Legend has it that Fuxi, guided by Goumang, the God of the East, fashioned the first guqin from the wood of a paulownia tree after hearing the cry of a phoenix. Other legends attribute the instrument’s origin to Shennong or Lord Yu, but it has always been regarded as the music of the refined gentleman, the king of a hundred instruments. There are "Five Don’ts" when it comes to playing the guqin: one does not play in high winds or heavy rain, in a bustling marketplace, in the presence of the vulgar, while standing, or when improperly dressed. "One must possess the outward appearance of the ancients to be worthy of the Sage’s instrument." Thus, once Xue Yishan had his awakening, he no longer wore rouge or gaudy silks when facing his zither.
At this moment, Master Feng was still wrapped in his warm cushions, his collar loosely draped. His silver-white hair was gathered in a simple, trembling house-style bun without a cap or crown. Though his attire was informal, it lent him the romantic, unrestrained air of a renowned scholar. The attendants brought forth the guqin, placing it slightly off-center. He sat not directly facing the fifth hui, but closer to the fourth. Yet, he remained relaxed and did not adjust it, clearly a matter of personal preference. Every master has their own habits; being too rigid is, in itself, a form of conventionality.
His instrument, "Xianxie," appeared to be a Song Dynasty guqin. Its form was the slender and elegant Shennong style, with a vermilion lacquer base and "flowing water" crack patterns. From the Tang and Song dynasties onward, the plump, brilliant vermilion or yellow lacquers were gradually replaced by a uniform black, losing the gorgeous, seductive colors of a golden age. This zither bore traces of subtle repairs in several places and was exceptionally well-maintained. It was clearly an instrument he kept close at hand, frequently touched and played, giving the lacquer a clear, warm luster.
As the first note flowed out, it carried the misty essence of water. Outside the window lay a world of ice and snow, trees like jade pears, yet the room was filled with the warmth of late spring or early summer, as if one could see the grass growing and the orioles flying. The originally grand and upright *Guan Ju* was interpreted by him with a vigorous, passionate vitality that transcended mere moralizing. It felt like a reserved blessing for a young couple’s marriage, allowing even this old man to radiate a youthful joy.
Listening to this piece, my face flushed crimson, yet I was uncontrollably moved, my eyes sparkling as I blinked at him. He squinted and smiled, carrying that spring sentiment forward into the warmth of approaching summer with a brisk, bright little tune called *He Ming Gao*—Cranes Crying in the Marsh. At his signal, the waiting singing girl revealed two small dimples and began to chant charmingly while striking the clappers:
"Duckweed leaves are soft, apricot blossoms bright, the painted boat is clear. A pair of bathing mandarins emerge from the green bank, to the sound of rowing songs."
"The spring waters have no wind or waves. The spring sky is half rain, half clear. Rosy powder follows to the Southern Shore at dusk, filled with lingering sentiment."
I smiled silently. Amidst the music, I looked toward Wei Qingming, only to find she had been watching me for who knows how long. She wore a gentle, refined smile, the silkworm-like muscles beneath her narrow eyes curving upward, making her pale, star-like pupils as beautiful as peach blossoms.
Eunuch Feng took everything in as he played, smiling kindly. But as he finished, for some unknown reason, the corners of his mouth gradually turned bitter, and he lowered his eyes. He had said he would gift us two songs as a blessing, but as he stroked the strings, he frowned in quiet contemplation for a moment. Then, he plucked a single note—as if he couldn't bear to, or perhaps out of hesitation. He plucked that same note three or four times, lightly then heavily, before finally transitioning into a complete piece. It was the *Xiangsi Qu*—the Song of Yearning—steeped in the deep melancholy of autumn.
Legend says that Su Dongpo once took a courtesan and his guqin to visit the Hongfu Temple in Qiongzhou. The woman suddenly fell ill and passed away, so he buried the guqin beneath a wall. Later, the Prefect of Qiongzhou stayed at the temple and heard a woman’s sorrowful singing at night. Thinking the monks were behaving lewdly, he moved to punish them. An old monk explained the story, and the Prefect ordered the wall to be excavated. Indeed, they found a woman clutching a guqin, along with a poem titled *Xiangsi Qu*, which was the song heard in the night.
As Master Feng played this piece, it was initially lingering and desolate like a lonely autumn night, but it gradually transcended the realm of tragic romance. He was expressing his own suppressed frustrations. The singing girl hesitated for a moment, wondering if she should accompany him, but Wei Qingming stopped her with a slight shake of her head.
When the song finally ended, my collar was wet with tears.
Eunuch Feng opened his half-closed eyes and gestured for Wei Qingming to wipe my tears. He shook his head with an apologetic smile. "Ah, I’m old. My heart is always filled with the chill of autumn. This song... I shouldn't have played it."
"Master, please do not say such things," Wei Qingming advised softly, her eyes lowered. "It is only that sorrowful sounds hurt the spirit. You must take care of yourself."
"Fine, fine. No more playing, no more playing," he said with a wave of his hand, signaling the attendants to remove the zither table. I couldn't tell if he meant he wouldn't "play" anymore or wouldn't "talk" anymore.
I looked at him earnestly, offering warm words of comfort. He forced himself to rally his spirits and respond, but once the autumn hue had settled on his face, it was hard to erase. After a few words, he smiled. "It’s getting late. There’s a banquet tonight. Though I’d like to keep you young lovers a while longer, the guests are all filthy sorts. It’s a loud, rowdy occasion; better you don't see it." Wei Qingming and I rose to take our respectful leave. He smiled as he ordered the servants to see us out, picking up his cat and watching us depart.
On the carriage ride back, seeing that I was still immersed in the sorrow of that final song, Wei Qingming pulled me into her arms to comfort me. "With so many affairs troubling him, it’s inevitable that Master Feng feels stifled. He is a man of broad mind; he will be over it in a moment. An artist must have emotions as delicate as silk to reach the heights of their craft. We needn't suffer with him."
I stuffed my hand into her palm, kneading it aimlessly for a long while before asking, "Is it because he opposes the war? Has the Emperor’s attitude toward Master Feng changed?"
Wei Qingming nodded slightly, her expression calm and steady. "The Emperor has been on the throne for only sixteen years, yet he has already achieved everything a sovereign could desire. Grand Secretary Zhang Yingdu is a minister for the ages. Currently, the administration is clean, the treasury is full, the people are at peace, and the land is prosperous. It is truly a time of peace and harmony. If he does not add a great victory from a Southern or Northern expedition, would it not be a regret for this 'Golden Age'? Master Feng has come to terms with it. He says that since it is the Son of Heaven’s wish, he will obtain it for him. Our Yingzhao Temple exists only to exhaust our hearts and blood for the monarch until death."
I fell silent at her words, thinking back to six years ago at the post station outside the capital. Back then, she could joke about becoming a carefree bandit in the mountains if she ever tired of court affairs. But now, even if she wanted to withdraw, she couldn't. She wasn't doing this for the monarch, but for the debt of gratitude she owed Master Feng.
Back at home, Wei Qingming accompanied me through a meal filled with laughter, but then she had to leave in a hurry, not returning for several days. The cook she had specifically chosen was from Jinzhou, and the dishes all tasted of home; even in these small details, her love was evident, which only made me feel more guilty. I comforted her with a smile: "Let’s not be the sort of vulgar people who fret over every separation. Go do what you must; just send word so I know you’re safe. Now that I, Su Zhenzhen, have entered the capital, I have my own grand plans to execute. By the time I'm busy, you might be the one unable to find a moment of my time!"
She chuckled at that, shaking her head with lowered eyes. When she looked up again, her expression had cleared. She stepped forward, pulled me into a hug, and kissed me before turning to leave.
Once she was gone, I inevitably felt a bit lonely and desolate, but I didn't indulge in self-pity. Though my words had been a joke to comfort her, I truly did have a plan. First, of course, was the family business she had entrusted to me. I had already asked Honglu to bring the complete ledgers and stack them in the study. Having the free time, I called Muyu to help me organize them, using the opportunity to test her skills. As expected, Muyu had learned much while serving the First Madam; she had a great deal of practical experience in these matters. It seemed I would be able to save a lot of effort in the future.
I spent three full days reviewing the ledgers. When the weather cleared, I scheduled meetings with the managers of several merchant houses, intending to test their mettle and get a feel for the situation.
Despite being prepared, I was still shocked by the complexity of the industries Wei Qingming held. Setting aside distant locations for a moment, she had a stake in almost every major merchant guild in the capital region, especially the Wantong Chamber of Commerce. Because she had been in league with Ling Chunan for the longest time, on the surface, a few elders made the decisions, but in reality, the two of them called the shots on all major matters. The industries involved were numerous and spread across the country, particularly in the wealthy regions of Wuyue, such as Anjing and Jiangdu, where they held many of the most profitable trades. Many of the daily necessities we women in the capital were familiar with could, if traced back through various twists and turns, be found to have some connection to the merchant houses she partnered with. Well, she is the head of the most well-informed spy agency, after all; naturally, she sails whichever way the wind blows best. Isn't that how mountains and seas of silver are blown in?
As I looked through them, I couldn't help but feel for her. Even with a heart of seven apertures, these matters alone would be enough to keep her from sleeping, let alone her primary duties at Yingzhao Temple. Money isn't easy to earn! Therefore, she likely couldn't pay close attention to every detail of the business. It was only right that I audit the accounts and catch any "moths" for her.
Among these old foxes, there were naturally a few restless ones. Despite Wei Qingming’s personal orders and the fact that I held the seals and contracts, some still offered passive resistance, putting on airs and playing tricks. After dealing out the appropriate lashes and carrots, things became much clearer. Every night when I went home, I happily pored over the ledgers, calculating. By next year, our family’s income wouldn't just be a few "cents" more than the inflated figure I gave for the Nie family—it would far exceed it!
On paper, aside from the two capitals, the largest number of assets were located in Suizhou, which I found a bit strange. Suizhou is the heart of the fourteen provinces, a hub connecting seven provinces. Businesses like inns, escort agencies, and transport companies do best there, and those were exactly what Wei Qingming held. The strange thing was that while the numbers were high, the vast majority were scattered in remote towns outside the provincial capital and major cities. The profits were relatively thin; it seemed less about making money and more about facilitating the collection of intelligence. Logically, shouldn't these intelligence outposts be set up by the Temple? Could they be considered her personal property? She had once swallowed half of the *Into the Dream* shops as outposts, but that was a unique case in the capital and had since been dismantled. Suizhou was also far outside the jurisdiction of a Commander whose main operations were in the capital. There was definitely something fishy going on.
After a busy ten days, A-Wan returned home with a letter in Wei Qingming’s own hand. While holding a cup of tea to warm herself, she said with a smile that Wei would be back tomorrow and urged me to open the letter. Overjoyed, I read it immediately. It said that Wen Fifth Brother had returned to the capital, and tomorrow there would be a large gathering of the younger generation of the Wen family. She was asking if I would be willing to go with her.
"Of course I’m going!" I gave the letter a big kiss, then nibbled on the corner of it for a while, delighted. "How could an ambitious woman pass up a chance to climb such a high family tree? I need to start preparing!"
A-Wan and Muyu were also laughing uncontrollably, offering suggestions on how to dress me up. They went all out to create the image of the most desperate social climber in the capital, and for a time, our giggles nearly lifted the roof.
Jokes aside, I, Su Zhenzhen, couldn't actually go that route. Dressing more dignified than a primary wife would be too obvious a cover-up. I needed the fresh, charming look of a young girl—fitting for the age on my resume, which was two years younger than my actual age—while also carrying the subtle intent to outshine those daughters of "respectable" families.
The next day, I was dressed and ready early. With fifteen minutes to go before the appointed time, I hurried to the door, lifting my skirts.
It had snowed recently, but a "corrosive rain" had also fallen. This kind of winter rain doesn't freeze into ice; it slides over the clean white snow in a sticky mess, leaving behind patches of stains.
With less than five minutes to go, a carriage rolled leisurely from the quiet end of the alley. I found the driver very familiar. When he lifted the brim of his hat, I laughed. Wasn't that Luo Cheng!
Having seen Wei Qingming’s memories, I guessed that ever since I had called him to help surround that thug Xun Ba, he had become her eyes and ears. He naturally complied with all my requests. For instance, on that New Year’s Eve, even though Du Chuilun was escorting me, he had gone out of his way to see me back to the shop. After all, if something happened to the person his superior had specifically ordered him to watch over, he’d lose his head! I understood Wei Qingming’s intentions and methods from back then, so I wasn't angry with Luo Cheng.
I gave a snort of laughter and teased, "Brother Luo, you’ve really moved up in the world! You’re even driving the carriage for the Commander now. Shouldn't you thank me?"
He maintained his usual cold, wooden expression, but his words were quite flattering as he thanked me. We shared a knowing smile.
Inside the carriage, Wei Qingming had already lifted the curtain. She held a book in one hand, her elbow resting on her knee as she leaned forward slightly, looking at me with squinted, smiling eyes. I didn't wait for help; I practically leaped into the carriage and threw myself into her arms. She caught me steadily, lowered the curtain, and pulled me onto her lap.
***
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