiu'—I have heard of as ancient melodies."

Yuan Zai trembled again. The man who gave him this poem never mentioned this!

Li Bi continued calmly: "As Li Bai said, this poem should be titled 'Jiang Jin Jiu,' a short Xiao and Nao song from Immortal Han Han Yuefu—an ancient lyric. In my view, its rhythm perfectly matches the ancient melody; no one ignorant of this tune could have composed it."

"That's why Li Bai mentioned the title 'Jiang Jin Jiu'!"

Xiao Xie Xuan Di signaled Gao Gao Lishi again. Gao Gao Lishi could only sigh: "Li Bi, though Li Bai named 'Jiang Jin Jiu' first, there is a distinction between tune-name and lyric-name. Perhaps Yuan Zai referred only to the lyric-name and hadn't yet mentioned the tune-name?"

Li Bi smiled: "Then it's simple. There are thousands of Han Yuefu melodies. 'Jiang Jin Jiu' is obscure and rarely transmitted. I only learned of it by chance while studying ancient texts in the palace, under the guidance of scholars. Let Li Bai and Yuan Zai both sing this lyric—whoever cannot sing it, is a forger!"

Xiao Xie Xuan Di sighed: "Li Bai, you sing first!"

The princes and dukes all sensed something amiss. Why make one sing first? The other could simply memorize it on the spot—what's the point of verification? And since Li Bai named the tune, even if they were to verify separately, Yuan Zai should have gone first. Why force them to sing here, in the hall?

Li Bi frowned and stepped forward: "Your Majesty…"

Xiao Xie Xuan Di cut him off: "Yuan Zai's statements were all evidence. Even if Li Bai challenges with melody, he must first prove his innocence. There must be order—first come, first served, right?"

This sounded reasonable, but it was all nonsense.

Is "first come, first served" meant to be used this way?

But who was he? The Emperor. He had the right to be unreasonable, the right to be capricious. The princes, dukes, and scholars all fell silent—not one spoke for Brother Qian Chen. Li Bi's gaze toward Xiao Xie Xuan Di grew complex.

He wished to remonstrate further, but the Crown Prince, seated closest, grabbed his arm!

Xiao Xie Xuan Di was growing old; the Crown Prince's power was now solid. This was the most delicate moment in imperial-filial relations. How could he allow his most capable ally, Li Bi, to offend the Son of Heaven over an obscure outsider who had angered the Emperor?

Xiao Xie Xuan Di looked at Brother Qian Chen and smiled: "Of course, to show fairness, we may first remove Yuan Zai. Let Li Bai sing first, then summon Yuan Zai to verify. If both know the tune, the matter remains unsettled…"

He glanced at the Imperial Consort, who watched him with a faint, knowing smile. He coughed nervously.

He waved his hand: "Let it be so!"

Brother Qian Chen smiled faintly: "Your Majesty, no need to remove Yuan Zai! His babbling has polluted the ears of all here. Let him hear the true Han Yuefu melody—to cleanse his senses!"

Ridiculous. Let Yuan Zai leave, then have Gao Gao Lishi sneak over and teach him the ancient "Jiang Jin Jiu" tune sung in Chenxiang Pavilion?

Brother Qian Chen added another mark against Xiao Xie Xuan Di in his mind…

His face, however, remained calm and slightly drunken. He gestured to the musician beside him: "Please lend me your qin." He plucked a few notes, then praised: "Fine qin… May I ask its name?" The musician replied: "This is a Sichuan Lei qin, named 'Chun Lei.'"

"Chun Lei? Perfect for my Thunder Sound!"

Brother Qian Chen placed the qin on his knees and said to Xiao Xie Xuan Di: "Your Majesty, the courtesans of Jiaofang Street charge for playing the qin. I am utterly ignorant of music—I fear playing will cost me my life!"

Xiao Xie Xuan Di caught his meaning and laughed heartily: "Good! I won't let you pay with your life!"

"Then good!" Brother Qian Chen tuned the pegs, pressed his right hand on the seven strings, and plucked lightly with his left. A single gong note rang out like thunder in spring—a sudden crack of lightning—followed by a cascade of notes like pearls falling onto jade plates, like rain unspooling from a spring thunderstorm.

Xu Xu, the rain grew heavier, as if the Tianhe had overturned…

A vast, roaring Tianhe descended from the Nine Heavens, merging into the music… Within the river hung a long sword. Only after the prelude ended did Brother Qian Chen begin to sing: "Do you not see the waters of the Yellow River come from heaven, rushing to the sea never to return…"

Yuan Zai was drenched in sweat, as if an entire Tianhe, brimming with boundless sword qi, was surging toward him in reverse.

Xiao Xie Xuan Di's face showed astonishment; his right hand unconsciously tapped the table, uneven but rhythmically precise.

Among the nobles in Chenxiang Pavilion with notable cultivation, all felt an overwhelming sword intent crashing against them, experiencing firsthand what "poetry and sword perfected as one" meant—qin producing sword-sound. As the music flowed smoothly, the majestic Tianhe and the passage of time gradually transformed into the joy of a banquet…

Xiao Xie Xuan Di raised his golden cup, draining three cups of sweet wine. As the lyrics neared their end, the melody faded. When Brother Qian Chen paused slightly on the final pluck…

That final pluck would unleash the sword qi within Yuan Zai, piercing his body with ten thousand blades, exploding him into fragments.

But using the qin's sound to control the sword intent, he scoured Yuan Zai's entire body—and found not a trace of Master Master Miaokong.

This test was partly to prevent blind spots—if Master Master Miaokong were Yuan Zai, and Brother Qian Chen had overlooked it, he'd become a laughingstock for eternity.

On the other hand, Brother Qian Chen confirmed Master Master Miaokong had used no cultivation methods to control Yuan Zai—only pure political scheming had turned him against Brother Qian Chen.

Brother Qian Chen hesitated slightly, and did not strike the final note. Fortunately, aside from Xiao Xie Xuan Di's discomfort, no one else noticed.

He He Zhizhang laughed heartily: "Li Bi—is this the ancient tune 'Jiang Jin Jiu'?"

Li Bi nodded slightly: "Close enough. Though adapted, the changes serve to better harmonize with the poetry. Some melodies differ, yet seem truer to the ancient spirit."

Xiao Xie Xuan Di clapped in admiration: "Brilliant lyrics! Brilliant melody! Li Bai—I underestimated you! I never knew you were so skilled in music, besides poetry and swordplay."

"Now it's Yuan Zai's turn to sing this tune!" Xiao Xie Xuan Di glanced at him, wondering if he'd memorized it.

Yuan Zai wiped a bead of sweat. He would one day become a treacherous chancellor—he was no fool. Though Brother Qian Chen's melody was profound, he had forced himself to memorize it through sheer insight.

But hearing Brother Qian Chen had altered the tune, he hesitated. If he played Brother Qian Chen's version, he might pass—but his lie would be exposed. If he played the pure ancient melody—he didn't know it!

Brother Qian Chen smiled: "Since you've already played 'Jiang Jin Jiu,' playing it again is meaningless."

Yuan Zai exhaled in relief—but saw Ning Wang sneering; He He Zhizhang drinking deeply and laughing loudly; Li Bi smiling faintly, inscrutable; Princess Princess Yuzhen gleeful; Wang Wei watching him with cold mockery.

He realized Brother Qian Chen had turned the tide—he was now the one under suspicion!

He forced a laugh: "I am truly unskilled in music… I shall not embarrass myself. Li Bai excels in music, certainly. But poetry is the Way of Letters—it does not require musical skill. I used the ancient tune 'Jiang Jin Jiu' as lyrics; minor oversights were inevitable. Had Your Majesty not been so wise, you might have been deceived. But Li Bai, you are a wandering swordsman—you've never been to Chang'an. This is your first time in Chenxiang Pavilion, with no prior connection—how could you have written this poem?"

"The 'spring breeze' in this poem refers to its composition in spring; 'Chenxiang Pavilion' names the place…"

Brother Qian Chen smiled: "I've never been to Mount Tianmu Mountain, yet I wrote 'Dream Tour of Mount Tianmu, Leaving Farewell.' 'Spring breeze' means blossoms in full bloom—it also means the Imperial Consort's youthful beauty, life as spring, favor as spring. If I wrote 'autumn wind'… wouldn't that imply decay?"

"If the Great Tang is a beauty… this year should be spring!"

Brother Qian Chen tapped the table: "Bring Yuan Zai an instrument. I wish to hear him play 'Qingping Diao.'"

Yuan Zai's face collapsed instantly.

Yuan Zai recalled every ancient Han Yuefu tune in his mind—none was "Qingping Diao." He cursed himself for not thinking deeper, for using the original name and landing in this predicament. He could only weakly protest: "I am unskilled in music. 'Qingping Diao' uses the Qing Diao and Ping Diao melodies, composed to harmonize with rhyme—it cannot be sung."

"Of course you can't sing it!" Brother Qian Chen rose. "Because this melody was composed today by me and Li Gui Nian in the Liyuan Garden. He planned to perform it for Your Majesty at the Li Qianqiu Banquet. The melody came first—then these three poems of Chenxiang Pavilion."

"You're quite remarkable—you stole poems I haven't even written yet. But you stole only half. Didn't the one behind you tell you that the 'Qingping Diao' melody was also composed by me, Li Bai?"

Yuan Zai turned deathly pale, then flushed purple. He bit his tongue: "You… you slander me! You twist truth into falsehood!"

"No matter how you twist your words, I had this poem first—it's ironclad proof!"

"I am ironclad proof!" A voice rang from outside Chenxiang Pavilion. Li Gui Nian entered, carrying a pipa, walking slowly toward the hall. Xiao Xie Xuan Di immediately called out: "Gui Nian is here?" He was about to signal Li Gui Nian, but Li Gui Nian said: "Your Majesty, I have arranged the 'Nishang Yuyi Qu' as 'Ziyun Qu.' Now I come to perform 'Qingping Diao,' composed by Li Bai and me!"

CRASH!

Yuan Zai collapsed to the floor, face ashen.

The people in the pavilion looked at him with contempt, disdain, coldness, and numbness. Even Xiao Xie Xuan Di could no longer feign ignorance—he looked at Yuan Zai with unmistakable revulsion. Such a useless fool was truly unworthy.

Xiao Xie Xuan Di was about to announce his judgment when Yuan Zai suddenly lifted his head, eyes wild. He seized a brush beside him and ranted: "I can still write! I can still compose poetry! I can prove these poems are mine!"

He scribbled frantically on the floor: "The wind is fierce, the sky high, apes wail in sorrow; the islets clear, the sand white, birds wheel back…"

"The nation is broken, yet mountains and rivers remain; in spring, the city is deep with grass and trees…"

"In August, autumn winds roar, tearing three layers of thatch from my roof. The thatch flies across the river, scattering along the riverbank…"

"The Han Emperor sought beauty, yearning for a nation's downfall…"

Brother Qian Chen's fury surged at the opening lines. He kicked Yuan Zai a full zhang away, roaring: "How dare you compose these poems? Do you know when these poems are meant to emerge?"

These are my good friend Du Fu's poems—how dare you parade them?

Li Bi's face darkened. He stared at the line "The nation is broken, yet mountains and rivers remain," his body trembling.

Xiao Xie Xuan Di saw the line too. His face changed drastically—his gaze toward Yuan Zai now held murder.

Gao Gao Lishi, seeing "The Han Emperor sought beauty, yearning for a nation's downfall," also paled. He whispered in shock: "I heard Li Bai say those words—so someone truly can steal unspoken thoughts… Each line has a story. You could never have written these!"

He He Zhizhang sighed, kicked his foot to erase the inked lines: "Another great sage of poetry! Such words of sorrow for the nation—how far beyond me! We cannot let you defile these poems… These verses shall be as if never written."

Yuan Zai was utterly mad. He clutched his robe hem, eyes wild—whether truly insane from terror or feigning madness to save his life, no one knew. He He Zhizhang looked at him with killing intent: "If this man lives, he will destroy countless immortal poems!" Li Bi whispered: "Your Majesty—he cannot live."

Yuan Zai grew more frantic, flailing his hands wildly.

Then someone knelt before him and offered a golden cup: "'Jiang Jin Jiu'—also called 'Jin Zun Empty.' So many poems were written by the Poet Immortal while drinking. If you don't drink, how can you write those poems?"

Yuan Zai snapped: "Wine… yes! I need wine!"

He seized the golden cup from Brother Qian Chen's hand and drank it down. Only then, with a calm smile, did Brother Qian Chen ask gently: "Now tell me—who sent you to frame me?"