Chapter 16: Hindsight
The carriage entered through the Su residence's side gate, coincidentally encountering Second Uncle and his group returning home seven parts drunk, and they asked a few questions about Su Tan'er's experiences tonight, whether she'd enjoyed the poetry gathering and such. Su Tan'er responded normally to a few questions.
At this time, many poems were still being passed around the city. Water Melody Prelude was naturally an excellent work, but to truly cause a sensation or earn the reputation of crowning the night was temporarily impossible, as Kang Xian's lecture at the Zhishui Poetry Gathering hadn't spread yet. In ordinary people's eyes, top poems were all roughly similar—to common folk, this poem was certainly good, but compared to people like Cao Guan and Li Pin, perhaps it was merely comparable. Or due to these talented scholars' past reputation, they might view this Water Melody Prelude as slightly inferior. Only those truly erudite could clearly perceive this poem's profound depth and return to simplicity, feeling the distance.
Su Zhongkan had only been talking business tonight, visiting courtesans and drinking1—he wasn't very concerned about poetry, so matters like "Ning Yi" naturally hadn't reached his ears yet. After uncle and niece exchanged pleasantries, they separated on the road. Su Tan'er and her four servants returned to their small courtyard. Except for the large lantern still lit outside the courtyard gate, the yard was quiet, with only moonlight like water pouring down from the sky.
Su Tan'er looked several times toward the darkness of that second-floor room as Xiao Chan asked: "Miss, should I go call Young Master..."
"No need, he's already asleep. Don't wake him. Chan'er, prepare some warm water. Xing'er, Juan'er, you should sleep early... Chan'er, if you still have energy, can you tell me the story Young Master told you?"
Chan'er smiled and nodded while Juan'er and Xing'er beside her also quickly raised their hands.
"Miss, miss, we're not sleepy."
"We want to hear too."
She looked at the two maids in exasperation, then smiled: "Then come along too. Speaking of which, it's been a long time since I've heard stories."
"I remember when we were little, Miss would read us stories from books..."
"Yes, yes, I still remember..."
The girls chattered, then Su Tan'er went upstairs while Juan'er and Xing'er helped Chan'er boil warm water, carrying wooden basins and towels up together.
The distant city lights gradually quieted somewhat as, in the tranquil small courtyard, warm yellow lamplight floated in the second-floor window, casting silhouettes of mistress and servants chatting and laughing softly inside.
After who knows how long, when night had grown much deeper, the three maids finally emerged from the room, then closed the door and went downstairs. Returning to her own room, Chan'er closed the door and gently leaned against it, hands clasped to her chest, lifting her head to breathe deeply. Her upturned innocent little face showed complex emotions—happiness, confusion, fear, yearning, all kinds of feelings.
Su Tan'er had taught her many things, so naturally her heart wasn't purely simple. She had her own small thoughts, though these small thoughts were always for the people and things she liked around her—like her mistress, like the Su family, and now perhaps adding Ning Yi.
Previously she could argue with Old Qin by the chess stand for the Su family's sake, and during this time getting along with Ning Yi, though his personality was indifferent, he also had a witty and humorous side in daily life. When doing things—though he hadn't done any proper work—he made everything seem light and easy, as if nothing bothered him, and treated her kindly, so naturally she liked him too.
On the other hand, toward her mistress it wasn't just liking but also gratitude, repayment, and various emotions mixed in—in short, she liked her very, very much. She understood her mistress's past troubles and roughly knew what her mistress liked, so now discovering Young Master wasn't like the bookworm they'd heard about before, she naturally considered the marriage between him and her mistress. If they liked each other and naturally came together, that would be best—she didn't need to do much, just let her mistress see and know about Young Master's matters, and let Young Master know her mistress's goodness. This was originally her job as a personal maid anyway.
She knew her mistress liked poetry, but what Young Master had written before naturally wasn't presentable. Sometimes she even felt Young Master wrote those things as jokes on purpose, but tonight seeing Young Master compose that Water Melody Prelude, though she wasn't erudite, she could still sense how good the verses were—like discovering treasure. She immediately took the poem to Puyuan Poetry Gathering, planning to find a time to show her mistress, then seeing Xue Jin come over, understanding what might happen, she naturally went with the flow and brought out the poem. No matter what, this poem should be very good—it wouldn't lose face.
She just hadn't expected that in those people's view, this poem would be good to that degree.
If she'd had an accurate concept beforehand, she absolutely wouldn't have brought out this poem so rashly. Looking back now, wanting to let her mistress see Young Master's talent and such had actually backfired—even her mistress seemed shocked, appearing somewhat unprepared on the boat, so she also felt guilty. Originally she'd just wanted to prepare a small surprise, but who knew the surprise would be too big, shocking herself too...
Sigh, how did it turn out like this...
The lamplight flickered like a bean as sleepless Xiao Chan sat at the table, hands supporting her chin as she worried. Before her lay the original manuscript of Water Melody Prelude that Ning Yi had written for her, so she read it several more times.
Young Master, having talent is good, but did it have to be this high?... How should Xiao Chan tell you about these things tomorrow...
It really was Young Master's fault.
She pouted, extending her finger to gently poke the rice paper twice, and when she saw the last line, her face gradually reddened again. Only then did she carefully fold the paper once more, storing it back in the bottom of her drawer.
Blowing out the oil lamp, the little maid whose face grew hotter and hotter fumbled in the dark, slowly climbing into bed to sleep...
"A thousand miles apart, together seeing the moon's beauty... hee..."
At dawn, white fog again enveloped Jiangning city as bright sunlight was rising from above the fog, bursting forth in magnificent morning light.
Waking up, Ning Yi felt refreshed and clear-headed, his spirit almost fully recovered. After resting and consolidating for one more day, he could go teach tomorrow, and as for today's time, he could get some wooden dummies and sandbags from the guards. This body had been weak for years—it wouldn't do without thorough exercise.
The steward managing the guards seemed to be surnamed Zhang, and according to the atmosphere he'd felt in the Su family, Old Master Su was quite caring. He just had to consider whether bringing things like wooden dummies and sandbags into the courtyard would be too shocking for Su Tan'er and the others—running was one thing for this weak scholar, but suddenly saying he wanted to practice martial arts, they'd probably think he was an idiot.
He needed to let them accept that he was somewhat different, but it had to be gradual—this might be too fast. He boredly weighed these considerations in his mind, then during breakfast while sitting together drinking meat porridge, he felt Su Tan'er seemed to keep looking at him with strange eyes.
After glancing casually a few times, Ning Yi put down his bowl and chopsticks, looking at his wife in confusion: "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," Su Tan'er smiled slightly and shook her head. "I just feel Husband looks very spirited this morning."
"Oh, the illness should be nothing now. Cough... my throat still seems a bit dry, but after today it'll definitely be fine—I can go to the academy."
"It's good your health is fine. These next few days, Husband might be quite busy."
"Busy?"
"Mm," Su Tan'er nodded without further explanation, beginning to drink her porridge in small, very ladylike sips, and in his confusion, Ning Yi felt the smile at the corner of her mouth somewhat resembled the Mona Lisa's smile...
What did she mean? Was the academy giving him more work? Ning Yi speculated about the possible meanings in her words. Not until after finishing porridge and returning to his room, when Xiao Chan timidly came over and explained last night's events, did he finally accurately grasp the emotions contained in her gaze.
"I-I'm sorry, Young Master. Xiao Chan originally just wanted... just wanted to show Miss. But that Xue Jin was really too hateful..."
Ning Yi listened somewhat dumbfounded as she finished, then his expression calmed down, and after thinking briefly, he laughed with interest.
"Oh, it's fine. The problem isn't big."
Seeing he wasn't angry, Chan'er happily nodded: "That's right, Young Master's talent..." With a thunk, Ning Yi's finger flicked her forehead.
"Who says I have talent? Don't tell people that anymore."
"...Oh." The little maid hesitated, then nodded.
"This way, I won't go out today," Ning Yi thought for a moment and smiled. "Looks like I need to be sick a few more days..."
Sunlight streamed through the window as Ning Yi took a storybook novel and walked back to the bedside, preparing to pretend to be sick and stay in bed. After a moment, he waved to Xiao Chan, and only then did Xiao Chan put down her anxiety, bringing a Go set and small table for playing Five-in-a-Row from the corner, happily trotting over...
Last night was Mid-Autumn, and some people had slept late, so most people got up somewhat late this morning too, and Jiangning city recovered its usual prosperity about half an hour later. Not until after noon this day did matters from last night's Zhishui Poetry Gathering, mixed with other poetry-related news, gradually spread widely. The influence of this Water Melody Prelude also began in the following days to stir up continuous tremors and waves in Jiangning city, constantly expanding as time deepened...
(End of Chapter)
- Common entertainment for merchants involving courtesans and alcohol at pleasure quarters ↑