The Aloof Noble Son Feeds His Body to a Wandering Soul - Chapter 4

Before long, the sound of a konghou (harp) drifted from the quiet private room.

The music was crisp, its low notes brushing against the ear; the plucked melody sounded like a grievance, like a plea, each lingering, sorrowful note possessing a vitality of its own as it floated through the air. Slowly, damply, it seeped beyond the human realm and reached the celestial palaces of the Nine Heavens.

The music gradually pervaded the silent pavilion. Sorrow, parting, and the cries of pain were all hidden within the notes.

Xiao Yi’s heart stirred, and a dense, dull ache became distinct. Fragments flashed through his mind: bloodshed spreading and sounds of weeping everywhere.

The four kingdoms had pressed their borders; enemy troops were at the city gates.

The Kingdom of Dayanyan had fallen.

It felt like a lifetime ago. The music stirred Xiao Yi’s memories, and the agony of his past life appeared clearly before his eyes.

Xiao Yi felt a dimness in the depths of his heart; he seemed capable of feeling the state of mind of the person playing the harp.

“Someone is playing the konghou.” Prince Yu said in surprise. One had to know that the playing technique for the konghou had been lost for a long time; there were very few people in the mortal realm who possessed the skill to play it.

To be able to play it this well he must be a great master.

Prince Yu rose, opened the door, looked at the guards, and asked, “Who is playing the konghou?”

The guards looked at each other and pointed toward the adjacent private room. “That person is in there playing the instrument.”

Prince Yu turned back, his interest piqued. “Xiao Yi, shall we go over and take a look?”

Waves stirred in the depths of Xiao Yi’s eyes. Rare for him, he felt a curiosity toward that person. He set down his wine cup and said, “Let’s go.”

The two arrived before Shu Fuyan’s door. Prince Yu knocked: “I know not which young lady is playing such earthly music; might you open the door so we may meet?”

“Come in.”

The voice was aloof and cool, crisp and distant like the flowing, limpid spring water of a snow-capped mountain; the biting shards of ice melted into clear water under the illumination of the sun, unstained by a speck of dust.

Prince Yu’s curiosity was piqued, and upon pushing open the door, he could not help but be startled.

It was actually an immortal-like noble son.

“It turns out not to be a beautiful young lady, but a jade-faced gentleman. Forgive my insolence, forgive my insolence.” Prince Yu laughed and apologized in a carefree manner.

He had thought the person playing the instrument was a beautiful woman; he had not expected it to be a young master.

Prince Yu, losing interest, stepped back half a pace. At this moment, Xiao Yi happened to step forward.

In just this instant, Xiao Yi and Shu Fuyan locked eyes.

What day is today? A single glance felt like ten thousand years.

The person opposite him was supporting the konghou with both hands, tilting his head slightly to look at him, with the corners of his mouth curving into an arc to reveal a gentle, harmless smile.

A pair of peach-blossom eyes twinkled like stars, as if those pupils, dark as lacquer, saw only Xiao Yi his entire heart and soul were filled with nothing but him.

A strangeness instantly stirred in Xiao Yi’s heart. This was the second time they had met.

Yesterday, when his army returned to the capital and passed the Drunken Immortal Tower, it was this person who had watched him leave.

Various factions were coveting the military power in his hands; there was no guarantee that the person before him did not have ulterior motives in approaching him.

Xiao Yi tried his best to ignore his favorable impression of Shu Fuyan. He did not speak, merely offering a polite nod toward Shu Fuyan, then closed the door and departed.

Xiao Yi’s departure was utterly heartless, leaving Shu Fuyan to doubt himself.

His fingertips, which had been plucking the strings, trembled. Shu Fuyan gave a bitter smile; his loneliness leaked out from the depths of his eyes, nowhere to rest. “Is even this not enough to make him stay?”

His fingertips caught on a string, and a jarring noise rang out. It was clear that Shu Fuyan had lost his heart for playing; he had struck the wrong string and ruined the melody.

“Xiao Yi, I will make you walk toward me.”

Having met Shu Fuyan once, Xiao Yi felt an inexplicable repulsion toward the Beiguan. A voice in the depths of his heart told him to leave quickly.

Bidding farewell to Prince Yu, Xiao Yi went downstairs, intending to return to his estate.

Prince Yu did not stop him; Xiao Yi was to remain in the capital for a period of time, so there would be plenty of opportunities to meet in the future anyway.

Just as Xiao Yi walked out the main gate of the Beiguan, hurried footsteps came from behind him.

“Wait.”

At this moment, Shu Fuyan came running out from upstairs.

“General Xiao, please hold.”

Xiao Yi curled his lips in a mocking smile. Sure enough, just as he had expected, that person had ulterior motives.

Even though Xiao Yi did not turn around, he knew who that person was; after all, they had just met.

“Who are you?” Xiao Yi’s eyes were guarded and vigilant. “Who sent you?”

Shu Fuyan knew they were not close, so he stopped a few meters away, not daring to come any nearer. “General Xiao, I am no one’s person; I only wish to become acquainted with you.”

“My surname is Shu, given name Fuyan; a native of Huainan, making a living in Shangjing. In my youth, I heard of the General’s deeds and have admired you for a long time. Today, having seen you in the flesh, I could not help but be moved.”

Shu Fuyan gave a blunt, straightforward account, exposing all of his own background.

Xiao Yi’s thick brows knitted tight. He had never seen someone who reported their family name and background so honestly.

The other party did not appear very old barely past twenty the age of pride and arrogance.

Admired him? Xiao Yi was half-believing, half-doubting.

The other party was nearly ten years his junior, and Xiao Yi did not take him seriously. He cleared his throat. “Scholar, stick to your books and inkstone. The wind and snow beyond the border do not touch them.”

Xiao Yi turned to leave again, but Shu Fuyan was unwilling to give up and chased after him.

“General Xiao, does it hurt?”

Hearing this, Xiao Yi’s movements froze. He turned around sluggishly, his gaze unfriendly. “What does the young master mean by this?”

“Three years ago, it was said in the capital that you were attacked by enemy forces, suffering grievous wounds that would not heal, and had to rely on bitter ginseng daily to cling to life. Now that you have returned to the city in such glory, have you fully recovered? Have the old scars smoothed over? You… does it still hurt?”

Xiao Yi’s body jolted, as if he had lost half a heartbeat; his breathing grew labored.

The bitter cold beyond the frontier and the flashing of swords and shadows—if one were not careful, they would become a ghost beneath a blade. No one had ever cared whether he was suffering or in pain. Even the one on the dragon throne only inquired about the stability of the border as a matter of routine, never uttering a word of care for his injuries.

Suddenly, one day, someone he had seen only twice ran up to him to say they admired him and cared about him.

Xiao Yi felt as if he had fallen into the clouds; his entire being was bathed in sunlight, with a warm current flowing along his bloodlines, permeating his whole body.

Xiao Yi quickly recovered his composure, his tone strained: “Scholar, you certainly know quite a bit.”

Shu Fuyan’s lowered hands clenched silently, anxious to bind himself to the person before him.

“General Xiao, if you ever have need in the future, you may come to Chenzhu Ju (Abode of Hidden Bamboo) to find me at any time.” Shu Fuyan bit his lip and said: “If you wish to hear konghou music, you may also find me. My skill on the instrument is clumsy, but I believe… General Xiao will like it.”

Shu Fuyan knew full well that Xiao Yi would not seek him out, yet he still said it anyway. Even if there were only a sliver of hope, he had to grasp it.

Only those who know how to seize opportunities can obtain what they want.

Xiao Yi shook his head with a faint smile. Were all the scholars under heaven as simple as Shu Fuyan? Naive to the point of being adorable he was rather likable.

“We shall see if the opportunity arises.”

Xiao Yi left behind an ambiguous sentence before boarding his carriage.

In the blink of an eye, the carriage symbolizing the Marquis of Zhenbei estate disappeared from the noisy marketplace.

With Xiao Yi gone, Shu Fuyan did not linger and walked in the opposite direction.

On the second floor of the pavilion, Prince Yu was half-drunk. He had seen the attempt to persuade him clearly.

Prince Yu beckoned, calling over his personal guard. “Moye, do you feel as though the man playing the instrument is familiar? I feel as though I have seen him somewhere before.”

The guard cupped his hands and responded, “Under the heavens, the peerless ‘Shu’ and ‘Lin’ each occupy a corner. Your Highness is not mistaken; he is Shu Fuyan. You once saw him at the side of Prince Ji.”

Hearing the name Shu Fuyan, the clarity returned to Prince Yu’s eyes, and he was more than half sober.

“It is Shu Fuyan.” Prince Yu twirled his prayer beads in thought. “South Lin, North Shu—the peerless公子 (noble son). Shu Fuyan approaching Xiao Yi must surely stem from an intention to win him over. Moye, go and keep an eye on him.”

The guard hesitated for a moment before speaking: “Is Your Highness worried that Shu Fuyan is a man of Prince Ji? Based on what your subordinate knows, Shu Fuyan has wandered between the various princes for many years and does not fully belong to anyone’s sect; it is only recently that he has become close with Prince Ji.”

Prince Yu gave a cold hum, his eyes turning sharp. “It is better to wrongfully kill than to let one slip through.”

His former lover had died on the path to seizing the throne; he could not let his brother be dragged into the disputes of the court once more.

Receiving his orders, the guard quickly left the restaurant, hiding himself within the marketplace.

On the main street, Shu Fuyan walked among the crowd, the gaze behind him like a shadow that followed his every move no matter what, he could not shake it off.

Shu Fuyan turned back, his expression cold.

He did not continue walking toward the crowded areas, but instead turned down a path, merging into a secluded alley.

After walking a few more steps, the tail in the shadows could no longer contain his impatience and pursued him.

Shu Fuyan stopped, pressing his lips together; he did not need to guess who had sent the man.

It was said that Prince Yu was a free spirit who did not contend for fame or profit. If the Crown Prince’s methods had not been so cruel, Prince Yu could never have withdrawn from the winds and storms of the court.

“Stop following me; go back. If your fox tail is exposed and stepped on and broken, it will have nothing to do with me.”

Moye immediately turned his back to press against the wall, hoping to hide his presence, his heart lingering in fear, Shu Fuyan’s insight was far too sharp.

“Go back and tell Prince Yu: regarding Xiao Yi, no one will be permitted to harm him.”

This was Shu Fuyan’s promise, and also his attitude toward Prince Ji.

Moye walked out from the shadows, speaking respectfully: “Lord Shu is sharp; Moye is ashamed.”

Shu Fuyan did not intend to trade pleasantries with him, speaking bluntly: “I know full well what Prince Yu is thinking. Rest assured, I will not harm the General Xiao.”

With Shu Fuyan’s promise, there was no point in Moye continuing the pursuit.

After driving away Moye, Shu Fuyan walked slowly into the deep alley.

The alley was deep and secluded, the long path winding and snake-like; he could not see the end at a single glance. After walking for a long time, he finally stopped at the entrance of a courtyard filled with pine and bamboo.

Hung before the academy was a plaque: Chenzhu Ju (Abode of Hidden Bamboo).

It had once been an academy dedicated to scholars studying for the imperial examinations. Later, the Emperor issued an order to build a new institution, and over time, the academy in this remote location had fallen into decline.

Shu Fuyan had bought the property, hired two servants to clean the courtyard regularly, and would come here to live for a period of time from time to time.

“Sir, you have returned.”

Shu Fuyan hesitated at the door, lingering and refusing to enter. The servant responsible for cleaning the courtyard happened to see him just as he was leaving the premises.

“Yes.” Shu Fuyan said: “For the next few days, you need not come.”

The servant was stunned at first, then became sorrowful. Could it be that his good job was gone?

Shu Fuyan walked into the courtyard; not hearing the sounds of the servant departing, he turned back to look.

The servant’s mouth pouted in grievance, and he knelt on the ground, wailing loudly.

“Sir, please do not abandon Xin Nu; Xin Nu will do anything.”

Shu Fuyan’s mouth twitched. Enough of that it was he who hadn’t spoken clearly.

“Get up. Who said I was going to abandon you?” Shu Fuyan pulled him up. The fifteen or sixteen-year-old boy was throwing a tantrum and simply refused to get up.

“Sir, if you don’t want Xin Nu, that is fine, but… can you keep Feng Ling?”

“A guest is coming to Chenzhu Ju in a few days; it is not that I want to chase the two of you away.” Shu Fuyan explained.

Hearing this, Xin Nu realized he had not been abandoned, and his sister still had her position. He hurriedly kowtowed to Shu Fuyan to express his gratitude.

“Sir, you are a good person, a truly good person. The gods will surely bless you with great wealth and a house full of descendants.”

Great wealth and a house full of descendants, I am afraid that is a wish that cannot come to pass.

Shu Fuyan sighed and instructed: “Go to the Prince Ji estate for me, and say that it is not convenient to move about these days; tell them not to send anyone to seek me out.”

Xin Nu did not know Shu Fuyan’s plans, but he had been saved by Shu Fuyan; he would risk his very life to repay his benefactor.

Xin Nu raised his hand to wipe away his tears in a haphazard fashion, his voice thick with tears: “Sir, do not worry; Xin Nu will go at once.”

Xin Nu patted his knees to shake off the dust, intending to set off for the Prince Ji estate to deliver the message.

“Wait.” Shu Fuyan stopped him.

“Sir?” Xin Nu blinked in confusion.

“Take the secret path to leave, and also…” Shu Fuyan patted his shoulder, his ears suddenly turning red, “buy a few branches of begonia flowers; they must be brilliantly colored.”

Xin Nu scratched his head. Why buy begonia flowers?

Shu Fuyan was the master; Xin Nu only listened to orders and acted accordingly. As for what the master had ordered, he would simply do it.

Xin Nu gave a heavy nod and walked toward the courtyard.

Shu Fuyan inhaled a breath of foul air, unable to control his excitement.

He had only just met him, yet he had already begun to miss him.

Will Xiao Yi come?

Begonia flowers will he see him?