"ShuangAi, can you play the guzheng?"
"Guzheng? Yes, I can... Why?"
"Wonderful! Then I need your help. Please teach me how to play it!"
ShuangAi still found it hard to believe that Hua MuTan was asking her to teach her how to play the guzheng. In the past, Hua MuTan had grown up like a princess and was exceptionally talented at playing the instrument.
Could her amnesia have made her forget her abilities, too? What a pity...
"Of course, MuTan Jie. I'll be happy to teach you."
"Wonderful! Thank you, ShuangAi!"
TanTan was delighted, but she was still worried and upset about what had just happened.
How could he agree to something like that without asking for my opinion first?!
"Would you like to start practising today?"
"Yes! But first, there's something I need to discuss with your beloved brother!"
TanTan immediately headed back to Prince Li's room. ShuangAi followed her, having noticed the displeased expression on TanTan's face.
This doesn't look good...
Meanwhile, after TanTan had escorted Prince FengEr out, ManQi entered the room to report on the dagger.
"So she is still keeping it..." Prince Li frowned. "Take the dagger secretly to the government office later and keep it somewhere safe. I don't want another accident to happen."
Besides, it's dangerous to let Hua MuTan keep a poisoned dagger.
Although he knew that FangFang's accident had not been intentional, Prince Li still couldn't bring himself to trust Hua MuTan so easily.
"Understood, Master. But what if she discovers that it's missing?"
"I'll deal with that later."
Just then, TanTan barged into the room. She looked furious, and Prince Li seemed to know exactly what she wanted to discuss. He simply took a sip of tea and ignored her.
TanTan slammed her hand against the table, even more annoyed by how calmly he was behaving.
"Why did you agree to the performance so easily?!"
ShuangAi stood near the doorway, wondering whether she should intervene and stop their argument. In the end, she decided to listen first and find out what had happened.
"How could I refuse? You heard it yourself. It's your beloved Queen Grandmother's wish."
"So what?! You should have asked for my opinion first! You know I've forgotten everything. I don't even remember how to play the guzheng! How am I supposed to perform later? And with you, of all people?!"
Performance? Queen Grandmother? Oh, so that's why MuTan Jie asked me to teach her the guzheng...
ShuangAi was beginning to understand the situation.
Meanwhile, Prince Li stared sharply at TanTan.
Has she really forgotten how to play the guzheng? Wasn't she always so proud of her musical talent? Besides, this isn't something we can simply refuse. She should know that. Didn't she always use Queen Grandmother's wishes to force me into doing things I didn't want to do?
"Do you think I want to perform with you, Hua MuTan? I don't! But whether you can play or not doesn't matter. You still have to take part in the performance. It's an order!" Prince Li replied coldly.
"You...!"
TanTan couldn't believe what she was hearing. This man was simply forcing her to do something without considering her opinion at all!
"So you don't care if we give a terrible performance in front of Queen Grandmother and end up getting punished?"
Prince Li smirked.
"Oh, of course I care. But in her eyes, my reputation is already terrible, thanks to you. Why should I worry about making it worse? I'm already used to being punished. But you..." He looked at her meaningfully. "I wonder what punishment Queen Grandmother will give her beloved granddaughter. Well, I don't mind if you want to run away from this order."
What?! Me? Lang TanTan? Run away?
TanTan felt that she had no choice but to accept the challenge.
"Fine! I'm not afraid! I'll do whatever I can. Just don't blame me if we both get punished for embarrassing Queen Grandmother later! Come on, ShuangAi Mei! I want to start practising the guzheng right now!"
TanTan stormed out of the room.
After watching her leave, ShuangAi suddenly chuckled. Her reaction confused Prince Li, who was still frowning.
"Why are you laughing, ShuangMei?"
"Nothing... I just find it amusing. Usually, MuTan Jie is the one who forces you to do things with her. But this time, it's you, Li Ge, who's forcing her to do something with you. How unusual!"
From outside the room, TanTan realised that ShuangAi wasn't following her. Still annoyed, she called out loudly.
"ShuangAi Mei! Come on! We can't waste any more time!"
"I'm coming, MuTan Jie!" ShuangAi answered.
Before leaving, she turned back to Prince Li.
"Don't worry about FangFang. I've already examined her, and she's fine. Now, please excuse me. I think I have to become your wife's guzheng teacher!"
ShuangAi smiled teasingly at him before leaving the room.
Prince Li was momentarily startled by her words.
This is nothing more than obeying Queen Grandmother's wish...
He decided not to waste any more time thinking about the performance. Turning to ManQi, who had remained silent while waiting for his next order, he spoke.
"ManQi, find out why Minister Hua is in town. His appearance on the night of the assassination was too much of a coincidence."
"Understood, Master."
ManQi left to carry out his order.
After he was gone, Prince Li suddenly felt tired, yet strangely refreshed. The pain in his chest had disappeared. He touched his chest, wondering about the change.
Has the poison disappeared on its own?
He shook his head.
Impossible... Perhaps I just need some fresh air.
He decided to take a walk and check on FangFang while he was at it.
The following day, in another part of Li Mansion, XiaoRue brought Hua MuTan's guzheng out of storage and placed it in front of TanTan.
They were in the inner garden, where a small pavilion stood. It was usually where Hua MuTan practised the guzheng.
TanTan was waiting for ShuangAi, who had gone home to fetch her own instrument. They hadn't been able to begin practising the previous day because there was only one guzheng in the mansion.
"Xiao Jie, it's been such a long time since XiaoRue last heard you play. I miss it so much! Your performance at the palace last year was so beautiful. Everyone was amazed by your playing!"
XiaoRue gently blew the dust off the guzheng, revealing just how long it had been since Hua MuTan last touched it.
"I'm afraid I don't remember how to play anymore, XiaoRue."
TanTan stared at the instrument in front of her. Somehow, looking at the antique guzheng made her feel strangely attached to it.
She reached out and gently plucked a few strings, trying to imitate the way she had seen people play in Chinese dramas.
The moment the strings sounded, something stirred deep inside her mind.
A memory suddenly flashed before her eyes.
She saw a little girl, Hua MuTan, sitting beside a beautiful woman who was playing the very same guzheng.
"Mommy, I want to play it..."
The woman smiled gently at the little girl she called TanEr. Her warm smile made TanTan's heart feel strangely comforted.
"Of course, TanEr. Come and sit here. Let Mommy teach you."
The woman took little Hua MuTan's hands and guided them across the strings, patiently explaining each movement.
"Your left hand should be placed here, and your right hand should move like this..."
Before long, the two of them were playing together.
Not long afterwards, a man in military uniform approached them. From his appearance, he seemed to be a general.
"I thought I heard angels playing music from heaven. It turns out it's my wife and daughter!"
"Husband, you're home!"
"Daddy!"
"How is my TanEr? Have you been behaving well and listening to your mother?"
The man lifted little Hua MuTan into his arms.
"I'm learning to play the guzheng with Mommy!"
"My TanEr is so clever!"
He kissed her cheek affectionately.
"Is everything all right, Husband?" The woman approached him, but there was a hint of worry on her face.
"I'm afraid your suspicion may be correct. But we must be careful. After the next battle, I'll find a way to report this matter to the King."
"Just... please be careful, Husband."
"Xiao Jie..."
"Xiao Jie? Xiao Jie!"
TanTan suddenly returned to reality.
She realised that she had just witnessed a childhood memory of Hua MuTan with her parents.
What were her parents talking about? Did that happen before their deaths? Could it mean that their deaths weren't simply an accident?
"Are you all right, Xiao Jie?" XiaoRue asked worriedly. TanTan hadn't responded when she called her earlier.
"Yes, I'm fine..."
TanTan looked at the guzheng again.
It seems this instrument can trigger Hua MuTan's memories. I wonder if I'll recover more of them if I keep playing.
"Xiao Jie, Miss ShuangAi is here."
XiaoRue hurried over to help ShuangAi bring in her guzheng.
"I'm sorry to have kept you waiting, MuTan Jie."
"It's all right, ShuangAi Mei. I'm the one troubling you by asking you to teach me."
"No, MuTan Jie. Actually, I feel a little embarrassed to be teaching you. You may not remember this, but you're known as one of the best guzheng players in the city. Everyone knows how much Queen Grandmother loves listening to your performances."
Wow, Hua MuTan. You're putting a lot of pressure on me here!
"I wish I could remember how to play," TanTan sighed.
"I'm sure you can, MuTan Jie. Let's find out together."
ShuangAi began by explaining the basics of playing the guzheng. Surprisingly, everything she said felt familiar to TanTan. She had no difficulty understanding the instructions.
It was strange, considering that TanTan had never had any musical talent in her own life.
She remembered when she was a child and her elementary school had held a group performance. She had been unable to play her melodica in harmony with the others. In the end, her performance had become a laughingstock for the audience.
It certainly wasn't a pleasant memory.
"Now, I think you're ready to try a song. Let me play it first, and then you can follow along, MuTan Jie."
"All right."
TanTan watched as ShuangAi played the guzheng smoothly. The melody sounded familiar to her, and before she knew it, she began playing along.
As she concentrated on the music, more memories flashed through her mind.
This time, she learned more about Hua MuTan's past.
The guzheng had been passed down to Hua MuTan by her mother, Princess Li ShuiXian. The memory she had just seen was also the last time Hua MuTan had spent with both her parents.
TanTan began to suspect that their deaths might have been connected to whatever General Hua had wanted to report to the King.
Before losing her parents, Hua MuTan had actually enjoyed a happy and ordinary childhood. But after their deaths, she had become terribly lonely. Madam Hua, who loved her dearly, had spoiled her, perhaps hoping to make up for the loss.
Hua MuTan often expressed her loneliness through music, pouring her emotions into the guzheng.
TanTan saw flashes of her playing the instrument with deep sadness, as though every melody carried the feelings she couldn't express in words.
Without realising it, TanTan began playing a different melody.
ShuangAi and XiaoRue were both surprised. They fell silent, watching TanTan's fingers move across the strings.
The melody led TanTan into another memory.
This time, she witnessed the moment Hua MuTan first met Prince Li.
It had happened in a pavilion at the palace. Hua MuTan was playing the guzheng when Prince Li suddenly appeared, causing her to stop.
"Please... continue. I was just passing by and wondered who was playing such a beautiful yet sorrowful melody."
But Hua MuTan wasn't in the mood to continue.
"Is there anything I can help you with, Qi WangGe?" she asked, studying him.
"So you know who I am? I'm sorry to have disturbed you."
"It's fine. But why did you say my playing was sorrowful? Surely you could hear that I was playing a cheerful melody?"
"I could hear sadness in the music. It sounded as though you felt trapped in such a beautiful world."
Prince Li's words had touched upon exactly what Hua MuTan was feeling. However, her pride wouldn't allow her to admit it.
"No... I'm not! I'm Hua MuTan. Why would I feel trapped?"
Prince Li narrowed his eyes, as if thinking, So this is the famous arrogant Hua MuTan.
Nevertheless, he responded politely.
"Well, in that case, please forgive me for misinterpreting your music."
Just then, someone approached them. It was Prince FengEr.
"I was wondering what had kept you so long. Now I see... you've met MuTan Mei, Wei Di."
"San WangGe," Hua MuTan greeted him politely.
"Has he been mesmerised by your guzheng as well, MuTan Mei? You know, Wei Di, even Queen Grandmother has praised her playing."
"San WangGe praises MuTan too much."
Hua MuTan made no attempt to appear modest. She was clearly pleased by the compliment.
TanTan could see that Hua MuTan treated the two princes differently. She seemed to respect Prince FengEr much more than Prince Li.
Perhaps it's because Prince Li is known as the weakest prince among them all?
"Why don't you show us your playing too, Wei Di? MuTan Mei, you should listen to his flute. I'm sure the two of you would sound wonderful together."
"I don't think MuTan Mei would want to play with me."
"That's not true. What San WangGe said has made me curious to hear your music, too."
Prince Li had no reason to refuse, so he took out his flute and began playing.
To Hua MuTan's surprise, he played the very same melody she had been performing. She immediately joined in, matching her playing to his.
The two instruments blended together beautifully.
As they continued playing, Hua MuTan gradually became lost in the music. For the first time, she truly enjoyed making music with someone else.
TanTan could see it clearly.
That was the moment Hua MuTan fell in love with Prince Li.
And what was even stranger was that TanTan could actually feel the happiness Hua MuTan had experienced.
Then the memory faded.
When the performance ended, XiaoRue couldn't stop clapping enthusiastically.
"Xiao Jie... that was so beautiful!"
ShuangAi nodded happily in agreement.
"She's right, MuTan Jie. It seems you haven't forgotten your skills at all!"
But TanTan didn't hear their praise. She was frozen, staring at her own hands.
She was surprised by what she had just done. The emotions she had experienced during the memory had felt so real.
Just then, FangFang approached, accompanied by Prince Li.
"Wow, YangMu! Your playing is so beautiful! Isn't it, YiFu?"
"Yes... it's beautiful."
Prince Li's praise was insincere. He was still suspicious of Hua MuTan.
So she can still play just as well as before. Doesn't that mean she hasn't really lost her memories? What a deceitful woman!
TanTan was startled to see Prince Li, especially after the memory she had just experienced.
And then, to her surprise, she suddenly felt embarrassed by his praise.
But another feeling soon overwhelmed her.
Fear.
Lately, whenever she was drawn into Hua MuTan's memories, she could feel the emotions Hua MuTan had experienced: her sadness, her anger, and even her feelings for Prince Li.
If this continued, would she eventually lose herself?
No... I'm Lang TanTan. These feelings aren't real. They're someone else's feelings, not mine!