Chapter 1195: Who Sees?

When Yun Ji returned a little later, Niu Youdao noticed something odd in her expression and could not help asking, "Well?"

Yun Ji's tone carried a trace of amusement. "That Commandery Princess refuses to leave. This is her family's territory, so no one can exactly throw her out by force. Even Hongniang doesn't know what to do with her."

"Refuses to leave?" Niu Youdao found that baffling. "What do you mean, refuses to leave? Since when does she get to stay just because she wants to? What's wrong with Hongniang? What use is she if she can't even send one person away?"

Yun Ji reminded him, "Hongniang said something happened while they were looking around earlier."

"Something happened while they were looking around? What could possibly happen?" Niu Youdao did not understand. "What do you mean? Stop feeding me one sentence at a time just to tease me. I'm not joking. Explain clearly."

Yun Ji glared back at him. "Who's joking? I'm not joking with you. Hongniang said that while they were walking around, that girl noticed something was wrong. After making a circuit of the place, she realized the people of Maolu Annex seemed to have come out in full force. Especially when she saw that Wuliang Mountain had even brought large numbers of flying birds with them, it didn't look as though they were merely passing through Nanzhou."

"Apparently she asked a few questions and couldn't get any truthful answers, so she started finding every excuse she could to stay."

"It just so happened the Princess Consort had already said she wanted to hold a banquet to welcome everyone and wash away the dust of the journey. The girl seized on that excuse and insisted it absolutely had to be done. Hongniang said there was no way to drive her out by force. If they did that, it would obviously look abnormal and only make her more suspicious."

"You know, that girl always looked so refined and gentle before. I didn't expect her to have quite such a mind of her own."

Niu Youdao was even more puzzled. "Suspicious of what?"

Yun Ji said, "How would I know what she's suspicious of? Hongniang said the girl has started suspecting everything and is watching very closely. She couldn't stay away too long, so she only hurriedly told me a few things. I don't fully understand it, and she didn't explain it clearly either."

"But what else could she be suspicious of? She's probably suspicious that you're you. Hongniang said you just need to stay out of sight."

"..."

Niu Youdao felt his teeth ache. He stopped talking. For the moment, avoiding her really was the only thing he could do.

Just then, the qin music outside suddenly stopped. A moment later, a burst of coaxing and encouragement rose from the gathering.

The two inside looked at one another, neither knowing what had happened. In the end, both were unable to resist going out to take a look. They walked to the railing and gazed into the distance.

The gathering was still among the pavilions and towers. Fu Junlan had already risen from the qin stand and was repeatedly cupping his hands to everyone, looking as though he were begging for mercy.

From the jumble of voices urging him on, they could tell everyone wanted Fu Junlan to play another piece.

The person cheering the loudest was Princess Consort Feng Ruonan. The one most insistently demanding that Fu Junlan display another piece was also Feng Ruonan.

She seemed determined to let him show off as much talent as possible before everyone, as though to prove that Fu Junlan was no poor choice.

As for the others, they were simply joining in and applauding.

Niu Youdao muttered, "His qin playing is only average... It seems the Princess Consort is fairly satisfied with this future brother-in-law."

"I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare. This humble scholar's talent is shallow and his learning meager. I've already embarrassed myself before the Commandery Princess. The Commandery Princess's qin skill is what is truly superb..." Amid the encouragement, Fu Junlan's faint voice could be heard begging off and redirecting everyone's attention toward Shang Shuqing, asking them to have her perform instead.

After he declined again and again, Guan Fangyi's side clearly did not care either way. She might even have preferred that these people leave sooner. She merely kept smiling and acting warm without losing enthusiasm.

Seeing Fu Junlan refuse so firmly, Feng Ruonan's bold temperament came out. She called, "Qing'er, Young Master Fu has invited you. Stop hiding your skill. One piece from each of you—perfectly complementary, perfectly matched!"

Shang Shuqing did not seem to be in the mood either. She waved her hands and repeatedly declined.

That only stirred Feng Ruonan up further. She actually walked out from behind the table herself, pulled Shang Shuqing to her feet, pushed her onto the qin platform, and forcibly pressed her into the seat.

Her meaning could not have been clearer: today, you are listening to me. You are playing.

In truth, Feng Ruonan had a stubborn pride in her heart that she wanted to vent.

The men of Maolu Villa had looked down on her husband's younger sister, so she wanted to show them exactly what kind of woman her younger sister was.

A person should not be judged by appearance!

She hated people who judged by appearance more than anything, because she herself was hardly a great beauty. In her opinion, far too many men beneath Heaven had eyes but no sight!

Earlier, when she had pushed Fu Junlan to display his talents, that had also been for the people of Maolu Villa to see.

My future brother-in-law isn't bad either!

Sometimes Shang Shuqing truly could not endure this sister-in-law of hers.

Changing clothes was the same way. If Shang Shuqing refused, Feng Ruonan was fully capable of stripping the clothes off her by force. Change or don't change—what choice was there?

How could a refined young lady possibly win a contest of strength against a woman who had once been a battlefield general?

Never mind Shang Shuqing. Even her own brother could be beaten flat by his wife.

Now that she had been forced onto the stage, Shang Shuqing had no choice. She gave everyone a slight bow, indicating that she would embarrass herself with a performance. Otherwise, her sister-in-law would never let the matter rest.

Dong...

A slender finger hooked one of the strings, sending a long, melodious note drifting outward.

The gathering instantly fell silent.

The clear notes of the qin gradually began to flow from beneath her fingertips. At times they resembled a spring tinkling over stones; at times lofty mountains and flowing water; at times clouds gathering and unfolding, leaving endless room for the imagination.

Listening, Yun Ji slowly nodded. "Mm. This Commandery Princess really is considerably better than that man. There is both hardness and softness in her playing, and an artistic world hidden between the notes."

Niu Youdao said nothing. His eyes were half closed as he listened.

Not everyone present was skilled in the qin, but people could still tell what sounded good and what did not. Gradually, many became absorbed in the performance.

Fu Junlan sat among them with a strange expression, a hint of admiration showing in his eyes.

As everyone listened, their moods slowly followed the changing flavor of the music and grew melancholy.

The character of the piece had changed.

Without anyone quite noticing when, the melody itself had changed as well.

And for some reason, Shang Shuqing seemed to have become a person within the music.

Without realizing it, she parted her lips and slowly began to sing.

Her voice was clear, gentle, and beautiful.

Even Niu Youdao closed his eyes completely and tilted his head slightly, listening closely to the winding lyrics:

The mountain speaks not, beside the boundless sea.
Who sees the one who wanders?

Wind wears at stone; rain yearns for the eaves.
Who sees the one who wanders?

Green grass knows the wind's whisper;
the blue lake ripples beneath the rain.
Graceful is the maiden,
year by year her flowering youth slips away.

In empty hills, faint and secluded,
within Dragon Abyss—who sees?

The mountain speaks not, beside the boundless sea...

Her voice wound gently through the same passage again and again.

Gradually, Guan Fangyi understood the meaning within the song.

Do you see that lonely figure wandering between Heaven and Earth?

The wind forever brushes against the rock, yet the rock is hard-hearted and unmoved.

The rain clings lovingly to the eaves, reluctant to part, but in the end it must still fall away.

Do you see the figure wandering alone beneath those eaves?

Even green grass understands the wind's intent.

The tiny ripples across the blue lake are the lake's response to the rain's tender feeling.

And a graceful maiden cannot remain forever young. Year after year, her flowering youth will fade.

The words "within Dragon Abyss" revealed the setting.

She wished only to be something quiet and secluded in an empty valley, content even if no one ever knew her name.

Yet she had been born into a household where every step carried danger and storms rose without warning. She could not choose her own path.

Who saw her?

As the meaning of the song slowly dawned on Guan Fangyi, her eyes reddened.

She slowly turned her head toward the man at the railing.

She wanted very much to ask him: Did you understand?

That man stood with his eyes closed, silent and unmoving. Whether he had understood was impossible to tell.

Fu Junlan stared blankly at Shang Shuqing as she played and sang.

He did not understand why she had suddenly become so sorrowful, or why the melancholy in her voice ran so deep.

Feng Ruonan's eyes had reddened too.

After noticing Fu Junlan's reaction, she abruptly stood and cut across the song with a shout. "Everyone's having a good time. Why are you singing something so mournful? Enough. Stop singing."

At the sound of her voice, Shang Shuqing came back to herself from within the music.

Her singing stopped.

All ten fingers pressed down on the strings, stilling the last lingering resonance.

Only then did she realize she had lost herself in the moment.

Embarrassed, she rose and bowed slightly to everyone in apology.

She had only just stepped away from the qin platform when Fu Junlan stood and asked, "Commandery Princess, that song was exceedingly beautiful. Does it have a title, so that I might remember it?"

Shang Shuqing forced a smile. "It was improvised on the spot and is hardly fit for refined ears. Young Master Fu praises it too highly. It has no title."

Fu Junlan shook his head. "That is no empty praise. It truly was beautiful. If such a song remained nameless, wouldn't that be a pity? I ask the Commandery Princess to give this impromptu piece a name."

Guan Fangyi could not help glancing sideways at him.

Inside, she muttered, Why does he have to talk in that bookish way? It's unbearable. How is this sort of man supposed to match Shang Shuqing? Where did this fellow even come from?

Since Fu Junlan had asked publicly, Shang Shuqing could hardly make him lose face before everyone.

After a little thought, she replied, "Then let it be called 'Who Sees?'"

"'Who Sees?'" Fu Junlan tasted the words for a moment, then suddenly grew excited and clapped his hands. "Good! 'Who Sees?' A fine name! I'll be sure to write down the words and melody afterward."

Write them down for what, to sell them?

Guan Fangyi muttered inwardly again.

Earlier she had thought the young man fairly decent. For some inexplicable reason, she now suddenly found him rather irritating to look at.

"'Who Sees?'..." Niu Youdao murmured at the railing as he slowly opened his eyes.

Yun Ji turned her head.

She saw him silently turn away and walk back inside without another word.

In a nearby corner, Yuan Gang stood with his arms folded.

He too turned and glanced toward the railing.

Perhaps Shang Shuqing's song had dampened Feng Ruonan's mood.

At any rate, she no longer had the heart to keep stirring everyone up. At last she settled down...

Lanterns were lit as night fell.

The welcoming banquet Feng Ruonan had arranged for everyone began, bringing another burst of liveliness.

The front was noisy.

The rear was quiet.

Moonlight lay reflected across a pond.

Niu Youdao stood silently beside the water. He had once again forgotten Yun Ji's warning and stood with his hands clasped behind his back, staring blankly at the moon reflected in the pond.

But perhaps it did not matter.

When he stood beside Yun Ji, keeping his hands clasped behind his back while acting as her follower truly was inappropriate. It made Yun Ji look like the subordinate instead.

Here, with Yun Ji absent and no one else beside him, what did it matter if he stood that way?

In a dark corner nearby, Yuan Gang watched the surroundings with extreme vigilance.

Because so few people knew Master Dao's identity, the guards here could not place special emphasis on protecting him. If security were arranged that way, others would immediately begin wondering who exactly Master Dao was.

So Yuan Gang had personally taken up the hidden watch, responsible for keeping guard.

Suddenly, a figure appeared from the front courtyard and walked slowly through the moonlight.

It was clearly a woman.

Yuan Gang focused his eyes.

To his surprise, it was Shang Shuqing.

She had come to the rear courtyard looking left and right, apparently searching for something.

Shang Shuqing had left the banquet temporarily under the excuse of attending to a private need.

As for what she was searching for, only she herself knew.

At last her gaze settled on the figure beside the pond.

She stood in silence for a moment, then walked toward Niu Youdao.

Yuan Gang stepped forward once, intending to intercept her and at the same time warn Niu Youdao.

He knew Niu Youdao did not want to see Shang Shuqing right now. It was too easy for something to go wrong.

Yet for some reason, Yuan Gang frowned and withdrew the step he had just taken.

He simply watched Shang Shuqing walk toward Niu Youdao.

If Niu Youdao learned of this, he would certainly be furious.

How could a matter like this be treated as a game?

Still, Niu Youdao's cultivation was not for show.

At first he had merely been lost in thought and failed to notice his surroundings.

But once footsteps came near, how could he fail to sense them?

Yet he knew those footsteps far too well.

He had listened to them through quiet mornings for so many years. How could he not recognize them?

The person was already standing close behind him.

Niu Youdao stiffened and did not move.

He did not dare move.

[End of Chapter 1195]