34 The Court Musician (3)

Softly biting my lips, I took the opportunity to push him away, not wanting to owe this stranger more of a favor.

Compared to his flirtation from before, his rare glimmer of supposed authenticity eroded at my defenses more, sparking a newfound curiosity that I knew I must quell.

No, I couldn't excuse his actions entirely. At least, I couldn't excuse them for just that hint of kindness. But yet, my harsh responses from before softened.

I fumbled for a word to address him with, not wanting to belittle him by referring to him as a mere entertainer but also not knowing his official title or name.

"Sir, it is a mere surface-level cut," I smiled, trying to maintain the corners of my lips from shaking as waves of pain crashed onto the new wound. "It doesn't hurt."

He seemed unconvinced, but he did not try to come closer. He diverted his look to the blossoming pear tree as if he didn't want me to read the emotions on his face.

"I apologize for disturbing your practice. I was at fault as much as you," I tried to mask all emotions other than mutual understanding and respect. I nodded at him, acknowledging his musical talents. "Then we will thus part our ways."

"Fourth Princess of Liang, next time we play, we shall be more careful," he grinned playfully, returning to his previous facade. Or perhaps, that was his true self, and the rare slip of worry was only a temporary mask to loosen my defenses.

"Sir, I doubt that we will meet again."

He ignored my claim, quite literally brushing it aside as he swung out his sleeves for dramatic effect. "I must really get going."

Only, the tattered edges from where he ripped my bandage from caught against the strings, and I couldn't help but stifle a giggle as he was forced to interrupt his dramatic exit.

Maybe it was my hallucination, but his cheeks turned a shade rosier.

He nodded his head before motioning to leave, leaving the lute he had been playing on the table. And before I could ask, he added, "A meeting gift."

"I cannot accept this." It was not good to be too close to this man.

"Let me make my mends. I do not want your first impression of me to be a hooligan," he cocked his head to the side. "If Your Highness does not accept it, I'm afraid that I'll have to burn it. I cannot tolerate keeping an item that has hurt such beauty."

I wanted to roll my eyes at him, but he was already briskly walking away, not giving time to even process through what had happened.

Only when he was already out of the pagoda did I remember. "Wait, what is your name?" I rushed toward the steps as well. I could ask A'Wu if she has ever heard of this strange court musician.

He turned around beneath the pear tree, still for a brief moment. "We'll see when you ask me to become your mentor for playing. Hopefully, your hand will be well enough to play by then," he joked, but even his cocky smile couldn't mask the surprise from inching into his eyes. "Liang Princess, I assure you that this will not be the last of me."

Leaving those words floating in the air, he left. But when he was almost out of the garden door, he spun around and flashed a dazzling smile. "It was a pleasure meeting you, Your Highness." Compared to the forced one earlier, this one was much more genuine as it reached his eyes.

Yes, even I had to admit that his eyes were beautiful, especially so when they lit up.

I don't quite know what it was, but I couldn't stop my lips from curling upward in response to him. However, whether it was genuine, I do not know.

He was a prideful one, bearing the trademark of most artists and their habits of looking down on those that were less talented. With that arrogance of his, he wouldn't last in the palace. Even I, a newcomer, knew that much. The yard was quiet again.

Going back, I examined my wound. Already, the blood on the makeshift gauze was browning as the bleeding had stopped. Although it wasn't deep, it was wide, spanning across a good half of my palm such that whenever I dared to curl my fingers inward, it stung like someone was tearing my flesh from inside out.

"Fourth Princess, the etiquette teacher has arrived," A'Huan called to me, freeing my thoughts from the strange musician.

I'll apply a balm later, I thought, hastily taking a clean strip of white I had asked A'Huan to bring and wrapping it around the cut.

That night, sitting alone, I glanced at the lute sitting in the corner of the room. I shall return it when I meet him again, I decided and motioned for A'Huan to pack it away.

But there was someone about it that had a certain allure. The memory of the melody lurked in the back of my mind.

How hard could plucking a few strings be?

I reached for it with my uncut hand, curling a finger around a string at random, and I immediately cringed. I tried again, and it was no better than the last. It sounded nothing like what he played, more nearing the feeble screeching of a newborn kitten than anything else.

His taunting face came back into view, and I could almost imagine him commenting on my horrible playing.

"Fourth Princess, there's a package from the palace. It's from the Prince of Jin."

A maid's voice jolted me back to reality, and I immediately attempted to hide the lute behind me, guilty for some reason that I couldn't quite put into words.

The cloth wrapping was simple, nondescript at best. I slightly shook the package to see if I could gain insight into its contents, not wanting to be disappointed.

A short note with only two words reading "wedding gift" was attached to its exterior. Even from two simple characters, it was apparent that the penmanship was excellent, neat but written with a vigorous touch. It was respectable, and I couldn't help but smile at the effort.

Immediately, wafting the air, the pleasant and calming odor of fresh ink seeped through. The scent brought me back to my uncle's prized book collection.

I lifted the folds, wondering what was in store. A fan bearing four lines of poetry came into view. The calligraphy was beautiful, more so than that on the note, but it was apparent that it was scripted by the same author.

"Rain fell from the Heavens above, and water swept under the bridge. Stumbling across the girl's ribbon undone, it knotted two hearts into one."

And from underneath, a bottle of balm for addressing wounds peeked out.