Chapter 54 Warm and fragrant jade, songstresses of the music bureau

Does your neck hurt?

As soon as he uttered those words, you could hear a pin drop in the room.

Xiao Xun touched his nose, smiled, and asked through the screen:

"You've gotten up at just the right time. Shall we have breakfast?"

Lin Yuan grunted in response and hurriedly returned to the west wing to wash up, lingering there for quite a while.

As she combed her hair, she pondered which "before" Xiao Xun meant by "same as before".

Was it the time some time ago when she was sleeping on the desk at Tingquan Courtyard?

She slept for more than an hour, but her neck is fine, nothing's wrong.

Could it be that time at Zichen Pavilion?

After waking up from her nap at the desk, her neck was indeed very sore. When Xiao Xun finished his court session, she went to serve him.

While grinding ink, Xiao Xun inadvertently noticed a bruise on her wrist. Perhaps it bothered her precious eyes again, so he took pity on her and gave her a plaster personally prepared by the imperial physician, and generously waved his hand, allowing her to leave.

Later, her eyes ached from looking at the plaster under the light, but she still couldn't see where the bruising was. However, the plaster soothed her sprained neck a lot, so the cursing in her heart subsided a bit.

Could it be that he...?

Oh dear, she dared not think about it any further.

Looking up, the face reflected in the bronze mirror had already turned a deep liver color.

When she finally arrived at the east wing for breakfast, she happened to see Li Shun bring in a bowl of black medicine.

Amidst the rising steam, Li Shun kept his head down, holding his ear cup with batons, unaware of Lin Yuan's quietly approaching figure.

Naturally, he didn't see Xiao Xun's gaze signaling him to quickly take the medicine back.

"What is this?" Lin Yuan walked over, put her hands in her pockets, and asked in a clear voice.

“It’s soup…” Li Shun’s hands trembled, spilling two drops of medicine. He looked up and saw Xiao Xun staring at him with a somber expression. Three more drops of medicine spilled out.

He forced the word "medicine" back down, and said, "...soup."

He felt he was being very alert, or perhaps he was betting that Lin Yuan wasn't fully awake, so he solemnly repeated, "Yes, it is, soup."

"Soup?" Lin Yuan frowned, puzzled. The broth was bitter, and it smelled bitter too.

“It’s chicken soup.” Xiao Xun said calmly, waving Li Shun away.

"It's black chicken soup, with a lot of ginseng stewed in it, that's why it looks this color." He simply pushed the ear cup towards Lin Yuan, "Want to try some?"

After saying that, he added with a smile, "It's not bitter."

This was even more awe-inspiring than the soup made by Lin Yuan with six or seven ginseng roots.

She waved her hand in refusal, saying, "I drank enough nourishing soups during my time at Lanyue Pavilion."

"I'll just have... candied fruit."

With her sharp eyes, she noticed a small dish of candied fruit on the lacquer tray that had been placed down alongside the soup.

She picked up a candied plum and put it in her mouth, then pushed the cup back down: "Your Majesty, please have some soup. It looks very nourishing. You should drink it while it's hot."

The words sounded familiar, and Lin Yuan touched the tip of her ear.

Xiao Xun took a deep breath almost imperceptibly, picked up the cup, and prepared to drink it all in one gulp.

The moment her lips touched the medicine, Lin Yuan handed her a lacquered dagger and said with concern, "Drink slowly, don't burn yourself."

Xiao Xun was deeply moved. He pushed away the lacquered dagger and smiled bitterly, "It's not hot."

He took another sip, but suddenly a hand grabbed the handle of the cup.

Lin Yuan's eyes peeked out from the rim of the cup, bright and eager: "Don't drink so fast, be careful not to choke."

Xiao Xun was moved, the bitter taste on his lips spreading everywhere, and he forced a smile: "No."

His voice was as faint as ever, but his breath was filled with bitterness.

He pursed his lips, and just as he swallowed another bite, he heard Lin Yuan suddenly exclaim "Ah!"

Startled, he put down his cup and looked at her.

Lin Yuan pointed to the candied fruit and said with a smile, "Wow, these plums are so sweet."

Xiao Xun savored the bitter taste in his mouth for a long while before replying, "Really?"

It was indeed very sweet, and in no time at all, the plate was empty.

Lin Yuan said apologetically, her eyes still crinkling mischievously: "Fortunately, His Majesty doesn't like sweets."

She ate with gusto, a tiny bit of sugar still clinging to her lips, which, along with her eyes, sparkled. As she spoke, she reached for the last green plum on the plate.

Xiao Xun picked up the ear cup, his hand trembling.

"What happened to Your Majesty's right hand? Is it injured as well?" she asked.

"It's nothing, I just pressed on it while sleeping last night."

Xiao Xun turned his gaze back and said with a low laugh.

The sound came through as the soup sloshed in the glass.

The ear cup was empty, and his brows furrowed in distress.

He put the cup down, but his brow had already smoothed out.

Lin Yuan rubbed her fingertips, which were covered in sugar, and stood up: "I'm full."

Before leaving, she paused by the window and used a silver dagger to extinguish the agarwood incense in the censer: "This incense is too strong. His Majesty accepted the Princess's kindness and tried it for a day, so perhaps we shouldn't add any more?"

As she spoke, she took a deep breath, her eyes crinkling into a smile, "It overshadows the natural freshness, and also, the fruity aroma."

The last green plum remained on the plate.

Xiao Xun suddenly laughed.

It's sweet, really sweet.

After Lin Yuan left, Xiao Xun conveyed Gongsun Zhao's message.

Gongsun Zhao hurried over from the stable, his forehead covered in a thin layer of sweat, with bits of grass and grayish-blue horsehair clinging to it. His cotton robe was also covered in dry grass and clods of mud. He exuded the smell of a cattle pen and stable.

Xiao Xun leaned back against the armchair behind him.

"Gongsun Zhao, you no longer need to feed the horses."

Upon hearing this, the Grand Master of the Imperial Stud's brows relaxed.

He heard the news of His Majesty's fall from his horse yesterday and was filled with anxiety, unable to sleep all night.

The Azure Cloud Steed went berserk after accidentally eating wild grass. But why did the Cloud-Treading Steed also go berserk and throw His Majesty off his horse?

Could it be that Ta Yun discovered that this Azure Cloud Steed is not Gray Wind?

Qingyun Steed was indeed two inches shorter than Huifeng Steed, and it was missing a tuft of white hair on its forehead, but he carefully covered it up with Danglu.

He's raised horses for so many years, practically grown up in the stables, and boasts of a deep understanding of equine nature, even surpassing that of human nature. Is it really true that horses are so loyal to one breed from start to finish?

A cool night breeze blew through his hair and the mane of his horse, Qingyunju.

Before his eyes appeared the Wusun horses, Ferghana horses, Xiongnu horses, and Guoxia horses he had raised—mating, breeding, and having offspring—such a simple thing.

He sighed deeply as he looked at the setting moon in the night sky.

I have never seen a horse like Ta Yun, with such a tender heart, such deep affection and unwavering love!

"Yes," Gongsun Zhao said, bowing in thanks.

He already knew exactly what Xiao Xun was going to say next.

While tending to the horses, he listened to Ling Feng talk every day about the progress of the assassination attempt at the banquet at the Prince of Huaiyang's mansion, and now there were some clues.

Just as they had previously thought, the problem did not lie in Huaiyang Kingdom.

The Minister of the Imperial Household sent people to investigate the other dancers and singers in the Music Bureau in order to find out whether the Music Bureau of Huaiyang Kingdom really had abducted women and forced them into prostitution. They found that since the Music Bureau was first established ten years ago, a rule had been set up that the musicians in the Music Bureau, who received a monthly salary, still retained their personal registration.

What's even stranger is that, according to these female musicians, the Music Bureau was nothing short of a refuge for young women who were homeless, desperate, or bullied at home because of their bad parents or unkind relatives.

Upon further investigation, it was found that the servants kept in the Prince of Huaiyang's mansion were no different.

Let alone forcing good women into prostitution, even the dancers and singers sent to the music bureau by officials from various regions to curry favor, or the maids sent to the prince's mansion because of their beauty, gentleness, and skill, regardless of gender, were all removed from their lowly status, and their indentures were returned to their own hands. They could come and go as they pleased.

In addition, the music bureau of Huaiyang State had one thing that was different from others.

Because the Princess of Huaiyang was fond of refined tastes, the Music Bureau compiled folk songs and poems from various places into a book, which circulated in the streets and markets.

Once the female musicians entered the music bureau, they received specialized training. In addition to singing and dancing, they were also taught to read and write and to study music. The women were grateful and studied diligently, thus achieving remarkable results.

The Prince of Huaiyang and his wife would often come to the music bureau to listen to music and watch dances. They would also often bring singers and dancers into the palace to exchange musical and dance skills.

With the backing of the Prince of Huaiyang and his wife, the high-ranking officials and nobles who came here for entertainment dared not touch or think anything of the dancers and singers, or harbor any dissenting thoughts, except for listening to the songs and dances.

Since its establishment, the Music Bureau has gradually become a place for literati to make friends through literature, poetry, and song.

Xiao Cheng and Xiao Jin were filled with anxiety in the mansion. Several days after the assassination attempt, they were summoned to Xiao Xun's presence. Both of them bowed to the ground, their faces ashen and their knees trembling.

Before Xiao Xun could speak, one of them began to explain that he had long been "henpecked" and that he had always acted out of affection for women but kept his feelings within the bounds of propriety.

One of them started to decline, saying that although he enjoyed music and women, he would simply bring any woman he liked into his household, so why bother with "roundabout ways"?

The father and son's words just happened to clash.

The two men stared at each other, drenched in cold sweat, and dared not raise their heads.

After a long silence, what was heard was a pair of white jade discs bestowed by the emperor.

"It's not for you."

Xiao Xun met their astonished gazes and chuckled lightly, "It's a reward for the Princess."

"Your Majesty, are we about to begin preparations to return to Chang'an?" Gongsun Zhao asked hastily, thinking of this.

"Returning to Chang'an should be done as soon as possible," Xiao Xun glanced at him, "but that doesn't include you."

Gongsun Zhao was taken aback, then heard Xiao Xun say, "Go to the border region."

The Grand Master of the Palace thought he had been drowsy from almost a sleepless night while training the horses and had misheard what was said.

But he quickly understood what Xiao Xun meant.

He then cupped his hands in greeting and asked, "Does Your Majesty mean that I should tour the Shuofang, Wuyuan, Yanmen and other places?"

With the Xiongnu wars just ended, Shuofang, Wuyuan, Yanmen, and even the neighboring Taiyuan and Shangjun were all in dire need of reconstruction.

Before leaving the palace, Xiao Xun issued an edict to the prefectures and counties, which stated that all those who died in the war and were unable to bury themselves would be given three thousand coins by the prefecture or county for burial. Widows, widowers, orphans, and the lonely who were destitute due to the war would be provided with food and clothing by the prefecture or county.

Now, half a month has passed since this imperial edict was issued, and the court should send an envoy to tour the border regions.

Gongsun Zhao thought to himself, firstly, the Huaiyang Kingdom's resettlement of disaster victims had appeased the people and helped them weather the crisis smoothly. Whether it was providing shelters or registering displaced people, everything was done in an orderly manner under the supervision of the Minister of Ceremonies and himself. This could also be applied to these border regions that had just experienced turmoil and whose houses were three-tenths destroyed. Secondly, with New Year's Day over and spring approaching, encouraging land reclamation and implementing tax exemptions were imperative.

"Going back to your hometown? You wish." Xiao Xun looked up at him and scoffed.

Gongsun Zhao felt a chill run down his spine.

Xiao Xun's fingers gently tapped a spot far away on the map on the desk.

"The state of Yan is bitterly cold, so you should go there."

He paused, then added in a cold voice, "Go on horseback."

*

The Prince of Huaiyang and his heir were cleared of suspicion, and Ling Feng discovered many suspicious points about the female musician who attempted the assassination.

Aside from revealing her own background and accusing the Prince of Huaiyang of disregarding human life and mistreating dancers, the dancer refused to utter another word.

She claimed that she could not escape the death penalty, and because of the death of her younger brother, she had no relatives or friends left, had long lost her hope, and was determined to die.

When he failed to take poison, he tried hitting his head against the wall, but was stopped several times by the men sent by Ling Feng.

So he went on a hunger strike again, refusing to eat a single grain of rice.

Ling Feng simply let it be, only sending people to deliver clean water each day.

As the singer fainted from hunger, she incoherently began to chant a folk song.

The singing was very unclear, incoherent, and incoherent.

Several jailers and imperial guards listened for several days and finally discerned two lines: "The Yi River is cold, the wind is howling."

At first, Ling Feng thought she was singing "The wind is howling, the Yi River is cold".

It seems that this person possessed the same courage and determination as Jing Ke in assassinating the King of Qin, which is why he made his move at the banquet held by the state of Huaiyang to entertain the imperial envoys.

Moreover, he used the same tactic that Gao Jianli, Jing Ke's friend who played the zither for this song, used to assassinate the King of Qin—turning his zither into a weapon to harm others.

Xiao Xun leaned against the armrest and sneered after hearing Ling Feng's words: "Jing Ke assassinated the King of Qin, revealing the dagger when the map was unrolled; Gao Jianli killed the King of Qin by pouring lead into a zither. Those were real battles, fought to the death, preferring to die rather than live like a broken jade."

Ling Feng understood the implied meaning and was also puzzled.

If, as the dancer claimed, she harbored a deep hatred for the Prince of Huaiyang and was determined to die, why didn't she use a lethal weapon?

Why didn't they make their move before the banquet started, when the Prince of Huaiyang personally directed the singing and dancing?

While investigating her background with these questions in mind, Ling Feng noticed a musician named Hongxiu.

People in the music bureau said that the singer had been there for three months. She was aloof and did not interact with others. Only Hongxiu could talk to her.

Because of her straightforward nature, Hongxiu got along well with everyone.

"Is that singer from Huaiyang?" Ling Feng asked personally.

Hongxiu laughed heartily, without hiding anything, "We never ask where people come from when they come here. People who come here to make a living usually have some difficulties, so why ask and rub salt into their wounds?"

Ling Feng remained silent for a moment, then asked, "Do you know if she has parents?"

"The people here are basically of two kinds: those who are orphans, and those who have both parents."

The Imperial Guards behind Ling Feng all felt that Hongxiu was just fooling them, and they gripped their sword sheaths tightly, the blades gleaming coldly.

But then Hongxiu, in her high-pitched voice, changed her tone and sighed, "—it would have been better if there had been none at all."

Ling Feng rose to his feet, lifting his robe, and said sarcastically in a cold voice, "You spent half a day asking questions, and it would have been better if you hadn't asked at all."

Having been rebuffed, he left dejectedly, only to bump into Prince Xiao Jin, who was walking into the Music Bureau with a beaming smile, right at the door.

"Young Master, don't just admire the beauty, also watch where you're going." Ling Feng looked up and saw Xiao Jin's gaze fixed on Hong Xiu, and coldly called out.

Xiao Jin snapped out of her daze and saw that it was Ling Feng: "Oh, Brother Ling, you've really come to the Music Bureau to enjoy yourself!"

Without a word, he pulled Ling Feng aside, patted him affectionately on the back, and lowered his voice: "It should have been done long ago! How can a dignified Minister of the Imperial Household be troubled by his fiancée's emotional outburst? The world is vast, and there are plenty of beautiful women out there. You've come to the right place in Huaiyang!"

He curled his lips into a smile. "My mother is so shrewd, she has my father completely under her thumb. But whenever my father is upset, he can listen to music, watch dances, drink some wine, and boast a little at home or at the music academy. With the comfort of a gentle and loving woman, all his troubles will pass."

As Ling Feng listened, his brows gradually furrowed.

His fiancée? Throwing a tantrum? What's wrong with his fiancée that he doesn't know about? Is she upset because of him? And what exactly is troubling him?

Troubled by love?

Is it love? Or music?

He was completely confused.

Looking up, the young master turned to Hongxiu, who was seeing off the guests, and said with a smile, "Hongxiu doesn't sing and play music for others easily! Our Lord Ling is also handsome and talented, a rare find in the world, no less than Master Lin. He has good taste, truly excellent!"

It was probably because of a shove from the woman in red, and then came a series of "Ouch, ouch..." interspersed with the musicians covering their mouths and laughing softly.

Ling Feng pondered his words, his brows furrowing even more deeply. He gripped his sword and strode away without looking back.

After returning to the Prince's residence, he reported everything to Xiao Xun, omitting, of course, the part about the young prince's inexplicable accusations, such as his fiancée being emotional and his own heartbreak.

Xiao Xun was laughing so hard that the wound on his arm split open.

"Your Majesty, I..."

"I have indeed heard of it."

Xiao Xun clenched his fist, coughed twice, took a sip of tea, and finally managed to compose himself. “Master Lin and this woman named Hongxiu in the Music Bureau have quite a history.”

He pondered for a moment, then beckoned Ling Feng closer and asked, "Tell me, what does she look like?"

*

A young woman, barely twenty, with bright eyes and long, slender fingers, strums a stringed instrument and sings.

After he finished singing, he bowed to the people above and asked with a smile, "Master Lin hasn't come for a long time. Why did you specifically ask to hear such a song today?"

“I overheard someone singing a couple of lines on the street before, and I’ve been thinking about it ever since, but unfortunately I don’t know the whole story. For some reason, I’ve remembered it again these days. The Music Bureau established by the Prince of Huaiyang collects folk songs, so I wanted to ask you about them.” Lin Yu smiled. “You’ve really come to the right person.”

He then smiled at Ling Feng and said, "Hongxiu comes from an official family and has been very accomplished in poetry and music since childhood. Now, Hongxiu is collecting and organizing the poems of literati and the folk songs of the streets in the music bureau."

Hongxiu continued, "However, I was proud for a while when I was young. Later, my family fell into decline, my parents died, and I was all alone. I wandered around trying to make a living, only to find that I had no skills and could not lift a finger. It wasn't until seven years ago that I finally found a place to stay in the music bureau in Huaiyang."

He smiled and turned to look at Lin Yu, "Actually, in terms of talent and skill, how can anyone compare to Master Lin? After meeting Master Lin, I realized how unfair Heaven is. Such a person is outstanding in both literature and martial arts, and even surpasses others in music. I am grateful that Master Lin does not despise us and treats us lowly musicians as friends."

Lin Yu pointed at him and laughed at Ling Feng, "Look at him, so eloquent, leaving people speechless, yet so gentle and kind, and he even says he has no other talents. It would be such a waste if he didn't sing and compose."

Hongxiu took a breath and smiled with relief, "So, falling into this music bureau isn't such a loss after all. It's better to share happiness than to enjoy it alone."

Lin Yu raised the corners of his lips and said, "Music has an educational function, and it is no less important than rites and poetry. As for folk songs, they are also crucial, even in the imperial court. The joys and sorrows of the common people, what they seek, and whether government orders are effective from top to bottom can sometimes be discerned from official documents, but can be seen in music."

“That’s right, that’s right, Master Lin is absolutely right,” Ling Feng echoed.

“This is what they call being bathed in a spring breeze. It’s a pity that Master Lin doesn’t enter the imperial court,” Hongxiu said with a smile to Ling Feng.

Ling Feng nodded thoughtfully and said, "Yes, yes."

Lin Yu lowered his head and plucked a note from the song on Hongxiu's zither. He then said, "This song has a simple melody and lyrics, but its poignant notes are deeply moving."

Hongxiu raised her eyes, narrowed them, and asked, "Master Lin, did you come here specifically to listen to this song today because you miss your family?"

"The Yi River is cold, the wind is howling," followed by these lines: "The white grass is tall in front of Mother's house. The white grass is tall, swaying in the wind. My son, my son, walk slowly, don't fall."

Lin Yu nodded slightly.

Hongxiu smiled and said, "It seems that my longing for you has now been replaced by another. Good, good. If you can't have what you want, you might as well cherish what you have now. When you go home another day, please give my regards to your parents."

After he finished speaking, he saw the Minister of the Imperial Household step forward, saying he had something to discuss with Lin Yu, so he bowed and withdrew.

Ling Feng watched as he was dressed in white, with only a touch of crimson on his sleeves, embroidered with two red leaves symbolizing longing. He carried a zither in his arms and gracefully departed.

He gazed at her retreating figure, touched his nose, and couldn't help but ask Lin Yu, "What does this longing refer to...?"

Lin Yu's lips curled into a slight smile as she interrupted, "Minister of the Imperial Household, have you made any progress?"

Ling Feng took two steps back, stood upright, and bowed deeply: "I have gained a lot, thank you Master Lin."

That singing girl was from the State of Yan.

-----------------------

Author's note: I mentioned Hongxiu once before, in Chapter 28. She is the musician who never charges money for playing the zither for her brother.

To my shame, the first book I wrote featured a dancer as the female protagonist, yet I never addressed the needs of dancers and singers from the lower classes. This new story is meant to fulfill that wish, so please don't scrutinize its realism. The princess was manipulated and used to become a princess, but she accepts her fate and manages to live a fulfilling life, realizing her own value.