The painted boat beside Yuxian Tower was untethered once more.
Pei Yunmeng helped Lu Tong onto the boat.
Fearing that Lu Tong would get seasick, the two didn’t call for the oarsman, letting the painted boat drift by the shore. Even so, floating on the river was much more interesting than sitting idly in Yuxian Tower watching the rain.
The painted boats under Yuxian Tower varied in size. The larger ones were usually for high officials and nobles to hold night banquets, while the smaller ones were for the refined scholars to brew wine onboard.
The boat chosen by Pei Yunmeng was somewhat smaller, a black flat boat with lotus carvings at the prow. Inside were turquoise curtains, a meal spread out, as though a banquet on water, amidst countless drooping willows and a misty drizzle.
Lu Tong, holding onto the railing, sat down in front of a small table. As soon as she was settled, a bright red string of candied hawthorns appeared before her eyes.
"The candied hawthorns from Yuxian Tower." Pei Yunmeng smiled, "Even though it’s been some years, I’ve kept my word."
Lu Tong hesitated for a moment.
It seemed she remembered the derelict temple behind the Su Nan Execution Ground years ago, disdain written all over her face as she held the silver ring, listening to the man in black by the fire promising, "Take this to Yuxian Tower on Qinghe Street in the South City of Shengjing. I’ll treat you to Yuxian Tower’s candied hawthorns."
Time had sharply passed; the once in a decade heavy snowfall of Su Nan had long melted away. What she assumed was a casual brush-off had bizarrely come true many years later. Though their reunion had a different cause, the outcome was nonetheless perfectly full circle.
Lu Tong lowered her head and bit into the fruit in her hand, the sour-sweet taste spreading between her teeth.
"How is it?" Pei Yunmeng sat down across from her.
"It has a kind of..." Lu Tong thought for a moment, "a flavor of silver."
Du Changqing had also bought candied hawthorns at Renhe Restaurant, but their taste could not compete with the sweetness in her hand. Perhaps it wasn’t really about the candied hawthorns. After all, her state of mind now was entirely different from when she first arrived in Shengjing.
Pei Yunmeng couldn’t help but laugh at her words, "You really know how to flatter."
Lu Tong leaned over the boat’s edge, looking into the distance. From the painted boat, the sound of a guqin gradually wafted over, deep within the scent of blossoms and a spring’s depth, mournful and plaintive, profoundly touching.
She listened intently for a while, and Pei Yunmeng did not disturb her. When the piece ended, Lu Tong still felt a sense of lingering emotion.
Du Changqing had once mentioned the exceptional skills of the Zither Girl in Yuxian Tower. During her last visit, focused solely on getting close to Qi Yutai, she hadn’t bothered to appreciate it. Now, drifting on the river, although she didn’t quite understand guqin music, she still felt every note was moving.
Lu Tong turned her head to look at the person opposite her. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞
Pei Yunmeng was gazing out at the river through the window. Noticing Lu Tong’s gaze, he turned around, puzzled, "What is it?"
"I’ve heard from Sister Yunshu that you play the guqin?"
Pei Yunmeng looked doubtful, "What are you proposing?"
Lu Tong pointed to a guqin resting on the boat, "I wonder how the Marshal’s playing compares to that of the Zither Girl we just heard?"
He hesitated for a moment, nearly bursting into laughter at Lu Tong’s request, "Don’t you think your request is a bit too much?"
Some wealthy merchants and noble ladies who held banquets outdoors often chose beautiful young men to serve them. Along the way, they might sing, dance, or play chess and guqin—polishing a banquet to the delight of all attendees.
At certain times, such a request could even carry a hint of disdain.
Lu Tong rested her chin on her hand as she looked at him, "I just want to hear you play."
"I could play for you in private," Pei Yunmeng glanced at a painted boat passing in the distance and cleared his throat gently, "Let’s forget about it in public."
Lu Tong was displeased, "Why are you being so coy? If you play, is someone going to come and snatch you away? If someone really tried to snatch you," she said sarcastically, "I’m very skilled at murder and hiding a body—I’d definitely avenge you."
Pei Yunmeng stared at her incredulously.
Lu Tong’s demeanor was open and unaffected as if she plainly understood the implication of her words yet deliberately left it unsaid, an innocent facade akin to playful mischief.
He watched her for a long moment, and she remained insistent. Eventually, conceding defeat, he sighed, "Fine, the Commandant of the Palace Front Office will perform this task for you."
He stood up and walked over to a desk.
This painted boat had been rented for the enjoyment of a river cruise and viewing of the willows, and a seven-stringed zither was placed on the long table for that purpose.
He sat down in front of the zither, lowered his eyes, and began to play.
Lu Tong had no understanding of music.
In the past, when she listened to Lu Rou play the guqin in Changwu County, she often listened simply for pleasure. Now as Pei Yunmeng played, she could only describe it as "pleasant to the ear." To be fair, she couldn’t distinguish between his playing and that of the earlier Zither Girl, so she just rested her chin in her hand and quietly watched him.
This man was once adept with a knife, yet the hand that wielded it touched the strings of the guqin with equal grace and beauty. His demeanor while playing the guqin was unlike his usual bright, laughing countenance or his distant coldness. He was calm and gentle, like a tranquil mountain under a quiet moon—subtle and serene.
At that time, evening had fallen, a fine rain persisted over the river, and lanterns along the shore shone brightly. The sound of the guqin carried by the wind reached out over the water, and perhaps drawn by it, someone in a nearby painted boat parted their curtains to look over.
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