Чистое сердце в нефритовом сосуде

Глава 28

I'm afraid you'll never make it ashore and will be adrift for the rest of your life.

Whose empire is ravaged by the sound of horses' hooves?

My military uniform is weathered and worn.

As dawn broke, you sighed softly.

So subtle is the sorrow of a night.

Chrysanthemums withered and fallen, leaving only sorrow on the ground.

Your smile has faded.

Flowers fall, people break their hearts; my thoughts flow silently.

The north wind howls through the endless night, your shadow is impossible to sever.

I am left all alone on the lake.

Chrysanthemums withered and fallen, leaving only sorrow on the ground.

Your smile has faded.

Flowers fall, people break their hearts; my thoughts flow silently.

The north wind howls through the endless night, your shadow is impossible to sever.

I am left all alone on the lake.

It's been so long since I sang or heard this song; it feels like a lifetime ago, and it truly was. I feel a slight pang of emotion, and my mood inevitably becomes a little down.

“I only want to listen to songs like this, not learn them,” Yin Yan said softly. I was puzzled and turned to look at her, only to find that there were more than just the two of us in the pavilion.

"Lin En greets the young prince." I quickly jumped down from the railing and bowed to Shen Haoyu.

Startled by my presence, Yin Yan turned around and saw Shen Haoyu and Mr. Qi standing there. She quickly bowed and greeted them.

Shen Haoyu told us to get up, and then sat down on the stone bench by himself. He had grown into a handsome young man, and his jade crown and purple robe made him look incredibly noble, so much so that people dared not look directly at him, yet were reluctant to look away.

"What? It's only been a month, and Lin En doesn't recognize Xiao Wang anymore?" Shen Haoyu picked up a chrysanthemum and asked me with a smile.

I quickly withdrew my slightly infatuated gaze and said, "Lynn wants to see if the trip will go smoothly by looking at the little prince's face."

"Did you figure it out?"

"Young Prince, you seem to be in excellent spirits, though you look a little travel-worn. You must have had some hardship." I said some nonsense. Traveling a long way must be tiring, and seeing that he was in a good mood meant that things were going smoothly.

Shen Haoyu gave a noncommittal hum.

"That piece of music you just played was quite unique. I've never heard it before. What's it called?" Shen Haoyu asked.

I replied, "It's called Chrysanthemum Terrace, that's what my mother taught me."

"Your mother taught you a lot of things, didn't she?" Shen Haoyu looked at me with a half-smile. I attributed everything I unintentionally revealed that they had never heard of before to my mother. He had heard this excuse too many times.

What else can I say but yes?

Shen Haoyu told Yin Yan and me to leave. I guess he and Mr. Qi have something to talk about. He rarely comes here before, what's wrong with him today?

Inside Yixinzhai, Yuying was tidying up the luggage that Shen Haoyu had brought back from his trip. Upon seeing this, Yinyan immediately went up to help, saying, "Sister Yuying, you must be tired from your journey. Go and rest first. I'll take care of tidying up here."

After a month of travel, Yu Ying's face was filled with undisguised exhaustion. After all, she was a girl, how could she compare to Shen Haoyu and the others? Hearing Yin Yan say this, Yu Ying did not refuse, put down the things in her hands and went out.

I helped Yinyan sort and arrange the items one by one, and then Yinyan carried them to the cabinet. She finished her work in no time.

"Master brought back a lot of trinkets from his trip this time." Yin Yan looked at the jade ornaments, writing brushes, and inkstones that hadn't been put on the table.

I smiled and said, "I guess most of them will be given away."

After dinner, just as I expected, Shen Haoyu personally selected and wrapped some gifts, then had Yinyan and Yuying deliver them to the Princess, the Noble Lady, and the young ladies. Shen Haoyu and the twelve-year-old Noble Lady Yunruo were both born to the Princess Consort of Qing. Because they were legitimate children, they had titles. The other three concubines each had a daughter: twenty-year-old Yunrong, seventeen-year-old Yunyue, and thirteen-year-old Yunshang, all of whom were only addressed as "young ladies." Yunrong had been betrothed by the Emperor to the heir of the Marquis of Kunshan in the northwest two years prior. It's a pity that in all my years at the Qing Prince's residence, I've never seen a single woman. Legend has it that Yunrong and Yunshang are incredibly beautiful.

I stood aside, quietly venting my frustration, when suddenly I was tapped on the head. I looked up and saw Shen Haoyu holding a white jade flute. Was he just hitting me with the flute? He really doesn't cherish it; the flute looks so good in terms of material and craftsmanship.

Shen Haoyu squinted at me and asked, "What are you daydreaming about?"

I shook my head, feeling dejected. "I was thinking that Yin Yan and Yu Ying can go see more beauties. I've been here for so many years and haven't seen a single one." Having spent so many years with Shen Haoyu, I don't know why, but I've become less and less afraid of him. He's never made things difficult for me or been harsh with me. Officially a guard, I haven't done anything; in fact, I've enjoyed a rather comfortable life. I think Shen Haoyu probably just wants someone his age to keep him company, someone to occasionally laugh at me—children in such families are lonely. As for why he wouldn't let me leave Qiufeng Garden, I later guessed he was afraid I'd be corrupted by the people in the Prince's mansion. Being clean and pure like this makes it easier for him to talk to me. After figuring out these reasons, I felt much more at ease staying in Qiufeng Garden.

Shen Haoyu laughed and said, "So that's what it is. Lin En is almost an adult now, so it's understandable."

What? I was just expressing my longing for beautiful things. How come this guy's thinking is so adult-like? Thinking so much. I curled my lip in disdain.

Seeing my disapproval, Shen Haoyu didn't say anything more about the topic. He handed the jade flute to me and said, "This is for you."

Upon hearing this, I widened my eyes in surprise and said in disbelief, "For me? It seems quite valuable."

Shen Haoyu shoved the jade flute into my hand and said, "Take it, but don't secretly play mine anymore."

My face flushed red. How did he know I'd secretly played his flute? Didn't I always play it when he wasn't around? Someone must have snitched on me. But this kid has a kind heart; knowing I love the flute, he gave me such a nice one.

I put the xiao to my lips and blew a few notes. The sound quality was excellent, and I happily thanked Shen Haoyu.

Just as he was about to take his leave, Shen Haoyu suddenly spoke up again: "You've been staying in this courtyard for too long. From now on, when I go out, I'll take you with me as much as I can. You should see the world."

I was all smiles. What a day! So many surprises for me. I'll have to check the almanac later.