The situation in Uncle Qingyuan's mansion is deteriorating day by day, and Yan Lin, being from a prestigious family, is well aware of it. The whole town knows about the incident at the Double Ninth Banquet when the concubine's daughter of Uncle Qingyuan's mansion "fell into the water," not to mention Jiang Xuening's startling remarks at that time.
The mistreatment of the girl by the daughters and the bullying by the servants paint a grim picture for Qingyuan Bofu.
To avoid public gossip about the harsh treatment of the concubine's daughter in Uncle Qingyuan's house, they refrain from overtly embarrassing her. However, it is feared that she is enduring more suffering in the shadows.
As the legitimate son in the Yongyihou's mansion and a favorite in the palace, Yan Lin is shielded from various clandestine actions in the back house. Yet, having witnessed similar dynamics in his father's concubines, he understands the complexities of such disputes.
Concerned about the concubine's daughter from Uncle Qingyuan's mansion whom she coincidentally saved, Jiang Xuening is advised by Yan Lin: "You are a compassionate person, rare in the world. Not everyone is as clumsy and unremarkable. You did your best to save someone, but can we realistically expect her to have a fresh start? People's circumstances have underlying reasons, and if she had the ability, she wouldn't have faced her previous fate."
Jiang Xuening averted her gaze, stating, "Because I saved her, I care about her more than others, and I hope she improves. However, you're right; I've done what I can, so why should I be overly concerned?"
With a sigh, she seemed to be using these words to alleviate a certain uneasy feeling within her.
She then turned to Yan Lin and suggested, "Let's go inside and take a look at the qin."
Youhuang Hall, as suggested by its name, is specifically designed for playing the qin.
Despite its location in the bustling downtown area of the capital, it requires climbing the stairs from the unassuming street-level entrance to the second floor to see the elegant bamboo plaque. The word "Youhuang" is intricately written in pure ink on the bamboo.
The qin being an elegant instrument, guests coming for a musical rendezvous, whether feigned or authentic, prefer an artful ambiance. The decor and style of the hall strike a delicate balance.
It's evident that Yan Lin has been here before, and Jiang Xuening, familiar with the route, follows him inside.
Beside the center in the corner, a man dressed as a scribe held incense chopsticks to shake the incense. Surprisingly, what burned was the finest polu incense, wafting a subtle fragrance throughout the Youhuang Pavilion.
Upon hearing footsteps, the scribe turned his head, smiled upon seeing Yan Lin, set down the chopsticks gently, walked to the nearby copper basin to clean his hands, and remarked, "Your Majesty has arrived. I was contemplating that if you didn't come again, I might have to put those qins up for sale."
Yan Lin chuckled, "Well, at least in the qin hall, can we eliminate the scent of copper?"
The scribe didn't take it too seriously, saying, "Do you think I'm doing a noble deed by running a qin shop? Playing the qin requires bathing, handwashing, burning incense, and acquiring a good qin—all of which costs money."
Jiang Xuening found the man peculiar and couldn't resist stealing a few more glances.
The scribe, of average build and ordinary appearance, glanced at Jiang Xuening and came to a realization, saying, "Is this the girl interested in qin?"
Jiang Xuening remained silent.
Annoyed, Yan Lin interjected, "Quit the idle talk. Where are the qins?"
The scribe raised an eyebrow, sensing Yan Lin's unusual treatment of the woman. Not allowing this to distract him, he cast a few more glances at Jiang Xuening before turning around and entering the inner room. From within, he brought out the four hidden qins and arranged them on a long table in the showroom. One by one, he untied the qin covers and invited Yan Lin to inspect, saying, "Initially, I found five qins, and one was freshly crafted by Jiang Ning Gu Benyuan. Unfortunately, when my men left, Gu Benyuan had already presented the new Qin to Xie Ju'an."
Gu Benyuan stood out as the most renowned qin master of the time. Typically, the process of crafting a qin is intricate, involving selecting wood, stringing, and testing, taking a minimum of a year for completion and sometimes extending to two or three years for more meticulous and exquisite ones. Qin masters, seen as craftsmen, sustain themselves through this practice.
While many luthiers prepare wood and craft ten or twenty qins simultaneously, Gu Benyuan, already in his sixties, approaches his seventies and lacks the vigor of younger violin masters. Consequently, he can only produce one or two violins every two or three years.
During that era, people were inclined to pursue rare and exceptional items. Over the past two years, countless individuals had fervently requested the qin, only to find that the old man had bestowed it upon Xie Wei without unveiling the face of the new qin or disclosing its sound. This left many clenching their teeth in secret frustration.
Yan Lin, immersed in martial arts practice and not knowing music, was taken aback after hearing about Gu Benyuan's generosity. "He gave it to him!?"
"Yes, free of charge," the scribe finally revealed a hint of dissatisfaction, sneering but also showing a touch of gloating. "Didn't King Pingnan recently conspire against a court official in the capital? Xie Ju'an has been pursuing the qin for three years. The day he selected a few good strings from me, he intended to try them at his leisure. However, on his way back, he somehow ended up in some towering structure and encountered rebels. While he emerged unharmed, a newly strung string got sliced with a knife. Tsk, it's infuriating. I don't know, but I heard he hasn't attended court for two days. After learning this, Gu Benyuan had someone deliver the Qin from Jiangning to the capital for him. Isn't that quite a twist!"
Yan Lin asked, "You don't care about the qin, do you?"
The scribe snorted coldly. "If I buy a qin for a thousand gold, I'll double it and sell it to you. Xie Ju'an has ruined my fortune!"
*cough.*
Yan Lin cleared his throat, almost wanting to say, "Do I look like the kind of person who cheats?" But upon reflection, he chose to remain silent.
Xie Wei, the prince's young teacher, currently presided over the Sutra banquet lectures in the palace and was therefore considered a gentleman.
On the other hand, the scribe was different.
Lu Mingxian, also known as Zhaoyin, owned the Youhuang Pavilion. He was originally a Jinshi, a scholar who passed the imperial examination, just like Xie Wei, and hailed from Jinling. While they both excelled in exams, Xie Wei outshone him at every turn. Xie Wei topped the list during exams, secured the highest place at Jieyuan, and even outperformed him in entering the Hanlin Academy.
At that time, people teased, "Thank you, one Lu, two Xie."
Lu Xian, born into a poor family, possessed a stubborn temperament. The more he couldn't compete, the more he wanted to challenge Xie Wei, displaying considerable resilience.
Unexpectedly, with the news of Xie Wei's passing in Jinling, Lu Xian suddenly rose to the top but deemed the Imperial Academy meaningless. After lingering for a year, he resigned and, as rumored, returned to Jinling.
Four years ago, Xie Wei returned to the imperial court due to his support for the present emperor, Shen Lang, who currently held a teaching position. However, Lu Xian seemed disinterested in an official career. Despite returning to the capital, he opened a qin shop, an unusual venture for someone who had been to Hanlin. His peers in Beijing couldn't believe it and visited him frequently.
Soon, the qin hall gained fame both in court and among the public. However, some observed that compared to an honorable official position, Lu Xian was unapologetic about being a "profiteer." Rumors circulated, stating, "A Jinshi sells qins; if you don't buy them, you can't escape it," highlighting the business's shady aspects.
Lu Xian and Xie Wei were old acquaintances who had interacted in the past. Yan Lin, while educated by Xie Wei, still needed to choose his words carefully when addressing Lu Xian.
As Lu Xian introduced one qin after another, most of his attention was directed toward Jiang Xuening. Many of his remarks were aimed at her, evidently recognizing the pivotal role she played in today's transaction.
However, Jiang Xuening harbored no affection for the qin. During her previous life, while noble ladies of aristocratic families sought to impress Xie Wei with their qin skills, she found the endeavor burdensome and tiresome. She rarely listened to his teachings.
If asked which qin she preferred among the selection, she would respond, "I don't like any of them."
Fortunately, Yan Lin was aware that she hadn't learned the qin in the mansion. After careful consideration, he requested the guqin named "Jiaoan," which was over 300 years old. Due to years of exposure to the elements and the vibrations from playing, the instrument bore patterns resembling flowing water on its weathered body, producing a deep and resonant tone with clear overtones.
However, the price tag was also staggering.
Lu Xian smiled, indicating three fingers to Yan Lin, leaving Jiang Xuening gasping.
Yan Lin, however, considered it routine and instructed someone to settle the payment with a bank note. Afterward, he took the qin bag and handed it to Jiang Xuening, remarking, "Despite your role as a companion to the princess in the palace, Mr. Xie is generous in imparting knowledge, especially on the qin. However, being a girl won't exempt you from dedicated learning. While attending Mr. Xie's lectures, you must stay focused. He seldom plays the qin in the palace, and I was fortunate to have heard it a few times. It's truly exceptional. Perhaps, in the past, your disinterest in learning the qin was due to an inadequate teacher. This time in the palace, you might find a newfound appreciation."
Upon hearing his words, Jiang Xuening's eye corners twitched slightly. The undisclosed reason for her aversion to learning the qin after arriving in Beijing was Xie Wei.
Four years ago, on the journey to Beijing, Xie Wei was holding a qin. Initially, she assumed he was a distant relative, clad in white attire, carrying only a qin, and appearing unwell. Despite sharing a carriage, he seldom engaged in conversation, preferring to rest with closed eyes. Occasionally, during breaks, he would touch the qin.
Back then, she didn't comprehend and harbored no fondness for him.
It was only later that she learned about her background and the esteemed "sister" praised by everyone in the family. Fearing judgment from the maid accompanying her to Beijing, she adopted the posture of a young lady, assuming an air of superiority to preserve her modest "self-esteem."
Young ladies were known for their condescension and domineering attitudes, and she emulated this behavior, extending it to include "others," notably "Xie Wei."
Hailing from the countryside without formal etiquette education, she found fault in his posture when walking, sitting, eating with chopsticks, or napping in the carriage. It seemed meticulous and well-ordered, which irked her.
At the time, she perceived him as unkempt yet enduring;
It took a while for her to acknowledge that her discomfort stemmed from the discernible distinction between their backgrounds. This difference underscored the gap between her rural upbringing and the bustling capital she was about to enter.
However, people are often unwilling to admit such disparities.
Even as a queen, she avoided encountering Xie Wei, and his name remained associated with the qin, which she refused to acknowledge.
In her most terrified and miserable moments, he witnessed her vulnerabilities. The mere sight of him triggered memories of the past, something she vehemently avoided in her previous life.
Who knows what Xie Wei thought of her back then?
Today's queen empress was once a rustic girl donning a dragon robe, appearing far from regal.
The mere contemplation of that past brought embarrassment, leading Jiang Xuening to convince herself that it didn't exist.
Astute as Xie Wei was, he likely understood her thoughts.
Despite his prominent status in politics, frequently attending court sessions, he rarely appeared before her and never alluded to their shared history.
Regarding the scar on her wrist, she consulted the imperial doctor, followed a prescribed treatment for two years, and eventually eradicated it.
In this moment, the fragrance of polu pervaded the hall, soothing the senses.
Jiang Xuening blinked, gazing down at the "Jiaoan" now in her possession, and a sudden realization dawned: Were it not for Zhang Zhe, she might have died and been laid to rest in the soil, keeping the favor to herself and never disclosing it. However…
It seemed that in the previous life, following the palace upheaval, Xie Wei, having blood on his hands, never touched the qin again.