Volume One, Chapter 18: Teaching the Qin

As Zhang Zhixi sat down, a faint scent of ink drifted into Ning Yunshu’s nostrils. She glanced at him; although he had moved to her side, he kept a respectful distance of one seat between them.

"Your Highness, please look at the strings," he said. He was not looking at her, yet he could sense her gaze.

It was just like the journey to the marriage alliance years ago—she could always feel that trace of scrutiny.

Ning Yunshu silently looked at the strings.

"Having heard your playing just now, I fear Your Highness must start with the basic finger techniques," he stated with professional solemnity.

"Is my playing really that poor?"

A hint of gravity clouded Zhang Zhixi’s cold, clear eyes as he answered softly, "Yes."

Ning Yunshu gave a light huff and placed her hands on the strings. "Please, Master Zhang, enlighten me."

Zhang Zhixi reached out one hand and placed it on the other end of the zither to demonstrate. "This is the 'supporting finger' technique, the most fundamental maneuver. You must ensure even strength and a rounded tone. Try to mimic me, paying attention to the position and angle of your thumb against the string. Strive to make the sound clear and full."

Though it was merely plucking a single string, the sound flowing from his fingertips was remarkably crisp and pleasant.

Ning Yunshu glanced at his focused profile, then tried to pluck the string herself, but the sound remained raspy and harsh. She tried several times, but the notes were excruciatingly discordant.

"Your Highness, your finger should land like this."

His voice was clear and cool like a mountain spring—tinged with a slight chill yet hiding a trace of gentleness. The next moment, his hand covered the back of hers, adjusting her posture.

Ning Yunshu held her breath, stunned. The warmth of his fingertips seeped through the back of her hand, and as his body leaned slightly closer, that scent of ink grew more intense.

An inexplicable tremor rippled through her heart. Perhaps the breeze was just a bit too seductive; otherwise, why would her skin feel so tingling and sensitive?

She stole a glance at the man beside her. His expression remained as cold and aloof as ever, carrying only the solemnity of a mentor. Though he was within arm's reach, he still felt impossibly distant.

From a distance, their posture appeared quite intimate, yet Zhang Zhixi’s face remained stern, devoid of any signs of affection.

After correcting her posture, he sat upright again and said calmly, "Please try again, Your Highness."

Ning Yunshu watched the swaying shadows of the trees on the back of her hand, feeling as if that momentary contact had been a mere figment of her imagination.

She plucked the string again, and this time, the note carried a hint of resonance. The simple syllable struck directly into her heart.

She chuckled softly, then let her beautiful eyes wander over him—from his long legs to his narrow waist, then to his chest, whose contours were vaguely visible beneath his white robes, and finally settling on his thin lips, which were as delicate as the peach blossoms of March.

"Does Master Zhang teach everyone in this manner?"

Zhang Zhixi looked up at her, his already indifferent face becoming even more austere. "If Your Highness continues like this, I fear you will not learn the zither well."

Ning Yunshu’s smile deepened. She rested her chin on her hand and watched him lazily. He had certainly realized that she had been doing it on purpose just now. No matter how unruly she had been in the past, she would not be incapable of such basic finger techniques.

"Master Zhang, have you heard the saying: 'The drunkard’s heart is not in the wine'?"

She stared straight at him. The perfect chess piece was right before her eyes, and she could hardly wait to take hold of it.

Zhang Zhixi remained unfazed, as if he had already anticipated this.

She was the Eldest Princess of the Great Su; what she wanted was surely not him as a person, but goals that only he could help her achieve!

***

But he could not fathom what her true purpose was.

Seven years ago, as he accompanied her on her journey, all he saw in her eyes was deep despair.

Now that she had returned, from the very first moment they reunited in the grand hall, he knew she had changed.

Those captivating phoenix eyes were dangerous and veiled in mystery; one could not tell if taking another step toward her would mean falling into a bottomless abyss or plunging into an endless purgatory.

"Then has Your Highness heard the saying: 'The past is beyond correction, but the future is still worth pursuing'?" His entire demeanor was filled with scholarly elegance, his gaze not wavering in the slightest.

Ning Yunshu narrowed her eyes slightly, her lips curling into a cold, faint smile. "The future is worth pursuing?"

She reached out a finger to tilt his chin upward, her tone bewitching. "What if the future I desire involves you, Master?"

The wind seemed to stop. Everything turned still.

He froze in place, gazing into her eyes, searching for the answer—was it an abyss or purgatory that lay within?

"Ning Yunshu!" A shout erupted from outside the courtyard. Ning Yu walked in with a dark expression. "What is it that you two are doing?!"

Ning Yunshu calmly withdrew her hand and looked over. It was Ning Yu, interrupting her good work once again!

Following closely behind Ning Yu was another man—the same person who had been chatting with him for a long time at the welcome banquet that day.

"Greetings, Your Highness," Zhang Zhixi rose and bowed slowly.

The man behind Ning Yu also hurriedly saluted. "This commoner, Li Jun, son of the Minister of War, pays his respects to the Eldest Princess! And to Master Zhang!"

"I truly thought you wanted to learn the zither, so I even ordered Li Jun to bring you grapes from the Western Regions! Yet you are still using the excuse of learning the zither to humiliate Master Zhang!" Ning Yu said, filled with righteous indignation, as if he were the one who had been teased.

Ning Yunshu lifted her eyes with a smile. "Imperial Brother, I merely found Master Zhang to be quite handsome and couldn't help but look at him a few more times." She turned to Zhang Zhixi and asked with a raised brow, "Master Zhang, did I humiliate you?"

Zhang Zhixi’s eyes darkened slightly. "You did not."

Ning Yu glanced at him, huffed in frustration, and turned back to Ning Yunshu. "From tomorrow on, whenever Master Zhang comes to teach, I will accompany you! Without supervision, I doubt you would learn to play this zither even if you were granted another five hundred years."

Zhang Zhixi was, after all, a subject, and he could not openly embarrass her in front of everyone. But he was well aware of Ning Yunshu’s temperament—she must have taken a fancy to Zhang Zhixi, just as she had once taken a fancy to Shen Yan!

He had already chosen a consort for her, and there could be no surprises!

Besides, who was Zhang Zhixi? Would he ever take a liking to her? If she brought disgrace upon herself, it would only implicate him and his mother, making them the laughingstock of the palace!

Thinking this, he felt it was absolutely necessary to come and supervise her every day.

Ning Yunshu looked surprised, her anger burning inside.

He really had nothing better to do!

If he were to guard her and Zhang Zhixi every single moment, how could she ever win him over to her side?

"If it doesn't bother you, Imperial Brother, then do as you please."

She knew that since he had said these words, he would follow through; there was no point in arguing.

Since this plan was disrupted, she would simply proceed to the next one!

Ning Yu curled his lips in triumph and said to Zhang Zhixi, "Master Zhang, you must be tired today. Come, I will see you out of the palace. We shall continue tomorrow."

***

Zhang Zhixi looked at Ning Yunshu, who was sipping her tea as if she didn't care at all.

Any fool could see that Ning Yu wanted to send him away so he could leave Li Jun behind.

With that, Zhang Zhixi bowed to her and left with Ning Yu.

Ning Yunshu watched Zhang Zhixi’s retreating figure, her eyes dark and inscrutable.

Only Ning Yunshu and Li Jun remained in the courtyard. Li Jun, holding a food box, hurriedly stepped forward to present it. "Your Highness, these are grapes from the Western Regions. I specifically had them iced overnight; they are perfectly refreshing to eat now!"

Ning Yunshu examined the man before her. He was indeed somewhat handsome, but his sycophantic smile was truly unbearable.

Was this the person Ning Yu had chosen after much deliberation?

She had heard from Nanny Gui that this man had publicly harassed a palace maid at a banquet. With such character, how could Ning Yu think he was worthy of her?

Ning Yunshu sneered. "Peel one for me to taste."

Li Jun’s eyes lit up. He quickly stepped forward, took a crystal-clear grape, carefully peeled it, and offered it to her lips with both hands.

The grape was full of juice, but he applied too much pressure, causing the translucent liquid to slide down his fingers, which was enough to make one lose their appetite.

The next second, Ning Yunshu slapped his face, and the grape rolled onto the ground.

"If you can't even peel a grape properly, what use are you to me?!" she demanded angrily.

Li Jun clutched his burning cheek and fell to his knees. "Please calm your anger, Your Highness! I will peel another!"

"Get out!" Ning Yunshu snapped, flicking her sleeve.

Seeing that things had gone awry, Li Jun kowtowed and scurried away in a panic.

Ning Yunshu rubbed her temples, looking displeased.

Nanny Gui stepped forward, her expression filled with disdain. "Your Highness, that Young Master Li is a mere sycophant. He likely wants to use the Prince’s influence to become your consort and enjoy a life of luxury!"

Ning Yunshu remained silent. Ning Yu had set his sights on this exact point—Li Jun had been banned from officialdom for life, which was why he would be willing to be the consort of a princess who had been sent away for a marriage alliance.

That was the clever scheme Ning Yu had concocted! But how could she let him have his way?

Ning Yunshu’s gaze grew colder. "Nanny, gather some handsome men from among the commoners—the more, the better!"

Nanny Gui was slightly startled. "Your Highness?"

Ning Yunshu chuckled softly. "Nanny, I am no longer a maiden who has never been married. What is wrong with keeping a few male favorites? Go and arrange it!"

Nanny Gui blushed at these words. Indeed, the Princess was no longer an unmarried girl; such needs were only natural!

"As you command! This old servant will find the finest men available!"