Eldest Mistress let out a long sigh of relief, unsure of whether the fuss caused had been a good or bad thing. When her gaze fell onto Liu Jue’s figure leading Ah Luo out by hand, a faint smile flashed in her eyes. Yet she kept her face solemn and with a sigh, she apologised to the prince, “Unexpectedly, Qing Fei’s crude and careless words almost turned a small accident into a falling out between sisters. I did not teach my daughter properly and I have no face to remain here, so please allow me to take Qing Fei away to discipline her.”
The Crown Prince smiled lightly and said, “Qing Fei was also just upset over Lei’er being injured and in her eagerness, she replaced the truth with her speculations. Just be sure to be careful about what you say from now on. We were also able to hear such talented zither playing tonight, it was truly gratifying. Madam must not restrict Qing Luo from playing the zither anymore. Otherwise, where else could we find such crystal clear music?”
Eldest Mistress nodded in assent. The Crown Prince asked, “Fourth Brother, I wonder if you still enjoyed yourself?”
Zi Li watched Liu Jue and Ah Luo leave side by side. The entire time, Ah Luo hadn’t turned to look back at him and his heart felt extremely uncomfortable. How could he still be in the mood to stay and drink wine? Hearing that the Crown Prince had the intention of ending the banquet, he hurriedly laughed and said, “It is said that people disperse at the end of a song. It was an immense pleasure to be able to hear this kind of music. I thank Elder Brother’s kindness. Zi Li would like to take his leave and return home to reminisce.”
Everyone laughed loudly and simultaneously, they bid their farewells and left.
After all the guests were gone, Wang Yan Hui said lazily, “It is said that Minister Li’s daughters are of unrivalled beauty and talent, except for Third Miss who was mediocre. Who knew that this Third Miss was such an ambitious person. Although her zither skills weren’t as good as others, she secretly practised until she became this great. This zither skill really matches up to Younger Sister’s <Autumn Water> from that day. This is what it means for great music being difficult to come by!
Qing Lei forced a smile, the loss of blood making her look pale, “Elder Sister speaks the truth. For my younger sister, Qing Luo, to have such zither skills, this Younger Sister is very pleased. This hand was hurt in a timely manner, otherwise how could we have heard my younger sister’s hidden zither music.”
Wang Yan Hui smiled faintly, “Indeed, this misfortune was a blessing in disguise. Looking at the situation today, I want to congratulate Younger Sister. Perhaps you will have a young prince as your brother-in-law.”
Qing Lei smiled. A slight smile also slowly creeped onto the Crown Prince’s mouth and he looked tenderly at Qing Lei, “Lei’er, since you hurt your hand today and you’re tired, I’ll accompany you back to your room. I think our younger sister must also have been frightened today, I’ll send someone over with gifts tomorrow. Otherwise, she may be afraid of this brother-in-law, and Lei’er will complain again.”
While the Crown Prince was speaking, his eyes were looking at the Crown Princess, Wang Yan Hui. Yan Hui smiled and said, “Quite right! Tomorrow, I will personally pick out a present.”
The Crown Prince slowly accompanied Qing Lei back. He lightly and gently took care of Qing Lei until she fell asleep. The Crown Prince’s footsteps gradually disappeared down the long corridor. Qing Lei put on a thin robe and got out of bed. On this side of the spacious East Palace, there was only a red light from a coiled dragon candle. In the candlelight, her face was bewitchingly beautiful. She watched the red candle burn out in the silent night, then heard a “pop” sound like a fish spitting out a bubble. A fish? Qing Lei learned to open her lips and blow out a bubble, then another, until the heavy pressure and sorrow in her chest followed these bubbles out.
Finally, Qing Lei let out a long sigh of relief. She sat at her dressing table and looked at her reflection in the mirror. She was still as proud and beautiful as a plum blossom. Glancing at her left hand, she smiled softly. Everyone believed that she was only good at playing the zither, yet they were unaware that she had earnestly learnt all four arts of the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting as well as needlework. Ever since she was young, Third Mistress had taught her that to be better than others, she must endure the most bitter of hardships. Although she was born in the Minister’s residence as a child of a concubine, she was still a daughter of the Minister. She looked like her mother and was elegantly beautiful, smart, and studious. Moreover, she understood how to please Minister Li. Minister Li had no sons, so she grew up being a dearly beloved daughter.
Qing Lei thought, father, I know you needed to use your daughters to achieve glory and wealth. But what if this daughter had no wish of flying up the branches? Yet she remembered lifting up the thin curtains at the Peach Blossom Festival and seeing the Crown Prince, with his sharp eyebrows and refined smile. She thus had him in her heart. Qing Lei thought of the zither, of everything in the past, and she whispered softly, “Mountains have trees and trees have branches, you’re in my heart yet you’re unaware.” Tears rolled down.
She raised her hand to wipe away her tears and mumbled, “Ah Luo, you have helped me again. I hope that you can marry the young prince smoothly.”
Qing Luo remained silent the whole time, letting Liu Jue lead her out of the East Palace and away from the palace. Liu Jue held her in his arms on horseback and took her back to the Minister’s residence. Liu Jue didn’t ride quickly, allowing the horse to walk slowly. Qing Luo didn’t say a word, leaning against Liu Jue’s chest with her eyes closed, feeling the evening wind breeze across her face. When Liu Jue held her and mounted the horse, Ah Luo hadn’t struggled or refused. She felt grateful and hadn’t wanted to spoil the peaceful moment. Once again, she made up her mind that she had to leave.
Liu Jue only wished that this road never ended. He also remained silent. When the Crown Prince ordered her finger to be broken, he became angry. Ah Luo was naughty, yet she wouldn’t have such a vicious heart. He had been waiting for the palace servants to act before he stepped in. At that time, he had heard Ah Luo’s remarkably surprising shout. When the sound of the zither rose, he was shocked. Unknown emotions swelled in his chest. The moment Liu Fei’s fingers exerted force, he moved and pulled her away without a thought. Even he didn’t understand why he felt so unwilling to give it up. He looked down at Ah Luo in his arms with her eyes closed. Liu Jue’s only thought was to protect her. He must protect her. He suddenly urged the horse onwards straight to the Minister’s residence.
“We’ve reached the Minister’s residence.”
Ah Luo opened her eyes and saw the lofty main gate of the Minister’s residence. She whispered, “Thank you for today.”
Liu Jue smiled then held her and dismounted the horse. Ah Luo curtsied towards Liu Jue then headed into the residence. Liu Jue watched her leave without a word.
Seventh Mistress saw Ah Luo returning alone quietly to the Begonia Garden. She couldn’t help but go towards her and ask. Ah Luo smiled brilliantly, “Mother, we will definitely leave here, definitely.” Her voice was determined.
Ah Luo didn’t go back to her room and instead went straight to the bamboo forest. She sat down blankly and thought about where it would be best to go. And how to get there. To the west lay the Qi Empire and there were plains all the way so it would be difficult to evade pursuing soldiers. To the east were the forests of Hei Mountain. The most dangerous place would also be the most unexpected, however, without jungle experience and with neither Seventh Mistress nor Xiao Yu knowing martial arts, it would be too dangerous. She could only go south, past the river, towards the Chen Empire. She had heard that the scenery there resembled Jiangnan. It was also the best road to take. Ah Luo thought that after Zi Li’s wedding, when Qing Fei married Cheng Si Yue, everyone in the residence would be busy and no one would care about them. It would be the best time to leave.
Suddenly, there was a flash before her eyes and Zi Li leapt into the bamboo forest of the Minister’s residence. Moonlight cast dappled shadows throughout the bamboo forest. He had originally wanted to call out Ah Luo with the xiao, yet when he entered the bamboo forest, he saw her sitting silently beside the rocks in deep thought.
Zi Li ran forward a couple of steps and said, “Ah Luo, you, do you resent me?”
Ah Luo raised her head and saw a trace of urgency on Zi Li’s face. That constant smile on the corner of his mouth was no longer there and it seemed like there was a kind of pain in his eyes. Ah Luo smiled, “Elder brother, how could I blame you. For you to act, you must have had a plan in your heart. I know that it would have hurt a bit but you wouldn’t really disable my hand.”
Zi Li seemed to be relieved. His stiff body softened a little. He walked up to Ah Luo and squatted down, then lifted Ah Luo’s hand and held it tightly. He said softly, “I have never been as flustered as I was today. Ah Luo, I said that I would protect you.”
Ah Luo looked at him gently, slowly withdrew her hand and stood up, having recovered her playfulness, “Elder Brother, you haven’t done anything wrong. I am much more realistic than you. If we swapped positions, I wouldn’t have said anything. You already treat me very very well. Elder Brother, I hadn’t blamed you at all. You are not your usual self in front of the Crown Prince.” Her lip curled slightly and sighing, she said softly, “Elder Brother, your mother, the Empress, is not here anymore. It must be difficult for you by yourself, right?”
Zi Li’s heart felt warm, “Ah Luo, for understanding what I’m thinking, I’m already satisfied. Can you wait for me?”
Ah Luo was startled, “Wait for what?”
Zi Li stepped forward and embraced Ah Luo in his arms, “Ah Luo, wait one year for me. I’ll marry you when you’re of age and I’ll never let anyone hurt you again for the rest of my life!”
Ah Luo was startled and raised her head to look at Zi Li whose eyes were full of affection. His lips were pressed tightly, having evidently made up his mind. Ah Luo withdrew from his embrace, “Elder Brother, your situation is already difficult. You mustn’t betray your father, the Emperor’s, kindness in appointing your marriage.”
Zi Li looked at Ah Luo, “I will plead with my father the Emperor tomorrow and ask him to rescind the decree.” As he said this, Zi Li’s face glowed with a distinguished aura, bright and clear in the moonlight.
Ah Luo smiled, “Elder Brother, you’re not calm right now. I only think of you as an elder brother, nothing else. Don’t give up all that you deserve just for me. The two of us belong to different worlds. I don’t belong here.”
Ah Luo’s shadow was stretched long in the moonlight and her slender frame was as tough as the surrounding bamboo trees. Zi Li watched her foolishly and asked hoarsely, “Why? Ah Luo, do you really not have me in your heart?”
Ah Luo raised her head to glance up at the same starry sky, the moonlight was like water. From the time that she met Zi Li, she thought about how she had fought for him and then how they opened Su Xin Zhai to earn money, of playing the flute and xiao together, and of riding horses together through the grass plains. Thoughts passed like clouds and flowing water. She loathed the internal strife inside the palace and was exhausted from staying so long in the Minister’s residence. She whispered softly, “Elder Brother, everyone has their own way of life. Being born in the Minister’s residence was not my choice, but life is long, so I can’t. I can’t.”
Zi Li’s chest tightened and after a while, he said, “You want me to give up the throne and leave behind everything here to go with you to the end of the world?”
Ah Luo’s eyes shone in the darkness, “Where I’m from, people say that life is precious and love is expensive. For the sake of freedom, both of these can be discarded. I didn’t understand this well before. Life is above everything else, what else is there if you’re dead? So I was timid and just wanted to save my life. Since I was young, I had told myself to tolerate it all. I have never been in love, so I am grateful to have your affection. Elder Brother, I had once said that I never expected to meet you, to meet someone who treated me so well. I was truly happy when I was with you. However, right now, I want freedom more.”
Zi Li interrupted and said, “I can give you freedom under the protection of my wings, so you can be safe and free.”
Ah Luo chuckled lightly, “Elder Brother, I don’t want you to give up anything and you can’t give it up either. Can you?”
Zi Li was silent for a while, then said, “Ah Luo, in the end, you want me to give up everything and go with you. You’re right, I really can’t do it. However, you will be threatened by those in power no matter where you go and you will still be controlled by someone. Instead of wandering outside, what’s so bad about staying safely by my side? You can do whatever you want. As long as I am capable of it, I will give you as much freedom as possible.”
Ah Luo sighed and said, “There’s half a month left until your wedding, Elder Brother.”
Zi Li’s tone was sorrowful, “I’ll beg my father the Emperor and go apologise to Minister Gu. Ah Luo, what else do you want me to do?”
Ah Luo felt grieved, “You know it’s impossible. Just for my sake, you would offend your father the Emperor and the officials of the imperial court and make the Left and Right Ministers turn against each other. Even if you go, surely you already know the result?”
Zi Li fiercely pulled Ah Luo into his arms, “You can actually see it all clearly! You understand everything! Why can’t you be a little dumber, and just tell me you have me in your heart?”
Ah Luo said softly, “I can’t lie to you, Elder Brother. I’m tired, too tired to care about anything else.”
Zi Li gently pushed her away. Ah Luo’s tears fell and Zi Li reached out to catch them and the tears dripped into his palm, burning and stinging. As if he wouldn’t know that unless Ah Luo was willing to be his concubine, he would never have her. He remembered what Liu Jue had said, “You can only treat Ah Luo like this. If you are so fond of her, would you let her suffer as a concubine?” Zi Li raised Ah Luo’s face and wiped away her tears, “Ah Luo, bringing you in as a concubine would be mistreating you, however, we can be together, can’t we? How good would it be for us to be together, surely you won’t mind the status?”
Ah Luo shook her head, “You won’t understand, a husband and a toothbrush should only be used by yourself. There’s nothing wrong with the way you think. My father also married seven.” Zi Li was slightly frustrated, “Ah Luo, after all is said and done, do you actually have me in your heart?”
Ah Luo lowered her head and didn’t answer.
Zi Li gave a long sigh, “Ah Luo, it turns out that you truly see me as just a brother without a lover’s affection.” Zi Li looked at Ah Luo extremely reluctantly, then finally turned on his heel and leapt out of the Minister’s residence.
Ah Luo watched Zi Li’s figure float away, her expression both crying and smiling. Zi Li loved her, truly loved her. Her heart felt both warm and bitter. She thought of a poem that really appropriately described tonight. She softly recited,” 云髻松松换就，铅华淡淡妆成，红烟翠雾罩轻盈，飞絮游丝不定。笙歌散后酒微醒，深院月明人静。相见怎如不见，有情还是似无情。”*
Direct Translation: A cloud bun was changed, her makeup light and delicate, red smoke and green mist covered her lithe figure, as willow leaves fluttered in the air. The reed pipe’s music dispersed and those who had drunk began to sober up, and the moon shone brightly in the quiet courtyard. To not meet would be better than meeting as love seemed to be merciless.”
