12 This is Just a Passing Hobby of Mine, Elder Jin (1/2)
By the third day since listening and cooperating with Wei Xia Ri's humming of Pachelbel's cannon, Cai Jin was finally able to flawlessly play it. He sighed in satisfaction and pocketed his little flute back into his chest pocket. Then like a beautiful butterfly, his long lashes flattered while he gracefully pushed back loose strands of his silky, black hair behind his ear. His milky, white skin glowed healthily as he bathed under the sun. A young man in his late teens was a sight to see, especially when his modest and thick robes tactfully hid his body because of a certain someone.
Unbeknownst to him, an elderly man was slowly walking forward. He had his back hunch while he used a wooden cane to walk. Then he cleared his throat to announce his arrival, ”My lord,” he began.
Cai Jin's focus quickly went to him. ”Elder Jin, it is pleasant to meet you this morning. Is milady in trouble?”
Elderly Jin stiffened. Thankfully, he wore loose clothes and was currently sporting a frail, elderly image. To be honest, he came to the Cai Clan Residence for a reason! A big important mission in order to preserve his lady's future! 'Must stall him, must stall my young lord!'
”Of course not, my lord. How can be the general be in trouble at this time and date?”
”I am well aware of the general's behavior, for sure, it will at least be a servant begging for mercy or even troubling the emperor or any of the royal family members?”
Thinking about the ongoing episode back at the mansion, Elderly Jin could not help but admire the young lord's keen institution towards his lady. ”My lord, certainly, my lady has changed since then! Please believe in milady more!”
”Hmm,” Cai Jin felt suspicious. Why was the general's closest aide here in the first place? He sighed. ”Would you like to join me for tea?”
”Oh, how generous of my young lord. Young lord, do you usually begin your mornings with music?”
'To wake up and practice a song?' Cai Jin never really did as it was a musical instrument he just learned in the past and liked to play whenever he was bored. After all, it was his artistic talent compared to his brothers who grew up with weapons of war and sisters who were trained to become wives or concubines to the surrounding kingdoms. He looked at the wooden flute that his master had gifted him as soon as they met. Thinking of that man whose face he could not remember, he had a small thought. 'How is he faring?'
He shook his head and replied with a small smile. ”This is just a passing hobby of mine, Elder Jin.”
”Oh my, could that foreign music be from milady's influence? I have to say, the general's strange taste really can't be parred with anyone!” Because the young man was polite and pretty timid, the elder who was used to a free household laughed loudly like those drunks inside the midnight restaurants. He had to forcefully punch his chest with a fist to calm down. Wiping imaginary tears of his eyes, he continued, ”My apologies young lord, I was just impressed of how kind and open-minded you are towards our little tyrant.”
”That,” Cai Jin sweatdropped. 'If I wasn't, I would probably be sold as a slave the moment I disagreed with her!'
Elder Jin, however, had his own version which surprised the young man as soon as he began to elaborate. ”I heard from milady while she was drunk that she cornered you and did whatever she liked once or twice? My apologies, my lord. The general really grew up among barbaric men and was accustomed to becoming one of them as self-defense. For a woman, it should be really hard if men would view you as a flower in the barracks filled with wolves.”
”That sounds fair,” he stated. Cai Jin thought about her bold behavior. She can often be risque but was decent enough to hold back. She also liked to show her unmatched strengthed and agile skills in front of him. Nonetheless, the lady was scary in those terms, topping over his favorite courtesans and the bashful wives of imperial officials. Young ladies who had just reached or finished their coming-of-age ceremony cannot certainly reach the degree of the bold and honest general. ”It's funny how it has been just several days since we met.”
”Isn't that what we call heaven's luck?” The elder nodded in agreement. ”The Wei's little lady is a great big catch, she will certainly make you happy.”