Qi Daiyu's desire to learn a musical instrument was not a passing whim.
In fact, in her past life, she had always admired those who possessed various artistic talents from a young age, but was limited by financial constraints and couldn't afford extracurricular classes. Later, as an adult, she did study the piano for a few years due to her major, but it remained an amateur pursuit at best.
Concubine Li's pipa playing was truly captivating. After listening for several consecutive days, it stirred that small, restless longing within Qi Daiyu's heart again.
Fortunately, in her present circumstances, learning an instrument was quite easy. The palace did not forbid such pursuits; after all, when consorts and concubines wished to learn these arts, it was mostly to please the Emperor. Within the palace walls, anything that could bring the Emperor joy was never considered wrong.
As for what to learn, Qi Daiyu actually took Qin Saizhu's advice—to learn the guzheng together with the Eldest Princess.
It was also a matter of convenience; teaching one student or teaching two was the same for the music instructor.
Learning alongside a child held no psychological burden for Qi Daiyu, and the Eldest Princess naturally had no objections either. After happily agreeing, she went back and informed the Empress. The very next day, the Empress sent Qi Daiyu a guzheng made of red sandalwood.
Qi Daiyu: "..."
As a complete beginner, she really had no use for such a fine instrument. She had originally thought of getting an ordinary tung wood guzheng from the Imperial Household Department.
Receiving such an exquisite guzheng put some pressure on Qi Daiyu. For a time, her playful attitude diminished, replaced by a much more serious dedication.
During the day, she practiced for two hours with the Eldest Princess. After the princess returned to the Palace of Earthly Tranquility (Kunning Palace), Qi Daiyu would practice for another hour in the evening.
One evening, Qi Daiyu had just finished struggling through a piece and was preparing to take a break. As she stood up and began removing her finger picks, she turned her head and got a fright.
"Your Majesty? When did you arrive?"
She saw Jiang Yuan dressed in informal attire, not standing straight but leaning casually against the screen, a smile on his face, watching her with an air of leisurely amusement that held a hint of untamed charm.
"I heard the music from here and came to see. Did I startle you?" He didn't mention that he had originally intended to go to the Palace of Universal Happiness (Xianfu Palace), but upon hearing her halting guzheng notes, he had changed course to Yanqing Residence.
Her heart was still pounding like a drum. Qi Daiyu lightly patted her chest. "How could I not be startled? There wasn't a sound. The servants are becoming more and more lacking in propriety; Your Majesty arrives and they don't even announce you!"
In the deep courtyard of the palace late at night, suddenly finding someone standing behind her—she had almost thought it was some ghostly apparition come to harm her. A bit flustered and angry, her voice rose slightly.
Seeing she seemed genuinely upset, Jiang Yuan walked over, took her hand, and led her towards the daybed. "It was my order not to disturb you. I wanted to hear you finish playing. I never thought you were so timid before, hmm?"
Qi Daiyu remained silent.
More than being startled, she disliked this feeling of her space being suddenly invaded. But she was also acutely aware that in the rear palace, the Emperor could go anywhere he pleased. If he didn't want to be announced, Shiliu and the others, no matter how bold, wouldn't dare make a sound.
Seeing the frown still between her brows, her eyes holding anger yet with her lashes lowered, the very picture of someone who had been wronged—pitiful and delicate—Jiang Yuan sighed helplessly. He pulled her into his embrace, lifted her by the waist, and settled her on his lap.
He coaxed, "Next time I come, I will definitely wait for them to announce me before entering, alright?"
It was rare for him to speak so softly. Qi Daiyu knew when to relent. "Your Majesty's word is as good as gold. You must not go back on it."
She was sitting somewhat unsteadily. Placing her hands on Jiang Yuan's shoulders to push herself up, she was pressed back down by him, and her hands were grasped.
Noticing the finger picks still on her hands, Jiang Yuan smiled. "I heard you've been learning the guzheng with Yong'an recently. I didn't quite believe it, but it seems you're actually practicing quite diligently."
Her playful and lazy nature was rather firmly established in his mind. Previously, whenever he visited, she was either lounging about or tinkering with some strange oddity.
Learning the guzheng was a proper skill, one that required diligent practice to master. Upon hearing about it, Jiang Yuan had initially thought it was just a sudden whim, merely keeping the Eldest Princess company, and that she would give up after a few days. He hadn't expected her to still be practicing even after the princess had returned to the Palace of Earthly Tranquility.
It seemed she truly intended to learn something substantial—both surprising and rare.
"However, the tune you were just playing... I haven't heard it before."
Qi Daiyu blinked. Learning the guzheng was completely new to her; even the simplest musical scores were difficult. She had thought that if she practiced with a familiar melody, she might pick it up faster.
What she had just played was "Jasmine Flower"... Jiang Yuan naturally had never heard it.
Qi Daiyu glossed over it. "Just a little hum I came up with. I had the music instructor set it to notation."
Jiang Yuan didn't ponder it deeply. After all, he had heard Qi Daiyu teach the Eldest Princess songs before, all unfamiliar little ditties. It was evident she had some talent for it.
"The songs you sing are neither grand ceremonial music nor decadent tunes. They are fresh and childlike, pure as a young child's, which shows your heart is pure as well," Jiang Yuan said.
That's only because children's songs are what I'm most familiar with, Qi Daiyu thought.
"Play it once more for me."
Qi Daiyu felt somewhat awkward. She had only been learning for a few days; her rendition of "Jasmine Flower" was still stumbling. It was one thing when he didn't know, but now, playing in front of Jiang Yuan... if she messed up, wouldn't she be laughed at?
Hesitantly standing up, she suddenly had an idea. "Actually, this melody also has lyrics. Would Your Majesty like to hear them?" If she sang while playing, perhaps the Emperor's attention would be less on the guzheng itself.
Surprise flashed in Jiang Yuan's eyes. "Very well."
Qi Daiyu relaxed inwardly, sat down before the guzheng, took a deep breath, and raised her hands.
As the guzheng notes gradually began, Qi Daiyu also opened her mouth to sing.
"What a beautiful jasmine flower..."
While Qi Daiyu played and sang, Jiang Yuan sat on the daybed, listening quietly while watching her.
She was wearing a plain white dress tonight. As she played the guzheng, her face was serene, her eyes as clear and bright as the moon, very much like the jasmine flower in her song—fragrant, beautiful, pure and white, making him want to pluck it.
Jiang Yuan suddenly wondered, why had Consort Hui taken up the idea of learning the guzheng?
On the way to Yanqing Residence, Quan Fuhai had ventured a guess.
Quan Fuhai had said, "Concubine Li won Your Majesty's favor with her skilled pipa playing. Now Consort Hui is learning the guzheng. It shows she holds you in her heart."
Could it be, as Quan Fuhai suggested, that she was learning the guzheng for his sake?
Lost in thought, Qi Daiyu had already finished playing and was now looking at him with hopeful, anxious eyes.
Seeing her expression, Jiang Yuan extended a hand, gesturing for her to come over.
Qi Daiyu walked over nervously. Surely the Emperor hadn't noticed the few wrong notes she'd played just now?
"You played well."
Hearing this, Qi Daiyu relaxed inwardly and lowered her head to remove her finger picks.
Then she heard Jiang Yuan say, "You and Concubine Li are different. She learned these skills from childhood; only by mastering them to the highest degree could she live with some dignity. You don't need to work so hard. You are fine just as you are now." He never required every consort in the rear palace to be exceptionally skilled in the arts.
Upon hearing these words, Qi Daiyu was first stunned, taking a long moment to grasp their meaning. She looked at Jiang Yuan with some disbelief.
"Your Majesty thinks that this concubine is learning the zither to compete with Concubine Li and curry Your Majesty's favor?"
Jiang Yuan, assuming she was flustered and annoyed at having her thoughts exposed, moved to embrace her. "From now on, I will spend more time accompanying you."
But Qi Daiyu broke free from his hold.
She felt both angry and speechless. Angry because her genuine desire to learn the zither was mistaken as a ploy to rival Concubine Li. If the Emperor could misunderstand her like this, wouldn't others do the same? For instance, did Her Majesty the Empress send her that rosewood zither to encourage her in this supposed competition?
Speechless because she couldn't even defend herself.
She couldn't very well say: Your Majesty is overthinking this, I simply wish to learn for myself. Risking the Emperor's displeasure might even lead to a charge of disrespect.
Yet, being misunderstood left her feeling stifled and wronged. Puffing out her cheeks, Qi Daiyu put on an act of being flustered and annoyed: "Your Majesty should spend more time with Concubine Li instead, preferably for ten days or even a month. Rest assured, this concubine harbors absolutely no such thoughts."
Just leave. I don't want to see him right now.
However, her demeanor only solidified Jiang Yuan's belief that she was jealous. He encircled her in his arms and chuckled softly. "Ayu, you are truly adorable like this."
His warm breath brushed her ear, making her tilt her head away uncomfortably. She then stiffened. "What did you call me?"
"Isn't your given name Daiyu? I shall call you Ayu from now on. Is that acceptable?"
Qi Daiyu was momentarily dazed.
Ayu... Ayu...
In her previous life, her family and friends had called her that. Since coming to this world, she had never heard that address again.
Hearing it now suddenly made her nose sting with emotion.
Jiang Yuan didn't notice the mistiness in her eyes. With a beauty in his arms, his only thought now was to pluck this jasmine blossom.
Fine, dense kisses fell upon the flower, instantly interrupting Qi Daiyu's moment of melancholy, forcing her to passively accept them.
Finally seizing a chance to catch her breath, the corners of Qi Daiyu's eyes were flushed red. "No... not today."
Jiang Yuan was puzzled.
A sudden sense of wicked glee rose in Qi Daiyu's heart. "This concubine has her monthly courses," she said, observing Jiang Yuan's expression with that hint of satisfaction.
Sure enough, his expression froze, as if he couldn't quite accept it. His hand moved to explore downward, until it truly encountered a layer of obstruction and he had no choice but to believe it.
Qi Daiyu nearly laughed out loud, her invisible tail wagging. She deliberately added, "Since this concubine cannot keep Your Majesty here, Your Majesty is most welcome to go to Concubine Li."
Having said that, how could Jiang Yuan possibly leave?
He sighed. "I will stay here tonight."
"Oh. Then let's sleep." The corners of Qi Daiyu's mouth lifted as she turned to slip into a separate quilt.
But Jiang Yuan caught her gloating.
He immediately seized her wrist, gritting his teeth, and guided her hand downward while nibbling at her ear. "There are naturally other methods."
The thing in her hand was startlingly hot. Embarrassment colored Qi Daiyu's face just as Jiang Yuan kissed her again.
Who knows how much time passed. After a muffled sob, the hall finally grew quiet.
Qi Daiyu's hand was terribly sore. After washing up, she fell asleep very quickly.
Jiang Yuan gazed at her helplessly for a while before closing his own eyes.
But once Qi Daiyu fell into deep sleep, her true nature was revealed. Just as Jiang Yuan was drifting off, a leg draped itself over his waist.
Jiang Yuan: "..."
The smooth skin was like jade. A certain place grew burning hot again. Jiang Yuan's hand wandered over that leg for a long moment before finally dropping it in resignation.
He really was... asking for trouble.
The night passed without dreams. Qi Daiyu woke up refreshed and in high spirits. Aside from the indescribable, somewhat gritted-teeth look Jiang Yuan gave her before leaving, it was yet another beautiful morning.
In the afternoon, Qi Daiyu practiced the zither with the Eldest Princess as usual. Halfway through, Shiliu entered.
"Mistress, Concubine Li from the Palace of Universal Happiness is here to see you."
Qi Daiyu was taken aback. Why would Concubine Li come to see her?
For some reason, she thought of the Emperor's words from last night. Could it be that Concubine Li also believed she was learning the zither to compete for favor?
Qi Daiyu pressed her lips together. Since she was already here, it wouldn't be proper not to receive her.
Qi Daiyu said to Shiliu, "Take her to the reception hall. Tell her I will be there shortly."
