Fengyu personally escorted Fang Lingjun back ho. Mrs. Fang hadn’t expected her daughter’s sudden return and nearly stumbled when rushing out to greet her. This strong-willed Commandery Princess of a lifeti embraced Fang Lingjun tightly, broke into tears, and cried her heart out. Fang Lingjun, moved by her mother’s emotions, clung to her and cried bitterly as well. Fengyu didn’t linger at the Fang Family’s residence for long, leaving the ti entirely to the long-separated mother and daughter.
Lin Xiao, Zhang Boxin, and Zhou Liyu had been disowned by their families years ago. This ti, however, they returned victorious, leaving the Lin Family, Zhang Family, and Zhou Family in a rather awkward position. Tis change, and while they could cast out family mbers back then, now they were capable of restoring the nas to the family registry. For Lin Xiao’s family, the situation was the simplest. After Lin Cheng’s death, the Lin Family fell on hard tis; even Lin Yu Yan, notorious for her arrogance and unruliness in the Capital City’s circles of noblewon, began acting ekly and modestly. When Xie Xun ascended the throne, the already marginalized Minister Lin had his rank stripped away entirely. The Lin Family sought to curry favor with the larger Lin Family clan, but the Lin Family clan refused to acknowledge this branch’s blood ties. Lin Xiao’s return was instruntal in re-establishing the linage’s standing.
Lin Xiao had grown up doted upon by his parents. His departure from the Capital City had been due to ideological differences with his father and brother; it wasn’t the family that abandoned him. If Lin Cheng hadn’t been valued by Yuwen Jing, Lin Xiao might not have dared to leave his family behind. His parents and younger sister have always been his dearest kin, and upon his return, his parents and Lin Yu Yan were the most elated.
Everyone remarked that Lord Lin was exceptionally lucky: one of his sons now served Yuwen Jing, while the other followed Xie Xun. One guaranteed their family’s prosperity within the Yuwen Dynasty, while the other upheld the glory of the Xie Dynasty. No matter who ruled, their family remained unshaken. Fengyu had heard plenty of such jibes, but Lin Xiao surely endured far more. If it was three years ago, Lin Xiao’s youthful temper might have led to physical disputes, yet now he had matured and chose to ignore the provocations.
Out of respect for Lin Xiao, and perhaps also due to Lin Yu Yan’s near recluse-like behavior since Fengyu returned to the capital, Fengyu didn’t make things difficult for the Lin Family.
Zhang Boxin and Zhou Liyu’s families each faced their own challenges. Regardless, those who had once been abandoned have now beco the golden children of their clans, individuals whom everyone fawns over.
In particular, Zhang Boxin was the most impressive. He finally had a mont where he could savor his vengeance in front of his father, taking his mother along to flaunt their achievents. His greatest joy lay in parading his mother around his father’s household. Although Zhang Boxin remained the son of the Zhang Family, he retained the sa rebellious arrogance as ever. The difference this ti? Mr. Zhang’s rank was inferior to Zhang Boxin’s— a rare case of a son holding a higher official position than his father.
The only recourse Mr. Zhang had was to accuse Zhang Boxin of disobedience and ruin his career. However, such asures hurt more than helped. Zhang Boxin was their family’s sole promising progeny; unless Mr. Zhang wished to sever his descendants’ path entirely, he had no choice but to endure his daily frustrations, seething over Zhang Boxin’s provocations.
A few days after their return to the Capital City, Fang Lingjun arranged a gathering, inviting Fengyu, Princess Xue Lan, Lin Xiao, Zhang Boxin, and Zhou Liyu to go on an autumn outing at Xiyanshan.
Lin Xiao and the others happened to have five days of leave, with a Deputy General managing the military affairs. With no imminent issues at hand, the group took the chance to enjoy themselves during the outing.
They seed to step back into the carefree days of old in the Capital City.
From touring the autumn landscapes to fishing, boating, and admiring the scenery— rare monts of relaxation filled the air.
Since their return to the Capital City, Fengyu’s mood had brightened significantly, even finding herself in the spirit to perform a flute solo for them. After playing for a few monts, Zhang Boxin’s eyes widened in disbelief. "What are you playing? It sounds awful!"
"It’s ’Fengyue Forest,’" Fengyu replied. "Does it sound bad?"
"Not bad, not bad..." Princess Xue Lan awkwardly smiled, recalling Fengyu’s paintings— no one dared to speak the truth.
"’Fengyue Forest’? You’re serious?" Zhang Boxin was incredulous. "I’ve been playing it for six years, and I don’t recognize that version. Are you sure? Who taught you?"
Lin Xiao and Zhou Liyu exchanged peculiar expressions. Fang Lingjun chid in, "Oh, Ayu’s style is always unique like this."
After all, at the Imperial College, wasn’t her composite score consistently the lowest?
Her musical performances were often at the bottom tier. For so instructors, it wasn’t worth giving her a grade altogether.
"Xie Xun taught !" Fengyu answered innocently. "He even said I learned it well."
The group: "..."
"Fengyue Forest" was a gentle, delicate tune, telling the story of a courtesan finding her true love and spending a lifeti together. It carried a quiet lancholy beneath its soothing lody. But Fengyu’s version? The pitch was too high and wildly off, transforming the tender love story into sothing shrill and piercing.
"The Emperor is so duplicitous!" Zhang Boxin blurted ruthlessly. "That’s not how ’Fengyue Forest’ goes! You definitely learned it wrong. I’ve heard the Emperor play—it’s beautiful. You’ve gone off-key all the way to the edge of the world. The lody should start soft and low, and you’ve already blundered from the opening note."
Fengyu hesitated, confused and unsure. "...Does it really sound terrible?"
"Terrible!" Zhang Boxin declared firmly and dragged Zhou Liyu and Lin Xiao along. "Right? ’Fengyue Forest’ is a classic lody. Everyone knows it, and I’ve even heard the girls at Mudan Building play it."
Lin Xiao and Zhou Liyu glanced at each other awkwardly, tugging at Zhang Boxin, who hadn’t realized he’d inadvertently hurt Fengyu’s feelings with his blunt honesty.
"It’s... slightly off-key," Lin Xiao offered gently. "But it’s not overly dramatic. Try lowering the pitch—it might sound better."
"You’re just— ah! Why are you hitting ?" Zhang Boxin exclaid.
Lin Xiao, expressionless, replied, "It was an accident. Apologies. Are you hungry? Have so pastries."
"I’m not hungry, Third Miss. Let tell you, ’Fengyue Forest—’" Zhang Boxin began again, only for Lin Xiao to shove a pastry into his mouth. "Shut up already!"
Zhang Boxin slowly sensed sothing odd. "..."
Fengyu felt a bit aggrieved. If it was so terrible, why did they deceive her? Xie Xun said it sounded lovely. Zhang Da, Qiuxiang, and Chunlu also claid it was excellent. Why did everyone lie to her?
"It doesn’t matter; we don’t need to excel at everything," Fang Lingjun reassured her, linking arms with Fengyu. "Ayu is good at making money, and that’s enough. Musical performances are nothing but a nuisance anyway—I can’t play the flute either."
"...Oh," Fengyu mumbled, still unwilling to give up. "But I think it sounded quite nice."
"Why don’t you play it more often for the Emperor then? He seems to enjoy it," Zhang Boxin teased with a playful grin. "Whoever says it sounds good, just play it for them."
The group: "..."
Does Zhang Boxin harbor so deep, unresolved grudge against the Emperor?
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