Because Xu Chang'an always says he's just a commoner, Yun Qian believes she's a commoner too.

She's familiar with some so-called refined matters.

Zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting, along with singing and dancing, are the Six Arts for women, and these arts are complemented by tea, hence tea is connected to the Six Arts.

Thus, zither, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, wine, flowers, and tea can all be part of cultivation.

But Yun Qian.

Among zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting, she only knows how to write, and that is by following her husband's handwriting.

Among poetry, wine, flowers, and tea, she only loves drinking, because alcohol gives courage to timid people.

Especially tea, which connects all arts... she feels she cannot manage; after all, she prefers the joy of wine over the tranquility of tea... Though in reality, she can avoid drinking too, since it's just for amusement.

As for what joy it brings...

In any case, zither, chess, calligraphy, painting, music, poetry, wine, flowers, tea, and dance together can't compare to the "refined interest" that can lead to having children.

But the refined interests she enjoys aren't ones she can pursue every day like the Six Arts for women... otherwise, she'd be like this, exhausted, needing her husband's company even to gather flowers.

Not to mention she needs to learn to be reserved.

So, she's slightly interested in the Six Arts for women, since not only can they please the person she likes, but they can also substitute for post-drinking activities when she's not physically well.

——

Outside the window, a cloud drifts by, and warm sunlight filters through the window to fall on Yun Qian, warming her up completely.

"..." Yun Qian yawns, lying on the table watching the young man in front of her who has deliberately changed into a white robe and is fiddling with a zither case.

What can I say.

Interested as she may be, watching her husband so earnestly doing things she doesn't understand in front of her still feels novel.

"Why did you suddenly want to play the zither for me?" Yun Qian asks, propping her chin on her arm.

"Ah." Xu Chang'an is momentarily stunned.

He was still thinking about earlier when he had to carry the young lady's skirt while picking flowers at the West Pavilion, so he hadn't really calmed down.

"Why, just a whim I guess." Xu Chang'an says.

"A whim..." Yun Qian blinks and instinctively curls up a bit.

Thankfully, this whim wasn't the sort she is interested in.

Right now, she really can't bear it; if it were to happen again, she might really not be able to get up from the bed.

Xu Chang'an takes a deep breath, taking out the Seven-Stringed Zither given by Qinling from its case, thinking that he did harbor a bit of unwillingness after being rejected by her in his dream.

"Miss, in my dream, you didn't want to hear me play the zither." Xu Chang'an tidies his white robe: "How could I stand for that?"

"That's because there was something more appealing to me." Yun Qian explains.

"True." Xu Chang'an suddenly feels a bit embarrassed.

Indeed, Miss Yun hit the nail on the head.

At that time, the Yun Qian in the dream was just thinking about being tender with him, naturally not caring about any zither skills.

"But... now I feel like listening." Yun Qian looks at the young man in front of her who has specially changed clothes and even used incense, feeling a bit odd: "Why did you go and put on makeup?"

"What makeup?" Xu Chang'an shakes his head and explains: "The Seven-Stringed Zhi Li and the guqin itself care a lot about etiquette and appearance, so some senior sisters always bathe and burn incense, putting on zither attire before performing. That's etiquette."

He pauses, recalling the serious expression Qinling had when smoothing his fingers with incense burner sandalwood before touching the Seven-Stringed Zither while retrieving it.

"This is, after all, something from the senior uncle, considered a treasured item. Borrowing it... proper etiquette should always be observed, can't neglect the good intentions of the senior uncle."

"I see?" Yun Qian nods: "But she can't see you do this."

"It's for you to see, Miss." Xu Chang'an says.

He feels somewhat uncomfortable in this pure white zither attire, but he has to admit, changing into a slightly fitted outfit at home is indeed quite comfortable.

"Hmm." Yun Qian indicates she understands, though she continues to lie on the table, she raises her fingers a bit: "It looks nice."

"..." Xu Chang'an feels that the perfunctory nature of Miss Yun's words is a unique form of tenderness she gives him.

However, he has deliberately made everything ceremonial for a specific reason.

For example, when he was at Muyu Peak learning skills with everyone, apart from wanting to blend into the environment, he also thought... one day he would play the zither for the young lady.

Now is the time to test his skill, so of course, he should dress formally to avoid future regret of not doing his best.

Also...

Xu Chang'an looks up at the Miss Yun who has lost her strength, slumped over the table like a blob of slime, and sighs: "Isn't there a saying in the world about making friends through the zither? I heard music is a bridge, and the term soulmate is worth discussing."

"Making friends through the zither? Soulmate?" Yun Qian hears this, pushes her face off the table a bit, and stares at Xu Chang'an.

The young lady remembers.

He once said she was his "confidante," and back then, she felt like she was demoted from being a "wife" to a "confidante," but now she understands a bit more.

This counts as a tiny bit of romantic sentiment from her husband.

He can call her that as long as it makes him happy.

Thus, Yun Qian continues to lie there, regaining her strength.

Xu Chang'an: "..."

Most of the time, he finds it hard to keep up with the young lady's train of thought, maybe it's time to change tactics and be clever?

With this thought, Xu Chang'an can't help but laugh at himself.

Soulmate indeed.

Just look at the state of Miss Yun, completely drained...

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