第9章：People Can Be Strange

"Leave for the night." She told her daughter. Which only made Chaoyun gave her a raised eyebrow. As she just took her break for dinner, her mother never made such a request for her. Most of the time, it had been of her own personal choice that it occured under. It was never one which made sense to her.

She did think about doing so, it was something she did to get her mind off the insane pressure that was placed upon her. Walking and far away from this had been one which she nonetheless enjoyed as well.

"I'll handle Zhao'en, as she needs to be trained to know what to do when she is around them." That was a perfectly good explanation, and yet something made Chaoyun uneasy. But not one which she could deny not wanting, mentioning that training her was hard. Not even she grasped fully when it came to important people. That was something that even she sometimes couldn't explain.

Except that natural charm and talent came into play, at least a degree of it had to be that as she was so successful at the end of the day. She had to admit that it was the truth, for she was the proof of it. She looked along the streets, noticing that she didn't have much of anyone to talk to. Or more importantly, anyone which caught her interest at the end of the day.

And so, she took a seat by the garden. In full bloom with people who happened to be on the stone bench.

"Wow, I didn't think that I will see the day you are lonely." Turning around, she came face to face to the only person that she knew will say that without feeling apologetic, but not mean enough that they never were on speaking terms in the first place.

And behind her was the guqin, which she knew was an instrument that took up a lot of space.

"Fancy meeting you here." She looked up only to find herself looking at Feiyu, wearing the same set of clothes she did the day before. Wondering whether she made any effort to change and wash them. Or did she just use perfume all the way.

That was debatable, although Chaoyun preferred to bathe often, preferring even cold water to not having anything at all. Except if it was on a winter day, that was something she will actively try to avoid. As much as she can.

She was holding up an instrument, and from the way that it was made from bamboo, and the holes. She knew that it was a dizi, an instrument which she has seen before. She remembered the word for it, still fresh from seeing it.

She looked to Qingshuang, who seemed if anything embarrassed by her connection than anything else. "We are partners."

"It was that one time." He grumbled. Clearly guessing that it was a one-time affair. Perhaps they didn't expect that they will be meeting the other so soon in the first place.

"And we thought that the chances of us doing the same things again, was slim." She didn't deny that it was in the realms of fancy, but them meeting in the same place was unlikely.

"Well, do you want me to tell someone about it?" She gave him a smile, which even as an onlooker, Chaoyun felt inclined to just agree and not do anything else. Hovering over him, which she knew it was to maximize the effect. At least she wasn't beyond it.

"Tell me about it now." She went to Feiyu, in hopes of the woman revealing what went down between them. She couldn't help but be curious as to how they knew each other, but also how did they end up working together.

Although she gave a chuckle. "I can tell you later." The woman gave her a wink. While Qingshuang did everything he could to stop it, barring going down on his knees and begging her to not tell. Something told her that it wasn't anything that put him in a good light.

Which she was curious, since the man was often someone who boasted of his own tales. Having heard a great deal of them in the months he was here, which only began just after the new year came. "Fine."

Either way, she will still know at the end of the day. She could afford to wait for a moment, she knew that as well as all did.

"We should try and finish it, we only have a day left." Well, if it was so, then it made a lot of sense. But it couldn't be this much of a coincidence, could it? One could never expect something to happen but this was just a little too strange to ignore.

"Where are you performing?"

"Your mother's restaurant, as the client specified." Although she knew that it was common for men, but rare for women. Unless she was a courtesan. She knew that most of them often stayed in brothels, as they were sold into them as children and

"We have a lot of work to do." She gave a sigh. "It's been months since we last coordinated." He gave her a deadpan. Although having no idea just what went down between them, but she did wonder why they were so familiar in the first place.

"Yeah, you only gave me a couple of days with the score." He flipped through it for another chance to look through. Since she doubted anyone could bring that along it.

"It isn't not allowed, just that we don't have the time to refer to it."

"If we did, then it will be a lot easier." He gave a grumble.

"But we won't be seen as professional." She took the book. "Then, we should begin this by practicing. We have the entire night."

Although something told her that he wasn't keen to join in, no matter what others might think of it. And wouldn't they be eventually chased out if they did this for too long, since once it is the middle of the night it will be a nuisance.

And so they began their practice, Chaoyun hung around out of curiosity rather than anything else at all. It was true that they needed more time, with how certain parts of the music having altogether rough patches. It could be heard if anyone paid enough attention. When they had finished the first round.

Feiyu opened up the book again, she could see that she was the one leading in many ways. Even when it came to the melodies, where it was in her favour.

"It's in the nature of the song." Which again, she still didn't really understand. While he looked through so as not to lack anything. "Which is one of the more proper forms of music. And it was meant to have a dancer."

"Can you dance?" Feiyu asked. Perhaps this was also meant to have someone dancing.

"I'm certain someone will be there to do this."

She gave a grimace, because it was clear that she could not. No matter what others might say. At least with what others has seen, it was not only clear that she was unable to do so and clear that she was not someone who was capable of it.

Although Qingshuang seemed to just want to get it over with in the first place than anything else. There was almost no other way to get around it. As they sounded the other, having the chance to play it in the first place. There was something about them that made the other work better, and when it came together it was music to the ears.

"Now that's music." Yuntong grabbed a fan. "Although a little rough on the sides."

"That's because we only have a couple of days to make this a success in the first place." Qingshuang rolled his own eyes. Which seemed to leave more of an impression.

"But for a duo who has been talked about, you are sure disappointing." He sat down, holding the same fan. Not to be surprised, given that his father was the local magistrate.

"For a promising scholar, you sure enjoy wasting time." Feiyu took a seat, having to catch her breath after playing such a long song.

"Who said I was one?" He waved his fan, even when at the front was written with the words of the man he disliked. "He is a fine thinker, and I admire him not worship him."

"When you get to the court, then it will be known." Feiyu made a good point there. The imperial court was said to be a place that changed many, regardless of birth, princes who ascended to become the Emperor were often different, so were scholars where some played the role of courtiers better than governors.

"It's just way too far, although I don't have a choice." He sighed, not looking forward to making the trip from this town to Kaifeng. Since only the capital had the ability and sources to manage an exam. Although only a fraction of all men took it.

"When you come of age."

"It's still three years away." He gave a sly smile. Although his attention turned to Qingshuang, who had his hair in a bun. She knew that it was a sign of adulthood, the same way girls will sweep some of their hair up when they were declared women and eligible or engaged.

"Then, aren't you disowned from the family?" Qingshuang gave a shrug. While Feiyu simply deadpanned at the question. Which the boy took as an agreement.

"How did you get the guts?" He asked him. While Chaoyun simply stared at this. If she was weird, then they were eccentric. Qingshuang made no comment, for the best.

"It is a waste to give up the opportunity, although I can see why." Perhaps it was her own lament about what it meant to be a woman here, filled with much restrictions. Even when a female Emperor ruled, she had not given the same right to the women as she did men. But she never said anything about Qingshuang.

"So, both of you did meet before?" The older woman gave a slight nod, but that was about it. Yuntong was still around the man, who by all means was displeased with the questions.

"Have you met him before?" Feiyu turned to Yunfeng, who was still with the elder man.

"Yes, and I swear that he's stalking me." There was something always odd about these coincidences in the first place, given how unlikely it had been to meet him. The only encounter which she doubted was arranged was when he was in the restaurant, because he had to be there for his sister.

"He has the propensity for the odd above anything else." She couldn't disagree more. Her mother and her had been outliers here despite their immense success and skill, and most had respected them but were never kind towards them.

Especially when it came to their relationship, because it was known she was adopted by her. Left by a nameless father and a mother who died recently after childbirth.

"Can't say that's a bad thing."

"It's neither. It can bring you to great things, but it can also ruin you."

"You're almost as bad as he is."

"That's my elder brother you're talking about."

Remembering the night where he borrowed one from a friend. A friend who was way too comfortable with Qingshuang than he actually wanted.

"Wait, you're also related to him?"

"I can see why the expectations on him aren't nearly as high."

"Help me."

"Let me tell you a story."

She went back home late that night. Full of joy and laughter, in a way that made her own mother wonder whether she was intoxicated when she reached home.