In the city of Doucheng, there was a place called Yonghe Music Hall. In the depths of the pavilion, the music hall manager, Fang Cheng, pulled up a thin veil and urged, “Qi Gongzi1son of nobility/young master, it’s your turn to play the guqin. The noble guests are all waiting for you.”
“What’s the rush?” A voice came from behind the veil, calm and unhurried, like a slow flowing stream through layers of rocks, lazily carrying a touch of pure, captivating clarity.
The man behind the veil reclined against a bamboo chair; He wore a light blue silk robe that accentuated his slender figure, jade-like face, and ink-like blue-black hair. He was Qi Feng.
As the top musician in the Yonghe Music Hall, Qi Feng’s talent and looks made him famous in the capital city.
He casually played with a piece of jade buckle in his hand and said without lifting his head, “We are in the midst of war and yet these people have the leisure to enjoy music.
Seeing Qi Feng’s relaxed and serene posture, Fang Cheng clicked his tongue, showing impatience, “What does it have to do with you? You are just a musician. As long as you play the piano beautifully and satisfy the noble guests, it’s enough.”
The maid next to them heard this and looked at Qi Feng with a pained expression. She exclaimed, “Manager Fang, yesterday, Gongzi played the guqin until dawn for a guest, and during the day, he composed music and wrote lyrics for the music hall. He hasn’t had a moment of rest. The music hall relies on Gongzi to make money, so we can’t treat him like this!”
Fang Cheng coldly sneered, his voice sharper, “The noble guests specifically requested to hear Gongzi’s guqin. How can we afford to offend them?”
“In my opinion, if Qi Gongzi wants to live freely, he should find a nobleman to buy him out with a large sum of money while he is still in his prime. From then on, he can live a life of luxury and comfort. Isn’t that better?”
“You!”
The maid’s eyes turned red with anger.
She was enraged that the music hall relied on Gongzi to make money, yet still wanted to sell him as a toy to wealthy nobles. What’s even more tragic is that Qi Gongzi, who is so talented and beautiful, used to be a noble son himself. Now, he has fallen to such a low point.
“Enough.”
Qi Feng lowered his clear eyes slightly, and his fingers slowly tied the red rope that was tied around his waist into a neat knot. He interrupted their argument with a shallow smile and said, “Let’s go. The guests have been waiting impatiently. If we get scolded, it’s on all of us.”
Manager Fang turned his head and sneered at the maid. He sarcastically said, “Gongzi knows what’s best. Gongzi, please come this way.”
As they walked out of the pavilion and onto the deserted corridor leading to the music stage, Fang Cheng’s attitude suddenly became respectful. He followed closely by Qi Feng’s side and lowered his voice to say, “Gongzi, there’s news from the Pei mansion.”
Qi Feng asked, “What is it?”
Fang Cheng replied, “General Pei has just received the tiger talisman sent back from the border. With a million troops under his command, he and the Prince of Qing County are about to seize power in the court. The change of regime is imminent. Now, we only need to wait for the young General Pei to return victorious, and your family’s name will be cleared, and you can finally… leave this place of trouble.”
Qi Feng’s footsteps faltered for a moment, then he quickly regained his calm and steady pace. “What about Pei Yan? Has he sent any news?”
Fang shook his head. “The young general is still missing.”
Qi Feng tightly clenched the green jade peace buckle that hung from his waist, and the blood-red tassel on the buckle slipped through his slender fingers as he held on tighter.
“Qi Gongzi, here to perform at Yonghe Music Hall!” Fang Cheng lifted the hanging curtain and shouted towards the high platform filled with guests. Amidst the music, a faint smile appeared on Qi Feng’s face as he gracefully walked onto the lofty stage.
The Yonghe Music Hall was brightly lit with the sounds of silk and bamboo instruments reverberating through the air. The elegant room, with its wafting incense, was filled with nobles, scholars, and merchants from the capital, all dressed in luxurious silk robes. They all gazed eagerly at the music platform, watching as the famous Qi Feng Gongzi captured their attention. He was as fresh and pure as a bamboo shoot and white jade and seemed untainted by the world.
Qi Feng sat cross-legged in front of his guqin, his fingers lightly brushing over the brown strings. With a deft flick of his fingers, the ancient and melodious notes of the guqin sounded out, instantly silencing the noisy hall. Then, with his slender and agile fingers, he plucked at the taut strings, playing a beautiful melody of “Yangguan Song” that was both tender and lingering. The audience was mesmerized.
As he played, the young nobleman glanced down at the audience, his peach blossom eyes seemingly looking at everyone yet not putting anyone in his eyes. It was a kind of intoxicating charm that made people want to catch but couldn’t.
Under his seemingly smiling lips, a small mole was like a beautiful butterfly that suddenly flew onto a calm lake, disturbing people’s hearts.
The guests were lost in the young nobleman’s music and appearance, completely enamored.
Some sighed with admiration: “Even if this charm belonged to a woman, it would not be comparable. If I could offer a fortune of ten thousand gold, I would buy him today.”
“Even if it costs a fortune, I will buy him to enjoy him between the curtains. He is the only grandson of the three dynasties’ Grand Tutor and the only son of the former Prime Minister. How delightful!”
“It’s lucky that General Pei isn’t here. If he heard what you said, someone’s blood would be splattered all over the Music Hall today.”
“Do you think young General Pei is fond of Qi Gongzi? The Pei family has such strict family rules that if he redeemed a performer to the General’s mansion, he would get his legs broken by the General. Hahaha …”
Amidst the noise, the music hall doors suddenly burst open. Someone’s private soldier rushed in, shouting, “Sir, something bad has happened! There is a report from the border that General Pei’s military campaign has failed, and he died on the battlefield!”
The audience was shocked, and the nobles stood up one after another:
“What! General Pei Yan is dead!!”
“He really died! How did he die?”
…
The report of General Pei’s death reached Qi Feng’s ears as he was playing the guqin on the terrace. The lingering sound of the music suddenly became mute with a clanging sound, and his slender and dexterous fingers bent and stopped on the trembling strings.
Qifeng’s expression suddenly changed: Pei Yan…is dead.
—-
At a private club in City A.
Qi Feng sat in a luxurious and bright room, looking around in confusion. He had just heard the news of General Pei’s death while playing the guqin at the Yonghe Music Hall. But where was he now?
The room was filled with noisy singing and laughter, and strange-looking people surrounded him. Even if he didn’t know where he was, he could tell from the surroundings that he was in a place of extravagance and debauchery.
Soon, a young man with a strong smell of alcohol squeezed next to him, and with a suggestive tone, grabbed his waist with one hand and said, “Qi Feng? Not bad, you look better in person than in pictures.”
Qi Feng frowned and avoided him, rebuking in a low voice, “Rude, let go!”
The unfamiliar memories that followed caught him off guard. He was Qi Feng, a sophomore at an art college. A year ago, he was discovered and signed by an entertainment company because of his handsome looks and debuted early. However, due to frequent rumors of “embroidered pillowcase2绣花枕头 (xiùhuā zhěntou) – a type of pillow that is embroidered with intricate designs. In this case, it means outwardly attractive but actually empty.,” “fake mask Qi Shi3could refer to fake identity or fake personality,” and “rubbing heat4蹭热度: to ride on someone else’s popularity or fame,” it affected his current endorsement of a men’s clothing brand.
Tonight, his agent brought him here to meet Li Junzhuo, the investor for the endorsement, Li Junzhuo, and “sincerely” apologize in order to keep the endorsement.
Li Junzhuo saw his resistance and frowned, gripping the boy’s soft wrist with his hand. With a face full of alcohol, he whispered a warning in his ear, “Didn’t Tang Jun explain to you? If you want to continue as our spokesperson, apologize properly.”
Qi Feng understood that this matter was by no means as simple as “apologizing.”
He endured the pain in his wrist and glanced at Li Junzhuo with clear eyes. “I’m sorry, I can’t accompany you tonight. I don’t want to be your spokesperson anymore.”
His voice wasn’t loud, but it was crisp and piercing, like a cold blade piercing through the smoke and alcohol-filled air around them.
Li Junzhuo was stunned, his mind seemingly intimidated by the boy’s sudden display of elegance and nobility. He involuntarily let go of his hand.
Qi Feng quickly got up and prepared to escape, looking for the door of the room.
“Stop!”
Li Junzhuo woke up and chased after him quickly, pulling the slender boy into his arms with one hand and pinching his chin with the other. Looking at the boy’s cold and handsome eyebrows and eyes, he revealed a look of astonishment. “Listen to me, I’ll have the publicity department increase your endorsement fee.”
“No, let me go!”
Qi Feng struggled against Li Junzhuo’s grip. But he soon realized that this body was weak and his brain was groggy. The man’s smile also became more and more profound. The man’s smile in his eyes became even more meaningful.
This body must have eaten something unclean. Qi Feng felt a chill all over his body and wanted to ask for help. But looking around the spacious and magnificent box, everyone was immersed in their own drunkenness, and no one would care about a small star who was being forced.
What should he do?
Qi Feng’s heart grew colder. He looked around calmly and vigilantly, looking for a way out.
Suddenly, he saw a familiar man sitting in a dark corner of the room. Pei Yan?!
Qi Feng’s pupils suddenly contracted. Although his clothes were strange and his hair was extremely short, that face and the rebellious air were exactly the same as the young general Pei Yan in his memory.
Seeing that he no longer resisted, Li Junzhuo looked strangely in the direction of his gaze. After seeing the man sitting in the corner, he sneered, ” Are you interested in Pei Yan? Don’t worry, Pei Yan from the Donghai Investment Group is not someone a small star like you can climb up to. You’d better be obedient…”
“What did you say his name was?”
Qi Feng interrupted Li Junzhuo’s words and asked in surprise.
“Pei Yan. Haven’t you even heard of his name?”
…Also called Pei Yan.
Qi Feng’s body shook slightly.
Because he saw the dark glass cabinet next to him reflecting the appearance, looks, and body of his own body, which was almost identical to his own.
Why would there be another him and Pei Yan in such a strange place?
After experiencing countless struggles and being scarred all over, he gradually learned to accept his fate. Just like the storybooks said, when people die, they are reincarnated as another version of themselves. Could this be another life for him and Pei Yan?
The idea frightened Qifeng, but at the same time, it gave him great expectations. Perhaps here, they would have a different outcome…
Qifeng’s heart was pounding as he seized the moment when Li Junzhuo loosened his grip and broke free from his restraint, running towards Pei Yan.
Amidst Li Junzhuo’s angry shouts behind him, Qifeng stumbled and ran towards Pei Yan.
Just like when he met him in the capital, he looked at the tall, cold and proud man with trembling voice, and asked, “Excuse me, can you…take me away?”
If you like my translation, a cup of coffee is very much appreciated. I will post a bonus chapter for every five kofis received. Thank you!
