Chapter 95: A Perfect Match

Chapter 95: A Perfect Match

In the springtime pond, new lotus leaves had emerged, their tender green resembling freshly dyed silk hand fans. They covered the entire surface of the water, each round leaf adorned with glistening dewdrops.

Soft sunlight bathed the emerald leaves, casting a delicate golden sheen upon them. A gentle breeze brushed past the pond, causing the leaves to sway gently as if whispering secrets. Amongst them, a few buds were visible, like bashful maidens in early spring, nestled within the embrace of greenery, revealing only hints of their pink or white tips.

The water in the pond was crystal clear, and from time to time, small fish leisurely darted between the lotus leaves, creating tiny ripples. Above the water, dragonflies darted swiftly back and forth, their wings shimmering with silver under the sun's rays.

Within the pavilion by the water, Rong Bi had prepared a fresh fruit feast. Yuan Jun and Rong Bi sat opposite each other, enjoying the meal and sipping on refreshing yogurt fruit juice. Bright green soybeans and tender pea sprouts exuded the fragrance of spring. Stir-fried bamboo shoots retained their natural crispness. This was the first time they had sat down to eat together. Rong Bi, who had previously studied the Crown Prince's face in the mirror, now felt a bit restrained, barely speaking.

Yuan Jun adhered to the strictest etiquette during meals, not speaking a word while eating with deliberate calmness and grace, yet managing to consume a considerable amount without it being noticeable.

After a silent meal, Yuan Jun observed Rong Bi lifting her eyelids slightly as she sipped her tea. He then instructed the servants to clear the table and requested a qin to be brought over. Inspired by the spring day, he decided to play a melody on the ancient Chinese stringed instrument.

It was Rong Bi's first time witnessing the Crown Prince playing the zither, and her curiosity was piqued. Despite her lack of understanding, she could sense the melody flowing gracefully. The Crown Prince lowered his eyelashes, his expression solemn and concentrated. His gaze was focused yet tranquil as he gently placed his hands on the strings of the ancient instrument. His fingertips lightly touched the strings, as if engaged in a conversation with them.

The Crown Prince's fingertips danced rhythmically with the melody, alternating between light and heavy, slow and rapid. He seemed utterly absorbed in the harmonies, as if conversing with heaven and earth, even with the divine, through the strings of the instrument. Time itself appeared to slow down. In the tranquil pavilion by the water, the Crown Prince, already of exceptional beauty, was draped in flowing sleeves that swayed gently with the music, evoking an ethereal, otherworldly elegance. The scene resembled a refined ink-wash painting, and within it, the Crown Prince was the enigmatic hermit, concealed yet conspicuous.

Beyond the window, the peach and plum blossoms had already begun to open, their fragrant whispers of spring mingling with the subtle aroma of the cold incense burning within the room. The air carried a hint of moisture from the water's surface, creating an ambiance of serene elegance. The slanted rays of the spring sun illuminated the room, casting a pattern of dappled light upon the black lacquer of the ancient zither, its surface shimmering with a profound yet gentle luster.

The imperial guards standing watch from a distance heard the sound of a zither echoing from the pavilion and couldn't help but glance over. Through the open windows, they could see the Crown Prince sitting opposite the newly appointed Liangdi. The prince was dressed in a saffron-colored silk robe, his posture straight, arms suspended above the zither, his fingers lightly dancing across the strings as he played.

The clear and distant melody of the zither resonated in the spring sunshine. At first, it was as ethereal and pure as flowing water, then gradually evolved into a serene and rich harmony. As time went on, the tune became more passionate, like the sound of metal clashing, as if icy chariots and horses were racing across an icy plain, suddenly revealing a vast, snowy landscape. Mountains, sky, and earth stretched out wide, with a solitary traveler wandering freely, capable of reaching any destination. Then, with a sharp twang, the music ceased, leaving absolute silence.

The zither piece was long, lasting for quite some time. When the music finally subsided, Rong Bi observed the Crown Prince's lowered gaze, his hands resting back on his knees, sleeves draping over the cushion. Despite this, he seemed to have just emerged from a fierce battle, his chest still rising and falling unevenly, his face flushed with a hint of red.

Rong Bi felt a sense of unsatisfied longing, her ears and eyes refreshed as if she had just experienced celestial music. She couldn't help asking, "What is the name of this piece?"

Yuan Jun smiled. "First, 'Gentian in Solitude' and 'Mountain Dweller's Song,' then 'Wild Geese Landing on Sandy Shores,' followed by 'Zi Yu Driving the Wind' and 'Free and Easy Wandering.'"

Rong Bi was surprised that the Crown Prince had played so many ancient melodies and felt a bit astonished.

Yuan Jun's eyes gleamed with interest as he asked her, "Do you wish to learn, my dear?"

Rong Bi was taken aback but knew that Yuan Jun had instructed her to prepare a banquet at the lotus pond pavilion the next day for a purpose. Now, she decided to go along with his plan and replied, "This servant wishes to learn, but worries about being clumsy and unable to master it."

Yuan Jun smiled gently. "My dear, you possess innate intelligence. Do not underestimate yourself."

With that, he rose and moved a cushion in front of the zither, gesturing for her to sit down. He held her wrist and guided her in playing, explaining slowly, "First, recognize the tones of the strings. Then, I will teach you to read the score, and we can try playing some simple pieces from the notation. With practice, you'll get there."

Yuan Jun's voice was gentle and patient as he laid the qin flat before Rong Bi, saying, "Let me first teach you the various parts of the qin: the top board, bottom board, neck, bridge, strings..."

He turned the instrument over repeatedly, showing Rong Bi each part and explaining their functions in detail. Then, he demonstrated the correct sitting posture, placing his hands naturally on her shoulders. "Relax."

Rong Bi felt as if her shoulders were on fire; there was no way she could relax. Yuan Jun didn't scold her but instead demonstrated himself, "Let me give you a simple introduction to finger techniques. First, get a general understanding of the basics."

"The left hand uses press, slide, pluck, and spread, while the right hand uses pluck, wipe, pick, and hook..."

Yuan Jun demonstrated each technique one by one, then said, "The guqin has five tones. Listen first."

He played the sounds of the five tones - gong, shang, jue, zhi, and yu - and continued, "These correspond to the five elements of wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. As time goes by, you'll gradually understand this connection."

After that, he invited Rong Bi to try playing, meticulously explaining the key points of each movement. Occasionally, he would rise and gently adjust her seating position or correct her finger placement from behind.

At first, Rong Bi felt embarrassed by these gentle touches, but seeing the prince's calm demeanor, she gradually lost her initial awkwardness and focused on learning the qin.

However, as it was her first time playing, she made mistakes constantly. Feeling embarrassed, she said, "I'm clumsy. Your Highness, you needn't waste your time on me."

Yuan Jun replied, "You're already very intelligent. When my eldest sister taught me how to play, I couldn't learn after half a month, and she thought I had no talent for the qin. Later, with persistent practice, Father sent a master of the guqin to instruct me. I practiced diligently every day, and now I can entertain myself with it, don't I?"

Rong Bi: "..."

She turned to Yuan Jun with an earnest expression, her eyes pleading for mercy. Yuan Jun observed the newfound wit sparkling in her clear, bright eyes, a quality he had not seen in her before. It was evident that this young lady did not genuinely enjoy playing the zither and was afraid of being forced into daily rigorous practice, yet she dared not refuse, fearing that the attendants might overhear. He couldn't help but chuckle and said, "My dear, practice on your own for now. If you grow weary, feel free to browse through the music score. I'm feeling a bit drowsy and will take a rest on the couch for a while."

Naturally, a comfortable resting chamber was arranged within the pavilion. Yuan Jun entered to take a rest, directing the eunuchs and palace attendants to lower the heavy curtains around the pavilion. He then loosened his outer robe, reclining lazily on a soft couch with his eyes closed, drifting into a light doze.

Rong Bi: "..."

She lowered her hands and continued to practice haphazardly for a while longer, stealing glances at Yuan Jun, who remained motionless on the couch behind the screen. Fearing that he might have truly fallen asleep, she worried her erratic playing would disturb him. Thus, she set aside the zither, rose quietly, and sauntered over to the bookshelf. As the crown prince, she often visited this place, and the books on the shelves were familiar to her. Without conscious thought, she found herself picking up a copy of calligraphy exercises and began practicing her writing.

Yuan Jun hadn't initially intended to sleep but had other plans in mind. However, as he lay on the couch, watching through the gauzy screen the slender figure sitting at the desk, diligently writing with an upright posture, the spring sunlight was blocked by heavy curtains outside the pavilion. The room contained only the two of them, and the tranquility of the afternoon was soothing. Unconsciously, his eyelids grew heavy, and he drifted off to sleep.

When he woke from his dream, he found Rong Bi still writing. He couldn't help but feel a twinge of concern. Silently rising, he stood behind her to observe. As expected, she was copying his handwriting, clearly still worried about potential repercussions and not letting her guard down for a moment.

A warm feeling touched his heart, and he was deeply moved, but he still said, "Don't you want to take a break? Your health hasn't fully recovered; you should rest more when you can."

Rong Bi was startled but finished the stroke she was working on before lifting her gaze, smiling at him with pursed lips. "I accidentally slept away the whole day during lunchtime, which feels like a waste. So usually, I prefer to go to the vegetable garden to pick some greens and decide on dinner. Once I overcome the drowsiness, it's fine."

Yuan Jun chuckled. "Then why didn't you go out for a walk today? Why just stay here writing?"

Rong Bi said, "Your Highness must have had another purpose in mind. Besides, with no one attending to us in this pavilion, you'd be worried staying here alone."

Aware of her intelligence and that she had grasped the reason behind his behavior – to provide cover for their future escape through the secret passage – Yuan Jun merely smiled and replied, "With a wife like you, what more could I ask for?"

A slight blush tinged Rong Bi's cheeks, and she fell silent, focusing on completing the poem with the line, "An early bodhi tree sprouts within the universe, leaving no attachment to form in my heart." Yuan Jun praised her, "Well written, it carries an air of detachment and Zen. This is a poem by Master Yuexi. If you show it to Father Emperor, he'll surely believe I composed it."

Rong Bi whispered softly, "My penmanship lacks strength; it appears too delicate."

Yuan Jun remarked casually, "Perfect. To Father Emperor, a beautiful woman would signify a new favorite, leading him to assume I'm indulging in pleasure. The soft and affectionate style of my writing will only confirm his suspicions."

Rong Bi: "..." She always felt that the Crown Prince's words held a flirtatious undertone, but when she looked up at him, he maintained his usual earnest and solemn expression. She began to doubt if she was overthinking it. All she could do was lower her head to hide her blush heating her ears, unaware that Yuan Jun's gaze darkened slightly as he observed the rosy, jade-likelobes from behind her.

Yuan Jun smiled again and said, "The pavilion feels stuffy. I'd still prefer to accompany my lady outside to the vegetable garden. We can pick some fresh produce for our evening meal preparation."

As expected, the two rose and walked outside, where they saw the sun slanting westward and the kitchen garden overflowing with lush greenery. A young eunuch was tending to the plants, watering and selecting vegetables. Upon spotting the Crown Prince and Liangdi approaching, he hastily bowed in respect.

Rong Bi observed that among the women were four maidens who had previously been sent by Empress Lao to serve as attendants to the Crown Prince: Qing Dou, Bi Gua, Cui Jiu, and Lu Cong. In her previous life as the Crown Prince, she had encountered them a few times, always finding them meek and obedient, filled with reverence. Yet, on this day, they were anything but ordinary. Despite their tasks in the vegetable garden, picking vegetables, catching insects, and weeding, they were all adorned with makeup and rouged cheeks.

She understood in her heart that, having learned of the Crown Prince's favor towards her, they must have assumed an opportunity had arisen for them as well, hence their inevitable attempt to test the waters.

It seems that the Crown Prince's melody on the zither has stirred many a maiden's heart.

These long, tedious days in this cold palace, within these high walls, are filled with solitude and endless nights. Yet, there stands this man of noble rank, exuding grace and elegance, blessed with a face as divine as a celestial being. If he were to remain chaste and distant from women, that would be one thing, but his favoring of a concubine and servants naturally fosters a sliver of hope in the hearts of these maidens.