Marrying The Imperial Elder Chapter 15

Zhen Tingyun, however, did not possess Yuanhui’s complicated and conflicted thoughts.

After finishing her calligraphy practice, she set down her brush. Once she had gathered her thoughts, she remembered that she needed to discuss tomorrow’s travel arrangements with Yuanhui. “The Regent’s procession will be leaving tomorrow. We will probably set out the day after. But my family only has two carriages in total. If we bring you along, I’m afraid it may be inconvenient.”

After hearing her explanation, Yuanhui replied as though it were the most natural thing in the world, “Let your two maids accompany your grandmother in the front carriage. You can ride with me in the rear carriage.”

Zhen Tingyun looked troubled. “I’m afraid Grandmother can’t do without me. Besides, men and women should not sit together after the age of seven. Although such restrictions aren’t enforced very strictly these days, it still wouldn’t look good for the two of us to ride in the same carriage.”

Yuanhui answered casually, “You already call me ‘Teacher.’ Since your teacher is currently unwell, what’s wrong with a disciple attending to him?”

After a pause, he added another inducement. “Though travel is tiring, the time spent on the road shouldn’t be wasted. If we share a carriage, I can teach you more along the way.”

That was true.

Zhen Tingyun was immediately tempted, though she still hesitated somewhat.

Yuanhui had a great many crooked arguments in his head, but he always presented them with complete confidence. “The entrance examinations for the women’s academy will be held next June. Your foundation is already weak, yet you’re still dithering about, worrying over every little thing. How do you expect to pass the examination?”

“In learning, only those who devote themselves wholeheartedly and become utterly absorbed can achieve success. Take Zheng Banqiao for example. He became obsessed with practicing calligraphy. Even when there was no desk or paper, he would trace characters on his own leg during spare moments. Sometimes he became so engrossed that he even wrote on his wife’s leg. In the end, he achieved mastery and created his own style of script. And what about you?”

Zhen Tingyun immediately made up her mind and nodded. “Teacher’s criticism is correct. I was being too constrained.”

The more she thought about it, the more reasonable it seemed. Her studies were still incomplete. She was only half-educated at best. How could she afford to worry about something like “men and women should not sit together after the age of seven”?

After settling the matter of the carriage, Zhen Tingyun finally took out the bamboo xiao she had recently purchased. Holding it respectfully with both hands, she presented it to Yuanhui. “Please instruct me, Teacher.”

Yuanhui did not refuse. He took the bamboo xiao, first wiping it carefully with a handkerchief before raising it to his lips and playing a tune in front of her.

He was handsome by nature, and his hands were long-fingered and powerful, like works of art carved from jade. When those hands held the bamboo flute and lifted it to his thin lips, even the flute seemed transformed. Its rough craftsmanship suddenly appeared simple and elegant, imbued with a natural grace and hidden refinement.

Without realizing it, Zhen Tingyun also became solemn and attentive, listening carefully.

A moment later, the sound of the xiao rose.

At first, perhaps because he was still recovering from illness and lacked strength, or perhaps because the quality of the xiao itself was poor, the music seemed slightly impeded.

But soon it flowed freely.

Like a mountain stream rushing over pale white stones, the melody danced with the current, becoming increasingly clear and melodious, soaring and enchanting.

Even the birds startled among the branches outside the window gradually quieted down. One by one they fluttered back to the trees, settling on the branches as though silently listening to a heavenly melody rarely heard in the mortal world.

Only then did Zhen Tingyun finally understand why Yuanhui had looked down upon her qin playing.

Because the music from Yuanhui’s flute was true music. The kind of music that could make a listener “forget the taste of meat for three months.”

Hearing it, Zhen Tingyun suddenly understood.

When the ancient master musician Boya played the qin with lofty mountains in his heart, Zhong Ziqi had praised him, saying, “Magnificent indeed! Lofty as Mount Tai.”

When Boya played with flowing waters in mind, Zhong Ziqi had likewise exclaimed, “Wonderful indeed! Vast as rivers and streams.”

Only now did she realize that these were not exaggerated inventions of the ancients.

Music truly could contain towering Mount Tai and mighty rivers within it.

When the piece ended, Zhen Tingyun remained lost in thought for a long while before finally coming back to herself.

The first thing she said was: “You play really well.”

The second was: “When will I be able to play as well as you?”

Yuanhui thought to himself: While it’s certainly a good thing to “see the worthy and strive to emulate them,” isn’t Zhen Tingyun striving a little too quickly? Hasn’t she considered her own foundation at all? Still, he had no intention of crushing his student’s confidence. After a moment’s thought, he offered a tactful reassurance. “If you learn steadily, you’ll improve eventually.”

Of course, Yuanhui privately felt that reaching his level required not only diligent practice but also a measure of natural talent.

As he spoke, he explained some additional principles of music theory before handing the bamboo xiao back to her. “Try sounding it yourself first. Pay attention to your breathing, keep it even and steady.”

Taking the flute, Zhen Tingyun was about to put it to her lips when she suddenly realized something. There was only one flute. He had just played it, and now she was about to play it. Wasn’t that a little…

However, when she remembered that buying another flute would mean spending her own money, Zhen Tingyun immediately decided to keep quiet.

Forget it. If Yuanhui doesn’t mention it, neither will I. Saving a little is still saving a little.

So, without saying a word, she fetched a handkerchief and slowly wiped the flute a couple of times before finally trying to play it.

Seeing her wipe the flute, Yuanhui belatedly became aware of the issue himself.

To be honest, it had genuinely never occurred to him that teaching someone to play the flute would involve teacher and student sharing a single instrument. Naturally, he had not anticipated all the awkward complications that might arise from that.

Still, since Zhen Tingyun had said nothing, Yuanhui thought it over and likewise chose not to mention it. He simply pretended the matter had never crossed his mind.

After all, discussing such a thing openly would probably only embarrass a young woman even more.

And so their xiao lessons continued.

She would wipe the flute once, then he would wipe it once. By the end, the newly purchased bamboo xiao had been polished until it was smooth and glossy, its rich green surface gleaming as though it had been handled and caressed for years.

By the conclusion of the lesson, Zhen Tingyun’s cheeks were faintly red. Immediately after lunch, she sent Liushun out once more to buy another bamboo xiao.

Sigh. As expected, not a single expense can be spared when it comes to education.

***

That evening, Zhen Tingyun once again discussed their departure plans for the day after tomorrow with Old Lady Zhen.

Naturally, the carriage arrangements had to be mentioned as well.

However, when dealing with her grandmother, Zhen Tingyun presented the matter quite differently. “What, exactly, are you thinking?” she said. 

“Mr. Yuan looks to be in his late twenties at least. He surely has a wife and children at home already. Since I call him ‘Teacher,’ I regard him as an elder. It would simply be a matter of attending to one’s teacher. There’s no need to be so particular about it.”

Old Lady Zhen was already mostly convinced, though she still objected verbally. “You haven’t performed a formal apprenticeship ceremony, nor have you presented tuition gifts. He can hardly be considered a proper teacher.”

Lowering her voice, Zhen Tingyun explained, “I mainly want to learn more from him. If we travel in the same carriage, I can study beside him along the way. Whenever I don’t understand something, I can ask. He’d be embarrassed to withhold knowledge, so naturally I’ll learn more without wasting the time spent traveling.”

Old Lady Zhen was no fool herself. Hearing this, she found the reasoning quite persuasive. “That’s true. As the old saying goes, ‘Once the apprentice learns everything, the master starves.’ Shop owners make apprentices stay by their side and work for years before teaching them properly. Since you’re learning from him for free, you’d better put some effort into it.”

Then she proceeded to pass along some of her own wisdom regarding the fine art of learning from others. “When you’re around him, remember to sweeten your tongue. Say more nice things. Good words don’t cost money. Since you’re trying to learn from him, ask more questions and talk more. Keep him happy, and you’ll learn more.”

After sharing these valuable tips on “stealing a master’s skills,” she lowered her voice further and asked conspiratorially, “By the way, was he the one playing the xiao this morning? I have to say, it sounded awfully nice. Even Madam Li from next door came by to ask about it. You’d better work hard and learn properly. If you can master that xiao-playing skill, then all this effort won’t be wasted.”

Zhen Tingyun nodded repeatedly, full of ambition. “Grandmother, don’t worry. One day I’ll definitely play better than he does!”

Seeing her granddaughter’s confidence, Old Lady Zhen did not have the heart to dampen her spirits.

The truth was that she had heard Yuanhui’s performance.

Later, when Zhen Tingyun practiced the xiao herself, the sounds had come out in fits and starts. Calling it unpleasant would have been putting it kindly.

As a result, Old Lady Zhen had decisively stuffed cotton into her ears before taking a nap in her room.

Come to think of it, the cotton-in-the-ears method had originally been developed during Zhen Tingyun’s early qin-learning days.

At the thought of once again living through a period of ear-stuffing, Old Lady Zhen felt as though she had aged five years on the spot. It was exhausting just thinking about it.

Author’s Note:

Zhen Tingyun: I regard you as a teacher, yet you’re thinking…!!!

Yuanhui: More like you regard me as a walking wallet, right?

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