Dai Hanmi was about to play the guqin, and Minxian immediately had people prepare hot water for Dai Hanmi to wash her hands and burn incense, and then she took out the ancestral qin from Zhuangyong Marquis Residence and set it up.
Dai Hanmi took a deep breath, her delicate fingers gently plucked the strings, and a beautiful melody poured forth.
Yun Jinnian held the pastries and forgot to eat.
For someone Dai Hanmi’s age to play so well was truly rare.
After the piece ended, Dai Hanmi stood up with a smile. "How was it?"
"Good!" Yun Jinnian put the pastries on the plate and applauded.
"Sister Jinnian is the best!" Dai Hanmi ran over to Yun Jinnian’s side, hugging her arm. "Do you want to try?"
Yun Jinnian hesitated for a moment but, seeing her two sisters-in-law looking at her encouragingly, she said, "Okay, I’ll give it a try!"
After washing her hands and burning incense, she sat before the qin, Yun Jinnian pursed her lips and gently plucked a string, originally wanting to play something cheerful, but her heart had other ideas.
She played, and the melody was imbued with a profound melancholy and mournfulness.
The many secrets hidden in her heart could find no truth, pressing down on her so heavily she could hardly breathe.
And tears fell despite herself.
Seeing this, Dai Hanmi immediately became anxious and was about to speak when the Crown Princess, Mrs. Lu, pulled her back, shaking her head slightly.
After the piece ended, Yun Jinnian’s hands remained pressed on the strings for a long time, unable to recover her senses.
At the sound, Yun Jinnian looked up, her eyes filled with regret. "I was obsessed!"
Dai Hanmi handed her own handkerchief to Yun Jinnian, who accepted it and wiped the corners of her eyes. "I meant to play something cheerful, but my heart had other ideas!"
"It’s okay, crying it out is good, it doesn’t feel so stifling when you let it out!" Dai Hanmi consoled.
While listening to Yun Jinnian’s guqin, she herself had almost cried.
Yun Jinnian played very well, giving a sense of oppression that made it difficult to breathe and stirring up sympathy.
"Yes, don’t keep all your grievances inside!" Mrs. Qu also advised.
Yun Jinnian shook her head, "I’m fine now, thank you for the concern, sisters-in-law and Sister Hanmi!"
She did not play the qin again after that, focusing instead on the pastries.
After finishing the pastries, Yun Jinnian did not even eat lunch before bidding farewell and leaving.
After sending Yun Jinnian away, Dai Hanmi sighed, "Did I cause trouble?"
The Crown Princess shook her head, took Dai Hanmi’s hand, and said softly, "You didn’t cause trouble. It’s just that life is indeed not easy for her. Crying only means that she truly feels aggrieved, yet she doesn’t know whom to confide in, struggling alone. Befriend her and look after her more in the future!"
"She is really pitiable!"
Over the past seven or eight years, with not enough food, inadequate clothing, having parents that might as well be absent, and only a wet nurse by her side to protect her – she endured so much hardship.
It resulted in her current demeanor, as tranquil as water.
She never laughed out loud; every time it was a gentle, soft smile, seeming out of place yet deeply touching.
The Crown Princess smoothed Dai Hanmi’s hair, "Only through enduring the greatest hardships can one become superior to others. See how exceptional her medical skills are, how extraordinary her guqin ability – when she makes a name for herself in the future, she will feel it was all worth it!"
"Does Sister-in-law also think that Sister Jinnian plays the guqin well?"
"Mm-hmm!" nodded the Crown Princess.
Not just well – she and her sister-in-law were almost moved to tears by it.
Dai Hanmi was glad but also slightly disappointed, "After this, who knows when I’ll be able to hear Sister Jinnian play the guqin again!"
"She probably won’t easily touch the qin again in the future!"
Dai Hanmi was slightly startled, then she understood.
Heart overcoming will.
She wanted to play a cheerful tune, but the music followed her heart, shifting the melody just a few notes in.
Yun Jinnian likely wouldn’t touch the guqin again.