Chapter 314: Monarch’s Word, the sound of the qin is like the sound of your voice (2/2)

A monarch’s word, a gentleman’s word. The sound of the qin is like the sound of your voice.

Listening to the qin was like listening to that monarch or gentleman speak. How one would yearn at the sound!

Long Feiye rested his head in one hand as he sat in silence, his eyes on Han Yunxi. Though he looked to be listening raptly to the music, he was actually focused on Han Yunxi herself. Though he looked wholly absorbed by the melody, he was actually wholly entranced by her. He was thoroughly staring at her slender and beautiful brows, high nose, tender pink lips, and her hooded expression as she focused on playing the instrument. He look as well to the aristocratic violet robes draped elegantly about her body. His gaze was like that of a predator on its prey, but also that of someone inspecting his most precious treasure. The longer he looked, the heavier grew his gaze. His eyes seemed to hide many, many unknown secrets. She had no idea that his feelings for her were just like his gaze right now, mingled with a host of too many complicated things, unfathomable and deep.

Because Han Yunxi was playing with her head down, she didn’t realize that Long Feiye was staring at her instead of listening to her song. When the last note trembled to an end, Han Yunxi finally lifted her head. She had lost herself in the melancholy strains of “Butterfly Lovers” as well.

By now, Long Feiye had long hidden away the feelings in his gaze to resume his usual cold expression.

“What’s the name of this song?” he asked.

“Butterfly Lovers. It’s a famous song, but I didn’t write it,” Han Yunxi explained hastily.

“Butterfly Lovers? What’s the meaning behind that name?” Long Feiye was curious.

Han Yunxi more or less summarized the plot and its protagonists, Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, before she broke into a grin. “Your Highness, what would you do Liang Shanbo’s shoes?”

But Long Feiye only replied coldly, “Your lordship isn’t that weak!”2

Han Yunxi was momentarily tongue-tied. All right, even if he’s in a good mood, I can’t talk with him about these kind of topics. They don’t fit him at all!

Long Feiye polished off a great many cups of tea before he finally judged, “Mm, it was a very good song.”

Han Yunxi was lost for words. She was starting to suspect that this guy had other motives besides asking her to play the qin. But this was the middle of the night. Besides listening to music, what other business could he have? She sat by his side and drank tea with him. “Your Highness, the matter of the western mountains…”

Emperor Tianhui had said she’d have to head there as soon as the empress dowager’s birthday banquet was over. Long Feiye had made such a ruckus at the banquet. He succeeded in threatening Emperor Tianhui, but they still hadn’t solved this problem. Han Yunxi had shown off the Medicine Fan both to get out of performing publically and to leave herself an escape route by tempting the empress dowager.

“You’ll understand tomorrow when you go to the Imperial Physician Courtyard,” Long Feiye said simply.

So mysterious. But since he’d said as much, Han Yunxi didn’t ask any further. She was extremely curious. What kinds of things would happen when she went to the Imperial Physician Courtyard? Would someone there stop her from going to the Western Mountains?

Not Gu Beiyue, that’d be impossible!

Since Han Yunxi couldn’t figure it out, she could only wait for tomorrow. Now that the topic was done, she fell into silence again. Actually, most of their time together was spent in silence unless she spoke up proactively. She used to be quiet in the past as well, but now she spoke more often. Despite this, she had no idea what to talk about next.

He wanted to hear the qin, but she’d already finished playing. Like this, the two of them sank into silence again. Truthfully, they’d both gotten used to it, but tonight’s silence was deeper than usual. The atmosphere seemed a little strange, as well.

Abruptly, Long Feiye spoke up. “Han Yunxi…”

“Mm,” Han Yunxi replied immediately as she looked his way. Their eyes met, but Long Feiye remained mute for so long that she had to probe him out. “Your Highness, what is it?”

Long Feiye seemed hesitant, but he quickly rejected his indecision. “Nothing. Let’s go, I’ll bring you back.”

For some reason, Han Yunxi’s heart suddenly felt a bit empty. She only replied with a single sound. “Mm.”

Actually, Leisurely Cloud Pavilion wasn’t very far from the sleeping quarters here, but Long Feiye actually took her hand and walked her all the way to her door. It was very late, and her heart felt somewhat flustered. The moment he let her go, she felt another wave of emptiness again. But once again, he was as calm and logical as always. He carefully reminded her, “You must go to the Imperial Physician Courtyard tomorrow morning. Don’t be late.”

Just who would be waiting for Han Yunxi at the Imperial Physician Courtyard tomorrow?