- Chapter Start –

The next morning…

Su XiaoYong is on her way to the Tianji Hall dining room when the sound of fluttering wings catches her attention. Seeing the Su family pigeon winging towards her, she holds out her arm.

"We saw yeye just two nights ago," she tells it as she unties the note attached to its leg. "What could be so urgent?"

Her eyebrows go up when she reads the short message. She hastens to the dining room, paying no mind to the tiny pinpricks of claws in her arm.

"Guan-dage, Yun-dage! Just the two people I want to see."

"Good morning, Su-guniang," Yun BiQiu greets politely.

"Just call me XiaoYong like Guan-dage does. We're going to be family soon," Su XiaoYong tells him, nodding her thanks when he pours her tea.

Meanwhile, the pigeon hops onto Guan HeMeng's arm, fluffs its wings and gives him an expectant stare out of one beady eye. Smiling, he starts patting its downy head.

"Did Su-yeye send another note?" He asks.

"Yes, he wants to see us again. Actually, he wants to talk to Yun-dage."

Yun BiQiu chokes on his tea and starts coughing.

"Oh?" Without missing a beat, Guan HeMeng shifts to patting Yun BiQiu's back instead. "BiQiu, when would be a good day? Today? Tomorrow?"

"Today," Yun BiQiu says and clears his throat. His eyes are watering a little, but his expression is resolute.

"Today it is." Guan HeMeng gently presses the hem of his sleeve to Yun BiQiu's eyes, ignoring Su XiaoYong's delighted grin. "XiaoYong, please tell Su-yeye that we're happy to accept the invitation. We can start our journey after lunch."

- o –

Yun BiQiu is unable to focus on anything for the rest of the morning, whether it's the defence mechanisms Madam He had commissioned him to design for Lotus Tower (despite Fang DuoBing protesting that its three occupants are more than capable of fending off any attacks), or the books he had brought from Chayin Tower.

He stares unseeingly down at the initial sketches he had made. His mind insists on replaying what had happened two nights ago, again and again. Each time, he can't help picturing Su SongYu giving him a stern lecture about respecting other people's possessions and point blank refusing to arrange their wedding.

Yun BiQiu sinks his teeth into his lower lip and shakes his head. So much for being one of Baichuan Academy's court directors, an accomplished spy, and a defence specialist. He had given a very poor impression of himself that night.

What's worse is that Su SongYu is Guan HeMeng's only parental figure and one he deeply respects. Yun BiQiu had hoped the older man would approve of Guan HeMeng's choice and approve of him.

Now, he doesn't dare to hope for much.

Lost in thought, he doesn't realise that Guan HeMeng has stopped going over Ma-shenyi's notes and is just gazing at him with a soft smile and softer eyes.

- o –

The morning flies past and so does lunch, which Yun BiQiu only picked at. Before he knows it, he's entering the carriage with Guan HeMeng and Su XiaoYong. The smooth and even gait of the horses soon makes him yawn which sets off the other two as well.

Shifting closer, Guan HeMeng leans against Yun BiQiu's arm and entwines their fingers together.

"Let's take a nap. I haven't caught up on my sleep and I know you haven't been sleeping well either."

Su XiaoYong looks out the window and pretends to be absorbed in the passing scenery except that she's grinning too widely to make it believable.

- o –

When Yun BiQiu next opens his eyes, it's almost evening. They're driving through the small town that's a stone throw from the Su family home.

"Yun-dage, finally awake? We're almost there!" Su XiaoYong says happily.

In less than three minutes, the carriage enters the small courtyard and rolls to a stop. Su XiaoYong jumps down and runs to greet the middle aged couple standing at the front door.

"Don't worry, I'm sure everything will be fine," Guan HeMeng says.

Yun BiQiu nods even though a whole flock of butterflies have found their way into his stomach. They greet the Wangs who smile and usher the three of them inside.

Su SongYu is sitting in the living room with a rather stern look on his lined face.

"Yeye, here we are!" Su XiaoYong says and darts forward to kiss his cheek.

"Su-yeye, good to see you again." Guan HeMeng greets with a polite nod.

"Su-gongzi." Yun BiQiu steps forward and meets those stern eyes without flinching. "Please allow me to apologise for my atrocious behaviour yesterday."

Clasping his hands together, he bows from the waist.

"That is enough, Yun-yuanzhu, or you will embarrass me."

"It is I who should be embarrassed," Yun BiQiu continues, still bowed low. "I trespassed into a private room in your home and touched an obviously prized possession without your consent."

When Su SongYu doesn't say anything, Yun BiQiu quails on the inside, his heartbeat thudding in his ears. Then the hem of deep green robes enter his vision.

"You did. " Two wrinkled hands grab his arms and raise him with surprising strength. "But to raise my voice at you like that was unwarranted all the same."

Yun BiQiu shakes his head, head still bowed.

"You were well within your rights, Su-gongzi."

There's an audible sigh.

"Look at me, boy."

Startled, Yun BiQiu looks up and sees the glimmer of regret in Su SongYu's eyes. A tiny sliver of hope unfurls within his heart.

Perhaps… perhaps the situation isn't as dire as he feared.

"My late wife was a skilled musician," Su SongYu explains. "I had that guzheng made by a master and gifted it to her on our wedding day. Even the strings are made from the finest silk."

No. It's even worse than he thought!

"I-I didn't realise!" Yun BiQiu's face burns as he bows again. "Please forgive me! I didn't-"

"Enough."

"But-"

"Yun BiQiu. What I mean to say is that I will forgive your trespassing if you can forgive the harsh words I used on you."

Yun BiQiu's lips part in surprise, throat growing tight as Su SongYu nods at him.

"I - yes." His voice comes out shaky. "Yes, I would like nothing more, Su-gongzi."

Su SongYu nods in satisfaction.

"Very well. In that case, please address me the same way A-Meng does. After all, you will be his spouse and a part of this family very soon."

Su SongYu's words are more than Yun BiQiu had hoped for. He blinks rapidly when his eyes blur and blushes when he catches the quizzical smile on Su SongYu's face.

"Yes… Su-yeye."

"Yeye, Yun-dage is a skilled musician!" Su XiaoYong pipes up. "I haven't heard him play, but Guan-dage says he has."

"Oh?" Su SongYu looks intrigued.

"Yes. He plays the guzhin very well," Guan HeMeng replies with a touch of pride.

"Not play very well," Yun BiQiu protests at once, "but I am fond of music."

"Then that's settled," Su SongYu declares. "I would like to hear you play after dinner."

Yun BiQiu can't help gaping at him.

"Oh, but-"

"BiQiu, I have not heard that instrument sing for far too long," Su SongYu says and this time, there's a wistful smile on his lips. "A-Yong here has no head for music even though the tutor I hired did his best."

"Yeye!" Su XiaoYong pouts.

"And while A-Meng has a decent ear for music, his only interest is in medicine," Su SongYu continues.

"Su-yeye is right. BiQiu, will you play for us after dinner?" Guan HeMeng asks with a warm smile. Seeing the eager grin on Su XiaoYong's face and the hopeful look on Su SongYu's, Yun BiQiu feels the weight on his shoulders melt away.

"Thank you. I would be honoured to," he says simply.

- Chapter End –

dage = eldest brother
gongzi = young master / mister
guniang = unmarried female
yeye = grandfather
yuanzhu = court director