Chapter 5

# Chapter 5

I studied the pipa with Concubine Su for three years.

One day, she set down the instrument and said she had nothing more to teach me.

“All I ever learned were common tunes played in streets and alleys. They are not refined enough for elegant company. If you truly want to master the pipa, you will need a properly trained teacher.”

I had heard that the Yu residence owned musical scores, but the study was an important place where young maids like us were not permitted to enter.

Dejected, I secretly began saving my silver and considered buying some scores to study on my own.

One day, while I was distracted by this problem, Qiuyi suddenly slapped me on the shoulder.

“Little Ah Ying, what are you doing? Why are you daydreaming?”

I shook my head and said it was nothing.

Qiuyi excitedly pulled me to my feet. “The Prince of Huai’an is here. Come with me and let us take a look at him for the Eldest Young Lady.”

The Prince of Huai’an was the Eldest Young Lady’s betrothed. Their engagement had been arranged years ago.

Only because the prince had spent three years mourning his mother had the matter been delayed until now, when he finally came to formally propose marriage.

We hid behind a screen and secretly watched for quite some time.

Qiuyi whispered incessantly in my ear.

She said that our future son-in-law was exceptionally handsome and noble. He was born into a princely house, had been granted his own fief, and enjoyed the emperor’s trust. His future prospects were limitless.

I remained silent.

The man beyond the screen was indeed blessed with a handsome face. In his jade crown and brocade robes, he spoke and laughed with gentle elegance.

Yet when his gaze swept across the gap in the screen, an inexplicable chill ran down my spine.

Beneath the smile in his eyes, there always seemed to be a dark shadow.

I did not think he was worthy of the Eldest Young Lady.

“You two have some nerve!”

A sudden rebuke sounded behind us, startling Qiuyi and me.

The Second Young Lady planted her hands on her hips and pointed at us furiously.

“I am going to tell Father that the two maids Eldest Sister trained have no manners. You hid here to eavesdrop and spy, so Father should punish her.”

Qiuyi hurriedly pulled me into pleading for mercy. Only after much coaxing did the Second Young Lady agree to spare us.

We dared not linger and rushed back to the courtyard.

Yet only a few days later, we heard that the marriage between the Eldest Young Lady and the Prince of Huai’an had been put on hold.

The Second Young Lady loved him too. She knelt before Master Yu and begged him to give her the marriage meant for her elder sister.

Her mother wept and struck her, saying she had lost her mind, but the Second Young Lady remained obstinate.

The scandal caused a great commotion. Fearing that the marriage would drive a wedge between the sisters, the Old Madam and the lady temporarily postponed it.

A younger sister coveting her elder sister’s match would bring disgrace if word spread.

For this, the Second Young Lady was punished according to family law and sent to a country estate that very night to reflect on her actions.

The sound of the punishment board carried far.

Blow after blow fell amid her mother’s wails, making the hair on every listener’s neck stand on end.

Concubine Su shook her head and sighed. “All this for a man. It is hardly worth it.”

I did not think it was worth it either.

I had heard that when the Second Young Lady stopped the Prince of Huai’an and confessed her feelings to him that day, he had not rejected her.

The Prince of Huai’an was unworthy of the Eldest Young Lady.

And he was unworthy of the Second Young Lady too.