That was all she said.
Wei Qing's eyes darted about, and she grinned. "But this thing is practically tailor-made for you!"
"Just think about it. Who is our Lord Jiang?"
"Slaying a dragon in Tai Lake—what kind of murderous aura does that take?"
"If you pair it with a piece like this at the Floating Cup Banquet..."
Wei Qing clenched her little fist and swung it fiercely through the air. "Then you'll shatter the eyes of those dogs who do nothing but moan and groan!"
Jiang Yuechu looked at her, amused.
This girl.
She really had gone to great lengths to help her stand out at the banquet.
"Fine."
Jiang Yuechu reached out and took the battered old book.
"Since you put it that way, refusing now would make me seem ungrateful."
Wei Qing urged her on. "Quick, take a look!"
"But I should warn you first: the old man said the fingering for this piece is intricate and obscure, and incredibly difficult to master."
"Even the most talented musicians in the Court of Imperial Sacrifices would need a year or two of painstaking practice to play even a passable version."
Wei Qing counted the days on her fingers, and a worried look crossed her little face.
"There are only two days left until the Floating Cup Banquet..."
"Yuechu, don't put too much pressure on yourself. We'll practice as much as we can. If all else fails, just play half the piece. As long as you make a strong impression, that's enough."
Jiang Yuechu didn't answer. She opened the book.
In the past, seeing something like this would have given her a headache.
But now...
The talent Wide Learning and Strong Memory quietly took effect.
Every fingering, every shift in force and tempo, every pause.
Even the notes left by