The ice zither was made using thousand-year-old ice, thus it would not melt even if placed under the bright sun on a Summer day. The strings were made of silk from an ice silkworm. Every time the strings vibrated, a cold fog would arise, and the people listening to the instrument would be covered in a layer of frost, causing them to step back.
Xuan Tian Ming told Feng Yu Heng: “Seventh brother’s ice zither was made five years ago. The structure of that zither is not of the same level of Qian Zhou’s thousand-year ice. instead, it is an ice essence from the center of the North Pole. There is only one piece like this in the world, and seventh brother got it.” While speaking, he looked toward Xuan Tian Hua, shrugging and smiling, “But he has never been willing to say how he managed to retrieve such a piece of ice.”
Feng Yu Heng became interested and looked up at Xuan Tian Hua, pleading for Xuan Tian Hua to tell about how he had come across the piece of ice. Xuan Tian Hua, however, just shook his head, only saying: “The origin is difficult. It’s fine if it isn’t mentioned.”
Xuan Tian Ming had guessed that this would be the outcome and did not seem to be particularly disappointed, saying: “Ever since this zither was brought back, seventh brother has only played it in front of others once. That one time it was played, everyone that was listening ended up covered in frost. After the song ended, a palace servant brought a brazier to warm the people up.”
Feng Yu Heng clicked her tongue upon hearing this, “How is that a zither. That’s clearly a weapon. The rumor of ancient people being able to kill people with a single sound, but it seems that seventh brother has this ability?”
Xuan Tian Hua only smiled faintly but did not reply. She, however, saw a look of acknowledgment in his smile. The admiration and curiosity in her heart could not help but be increased by a bit.
While they spoke, there were servants that brought a long wooden box into the yard. Feng Yu Heng noticed that they were not normal servants. Instead, they were experts from the Chun Palace. But even if they were experts like these, when they brought up the box covered in a layer of frost, their bodies still trembled.
It was not that they could not carry it. It was because it was cold. Although the icy aura coming from the ice zither would not spread, for a layer of frost to cover things in a small radius was normal. With the wooden box being frozen in ice, those people were effectively carrying a block of ice. The difficulty could be imagined.
Finally, the wooden box was placed on the wooden table, and Xuan Tian Ming took the initiative to splash it with wine. Feng Yu Heng leaned forward to bring her face closer to the wooden box. A strong cold force rushed over, causing her to shiver.
“Be careful.” Xuan Tian Hua reminded, “This ice essence is cold. If you’re caught off guard, you’ll be shocked.”
Feng Yu Heng, however, did not feel too cold. She even reached out to touch the box. Feeling it, she felt a cold enter her body, but it was very comfortable. “Very good.” She said, “It’s very comfortable.”
The two revealed a shocked expression with Xuan Tian Hua saying: “To be able to say that the cold coming from this ice zither is comfortable, you’re the first person aside from me.”
“Really?” Feng Yu Heng rejoiced. She then looked toward Xuan Tian Ming with a look of provocation.
Xuan Tian Ming smiled bitterly, “This girl will show off as soon as she is given any benefits. She has never known the word modesty.” While speaking, he went forward and pulled the little girl back a few steps then simply sat cross-legged on the ground.
Xuan Tian Hua also used inner strength to melt the frost on the box and open it. He then retrieved the ice zither from the box. No longer sitting at the table, he carried the zither and also sat on the ground. Placing the instrument on his knees, he looked at the two and faintly smiled. Moving his hands to the strings, a crisp sound rose, and a cold air filled the courtyard.
Xuan Tian Ming looked at Feng Yu Heng with a bit of concern to see if she could endure it or not. He, however, saw that the girl was staring straight at the zither. Not only did she not look uncomfortable, but she also moved a bit closer. She then reached out and took a deep breath, saying without concealing anything: “The cold is really comfortable.”
The two princes laughed loudly, saying that A-Heng was more astonishing than this ice zither.
For someone that had no knowledge of ancient songs, Feng Yu heng could not tell what sort of song Xuan Tian Hua was playing, but melodies were still the same. She could still tell whether something sounded good or not. Xuan Tian Hua’s zither was the best in the world. She had heard it before; however, listening to it on the ice zither brought it to a new height.
The ice zither’s reputation was well-deserved. Even Xuan Tian Ming and Feng Yu Heng had their hair covered in a layer of frost after a single song was completed. Even their eyelashes were frozen; however, this did not affect the actions of the two. There was also no sense of the cold penetrating their bodies. It was the ground covered in Autumn leaves that gradually became white. Autumn had become Winter, causing a mysterious change in seasons.
Xuan Tian Hua played the zither while Xuan Tian Ming and Feng Yu Heng drank wine. Gradually, Feng Yu Heng’s tipsiness surged forth. Without caring for Xuan Tian Hua’s melody she began to sing a song. This song caused the two princes to feel astonished, as they had never heard it before. Feng Yu Heng’s free and natural singing was not something that existed in this world. It could not be grasped or felt. Even for an expert at the zither like Xuan Tian Hua, it still required a large amount of time to barely manage to harmonize with her melody; however, without knowing it, this harmony created the most beautiful sound in the world.
“When will the moon be clear and bright, asking the dark sky with a cup of wine in my hand. In the heavens on this night, I wonder what season it would be…” She continued to sing until: “May all be blessed with longevity, so we may share the moon’s beauty though we are a thousand miles apart.”* The little girl’s voice became quieter and quieter. Xuan Tian Ming looked over. Very well, this girl had gotten drunk and was about to fall asleep.
Xuan Tian Hua wanted for her to remain awake, asking: “What lyrics are those? It’s really beautiful.”
Feng Yu Heng, however, was not foolish. Smiling, she said to them: “It was taught by my Persian master! I’m the only one that knows them.” After saying this, she tilted her head and fell asleep.
The sound of the zither stopped, and Xuan Tian Ming hugged the person that had fallen asleep in his lap; however, he heard Xuan Tian Hua say: “That Persian master that she speaks of will cause trouble sooner or later. I’ve gone to Persia. Where was there anything of that nature?”
Xuan Tian Ming sighed and said: “I’ve also considered this matter before. It’s just that there is no better way to resolve this for the time being. She has never talked about what happened to her. Although I am very clear that she is different from other people, I can only do my best to try and hide it from others.”
“I just fear that it will be used by someone with ulterior motives.” Xuan Tian Hua had a concerned look on his face, but there was nothing that he could do. He could only smile bitterly toward the person that had passed out from being drunk, saying sincerely: “I just hope that everything goes well.”
That night, the two remained in the Chun Palace. When Xuan Tian Ming carried her to a bed, he heard the little person in his embrace drowsily wake up and say: “I heard everything that you two said. Thank you.” Her eyes then drooped, and she fell asleep.
He really wanted to wake the person up and talk for awhile, but this girl had drunk the most wine. How could she possibly wake up so easily. He also could not fall asleep, thus he simply put her down then went to the wander around in the yard.
When he wandered over to the small bamboo forest in the palace, he found that Xuan Tian Hua was still there. The white moonlight shone on the green bamboo and upon the figure in white. Even Xuan Tian Ming had to admit that this scene was no different from a paradise.
The person in the forest saw him walk over and said with a smile: “It’s been a long time since I’ve gotten any exercise. Ming’er, accompany seventh brother for a few rounds.”
Of course, Xuan Tian Ming was happy to do so and immediately pulled out a flexible sword to face off against Xuan Tian Hua’s fan. Like this, they began to weave through the bamboo forest.
Xuan Tian Hua was most proficient in music, and he never used martial arts against others; however, there was nobody that suspected that he did not know martial arts at all. There was also nobody that believed that his martial arts would be weak. On the contrary, he was recognized in the world as a deity. There existed a feeling in their hearts that everything the seventh prince, Xuan Tian Hua, did was right. Everything that he did, he would be like a deity. If a deity said that he knew martial arts, how could this be fake despite it never being used.
And in this world, there was nobody that knew Xuan Tian Hua better than the ninth prince Xuan Tian Ming.
When experts exchanged blows, there would be times when they would not be physical blows. Instead, they would be with energy. The sword would not strike the fan, instead hitting an aura coming from the fan. A god of war in purple robes and a deity in white robes moved about. Even the moonlight lost a bit of its original luster.
Finally, the fight came to an end in a draw. Xuan Tian Ming sighed: “In this world, who would know that your Highness the seventh prince, Xuan Tian Hua, would actually be so proficient.”
Xuan Tian Hua replied: “In this world, who would know that your Highness the ninth prince, Xuan Tian Ming, would not be inferior to me.”
The two laughed loudly then gradually got closer to each other before standing together.
“Seventh brother, were there any happy encounters on your trip to the East?” Xuan Tian Ming leaned against some bamboo and asked him.
Xuan Tian Hua smiled bitterly, “There was no shortage of adventures. First, mother suddenly appeared from under my seat in my carriage. Then, Zi Rui and that little girl appeared in Fu Zhou. Say, don’t you think these are considered happy encounters?”
Xuan Tian Ming shook his head, “You know that I’m not asking about that.”
A silence suddenly came between the two. In the end, it was Xuan Tian Ming that spoke up, “Aside from her, I can give you anything else in this world, seventh brother.”
The person across from him frowned but said: “Ming’er, aside from her, I can ask for anything from you in this world. Only she is off-limits.” While speaking, he waved his hand with a look of a banished deity, “You know that normal matters will have a hard time slowing me down. Seventh brother will speak truthfully tonight. Even if it’s A-Heng, this balance cannot be disrupted. As for me, whether it’s you or A-Heng, or even if it’s father Emperor and imperial concubine mother, don’t make any requests of me. I will help you protect this country for half of my life. Once it’s stable, I will leave. The world is large. Without settling down in any one place, that is my fate.”
Xuan Tian Ming was naturally able to understand, and he was also able to understand what Xuan Tian Hua was asking for. This person should never be looked at from a normal perspective. His thoughts did not just encompass himself. Even for Xuan Tian Ming, there were times when he could not understand him.
“Go back and sleep.” Xuan Tian Hua quickly urged him, “Seventh brother will stay here alone for a while.”
The war god in purple robes left, leaving the deity in white robes to remain in the forest on his own. Just like when he had not yet come, there was one person, one forest and one moon. Who knew if the moon was illuminating the forest or if the person’s heart was yearning for the moon, but it felt as if it was all one entity. At the same time, they were also separate.
Xuan Tian Hua was destined to be a very unique existence.
At around noon the next day, a certain person finally woke up from their drunken sleep. They just felt a piercing headache, and they could not help but let out a yelp.
Her memory was foggy from drinking, and she called for Huang Quan to get some water to drink. Reaching out to the side with her hand, she bumped into a person.
She felt the eyes, nose and mouth then sniffed. Un, it was a familiar scent. Thus lifted the sheets and shouted: “Little Ming, go and fetch some tea for this imperial daughter.”
*TN: The song FYH sang is based on a poem from the Song dynasty.
Poem: http://people.chinesecio.com/en/article/2009-10/03/content_68674_2.htm
Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCREDfUEd3Y