Yu Mingyue had met Father Xie a few times. He was much like Xie Jiayan in temperament, quiet but gentle. The last time she was in the pavilion waiting for Xie Jiayan, he had happened to pass by and even offered her some pointers.
"The Imperial Academy has been quite busy lately. Father has been staying there for convenience these past few days," Xie Jiayan said, serving Yu Mingyue a small bowl of sweet soup and subtly pushing it towards her.
This sweet soup must have been specially prepared for her by Nanny Shen; it was something they had never made before.
"I see!" Yu Mingyue nodded.
A hint of disappointment registered in Xie Jiayan's eyes.
"Is there something you need help with?"
Yu Mingyue shook her head. "No, I just haven't heard Uncle Xie play the zither these past few days, and I'm not used to it."
Xie Jiayan paused for a moment before asking, "You like it?"
"Of course, I do. Uncle Xie's zither skills are truly superb, no less than Master Zi'an's. Master Zi'an is very stingy and refuses to teach me, saying he doesn't take female disciples," Yu Mingyue said with regret.
Although Madam Hua Rui's zither skills were also good, her style differed from Master Zi'an's. Madam Hua Rui's music was melodious and ethereal, but it lacked the grandeur and profound artistic conception of Master Zi'an and Uncle Xie. In comparison, she preferred the latter.
"The soup will get cold. Eat first."
Yu Mingyue nodded, wondering when Uncle Xie would return to the manor.
After finishing her meal, it was getting late. Yu Mingyue dared not linger, lest the people in her courtyard worry.
Yu Mingyue climbed the ladder and, before crossing over, remembered to wave goodbye to Xie Jiayan.
The moonlight was beautiful tonight, full and bright. Yu Mingyue's pale dress seemed even more ethereal under its glow.
Her waving goodbye made her look like a little fairy who had escaped from the Moon Palace and was rushing back before Chang'e noticed.
That figure completely disappeared into the moonlight, followed by the sound of footsteps, walking quickly, gradually returning to silence.
Xie Jiayan turned and walked slowly, as if in no hurry to return.
Wang Ningqing was meeting the Emperor today. The Yao family must be getting restless. Since they wanted to stir up trouble, let's make the water even more turbulent for a livelier scene.
...
Yu Mingyue had spent the entire afternoon copying papers, her eyes feeling tired, so she didn't read any more that evening.
After bathing, Chi Dan and Chi Hua took turns drying her hair and massaging her. The young lady's skin was delicate, and perhaps from being in the sun too long in the pavilion today, her cheeks were flushed red.
Yu Mingyue narrowed her eyes, leaning against the couch as they attended to her, feeling utterly relaxed.
As the sound of the zither began, Yu Mingyue's closed eyes snapped open. Had Uncle Xie returned? Wasn't he staying at the Imperial Academy?
No matter, with such beautiful music, she couldn't worry about anything else.
Listening to the zither music, Yu Mingyue vaguely felt Chi Dan carrying her back to bed and then extinguishing the lamp.
So sleepy, she didn't want to open her eyes.
Spring sleep, unaware of the dawn; the ancients did not deceive us.
Xie Jiayan finished the last note and then rose from the cushion. Liaokong, hearing the zither music stop, entered the room. "Young Master,楼主 Hua has arrived."
As Liaokong finished speaking, a voice approached from a distance. "Tell me about this Liaokong. He actually doesn't even listen to me now, insisting that his young master cannot be disturbed while playing the zither. What kind of nonsense is this?"
Hua Chao Fei fanned himself and sat down next to Xie Jiayan, looking like a dashing young gentleman. Who would have thought he was the fearsome Jade-Faced Yama of the martial world?
If Yama decrees you must die at the third watch, you won't live past the fifth. And "Jade-Faced" clearly referred to his handsome, dashing appearance.