"I came from Jiankang myself! If I wanted Wu Sound, would I need you to sing it? Switch to Western Songs! I want authentic Western Songs!"
"Wu Sound" and "Western Songs" were both forms of popular folk music at the time. Wu Sound flourished along the lower Yangtze River, particularly in the Jiangsu and Zhejiang region, and "Midnight Song" was one of its representative pieces. Western Songs, meanwhile, thrived in Jingxiang along the middle reaches of the Yangtze River.
In musical terms, both belonged to the category of "Pure Shang Music," but differed in rhythm, melody, and vocal style.
It was somewhat like punk and heavy metal: both were rock music, but their specific styles were different.
Since the Wu lands of Jiangsu and Zhejiang were the political and cultural center of the Southern Dynasties, Wu Sound had entered high society early on, gradually acquiring a more refined image. By contrast, Western Songs retained a strong folk character and, on certain occasions, were even considered unfit for elegant company.
That was precisely why, at this banquet in the Prince's Residence, with scholar-officials gathered in such numbers, the singing girls had chosen Wu Sound. First, they did not want to lower the tone; second, they hoped to please the Prince of Badong. He was from Jiankang, after all, and presumably preferred Wu Sound. Who could have guessed that he would suddenly demand Western Songs?
Fortunately, they regularly rehearsed several classic pieces. The first singing girl immediately began in the Jingchu dialect: "Where is Mo Chou? Mo Chou is west of Stone City-"
Her voice was desolate yet lilting, like a call from a distant land, telling an ancient tale.
The musicians began to play. Their music swept like a cold wind across the wilderness, stirring the withered yellow leaves covering the