Chapter three

Normal as usual, the North province hadn't seen the sun for almost a month and the sun hadn't graced its presence even during the time Xinyi woke up. 

But despite a gloomy day, the temperature was quite good enough to take a walk like Xinyi used to. 

"Is there any place where I and Miss Han can sit and have a conversation?" 

The moment the door to the hall was closed, Mrs. Zhong started a conversation. 

"There is. Grandfather's courtyard has a pavilion." It was a dry pavilion as it was nearly impossible to grow flowers and plants to make them beautiful like those she saw in the movies. 

Mrs.Zhong walked ahead while she silently followed along with two maids. It rather looks like Mrs.Zhong was the owner of this manor. She could hear the low whisper of complaint from the young maid which Old Mama grumbled under her breath to keep it silent. 

Pulling the hood up a bit, she saw a lady with salt and pepper hair colour pulled into a low bun. A bright pink dress was odd as older people prefer to wear dull and bold colours rather than wearing bright colours which is situated to the younger generation. 

When they reached the lone pavilion with the dragons carved on the pillar and the roof, it was still dull with no colour on the cravings. 

Wasn't there a colour they could just paint to make it more presentable? 

Xinyi glanced at the pillars whereby got darkened due to the smoke coming from the burning coals. Touching the pillar, she found black dust on her fingertips. 

Weren't there servants to clean this up? 

This manor truly needs a female to handle this as her real grandmother is no longer alive and she has a grandmother at the imperial city who is the concubine of her grandfather. 

How could Xinyi expect the war-driven males to know about maintaining a beautiful house be it in and out? Xinyu felt embarrassed to bring her shifu into this dry place. 

"Hope this doesn't dampen Mrs.Zhong's mood." 

"Hm Hm. It is okay as long as I am away from the hall." 

They both sat inside the pavilion. Neither two of them opened their mouth but sat in comfortable silence. There was a gentle wind blowing and Xinyu pulled her cloak closer to her body. 

"Mrs.Zhong. Eldest Miss. General asked us to bring some tea and snacks to accommodate your talks." Old Mama placed the teapot, tea cups and snacks on the table while the young maid was heating the charcoals placed inside a tall black tin. 

The cold wind blew inside the pavilion and blew the warm heat towards them. After pouring the tea, old Mama and the young maid stepped down the pavilion and stood in front of it, facing away from them. 

Under the hood, Xinyi saw Mrs.Zhong grabbing the warm tea and then followed by a gulping sound. For minutes, Mrs.Zhong glanced at the girl under the hood who sat straight and quiet. She rolled her eyes and sneered. 

"Eldest Miss Han." 

Xinyi raised her head and looked ahead to show that she was listening to her. 

"The Great General who is famous in the military world and a person whom I deeply respect sent a letter to me. It was a shock for someone whom I respect to know about a mere music teacher like me. He wanted me to teach his beloved granddaughter all the things I know about music and it would be a great disrespect for me to reject his request." 

Xinyi sat straight the whole time while Mrs.Zhong talked but she could hear hostility and unwillingness from that voice. 

Was she forced by my grandfather?

"But it is also my right to reject his request if I don't find you deemed to learn music. I won't waste my time teaching someone who doesn't have the ability for music embedded in their bones." 

Then there was complete silence except for the sound of teacup hitting the table from time to time. Xinyi knew Mrs. Zhong was waiting for her to open her mouth to give her reassurance verbally. Even Xinyi wouldn't want to waste her time teaching someone who doesn't have the skill to play an instrument like she did in her previous life. 

There were many requests sent to her to teach their children. But most of the time, she wasn't satisfied with any as most of them were forced by their parents rather than wanting to learn from their will. It was a headache to teach those kids. 

"Mrs.Zhong, I, Han Xinyi, am determined to learn and even your seconds won't feel like a waste by teaching me your knowledge." 

Xinyi is confident that she is capable of learning a new musical instrument as she indeed learned how to play three instruments in her previous life. 

"Hm. I like your reassurance but—" 

But? Xinyu could still feel her hesitancy again. Wasn't the verbal affirmation she gave made a small dent in concerns regarding her? 

"Miss Han is sixteen moons. At this age, most of the Misses had already learned all the ropes regarding how to perform in and out of their house. The misses start to learn how to play music at the age of six and age of ten, they start to learn all the virtues of a lady." 

So she is pointing out that Xinyi is too late to start learning. But Xinyi found it ridiculous as she learned how to play piano when she was nineteen. Moreover, most people find their passion late in their age but are still able to play decent music. 

"Xinyi would have to go against your belief here and I apologize for that…But wanting to learn a new thing is never too late regardless of age. My grandfather left his home when he was seventeen to join the battlefield and yet he stood in front of all the males and outperformed them despite being in the military for three years while most of his companions had been learning how to fight at the age of six or came from the reputable military families.

I believe that it is not age or background which stops you from learning but your passion and determination which will push you further." 

She heard a snort ahead of hers. Xinyi found that Mrs.Zhong didn't want to teach her and was trying to find multiple reasons to reject her without disrespecting her grandfather and unknowingly putting the blame on Xinyi. 

"Is Miss Han saying that the notion of teaching children at a young age is ridiculous? Or are you looking down on the people who have been learning how to play music from the age of five? 

Most excellent musicians in history and present have been learning how to play music when they were five moons and this outperforms the ones who started at a late age by performing in royal palaces. Because they grew up with music in their bones." 

Xinyu scoffed mentally and wanted to just stand up and then leave this place. Mrs.Zhong was trying her hardest for Xinyi to leave her determination to learn so she could pull Xinyi to her side when they talked with her grandfather whereby it would be Xinyi rejecting her rather than the other way. 

"In the imperial city, this shifu got many talented misses who won prizes from the royal family while playing in the royal banquets. Those are the ones whom I taught when they were—" 

"Hope I am not disturbing the conversation but Miss, it is already your time to meet the physician." Old Mama while standing found her blood boiling hearing Mrs. Zhong's words. Her miss for the first time requested the great general for something and she saw the new door for both of them to form good family bonds. 

For years, she felt like this granddaughter and grandfather would act like a stranger in their own house. She saw a great general trying his best but Miss Han always took one step back and somehow something prevented her from acting like a normal family. 

But this outsider might worsen the tiny relationship they have. Xinyi let out a small breath of relief and stood up. 

"Xinyi apologizes to Mrs.Zhong for leaving early." she bowed her head a bit and old Mama held her hand to help her get down the stairs. The young maid stayed behind for Mrs.Zhong. 

While holding her head high and back straight, she walked away. Xinyi doesn't want Mrs.Zhong to see that her words affected her. 

When they were at a good distance, Xinyi suddenly stopped and turned her head towards Old Mama. 

"Xinyi appreciate Old Mama for your help earlier."

Old Mama's eyes widened and then smiled slowly while watching Xinyi walking ahead of hers to the way out of the courtyard. 

Xinyi breathed out loudly when she was alone to show her annoyance and felt vexed at someone who was old enough to be a mother, looking down due to her age. She is just sixteen. 

Oh, in the ancient period, most females get married at the fifteen or sixteen. But shouldn't her grandfather already be looking for a suitable husband for her now or has he already done it? 

The sudden question made Xinyi stop walking and frown in confusion. Was this grandfather's ploy? 

I will ask him when we meet for dinner.

Before she could take a step forward, a silver pendant with a round red ruby embedded in it fell in front of her. She picked it up and looked around. 

Such a simple design. 

"Will this Miss pass me that pendant? As this is very important to me."

A man stepped out from the back of the building and stood in front of her. She held the pendant out and placed it on the outstretched hand. 

He was wearing a silver bracelet and judging based on the corrosion on the edges of the bracelet, it looked quite old. 

So he likes sliver.

"Thank you." 

Xinyi gave a bow and walked away. 

While Xinyi's body was getting further, the boy stood still where he was earlier and watched her walk away with unreadable eyes. 

"I think I have seen you before. But where?" He tapped his finger slowly on the chin and thought where he had seen this face. 

His eyes brightened suddenly and a smile broke out from the youthful face upon realization. 

"I couldn't believe I would see this similar face again. Interesting. The world is truly interesting." 

He chuckled and was about to turn his step when a guard stood in front of him and bowed. 

"A messenger came from the palace and the king wants Your Highness to come back as fast as the prince could." 

The prince smirked and hummed. 

"The Emperor couldn't even wait a bit. I wanted to have a tour of this province but—" he threw the pendant up in the air and caught it. As he walked, he did it again and again while thinking about the anxious face. He stopped and smiled at the confused guard. "Someone doesn't have the patience." 

The guard was confused and nodded stiffly. The prince smiled and walked again while whistling happily.