A promise from an old friend
Rusty iron horses hang from the eaves of the long corridor, clanging and jingling. The wind rises and then falls, and the moon shines brightly on the steps.
Gu Yi spoke very slowly, enunciating each word clearly: "The reason our dynasty has reopened the Music Bureau and summoned musicians is to revive the elegant music of our former kings and the true sound of China."
Huang Chaoan was somewhat bewildered, not understanding why Master Gu was bringing up this seemingly profound topic now. It wasn't like a court debate.
But all he could do was nod repeatedly, "Yes, yes."
Gu Yi's next sentence is the key point: "The music and dance of other tribes need not be included for the time being."
Something must be wrong.
A-Qiu was stunned, her fingernails digging into her palm as she gripped the Qiang flute.
To prepare for this selection, she began learning the Qiang flute three months in advance. She practiced diligently day and night without ever slacking off.
The most distinctive characteristic of the Lanling assassins is their ability to "steal cover and imitate," perfectly embodying whatever profession they are in, and whatever role they play. Even experts cannot distinguish them.
My master is also an expert in this field.
Upon learning that Junior Tutor Gu Yi was to become the Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and that the Tangliyuan Music Bureau was to be re-established, the master judged that the palace would be conducting a large-scale recruitment and selection of dance and music talents, which was an excellent opportunity for Bu Zi to enter the game. He immediately began to train A Qiu.
To reflect the openness and magnanimity of Central Plains civilization, in every dynasty where ritual and music flourished, there was a dedicated ensemble for the nomadic musicians. The master judged that since this dynasty was striving to revive traditional music, it should be no exception.
Since the fall of the previous dynasty, the tradition of Hu music has been largely severed. Composing new tunes on the Qiang flute makes it easier to stand out among the many musicians from the south. This was the quick way that Master came up with for A Qiu to be selected for the Music Bureau.
But Gu Shaoshi's words shattered all her hopes.
Is he... truly not needed Hu Le, or was this specifically designed to target her?
A Qiu's mind was filled with calculations, but she saw that Gu Yi had already left without paying any attention to the others.
Before leaving, he gave her a meaningful look.
If I'm not mistaken, that glance meant—a warning.
Huang Chaoan only dared to raise his head after Gu Yi's figure completely disappeared at the end of the corridor.
He immediately saw A Qiu kneeling on the ground, staring blankly at the end of the corridor, and gritted his teeth, saying, "How dare you look directly at the Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices!"
He added, "Did you hear what the master just said? No hiring of Hu musicians! Get out of here!"
To be fair, A Qiu didn't do anything out of line. Even if she looked up and stared directly at someone, it wasn't a big deal. Gu Yi himself didn't say a word. He just asked about A Qiu's background, told her not to choose Hu musicians, and then left.
Although Huang Chaoan was not well-read, he was very knowledgeable about human affairs. He only understood one meaning, but that meaning was enough for him to take his anger out on A Qiu.
That is, the Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices didn't take a liking to him.
Whether it's liking someone in a male-female sense or liking someone in a talent selection sense, in short, they didn't like them.
As the first low-ranking dancer in the Music Bureau to have the honor of meeting the Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, the result was that she was not worthy of his attention. This was not a matter of face for the entire Music Bureau, or even for Huang Chao'an, who selected these dancers.
Of course, Gu Yi might not actually think that way. But those who are used to speculating about their superiors' intentions have already formed a fixed understanding of any signals released by their superiors.
Therefore, Huang Chaoan immediately changed his expression and ordered A Qiu to get out.
They completely disregarded how much shock A Qiu's Qiang flute performance had previously brought to the people here.
Although young, A Qiu was experienced in many ways and understood the subtle meaning behind Huang Chao'an's anger.
She stood up gracefully, her expression unchanged, and said, "I know I'm guilty and will take my leave. If in the future Lord Gu suddenly remembers my poem 'Chang'an Wind,' or if he suddenly thinks Hu Le is also good, or if he remembers that he once explained the meaning of the melody to me, or if he wants to test me again to see if I remember what he said, then Lord Le can go to the Jingji Garrison to find me."
She added, "Of course, by then, my remains might not still be there."
"It's probably just my imagination," A-Qiu thought. She heard what sounded like bricks and tiles clattering on the eaves above her head.
Ah Qiu was always calm. Although she said she was taking her leave, she stood there smiling, neither humble nor arrogant.
Those musicians who were not selected were mostly sent back to their original places. For example, A Qiu, a former court musician registered in the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, was often sent to the garrison camp closest to the capital to serve as a camp musician.
Hearing her words, Huang Chaoan's eyes darted back and forth several times. After hesitating for a long time, he finally said, "Don't leave yet."
He knew that Ah Qiu's words were mostly sarcastic, but he also knew that there was some truth to them. People of high status usually acted on their whims without giving their subordinates any time to react.
A Qiu was the only musician who had ever shown her face to the Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and the minister had indeed given her a few pointers on the "Chang'an Wind." If one day the nobleman remembered to ask about this person again, and this person had been exiled to Hejian by Huang Chao'an and his remains had not been found, then Huang Chao'an would surely lose his menial job.
Moreover, aside from the fact that the music she played was Hu music and did not please the emperor, A Qiu's beauty, her generous manner, and her intelligence were all things that Huang Chao'an had never seen before.
Huang Chao'an was truly reluctant to let such a beautiful woman end up in the Hejian military camp, both for public and private reasons.
Even the lowly have their own cunning. His eyes flickered, then he put on a smile, and said in a soft, unhurried voice, "Miss Qiu, you heard what the master said just now. The Music Bureau no longer uses Hu music, so you shouldn't be allowed to stay."
He emphasized, "However, considering your intelligence and understanding, I'm going to make an exception for you and arrange a place for you. I just don't know if you—know how to be grateful?"
A Qiu smiled radiantly, her eyes sparkling, and curtsied, saying, "Your Majesty's kindness is like a second life to me; I will remember it for the rest of my life."
But those who know her well will notice that the look in her eyes behind that smile is extremely cold.
Its sharpness was as cold as a short blade, flashing with blue light.
Huang Chaoan, however, was oblivious. He was extremely pleased with A Qiu's promise and said with a smile, "Although the Music Bureau does not have a Hu (non-Han) section, it has added a Dance section in addition to the Sitting and Standing sections, which will be personally managed by me, the Music Master. Judging from the current situation, the Dance section will probably be more prosperous than the other sections in the future."
He added, "If you are willing to join my dance troupe and learn dance, you will have your day. You will not be wasted."
Amidst the bewildered glances of the dancers and musicians, and the strange looks from the stewards, A-Qiu smiled, held her flute, and thanked the music master for his appreciation. She gracefully stepped aside, waiting for the others to select her.
Her mind had already flown to the deep blue eaves of the long corridor above her head.
There was someone there just now; it was that person who left and then returned.
The sound of the cloak whistling through the air, the sound of footsteps hitting the roof tiles, the sound of someone crouching down and pressing their ear to the eaves... From these extremely subtle sounds, A Qiu could almost clearly depict the entire process of Gu Yi leaving and returning, sitting on the eaves, and then carefully listening to the conversation of the people in the corridor.
At this moment, she was quite confused about Gu Yishao's attitude towards her.
He seems...to care a lot about himself.
No matter how much they care, someone of such high status and power shouldn't become a thief just to find out where she is.
Perhaps she misheard...
Ah Qiu heard that it was neither accurate nor far off.
At this moment, at the other end of the corridor, on the eaves, under the moonlight and starlight, two people faced each other from afar, one sitting and one standing.
Standing there was Gu Yi, his black cloak billowing in the wind, his expression... rather difficult to describe. It was the kind of face one has to maintain after being tricked.
It's probably the kind of thing where "I don't care".
Lying casually on the roof ridge was an old eunuch with long, drooping eyebrows and wearing a crimson brocade robe.
The two of them kept their voices a secret.
The old eunuch said, "The moon is beautiful tonight, but I never expected that there would be a rat infestation in the palace."
Gu Yi: "..."
Old eunuch: "You heard the sound of mice rummaging through the eaves, didn't you, Grand Tutor?"
Gu Yi: "..."
The old eunuch stretched, then suddenly became serious: "If you want to protect her, there's nothing I can do. But there must never be assassins in the palace; this is a rule established since the beginning of time."
Gu Yi finally spoke: "She is not an assassin. She is an old friend of mine."
The old eunuch shook his head and sighed, "I think so."
The two fell silent.
Aki's first training session as a geisha student begins with an astonishingly late arrival.
A-Qiu rarely oversleeps, but last night she had a nightmare.
When she hurriedly stepped into the Xiangxie Corridor, wearing a black and white swallowtail-draped dance costume and wooden clogs, she was startled by a sudden loud noise.
"Thump!"
It was like a resounding drumbeat.
At the end of the corridor, the geisha who had begun their morning practice all stopped and looked at her, puzzled.
A Qiu looked at the wooden clogs under his feet, understood a little, and tried to change the angle at which his feet touched the ground and the force with which he landed.
"Knock knock!"
The sound was crisper, unlike the first one, which was as deep and resonant as a bell.
But no matter how you adjust it, it's impossible to slip through the corridor silently and blend into the dance practice group.
It turns out that the wooden clogs worn by geisha are specially made. When you step on the hollow wooden planks under the kotatsu (a type of covered walkway), they produce a deep, resonant sound like the beating of a drum.
The instructor with her back to A-Qiu was a tall woman, but her high-piled hair was already gray.
She showed no reaction to A-Qiu's arrival, and instead raised her bamboo clappers to the dancers, signaling them to continue.
The geishas immediately began to move in perfect unison, as if guided by their own arms. As they shifted and turned, their steps landed on the ground with a rhythmic "thump-thump" sound.
The sound is distinct in strength and rhythm, possessing its own unique cadence. Combined with the varied and dynamic movements of the dancers, it is both visually appealing and musical.
A-Qiu stood awkwardly at the entrance of the corridor, unsure whether to go in or back.
What should I do if I'm late?
Judging from the instructor's expression, he was clearly angry. But if he just stood there, it would be even more inappropriate.
A Qiu had an idea. She bent down, took off her wooden clogs, held them in her hand, and tiptoed over barefoot, just like a cat.
The geishas rehearsing were almost all stunned by her actions, but none dared to be distracted, and they tried their best to concentrate on their practice. Everyone knew that if their expression was distracted or their movements were wrong or delayed, the instructor's bamboo clappers would arrive immediately.
It was as if the instructor had grown ears behind his back, and his clothes moved without any wind.
Ah Qiu thought he had hidden himself well and successfully crept to the instructor's side, preparing to sneak into the group.
A gust of wind suddenly arose, and a sharp bamboo slat struck through the air.
Ah Qiu reacted like lightning, dodging the attack and using his sleeve to deflect the blame.
But as her fingers touched the bamboo slats, she suddenly realized: the instructor was drawing this slat for being late. If she didn't let the instructor draw it, how could he vent his anger, and how could he save face?
So she forcefully withdrew her finger strength, letting the bamboo stick strike her, and sat down on the ground, crying out "Ouch!" with a look of terror on her face, as if she had been hurt and was afraid of being hit.
The instructor was in her forties, with a dignified appearance and stern, bright eyes; it was clear she had been a beauty in her youth. She almost laughed in exasperation at A-Qiu, glancing at her sideways and saying, "Good balance, and quick reflexes."
He then said calmly, "My surname is Sun. Go back to the team and practice your skills!"
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