CXD - 30

The winter wind howled all night, and by morning, the streets of Chang’an were littered with fallen branches and leaves, a scene of desolation across the city.

On this overcast day, the sun was slow to rise. In the dim early hours, the streets were nearly deserted, and inside a rumbling carriage, Jiang Zhiyi yawned repeatedly.

Yesterday, when classes ended, it seemed that Brother Ce’s mood was still not good. Back at her residence, she couldn’t sit still, thinking about it, so she had the kitchen prepare some soothing tonic soup and went to the Shen residence.

Unfortunately, the soup was ready rather late, and Brother Ce had already retired for the night, leaving her trip in vain.

Upon returning home, she instructed Gu Yu and Xiao Man that no matter what, they must pull her out of bed the next day; she must not be late again and let Brother Ce feel neglected.

This morning, Jiang Zhiyi struggled against sleepiness for a long time, silently reciting “Brother Ce is waiting for me” one hundred eighty times in her mind. Finally, yawning, she got up, drowsily dressed and washed, then climbed into the carriage.

The carriage slowly made its way southeast through the city, stopping in front of Tian Chong Academy. Jiang Zhiyi walked in, her eyes teary from fatigue.

It was still early, and only a few students who lived in the dormitories had arrived at the classroom; even the most academically excellent son of the prime minister hadn’t come yet.

Entering the classroom, seeing Yuan Ce hadn’t arrived yet, Jiang Zhiyi instructed Gu Yu to quietly place a steaming bowl of soup under his desk. Then she sat down at her seat, resting her forehead on her hand to catch up on sleep.

As the sun gradually rose, piercing through the thick clouds, golden light poured through the window lattice, warming everyone and making them even more drowsy.

In her half-sleep state, Jiang Zhiyi heard faint footsteps, voices, and yawns, rising and falling, near and far. It seemed the students were arriving one after another, just as sleepy as she was, and taking their seats.

Just as she was about to drift off, a sharp sound of a ruler hitting the desk echoed in the room.

Jiang Zhiyi jolted awake, looked up, and saw the teacher already standing on the podium, reminding everyone to perk up and get ready for class.

She turned her head; the seat to her right was still empty.

Jiang Zhiyi signaled Gu Yu: Where is he?

Gu Yu mouthed back that he hadn’t arrived yet.

The teacher on the podium began discussing the schedule for the two morning classes. Seeing Yuan Ce hadn’t arrived yet, Jiang Zhiyi furrowed her brows, about to ask Gu Yu to go find out if anything had happened, when suddenly a tall figure passed by the window—

Yuan Ce entered the classroom just as the class was starting.

Jiang Zhiyi sighed in relief, watching him take his seat next to her. She softly called out to him and pointed under his desk.

Yuan Ce didn’t turn to look at her but glanced down, likely noticing the food box. However, after a quick glance, he quickly looked forward and did not open it.

Perhaps he thought it was something inappropriate to eat during class.

Jiang Zhiyi sighed. It was a pity she had gotten up so early today, but he was late, and they hadn’t exchanged a word. The soup she prepared would go to waste again.

She glanced at the teacher on the podium. This was a music lesson, and the teacher looked kind and gentle, probably not a tough one.

Thinking this, Jiang Zhiyi pulled over a piece of white paper, picked up her brush, and wrote a small note—

Inside the food box is sweet pear soup; you can drink it like tea without concern.

After writing, she folded it into a tiny note and handed it to Gu Yu.

Gu Yu understood, took it, and when the teacher lowered his head, she threw the note to the right.

After a graceful parabola, the note landed silently by Yuan Ce’s feet.

The person who was usually very sensitive to his surroundings seemed completely unaware, unmoving, gazing towards the podium without blinking.

After waiting for a long time, Jiang Zhiyi had to pull over another piece of white paper, rewrote it, and signaled Gu Yu with a nod, indicating she should throw it onto the desk.

Gu Yu nodded and threw the note again, this time landing it on a corner of Yuan Ce’s desk.

But perhaps it was too much to the side; the person on the right still showed no reaction.

With patience, Jiang Zhiyi pulled over another piece of white paper. Seeing how difficult it was to throw the note, if it finally hit, having only one sentence would be such a waste. So she added a few more lines—

I came to your residence last night. Did Qing Song tell you?

Before you came, the teacher said that today’s music class would have pairs using their respective instruments to play his newly composed piece. When drawing lots, do something to ensure we play together!

After folding the note carefully, thinking that Gu Yu and Brother Ce’s connection wasn’t strong enough, Jiang Zhiyi decided to do it herself this time. She squinted one eye, aimed carefully, and threw it forcefully at Yuan Ce.

The note hit his hand squarely!

Jiang Zhiyi was delighted. From ten paces away, Yuan Ce exhaled deeply, lowered his head, unfolded the note with one hand, and glanced at it: “...”

Seeing him look over at her, Jiang Zhiyi immediately shot him a meaningful glance.

Yuan Ce slowly shifted his gaze, looking at the bamboo tube on the podium, and frowned.

Seeing that he understood, Jiang Zhiyi felt reassured and turned back, just in time to hear the teacher say, “Come up and draw lots.”

Gu Yu lifted the bead curtain and stepped forward for Jiang Zhiyi.

“In ancient times, Yu Boya and Zhong Ziqi met as soulmates through the melody of ‘High Mountains and Flowing Water.’ Making friends through music has always been one of life’s greatest joys. Each musical instrument has its unique timbre, and any two can create myriad harmonious sounds when played together. Today, regardless of who you draw to perform with, it’s a match made by fate. Perhaps after today, this classroom might produce a modern-day Yu Boya and Zhong Ziqi—” the teacher on the podium smiled, stroking his beard, feeling this class was an ingenious initiative.

Jiang Zhiyi also smiled below, thinking this teacher was undoubtedly the most considerate one in Tian Chong Academy.

While thinking this, Gu Yu returned with a lot, whispering, “I secretly showed the lot number to General Shen earlier.”

Jiang Zhiyi gave her an appreciative look, watching the crowd gathered around the podium. After a while, she saw Yuan Ce walking back from the group.

Most of the lots were drawn, and the whole room buzzed with conversation. People compared their numbers, asking who was number one, who was number two.

When the front row had mostly paired up and started taking their instruments to find quiet places, Jiang Zhiyi glanced at Yuan Ce on her right, cleared her throat, and casually asked, “Who is number nine?”

Confidently waiting for a response, a voice suddenly rang out from the front—”It’s me.”

Jiang Zhiyi looked at Pei Zisong, who turned around, surprised: “I meant ‘nine.’”

Pei Zisong glanced at the slip in his hand and showed her the number side.

Clearly, it was a “玖.”

Jiang Zhiyi quickly turned her head to the right and saw Yuan Ce holding his slip, walking out alone.

“A—Shen Yuan Ce!” Jiang Zhiyi blurted out, stopping him.

Pei Zisong looked at Jiang Zhiyi, then at Yuan Ce’s standing back: “If Young Master Jiang already has someone in mind to perform with, I can exchange slips with him.”

Jiang Zhiyi looked at Pei Zisong, hesitating. Yuan Ce, with his back turned, said, “No need,” and left the classroom without looking back.

In the quiet corridor, Gu Yu silently followed Jiang Zhiyi and Pei Zisong, sensing an impending storm.

Did General Shen fail to manipulate the draw because he didn’t want to expose his relationship with the princess, so he didn’t exchange slips with Pei Zisong?

But General Shen’s “no need” clearly hinted at something Pei Zisong could notice. Since exchanging or not exchanging the slips led to the same outcome, why did General Shen push the princess towards Pei Zisong?

Recalling the three notes the princess sent earlier, whether General Shen truly didn’t see the first two or pretended not to… it all seemed suspicious now.

What she could sense was amiss, the princess surely realized too. Gu Yu looked at the princess, whose back seemed unhappy, and felt a tinge of worry.

Gu Yu: “If you don’t want to attend this class, shall we go back and rest?”

Pei Zisong paused upon hearing this and looked at Jiang Zhiyi: “If Young Master Jiang is tired, I can…”

“Who said I don’t want to? I want to very much!” Jiang Zhiyi coldly huffed, her face tight. “Earlier, I just saw Shen Yuan Ce with an instrument I hadn’t seen before and wanted to borrow it to play. Who knew he’d be so stingy… I brought my own instrument, didn’t I? Didn’t the teacher say that any two instruments can create myriad harmonious sounds? Why does it have to be his!”

Pei Zisong recalled and indeed hadn’t seen Yuan Ce bring any instrument, but still nodded: “If so, I know a quiet place where we can sit. Young Master Jiang, follow me.”

“Alright.” Jiang Zhiyi raised her chin and followed Pei Zisong forward.

Around the corner, unexpectedly, they saw a familiar bamboo grove and an octagonal pavilion.

It was the place where, the other day, she had pulled Yuan Ce away in front of Pei Xueqing, later bandaging his injured hand.

Seeing Jiang Zhiyi suddenly stop, Pei Zisong turned back: “What’s wrong?”

“…Nothing,” Jiang Zhiyi lifted her boot tip and stepped into the pavilion first, “It’s indeed a good place for performance.”

Deep in the nearby bamboo grove, someone heard the commotion and came out: “It’s Brother Zisong and Young Master Jiang.”

Pei Zisong bowed to the newcomer: “Why is Brother Wenze here alone?”

“I drew lots to be with General Shen, but he’s nowhere to be found, so I was left alone… I, I actually admire Young Master Jiang’s—” the person glanced at the octagonal pavilion and saw Jiang Zhiyi carrying an ocarina, “ocarina skills. If Brother Zisong is willing, could you trade your slip with me?”

Recalling what happened in the classroom earlier, this time Pei Zisong didn’t ask Jiang Zhiyi and directly said: “Being drawn together is fate. Fate isn’t something to be traded back and forth, is it?”

Jiang Zhiyi’s eyelashes fluttered, sitting in the pavilion, pressing her lips together tightly.

“Brother Wenze might as well go and look for General Shen again.” Pei Zisong bowed again, this time signaling dismissal.

The person awkwardly blushed, excused himself, and left the bamboo grove.

Pei Zisong entered the pavilion, placed the seven-stringed zither on the stone table, and looked at Jiang Zhiyi, who was in low spirits: “Now that I think of it, I wanted to ask earlier, why did Young Master Jiang bring an ocarina?”

Compared to the popular qin among scholars and elegant women, the ocarina’s melancholic and sorrowful tones were not something a noblewoman typically learned.

Jiang Zhiyi casually replied: “My mother used to enjoy playing the ocarina, so I learned a bit. Playing the qin hurts my hands too much; I can’t bear it.”

“So that’s how it is.” Pei Zisong smiled and sat on the stone bench. “Then Young Master Jiang will play the ocarina, and this painful task falls to me.”

Jiang Zhiyi raised her eyes, and faint echoes of two voices from several days ago at the archery field drifted past her ears—

“...Is there no way to shoot arrows without pain?”

“Then let me bear the pain. Is that alright?”

Jiang Zhiyi’s eyes dimmed slightly, lost in thought for a moment. She sat opposite Pei Zisong, asking Gu Yu to open the sheet music for them both. She held the ocarina with both hands: “Let’s begin. With this duet, I aim for first place.”

“Alright.”

The melodious sounds of the ocarina and the zither floated gently, flowing out of the octagonal pavilion and drifting endlessly into the distance.

Far away, high up in a tree, a dark-clad youth sat with one leg bent on a branch, quietly watching the harmonious duet of the two in the pavilion.

When sunlight fell, glimmers of light shone in their eyes.

When the wind picked up, their fluttering robes intertwined.

This sunlight, this wind, was impartial to everyone.

Yuan Ce placed a thin leaf horizontally between his lips and softly blew, creating music.

This was the only instrument he knew how to play.

During those years when he tirelessly traversed through the flash of swords and the shadow of spears, whenever he stole a moment of respite, sitting on a tree branch, this was his sole amusement.

Suddenly, the distant sounds of the ocarina and zither stopped, as if something went wrong in their duet. A clear, bubbling female voice chimed in, seemingly scolding the person opposite.

True to her words, wherever she was, it was always lively.

Since she could make any place lively, he needn’t worry on behalf of his brother.

As for himself…

The path he had to walk was too narrow, never meant to accommodate her noisy companionship.