Chapter 33 – Song And Dance

In the end, he still decided to follow them.

Ignoring Qin Weiyu’s countless meaningful glances and the crown princess’s astonished gaze, Fang Tinglan didn’t remember what kind of inferior excuse he’d come up with before leaving the box. While cursing himself in his heart, he took off his coat and blended into the crowd not far from the two people that he was trying to tail.

Long ago, on a moonlit night, he had also tailed a girl, but it was because he suspected Hai Lian of working for the sheriff as an assassin. Today, however, he just left an important meeting with the crown princess to chase after an attending girl and a pirate. As for which should have held the higher priority, anybody with common sense would be able to tell. Fang Tinglan didn’t think he was an idiot, but when he saw the young girl resting her head on Hai Lian’s chest, he’d almost lost it.

He had never seen such a deeply remorseful expression on Hai Lian’s face before, just as he had never seen Hai Lian smile so happily until now. His little neighbor’s pretty face always carried an arrogant and impatient expression; through it all, his lips would be lifted in an utterly indolent, provocative smirk. Fang Tinglan observed that Hai Lian even purposefully chose to distance himself from the Yeners, who could, to some extent, be considered half his family.

But right now……Fang Tinglan’s gaze locked tightly on Hai Lian’s rare gentle expression.

Between Hai Lian and this girl, there were no emotional barriers.

This realization was like a needle stabbing lightly into the center of Fang Tinglan’s palm, causing him to subconsciously clench his fists.

“The shirt you’re wearing today, it was made by me,” Hai Yu blinked innocently, “I saw it.”

Hai Lian glanced at his shirt, then said:

“I heard that if you arrived at the Grand Theatre dressed too badly, they wouldn’t even let you in through the door.” Here, Hai Lian paused. “Next time, don’t make any more shirts for me; good clothes are ruined on me, anyways. It would be better if you prepared a couple more dresses for yourself instead.”

The young girl pouted, a little unhappy, but after taking a few steps, her rounded eyes curved up into two crescent moons again, “You’re right.”

“Huh?”

Hai Yu rocked her head; the snow-white silk flower ornament by the side of her temples swayed along with her movements, “You see, those ‘ruined’ clothes you’re wearing, they look good, right?”

Her words made Hai Lian a little bit at a loss. He nodded his head. He couldn’t help but laugh along with her. 

Even though he had stated that they would be going out for a walk, Hai Lian couldn’t think of any good places to visit. When they were little, he would often bring his little sister to the little alley in Anwan’na District where they could watch the wandering acrobats perform tricks. Then, on the way home, he would buy the both of them a sweet pastry each. 

However, now, Hai Yu wasn’t a little girl anymore. There was no way she would want to continue watching these things which were meant for little children. Holding onto Hai Yu’s hand, Hai Lian led her over to the riverbank, where they aimlessly strolled along, their images reflecting on the water. The topic of their conversation also drifted aimlessly. 

“Is the princess treating you well? No one’s bullying you, right?”

“Not at all. Everyone treats me very well,” Hai Yu said, “No one has bullied me.”

“If any noble tries to get fresh with you, just tell me.”

Hai Yu laughed happily, “You want to beat people up again? I still remember when a thin monkey stole my pinwheel, you almost beat him up into a fat monkey1.”

Hai Lian gave a little harumph, which could be considered tacit consent.

He didn’t tell Hai Yu that he had gotten revenge for her at the underground fight ring. He knew that his little sister was not that fragile, but he didn’t want to bring up anything that could potentially rip the scab off of old wounds. It was best never to speak of this topic again.

“Tell me about Chuizhi Pavilion,” Hai Lian diverged to another topic, “Let your brother learn something new.”

“What’s there to talk about Chuizhi Pavilion? It’s just an ordinary courtyard. There’re flowers, there’s grass, there’s a palace. In the summer, the number of mosquitoes is impossible to smoke out. It’s so annoying.”

Thinking hard, Hai Yu’s eyes suddenly brightened. 

“I got it! Brother, do you know that Chuizhi Pavilion has a three-storied little building, and the inside is filled with books? The first time I went in, all I could do was stare in amazement! Her Highness saw how fascinated I was with the place, so she offered to teach me how to read. Now, I can read all the books on the first floor. There are tales of people from the past and tales of people in the present. As for the books on the second floor……I can recognize all the characters2, but when I try to read them in a sentence together, I have a hard time understanding the meaning. The third floor is sealed off; only Her Highness can enter. She said that once I am capable of reading all the books on the second floor, I can become a clerk to Tisu’s royal court. When that time comes, I’ll be the one to provide for you.”

Hearing this, Hai Lian shook his head and laughed helplessly, “I don’t need you to provide for me.”

“I’m being serious,” Hai Yu frowned. “I know what kind of money you’re making; it’s the kind you risk your life for, right? You and the Sir and Madame are always treating me like a little kid. You hide everything from me. The truth is I already——”

“The people over there are playing the fiddle. Let’s go listen.” Hai Lian interrupted the young girl’s words and suddenly started walking in said direction without further explanation. Hai Yu knew her older brother did not want to continue discussing this topic; the light in her eyes became slightly gloomy before immediately restoring its happy, smiling expression. She followed her brother over.

Just as the rich had their own style of wine and dine and leisure, the common people also had their own way of song and dance and entertainment. Tisu’s fiddlers were reminiscent of the nomads of the grasslands. There was no sound like it in the Four Wildernesses. As long as the voice of the fiddle echoed, near and far, all would be drawn to the music. 

In the past, from dawn to dusk, within Amber Square there would be the unending melodies of the fiddle rising and falling. It was to the extent that at times, competitions in which performers could vie for the spot of highest artistic mastery would be held. Since the time Abale ascended to the throne, however, those from Anwan’na District were forbidden from stepping foot onto Amber Square, and these tinkling notes had nowhere to go but muddy streets and lanes, where they adorned crevices between ashen buildings like splendid flowers.

When the two arrived at the origin of the sound, the song happened to be ending, and the men and women dancing together in a circle had loosened their formation, waiting for the next song. Coins and flower blossoms fell pell-mell at the feet of the fiddlers like a rain of interlocking petals. These instruments of the olden days let out an appreciative note. When they had finished tuning their instruments, the fiddlers placed their bows against the strings and pulled out the first chord.

——Whose sail is that? Whose cannon is that? Whose cargo is that, filled to the brim?

“It’s our Captain Balinai’s!” The crowd sung loudly in unison.

“Can you still dance?” Hai Lian asked.

“Of course!” Hai Yu turned towards him and smiled proudly. Lifting the corners of her skirt, she twisted her body nimbly and merged with the joyous crowd.

——The girl on the pier waited six months before her lover finally returned.

The voices of the people, whether high or low, never resonated on the same pitch, but this didn’t hinder their dance steps at all. These dance steps were by no means fancy or complex. There were only spins and leaps, but these movements had turned the mud drops beside the river bank into the pigment used by painters. On every person’s trousers was a unique work of art.

“Are you not coming?” The girl turned towards him and beckoned her hand. The silk ribbon tied to her wrist fluttered continuously in the wind.

“In a bit.” Hai Lian rolled up his sleeves.

——On the first day they kissed. On the second day they married. On the third day the sail was raised high; our captain must leave again.

——The girl asked the captain: Have I married you, or have I married the sea?

Spinning in a circle, Hai Lian alighted at the side of the person who he would partner with for the dance. He had just grabbed onto the other’s hand when he was abruptly stunned.

This was a hand he was familiar with. 

On the arm was a wound that had been carved in two months ago by himself. Now it had faded to a light scar. 

It was a hand that had once held him down on the Dufeng. It was also a hand that had once poured him a cup of fine wine.

The little pirate found himself staring straight into a pair of eyes that shone bright like lacquer.

“……Fang Tinglan?”

——Goodbye dry land! Goodbye my love! If you pine for me, play a song on your fiddle, and the southern wind will carry your voice to me!”

——Only a ship cannot turn back. Captain Balinai will never mend his ways!”

“Duh la la, la la la la……” The other party hummed along with the following verse of the song before smilingly saying, “It’s me.”

※※※

The song had not stopped, and the pair were brought along with the crowd to continue dancing in spite of themselves.

“Why are you here?”

“I passed by and coincidentally happened to see you here.”

Hai Lian eyed the other’s expensive clothing, “Not going to finish your important affairs?”

“Already finished them.” Fang Tinglan lied easily. In front of the little pirate, his words flowed smoothly like practiced lines.

Luckily, Hai Lian had only asked casually. He took two steps back according to the rhythm of the music and pivoted on one foot, leaving a faint indentation in the dirt, before taking one step forward.

“It’s unexpected, but you know this dance.”

“Before coming to Tisu, I prepared a lot of things.” Fang Tinglan spoke some more nonsense. In his daily dealings with the riffraff of all walks of life, where was the time to learn this kind of commoner hobby. Luckily, the song and dance were very simple to follow; with his natural talent, he only needed to observe it for a couple of moments before being able to understand the gist of it.

This reply seemed to satisfy Hai Lian. His expression relaxed, and he didn’t ask any more. He danced through the verse with Fang Tinglan, but when the time came for them to exchange partners again, the youth lifted his eyebrow and laughed, “Ha, then did you prepare this dance too?”

With these words, the little pirate didn’t grasp the next person’s hand but instead sauntered into the center of the formation. Facing the fiddler, he snapped his fingers. The old man seemed to tacitly understand, and the bow that was swept across the strings shifted one octave higher. The pace of the rhythm suddenly sped up.

The crowd let out a cheer. Gradually, everyone stopped dancing. Their attention was focused on that young person who had initiated the dance duel. Hai Lian positioned his hands behind his back, and amidst the encouraging whistles and fast-paced, slightly discordant notes, skillfully moved his feet. The speed of his steps alone dazzled the crowd. The playwright’s ash-grey overcoat, which plainly enveloped his body, fluttered like the wings of a bird in flight; his whole person appeared like a proud, fully-plumed peacock. His slender body spun continuously. From beginning to end, his line of sight never left Fang Tinglan. The scar at the corner of his eyes was like a sharply curved hook that tugged at Fang Tinglan’s heart and soul. 

It was deadly enough to almost gouge them out, leaving a bloody cavity in the center of the Dongzhou man’s chest.

——Goodbye dry land! Goodbye my love! If you pine for me, play a song on your fiddle, and the southern wind will carry your voice to me!”

Fang Tinglan swallowed hard. It was as if something was threatening to break through from the depths of his heart. 

He heard ringing in his ears.

Finally, the last note leapt from the fiddler’s finger pads. Hai Lian’s two feet soared, before stamping onto the ground with force. In the instant that he stood still, he suddenly raised his head, and bared his teeth towards Fang Tinglan, “Coming?”

“……” Fang Tinglan’s lips held a slightly helpless smile. He raised both hands up into the air, “No thanks.”

“I surrender,” he said.