Chapter 5: A Melody of Longing

  Yueto Huangcheng, one of the three major wine houses, has always been unparalleled in its position in the industry.

  Mǎn Xiāng Lóu is famous for its wine fragrance and is a favorite among wine enthusiasts.

  Zui Ke Ju, due to its mystery, makes people drunk, its status is not lower than Man Xiang Lou, but instead has a soaring trend.

  Pinzhai Garden is famous for its vegetarian dishes and is known by people from all countries.

  The three major wine houses, all the people who come and go are of high status and identity, none of whom spend less than hundreds or thousands, it's not a place that ordinary people can afford.

  However, the Drunken Guest House made an offer to those who were talented but penniless. Choose one of the four arts - zither, chess, calligraphy or painting; if you can defeat the master of any one of these arts at the Drunken Guest House, choose one of two conditions.

  Firstly, all food at Drunken Guest House can be eaten freely within a month without taking away.

  Secondly, you can immediately take away 50,000 taels of white silver.

  For some reason, those who emerged victorious from the challenges were few and far between.

  "Miss, do we really have to go in?" Huā ér pitifully pulled on Lěng Zǐ Yuè's sleeve. In her opinion, everyone entering and exiting the building was dressed luxuriously and nobly, but the two of them looked like beggars.

  What if I go in and get thrown out, how embarrassing!

  "More real than gold." Leng Ziyue's expression didn't change as she lifted her foot and walked inside.

  Hua Er had no choice but to follow along, pulling her head back, constantly telling herself that if anyone dared to be disrespectful to her family's young lady, she would fight them to the death.

  "Hey, what about you? Do you know where this is? And yet you dare to walk in." Wang Qiang, dressed as a young servant, had a white handkerchief draped over his shoulder, and with an air of superiority, blocked Cold Zhiyue's path.

  Immediately attracted the attention of passersby, and soon there were more people pointing and staring at Leng Ziyue. Looking at her outfit, she didn't look like a young lady from a wealthy family at all. How dare she enter Drunken Guest House? Wasn't that just asking for trouble?

  Her cold gaze fell on Wang Qiang's face, a glance and then left, the surrounding air suddenly rose with a thin chill. Leng Ziyue hated people who looked down on others the most, unfortunately this man had committed her taboo.

  Wang Qiang's body trembled, and he took a step back. He had never seen such a beautiful woman before, but her eyes were so cold, like a sharp knife piercing his heart. Her noble and extraordinary demeanor was not inferior to that of a high-ranking princess.

  But he was a man, yet he was intimidated by a woman's gaze, and his face couldn't bear it. Looking at the coarse cloth on Leng Ziyue's body, he said disdainfully: "Do you have money?"

  "How dare you speak like that, my mistress is loyal..." Huā ér was furious, her eyes wide open and staring at Wáng Qiáng, even though she was very afraid, she protected Lěng Zǐ Yuè in front of her.

  If it wasn't for Leng Xue'er holding her hand, Hua'er would have already said that the young lady from her house was the young lady of Zhong Jun Hou Fu, and that would probably cause trouble for the young lady. Hua'er patted her own head, how could she be so stupid, forgetting that she and the young lady had sneaked out secretly.

  "How can you not continue, I see what other lies you can tell?" Wang Qiang looked complacent, and the gaze he cast at the master and servant was increasingly disdainful, causing the people around them to look at the two with even more ridicule.

  The words in the crowd were getting more and more unbearable, Hua Er's small face was red with anger, tears welled up in her eyes, but Leng Ziyue's face remained expressionless, calm to the point where it seemed as if they weren't even talking about her.

  "What's going on?" The shopkeeper walked out in big strides, hearing the commotion at the door. From a distance, he noticed Leng Ziyue standing alone, exuding an air of detachment all over her body. Her elegant and noble demeanor couldn't be concealed by her coarse clothes.

  This woman is certainly no ordinary person.

  "I've heard that the Drunken Guest House has a challenge platform, may I request to be taught one or two things." Leng Ziyue didn't miss the shopkeeper's sizing her up, and similarly she felt that this shopkeeper was not ordinary. The Drunken Guest House seemed to be more interesting than she had imagined, just like the special mark on the stone pedestal at the entrance, which seemed to be foreshadowing something.

  "Miss, you're being too serious. I'm Huang Xing, the shopkeeper of Drunken Guest House. Please forgive me for not being strict enough in managing my staff, and for any offense caused." As he met Leng Zhiyue's gaze, Huang Xing quickly looked away, but those clear eyes seemed to have a magical power that probed into his secrets, causing his palms to sweat involuntarily.

  "Be polite." Leng Ziyue walked in, following the gesture of shopkeeper Huang Xing, with a calm expression. Hua'er followed closely behind her, giving Wang Qiang a resentful glare for his condescending attitude.

  "Which of the four arts does the young lady wish to challenge?" Huang Xing asked with a smile, as no one had been able to break through in the past three months, and he wondered if she would be the one to do so.

  There is both anticipation and tension in my heart.

  "Qin." After a cold word, Leng Ziyue lost interest in speaking again.

  Huang Xing's face stiffened, and this young lady was indeed cold enough. He immediately changed to a smiling face, pointing upstairs and saying: "Miss, please go upstairs, look at the topic, and play it out. As for winning or losing, the piano master will come forward to inform you."

  "Hua'er, let's go." Leng Ziyue's eyes twitched slightly. This little girl was really rustic; she didn't know what there was to see here, and it was enough to make her stare like that, almost drooling.

  She touched the corner of her mouth, and Hua'er's body was like a fallen leaf in the autumn wind, shaking slightly as she followed Leng Ziyue's footsteps with small running steps.

  "Miss, is there something wrong with this question?" Huang Xing had several black lines on his forehead and his back was numb. He didn't know what was wrong with the question, but he caught a glimpse of the cold-blooded killing intent that flashed in Leng Ziyue's eyes, which was so cold and absolute.

  "It's nothing." After saying that, Leng Xueyu walked to the piano and sat down. She had played many instruments, both modern and ancient, but her favorite was only the flute.

  Title: A Melody of Longing Memories. Requires a beautiful first encounter, sweet process, and a sorrowful ending.

  Her fingers lightly touched the strings, and Leng Xue's heart ached terribly, as if bleeding. She knew this was her physical body's feeling, so she let it end her tragic love with one song, and be reborn.

  The man who hurt her must be trampled under her feet and never get up again.

  The melodious sound of the guqin rose, with a faint hint of sorrow in its tune. The notes flowed one by one, like a narrative unfolding, as the clear and elegant voice echoed through the wine tower, transporting all who listened to a realm of enchantment, where they became utterly entranced and couldn't help but be drawn in.

  The New Year's Eve, the piano and drum play, the flower street lamp is like daylight.

  Joyful songs and laughter float up to the bow of the boat

  The hands you've held can't grasp eternity

  After the rain, one knows the green is fat and the red is thin.

  Wipe out longing's stains and tears with spring sleeves

  The boatman thought it was just the sorrow of parting

  The red bean you sent me has gone bad

  Unfortunately, no one ever told me

  The cold river accompanied by smoke and fire, the moon with stars as if it were yesterday

  But how can you leave me alone?

  If you remember me

  No need to feel ashamed for making promises that were too heavy at the time

  Separation and reunion are unpredictable, who is to blame?

  ……

  "This tune should only exist in heaven, how can it be heard a few times in the mortal world." Jing Chang Ke put down the wine cup in his hand, his fingers lightly tapping on the table, and he couldn't help but hum and sing the tune from just now, feeling that it was easy to recite, and he had never really heard it before.

  She raised her eyes and smiled lightly, "Elder Brother Changjian, is there such a beautiful and meaningful melody in the palace?"

  The song's gentle and elegant melody perfectly conveys the sorrow and sadness, and also brings out the proud and carefree temperament of the woman in the story. Listening to the soft singing, it's as if they have personally experienced that emotion, with each scene unfolding clearly before their eyes, unforgettable.

  "There isn't, this woman's piano skills are probably only comparable to Leng Ziyue's, haha." The man who spoke wore a long green robe, looking elegant and noble, his black hair tied up with a golden pin, exuding an aura of compelling elegance.

  Baili Changjian glanced at Zhang Xiao, who was still dazed and hadn't come to his senses yet, furrowed his brow, and spoke again: "Brother Zhang, isn't it that you know the person who shot the arrow?"

  Zhang Xiao shook his head, placing his hand on his chest, the pain was like a needle prick, almost making him breathless. He was about to say he didn't know her when he saw the familiar figure standing up from beside the piano, and suddenly stood up, knocking over the wine jug without realizing it, and said in a daze: "Yue'er..."

  Jing Chang Ke tilted her head to look, her expression was indifferent, her small face was pale but still couldn't hide her stunning beauty, if it wasn't Leng Zhi Yue then who else could it be.

  He had met this woman several times before, but today when he saw her, he felt that she was completely different. What exactly was different about her?

  Everyone in the Imperial City knows that Yue Cheng, Rong Zhiyue can't bear the shame of being divorced before marriage, and under a burst of anger, she jumped off the Zhuque Platform. From such a high place, it's good or bad that she's still alive.

  Will that arrogant princess let her off again?