Chapter 10: The Melody He Taught

"Good intentions?" Shen Yuan couldn't help but laugh aloud.

Did Madam Chen really believe that because she knew how to play the zither in her childhood, she had somehow maintained that skill all these years? And as for the "introduction" Shen Wanning kept harping on about—parading her before the crowd like an object—was that truly a kindness, or was it a humiliation?

"Mother, do you also believe I am capable of playing the zither?" Shen Yuan asked softly.

Madam Chen hesitated, clearly sensing something was amiss. But Wanning’s words had already been spoken; how could she possibly take them back? She could not bear to see Wanning apologize to the guests.

"A-Yuan, you have always been clever. Even if you haven't touched a string in a long time, you must surely remember! You know that Wanning is betrothed to Commander Pei; if we force her to apologize, wouldn't that damage his reputation?"

The scale in Madam Chen’s heart tipped toward Shen Wanning, as it always did.

Shen Yuan had expected as much. A faint, indifferent smile curled her lips. "Mother and Sister Wanning are of one mind, it seems. You guessed correctly. I know a thing or two about the zither. If everyone doesn't mind, I can offer a small performance."

She rose gracefully, calm and composed, and walked toward the Shuiyun Stage. The servants quickly prepared the zither. Shen Wanning watched from below, her eyes clouded with suspicion and disbelief. How could Shen Yuan truly know how to play? Where could she have learned? No, perhaps Shen Yuan was merely putting on a brave front!

At the men’s tables, wine was flowing and cups were being exchanged. Pei Ji sat quietly, his gaze fixed on the stage. The woman’s waist was slender, her figure as delicate as a willow in early spring, barely a handful. A haze of wine clouded his eyes. He vaguely recalled a night behind soft, fragrant red curtains, amidst the flickering candlelight, those peach-blossom eyes glistening with tears.

On the Shuiyun Stage, Shen Yuan wore a thin veil. Her slender, white fingers gracefully plucked the strings, and a melodious tune danced into the air. The melody was gentle and firm, clear as celestial music, like pearls falling onto a jade plate.

Shen Wanning’s hands, hidden in her sleeves, clenched into fists. She had miscalculated. She had intended to make a fool of Shen Yuan in front of everyone. She never expected that Shen Yuan not only knew how to play but possessed such skill—even surpassing the governess who had taught Shen Wanning herself! How could someone so lowly be so fortunate? Seeing the people around her listening in rapt silence, Shen Wanning felt a surge of jealousy, yet she forced a smile onto her face.

On the stage, Shen Yuan lowered her eyes, the intertwining notes stirring memories of so many lonely years. The music shifted from soft and winding to high and impassioned, until the deep, resonant echoes gradually faded into a solitary, lingering final note.

As the song ended, Shen Yuan rose to bow. Her figure retreated into the dim light. Pei Ji tapped his fingers against the edge of his table, his brow furrowing slightly, his expression darkening as her silhouette vanished. If he remembered correctly, this piece was one he had taught her himself. That year, the greenery was lush, the evening glow rested under the eaves, and two distant souls had come together for the very first time.

When Shen Yuan returned to her seat, Shen Wanning wore a sweet, overly enthusiastic smile, unable to stop herself from showing off to the guests. "I never expected Sister Yuan’s zither skills to be so impressive! I thought that because her life had been so bitter, she hadn't touched an instrument in years. It seems my sister is truly remarkable to have mastered such a craft!"

The moment these words were spoken, the women at the table understood the implication. Shen Yuan had drifted outside for years; she was beautiful, but in the midst of struggling for basic survival, where would she have found the opportunity to learn such a refined skill? Thinking it over, they wondered—could she have been sold into a brothel? Zhang Yanran and Liu Jiaojiao covered their faces to hide their mocking laughter, and Madam Chen and Madam Wang looked visibly uncomfortable.

Shen Yuan understood the malice hidden in Shen Wanning’s words. She lifted her eyes, her gaze as cold and sharp as snow, making the younger girl feel inexplicably guilty.

"Sister Wanning seems to know every detail of my life. Have you been secretly watching me?"

"How could I possibly watch you, sister? Please, do not speak such nonsense."

"You are right. I could barely afford my next meal, so I certainly had no qualifications to learn such a craft." Shen Yuan leaned in slightly, her eyes lowered, fixing on Wanning’s pale face with a subtle expression. "Did you not hear a hint of familiarity in my playing?"

Shen Wanning was stunned. She had never heard Shen Yuan play before; how could she find