~ But People Say Old Friends’ Hearts Are Easily Changed ~
The musician played “Feng Qiu Huang” with deep sorrow, the notes plaintive and lingering, like the sound of weeping carried by the wind.
Mu Yunyao lifted her gaze toward Noble Consort Qi’s seat above, and her heart gave a sudden, sharp jolt.
Noble Consort Qi was staring intently at the musician in the hall. Tears streamed down her face, and the pain she was forcing down seemed to press upon every line of her expression.
Ling Wang curled his lips in satisfaction, bright gleams of exhilaration flashing in his eyes. After all his effort, he had finally found the man. It seemed the trouble had not been wasted—his frantic work had paid off in the end.
Grand Princess Yide’s expression darkened, a heavy trace of displeasure passing through her eyes. She did not care about the younger generation’s struggles, and she understood well that battles over imperial power had never been about fairness—only victory, never scruples. Noble Consort Qi’s past had truly existed. If Ling Wang could dig up the man once betrothed to her in those years, that was his skill. Used well, it could strike unexpectedly—perhaps even help him regain a lost advantage.
Yet she disliked how poorly Ling Wang hid his feelings. Anyone who wanted to stand above others needed to keep joy and anger off their face, so ministers could not read their ruler’s heart or spot any weakness. But Ling Wang was far too obvious, as if he was afraid the hall might not notice this scheme was his.
The Emperor’s brows drew tightly together. He turned toward Noble Consort Qi, who was drenched in tears, his expression unusually cold. “Noble Consort Qi—could it be that today’s dishes are not to your taste?”
Noble Consort Qi clenched her fist so hard her knuckles whitened. Forcing herself to pull her gaze away, she raised a handkerchief and wiped the tears from her cheeks, then rose and saluted the Emperor with deliberate respect. “Hearing ‘Feng Qiu Huang’ made me recall certain memories from the past.”
Before the Emperor could respond, Ling Wang spoke first. “Imperial Father, this musician was someone your son happened to meet by chance. It is said he is a master of the qin, yet in his entire life, he plays only a single piece—‘Feng Qiu Huang,’ the one Imperial Father just heard. And I have also heard that Noble Consort Qi is highly knowledgeable in music. Might I invite Her Ladyship to offer a comment or two?”
Noble Consort Qi’s face turned cold, but her eyes were full of grief. “I fear I must disappoint Ling Wang. Since entering the palace, I have never touched the qin again. It has been more than twenty years since I last played—no matter how fine one’s skill, it grows rusty.”
A cold smile hovered at Ling Wang’s lips. “What a pity. The musician beside me—Musician Jiang—claims that many years ago, he once had the honor of receiving Her Ladyship’s guidance. Now that they have met again after so long, he hopes to boldly invite Her Ladyship to judge him once more and see if his years of hard work have brought any improvement.”
Noble Consort Qi began to tremble. The phoenix step ornament in her hair quivered with her movement. In the candlelight, the pearl-set phoenix eyes seemed to shimmer as if they, too, were wet with tears. “I do not recall ever offering commentary to anyone.”
“How strange,” Ling Wang said lightly, his words cutting like a blade. “Since when has Her Ladyship’s memory grown so poor—so poor that even a former lover can be forgotten?”
“Insolence!” The Emperor’s face hardened as he barked the rebuke. “Junling—are you speaking to your honored Mother Noble Consort in such a manner?”
“Father Emperor,” Ling Wang said, voice-controlled, “Today is the palace’s New Year banquet. Your son understands these matters ought not be raised on such an occasion. Yet this concerns something of grave importance. I fear Father Emperor has been kept in the dark, and so I cannot remain silent. The musician at my side is named Jiang Shuihan—but many years ago, he had another name: Wen Lixiao!”
The instant the name fell, a wave of murmurs surged through the hall.
The Wen family had produced two Imperial Tutors—an illustrious house. In those years, young master Lixiao was famous throughout the capital for his talent and was celebrated as the foremost gentleman of his generation. At only sixteen, he became the top scholar and entered officialdom, even more dazzling than Su Qingwu. Yet later, for reasons no one knew, Young Master Lixiao vanished without a trace. The Wen family also declined, and in less than twenty years, they became just another aristocratic house.
Some officials studied the blind musician’s features closely and could not help nodding. “Indeed. His appearance has changed somewhat, but he truly is Young Master Lixiao.”
“To think… we would see him again…”
Hearing the hall’s reaction, Ling Wang’s smile only widened. “Imperial Father, you may not know this: the man before you is not only the famed Young Master Lixiao—he is also Noble Consort Qi’s former lover!”
At once, Yu Wang sprang to his feet, fury blazing in his eyes. “Elder Imperial Brother—one cannot speak such nonsense!”
Ling Wang’s eyes shone with savage satisfaction. “Whether it is nonsense—lift your head and look at Noble Consort Qi’s expression. Will you not understand everything then?”
Yu Wang turned sharply. Noble Consort Qi was trembling from head to toe. Even with desperate restraint, she could not stop the tears that kept falling. At that sight, Yu Wang’s heart sank heavily.
Ling Wang pressed forward, unrelenting. “Noble Consort Qi—an old acquaintance stands before you. Do you truly have nothing to say?
Noble Consort Qi stood up and slowly walked down the stairs. Her face was pale, and tears kept falling, yet her lips curved into a faint smile. “What happened to your eyes? When you left back then, were they not perfectly fine?”
Wen Lixiao stood as well. He opened eyes that had remained closed for so long. They were still clear and bright—yet before them lay only darkness, never able to see his beloved’s face again. “After leaving the capital, I intended to travel the world. When I passed through Luocheng, I encountered bandits robbing travelers on the road. I could not bear it and stepped in to help. I drove them off, but in the struggle, I injured my eyes. After that, my sight faded little by little. It has been many years. Now I am accustomed to the darkness. In daily life, all is manageable, and so it no longer matters.”
“A person in the prime of life, suddenly blinded… You must have suffered greatly.”
“At first, I could not adjust. But later I thought—there is no one left in this world worth seeing every day. Whether I can see or not makes little difference.” Wen Lixiao wore a faint smile. His words were calm and distant, almost painfully so.
Noble Consort Qi’s tears fell even more violently. Once, they had agreed to leave the capital and roam the world together. Instead, she had been forced into the palace, while he left alone—and then lost his eyes in Luocheng, the very place she had most longed to see. “In Luocheng, the peonies bloom most brilliantly in the fourth and fifth months. You had not even seen them—yet you lost your eyes. It is… truly a regret.”
“Though I cannot see, I have been to Luocheng,” Wen Lixiao said softly. “I have breathed the peony fragrance that fills the city. The wind carries warmth, the sunlight pours down, making the scent even more intoxicating. With one gentle breath, even without sight, one can imagine a scene of blossoms like brocade.”
Noble Consort Qi choked, then covered her mouth and broke into bitter sobs.
Ling Wang’s lips lifted again. Before entering the palace, she had been entangled in private affection—on that point alone, Noble Consort Qi was finished. His own mother had been demoted to a concubine, and Yu Wang had played a part in it. No matter what, this hatred had to be repaid.
Yu Wang and Yu Wangfei rushed forward, each supporting Noble Consort Qi by an arm. “Mother Consort…”
Noble Consort Qi took a deep breath. A fragile but steady smile returned to her lips as she turned and motioned for Yu Wang to step forward and salute. “I am fine. Ling Wang is not wrong. Lixiao is indeed an old acquaintance of mine. If we speak strictly… Junyu, you should call him Uncle.”
To support us, kindly donate through our website. Thank you. 💕
0 comments:
Post a Comment