The singing voice was clear and melodious, graceful and pleasant to hear. Interspersed within were fox cries—chirping sounds—as if there truly was a fox lingering by the riverside. The qin sounds were plucked higher and higher, and the singing voice also became correspondingly high-pitched. The blind qin master’s hands went from slow to urgent, gradually until only qin sounds like rain beating the earth could be heard. Within this, a white fox ran through the rain, seemingly seeking a warm shelter.
The ancient qin took the gentleman’s demeanor as its proper sound. Such cacophony had long lost its dignified, steady meaning. Yet somehow, mixed within the singing voice, it wasn’t jarring. It actually seemed the music originally should have been this way.
Yun Ye was entranced and intoxicated, his heart full of sorrow. Cheng Chumo’s eyes were wide open as if angry. Zhangsun Chong shook his head and swayed, humming softly. As for Li Huairen, he had long stretched out his neck, unable to wait to see the beauty.
Yaoniang stole glances observing the several young masters. Seeing Yun Ye and Zhangsun Chong, her heart held joy. Seeing Cheng Chumo, she felt somewhat worried. As for seeing Li Huairen—it was like seeing a lump of excrement.
When the melody ceased and the song rested, the blind qin master was led out by the boy. There was no salute, no farewell.
“What grass is not yellow? What day do we not march? What person does not campaign? Managing the four directions. What grass is not dark? What person is not proud? Pity us campaigning men, alone unlike ordinary folk. Not rhinoceros, not tiger, yet leading through that wilderness. Pity us campaigning men, morning and evening without leisure. There is a bushy fox, leading through that secluded grass. There are chariots with rails, traveling that Zhou road.” Zhangsun Chong was singing. Yun Ye didn’t understand what it meant. Cheng Chumo was furious. Li Huairen was extremely surprised.
Just as Yun Ye wanted to ask, Cheng Chumo wanted to beat someone, and Li Huairen wanted to dodge, a clear voice came forth: “Many thanks to young master for harmonizing with this ‘What Grass Is Not Yellow.’ Jiuyi is endlessly grateful.” Having said this, a woman in green clothing turned out from behind the screen.
Yun Ye was greatly disappointed. So it was a loli—looked about thirteen or fourteen years old, her face still having the baby fat characteristic of lolis. Not protruding in front, not perky behind—truly nothing worth looking at. If it weren’t that the singing was really quite good, Yun Ye would also want to hit someone.
Zhangsun Chong’s face was toward the sky in an expert’s pose. Cheng Chumo’s face was scarlet red. He grabbed the Hami melon from the table and stuffed it into Zhangsun Chong’s mouth, choking him until his eyes rolled back. He also stuffed Li Huairen, who was about to complain, under the low table. Then he looked fiercely at Yun Ye. This fellow who valued the opposite sex over friends couldn’t be provoked. Yun Ye hurriedly shook his head, indicating he had no covetous heart toward Miss Jiuyi.
Yaoniang’s face smiled joyfully but her heart was secretly startled. That Zhangsun Chong was the Empress’s own nephew, ordinarily among Chang’an’s wastrels a person whose word was law. Now being stuffed with a mouthful of Hami melon, he wasn’t angry but rather chewed carefully and slowly, seemingly without the slightest awareness of being offended.
Today because Zhangsun Chong was here, she specifically released Jiuyi hoping he would give her some support so she could establish herself in Chang’an in the future. Who would have thought today three noble guests of equivalent status actually came—truly unexpected. She didn’t know what kind of person this Third Young Master Cheng was, nor whether he could protect Jiuyi.
Little loli Jiuyi watched Cheng Chumo’s domineering behavior with surprise, completely unable to figure out why, as soon as she came out, they would fight. She was somewhat afraid.
Cheng Chumo leaped over the low table in one step and came before Jiuyi. Rarely polite: “I’m called Cheng Chumo. From now on you’re my person. If anyone bullies you, find me—this master will beat him. If you want to bully people, find me—this master will still beat him.” Having said this, pulling Jiuyi’s hand, he came to his own low table and sat down side by side. He drove away the singing girl serving nearby and looked at Jiuyi with tender affection.
The three brothers distanced themselves far from him, all looking at him with contemptuous gazes. Zhangsun Chong wiped the melon pulp from his face and said: “Looks like Third Cheng won’t be returning home today. He has a beauty to accompany him—what about us three brothers?”
When he turned around, he discovered Yun Ye was eating melon, and Li Huairen was pulling Yaoniang exactly the same way as Cheng Chumo. Resentfully flinging his hands, he himself returned to his seat and pulled a serving singing girl over to have a heart-to-heart talk.
The melon was good, the grape wine also fine. These crispy pastries were neither oily nor greasy—the outer skin crispy, the inside soft. Who knew how they were made? Xiao Ya would definitely like them. Just as he was immersed in delicious food, he discovered a fragrant body almost drilling into his embrace—it was the singing girl serving him.
Yun Ye was very unaccustomed to this. A little girl who in his previous life would still be in middle school—he really couldn’t bring himself to do this. Perhaps Yaoniang’s age might work. Looking up but not seeing anyone, Li Huairen had also disappeared. Cheng Chumo was chattering endlessly while grasping Jiuyi like a lamb. Zhangsun Chong was hugging a singing girl and drilling toward a secret door. Bastards!
Yun Ye decided to have a good discussion about life with the little singing girl. He had the young girl sit properly and distributed a gemstone to her first to settle her heart. Then he began asking where she was from and whether she could make pastries—the kind on the table. Who would have thought this little girl was also a food enthusiast? Speaking of pastries, she went on and on—the crispy pastries of Pingkang Ward, the twisted noodles of Ruining Temple, Old Wang’s soup from the West Market, the foreign sesame flatbread stuck with sesame seeds was so fragrant.
After all, she was young. Once the conversation opened, she chattered incessantly. It was only because the sky had already darkened—otherwise Yun Ye would have long since pulled her to find these delicacies. Just as they were talking about how sweet Old Lady Liu’s yogurt mixed with dried fruit was, Cheng Chumo patted him from behind. Why are you patting me when you’re not picking up girls? Impatiently turning his head, Cheng Chumo was rubbing his hands. This bastard—whenever he was in difficulty or asking someone for help, he had this virtue.
“What? Don’t you see we’re talking happily?”
“Brother, can you compose poetry?”
“Compose what poetry? Compose whose family’s poetry? Since when were you interested in poetry?”
“I just told Jiuyi that my brother is omnipotent, omniscient—there’s nothing under heaven he can’t do. Jiuyi was very happy and said there are many social engagements in the first month. She hopes you can compose a few poems to support her standing. I already agreed just now, saying composing ten poems is no problem. What are you staring blankly for? Compose quickly! Jiuyi and I are still waiting to use them.” Cheng Chumo looked completely impatient. Jiuyi covered her mouth and giggled.
“You bastard!” Yun Ye completely exploded. Do you think composing poetry is like your Cheng family’s sow giving birth—ten in one go? His face turned green with anger, his whole body trembling, stuttering and unable to speak. His arms hurt terribly and couldn’t be raised—otherwise he would have strangled this bastard long ago. What does your picking up girls have to do with this master? Using me as your talking point—and composing poetry? In total I can only recite about ten poems. Give them all to you for picking up girls, what the hell would I do?
“Just one song. Want it or not? I’m not in the mood to compose poetry today.” As the company’s famous karaoke king, he could sing countless songs—from Cantonese to English, he could do a few lines of each. Didn’t Jiuyi just like singing about foxes? Just teach her to sing “Fox Song.” Yun Ye discovered he seemed unable to refuse Cheng Chumo.
“For this little woman to receive a gifted song from Young Master Yun is quite a blessing. I shall wash my ears and listen attentively.” This girl had a face full of mockery. Knowing she’d witnessed Cheng Chumo’s vulgarity, she also viewed Yun Ye as a vulgar military man. Just now asking Cheng Chumo to compose poetry was just a momentary playful thought to tease Little Cheng. She didn’t expect Little Cheng to think nothing of it and find Yun Ye to compose poetry in his place. Yet she didn’t know that in Little Cheng’s view, this was most normal—my brother is omnipotent, nothing can stump him.
“This song has a little story. Let me tell it to you first. It’s said that during the Three Kingdoms period, the world’s disputes were endless, warfare constant. Common people among the populace were displaced and wandering, unable to eat their fill, without clothes to cover their bodies. There was a youth who was fortunate to obtain a white fox that had been shot and injured by someone. Greatly delighted, he prepared to skin and bone the fox to make a fine meal—you must know he hadn’t eaten a full meal in a very long time. Just as he was about to act, he saw the fox shedding tears, its mouth making chirping mournful cries, seemingly begging him to release it. The youth’s heart softened and he bandaged its wound and let it go. The white fox circled him three times and then burrowed into the grass. Not long after, the youth was forcibly conscripted into the army and died in battle. The white fox never left. It watched from a distance as the youth died in battle. It saw the youth’s soul floating in the world, finally reincarnating, becoming a baby again, a youth, an adult, growing old. Generation after generation. By this time the fox had long since become a spirit, only it couldn’t shed its animal fur and transform into human form. In the blink of an eye, it was the previous dynasty. That youth once again grew into a handsome young man. However, his family circumstances were poor, yet he wholeheartedly yearned to study. After ten years of bitter study, he finally achieved scholarly success. Through official recommendation, he planned to go to Chang’an to take the imperial examination. Unexpectedly, passing by a ruined temple, he caught a chill and fell gravely ill. The fox saw this and was very anxious but had no solution. She went to consult the oldest fox. The old fox told her that as long as she drank its medicine, she would become a beautiful woman, only she could never become an immortal, and moreover her tail couldn’t transform—which meant a beautiful woman would forever have a fox’s tail. The white fox drank the medicine and transformed into a beautiful young woman. She cared for that youth of her life in the ruined temple until he recovered. During this time recuperating from illness, the youth fell in love with this beautiful girl. They made eternal vows to love each other forever. The youth departed. They agreed that as soon as the examination was finished, he would come fetch her to marry. Unfortunately, things went against expectations! The youth tested extremely well, gaining the Emperor’s appreciation. Moreover, a prominent family arranged a marriage for him. On the very day the imperial list was announced, the youth also married the prominent family’s young lady. The fox learned this news and rushed to Chang’an but was injured by a Daoist priest of profound magical power. The fox desperately escaped, able only to watch helplessly as her beloved had his wedding night with someone else. She sang in the wilderness, danced in the great desert to commemorate the joys and sorrows of being human, knowing that heaven and earth are eternal.”
Yun Ye paid no attention to Cheng Chumo whose eyes were red, nor the two singing girls crying their hearts out. In a low voice he sang a self-written “Fox Song.” He had long liked this beautiful and desolate story. Being in the great desert, naturally loneliness was unbearable, so he himself had written a great desert fox song.
The moon is round and round
My heart is sour and sour
A person’s shadow small, a receding back far
Can you see
My tears
The heartless person cannot see my sorrow
You cannot see
Meeting was joyful joyful
Parting is tragic tragic
Wedding candles burn, the beauty is radiant
I have already seen
Your blessed fate
A thousand years of love cannot block wealth and a beautiful face
You cannot see
The Three Lives Stone wrote the wrong marriage fate
Between heaven and earth there is no fox woman’s lament
Far from the human world
Far from the human world
In the rosy mists wetting my eyelids
Far from the human world
Far from the human world
In the rosy mists wetting my eyelids