and sings the tune without the words
by Rose Thorne
Disclaimer: I don't own anything associated with The Untamed, and make no money writing fanfiction.
To Jin-gongzi,
I am very glad you came to Lotus Cove, and that your visit coincided with the delivery of my spiritual instrument. It was very nice to talk with you about cultivation.
My core is slowly growing stronger. I don't know if I told you, but I became very ill when I was quite little, and it weakened my body considerably. A-Niang didn't think I would be able to be a cultivator as a result, and I didn't either.
Until recently I thought cultivation was all fighting monsters, which looking back was a little silly of me! So I thought since I am too weak in my body to fight monsters, I couldn't be a cultivator. When A-Xian was so ill, I wanted him to get better so quickly I asked our healer questions, and so A-Niang mentioned that maybe I could train to do healing cultivation.
Then Lan-xiansheng mentioned that if I cultivated musically it could also help me strengthen my golden core. He's been giving me advice on meditative techniques and ways I can incorporate core-building into everyday activities.
One thing he told me is that I can use the time I spend cooking, which was nice to know. I find cooking to be relaxing, and I am happy to help nourish others through my food. Since I know my recipes, I can spend the time focusing on my qi as I prepare food, even chopping vegetables. It's not easy—I actually burned a dish recently because my attention strayed too much, but it's teaching me so much. I hope you will be able to try my cooking someday soon.
A-Cheng thinks I should try archery, but the bows are quite heavy for me. A-Xian thinks that maybe something more suited to my body could be constructed, but that will be a future consideration.
I am nearly done mastering the song I played while you were here, and am considering what to learn next. I hope it is not too forward of me to ask, what is your favorite song? Perhaps I can learn it and play it for you when next you visit, or when I visit Koi Tower. If you have a favorite food, please let me know as well. That way when you come to Lotus Cove I can make sure it's cooked.
I hope this letter finds you well,
Jiang Yanli
To Jiang-guniang,
Thank you for your letter. It was a pleasant visit. I was fond of the rose candy served with the tea.
The instrument looks well-made and the decorative elements seem to fit you well. It's quite elegant. In Lanling most instruments are trimmed in gold, but the mother of pearl was well-suited for you and shimmers in the light.
It is good you are working to improve your cultivation. I didn't know of your previous illness, only that you were considered a weak cultivator—but I also didn't know there was more aside from killing monsters one could do as a cultivator. If someone suffers injury or illness, they don't have to stop cultivating. Maybe that should be better known.
I have heard you cook good soup. Yu-furen mentioned that Jiang Wuxian remembered it despite his amnesia. It must be quite good to be so memorable. Perhaps I can taste it sometime.
Archery is difficult without arm strength, but if you focus on your qi like you do when you cook, but in your arms, maybe it will help. I have heard the Lans do handstands, which is why they have such arm strength. Perhaps you could try that to see if you can develop your arm muscles?
One of my favorite songs is "Yangguan Sandie," but I don't know if it is easily played on a konghou. Please don't trouble yourself on my account.
Two of my favorite foods are shuijing zhouzi (stewed pork hock) and dezhou pa ya (dezhou grilled duck). For sweets, my favorite is basi pingguo (toffee apple fritters). They are much different than the foods of Yunmeng, so they may not suit your palate. I've noticed Yunmeng cuisine is often very spicy, whereas in Lanling we prefer savory and salt. I do not cook, so I am not certain about recipes. I can ask a-niang and maybe she will send them.
If you have favorite foods you would like to enjoy next time you visit Lanling, please let me know.
Your family is much changed from the last time I visited, and I was surprised to meet your meimei. Did your brother's illness change so much? A-Niang was concerned when we arrived, but she seemed glad to see your mother was very happy.
With best regards,
Jin Zixuan
Estimated maps of MDZS/The Untamed generally place Lanling as in Shandong in the Linyi City area, so the foods mentioned are popular dishes from that area.
"Yangguan Sandie" has a konghou version that I found from a 2002 album by Cui Junzhi, but it was originally (unsurprisingly) written for the guqin. I also found a konghou version on Youtube. Estimates on the song's age go back to the Tang Dynasty, though the earliest surviving music score dates back to the Ming Dynasty. The song was developed from the poem "Seeing Yuan'er off on a Mission to Anxi," by Wang Wei, and is considered a classic farewell song.
Note that the konghou as it exists for this series is largely extinct (since the Ming Dynasty), replaced in the 20th century by a double-bridge harp of a more Western shape. It was a very courtly instrument.