Fantasy Regret for Peony Flowers

[mon]

Jīn MíngQiàn

金明倩 - present day Jin Sect Cultivator

Although Mingqian wasn't vocally talented like her brother, she had a good enough grasp of music to know from the first chord that Yuhuan had chosen the best key for her to sing in. She had never spoken to the male before but she had heard rumors of his skills and reputation. The fact that he was a looker made him a subject for teasing around her female friends, but Mingqian never thought that he would actually live up to those hearsays.

The song chosen is a popular melody that started out low. Despite Mingqian's high pitch voice, she was much more comfortable singing in low keys so her starting was pleasant to the ear. It made people around her relax and Yihua (to her delight) silently shaking in anger.

When the song reached its peak, where the verses began to escalate in pitch and volume, Mingqian did all she can to keep her voice from breaking. Fortunately, her accompaniment was smart enough to play louder during those parts, hiding and blending her pitch-y voice with the notes of his guqin. By the time she finished her song, she was slightly out of breath. Her face was flushed as she opened her eyes to look around.

Everyone was stunned silent.

I can't be that bad can I? she thought, feeling discouraged.

A slow clap could be heard behind the crowd and Mingqian's eyes flew in that direction. From there, everyone began clapping along as well.

"Haha, it seems Chenyang-Wang's sister could sing after all," someone said.

"Of course. Who said she couldn't?"

The positive feedback had Yihua storming off and Mingqian felt slight satisfaction at this. Deep down, she knew she was not nearly as good as people hoped her to be. Her performance was only a success because of Yuhuan's playing. She wasn't dumb enough to fool herself into thinking she won this time by her own abilities. Grudgingly, she had Yuhuan to thank for that.

Turning to the male, Mingqian bowed to show her gratitude and respect. Seeing his gentle smile, she felt this person wasn't bad. She wouldn't mind having him as an ally.

"Thank you, Lan Gongzi." .

additional notes
- the song Mingqian sang is 愛殤 Love Catastrophe. I can't find a guqin accompaniment for this song but this is the closest I can find to MQ's vocals.

 

[Aster]

Lán Yǔ Huàn

蓝与涣 - present day Gusu Lan cultivator

A gentle smile was his reply as he shook his head slightly, returning the bow. "There is no need to thank me, Jin Guniang. All I did was play the accompaniment. The main star is still you," he said as he lifted his head, watching as the crowds slowly dispersed now that the main caitiff was gone. Her followers went away too, leaving only a few behind. Soon it was just Yuhuan and Mingqian, albeit Yuhuan, not one to engage casually in small talk, began to pack his guqin away seeing how it was soon time for dinner*.

Despite the clear sky and the few hours of free time left, there wasn't much for Yuhuan to do here in the Lotus Pier. Given his quiet demeanor and liking for solitude, it isn't a surprise for him to have made more acquaintances than companions. With plans of nothing else, the male intended to return to his room to meditate, until something---or well, someone, finally made his appearance.

"Nie Gongzi," Yuhuan greeted politely with a small bow, his guqin attached back to his back. Though there was more Yuhuan would've liked to say, he had no words to express them. His light colored eyes flitted briefly at the Jin disciple beside him before falling back calmly on the individual dressed in black and gold. So this was Nie Zhelan, the source of all those terrible rumors.

Yuhuan withheld forming any opinions of the male from baseless rumors itself, but from personal observations and solely on the fact that Zhelan had stayed back to speak with Jin Minqian, despite having hidden himself from the crowd earlier... he could understand why people assume they did not have a normal relationship With a small smile at the two, Yuhuan had every intention to excuse himself to leave the two to their own devices until he was stopped by Nie Zhelan himself.

"Lan Gongzi, thank you for helping my Xiashu*. Your kind courtesy won't go unforgotten," Zhelan said with a small smirk while Yuhuan hid the brief flash of surprise in his eyes.

Xiashu? He glanced at Mingqian questioningly. Wasn't she from the same generation as them?
.

additional notes
- Yuhuan refers to them as Gongzi and Guniang because he isn't familiar with them (yet? I can't remember their current R/S in this scene.)
- Xiashu refers to underling or subordinate. Zhelan is saying it to mock or tease Mingqian but Yuhuan is genuinely puzzled.

 

[mon]

Jīn MíngQiàn

金明倩 - present day Jin Sect Cultivator

Handsome, gentle and humble? No wonder Gusu Lan's disciples were renowned. Lan Yuhuan's name wasn't just unheard of for his guqin playing after all. "You flatter me. Please just call me Mingqian," she said with a smile. If Yuhuan was really this kind of person, she wouldn't mind befriending him unlike a certain individual.

She was just about to ask Yuhuan to accompany her for a stroll when Zhelan appeared as though summoned from her ill thoughts of him. Speak of the devil, she thought to herself as Yuhuan and Zhelan exchanged greetings. Knowing Zhelan, her chance to get to know Yuhuan better was already ruined. She'd have to wait for another opportunity to chat with him and was planning to leave until she heard the insulting words that came out of Zhelan's mouth.

Like a tiger provoked by a bait of steak, she turned and scowled. "Nie Zhelan! Have you become stupid? Since when did I become your Xiashu?" she protested, stamping her feet with a huff of anger. Her cheeks colored when she saw Yuhuan's surprised response and out of shame, she bottled her anger back up but continued to glare daggers up at Zhelan.

Why this man thought it was fun to mess with her was beyond her understanding. She was ready to pick a fight with him until she heard a softer voice behind her.

"Mingqian," Soft-spoken Ruyin approached, gently taking one of Mingqian's arms. She had heard what had happened with Yihua and was upset she hadn't been there to support her friend. As the only adopted child as Sandu Shengshou, there were others thing Ruyin was required to do. She couldn't afford to just hang around her friends as she'd like. Even someone like Yihua was a guest Ruyin had to attend to.

Seeing Zhelan and Yuhuan, Ruyin shied away with a small nod of greeting. "Is everything alright?" she asked, raising a worried gaze to the three.

Not wanting to trouble her shimei, Mingqian swallowed her pride and anger, dropping her relenting glare. "Ah, it's nothing. There's nothing going on. Come on, Ruyin. You said something earlier about a boat race by the river?" She asked, patting her shimei's hand as she hooked her arm around Ruyin's arm. "There's bound to be a lot of festivities and yummy snacks there then right? Lan gongzi, would you like to join us? Let me buy you some food as repayment for your aid," Mingqian suggested. .