Chapter 103: Meeting Again (2)
Before the night came, Yinyin always chatted with Xiuying. Most of the time, Xiuying did the talking while Yinyin listened quietly. When Yinyin was talking, Xiuying didn't dare to ask too many questions for fear of touching Yinyin's pain. In this way, time passed very quickly, compared to when she was alone.
Night fell. Xiuying stayed behind, so she attended the banquet with Yinyin. The banquet was just a common meal in the general's mansion, but it was more grand than a common meal because the participants were not only from the general's mansion...
"On behalf of the State of Zhao, I sincerely welcome your arrival, Princess. I am Zhao Ziyin, the general of the State of Zhao."
"Thank you very much. I am honored by the General's hospitality."
At the banquet, Zhao Ziyan greeted Yin Yin politely and respectfully, and Yin Yin responded politely.
"I was busy with official duties a few days ago and was negligent. I hope the princess will forgive me."
"No, the general is so gracious to entertain me even though he is busy with all kinds of affairs. I should be grateful."
"You are the princess of the Great Zhou, so it is natural for me to treat you with great hospitality. I, the King of Zhao, was supposed to entertain you personally, but he had too many things to do, so he specially ordered me to entertain you. I hope you will not mind."
"General, you are too kind. I am not here as an envoy of the Zhou Kingdom. I am here purely on my own initiative. I am honored to receive such hospitality from you. How dare I trouble your emperor?"
The two of them interacted with each other, and both behaved very rationally. This was the first time Zhao Ziyin saw Yinyin up close, and also the first time he saw her carefully. Zhao Ziyin admired her character, appearance, and etiquette. Moreover, because he was an insider, his liking for Yinyin naturally doubled.
"I hope your Highness will not be surprised. Let me introduce you. This is Wang Ye, the strategist of the Great Zhou Dynasty."
The polite words stopped here, and Zhao Ziyu introduced Wang Ye who was beside him to Yin Yin. He knew that Yin Yin and Wang Ye knew each other, but due to the occasion and position, he still needed to introduce them.
"Hello, it's my honor to meet you, Princess."
"Hello!"
Zhao Ziyan was not the only one who was restricted by the occasion and position. Yinyin and Wang Ye both knew very well that greetings were just superficial courtesy.
"Then please take your seat, my lord."
"Um."
The dinner was extremely simple yet polite, with an endless stream of programs. Zhao Ziyin fulfilled his duties as a host and introduced Zhao Guo to Yinyin at the banquet. He said just the right amount of words, not too much or too little. Compared with the banquets she had attended before, Yinyin did not feel bored. Although it was the first time she met Zhao Ziyin, they had a good conversation. Also because of Wang Ye, there were only three of them at the whole banquet but they still enjoyed themselves.
After the banquet, it was time to go to bed, but Yinyin was not sleepy. The conversation with Zhao Ziyin and the meeting with Wang Ye made her feel particularly happy. She was still energetic and looked at the night scenery outside the small courtyard where she lived late at night. Of course, she was not just looking at the night scenery...
"Princess, it's getting late. The night is cold and the dew is heavy. Although summer is approaching, the princess is always weak. You should rest early."
It's good to see that Yinyin is fine, but Xiuying still can't help but worry if she thinks more deeply.
"I'm not sleepy yet. If you're tired, go and rest first. You don't have to stay here with me."
Yinyin responded to Xiuying indifferently. She herself didn't know why she was so energetic tonight. She didn't feel sleepy at all. Instead, she felt full of energy and her mind was very clear.
“How can this be possible?”
Xiuying was very helpless, but no matter what she said, Yinyin remained unmoved. She could rest anytime she wanted, but she was worried about Yinyin. If Yinyin didn't go to bed, she wouldn't be at peace. After persuading her for so long without any effect, she had to give up staying by her side.
Suddenly, a sound of piano rang out in the quiet night. The familiar tone made Yinyin react quickly...
"This is? "
"It's Qinyin."
"I know. I wanted to say that this tone is so familiar."
"Well?"
Yinyin is very familiar with this tone, but it seems a little strange when she listens carefully? Seeing Yinyin's serious expression, Xiuying was a little surprised, but it was just an ordinary piano sound. Would Yinyin's reaction be unnatural? Although she said it was familiar, Xiuying didn't feel anything.
Just when Xiuying was curious about Yinyin's reaction, Yinyin had already taken a step forward...
"Hey! Princess, where are you going?"
Seeing Yinyin walking away, Xiuying hurriedly followed. Yinyin did not answer, but followed the sound of the piano to find the source; Yinyin was attracted by the sound of the piano that sounded in the general's mansion late at night. Yinyin, who knew music, understood that the sound of the piano in her ears carried desolation, sadness, longing and resentment, and a feeling of love and hate intertwined. Therefore, Yinyin was very curious about who was playing the piano, and she had already confirmed that the familiar tune was not played by that person, which deepened Yinyin's desire to explore.
Following the sound of the piano, they turned many corners and slowly approached the source of the sound. Fortunately, it was the middle of the night and there was no one on the road. Xiuying followed Yinyin closely and came to Qingyuan Pavilion, where the sound of the piano came from. Yinyin did not go in to disturb them, but stopped not far from Qingyuan Pavilion, quietly listening to the meaning of the song and was unconsciously infected. Xiuying knew that Yinyin was listening to the piano so she did not dare to disturb her.
