The zithers made by Master Wu are priceless.
Princess Yongfu once wanted to buy one for her daughter, but the collectors she approached all refused her request to transfer it.
She had no choice but to settle for a different instrument and bought her daughter another one.
In the past, this action by the Earl of Shunyi would have made her ecstatic.
now……
She opened the package, glanced at it, and a hint of admiration appeared in her eyes.
"It's a fine instrument, but unfortunately, Zhizhi can't use it anymore."
Uncle Shunyi paused in his smile.
"Not needed? What does that mean? Does that mean Zhizhi can't play the piano anymore?"
Several guesses flashed through his mind in an instant.
It's like the daughter has injured her hand and can no longer play the zither.
Or perhaps the daughter is completely obsessed, going crazy whenever she sees the piano.
...
Princess Yongfu gave him an answer he had never expected.
"Zhizhi doesn't like playing the piano anymore; she's switched to painting."
The Earl of Shunyi was taken aback.
"Didn't she always love playing the piano and want to improve her skills? Did she suffer too many setbacks and become discouraged, which is why she started learning painting?"
Princess Yongfu smiled and shook her head: "No, she just doesn't like playing the zither anymore."
The Earl of Shunyi was utterly shocked.
He found the answer hard to accept.
Over the years, his daughter has devoted herself to practicing the piano. Although she has no talent, her passion for it must be something she inherited from him.
How could I suddenly give up?
His mind raced, and suddenly he remembered something and asked urgently, "Is it because you know her sister found a substitute for her and you don't want to compete with her that you've lost interest?"
Princess Yongfu looked at him quietly.
"If you don't like it, you just don't like it. Why do you need so many reasons?"
Shunyi was disappointed.
Ruoyan's deception has caused Zhizhi's preferences to change drastically. Will his two daughters become estranged from him?
"Then you can keep this instrument; you can play it whenever you have free time."
He said to Princess Yongfu.
Princess Yongfu chuckled: "I play the pipa more now. You should keep this fine instrument for yourself. It'll probably just gather dust here."
Upon hearing her words, the Earl of Shunyi finally realized that something was different.
He carefully examined his ex-wife.
Her appearance hadn't changed much, but the madness and infatuation in her eyes were gone.
That madness and obsession used to bother him terribly, but once it disappeared, it left him feeling lost and dejected.
It's like a piece of a lake in my heart is missing.
Wasn't she always passionately in love with him, unwavering even when he scorned her?
Why did it suddenly change?
He couldn't understand it, and his head was throbbing.
Just then, her daughter's voice rang out: "Mother, what are you doing standing here at the door?"
He immediately turned to look at his daughter, revealing a kind smile: "Zhizhi, Dad has brought you a birthday gift, a zither by Master Wu. See if you like it."
A hint of surprise flashed in Situ Zhi's eyes: "Father, what brings you here? I no longer play the zither, you can keep it."
He gave the same excuse as his ex-wife.
Only then did the Earl of Shunyi believe that she had truly changed her preferences.
"Your mother said you switched to painting? Is it because you've always struggled with the piano? Dad can teach you. With the right method, maybe..."
Situ Zhi interrupted him: "Father, you said that I have no talent for music and am not cut out to learn the zither. I have been stubbornly clinging to this for so many years before I finally realized it. Why do you have to drag me back? Even if you are willing to teach me, I will never become a genius zither player."
The Earl of Shunyi's expression stiffened slightly.
“It doesn’t matter if you can’t be a genius,” he said hesitantly. “Playing the piano can cultivate one’s character and bring joy.”
Situ Zhi smiled and said, "Drawing is fine too."
The Earl of Shunyi fell silent for a moment.
He had never encountered any obstacles with the mother and daughter before, but tonight he had run into them many times.
It wasn't Wu Dajia's zither that was rejected.
It was himself.
He had assumed that whenever he turned around, he would see them standing there, looking at him with expectant eyes.
The truth is quite the opposite.
They neither played the piano nor wanted his.
It was as if he were a troublesome problem that desperately needed to be gotten rid of, or an annoying fly.
This sudden loss of vitality made him feel very uncomfortable.
He paused for a moment, then hugged the zither tightly. "I'll be going now. I'll get you a different birthday gift tomorrow."
After saying that, he turned and left.
His daughter called out from behind, "Dad, I appreciate your kindness, there's no need to send anything more."
He didn't turn around.
After the carriage disappeared around the corner, Situ Zhi said to her mother, "Mother, let's go inside."
"good."
Princess Yongfu turned around, her eyes showing no trace of lingering affection.
...
Before you know it, it's April 6th.
Xiao Qingyin was dragged out of bed by her mother early in the morning to wash up and comb her hair.
In Dae Hee, brides have a custom of facial hair removal, which involves not only removing all the fine hairs from their faces but also plucking out the short hairs from their hairline.
They created a large, round face that symbolized good fortune and fulfillment.
Xiao Qingyin firmly refused.
"Mother, I don't want to have my dough twisted."
Anyone who has stayed up all night knows how precious a forward hairline is.
How could she pluck out such a beautiful hairline?
Yun Wanyin glared at her: "How can you put on makeup if you don't get your face shaved?"
"A normal makeup look is fine."
She didn't want that kind of overly thick, ghostly white makeup.
Yun Wanyin had no choice but to comply with her.
While combing her hair, looking at her daughter's beautiful face and long, jet-black hair, she couldn't help but recall how tiny and wrinkled she looked when she was first born.
Time really flies.
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