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墨書 Inktalez
San Chun felt a slight flush on his face; he probably guessed that she had gone to change.
The Noble Lady was teased in public, and it was naturally embarrassing for her. She shot him a fierce glare, considering it revenge.
Qi smiled back at her. In the past, she would tell disgusting jokes at the dinner table, but now she seemed refined?
San Chun had someone move the qin platform close to the palace gate. He smiled at Pang Gui, who returned the smile. The two nodded at each other, and soon the sound of the qin filled the grand hall. The music was melodious, like high mountains and flowing water, soothing and resonant, making listeners feel as if they were appreciating nature's most beautiful scenery, bringing peace to their hearts.
Then the sound of the xiao began as well. The clear notes of the xiao brushed over the heart like a gentle breeze, calming the restless spirit and gradually bringing tranquility to the mind.
The two sounds complemented each other in an unexpectedly harmonious way, as if standing on a high mountain, looking down from the peak: to the left was a vast field of wheat ready for harvest, waves of grain swaying in the wind, creating ripples similar to water patterns. To the right was a river where several fishermen were casting their nets; occasionally, fish leaped from the water, their silver scales shimmering in the sunlight... Of course, it would be best if all this land and fish belonged to her; that would be the epitome of goodness and beauty in the world.
Her thoughts were so delightful that she almost touched the qin strings with her fingers. Hearing a faint noise, she quickly focused her mind again and continued to feign being absorbed in the atmosphere she had created.
As the piece ended, praises filled the hall; everyone said they had never heard such wonderful music before.
Qi couldn't help but burst into laughter, her hand holding the wine cup trembling with mirth. Yan Dan could play the qin? It was simply absurd. She used to play too femininely; only women liked such things. A true man like her would rather play the xiao or strike a bianzhong instead. So in the end, she only learned ** and could manage to play two or three tunes.
When she saw someone moving her seat earlier, he sensed something was off; hearing the music later confirmed his suspicions. Even a true Ju Dan wouldn't produce such heartfelt and exquisite sounds; there must be someone skilled assisting her.
Qing thought similarly and secretly speculated about who had helped her.
After a while, Ji Xun entered from outside and inevitably faced questions about where he had been. He smiled lightly, "The scenery outside is quite nice; I just wandered around."
As soon as he finished speaking, he received glances from different directions—one from above and one from his lower side.
Ji Xun nodded at both of them and returned their smiles.
The three of them locked eyes for a moment before turning away, as if nothing had happened.
San Chun was afraid of being seen through regarding her earlier deception and worried that someone might cause trouble again, so she returned to her original seat. She had always been consciously shrinking back behind Madam Ju, ignoring the glances that occasionally drifted her way.
As the banquet progressed, she paid little attention to what Yan Wang, Gongzi Qiulan, and Young Master Ji Xun were doing or saying; all she wanted was to leave this place as soon as possible.
When the banquet ended, Madam Ju did not leave the palace directly but went to meet Empress Dowager Hua in the inner palace. She returned home with Ju Rong, and during the carriage ride, her father spoke meaningfully about marriage, asking her what kind of person she would like to marry.
In truth, San Chun had not thought much about this matter. Her memories only contained fragments, and she couldn't even be sure if the person in those memories was really her. With such vague feelings and unclear memories, how could she truly hold someone in her heart and discuss love?
She replied, "Father, it's still early to talk about marriage. Please give me some time."
Ju Rong sighed, "I know you still have Zheng Lan in your heart."
San Chun smiled but didn't know how to respond. The truth was that she had no impression of what Zheng Lan was like; instead, when she met Zhong Xue, Ji Xun, and Uncle Qi, she felt occasional fluttering emotions as if they had known each other for a long time. If she were to elope with Ji Xun, she would believe it; as for Zheng Lan, it just didn't seem real.
"Let's talk about this later. I'm still young and can enjoy my freedom for another couple of years."
"That's true. Dan'er is only seventeen. Although Noble Lady married early, my Daughter of Ju Rong will definitely find a good match."
Hearing this warmed San Chun's heart. She wanted to lean on his shoulder and act spoiled; having a father felt wonderful and was completely different from how it used to feel when she was younger. She truly hoped to stay by his side forever; regardless of whether she was truly his daughter or not, she wanted to be his daughter.
Gently resting her head on his arm, she murmured, "Father, I will take good care of you."
"You silly child, as long as you have that intention." He reached out and gently patted her head.
The two of them chatted quietly, and before they knew it, the carriage had stopped in front of the gate. After getting off, Ju Rong returned to her room to rest, while San Chun strolled back slowly on her own. To be honest, every time she returned to her residence, a string in her heart was always tense, fearing that she might inadvertently see someone she did not want to see.
At this moment, it was already evening. The fiery red sunset transitioned from light to deep, from pale to rich, casting a blush over the sky. The sunset sprinkled golden rays upon the earth, draping the entire estate in a golden veil like cicada wings.
As she walked leisurely, admiring the rare beauty of the sunset, she suddenly felt a tap on her shoulder. Startled, she instinctively exclaimed, "Dong Dong, are you trying to scare me?"
"Who is Dong Dong?" a male voice replied.
San Chun felt a surge of joy and quickly turned around to see Qing standing there with a gentle smile.
"How did you get in?"
He pointed at the wall with a slightly awkward expression.
San Chun chuckled; he had always been someone who cared about his pride, so admitting to climbing over the wall was not an easy thing for him.
Looking around and not seeing Dong Dong, she wondered where that guy had gone. This was not a suitable place for conversation, so she hurriedly brought him into her room to avoid any trouble if Dong Dong returned and saw them.
It had been a long time since they last met, and there was much to talk about. San Chun bombarded him with questions, and Qing answered each one with a smile.
He was originally Prince of Qin, Qiu Lan. Six years ago, he was forced to flee due to the schemes of the Queen and the Crown Prince.
When San Chun asked him what had happened, he sighed bitterly and said, "The Queen falsely accused me of having an affair with my father's beloved concubine. My father wanted to kill me; my mother was so ashamed and angry that she committed suicide. That is how I managed to survive. Although my father did not kill me, he banished me from Qin State. I can never return to Qin again in my lifetime."
San Chun listened with sorrowful sympathy; no wonder he rarely showed a smile before—he carried such deep grievances. Conflicts among royal families like his were common in palaces across various nations; one could not rise to power without eliminating rivals. Zhong Xue also cleared out many brothers before ascending to his current position.
Thinking of Zhong Xue, he couldn't help but ask, "How did you come to know Chengyang Jun?"
At this, a slight frown appeared on Qing's face. In fact, it was he who had sought out Chengyang Jun. Among those who could help him, only Chengyang Jun was capable. He feared no one but Chengyang Jun of Wei Kingdom. He remembered a time when Chengyang Jun visited Qin State and made a fool of Qin Wang, leaving him in a miserable state with no way to voice his grievances. Since then, Qin Wang had harbored a shadow in his heart, becoming wary of Chengyang Jun. Moreover, with Wei Kingdom's strong military, any general from there could instill fear wherever they went. However, Chengyang Jun would not help him for free; they had an agreement, but the matters involved were confidential to Qin State and could not be disclosed.
He smiled slightly and simply said that Chengyang Jun was willing to help him.
San Chun did not believe that Zhong Xue was so noble. If he were truly willing to help others, even an elephant could be trampled by an ant. Qing's reluctance had its reasons, and she did not want to pry further, so she changed the subject and asked why he had returned to Yan Kingdom.
Qing explained that after returning to Qin State, although Qin Wang had reluctantly acknowledged him, there remained a lingering resentment. As long as the events of that year could not be clarified, he would forever be a knot in his father's heart. Qin Wang likely thought the same way; that was why he sent him to Yan Kingdom under the pretense of signing a contract, but in reality, he just did not want to see him.
Despite Qin Wang's selfish motives, signing the contract was imperative. Since the great war, relations among the states had been tense. Everyone knew they needed to recuperate, so they sent envoys to other nations to sign peace agreements. Yan Kingdom was the primary target for all nations seeking alliances.
San Chun had also vaguely guessed this reasoning, so there was no need for him to elaborate further; it was already clear in his mind.
After chatting for a while, it was already dark outside.
Looking out from the open window, the sky resembled a piece of washed blue-black coarse cloth; the dark night seemed like an endless expanse of thick ink smeared across the horizon, devoid of even the faintest starlight. It evoked a sense of oppression.
Qing stood up as if intending to take her leave but hesitated and turned back to sit down again, appearing as if she wanted to say something yet held back.
San Chun blinked and said, "Qing has something to say." He had never seen her so shy before.
Qing gritted her teeth as if making a firm decision and said resolutely, "Marry me and make me your wife."
San Chun rubbed his ears in disbelief at what he had just heard. The thing she couldn't even ask for from him—would he really propose? And did proposing require such a heroic expression as if severing one's own wrist?
She reached out to touch his forehead, wanting to see if he had a fever. What nonsense was he talking about late at night?
Qing shook her hand away and huffed, "If you don't want to, then forget it."
There was really no sincerity. San Chun pouted, "Why do you suddenly want to marry me? What about Sister Zhu?"
"She has already left, and our fate has come to an end. We have to discuss marriage anyway. Rather than marrying some unfamiliar woman, it’s better to spend a lifetime bickering with you."
San Chun grinned, realizing that she was just a backup.
Seeing her half-hearted reaction, he added, "If you don’t agree, that’s fine too."
San Chun mumbled, "To have the renowned Gongzi Qiulan propose in person is certainly something to be desired."
Qing laughed lightly, "You really don’t know what shame is." He gave her a heavy knock on the top of her head, and San Chun exclaimed "Ouch," hugging her head and laughing.
From the current perspective, marrying Qing seemed like the best idea.
She liked him, but it wasn’t enough love; he felt the same way. This way, they wouldn’t have to worry about romantic feelings every night. Their marriage would settle into a mundane routine, lacking in drama but grounded in practical life mechanisms. Sometimes, that could also be a form of happiness.
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