The morning of the cherry blossom viewing Granny Mei had Yuelan woken earlier than usual. As a result, Yuelan ate her breakfast in a daze with her eyes half open while she struggled to wake up and Granny Mei stood before her watching her every move. “Even when you’re tired, your movements must be graceful!” the elderly woman insisted. “There is a lot of competition in the imperial harem and you must keep your husband’s attention with your elegance and refinement!”
Yuelan chose not to argue that she wasn’t going to let anyone else into the imperial harem in the first place. Surprisingly, none of the princes had any concubines or wives yet. That suited Yuelan just fine, as she had no intention of competing for her husband’s attention. Polygamy wasn’t allowed in Kilin anymore and while she couldn’t get rid of it in Longuo she could at least try to keep her own spouse from practicing it. She finished her meal without speaking, letting the palace granny nag at her about her posture and the way she was eating.
As soon as Yuelan was finished with her breakfast Granny Mei had the dishes taken away and sent Yuelan behind the changing divider with Camphor to help her get dressed in the gown made of lavender moon water silk embroidered with silver thread that the seamstress had delivered two days before as promised. Next came the accessories and hairstyle followed by, at Granny Mei’s insistence, makeup. Yuelan insisted on using the makeup someone from her father’s manor had managed to make sure went with her dowry items and applied it herself to show Willow and Laurel how it was used. If she was going to be forced to use makeup then she was going to make sure it was at least good for her skin. The cakey powders Longuo used would ruin her complexion over time instead of helping it like the high quality things she had used in Kilin.
Getting ready for the cherry blossom viewing took three full hours, the longest Yuelan had ever spent getting ready for anything. When she was finally finished Chung Soo appeared in the doorway. As a eunuch, he wasn’t barred from entering Yuelan’s courtyard like the rest of the male servants of the manor.
“Lady Yuelan, Craftsman Jin is here,” the eunuch told her. “He says you sent word asking him to come and take a look at an instrument?”
Yuelan nodded and headed out of her rooms. “I did. I want him to look at my mother’s guzheng. It needs some repairs and I’m hoping he can manage them.”
“This servant would be happy to oversee the inspection on Lady Yuelan’s behalf…” Chung Soo began, though he quieted when Yuelan waved a hand.
“No, this is something I want to oversee myself. The instrument has been handed down on my mother’s side for six hundred years. It’s very special to me,” Yuelan explained. “Just lead him to where it is.”
The housekeeper nodded and headed away as Willow, Camphor, Laurel, and Granny Mei followed along behind Yuelan. Granny Mei didn’t look happy, but she didn’t argue with Yuelan or try to lecture her.
Yuelan went straight to the courtyard that had been set up as her conservatory. Both of her guzheng were set up and displayed in one of the rooms and there was plenty of space for her to practice as well as places that had been set up outside in the courtyard’s garden where she could play if she wished.
Chung Soo and the old instrument maker Yuelan had purchased her guzheng from arrived a couple of minutes after Yuelan had entered the room and the man called Craftsman Jin smiled and offered Yuelan a deep salute.
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“This lowly one is most grateful to have received the patronage of Lady Long Yuelan,” he said in his old, trembling voice.
Yuelan offered the man a slight salute of her own and smiled. “I am happy to see Master Jin again. My father sent my mother’s guzheng to me and I noticed it is in need of some repairs. I was hoping Master Jin could take a look and see what he can do?” She placed her hand gently on her mother’s instrument.
The old craftsman stepped over, took one look at Yuelan’s instrument and drew in a sharp breath before he started very carefully inspecting the instrument. “Lady Yuelan...this instrument…you say it was your mother’s?”
“That’s right. It was passed from mother to daughter in her family for six hundred years. When my grandmother died, she passed it to my mother, Feng Ruzheng, and after she died it was passed to me,” Yuelan explained.
The craftsman’s face was visibly pale and his hands trembled as he touched the decorations. “Lady Yuelan...this guzheng is famous. There are records and paintings of the Dragon Priestess with this very instrument...it was thought to be lost when she disappeared…” He looked up at Yuelan with a face filled with awe. “You really...wish for this lowly one to repair it?”
“I...yes,” Yuelan answered. She felt a little overwhelmed at the news that her precious heirloom was more confirmation of her heritage.
The old man’s eyes filled with tears. “Is it really the instrument belonging to the Dragon Priestess?” he asked.
“I suppose it is,” Yuelan admitted. “Though I only learned recently from my father and my guardian, Lord Long He, that I’m descended from her.”
The old man knelt on the ground and pressed his forehead to the floor in front of him. “This lowly one is honored by Lady Yuelan’s grace. Please allow this lowly one to repair the instrument. It will be the greatest honor to work on the instrument played by the Dragon Priestess herself.” He lifted his head and looked at Yuelan with shining eyes. “This instrument was made by the most famous craftsman of instruments in history. Its quality exceeds any instrument I have ever made. That Lady Yuelan found one of my instruments suitable to be played when she has such an instrument is also a great honor.”
Yuelan smiled. “I chose the instrument I purchased from you because it sounded most like this one,” she told him. “I don’t think your skills are as far removed from the craftsman who made this as you think.”
“I thank Lady Yuelan for the praise!” the old man exclaimed, putting his head back on the floor with a soft thunk.
Yuelan felt embarrassed and uncomfortable, though she managed to keep her expression calm and elegant as she signaled to Camphor to help the old man to his feet. “Please repair the instrument for me as soon as you can,” she said softly. “Will it be too inconvenient to ask you to repair it here?”
The old man shook his head as he got to his feet. “Not at all. I have already brought my tools with me, as you had mentioned the instrument was quite old in your message, and I can begin immediately.”
“Thank you. Chung Soo will see to it that you receive anything you need while you’re repairing my mother’s instrument. I am afraid I won’t be able to accompany you as I have another engagement.” She turned and looked at Laurel and Willow. “Please pack my other guzheng and have it sent to the carriage. Princess Liling suggested I may be needing it at today’s Cherry Blossom Viewing.”
The two maids nodded and set to work and the old craftsman looked pleased to have an instrument he made being taken to be played for someone in the imperial family.
“This old one will get started on the repairs immediately. Would Lady Yuelan please be at ease,” the old craftsman said softly.
Yuelan nodded and headed out of the courtyard and toward the front gates of her residence. Camphor followed behind and after a couple of minutes Willow and Laurel caught up. One of the strong, male servants in the residence followed not far behind carrying the box with the guzheng.