CCWAD – Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Chapter Ten: The Meaning Beyond the Notes

Prologue:

“I thought I was approaching her, but I didn’t realize every step was within her calculations. It was only when Li Shishi’s fingertips brushed across the strings, peeling away my layers of disguise, that I was startled to discover that the most dangerous entity in this Fan Lou was never the pleasure-seekers.”

—

Inside the private room, incense smoke curled, casting a hazy, ethereal glow on Li Shishi’s exceptionally beautiful and refined face. Her question seemed casual, yet her clear eyes, like a moonlit lake, reflected every subtle shift in Yan Qing’s expression.

Yan Qing knew this was the first hurdle. A single misstep in her answer could render all her previous efforts futile. She lowered her gaze, concealing the thoughts swirling within, her voice carrying a carefully calibrated depth of melancholy and a hint of unspeakable shame:

“I dare not conceal it from you. A month ago, I was ambushed by ruffians and struck by a palm technique of extreme cold.” She paused deliberately, her fingertips unconsciously curling, as if still reliving the terror. “Not only was my meager martial arts completely lost, but… but my Kidney Meridian’s vital energy was also damaged, leading to a decline in Yang energy, physical weakness, and a sensitivity to cold. This has also caused… changes in my appearance and demeanor, making me unlike my former self.”

She linked “kidney damage” with “unusual appearance,” the most logical explanation she could devise for her feminine characteristics. In this era, the kidneys governed vital energy and were fundamental to a man’s essence. Such a hidden ailment was enough to make any man ashamed to speak of it, and it perfectly explained her altered temperament, even her “effeminate” air.

Upon hearing this, Li Shishi’s delicate eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly. She had encountered countless individuals: high-ranking officials, scholars, poets, and even martial heroes. Yan Qing’s current display of shame and dejection did not seem feigned. Especially the mention of “kidney damage,” combined with his overly handsome and gentle features, his slightly slender build, and the unconscious restraint in his movements… it seemed plausible?

However, Li Shishi was no ordinary woman. Her ability to navigate the complex powers in the capital and maintain her position as the leading lady of Fan Lou relied on far more than just her beauty. She keenly detected a minute dissonance in Yan Qing’s words—beneath the shame, there seemed to be another, deeper emotion, a sort of vigilance and resilience of the weak, not entirely consistent with “losing all martial arts.”

“So that’s how it is,” Li Shishi replied calmly, her tone betraying neither belief nor disbelief. Her slender fingers lightly brushed over a seven-stringed guqin on the table beside her, producing a few scattered, clear notes. “The martial world is treacherous; you have suffered greatly, young master.”

Her tone shifted, and she moved away from the topic of illness, instead asking, “You mentioned earlier that you were sent by Steward Lu to convey his greetings. I have long admired Steward Lu’s reputation. I wonder how he is faring lately? I hear that the Hebei region is also not entirely peaceful.”

Here it comes. Yan Qing’s spirits lifted, knowing the true purpose of the conversation was about to begin. Li Shishi was probing her relationship with Lu Junyi and the real reason for her visit.

“Thank you for your concern, esteemed lady,” Yan Qing sat up straighter, her expression becoming solemn. “My elder brother is well, but… alas,” she sighed at the opportune moment, “the world today is rife with corruption and deceit, and the people suffer. Though my brother wishes to protect his homeland, he is like a lone tree trying to withstand a storm, often feeling powerless. He sent me here this time, firstly to seek medical help, and secondly, to let this useless person see the world, perhaps… to find a new opportunity.”

Her words were vague, yet they skillfully linked Lu Junyi’s “predicament” with dissatisfaction towards the “state of affairs,” hinting at the possibility of “seeking a new opportunity.” This not only fit the status of a powerful figure like Lu Junyi but also subtly appealed to the potential sentiments of those like Li Shishi, who, while on the fringes of power, possessed keen insight into the times.

Li Shishi’s fingers paused on the guqin. She raised her eyes, scrutinizing Yan Qing again. This young man’s words were sharp and subtle. He seemed to be recounting his master’s difficulties, but in reality, he was casting a lure. Lu Junyi, the second-in-command of Liangshan Marsh… was he truly sending this “ailing” yet sharp-tongued confidante to the capital merely for medical treatment and “to see the world”?

Her mind raced, but her expression remained as serene and detached as ever. “Steward Lu commands a great presence in Hebei, his righteousness reaching the heavens; he is a hero of our time. As for this opportunity…” She smiled slightly, her smile carrying a hint of profound, elusive mystery. “Opportunities in this world are profound and difficult to explain. Sometimes, in actively seeking them, one finds no path; other times, a casual endeavor can yield abundant results.”

Her words were like Zen riddles, leaving one to ponder their meaning.

Just then, a soft knock sounded at the door, and a maid’s voice announced, “Esteemed lady, an attendant from Officer Zhao has sent new tea for your appraisal.”

Li Shishi’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, then smoothed back into calm. “Understood. Leave it outside,” she said indifferently.

Yan Qing’s heart skipped a beat. Officer Zhao? In the capital, to be referred to as “Officer Zhao” by someone from Fan Lou and to casually send gifts to Li Shishi, his identity was almost obvious! Emperor Huizong of Song, Zhao Ji!

Li Shishi seemed unwilling to dwell on the matter. She turned her gaze back to Yan Qing and suddenly said, “I’ve heard that Young Master Yan is skilled in music, proficient in all forms of playing and singing? Do you, by any chance, have the inclination to perform a duet with me today?”

Yan Qing’s heart leaped violently! The original host, Yan Qing, was indeed talented and versatile, particularly skilled at playing the bamboo flute and singing! But she… she, the imposter, could barely recognize musical notation, let alone play the flute! Her mind flashed back to her disastrous university music class, where her recorder playing sounded like flatulence and earned her the mockery of the entire class.

Crisis loomed! If she was exposed here, all her previous efforts would be for naught!

Cold sweat instantly soaked her back. In a moment of desperation, she plastered a look of extreme “shame” and “weakness” onto her face, covering her mouth with her hand and letting out a series of exaggerated coughs. “Cough, cough, cough… Esteemed lady… cough, cough… your kind invitation should not be refused… but… cough, cough, cough…” She coughed so violently, as if trying to expel her lungs, her body trembling uncontrollably, nearly sliding off her chair. “But this injury has not healed, my vital energy is insufficient, and I often feel a fishy sweetness in my throat. I am truly… truly unable to comply. I fear… cough, cough… I would mar your celestial music…”

As she coughed, she stole glances at Li Shishi’s reaction, inwardly cursing: Damn it, pretending to be sick is a universal shield! It just requires too much acting; I almost choked myself to death!

Li Shishi clearly hadn’t expected such a display. Seeing the “beautiful invalid” before her coughing until her face was flushed (from holding her breath) and tears streamed from her eyes (from choking), looking so frail she couldn’t even stand on her own, even her sharp mind was momentarily at a loss. She frowned slightly, her tone carrying a barely perceptible hint of helplessness. “If that is the case, young master should focus on your recovery.”

Yan Qing was secretly delighted, thinking she had managed to slip by. But then Li Shishi’s gaze shifted to the luggage Yan Qing carried, prepared by Lu Junyi for her—there, a exquisitely crafted bamboo flute was clearly visible!

“…” Yan Qing’s smile froze on her face. It was over! The prop had betrayed her!

The corner of Li Shishi’s lips curled into a smile that was not quite a smile. “Though you cannot play, young master, this bamboo flute is indeed a superb piece.”

Yan Qing’s mind buzzed, and she was so anxious she almost exploded on the spot. She managed a dry laugh and quickly stuffed the flute back into the deepest part of her luggage, her movements as swift as if she were hiding stolen goods. “Ah… this… this is… this is something my elder brother heard of your musical talent and specifically… specifically asked me to bring, intending to… intending to find a suitable occasion to present it to you! Yes! It’s a gift!” She felt her tongue twisting into knots.

Li Shishi watched her flustered and incoherent state, the look of inquiry in her eyes deepening, yet she did not expose her. She simply said calmly, “Steward Lu is thoughtful.”

Yan Qing had just breathed a sigh of relief when Li Shishi casually added, “If music is not possible, poetry will suffice. I have long heard that Yan Xiao Yi of Hebei is accomplished in both civil and military arts. Would you be willing to compose a poem on the spot to broaden my horizons?”

Yan Qing: “!!!”

Help! She didn’t know if the original host could write poetry, but she, a science student, her entire literary prowess peaked at memorizing ancient poems in high school! Now, all her mind could conjure were “Moonlight before my bed” and “Hoeing the field at noon”!

She felt like she was suffocating, cold sweat pouring down her forehead, her eyes darting about, wishing she could disappear into the ground. Just as she was about to give up and blurt out something nonsensical like “The Heavenly King covers the earth and the Tiger is below,” her gaze inadvertently swept over the night view of Bianliang city outside the window, and the faint sounds of this era drifting up from below.

An inexplicable emotion surged within her, a mixture of the fear, loneliness, and struggle she had experienced since transmigration, along with a vague sense of resonance with the complex circumstances of this remarkable woman before her. She almost blurted it out, with a touch of genuine bewilderment and melancholy:

“Ten thousand homes alight… disturbs my sleep.”

The moment the words left her lips, Yan Qing wanted to slap herself! What kind of nonsensical sentence was that! Utterly incoherent! It was over, she had completely exposed her illiteracy!

She was so ashamed she could have died, wishing time could rewind.

However, Li Shishi fell silent. She repeated the short, five-character phrase: “Ten thousand homes alight… disturbs my sleep.” She raised her eyes, looking out at the brilliant yet illusory prosperity outside the window. Deep within her gaze, a faint ripple, almost imperceptible, flickered.

This sentence lacked any ornate language, and could hardly be called poetry. Yet, amidst the revelry and apparent peace of the entire building, it carried a sense of jarring clarity and detachment, a profound loneliness felt from the very heart of prosperity.

This feeling, she knew too well.

When she looked at Yan Qing again, the scrutiny in her eyes had softened, replaced by an indescribable complexity.

“Young master… is indeed different.” Li Shishi’s voice was very soft, carrying a sigh that was barely there.

Yan Qing: “???”

This… this actually worked? And she even received the evaluation of “different”? She looked at Li Shishi’s eyes, which seemed to see through everything yet say nothing, and for the first time felt that this renowned Li Dajia was more inscrutable than the terrain of Liangshan Marsh.

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(End of Chapter Ten)