I am Huo Mengyin, daughter of the Minister of Rites in the Capital. Having grown up amidst the red walls and green tiles, I mastered every art from the zither and chess to calligraphy and painting, and could compose poetry and prose with effortless ease. I was a widely renowned talented woman in the Capital. My father cherished me dearly, and my mother held me in the palm of her hand. I believed that all the beauty in this world would forever belong to me—until the day I met him on the street.
It was a spring day, and the streets of the Capital were a brocade of blooming flowers, bustling with crowds. Accompanied by my personal maid, Qingwu, I had sneaked out of the mansion, wanting to see the lively market. As I walked along, I suddenly heard the melodious strains of a zither. Following the sound, I saw him beside a tea stall at the corner of the street. He wore a plain, unadorned robe, his features as delicate as a painting, his slender fingers plucking the strings with a look of intense and tender focus. The music flowed like a babbling brook and whispered like a mountain breeze, piercing straight into my heart.
My gaze could no longer tear itself away from him. Seeming to sense my attention, he raised his head and our eyes met. At that moment, time seemed to stand still, and my heart beat wildly, entirely beyond my control. He gave me a slight nod and revealed a faint smile. A blush instantly stained my cheeks, and I flusteredly looked away.
Chapter 210