Chapter 59: Listening to Music in the Separate Courtyard (Part 1)

The three of them rode horses all the way and soon arrived in Pingkang Fang, the busiest and most lively entertainment district in Chang’an. There were numerous brothels and music schools, as well as a great many official and private dance and music venues. Soon, Li Fei Shouyu arrived in front of a large mansion. Carriages were parked all around the entrance, with people coming in and out constantly. Li Qing’an glanced at the plaque on the gate, which read “Liyuan Separate Courtyard.” Li Qing’an knew that Liyuan was the music and art center of Chang’an.
Li Fei Shouyu asked a few questions to the gatekeeper boy, then turned to Li Qing’an with a smile and said, “It’s here. Follow me!”
“I warn you first—Shouyu has been waiting for Qian Niang for almost three years. If you cause any trouble today, be careful, or I’ll skin you!” Li Qing’an warned Li Fei Yuanli before entering.
Li Fei Yuanli was filled with indignation. “Who do you think I am, Old Li? Would I steal my own brother’s woman?”
Li Qing’an kicked him. “Stop talking nonsense and let’s go!”
The two followed Li Fei Shouyu through the gate. In front of them was a very large pond surrounded by curved corridors. There were dozens of halls of various sizes scattered along the corridors, and in the center of the pond stood a pavilion where songs and dances were performed. A group of dancers were dancing gracefully on the stage, accompanied by melodious music.
Today, the separate courtyard was adorned with colorful flowers. It was deep winter, so there were no real flowers—only fake ones made of brocade. Red banners with the words “Laba Festival Music Gathering” hung above them. Only then did Li Qing’an remember that it was actually the Laba Festival.
“Gentlemen, this is Songhe Hall. Please sit down for a while while I go and invite Qian Niang.”
The three sat down in the hall. Seeing Li Fei Shouyu’s serious expression, Li Qing’an whispered with a smile, “What’s wrong? Are you nervous?”
Li Fei Shouyu nodded. “I’m afraid she no longer recognizes me.”
“That’s not a problem. As long as she’s still alive, we can start over! Old Li, what do you think? Old Li…”
Not hearing a reply from Li Fei Yuanli, Li Qing’an turned around in surprise. He found that Li Fei Yuanli was no longer in his seat. Looking around, he saw the scoundrel teasing a female musician by the wall.
“Do you know who I am? Have you heard of the hero of the Battle of Xiao Bulu?”
“I’ve only heard of the two Lis from Anxi,” the female musician replied in a low voice.
“Hehe! That’s right. I’m Li Qing’an, the greatest archer among the two Lis from Anxi. How about that? Handsome, right?” Li Fei Yuanli said shamelessly.

Li Qing’an was both angry and amused. This bastard must have used his name to deceive countless women. He stepped forward, slapped him on the back of the head, then grabbed him by the neck and dragged him over.
“You bastard dare to tarnish my reputation! Tell me! How many women have you deceived by pretending to be me?”
Li Fei Yuanli raised his hand and swore, “By heaven and conscience, this is the first time. The past few days I used Li Siyue’s name—he’s the greatest swordsman in the world, his name is even more famous than yours.”
“I’ll tell Siyue tonight and have him skin you!”
Just then, the sound of jingling ornaments came, and a woman holding a pipa entered through the door. She was dressed in a light green long dress, delicate in appearance, with soft skin and a graceful figure. She stared at Li Fei Shouyu in astonishment.
“Shouyu, is it really you?”
“Qian Niang!” Li Fei Shouyu stood up excitedly.
The pipa slowly slipped to the ground, and tears streamed from her eyes. Suddenly, she let out a soft cry and threw herself into Li Fei Shouyu’s arms.
…
Everyone quickly left the room and closed the door softly. Li Fei Yuanli sighed deeply and said, “Sigh! Why isn’t there any woman waiting for me, old Li?”
“There are! Those two foreign women from Bahuancheng are waiting for you, aren’t they?” Li Qing’an teased him.
“The two foreign women from Bahuancheng?” Li Fei Yuanli couldn’t recall. He asked doubtfully, “Which ones?”
“The ones I met on my first day at the fortress…”
“Tch!” Li Fei Yuanli spat loudly. “Are you mocking me?”
Suddenly, he froze like a stone statue, staring straight ahead, his mouth wide open, his eyes almost popping out.
“My heavens! There are such beautiful women in the world.”
Li Qing’an turned around and saw a group of musicians pouring in through the side door in the distance, holding musical instruments. Each of them was stunningly beautiful, dressed in colorful skirts. The musicians parted aside, revealing a girl in a white dress. She stood out among them—tall, with crystal-clear fair skin, her black hair tied up in a bun, exposing her long, snow-white neck. She looked as noble as a swan and as ethereal as a fairy, though a veil covered her face, hiding her features.
Li Qing’an was stunned. He seemed to have seen this woman somewhere before. His gaze fell on the zither held by the maid behind her.
“It’s her, no doubt—she’s the girl who played such beautiful music that night.”
Her silhouette, her gently swaying waist, her graceful curves—Li Qing’an remembered that fleeting glimpse from that night again.

He kept watching her back disappear into the small building before quietly asking a female musician, “Who was that woman in the white dress just now?”
“I heard the master invited the most mysterious Qinxian among the three great musicians of Chang’an tonight—she might be her!”
“Why is she mysterious?”
At that moment, Li Fei Shouyu and Qian Niang came out. Qian Niang smiled and said, “She’s mysterious because no one knows where she lives or what her name is. She only appears to play the zither on the three festivals of Shangyuan, Zhongyuan, and Laba, and she plays at most three pieces each time. She came to our side courtyard to play tonight, which is why so many music lovers gathered here. You’re lucky too—we’ve seen her face for the first time as well. She’s truly a stunning beauty.”
Seeing their hands intertwined, Li Qingan bowed and said with a smile, “Congratulations to you both!”
Li Fei Shouyu blushed and quickly released Qian Niang’s hand. He pulled Li Qingan aside and said, “Qian Niang has agreed to go to Anxi with me. I’m going to free her now, and then I’ll take her away. Do you want to come with us?”
Li Qingan chuckled and said, “Since I’m here, I’d like to hear the Qinxian play.”
He then asked Li Fei Yuanli, “Old Li, are you leaving or staying?”
“I, Old Li, have always been a man of refinement—of course I’m staying!”
……
Half an hour later, the Laba Festival concert began. Laba, also known as Laba Festival, was a major holiday in the Tang Dynasty. With three days of the festival plus an additional day off, the imperial court had a four-day break. During this time, various cultural and artistic activities were held. The Tang Dynasty was famous for its songs and dances, and dance studios and music halls became places desired by scholars and refined people in Chang’an. Moreover, there were over a hundred thousand scholars preparing to take the imperial examinations the following month.
As a result, the Liyuan side courtyard was packed with guests. Scholars who came to listen to music and watch dances filled the corridors along the pond, and all the elegant rooms had already been booked. On the stage in the middle of the pond, dozens of musicians were playing “Spring River Flower Moon Night” from the Qingshang music genre. Instruments such as the zither, se, zhu, pipa, sheng, xiao, and flute played in succession, producing elegant and soothing sounds. Four dancers also performed gracefully to the music, their movements delicate and delightful. A singer softly sang a melodious song with her red lips.
……
Who first saw the moon by the river? In which year did the river moon shine on people for the first time? Life goes on generation after generation, yet the river moon remains unchanged year after year. We don’t know whom the river moon awaits, only that the Yangtze River keeps carrying away the flowing water.
……
The audience on both sides of the corridor listened in rapt silence.
Li Qingan had also heard “Spring River Flower Moon Night” in his own era, but hearing it in the Tang Dynasty gave it an even deeper flavor.

Li Fei Yuanli felt his head ache terribly. He wanted to slip away to a brothel to drink, but was afraid Li Qingan would accuse him of valuing women over friends, so he had to endure listening. Eventually, he could take it no longer and quietly asked the musician beside him, “When will the Qin Immortal appear?”
“The Qin Immortal is the last performer.”
The musician smiled and said, “My lord, bright flowers need green leaves to set them off. If you don’t listen to these ordinary pieces, how can you appreciate the Qin Immortal’s skill?”
“I don’t care about that. I just want to know—will it be the Qin Immortal playing next?”
“There are two pieces of ‘Xiliang Music’ and two pieces of ‘Kucha Music’ after that, followed by three pieces—‘White Snow’, ‘Gongmo Dance’, and ‘Midnight’. Only then will the Qin Immortal perform a solo.”
“How much longer?” Li Fei Yuanli asked with a grim face.
“Not long. At most, another hour.”
“An hour? Damn it, I’ll just endure it!”
Thinking of the Qin Immortal’s beauty, Li Fei Yuanli decided to act like a refined man.