Spring in the Hall of Paintings - Chapter 18

The young girl and boy unexpectedly met, gazing intently at each other. The bustling street, filled with a steady stream of pedestrians, became merely a backdrop. Yun Lan’s heart raced, as if she and the person across from her, Yinzhen, were the only ones in color in this world.

“Fourth Brother, it’s rare to see you.”

The soft voice of the girl reached their ears, causing Yun Lan’s face to flush even more. The young man shifted his gaze, pressing his lips together to conceal his embarrassment. He was an ordinary person, after all, easily captivated by the radiant girl. Her eyes, like autumn waters, resembled a flowing stream and a gentle breeze, casting a silhouette in his heart.

Yun Lan slightly restrained her shyness, her fair face breaking into a smile as bright as the sun. Her eyes were filled with a confidence and pride that few young ladies possessed, her voice clear and pleasant: “Have you finally decided to change back into women’s clothing?”

Graceful and poised, with a charming elegance that did not lack the delicate beauty of Jiangnan, Yun Lan was captivating at this moment. The girl couldn’t help but exclaim, “You’re really beautiful.”

Yun Lan was momentarily taken aback. She glanced at the young girl and modestly replied, “Little girl, you look great in a qipao too.”

“My name is Lan Lin’er. Which family are you from?” The girl initiated the conversation. Yun Lan replied softly but clearly, “Tongjia… Tongjiashi.”

Yun Lan knew that Yinzhen was a man who valued rules. Introducing herself by name upon first meeting would lower his regard for her. She only told him her surname, leaving the rest for him to investigate. Yun Lan did not believe that the Fourth Prince had no hidden power. Using the surname Tongjiashi, she wanted to test his reaction. If he was indeed Yinzhen, he would not be indifferent upon hearing a surname that matched his adoptive mother, Empress Tong.

Sure enough, the young man paused for a moment, even if it was just a brief moment. Yun Lan saw this clearly, confirming that he was indeed Yinzhen.

“The Tongjiashi of the Bordered Yellow Banner? No, that’s not right,” Lan Lin’er murmured to herself, thoughtfully recalling, “I’ve met the daughters of the Tong family, but I have never seen you.”

Yun Lan playfully raised her eyebrows, her eyes sparkling with mischief as she smiled, “Lan Lin’er, are you interested in me or in the Tongjiashi?”

“Of course it’s you,” Lan Lin’er said, fond of Yun Lan. She linked her arm with hers and softly added, “Fourth Brother has never looked like this before. I must tell Mother when we get back.”

The young man’s gaze dimmed for a moment, a deep coldness in his eyes. His fingers twitched slightly beneath his sleeves as he replied, “Aren’t you here to buy something?”

“Ah… Fourth Brother.”

Faced with the sudden chill emanating from her brother, Lan Lin’er was at a loss. Yun Lan gazed at the young man and spoke softly:

“There isn’t a mother in this world who doesn’t love her children; perhaps the methods just differ. Girls like Lan Lin’er should be pampered, while for sons, the higher the expectations, the stricter the management.”

“How do you know this?”

Yun Lan withdrew her gaze from Yinzhen and smiled, “My mother raised my brother and me this way. She always scolds my brother, but she actually cares for him deeply. My brother is her hope, and when he succeeds, no one is happier or more satisfied than she is.”

Yun Lan left her statement open-ended, confident that Yinzhen would understand. She took Lan Lin’er’s hand and led her into the shop. As she lifted the curtain, she caught a glimpse of Yinzhen looking a bit dazed, perhaps contemplating her words. Yun Lan’s heart ached for the Fourth Prince, who was not loved by Concubine De.

The shopkeeper, seeing Yun Lan as if she were a savior, hurried over without wiping the sweat from his forehead, bowing repeatedly as he said, “Miss Tongjiashi, your timing is perfect. Please help me.”

Yun Lan stepped aside, unwilling to accept the full bow of respect, and said, “Boss Qin, what’s going on?”

“Miss, it’s about the piano. The steward from the Prince Kang’s residence came to buy the piano, but Ke Ke keeps saying the tuning is off. I had the foreign priest tune it yesterday, so how could it be off? The priest who can play the piano has fallen ill. Could you please help me take a look?”

Yun Lan saw a grand piano placed in the middle of the shop. To hide her piano skills, she had made many excuses to learn from the priest at the church. As a noble girl from the Eight Banners, she couldn’t always go out, and a grand piano from the Kangxi era was a rare and precious item that the Tong family couldn’t afford. Therefore, for the past few days, Yun Lan had been itching to play; the piano was her favorite instrument, and she had passed her levels smoothly, even winning grand prizes.

Lan Lin’er asked in surprise, “You can play the Western piano?”

“Miss Tongjiashi not only plays well, but even the missionaries praise her piano skills as top-notch,” Boss Qin explained enthusiastically, his eyes filled with hope.

Yun Lan felt an urge to play, and with Yinzhen right there watching, she wanted to show the unique advantages of a girl in the Qing dynasty. She couldn’t care about being modest in front of him; the deeper his impression of her, the easier it would be to fulfill her wishes.

“Does Lan Lin’er want to hear the piano?”

“Very much! Sister Tongjiashi, please play for me!”

Yun Lan nodded and sat down on the bench next to the piano. Her fingers glided across the keys, producing a regular sequence of notes from low to high. Closing her eyes, she focused her mind. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that she couldn’t miss. As she glanced at Yinzhen, whose previously despondent gaze flickered with interest, she decided to play a piece that she knew he would like.

The well-informed steward of the Prince Kang’s residence, seeing Yun Lan sitting next to the piano purchased for the prince, didn’t dare approach. As the saying goes, a true expert can tell the quality at a glance. When he saw the young man who entered behind her, his eyes widened, and he bowed deeply, saying, “Fourth… Fourth Master, greetings.”

The title of “Fourth Master” pierced Yun Lan’s eardrum, and her lips curved into a smile. It was indeed him, Aisin Gioro Yinzhen. She placed her hands back on the piano keys, and soothing, deep music flowed from her fingertips. Unlike traditional instruments like the guqin, the piano’s playing had a stronger sense of rhythm, and those around her listened quietly to the emotions expressed in the music.

The sun, as if to fulfill Yun Lan’s heart, released a soft beam of light that streamed through the window, casting a colorful halo around her. Her brows and eyes were gentle and charming, glimmering with light, and a unique lightness and purity overflowed from her captivating gaze, making her all the more enchanting.

Yun Wei, who had come in earlier, was selecting her favorite books behind the bookshelf. Hearing the piano music, she shifted her gaze from the pages and looked out through the gaps in the bookshelf. She then tilted her ear to listen to the beautiful melody, raising an eyebrow. This piece seemed like a mother conveying something to her son. How could the fourth sister, who hadn’t even married yet, understand such deep maternal affection?

As Yun Wei’s gaze swept over the young man standing in front of the piano, taking in his appearance, she smiled softly, realizing that the fourth sister was playing just for him, only for his ears. The others were merely incidental listeners. It seemed the fourth sister understood him very well. After pondering for a moment, she realized she hadn’t heard her third aunt mention such a young man, nor had she ever heard the fourth sister talk about him. Clearly, they hadn’t known each other before today.

Could they have been fated from a previous life? Yun Wei closed her book and noticed the reserved yet somewhat proud young man’s eyes were filled with unmasked admiration—emotion, confusion, and ultimately merging into a struggle. Remembering her mother’s teachings, she raised her thumb in appreciation. “Fourth Sister, what a skill! I admire you greatly. I only wish for your success, but please don’t harm the Tong family’s reputation.”