Chapter 3, Blue Melody

She hurriedly got out of the car and bowed to pay her respects: "Bu Nuan has greeted her uncle."

"Then hurry and settle in." Lan Sheng signaled to the maids to take the bundles from Xiang Nong and Yu Lu's hands, and playfully said, "I just happen to be going to the banks of Zui Jin Lake to see the red peonies, let's go together!"

He smiled; she is a girl with a temper, not as weak as her appearance suggests. She is prickly, and when angry, she resembles a small beast, baring her teeth and ready to bite.

Cai Nu Dao: "Are you referring to the old lady? One passed away three years ago, and the other was taken to the residence by Fourth Aunt for her care."

The wet nurse helped to put on the veil and lowered the hat skirt, advising: "Remember the lady's words, the first rule is to observe propriety and decorum. The girl Anzheng is quite endearing; when you see your uncle, you must bow and pay your respects. Once you arrive in Chang'an, it will be different from being at home; you cannot indulge your temperament any longer"

The butler, dressed in a hurry, approached and bowed, smiling broadly as he said: "Madam, you must have had a hard journey, please come inside! I have been anxiously waiting, fearing that the driver might not be familiar with the route and take a wrong turn. I was actually going to send someone to the city gate to inquire, but unexpectedly, you have arrived. I am called Qu Shoucai, and they are not kind, they all refer to me as 'Cai Nu.' If you have any instructions in the future, you may just call me that."

Bu Nuan glanced at him, General Yunhui, who held the official rank of Third Grade; this person was indeed very modest.

Luoyang is only about 700 to 800 li away from Chang'an. Departing by land, one can take the ancient Xiaohan Road to enter Tongguan. With the carriage and horses moving intermittently, it would take just two days to arrive

Bu Nuan shook her head. In fact, when her mother married her father, her maternal grandfather was not satisfied. He feared that the Bu family, bearing the name of a prominent family from the previous dynasty, would one day be completely eradicated, much like King Li Ke of Wu. However, her parents' strict control only intensified Madam Bu's rebellious spirit. In the end, dogma was defeated by love, and she was the product of her mother's reasoned arguments.

The whip cracked through the air with a sharp sound, the hooves pounded swiftly, racing deep into the city.

Xiu looked at her with concern: "They will come, they miss you, and it happens to be a great occasion for Uncle, they will definitely come."

Upon exploring her surroundings, she was astonished to find a woman dressed in men's clothing among the bustling crowd. She was taken aback; Luoyang and Chang'an are both renowned as twin capitals, merely two days' journey apart. While the girls in Luoyang had just begun to adopt the popular hairstyle known as the 'surprised crane bun,' the women of Chang'an had already taken to wearing men's attire, specifically the Hu clothing. Indeed, it is a matter of slight differences leading to significant divergences.

The corridor was bathed in the glow of the evening sunset, and Bu Nuandun paused to look back, while Lan Sheng leaned against the column and smiled lightly. She suddenly felt uneasy, thinking to herself that he spoke without any reservations; such a person must come from a good background. Even with a smile on his face, there was an underlying arrogance that looked down on everything, which was probably a common trait among the young lords of the capital.

Lan Sheng turned around to lead the way, asking as they walked, "Madam, have you been to your grandfather's house before?"

He simply prefers tranquility. Lan Sheng smiled faintly and pointed to the two-story embroidery building across from the Bamboo Branch Pavilion, saying, "That is your residence, called Yanbo Tower"

Bu Ruoyin placed her heart back in her belly, feeling a mix of comfort and melancholy as she sent Bu Nuan off to the carriage. The matters handled by Madame Bu were also secure. For an ordinary family, when a child departs, a mother cannot help but offer a flurry of advice. Bu Nuan patiently listened to it all, then bid farewell to her parents and embarked on a completely different journey in life

Bu Nuan followed the direction of his finger and looked over, seeing two solitary houses, surrounded by water on three sides, with only a winding waterway leading to the shore. The environment was indeed tranquil, but ultimately too desolate

The curtain was lifted by the warmth, and beneath the dappled sunlight of the flowering trees stood a person, elegantly dressed. On their head was a snow-white headscarf, and they wore a robe adorned with intertwined lotus flowers. A white jade leather belt was fastened at the waist, from which hung a complete set of ivory inlaid with emerald gemstones. They strolled leisurely back and forth, with smiles evident in the corners of their eyes and brows, and amidst the blooming peach blossoms, they appeared even more dazzling than the spring light of April.

Several maidservants had been waiting at the door early on. Upon seeing their group arrive, they all came forward in unison, gathered their skirts, and bowed, saying: "We pay our respects to the lady."

The steward leaned down and said: "The Misty Waves Pavilion was previously the residence of the great-aunt. It was just renovated last month. The master instructed that the lady should move into the pavilion, which faces the Drunken Collar Lake, offering the most splendid view."

She smiled, and some encounters are as brilliant as fireworks, vanishing before one can appreciate them, leaving only a lingering aftertaste. Or perhaps this does not even qualify as an encounter; at most, it is a young girl's vague fantasy about the opposite sex. Chang'an has the soil suitable for love to flourish, and Bu Nuan happily thought that in the future, she would adopt a different way of living. If one day she meets the right person, she will not feel shy; she will definitely pursue him without hesitation and tell him that she loves him

Entering the porch is not as necessary to avoid others as it is outside. The women of the Tang Dynasty are no longer as reserved as before, able to compete with men in various aspects. Even in the presence of unfamiliar men, there is no reason to cover one's face at home, so the wet nurse is allowed to assist in removing the veil from her head

"That is your uncle's residence," Lan Sheng pointed with the fan's ribs towards the houses on the lake, "called the Bamboo Branch Pavilion. Rong Yu is an eccentric person who enjoys living by the water. He resides there to avoid disturbances; the Shen family has strict rules, and without his permission, even meals are not allowed to be sent up."

A group of people surrounded Bu Nuan as they made their way to the Misty Waves Pavilion. The sky was nearing dusk, and the afterglow of the setting sun painted the horizon a deep red. Walking through the corridor flanked by strange rocks, with a babbling stream beside him, there was a sense of wandering amidst the mountains and waters. Bu Nuan moved slowly, taking in the lush greenery that was refreshing to the eyes; it was a pity that he was in such a predicament now, otherwise, he would have enjoyed a hearty laugh and revelry.

She frowned and asked, "Does Uncle want to isolate himself from the world?"

She leaned against the wet nurse and said, "That Hu clothing looks quite nice, prepare a set for me as well!" She pointed to a man approaching from the roadside, "I also want a hairpin like his, with tassels on the clasp, it looks very beautiful.

"Your words are too kind, I truly feel unworthy." She bowed slightly and said, "Then I must trouble you, my lord."

If it were not for this encounter, perhaps she would never leave the Eastern Capital in her lifetime. Bu Nuan is not a person who dwells on her thoughts; upon leaving Luoyang, she cast aside all her troubles and worries. The palanquin of the Bu residence left shallow tracks on the streets of Chang'an, and as she sat in the carriage, she lifted the bamboo curtain on the window, making an effort to sniff the air, feeling that the air of Chang'an was sweet.

The Shen residence is located deep within Chunhui Lane, unlike the bustling streets, it is a very tranquil place. Lan Sheng skillfully guided the way, the fluttering corners of her clothing stirring up fallen petals by the roadside, and with a light turn through a grove of bamboo, they arrived at a grand mansion surrounded by a corridor. Bu Nuan looked up, observing the bird-head door and tiger-head nails, exuding a majestic atmosphere. At the entrance, two rows of halberd racks were lined up, with four armored guards stationed at each side.

Chang'an is a significant area in the capital region, prosperous and affluent, embodying all the yearnings and imaginations of young girls for beautiful things. Here, one can find carriages adorned with flying swallows, elegantly dressed ladies, noble and pure poets, as well as the magnificent and luxurious Daming Palace that resembles a dream

I suddenly recalled that my mother had mentioned my grandfather and a few concubines, yet I had not seen them since entering the residence. My grandfather was a founding minister, holding the title of Minister of Personnel, and during my grandmother's time, he had three concubines. After my grandmother passed away, he elevated Lady Lin, the mother of my uncle Rongyu, to the position of the primary wife, so there should indeed be two others. Although the status of concubines is not high, it is still considered disrespectful not to pay respects to the elders upon entering the residence, so I asked: "What about the two aunts? Did they go to the temple with grandmother?"

Lan Sheng cast a deep glance, her smile becoming even more pronounced, and asked the steward, "Did the Grand Commander say which courtyard the young lady should reside in?"

Lan Sheng, fanning herself beside him, interjected: "And what about your uncle's two cousins? They are the daughters of the old lady's younger brother from her family, and in five months, they will become your aunt."

Bu Nuan nodded and said casually, "I am often busy with military affairs and seldom at home. Please be careful when interacting with the lady of the same rank; she is quite a sharp-tongued person and does not take kindly to anyone."

Bu Nuan smiled and said, "Uncle is twenty-seven now, which is about the right age for marriage. It seems he was delayed by his official duties. Now is the right time. " She turned to Xiu and asked, "Nurse, we have come at just the right time; there will be a wedding banquet in a while. Do you think Father and Mother will come then?"

Bu Nuan furrowed her brows, wondering how to send for him to come and pick her up. Is there really no one left in the residence? Her expression darkened, and she straightened her back, saying: "My lord, you are being too polite. Since my uncle is not here, is the lady still present?"

"My lady, we are approaching Chunhui Fang ahead," said the driver, the cuckoo, as he slowed down the vehicle

"It was my carelessness, and I hope the young lady can forgive me." He helplessly bowed again, "Old Madam Shen has been at the Diguo Monastery for her vow and recuperation for seven or eight days now, and it is expected that she will return to the residence in the next day or two. The Grand Commander has been busy with military affairs lately and cannot personally welcome the lady. Fearing that the servants in the residence might be negligent, he entrusted me to wait here for the lady." As he spoke, he smiled broadly, "There is no other way; who told me that my official position is lowly? I am merely a General of the Cloud Banner, born to serve my esteemed uncle. It is my honor to guide the lady."

The carriage sped by, brushing past that person. Before I could take a closer look at the warm fabric, I caught a glimpse of an almost perfect profile from the corner of my eye, causing my heart to inexplicably skip a beat. When I turned to search again, that person had already blended into the vast sea of people, disappearing without a trace

The letter urgently sent by the central army arrived the next day. Shen Rong's reply was very concise: "I have read your letter, and I am greatly worried. As a younger brother, I have a prominent family background, ensuring that our household is secure, and that our kin protect one another is the natural order of life. Now I am tidying up the courtyard in anticipation of your arrival."

Bu Nuan Nuo claims that the wet nurse is the ear-reporting deity of her mother, specifically sent to supervise her as a military inspector. No matter how joyful she may be, she cannot display her happiness in front of the wet nurse; she must always maintain a demeanor of composure and steadiness. Whether she is lamenting the spring or mourning the autumn, or whether she is deeply aggrieved, in any case, she must frown and gaze with a misty expression, for that is the quality that a young lady of the inner chambers should possess

As they approached the archway, the cuckoo turned and said: "It is likely that someone from the residence has come to meet us. My lady, do take a look and see if that is the Grand Commander."

As the soap gauze was removed, the youthful aura sprang forth, and even with a face that appeared indifferent, it was difficult to conceal the exuberance of youth. Lan Sheng paused to admire; he had encountered many young ladies from noble families, yet none left a deep impression on him. Perhaps because she was the niece of Rong Yu, he found her particularly pleasing to the eye, with clear and bright features. Although she seemed aloof, she appeared simple, seemingly devoid of any ambition or desire.

How to describe it... so pure, even more transparent than the sky after rain. With a bare face, not even a flower ornament attached, a long and elegant neck, collarbones like carved ivory... The black gauze is so long that it envelops her entirely. As the wind blows, it faintly reveals a white long dress and a light pink short jacket. The golden and silver threads between her arms flutter, standing there with her head held high, graceful and poised, like a lotus before the Buddha.

Bu Nuan stared blankly at him, and he stared blankly at Bu Nuan, neither of them spoke, just looking at her like that

Bu Nuan couldn't help but laugh upon hearing this name, but she wasn't very fond of being noisy, so she merely nodded in response

Lansheng said: "The garden has been expanded, and His Majesty has granted a reward, allocating an additional 10 acres of land for enrichment. Your uncle has put in some effort, and now the garden is very beautiful. There are small bridges and flowing water, pavilions and towers, as well as a rockery made of Taihu stones!"

After growing up, Bu Nuan had not seen her uncle, perhaps he is the one! She vaguely remembered that her uncle was very handsome and that he was smiling.

Uncle Xing Liu, the little one is called Liu Lang Bu Nuan, which is known. Since this person addresses him so affectionately, he does not seem to be a mere steward of the residence. However, having called her uncle in vain made her feel a bit displeased. She slightly bowed and said: "May I ask who you are? Do you know my uncle Shen Rongyu?"

The financial steward added, "Lady Ye accompanied the old matriarch up the mountain and will return tomorrow."

That person laughed out loud, his voice as clear as the sound of jade stones colliding. He said, "I am flattered, I am flattered. Liu Lang's niece is truly sensible; she pays her respects to me, and I am somewhat taken aback by this honor"

Is it true that only grandmother and uncle are in the residence now

It was only after her birth that her grandfather's attitude began to soften slightly, yet he never allowed his daughter to return home, only permitting her younger uncle to visit her once in Luoyang, which is why she had no contact with the Shen family since childhood

Lansheng still maintained her unhurried demeanor, carefully scrutinizing her once more, and saw beneath the black gauze a face that was cold and stubborn.

"Naturally, we are acquainted," the man said, cupping his hands in salute. He then continued, "The Grand Commander has not yet returned. I am Lan Sheng, a close friend of Liu Lang. Miss, I pay my respects to you."