The reflection of the moon shone brightly on the river as the flower boat emitted a fragrance and the breeze from the river blew gently. Such beautiful scenery obviously needed to be complemented by a melody and Ah Luo’s song, <Full of Joy>, was lively and cheerful. Liu Jue listened without any interest. Seeing Ah Luo smile until her eyes became crescent-shaped, swaying her head to the rhythm of the song, he couldn’t decide whether to laugh or be upset. He secretly thought to himself that this little girl appeared to not be angry in the slightest, yet she actually had many tricks up her sleeve. After hearing this song, he spoke without waiting for Ah Luo to speak, “I heard that your eldest sister won the Crown Prince’s favour with one song, <Autumn Water>. The Li Family is comprised of generations of scholars. Can you also play the zither? Being near the river and looking at the moon, how about <Autumn Moon>?”
Ah Luo thought about when she played the zither in Qing Lei’s stead and said, “I don’t know how to play the zither. The three daughters of the Li Family each learned a different skill, so I only know how to play the flute.”
The more she couldn’t, the more that Liu Jue wanted to embarrass her. He rolled his eyes reluctantly and said, “This prince only wants to listen to the zither. Since I was originally in a good mood, we can settle all accounts after you play this one song and I wouldn’t bother you again, yet you refuse to, so what should I do?”
Regardless of what he said, Ah Luo firmly reminded herself that if she revealed she could play the zither, it would cause great trouble in the future, so she continued to shake her head. Seeing that he couldn’t persuade her, Liu Jue called the maid outside, “Bring the zither!”
Liu Jue sat next to a low table, stretched out his hands, and the notes of the zither rang out to form the melody of <Fragrant Orchid>. Ah Luo saw that he was also a frequent zither player and was skillful in music. She remembered that this was the piece played by Gu Tian Lin at the Peach Blossom Banquet. Seeing that Liu Jue was playing with great concentration, she thought to herself that it turned out he was angry at the Fourth Prince because the one he liked had been given away in marriage. She couldn’t help saying, “This is a marriage appointed by the Emperor. Who knows, maybe Zi Li had fallen in love with Miss Gu early on. Who told you to act late!”
Liu Jue slammed his hands on the strings and a cacophonous “trill” sounded, abruptly halting the zither’s melody. “Liu Fei and Miss Gu are a match made in heaven, they match very well.”
Ah Luo thought for a while and laughed, “That’s right, I also think they are well-matched. One plays zither and the other plays the xiao. It’s a great harmony between the husband and wife, better than other people who sigh alone.”
Yet Liu Jue did not become annoyed, “I’m afraid Liu Fei has never even heard Miss Gu’s zither. He missed the Peach Blossom Banquet.”
Ah Luo picked up a cup of tea and slowly savoured it, “It doesn’t matter if he hadn’t heard it yet, for he will be even more pleasantly surprised when he hears it later on! The two of them make a perfect couple and it’s just as you said, they really match each other!”
Liu Jue said strangely, “When he has Gu Tian Lin in the future, will he still have a place for you in his mind? It would become rather difficult for him to accompany you to dinner.”
Ah Luo was startled, then relieved. Zi Li marrying Gu Tian Lin would have to wait until after the Crown Prince’s wedding, so it would be in spring next year. Enough money would be made in this half a year.
Liu Jue thought that he had hit the nail on the head with Ah Luo’s thoughts and seeing that she cared so much about Liu Fei, he smiled coldly, “If you learn this song, <Fragrant Orchid>, I won’t make things difficult for you anymore.”
Ah Luo blinked, “Actually, if you want to hear someone play this song, I’m sure that there are many people who can do that on this flower boat, so is it worth the trouble to make me play it for you? Besides, I can’t play the zither. This piece is too difficult, I can’t learn it.”
Liu Jue said, “Even if you can’t play it, you will be able to after you learn it. If you can’t today, then I’ll come to your residence and pick you up. You’ll learn it eventually.”
Ah Luo glared at him, “Why are you so unreasonable? If I can’t, how can you force me to learn? If I learn to play the song that the girl you liked played, would it be the same as her playing it for you?”
Liu Jue said, “If Miss Gu played for me, I would be all ears. Even if she doesn’t play for me, the one song I heard was heavenly so it doesn’t matter if I hear another one or not. If you want me to leave you alone, just play it for me.”
It suddenly occurred to Ah Luo that at the very least, she was still a daughter of a Minister and not just a girl from an average family. Did Liu Jue really dare to be so presumptuous? She smiled slightly as she sipped her tea and remarked, “This tea is delicately fragrant and has a pleasantly lasting aftertaste with a bright and clear colour, such good tea!” She didn’t mention playing the zither at all. Then she frowned as though she thought of something, “Seeing the position of the moon in the sky, it seems like it’s already rather late. If someone recognises that the Third Miss of Minister Li is lingering outside so late at night, tell me, do you think my father would throw up blood in anger and request the Emperor to punish you?”
Liu Jue saw that she had racked her brains to come up with this trick and said with a chuckle, “That’s right. If your father, the Right Minister, hears of a rumour that his youngest daughter spent time alone with a man on a flower boat until the moon was high in the sky, would he throw up blood? Generations of scholars with great reputation, yet you ruined their ethics and moral standards just like this? Tsk tsk, what would he do? Of course he would seek out the Emperor.”
Liu Jue smiled wickedly and walked up behind Ah Luo. Stretching out his neck, he chuckled in her ear, “He would seek out the Emperor and ask him to quickly appoint marriage! Marry off this shameless girl as early as possible. Of course, this prince is a very responsible person. Being alone in a room with Third Miss late at night, how could I let ignorant people tarnish Third Miss’ reputation? Third Miss hasn’t even reached a marriageable age yet, this prince couldn’t do something that causes such life-long harm.”
Listening to this, Ah Luo felt goosebumps pop up all over her neck. Forcing down the fear in her heart, she said to Liu Jue, “Fine, I’ll play. However, I can’t learn it so quickly so at least give me some time.”
Seeing that she compromised, Liu Jue’s mood improved greatly and he laughed, “No problem. This prince has time and when we left the residence, your father had sincerely said to return home happily. It seems like there is still around four hours before the moon will reach the midpoint in the sky. With Third Miss’ level of comprehension, not to mention sounding presentable, there should be no problem in completing the song!”
Ah Luo pouted, “I don’t know anything about the zither, not even where the notes are. If you send me home, I’ll play it for you another day when I’ve learned it.”
Liu Jue saw her mouth curl and felt overjoyed. He went to the zither, “Come, this prince will personally teach you the zither.”
Ah Luo put her chin on her hands and watched him very earnestly, asking him about this tone and that tune. Seeing as he was very patient, she asked him questions more and more frequently. Two hours passed by in a flash. Ah Luo was tired of asking and Liu Jue was tired of teaching. Liu Jue asked her, “Can you do it?”
Ah Luo shook her head. Liu Jue was so angry that he threw the zither, “How can you be this stupid?”
Ah Luo looked at him aggrievedly, “Young Prince, teach it again!”
With patience, Liu Jue again carefully explained the notes of the ancient pentatonic scale, the tones and pitches, and the finger movements. Ah Luo listened until she became drowsy. She mentally slapped herself awake and listened to him chatter on. Finally, Liu Jue asked her again, “You can do it now, right?”
Ah Luo was about to shake her head when she yawned. She hastily covered her mouth with her hand. Her eyes fell on Liu Jue’s face. He had a cold expression, “Were you making trouble for so long just to waste all the time?”
Startled, all traces of Ah Luo’s drowsiness disappeared and she waved her hand at him, “Young Prince, I really can’t feel anything towards the zither. I can remember a few notes and I’ll play them for you right now, but it won’t be a melody.”
Liu Jue felt doubtful, “You can play the flute, so why can’t you play the zither? In Feng City, nine out of ten ladies can play the zither with pretty good skills. Are you really a special case?”
Ah Luo began to make up a story, “They said when we were young, Eldest Sister grabbed the zither and wouldn’t let go, Second Sister grabbed the brush and wouldn’t let go, and I grabbed the flute. Later, Second Sister mastered calligraphy and went on to learn the zither, although she could never match up to Eldest Sister. Don’t even mention me, I’m hopelessly incompetent with the zither!”
Liu Jue said, “Forget it, what a disappointment!”
Ah Luo suppressed her joy and looking at Liu Jue, she said, “Can we return home now? I’m sleepy.”
Liu Jue said angrily, “Let’s leave and go back.”
Ah Luo spoke again, “Remember that it’s clear between us now. There are no grudges and I don’t owe you anymore.”
An evil smile appeared on the corner of Liu Jue’s mouth, “How could I hold a grudge against you? Am I such a petty person?”
Ah Luo rushed to flatter him, “Young Prince has a dignified demeanor and is extremely refined and naturally talented. A man with the bearing of such a noble family cannot be a petty person.”
Liu Jue gave an ‘oh’, then suddenly asked, “Between the Fourth Prince and I, who has a more dignified demeanor, who is more refined, and who is more more talented?”
Ah Luo replied immediately, “Both of you have your own merits, hehe. Personally, I think that you’re better.” She thought to herself, was that enough?
Liu Jue smiled again, “To have obtained Third Miss’ favour, I will certainly live up to Third Miss’ expectations.”
Seeing that he was talking weirdly, Ah Luo felt that there was some profound meaning that she couldn’t figure out. She could only follow him downstairs.
When they reached the stairs on the second floor, there was the sound of a zither. Liu Jue halted to listen and Ah Luo did the same. Liu Jue suddenly glanced at Ah Luo who had furrowed her brows. When her expression returned to normal, he couldn’t help but wonder in surprise. At that time, the sound of the zither had been wrong. Liu Jue thought to himself that it might have just been a coincidence. Somehow, he couldn’t believe a word that this Third Miss had said after her apology, yet he hadn’t been able to find any loopholes. Just what was amiss?
When Ah Luo returned to the Minister’s residence, she instantly went to Minister Li to report. Minister Li looked at her with a slight smile and a loving expression, “Ah Luo, did you get along well with the Young Prince today?”
Ah Luo replied straightforwardly, “We had dinner at Liu Xiang Hua Fang, then I played the flute. The Young Prince didn’t say much.”
Minister Li laughed and said, “The Young Prince is handsome and charming with a distinguished background. He is a good candidate. Ah Luo, spend more time with him.”
Ah Luo suddenly thought to herself, did this mean she could just go out of the residence without sneaking around? She said tentatively, “The Young Prince wants to meet up tomorrow. Can Ah Luo go?”
Minister Li was pleasantly surprised, “Go, why would you not go. Dress up beautifully and go.”
Ah Luo smiled slightly and said, “Understood. Ah Luo will return to the Begonia Garden now.”
To be able to openly leave the residence would prevent accidentally giving themselves away when she wasn’t at home. This opportunity was all thanks to the Young Prince. On her way back, Ah Luo chuckled.
When Liu Jue returned to the prince’s palace, he stared blankly at the portrait on the wall. Was it truly because he couldn’t forget Gu Tian Lin that he had asked Ah Luo to learn <Fragrant Orchid>? Ah Luo’s eyes that were embedded in Gu Tian Lin’s face seemed to become more and more lively. Liu Jue lay on the couch and gazed at those eyes, tapping the armrest lightly with his finger. Just what was amiss? After a while, he summoned Liu Ying, “Go and find out the situation in Minister Li’s residence quickly. I want all the information about this Third Miss in the Minister’s residence. Also, find someone to watch her from tomorrow onwards. She knows martial arts, so be careful.”
