Chapter 32: Meeting the Noble Consort Again
Translated by algoo | Proofread by algoo
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Pear Blossom Garden.
Several women stood behind the old woman, their eyes curiously studying the young gentleman seated at the table, but none stepped forward.
This gentleman was undoubtedly generous, but he had conditions.
He didn’t want to listen to the theatre’s repertoire. Instead, he wanted to teach them a song and then have them sing it for him. Although this had never happened before, as long as the silver was sufficient, they weren’t unwilling to sing.
The problem was that no normal person would make such a strange request. They were all worried that this handsome young man had ulterior motives, intending to take advantage of them.
Although he was handsome, they were all respectable women, unlike those in brothels who entertained with their beauty.
Silence hung in the air for a long time before a woman stepped forward and said, “I’ll do it.”
Lin Xiu noticed that she was the same woman who had been singing on stage earlier. Although her face was heavily painted with stage makeup, judging from her face shape and features, she was likely a beauty.
After this woman stepped forward, someone beside her immediately pulled her back, advising, “Caiyi, are you sure? This silver isn’t so easy to earn…”
The woman named Caiyi smiled gently and said, “It’s alright. It’s just learning a new song. Don’t worry.”
Then, she gracefully curtsied to Lin Xiu and said, “Please follow me, sir.”
The first floor of the Pear Blossom Garden was the main hall, where guests listened to the opera. Naturally, she couldn’t sing for Lin Xiu alone here. There were private rooms upstairs specifically for guests who requested individual songs.
Lin Xiu followed her to the second floor and entered an elegant private room. He suddenly asked, “Aren’t you afraid I have ulterior motives?”
He could certainly see the women’s concerns. They had taken him for a frivolous young master looking for pleasure, which was why none of them had initially agreed.
Caiyi smiled gently and said, “Others might, but not you, sir.”
Lin Xiu was a little surprised and asked, “Why?”
Although he was upright, he didn’t have the words “good person” written on his face.
Caiyi said, “That day, when the Ministry of Justice was trying the case, Caiyi was watching outside. Your fearlessness of power and noble character deeply impressed me.”
Lin Xiu suddenly understood, then just smiled and said, “In that case, let’s begin.”
Lin Xiu first hummed a short melody. He thought he would have to hum it several times for her to learn, but unexpectedly, after hearing him hum it once, Caiyi was able to play it accurately on the guzheng.
Lin Xiu thought to himself, ‘She’s indeed a professional. These few taels of silver are well spent.’
Lingyin’s assessment of him was frugal, but she had misunderstood him. He spent money freely, never asking about the price, only whether it was worth it. He could eat a bowl of noodles for a few wen at a roadside stall, or listen to a song for a few taels of silver here. It all depended on his mood.
After a quarter of an hour, Lin Xiu looked at Caiyi and asked, “Have you memorized the lyrics and melody?”
Caiyi nodded and said, “I have.”
The young master had just given her a new song, some of the melodies not even within the traditional five notes. The singing style was also completely different from the mainstream, a niche style she had never heard before. Caiyi didn’t know why he wanted her to sing it this way, but it didn’t matter. What mattered was that the guest had paid, and they had to fulfill his request.
She cleared her throat and tentatively asked, “Sir, may I begin?”
Lin Xiu nodded slightly.
Soon, a melodious opera tune rang in Lin Xiu’s ears.
“People pass by below, unseen are the colors of old
On stage, the singer performs, a heart-wrenching farewell song
The word ‘love,’ difficult to ink
He sings, needing blood to blend
The curtain rises, the curtain falls, who is the guest…”
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When the song ended, Lin Xiu opened his eyes and let out a soft breath. He had finally found that feeling.
This was the feeling Lin Xiu was looking for, and also what he felt was missing from her previous performances.
To hear familiar music in this unfamiliar world was undoubtedly a great comfort to his heart.
The loneliness in Lin Xiu’s heart was gradually dispelled by this song, “Chi Ling.” He cupped his hands towards the woman before him and said, “Thank you, Caiyi.”
Caiyi smiled sweetly and said, “You’re welcome, sir. This is what I should do.”
Lin Xiu stood up and said, “I have important matters to attend to today. I’ll come back to hear you sing another day.”
Caiyi bowed gracefully and smiled. “Farewell, sir.”
After Lin Xiu left the Pear Blossom Garden, a curious look appeared on her face. She had never heard this niche song before. It seemed to be this young master’s original creation. She could tell that this song seemed to hold some special meaning for him.
But the lyrics clearly spoke of their lives as performers.
For a moment, Caiyi felt an immense curiosity about this young master.
…
After today, besides cultivating with Lingyin and making ice for the palace, Lin Xiu had one more thing to do.
Listening to music at the theatre.
There weren’t many forms of entertainment in this world, and Lin Xiu wasn’t interested in most of them. He only had a particular fondness for listening to music. The second time he came to the Pear Blossom Garden, Caiyi wasn’t there, so Lin Xiu randomly chose another girl.
However, to his disappointment, the girl’s musical sense was clearly not as sharp as Caiyi’s. Even after Lin Xiu taught her several times, she still frequently went off-key.
Helpless, Lin Xiu had to switch to another girl.
Although the new girl had a good sense of pitch, she couldn’t capture the essence of what Lin Xiu wanted. It was then that Lin Xiu realized that Caiyi’s voice seemed to penetrate directly into his soul, possessing a quality that no other performer could replicate.
After two consecutive visits without seeing Caiyi, Lin Xiu directly asked the theatre’s manager, the old woman, “Excuse me, where has Caiyi gone?”
The manager sighed and said, “Caiyi is ill.”
“Ill?” Lin Xiu asked, “Is it serious?”
The manager sighed again. “She’s been bedridden for several days…”
Lin Xiu thought for a moment and asked, “Can I go see her?”
The old woman looked at Lin Xiu, hesitated for a moment, and finally nodded. “Please follow me, sir.”
A moment later, in a deep alley near the Pear Blossom Garden, the manager pushed open the gate of a courtyard and said to Lin Xiu, “This is it.”
There were several young boys and girls aged twelve or thirteen in the courtyard, some practicing their singing, others tumbling. They seemed to be part of the Pear Blossom opera troupe. The manager led Lin Xiu to a room inside. Just as they reached the door, they heard a fit of coughing.
Lin Xiu entered the room. The woman lying on the bed saw him and struggled to sit up, embarrassed. “Sir, why are you here…?”
At this moment, she wore no makeup, her face bare, her waterfall-like black hair cascading over her shoulders. Her appearance was much as Lin Xiu had guessed: delicate eyebrows, black hair, almond eyes, and a jade-like nose. She was indeed a beautiful woman, but her pale face and lips added a touch of fragility and vulnerability.
Seeing her forcing herself to sit up, Lin Xiu quickly said, “Caiyi, you don’t have to get up. I’ve been to the theatre looking for you these past few days, but you weren’t there. The manager said you were ill, so I came to see you.”
Caiyi apologized. “I’ve caused you concern, sir.”
Lin Xiu asked, “Have you seen a doctor?”
The manager said, “We’ve seen one long ago, but after several doses of medicine, there’s no improvement.”
Although Lin Xiu didn’t have a deep relationship with Caiyi, only her singing could soothe the occasional loneliness and emptiness in his heart. He couldn’t just watch her remain ill.
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Lin Xiu thought for a moment and said, “I have a friend who is an imperial physician in the palace. I’ll ask her to come and take a look at you. You should recover quickly.”
Caiyi quickly said, “I’m just a performer. How can I trouble an imperial physician…”
Lin Xiu waved his hand and said, “She’s a very kind person. It’s no trouble. You rest, I’ll be back soon.”
With that, he turned and left.
Inside the room, the manager looked at Caiyi with a knowing smile. “During your illness, this young master has come looking for you several times, and now he even wants to invite an imperial physician to treat you. He must have taken a liking to you…”
A blush crept onto Caiyi’s pale face. “Manager, don’t talk nonsense. The young master probably just enjoys listening to my singing.”
The manager smiled. “That’s hard to say…”
…
At the palace gate, Lin Xiu presented his token and entered the outer palace.
The imperial physician friend he mentioned was, of course, Shuangshuang. This trip to the Imperial Hospital was partly for Caiyi, and partly to further his friendship with Shuangshuang.
He desperately desired her ability.
In this life, who hasn’t experienced headaches, fever, colds, or flu? Even if not for others, for himself and his family, obtaining this ability was essential.
Arriving at the Imperial Hospital, Lin Xiu found no guards at the entrance and walked straight in. He intended to ask someone if Shuangshuang was there, but before he could even step inside, he heard a familiar voice.
“Such a large Imperial Hospital, so many imperial physicians, and not a single one can cure Nannan! Tell me, what use is the court keeping you all!”
Inside the Imperial Hospital, a dozen imperial physicians stood in a row, all looking down at their toes, not daring to breathe. The dignified and luxurious Noble Consort was so angry that her chest heaved, her hair ornaments swaying.
Lin Xiu had already stepped one foot into the Imperial Hospital, his heart sinking. The Noble Consort was actually here, and by the looks of it, she was furious. The timing was wrong; it was best to retreat.
Unexpectedly, an imperial physician caught sight of someone entering from the corner of his eye and couldn’t help but glance at the door.
That glance was enough. The Noble Consort noticed his movement and instinctively glanced back. Her eyes widened in delight. “Lin Xiu, you’ve come at the right time! Quickly, come and see what’s wrong with my Nannan…”
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