Chapter 539: Water Melody |
Within the Qi Family's boudoir, Qi Zhaoning sat facing the mirror. Qi Zhenzhu stood behind her back lightly binding and gathering up her hair.
The mirror was a glass mirror Rarely Seen on the market surface. The comb was a rhinoceros horn comb. The comb resembling black jade slid and passed through between Qi Zhaoning's strands of hair. The long, long hair was soft and smooth like silk and satin.
Qi Zhenzhu coiled up her hair for her: "Which Hairpin is Miss wearing today?"
Qi Zhaoning from the makeup box drawers on her left hand side pulled out two Hairpins. One diancui (kingfisher feather art) velvet flower hairpin, one mutton-fat white jade hairpin. She looked at herself within the mirror: "This hairpin on the left is Grand Craftsman Li's new work. This hairpin on the right is Grand Craftsman Zhou's fine carving. Which one do you feel is suitable for me to wear? It's said Grand Craftsman Zhou also made a white jade hairpin inlaid with Eastern Pearls. That was heavily the heart's blood of two months of his specially prepared for the Mid-Autumn festival. The Eastern Pearl was perfectly round and glossy like the moon. What a pity, it actually was taken away by someone a step ahead—"
Qi Zhenzhu covered her face with white gauze, lowering her eyelids: "Diancui is intelligent and elegant, white jade is plain and elegant. Whichever hairpin Miss wears is entirely good-looking."
Qi Zhaoning persistently asked: "I want you to say which one is even more good-looking."
[Translation note: Skipped website advertisement message]
Qi Zhenzhu remained silent for a moment: "The diancui velvet flower hairpin matches Miss somewhat more."
Qi Zhaoning evaluated the two hairpins. Ultimately she selected that mutton-fat white jade one: "Diancui is too extravagant and showy. He ought to like ones somewhat more plain and elegant."
Qi Zhaoyun slightly shook her head: "Not yet. Father dispatched me to urge you. The guests have already arrived at Bright Zither Building. You must grasp (hurry) somewhat more for it to be correct."
[Translation note: skipped typo/glitch]
Qi Zhaoning wrinkled up her brows: "The Shen hour (3 - 5 PM) has almost completely passed. How come he still hasn't come."
Qi Zhaoyun sighed: "Today the Annan Envoy entered the capital. He perhaps has matters delaying him."
Qi Zhaoning raised her eyebrows slightly: "He now also has no need to act on duty. Delaying what... Elder sister, what's wrong with you?"
She evaluated her own elder sister. Yet discovering the other party's facial features were completely worn and haggard. Her eye sockets and cheeks deeply sunken, having lost her original shape due to being overly emaciated (skin and bones).
Qi Zhaoyun gently and mildly smiled faintly: "I'm fine."
Qi Zhaoning pulled her arm concernedly saying: "Still unable to forget that surnamed Huang one? I heard he has already returned south to engage in business. Every day intersecting and conversing with coarse salt. Pondering over this kind of man doing what."
Qi Zhaoyun remained silently unspeaking.
Qi Zhaoning continued saying: "Elder sister. You are immediately about to be Princess Fu. Prince Fu is now Exerting Himself to Govern Well in Jinling. He precisely has the appearance of a hidden dragon. The completely of the women in Capital City universally envy you secretly."
Qi Zhaoyun took her hand covering it upon the back of Qi Zhaoning's hand, saying slowly: "Zhaoning. People in this lifetime merely have a hurried several tens of years. What bystanders think is not important. What is important is how oneself thinks. Do not be made into a prison by the gazes of bystanders. Furthermore... today when the Baron of Wuxiang County comes do not fight grudges (fight over air) with him anymore. You two will simply be marrying in January. You naturally should mutually be close and mutually love."
Qi Zhaoning simply extracted back her hand: "It was him who first published the matters of him and Zhang Xia onto the Morning Newspaper. All the people are universally saying he and Zhang Xia are a matched pair. Making a fuss until my face is covered in dust and dirt (humiliated). On this matter even before the face of Elder Chen, I also occupy the reasoning."
Qi Zhaoyun said helplessly: "Yes, yes, yes. On this matter he had faults beforehand. But between husband and wife why absolutely necessitate dividing a right or wrong. At that time they were making a Narrow Escape from nine deaths and one life outside Chongli Pass. If it wasn't for Second Miss Zhang barging into White Tiger Hall, how could he have returned alive?"
Qi Zhaoning's complexion sank: "What of it? It also shouldn't have been published upon the newspaper!"
During the speech, a servant girl carrying a sandalwood box entered: "Miss. The Chen Family arrived. The Chen Family's steward Chen Xu delivered over a box. Saying it is a Mid-Autumn gift the Baron of Wuxiang County prepared for the sake of offering apologies and making amends to you."
Qi Zhaoning's eyes brightened, yet she said with reserved pride: "It will do. Place it upon the desk.
Waiting until the servant girl withdrew from the boudoir, only then did she raise her chin slightly signaling Qi Zhenzhu: "Open it for a look."
Qi Zhenzhu with the face towards her opened it. Qi Zhaoning suddenly stood her body up happily saying: "Isn't this the 'Mid-Autumn Full Moon' Grand Craftsman Zhou spent two months making? It originally was bought and taken away by him!"
Qi Zhaoyun by the side smoothed things over: "I have also heard of this 'Mid-Autumn Full Moon'. It's said Grand Craftsman Zhou picking the Eastern Pearl simply selected for as long as a single year. He spoke with people... Mid-Autumn has both the entire family uniting fully roundly, and also two emotions lacking flaws. Since he wanted to select an Eastern Pearl, he simply must select arriving at that fully perfectly round flawlessly flawless one. Only then could he be worthy of the Mid-Autumn symbolism. I also heard... this hairpin hadn't yet been made nicely entirely, and that primary wife of the Xu Family simply wanted to fix it down (reserve it). But Grand Craftsman Zhou didn't agree. Saying this hairpin serving as a betrothal token token of love was even more appropriate."
Qi Zhaoning's face revealed a happy expression: "Alright, alright. Since he expended his heart so much, I simply forgive him."
Qi Zhaoyun slowly let out a breath of air: "Come, I will help you wear it upwards. The banquet is about to open. We must hastily go over."
Bright Zither Building upon the edge of Broad Pool was brilliantly illuminated with lanterns and fires. Just resembling an exquisite painted boat stopping beside the lake shore.
Someone upon the second floor cast down fish food. Attracting the gold and red koi inside Broad Pool until they entirely gathered within the lantern lights. Flashing and flickering with resplendent lustrous light.
Inside Bright Zither Building.
At the head positions Elder Qi and Elder Chen sat shoulder-to-shoulder. The two people's desks only possessed a single step's distance.
Qi Zhaoning with brisk and nimble footsteps pulled her elder sister stepping into Bright Zither Building. Finding empty seats upon the left hand side to sit down.
Having just sat down, her gaze simply sought and searched within the main hall. But having searched for half a day she also never once saw Chen Ji's figure: "Yi, where is Chen Ji?"
Chen Ji was by no means within Bright Zither Building.
Qi Zhaoyun twisted her brows. Turning her head back looking toward her elder brother Qi Zhenwu at the neighboring table: "Elder brother. Didn't the Chen Family people arrive? How come the Baron of Wuxiang County isn't seen?"
Qi Zhenwu shook his head: "Never seen him. Just now when Elder Chen came he simply wasn't seen following and walking along. Nuo, the desk left for him opposite there is also still empty."
Qi Zhaoning's complexion slowly sank down: "Since he didn't come, then that hairpin wasn't given by him. It was Elder Chen acting as a proxy giving it for him."
Qi Zhaoyun hastily and hurriedly transferred the topics of conversation, again asking Qi Zhenwu: "Two desks are empty. Whose is the other one?"
Qi Zhenwu said with pity and lament: "Left for Buddha Son Wu Zhai. Originally having the intention to group Wu Zhai and Chen Ji together. To see whether they could have a third sutra debate. What a pity, just now the subordinates only then returned offering a report. Saying Wu Zhai since the previous sutra debate simply cultivated Closed-Mouth Zen. During ordinary days living deeply and exiting scarcely. Not willing to heed worldly matters anymore."
Qi Zhaoyun looked worriedly toward Qi Zhaoning. Qi Zhaoning sank her small face without speaking a single word.
Waiting again for a full two sticks of incense, Chen Ji still was not seen appearing.
Chen Ji was absent.
During the banquet everyone was universally discussing the matter of the Annan Envoy entering the capital today. Yuan Wang said loudly: "Early on heard Provincial Administration Commissioner Yang possessed valor and possessed stratagem. Never thinking he actually could borrow eight thousand elite troops to capture the Siam King alive. Exalting our national majesty."
Yang Zhong looked toward Qi Xianshu: "Paternal Uncle. I heard King Annan this journey, wishes to have a peace marriage with our dynasty. Is there this matter?"
Qi Xianshu nodded his head: "Indeed there is this matter. Although His Majesty hasn't agreed, but King Annan established this grand merit... there is also no reasoning to refuse.
[Translation note: Skipped typo]
Yang Zhong was bewildered: "But His Majesty doesn't possess daughters. Our dynasty lacks people able to wed in a peace marriage ah."
Qi Xianshu casually said: "Don't forget. Prince Jing's daughter Zhu Baili is still within Jingyang Palace cultivating Dao. Dispatching her to form the peace marriage simply works."
Qi Zhaoyun was precisely listening to her father and people discussing, yet she heard Qi Zhaoning beside her suddenly saying in a small voice: "I know why he didn't come—"
[Translation note: skipped typo/glitch]
Qi Zhaoyun turned her head looking toward her younger sister. The other party pulled out an unadorned silver hairpin from her sleeves. Her fingers pinching until turning white. Carved upon that hairpin were eight small characters:
Year by year age by age, age by age year by year. (Forever and ever).
On the day of offering sacrifices at the First Silkworm Altar. Qi Zhaoning already simply speculated. The 'Four Dreams of Bianliang' where Li Changge debated sutras for the Commandery Princess, and led her horse... the matters were real. The feelings were also real. They were universally all real.
But today Chen Ji didn't come. Thinking it must be he was also running and hastening around for the matters of the Commandery Princess. Offering apologies and making amends was false. Two emotions lacking flaws was also false. They were universally all false.
Qi Zhaoning said in a low voice: "Truly possessing long feelings (loyalty) then. If there was a single person who acted like this for me... this lifetime could also be considered worth it. No wonder Daoist Master Zhang Li wanted to write of him. It truly is because as soon as he appears he simply sets off bystanders rendering them dull and gloomy (outshining them)—"
Qi Zhaoyun was bewildered: "What?"
Qi Zhaoning's voice gradually sank: "But he just absolutely isn't mine."
At this time, someone during the banquet conversed touching upon the matters of the Capital Morning Post and the Evening News fighting an arena match. And also those three massive wishes of the Morning Newspaper.
This was the most bustlingly lively matter in Capital City recently. Since they were drinking wine they simply couldn't dodge past it.
Merely after someone finished bringing it up, the crowd of people during the banquet simply carefully and meticulously went to look at the expressions of Elder Qi and Elder Chen. After all this matter making such a fuss rising up, the root source lay upon Chen Ji and Qi Zhaoning.
Yuan Wang in his heart knew tonight's Mid-Autumn night banquet was originally for the sake of easing the relationship between the two Chen and Qi families. He simply cast a glance looking at Cui Qinghe. Sounding loudly saying: "The two newspapers fighting an arena match, originally precisely had the intention of mutual sparring and learning, using literature to gather friends. Never thinking Third Miss Qi inspiring and provoking him like this... actually conversely provoked out the Baron of Wuxiang County's broad breast and chest (magnanimity). His selfless tolerance and measure, his breast and chest of pity and compassion for the world, truly is a model of our generation. Third Miss Qi and the Baron of Wuxiang County, is exactly a matched pair created by Heaven and set up by Earth—"
But before the voice of the words fell, he only listened to Qi Zhaoning open her mouth: "What using literature to gather friends? It is merely a plaything casually pieced together by martial men and marketplace idle helpers. How is it thoroughly subjected to high esteem? The Baron of Wuxiang County is accustomed to being capable of sophistry and deceptive debates. Them taking out no Mid-Autumn poetry... they simply used Deceptive and Frivolous Skills to secretly steal the beams swapping the pillars. If you want me to speak... Plum Blossom Ferry should be sealed shut. Do not allow those filthy people of the marketplace confuse and muddle the visual and auditory perception (confuse the public)!"
As these words exited, inside Bright Zither Building it was suddenly completely still.
Qi Zhaoyun tightly, tightly gripped Qi Zhaoning's wrists. Unwilling for her to continue speaking downwards. Even Elder Qi and Elder Chen also cast sidelong glances looking over. No one expected, Qi Zhaoning fundamentally was unwilling to mutually reconcile.
However precisely at this time, Chen Xu with his hands holding a stack of newspapers walked into Bright Zither Building. Heading directly for the head seats.
He arrived beside Elder Chen. Lowly whispering by his ears: "Old Master. This is Plum Blossom Ferry's Evening News today. There aren't many fresh matters. But actually there is a piece of Mid-Autumn poetry that is not bad. It was written by that Brother Pao Chen Chong."
Elder Qi turned his head looking toward Elder Chen: "Elder Chen actually rather cares about these new playthings."
Elder Chen took over the Evening News, slowly and leisurely saying: "Matters established by children of one's own family, one ultimately must look to see if there are any omissions and leaks. Simply instructing Chen Xu to help me buy it every day, inspecting for leaks and mending deficiencies. This old man from the beginning also didn't think it was so. Also entirely the same as Elder Qi, feeling this object shook the royal court's foundations. But these past few days... one day without reading it completely makes me feel as if lacking something... Elder Qi should also look. Although you and I have aged in years, yet we also must know exactly what matters are occurring within this world every day."
Elder Chen flipped past the Evening News's page flattering and patting the horse's buttocks (sucking up to) Emperor Ning. Directly flipping to the third page. The third page today was still as before some fresh new things. Speaking of how to use charcoal to filter filthy water, able to be used in rapid emergencies for drinking during long-distance trudging journeys... nothing rare or wondrous.
The fourth page spoke of Piston Water Pumps being able to substitute today's sculling oar style water wells. Elder Chen looked at the half-page of illustrated explanations, yet stupidly failed to understand it.
He flipped to the fifth page.
Originally the fifth page spoke universally of marketplace idle chatter. Such as which merchant entered which brothel. Universally all essays literati scholars disdained yet secretly peaked at.
But today, the fifth page only possessed a single piece of lyric-poetry.
Elder Chen having just seen this piece of lyric-poetry, simply froze upon his desk for a long, long time without speaking. It seemed he was finely and meticulously pondering the rhythmic charm within.
The guests below the hall Looking at One Another. Not knowing what matters had occurred. Qi Xianshu pondered for a moment. Waving his hand to a youngster servant: "Fetch buying Plum Blossom Ferry's Evening News over."
A stick of incense later, the youngster servant returned back.
Qi Xianshu flipped to the fifth page. Saying in a low voice: "—Water Melody?"
He continued reading: "When will the bright moon appear? I hold up my wine cup and ask the blue sky."
As this sentence exited, during the banquet it was again completely still. The crowd of people only then realized, Plum Blossom Ferry's Evening News actually selected to no longer evade on the very day of Mid-Autumn, returning a piece of Mid-Autumn poetry.
Qi Xianshu continued lowering his head reading: "I do not know what year it is tonight, up in the celestial palaces of the heavens. I long to ride the wind and return there, but fear the jade-like towers and pavilions, High Altitudes are Cold so high up. Rising to dance playing with my clear shadow, what does it resemble being within the human world!"
[Translation note: skipped typo]
Reading to this point, he fiercely paused.
After a brief pausing stop, Qi Xianshu's voice un-self-consciously pulled high. Within the still and silent Bright Zither Building it was exceptionally clear and distinct: "—Revolving past red pavilions, lowering through intricately carved windows, illuminating the sleepless. To the moon there should be no hate left, why is it always full precisely when people are separated? People have sorrows and joys, partings and reunions. The moon has dimness and brightness, waxing and waning. This matter since ancient times has been difficult to perfect. Only wishing for people to endure long, sharing the moon's beauty across a thousand miles."
Inside Bright Zither Building everyone sank into an even more lengthy, nearly freezing stillness and silence. A dropped needle could be heard.
Mister Qi lightly sighed out the signature succeeding the poem: "Chen Chong's final writing."
(End of this chapter)