A Lonesome Fragrance Waiting to be Appreciated 1

10

"I wanted to sew something myself for him..." Lady Hua meant her secret lover.

"My Lady,"Mrs Hua seemed to be looking for her. Her face broke into a smile when she saw them and hurriedly smiled, "Oh, so My Lady was here, I had a difficult time finding you. Someone wants to see you."

"Who wants to see me?"

"A handsome young man and the person who delivered you the qin is also there. He claims his name is Dong Dingnan."

Pingting's expression darkened. "He really came."

"Bring him inside," Lady Hua told the housekeeper before turning around and grabbed Pingting's hands. Her eyes were bright when she said, "See? I guessed right, didn't I? He really did want to see you."

Pingting laughed, "He's looking for My Lady, not me."

Lady Hua answered back, "Geez, why are we still idling around? Come with me."

She pulled Pingting into a guest house and sat down behind a blind. Soon the housekeeper led the guests inside

"My Lady, Mr Dong is here."

"Okay. Mrs Hua, you may leave."

Lady Hua and Pingting peeped at the man.

The housekeeper had left. There was only a young man left in the room. His clothes were expensive yet not flashy, the fabric being silk. His eyebrows were black and a graceful royal air surrounded him thus making him an extremely handsome young man.

Lady Hua stared and then whispered into Pingting's ear. "Your qin skills must be really good, to have attracted such a good looking guy."

Pingting was just as shocked as Lady Hua, though her thoughts were different.

She had been in Jing-An Ducal Residence for many years so she knew immediately that he was not just an average rich man.

Could he be an official of Dong Lin?

No, could he even be a member of the royal family?

It wasn't entirely impossible to meet them, as this was Dong Lin's capital. His manners and the formal way he gave the qin was even more suspicious.

"I, Dong Dingnan, have selfishly come to see you, Lady." Dong Dingnan entered the room. When he saw the blinds, he knew immediately that she was quietly observing. He was extremely confident and laughed a little.

His family name wasn't actually 'Dong' and his name certainly wasn't 'Dingnan'. He was the current ruler of Dong Lin's very own brother, the Duke of Zhen-Bei, Chu Beijie. He was often out on the battlefield and used to figuring out enemy plans. He had just been strolling around an outside of a shrine, feeling very bored when he heard a mystical qin music that soothed his heart.

Who would miss the opportunity to meet a beauty?

As the brother of the King of Dong Lin and as the most important duke, Duke of Zhen-Bei, he had planned everything meticulously. First wait and listen, ask to see at a later time, give a qin and research the Hua family before going to their Residence.

Lady Hua saw how Pingting stared at the man without a word and assumed that she is fond of the good looking gentleman behind the blinds separating them. Not quite knowing what to say, she rolled her eyes, "Since you already know how inconvenient this is, why you still came to see My Lady? My Lady doesn't usually see outsiders."

Pingting raised an eyebrow, but Lady Hua was clearly pleased with herself.

"The sound of qin was memorable and I have come here to ask for another piece," Chu Beijie replied breezily, giving a radiant smile.

Pingting began to analyse Dong Dingnan, but she could not recall a "Dong" family in Dong Lin. This man is using a fake name, which is extremely suspicious. If he finds out who I am, I might get into a lot of trouble. Seeing that Lady Hua was about to speak, she cut in, "Are you really here for a piece?"

"Yes."

"So you gave me the expensive Phoenix Paulownia-Guqin just to hear me play it?"

"That's right."

Pingting put the qin in front of her and plucked a string.

A soft qin melody drifted from within the blinds; it was like a small stream running through a mountain of fresh spring grass. Spellbinding.

Even people outside were listening, breathing in perfect unison.

The melody started strong and powerful, gradually fading to a slow, gentle and sweet section, finally finishing with a high-pitched trill.