Four Seasons Brocade – CH 093

Chapter 93 ☆、

Earlier, during a casual conversation, Gu Tingyi overheard Rong Yin mentioning that his family had a pot of dragon claw chrysanthemums with ink marks. His heart stirred, remembering that tomorrow was his mother’s birthday. Although she did not want to make a fuss, as her son, he still had to celebrate her birthday. The birthday gift had been quite a challenge for Gu Tingyi and his brother; with the princess’s status, what could she not have?

Hearing that the Rong family had a pot of dragon claw chrysanthemums with ink marks, Gu Tingyi was immediately tempted. Gu Tingyi remembered that when he was young, Ah Wu had coincidentally grown a potted black dragon. His mother loved it dearly. Sadly, even plants had feelings; after Ah Wu passed away, the black dragon gradually withered and could never be restored.

Therefore, Gu Tingyi took the initiative to inquire with Rong Yin. Rong Yin, hearing it was a birthday gift for his mother, readily agreed, always eager to help those in need, without considering that it was grown by Ah Wu. It was not until he entered the house that he remembered and quickly inquired about Ah Wu’s whereabouts.

Gu Tingyi remained silent for a moment, thinking of that girl, who could still be called a girl, nicknamed “Ah Wu,” but this “Ah Wu” was not the same as their “Wu.” Yet, she could draw ducks, something Ah Wu only knew, and now she could grow a black dragon. Was it truly fate? Gu Tingyi hesitated for a moment.

Rong Yin first ushered Gu Tingyi into the hall to serve tea, smiling, “I am sorry, Junji, this black dragon was planted by my sister. I need to ask her opinion first, but you do not need to worry, my sister is the most generous person.” Junji was Gu Tingyi’s courtesy name.

“Of course,” Gu Tingyi replied somewhat absentmindedly.

A moment later, the servant named Guan-Ming returned with news: “Cui-Ling said the young lady is in the garden right now.”

Rong Yin nodded, turning to look at Gu Tingyi. He intended to ask him to wait a little longer, but Gu Tingyi had already stood up, as if to follow him.

This was unreasonable but understandable. If this had happened to Rong Jie, Gu Tingyi would never have been allowed to set foot in the garden, but Rong Yin was just a fool.

Having spent years navigating the martial world, Rong Yin was naturally more open and uninhibited. In his eyes, encounters between men and women were nothing unusual; sometimes, even embracing was unavoidable when rescuing someone. Secondly, as an older brother, Rong Yin naturally cared about his younger sister Ah Wu’s marriage prospects. In his mind, Ah Wu was a celestial being, unmatched by anyone.

However, even celestial beings must marry. Based on Rong Yin’s observations, Gu Tingyi, in terms of family background, appearance, and talent, was barely a suitable match for Ah Wu. Therefore, he harbored a brotherly concern for his sister, and Lady Cui frequently instructed him to help Ah Wu scout out promising young men. Rong Yin was diligently doing so.

Rong Yin thought it best to let the two meet beforehand; if they clicked, everything would be easier.

This showed that Rong Yin’s thinking had long since broken free from the constraints of arranged marriages, displaying the style of a progressive youth, and he himself acted accordingly. However, simply getting to see Young Lady Tang was incredibly difficult.

This inevitably made Rong Yin feel sorry for Gu Tingyi. Seeing his impatient demeanor, could it be that he had already fallen for Ah Wu? In Rong Yin’s mind, it was certain that Gu Tingyi was in love with Ah Wu; it would be inconceivable if he was not.

Rong Yin’s train of thought even led him to consider that perhaps, on some unknown occasion, the second master of the Gu family had already met his younger sister, which was not impossible. Rong Yin began gossiping in his mind, imagining their first meeting. Was it like his first meeting with Tang Yin, his heart pounding like a deer’s? Then he wondered what Gu Tingyi was thinking, whether he, too, had lost his appetite.

At this moment, Rong Yin was deeply immersed in his fantasy, feeling that he and his brother Junji were both caught in the web of love, sharing a similar plight and a deep sense of kinship. Therefore, Rong Yin affectionately patted Gu Tingyi on the back.

Unbeknownst to Gu Tingyi, he had already been categorized as a close friend by Rong Yin.

In truth, Gu Tingyi was only thinking of his deceased sister; his body instinctively rose and moved with Rong Yin, his mind not following suit.

Until Gu Tingyi followed Rong Yin to the Linghua Gate of Taoguang Garden, the sound of a zither drifted out. Unlike the zheng, the zither’s music was deep, ancient, and serene, flowing gently from within. For some reason, Gu Tingyi felt that the music and the garden’s name, “Taoguang Garden,” were perfectly integrated, creating a unique atmosphere.

Rong Yin did not dare go any further. He knew his younger sister; once she started playing, she would not allow anyone to interrupt. Even the most important matters had to wait until she finished playing, though, in reality, nothing truly of great importance ever happened.

Since Rong Yin did not continue, Gu Tingyi stood with his hands behind his back.

The zither music flowed gently. Through the latticed, moon-shaped floral pattern in the pink wall, Gu Tingyi seemed to see everything, yet also seemed to see nothing at all. It seemed as if a woman was singing through the music, a mother’s longing for her daughter, a daughter’s tears for her mother, yet the reason for their separation remained unknown. Gu Tingyi did not know why he felt the zither music described the love between a mother and daughter. Perhaps romantic love was more tender, friendship more distant, and paternal love more rigid; only the love between a mother and daughter could compare—deep and profound.

For some reason, Gu Tingyi thought of Ah Wu again and of his mother’s longing for her. Ah Wu was her only daughter, cherished like a treasure since childhood, yet tragically died young.

The music paused, and it took a long time for the two people standing outside the door to come to their senses.

Rong Yin turned to look at Gu Tingyi, seeing him staring blankly at the three characters “Taoguang Garden” in black on a white background above the doorway. Knowing he too was moved by the music, Rong Yin exclaimed that Ah Wu’s zither skills had become increasingly remarkable. Even he, a martial artist only skilled in swordsmanship, felt something within him. It seemed her studies under the zither master He Chun-Shui in Jiangnan had yielded extraordinary progress.

Rong Yin cleared his throat, reminding Gu Tingyi.

Gu Tingyi snapped out of his reverie, somewhat embarrassed, and blurted out, “I wonder who wrote the three characters ‘Taoguang Garden’? The imagery is serene, the calligraphy exquisite, evoking a sense of a slender moon rising from the horizon.” He paused abruptly at the end.

Rong Yin, however, was a carefree person and did not sense anything amiss. Unlike Gu Tingyi, who was a pampered young master and practiced martial arts and served in the imperial court, Rong Yin had been exposed to calligraphy and literature since childhood. Rong Yin, raised by the Duke of Anguo, could only grasp military strategy; everything else was out of the question. He naturally did not understand the nuances of calligraphy, only able to roughly discern, “This is my younger sister’s practice piece.”

Gu Tingyi smiled. “You are too modest.”

Rong Yin led Gu Tingyi across the garden gate and along the covered walkway, loudly reminding Ah Wu, “Sixth Sister, I need to discuss something with you.”

After rounding a grove of bamboo, before Ah Wu could react, Rong Yin and Gu Tingyi appeared not far away. This was the downside of a small garden.

Ah Wu’s refined mood for playing the zither amidst chrysanthemums today stemmed from the fact that tomorrow was the Imperial Princess’s birthday, and she could not be there in person, only able to offer her blessings from afar.

When Gu Tingyi suddenly appeared before Ah Wu, she almost lost control, standing up and calling out, “Second Brother.” It was unclear whether she was calling Rong Yin or Gu Tingyi.

Rong Yin, naturally certain that Ah Wu was calling him, said, “Sixth Sister, let me introduce you. This is Second Master Gu from the Duke of Wei’s Mansion.”

Rong Yin turned around but did not see Gu Tingyi following him. Instead, he saw him standing blankly by the corridor pillar, staring intently at Ah Wu.

Rong Yin could not help but feel annoyed. He truly had not expected this Second Master Gu to be such a lecher. How could he look at another family’s woman like that? Bringing him along to appeal to her was already giving him a lot of face. He felt truly sorry for Ah Wu. Originally, Rong Yin had brought Gu Tingyi in because he saw how much Ah Wu cherished the ink dragon and feared he would not be able to persuade her, partly hoping he would ask her himself.

“Second Master Gu,” Rong Yin called out loudly.

Gu Tingyi, both embarrassed and ashamed, finally snapped out of his daze. He had not expected to be so captivated by a girl; even when faced with a peerless beauty like Consort Xiang, he remained unfazed. He never imagined he’d be so humiliated today.

“I…” Gu Tingyi was so embarrassed he did not know whether to advance or retreat.

Ah Wu, however, was protective of Gu Tingyi. Afraid that Rong Yin would anger him, she gave him a slight curtsy from afar and turned to him, saying, “Second Brother, what do you want to discuss with me?”

Rong Yin stepped in front of Ah Wu, blocking Gu Tingyi’s gaze, and whispered the whole story in her ear, adding, “Ah Wu, it was all my recklessness today. I should not have brought a man in. I will apologize to you another day. Look, he’s already here. He’s served with me in the Imperial Court, and he’s a commander, you see…” Rong Yin looked at Ah Wu with a shameless smile.

For Ah Wu, this was like a godsend. She had painstakingly cultivated this “Ink Dragon” chrysanthemum as a birthday gift for the Imperial Princess.

The Princess loved chrysanthemums above all others. While various famous varieties could be found in the Duke of Wei’s garden, Ah Wu, as a child, had racked her brains trying to cultivate a unique chrysanthemum for the Princess’s birthday. After trying many methods, she coincidentally grew a chrysanthemum with black streaks using specially made ink. She named it “Ink Dragon” and presented it to the Princess, and from then on, that flower became the Princess’s most cherished possession.

“Take it, but you will have to return something good.” Ah Wu and Rong Yin were never polite; they’d squeeze every last drop out. He was a seasoned traveler and an imperial guard and had seen and taken many fine things. Who else would she take advantage of if not him?

Rong Yin gave Ah Wu a playful bow, then turned and walked to Gu Tingyi, intentionally or unintentionally blocking Gu Tingyi’s view of Ah Wu. “Second Master Gu, my little sister has agreed. A servant will deliver it to your mansion later. Let’s go; did we not have a drinking appointment?”

Gu Tingyi, however unwilling, could only turn and follow Rong Yin.

Zi-Shan, who served Ah Wu, watched the two walk away before laughing, “Miss, I think this Second Master Gu seems to be infatuated with you.” Zi-Shan was used to joking around with Ah Wu, but before she could finish speaking, she saw her young mistress glaring at her with eyes as cold as stars. Startled, she quickly lowered her head.

“Put away the zither, and have someone take that potted black dragon to Second Brother’s servant outside,” Ah Wu said coldly.

The coldness was not directed at Zi-Shan, but rather because Ah Wu feared Zi-Shan, with her clearer perspective, might point out things she herself could not see. She never expected her second brother might… Ah Wu had always considered Gu Tingyi her own brother, never suspecting anything else. But now, Zi-Shan’s words had awakened her; she saw Gu Tingyi as her second brother, but he might not see her as the same Ah Wu.

Then, Ah Wu thought of Tang Yin, inwardly lamenting, “What a tangled mess.”

But Zi-Shan was absolutely right.

Gu Tingyi had no idea how he walked out of the Rong Mansion’s gates or how he mounted his horse. He recalled the enchanting zither music, the captivating figure, and the name “Taoguang Garden.” He thought, “No wonder it was called Taoguang Garden; such a person, if not for concealing their talents, would likely have been famous throughout the capital long ago.”

Gu Tingyi began to carefully ponder the details of that person. Her hair was styled in a simple bun, with braids adorned with delicate beads hanging down her chest. A single jade hairpin with a lotus-shaped dewdrop finial shone brightly in her bun, its brilliance captivating all who beheld her. Her eyes, clear as a spring reflecting stars, were so beautiful they took one’s breath away. Gu Tingyi doubted he had even clearly seen her face, yet he was certain it was exquisitely beautiful.

“Second Master Gu, be careful!” Rong Yin called out to Gu Tingyi from behind. Gu Tingyi, lost in thought, nearly fell off his horse when it encountered an obstacle. This was unthinkable for Gu Tingyi, a skilled horseman.

Now fully awake, Gu Tingyi realized he was already on Changyang Gate Street.

“Zhongju, just call me Junji. Why are you being so formal? I must thank your sister for the chrysanthemums today.” Gu Tingyi had regained his air of a noble young master.

Rong Yin replied, “Do not go telling anyone about my sister.” What could Ah Wu possibly have to do with anything? It was just that attractive face of hers.

Gu Tingyi quickly and solemnly replied, “Absolutely not.”

After riding for a while, Gu Tingyi paused his horse to ride alongside Rong Yin. “Your sister’s zither skills are superb. I wonder which renowned teacher she studied under?”

“Do not ask me,” Rong Yin replied, then silently observed Gu Tingyi for a long time, until he became embarrassed, before saying, “If you are interested, go home and tell your elders. You can ask them yourself later.”

These words made Gu Tingyi’s heart flutter with joy. His brother-in-law had spoken; how could he disobey? Gu Tingyi’s slightly dark face flushed red for the umpteenth time today.

Actually, although Rong Yin was annoyed with Gu Tingyi, he also felt quite understanding. Even he, as the older brother, sometimes stared at his sister in a daze. Gu Tingyi’s reaction was reasonable and not too bad; at least Rong Yin could see his feelings.

They had worked together for some time, and Gu Tingyi was extremely self-disciplined in matters of love and sex. Even when the younger members of the group teased and jeered, he never ventured into places of pleasure and remained indifferent to women. Rong Yin knew this.

Furthermore, the Imperial Princess was very strict with her children’s upbringing. In all the time they had known each other, Gu Tingyi, as the son of a Duke and the eldest son of the Princess, had always been composed, calm, and self-possessed. They had never seen him so out of control.

As they talked, they arrived outside the restaurant. Rong Yin dismounted and saw the person he had arranged to meet. “Brother Xiujin, you’ve arrived early.”