The winter wind howled all night long. By morning, withered branches and fallen leaves had piled up throughout the streets of Chang’an, giving the entire city a desolate appearance.
The sun remained hidden behind dark clouds, and as the day barely brightened, there were few people on the streets. Inside a slowly moving carriage, Jiang Zhiyi yawned repeatedly.
Yesterday, after class, seeing that Brother A-Ce still seemed to be in a bad mood, she grew restless after returning to her mansion. She had the kitchen prepare a nourishing soup to calm the spirit and went to the Shen residence.
Unfortunately, it was rather late by the time the soup was ready, and Brother A-Ce had already gone to bed, so her trip was wasted.
After returning home, she instructed Gu Yu and Xiaoman to pull her out of bed the next morning, no matter what, so she wouldn’t be late again and disappoint Brother A-Ce.
Early that morning, Jiang Zhiyi fought drowsiness for a long time, silently repeating “Brother A-Ce is waiting for me” one hundred and eighty times. Finally, she climbed out of bed with a yawn, dressed and washed up in a daze, and boarded the carriage.
The carriage slowly traveled southeast through the city, stopping in front of the Tianchong Academy. Jiang Zhiyi, her eyes glistening with tears of exhaustion, walked in.
It was still early, and only a few young masters who lived in the dormitories had arrived at the classroom. Even the Prime Minister’s son, the most exemplary student in the Tian Hall, hadn’t arrived yet.
Entering the classroom and seeing that Yuan Ce hadn’t arrived, Jiang Zhiyi instructed Gu Yu to quietly place a steaming container of soup under his desk. She then took her seat and, propping her chin in her hand, caught up on sleep.
The sun gradually climbed higher, slowly breaking through the heavy clouds. Golden light poured through the window lattice onto the desk, warming her body and making her even more drowsy.
As Jiang Zhiyi rested with her eyes closed, she heard faint footsteps, voices, and yawns, rising and falling, sometimes near, sometimes far. It seemed the students were arriving one after another and, like her, taking their seats while overwhelmed with drowsiness.
Just as she was about to sink into sleep, a sharp “snap” of a ruler striking a desk suddenly rang out in the hall.
Jiang Zhiyi startled awake, and looking up, she saw the teacher was already standing at the podium, reminding everyone to stay alert and prepare for class.
Turning her head, she saw that the seat to her right was still empty.
Jiang Zhiyi signaled to Gu Yu with her eyes: Where is he?
Gu Yu mouthed back that he hadn’t arrived yet.
As the teacher began explaining the arrangement for the morning’s two classes, and Yuan Ce still hadn’t arrived, Jiang Zhiyi frowned. Just as she was about to send Gu Yu to inquire if something had happened, she saw a tall figure pass by the window—
Yuan Ce entered the classroom right as class was starting.
Jiang Zhiyi sighed in relief, watching him take his seat next to her. She called to him softly, pointing under his desk.
Yuan Ce didn’t turn to look at her, but he lowered his eyes and must have noticed the food container. However, after glancing at it briefly, he quickly looked forward again without opening it.
Perhaps he thought it was something inappropriate to eat during class.
Jiang Zhiyi sighed. It was a pity that despite her early rising, he had arrived late, and they hadn’t exchanged a single word. Even the soup she had prepared would go to waste.
Jiang Zhiyi glanced at the teacher on the podium. Today’s class was music, and the teacher appeared kind and gentle—likely not a “tough nut to crack.”
With this thought, Jiang Zhiyi pulled out a sheet of white paper and wrote a few small characters—
The container holds sweet pear soup, which can be drunk like tea without concern.
After writing, she folded it into a tiny square and handed it to Gu Yu.
Gu Yu understood immediately, and when the teacher lowered his head, she tossed the note to the right.
After tracing a winding arc, the note landed silently beside Yuan Ce’s foot.
The person who was usually extremely sensitive to surrounding movements seemed to notice nothing at all, staring fixedly at the podium without even blinking.
After waiting for some time, Jiang Zhiyi had no choice but to pull out another sheet of paper and write again. She nodded to Gu Yu, indicating that she should toss it onto his desk.
Gu Yu nodded and threw the note again, this time landing it on the corner of Yuan Ce’s desk.
But it seemed too far on the edge, as the person to the right still showed no awareness of it.
Patiently, Jiang Zhiyi pulled out a third sheet of paper. Seeing how difficult it was to toss the notes successfully, she thought it would be inefficient to write just one sentence if she managed to hit the target, so she added a few more lines—
I came to your residence last night; did Qing Song tell you?
The teacher mentioned before you arrived that today’s music class will pair students together to play the new melody he composed using whatever instruments they are proficient in. When drawing lots, do something clever so we can make music together with qin and se!
After folding the note again, she thought that perhaps Gu Yu and Brother A-Ce didn’t have enough affinity, so for this third attempt, Jiang Zhiyi decided to throw it herself. She narrowed one eye, aimed carefully, and tossed it forcefully toward Yuan Ce.
The note hit his hand squarely!
Jiang Zhiyi was delighted. From ten feet away, Yuan Ce exhaled deeply, looked down, and unfolded the note with one hand, scanning it: “…”
Seeing him look toward her, Jiang Zhiyi immediately gave him a meaningful glance.
Yuan Ce slowly shifted his gaze away, looking at the lot-drawing tube on the podium, and frowned slightly.
Seeing that he seemed to understand, Jiang Zhiyi felt greatly reassured and turned her head back just in time to hear the teacher say: “Everyone, come up and draw lots.”
Gu Yu lifted the pearl curtain and went forward on Jiang Zhiyi’s behalf.
“In ancient times, Yu Boya and Zhong Ziqi found a kindred spirit through ‘High Mountains and Flowing Water.’ Making friends through music has always been one of life’s great pleasures. Each instrument in the world has its unique timbre, and when any two play together, they can create countless beautiful harmonies. No matter who you are paired with today, it is a heaven-sent affinity. Perhaps after today, this Tian Hall might produce a modern-day Yu Boya and Zhong Ziqi—” The teacher on the podium smiled and stroked his beard, feeling that this class was an excellent innovation.
Jiang Zhiyi also smiled below, thinking this teacher was truly the most considerate in the Tianchong Academy.
Just then, Gu Yu returned with the lot and whispered: “I secretly showed the number to Commander Shen.”
Jiang Zhiyi gave her an appreciative look, watching the crowd gathered at the podium. After a while, she saw Yuan Ce walk back from the crowd.
Most of the lots had been drawn, and the students were whispering to each other, checking numbers, asking who had number one, who had number two.
As the students in the front rows had mostly found their partners and were leaving the classroom with their instruments to find quiet places to practice, Jiang Zhiyi glanced at Yuan Ce to her right, cleared her throat, and casually asked: “Who has number nine?”
Just as she was confidently waiting for a response, a voice suddenly came from the seat in front—”I do.”
Jiang Zhiyi stared at Pei Zisong, who had turned around, and was startled: “I said nine.”
Pei Zisong lowered his eyes to look at the lot in his hand, then turned the numbered side toward her.
It was the character for “nine.”
Jiang Zhiyi quickly turned to look to her right, just in time to see Yuan Ce walking out alone with his lot.
“A—Shen Yuance!” Jiang Zhiyi called out impulsively, stopping him.
Pei Zisong looked at Jiang Zhiyi, then at Yuan Ce’s stationary back: “If Young Master Jiang already has someone in mind for the duet, I can exchange lots with him.”
Jiang Zhiyi glanced at Pei Zisong, hesitating, when Yuan Ce, without turning around, said “No need” and left the classroom.
In the quiet corridor, Gu Yu silently followed behind Jiang Zhiyi and Pei Zisong, sensing a storm brewing.
Was it because Commander Shen hadn’t managed to manipulate the drawing and didn’t want to expose his relationship with the princess, so he refused to exchange lots with Young Master Pei?
But Commander Shen’s “No need” would reveal the situation to Young Master Pei. Since the outcome would be the same whether they exchanged lots or not, why would Commander Shen push the princess toward Pei Zisong?
Thinking back to the princess’s three notes, whether Commander Shen truly hadn’t seen the first two or had pretended not to… it all seemed suspicious.
If she could sense something amiss, the princess certainly had too. Gu Yu watched her mistress’s displeased face with growing concern.
Gu Yu: “Princess, if you don’t want to attend this class anymore, why don’t we go back and rest?”
Hearing this, Pei Zisong stopped and looked at Jiang Zhiyi: “If Young Master Jiang is tired, I can also go alone…”
“Who says I don’t want to? I very much want to!” Jiang Zhiyi said coldly with a snort. “I merely saw that Shen Yuance had an instrument I’ve never seen before and wanted to ask to try it. Who knew he would be so stingy… I brought my instrument. Didn’t the teacher say that any two instruments in the world can create countless beautiful harmonies? Why must it be his?”
Pei Zisong recalled that he hadn’t seen Yuan Ce carrying any instrument, but he nodded nonetheless: “In that case, I know a quiet place where we can sit. Young Master Jiang, please follow me.”
“Very well.” Jiang Zhiyi raised her chin and followed Pei Zisong forward.
After turning a corner, she unexpectedly saw a familiar bamboo grove and an octagonal pavilion.
It was where she had pulled Yuan Ce away in front of Pei Xueqing and later bandaged his injured hand.
Seeing Jiang Zhiyi suddenly stop, Pei Zisong turned back to look: “What’s wrong?”
“…Nothing,” Jiang Zhiyi raised her toe and walked into the pavilion first. “It truly is a good place for a performance.”
Someone in the depths of the bamboo grove heard the movement and came out: “It’s Brother Zisong and Young Master Jiang.”
Pei Zisong bowed to the newcomer: “Why is Brother Wenze here alone?”
“I was paired with Commander Shen, but he disappeared, so I’m left alone… I’ve long admired Young Master Jiang’s—” The person glanced at the octagonal pavilion and saw that Jiang Zhiyi had brought an ocarina. “—ocarina playing. If Brother Zisong is willing, would you perhaps exchange your lot with me?”
Remembering what had happened in the classroom earlier, Pei Zisong didn’t consult Jiang Zhiyi this time and replied directly: “Being paired together is fate. Fate isn’t an object that can be passed around. How could it be exchanged back and forth?”
Jiang Zhiyi’s eyelashes trembled as she sat in the pavilion, pressing her lips together.
“Brother Wenze, perhaps you should go look for Commander Shen again.” Pei Zisong bowed once more, this time indicating a farewell.
The man blushed with embarrassment, took his leave, and departed from the bamboo grove.
Pei Zisong entered the pavilion, placed his seven-stringed zither on the stone table, and looked at the dispirited Jiang Zhiyi: “By the way, I’ve been wanting to ask, why did Young Master Jiang bring an ocarina?”
Compared to the qin, which was popular among scholars and elegant ladies, the ocarina’s sound was sorrowful and plaintive—not an instrument a noble young lady would typically learn.
Jiang Zhiyi answered casually: “My mother used to enjoy playing the ocarina, so I learned a bit too. Playing the zither hurts my hands; I can’t bear it.”
“I see.” Pei Zisong smiled and sat down on the stone bench. “Then Young Master Jiang can play the ocarina, and I’ll handle the hand-hurting part.”
Jiang Zhiyi looked up, her ears faintly catching echoes from a few days before, at the archery range—
“…Is there no way to shoot an arrow without it hurting?”
“Then I’ll bear the pain, all right?”
Jiang Zhiyi’s expression dimmed slightly. After a moment of abstraction, she sat opposite Pei Zisong and had Gu Yu open the music scores for both of them. Holding the ocarina with both hands, she said: “Let’s begin. I want to win first place in this duet.”
“Very well.”
The melodious sound of the ocarina blended with the zither, floating out from the octagonal pavilion and carrying far into the distance without interruption.
In a distant tall tree, a young man in dark clothes sat with one leg bent on a high branch, quietly watching the two people making music together in the pavilion.
When the sunlight fell, light also sparkled in their eyes.
When the wind rose, their fluttering robes would draw close and intertwine.
This sunlight, this wind, treated everyone the same.
Yuan Ce placed a thin leaf horizontally between his lips and gently blew, creating music.
This was the only instrument he knew how to play.
It had been his only pleasure during those years when he moved daily through the glint of blades and swords, occasionally stealing a moment’s respite to sit on a tree branch.
The ocarina and zither sounds suddenly stopped, as if the two had made a mistake in their duet. That clear, spring-like female voice rang out like tinkling bells, apparently scolding the person opposite for something.
Indeed, as she had said, with her present, there would be lively commotion.
Since she could create her livelihood wherever she went, he had no reason to worry on his brother’s behalf.
As for himself…
The path he had to walk was too narrow and could not accommodate her noisy companionship.