The Daily Life Of Mei Furen Doting On Her Husband - Chapter 65

Wu Zhen rested one hand on the table, holding her chin as she looked at him. “Don’t be restrained. I just brought you here to see what I usually do, so you know that I’m not promiscuous like those people say. I usually come to the brothel to listen to music and watch the dance.”

She spoke generously, and Mei Zhuyu nodded without hesitation. “I know.” He was good at reading people’s faces and temperament. Wu Zhen’s aura was pure, and her eyes were clear, without the slightest turbidity. She was an upright and bright person.

“Don’t pay attention to the rumors; they are not credible,” Mei Zhuyu said.

Wu Zhen smiled, “That’s exactly what I wanted to tell you.” 

She had over-thought it. Her husband didn’t care about the nonsense outside. She had thought he might be petty and jealous, but instead, he trusted her so much and was so broad-minded. Among Wu Zhen’s friends, there were also married people. She had asked around and found that almost everyone had some small conflicts with their spouses at home. There were always small misunderstandings and frictions between the two sides, and it was normal to have a few quarrels.

But when it came to Mei Zhuyu, Wu Zhen realized they had never had any unpleasantness or quarrels. Not to mention quarrels, her husband had never said a bad thing to her. No matter how she treated him, whether distant or close, he was always at ease. He would be happy to see her, and if he couldn’t see her, he wouldn’t actively seek her out, making her feel free and no different from before marriage.

Wu Zhen suddenly felt that with her husband’s mentality, he could practice Taoism. With such concentration and restraint, he would surely achieve something.

Mr. Mei, who was indeed a powerful Taoist priest, finished eating the food brought by the servants, which Wu Zhen had ordered for him beforehand. It tasted very good. Even though Mei Zhuyu did not care much about food, he felt that such cooking skills were rare in Chang’an City.

After the meal, Wu Zhen chatted with him for a while and ate some fruits. By then, it had become completely dark.

Servants came to light the lamps. There were already many lamps, but more than a dozen servants came to light up the countless small lamps in the corners and the large rotating lamp in the middle. Additionally, lamps were lit on the water. The water was not deep, only reaching calf height. The lamps placed on the shore would gather around the pavilion with the flow of water, making the inside and outside of the pavilion as bright as day.

 The sound of jingling bells echoed in the distance, and a group of dancers in light gauze playfully pushed and shoved each other as they entered the room, accompanied by several ladies holding musical instruments.

The lady leading them had an excellent temperament and wore a crimson purple dress. After she sat down, she smiled and nodded at Wu Zhen. The dancers took their places in the middle of the pavilion, and as the lady’s pipa began to play, the dancers started to twist their waists.

A gentle breeze blew through the pavilion, causing the sleeves of the dancing ladies to sway. Their shadows were reflected on the large lamp in the center, making them appear even more slender and graceful, like water chestnuts stretching in the water. The tiny bells on their bodies jingled softly, fluttering along with their light skirts, making them look hazy and beautiful, like flowers shrouded in mist.

The Pipa Lady’s playing was also very pleasant to the ears, blending seamlessly with the night and the wind. Wu Zhen rested her chin on her hand, squinted her eyes, and listened. Her fingers tapped lightly on the white jade plate on the table, occasionally making a soft sound, as if savoring the music. Everyone in the room, no matter what they were doing before, stopped to listen to the music and admire the dance—except for Mei Zhuyu, whose eyes remained fixed on Wu Zhen, paying no attention to anyone else.

Such soft and beautiful singing and dancing could not move the rock-hard heart of this calm Taoist Priest. He remained focused, trying to relieve his lovesickness.

After the song, the Pipa Lady sighed and asked everyone, “What do you think of Lady Wan’s new song?”

Cui Jiu praised, “Very good. Lady Wan’s skills have become more refined.”

Everyone nodded in agreement, but Wan Niang’s face did not show joy; instead, it was tinged with sadness. Finally, she looked at Wu Zhen and asked, “Second Lady, what do you think?”

Wu Zhen shook her head and said, “No, it sounds a bit stagnant in a few places. The meaning of your song this time is different from your previous ones, but it hasn’t fully changed. It’s neither good nor bad. At first, it sounds nice, but when I think about it carefully, something is missing.”

When Wan Niang heard her, her eyes lit up, and she leaned forward, asking, “I wonder if I could ask the Second Lady for some advice?”

In those days, dance and music were highly praised. Even the Emperor was obsessed with them, and the people were even more so. Wu Zhen’s appreciation of music was recognized by the Emperor. She was naturally a bit skilled, able to comment on music, though she rarely had the opportunity to perform it herself. However, Wu Zhen glanced at her husband beside her. She had brought him there to enjoy the evening, so she thought it wouldn’t hurt to play a few songs to liven up the atmosphere.

Wu Zhen stood up and took a seat under the lamp. Unlike the other musicians who sat on cushions, she sat on a chair, holding the pipa that Wan Niang handed her. Her posture wasn’t particularly dignified but rather casual, and the way she lowered her head and plucked the pipa made it impossible for people to take their eyes off her.

The previous song hadn’t touched Mei Zhuyu’s ears, but this one made a cluster of flowers bloom beneath his rock-hard heart.

Wu Zhen held the pipa with one hand and plucked the strings with the other. The scarf hanging from her elbow swayed slightly with her movements. The bright lamp illuminated half of her cheek, making her skin glow. The dancers and musicians all stopped what they were doing, sitting around and looking up at her—she was like the most conspicuous flower in a magnificent cluster of blooms.

Wu Zhen played Wan Niang’s song with a slight modification. She looked up and saw her husband’s eyes not far away. She was startled. Her husband sat upright and meticulously, with no expression on his face, but his eyes seemed to be filled with light, looking at her intently as if no one else in the world existed except her.

With a stir in her heart, Wu Zhen suddenly realized that her husband had a beautiful pair of eyes. They seemed ordinary most of the time, but when they occasionally shone brightly, they were very captivating.

She intended to put down the pipa after the song, but suddenly changed her mind. She moved her wrist, and the pipa sounded again. This time, she not only played but also began to sing softly.

“The young man is handsome and talented, with jade trees and branches, and the orchid pavilion is far away…”

“…I don’t know how good it is to be an immortal, but to grow old with you…”

Mei Zhuyu was stunned by what he heard, and his ears turned slightly red, but he continued to look at Wu Zhen with bright eyes. She didn’t play with her eyes down like before, but looked up from time to time, meeting his gaze. The movement of her eyes simply mesmerized him, and he couldn’t help but clench his hands to control his emotions.