Long Er remained silent, but Ju Mu'er readily agreed.
Qian Jiangyi was overjoyed and picked out a few more topics about qin skills to chat with Ju Mu'er. Long Er couldn't understand at all, but stared at Qian Jiangyi very seriously, which made Qian Jiangyi have to keep his words short. He didn't mention some of the things he originally planned to talk about. He picked out a few qin scores that he had chosen, read the titles to Ju Mu'er, and then took them away.
Long Er refused. He summoned the guards who remained at home and asked them to bring pen and ink so that he could copy down all the book titles that Qian Jiangyi wanted to borrow, and that they would all match when they were returned.
Qian Jiangyi was somewhat at a loss, but Long Er smiled slightly at him: "Young Master Qian, please forgive me. These are rare books. My Mu'er loves the zither so much that she can't see it now. I don't know which ones you took. I'll play the bad guy and write down all the books so that you can return them amicably. That way, we can all stay on good terms, right?"
Qian Jiangyi awkwardly agreed, and after the guards had copied down all the book titles, he quickly took his leave.
Ju Mu'er saw him to the door with a smile on her face, but she was actually quite calculating in her heart.
Today, under the guise of curiosity about her zither skills, Hua Niang inquired about some peerless zither score. Coincidentally, someone came to rummage through her zither score cabinet. When asked to demonstrate her skills, she did; when asked for her score, she gave it to him, because she knew she couldn't play the fool too well. But in reality, she had no idea how convincing her act was.
Ju Mu'er was deeply troubled; ever since she went blind, her paranoia had only intensified.
Long Er then grasped her hand, the warmth of his large palm bringing her back to her senses. Being with Master Long Er made her feel like herself again—unable to control her temper, her unrestrained and cunning self.
The wedding date was fast approaching, but she was becoming more and more hesitant.
She has a secret in her heart. Can she really marry him?
This chapter has also been revised, mainly by adding the later content. Some sentences have also been changed.
32 twists and turns, unspoken longing
Long Er was unaware of Ju Mu'er's indecisive nature; he was busy with his own work while eagerly anticipating the wedding.
Before the wedding, there are many things to do. These include wedding favors, bridal sedan chairs and wedding attire, wedding banquet dishes, decorations for the main hall, and various other purchases.
The list of embroidered items, auspicious objects, and wedding attire alone filled three pages. Adding in other miscellaneous items, the entire wedding preparations filled a whole booklet.
Long Er was determined to have a grand wedding, demanding the best of everything. The guest list filled ten pages, keeping Granny Yu extremely busy and turning the entire Long mansion upside down.
Why such a grand wedding? Because Long Er doesn't forget to make money even on his wedding day.
The more guests you invite, the more gifts and money you'll receive; the larger the wedding banquet, the more extravagant the gifts from the guests will have to be. All things considered, organizing a wedding this way is a sure win.
Long Er had planned all of this long ago. He wanted to earn back the matchmaker's reward and all the expenses of the wedding so that he could feel at ease.
Long Er hadn't seen Ju Mu'er for several days in a row, but he felt he had a perfectly legitimate opportunity: to use the custom of newlyweds going to the temple to pray for blessings as an excuse to go with Ju Mu'er to offer incense. No one could say anything about that.
The newlyweds' prayer for blessings is indeed a very important ritual before the wedding. Since it happened to be the end of the year, Granny Yu set a date and held the incense offering and blessing ceremony two days before the festival.
Long Er noted down the date and arranged all the tasks, but Granny Yu came to tell him that the custom for praying for blessings was that the man and woman should do it on separate days, and Ju Mu'er had to go to Fuling Temple a day earlier than him.
This greatly annoyed Long Er. Granny Yu and Old Man Ju were keeping a closer eye on them, preventing them from seeing each other.
One night, Long Er was in a very bad mood. He thought that if Mu'er were here, she would surely say something to cheer him up. But then he thought of the instructions and restrictions of the two elders, and his heart was filled with even more resentment. He thought defiantly that if they really angered him, he would climb over the wall to see them and see who could stop him.
Long Er resisted the urge to go that day, but not long after, he actually climbed over the wall to see his Mu'er.
The reason was that Ju Mu'er was bullied by Ding Yanshan.
In the past, Master Long would have laughed at Ding Yanshan for bullying Ju Mu'er, but now that times have changed, he would be furious if anyone dared to bully Ju Mu'er again.
During that time, Ju Mu'er stayed at home very obediently. But one day, Qian Jiangyi came again. He came to return the sheet music. Seeing that no one was around, he asked Ju Mu'er if she could remember the pieces that her master uncle played before he died.
Ju Mu'er shook her head, saying that the tune was wonderful, complicated and long, and really hard to remember, especially since two years had passed, it was even more impossible to remember it clearly.
Qian Jiangyi sighed: "Back then, Brother Yibai led a few of us together, saying that we would write down the score. It's a pity that he passed away so early, and the score was not preserved. It has truly become a lost art."
Ju Mu'er lowered her head, sighed along with him, and said softly, "It is indeed a pity."
Qian Jiangyi said that Brother Yibai's name was Hua Yibai, and he was the most outstanding among their qin players. On the day of Master Boyin's execution qin performance, several qin players seemed to have heard a profound meaning in Master Boyin's qin music, so they gathered together to discuss it.
The piece that Master Bo Yin played was long and drawn out, a medley of several interwoven melodies. Everyone guessed that the final meaning was the word "wrongful conviction." And following the meaning of being wronged was a wonderful piece of music that no one had ever heard before.
Shi Boyin was a legendary figure among qin players at the time, admired and respected by all. Everyone hoped to befriend him, and to receive even a little guidance from him would be a lifelong blessing. That such a person could be unjustly killed has stirred outrage among the qin players.
However, this case was being rigorously investigated by the Ministry of Justice and personally overseen by the Emperor. There was no way these commoner musicians could overturn the verdict based solely on their guesses after hearing the music. Therefore, Hua Yibai suggested that the music Master Shi played at the execution ground be recorded in its entirety, including the lament and the subsequent masterpiece. If the music was recorded completely, and everyone studied it repeatedly, they would surely be able to find some clues.
Because Ju Mu'er was a young woman and a low-key person, she never attended these gatherings of male musicians. Moreover, at that time she was preparing to marry Chen Liangze, so she had to avoid suspicion and rarely appeared in public.
But Ju Mu'er understood the sense of injustice expressed on the execution ground. Although she was a woman, she had a chivalrous heart, and she felt quite indignant if the Qin Saint had truly died unjustly. Just as she was pondering what to do about this matter, Hua Yibai quietly came to find her.
The matter of redressing a grievance is no small matter, involving numerous complex relationships. Therefore, Hua Yibai only allowed a few close qin players to study the piece together, refusing to reveal it to others. Hua Yibai and Ju Mu'er were quite close, having often exchanged qin lessons. He was well aware of Ju Mu'er's abilities, so he came specifically to hope that she could lend him a hand in this matter. After discussing it, the two reached a considerable consensus on the entire piece's theme of seeking justice.
And so the matter was settled. But it was not respectable for women to participate in discussions, especially such an unusual one. In addition, male musicians generally looked down on female musicians, believing that women playing the zither was merely performing for money, while only men studying the zither were considered scholars. Hua Yibai himself was easygoing, but he was also aware of the bad habits of those male musicians. In order not to cause trouble for Ju Mu'er, he promised her that he would never tell anyone that she was also involved in this matter.
At that time, Ju Mu'er was full of enthusiasm. She tried her best to recall the music bit by bit and copied the score day and night. She secretly handed over the parts she had written down to Hua Yibai in batches. Hua Yibai compared them with his own and others' notes and compiled the first half of the score.
Although the first half, the lamentation, was pieced together from several zither pieces, they were all familiar to everyone, so they were quite memorable. However, the second half, the peerless zither piece, was something everyone was hearing for the first time, and not many of them could be remembered.
Hua Yibai placed all his hopes on Ju Mu'er, but by then Ju Mu'er was no longer able to write the scores because her eyesight was getting worse. She promised Hua Yibai that once her eyesight improved, she would try to transcribe the rest of the scores.
Unexpectedly, her eyes didn't heal, and Hua Yibai, drunk, fell into the river and drowned. With Hua Yibai's death, the other musicians lost their leader, and things made no progress. Gradually, some people were afraid of offending the government or the royal family, while others suggested that things might not be as everyone thought. In addition, people's resilience couldn't withstand the test of time, so in the end, everyone dispersed, and gradually, no one mentioned the matter again.
Ju Mu'er's eyes could not be cured and she eventually went blind.
“Miss Ju.” Qian Jiangyi’s call pulled Ju Mu’er back from her memories. “Back then, Brother Yibai led us to study the piece that Master played before his execution. We were only missing the last piece, that peerless zither music. This score is crucial for Master to clear his name. If you have memorized it, please tell us. Brother Yibai passed away early, but we must continue this work to live up to his wishes.”
Ju Mu'er gently shook her head: "I really can't help you."
Qian Jiangyi sighed, but then said, "Actually, there's another reason I'm bringing this up now. I recently heard some news that I think is related to Mr. Shi's wrongful conviction."
Ju Mu'er didn't speak, and Qian Jiangyi lowered his voice and continued, "I heard that there is a martial arts manual hidden in that peerless zither piece that no one can remember or play. The contents are written in that zither score."
Ju Mu'er's heart skipped a beat. If this news spread, some greedy martial artists would probably go mad. Whoever possessed this musical score would face certain death.
Ju Mu'er was momentarily confused by the implications of the news. She smiled faintly and said, "Martial arts manual? That's quite interesting. I wonder who this amazing person is who can record martial arts moves in a musical score."
Qian Jiangyi said, "I don't know about that. Anyway, it's all being spread quietly now, and people are saying it's an unparalleled divine skill."
Ju Mu'er smiled and said, "It seems that the skill will be lost. What a pity."
Qian Jiangyi said the same thing. He said it was a pity, and after chatting for a few more minutes, he said goodbye and left.
The next day, Lin Yueyao sent a message to Ju Mu'er, asking her to meet, saying she had something to discuss.
Lin Yueyao was Hua Yibai's confidante. Hua Yibai was incredibly talented, but he loved to frequent brothels, indulging in music and drinking. After meeting Lin Yueyao, he toned it down considerably. He often visited Xichuntang and asked Lin Yueyao to accompany him, sometimes staying for several days at a time. This was something Ju Mu'er learned from other courtesans when she taught them to play the zither.
Ju Mu'er recognized Lin Yueyao after Hua Yibai's death.
At that time, Lin Yueyao secretly went to the wine shop to see Ju Mu'er. She told Ju Mu'er some things. It turned out that Hua Yibai had told Lin Yueyao about Ju Mu'er writing the musical score.
Lin Yueyao came to Ju Mu'er to tell her that she believed Hua Yibai's death was not an accident. She was determined to find out the truth and asked Ju Mu'er if she could help her.
Ju Mu'er agreed.
This time, Lin Yueyao met with Ju Mu'er and told her the same news that Qian Jiangyi had told her. She had learned that the peerless zither score was actually a secret manual for unparalleled martial arts, which was why Minister Shi's acquisition of it led to his death. Although the score was ultimately burned during the Shi family's massacre, it was recently rumored that someone confirmed Master Boyin had played the piece before his death. Therefore, everyone said the score still existed, but was secretly hidden in someone's possession.
Ju Mu'er couldn't respond after hearing the news. She went home feeling heavy-hearted, but encountered Ding Yanshan on the way.
Ding Yanshan was furious at the sight of Ju Mu'er. This blind woman had not only bewitched Master Long and stolen her chosen husband, but she had also made her sister lose face in front of her husband. This was the first time the couple had exchanged such cold words since their marriage. Ding Yanxiang had cried countless times in private. Not only that, but her father had also severely reprimanded her sister for this.
Ding Yanshan held all these grievances against Ju Mu'er.
So when Ding Yanshan saw Ju Mu'er, it was like seeing an enemy, their eyes blazing with hatred. Ding Yanshan's explosive temper wouldn't allow Ju Mu'er any peace. She rushed over and slapped Ju Mu'er across the face, snatched her bamboo cane, and threw it far away. Then, pointing at Ju Mu'er's nose, she cursed her as a vixen and said that Ju Mu'er's dream of marrying into the Long family was just a pipe dream, and that she should just wait and see. After cursing, Ding Yanshan strode away.
Ju Mu'er fell to the ground, got up, and was disoriented. She couldn't find her bamboo cane, and was insulted in front of everyone, making her feel extremely embarrassed. Finally, someone by the roadside saw that she was blind, kindly picked up her bamboo cane, and pointed her in the right direction. Only then was she able to go home.
That very night, the news reached Long Er's ears, infuriating him to the point of rage. He was so worried about Ju Mu'er that his liver ached, so disregarding the late hour and the impropriety of the situation, he secretly rode his horse to the woods behind Ju's wine shop, jumped over the back wall, and headed straight for Ju Mu'er's boudoir.
This chapter has also been revised; the later content has been moved forward, and Qian Jiangyi's dialogue settings have also been modified.
33 Nights of Visiting a Fragrant Boudoir: The Master's Heart is Troubled
Ju Mu'er's sleep was not peaceful; she was in a state between dreaming and waking, her heart pounding with anxiety. In her hazy state, she suddenly felt someone beside her bed, which startled her so much that she opened her eyes abruptly. Before she could even scream, a large hand covered her mouth, and she struggled, making muffled noises.
"It's me," Long Er hurriedly whispered.
Ju Mu'er was stunned. Long Er said again, "It's me. I heard you were bullied on the street today, so I came to see you."
"Second Master?"
"right."
Ju Mu'er lunged forward suddenly, and Long Er was so startled that he quickly caught her; otherwise, she would have fallen off the bed.
Ju Mu'er hugged him tightly, which made Long Er's heart ache. "That shrew scared you, didn't she?"
Ju Mu'er remained silent, and Long Er scolded her again: "Why did you sneak out without guards?"
"Why didn't you come to me if you were being bullied?"
"How can you still sleep soundly like this?"
He couldn't sleep and had to come see her, only to find her sleeping like a log. Long Er had a lot to say to her, but before he could finish, Ju Mu'er asked, "Is it already dawn?" She felt like she hadn't slept for very long.
Long Er swallowed back all the words he wanted to say.
That's great, they're talking about one thing and another thing.
"It's not even dawn yet." He answered through gritted teeth.
"Oh." Ju Mu'er responded blankly, burying her head in Long Er's arms. She had just had a nightmare, and it was so good to have him by her side now. She felt relaxed and started to feel sleepy again.
Long Er frowned, doubting whether the silly girl had truly regained her senses.
"who I am?"
"Second Master," she mumbled groggily.
"Really?" he deliberately contradicted.
These words entered Ju Mu'er's mind a beat too late. She sat up abruptly, half-awake: "Not Second Master?"
"If it's not me, then who is it?" Long Er was so angry that his teeth itched. This girl could annoy him when she was sober, and she could annoy him when she was confused.
Ju Mu'er blinked, becoming mostly awake. "Why is Second Master in my room before dawn?"
Long Er remained silent with a stiff face, thinking that if she dared to nag him about anything improper, he would get angry and show her.
Unlike her father and nanny Yu, Ju Mu'er said, "It's so cold, Second Master. Can I wrap myself in a blanket and talk to you?"
Ryuji's heart softened immediately. "You should lie down."
Ju Mu'er was quite obedient and quickly lay down, even automatically wrapping herself up tightly in the blanket.
"Don't close your eyes." Long Er leaned against the headboard, carefully examining her by the moonlight, then gently pinched her cheek and asked, "Were you beaten today?"
"Um."
Which side were you hitting?
"It's the side you're pinching right now."
Long Er paused, then withdrew his hand. After a moment, he reached out again, stroking her face and saying, "I will get it back for you."