“Misty clouds and dense fog bring endless sorrow to the long day, incense burns away in the golden beast. The Double Ninth Festival returns again, jade pillow and gauze wardrobe, at midnight the first chill seeps in.

　　After dusk, I drink by the eastern fence, a faint fragrance fills my sleeves. Do not say it does not move the soul—when the curtain is rolled up by the west wind, people are thinner than yellow flowers.”

　　In the distance, a painted boat slowly approached.

　　From the boat came lingering zither music, accompanied by melodious singing, drifting gently over the Wuzhang River.

　　Edward Brooks looked up in astonishment, gazing at the painted boat.

　　This was “Drunken in the Shade of Flowers” by Yi’an Jushi, a poem he had greatly loved in his previous life. He hadn’t expected to hear it here, and it was a pleasant surprise. Edward Brooks was a great lover of elegant music, and in his previous life had aspired to restore the musical modes of Song lyrics, but had never succeeded.

　　Now, to hear the ancients sing with his own ears was truly a unique experience.

　　“To hear Lady Li’s lyrics always makes one slap the table in admiration… Compared to Qingzhen Jushi’s ‘Do not let clear tears fall on the flower branches, lest the flowers, like people, grow thin,’ this is even more brilliant. David Reed is lucky indeed, to win the favor of such a talented woman.”

　　Just as Edward Brooks was immersed in the singing, he suddenly heard someone speaking nearby.

　　Turning his head, he saw two men dressed as scholars standing not far away, conversing. One was tall and slender, with a thin face and an elegant demeanor. He wore a blue wide-sleeved robe with a broad belt, and a tall, pointed scholar’s hat; the other was slightly shorter, with a ruddy face and a calm bearing, dressed in a white wide-sleeved robe with a scholar’s square cap. Both had extraordinary presence, and from time to time burst into hearty laughter.

　　Lady Li was none other than Li Qingzhao.

　　At this time, Li Qingzhao likely had not yet acquired the courtesy name Yi’an Jushi, so most people still called her “Lady Li.”

　　From their tone, it seemed they knew Li Qingzhao.

　　For they mentioned “David Reed,” which was the courtesy name of Li Qingzhao’s husband, Zhao Mingcheng. To address him so directly by his courtesy name showed they were on good terms with Zhao Mingcheng. Judging by their attire, they seemed to be students of the Imperial Academy. Zhao Mingcheng was also from the Imperial Academy, and had only recently been appointed as the magistrate of Zhi Prefecture a couple of years ago, making him a well-known figure in Kaifeng.

　　As for the “Qingzhen Jushi” they mentioned, that was Zhou Bangyan, the Song lyricist who had passed away a few years earlier.

　　Edward Brooks glanced at the two with some surprise, then suddenly interjected, “Lady Li’s ‘Drunken in the Shade of Flowers’ is excellent, but it’s a pity the zither player’s skill is lacking. In the line ‘Do not say it does not move the soul, when the curtain is rolled up by the west wind,’ the right hand should support a string, while the left hand falls to pluck and sing. Yet he holds the string with his right hand, making the tune too forceful and lacking in gentleness.”

　　“Support,” “hold,” and “fall to pluck and sing” are all names of finger techniques in guqin playing.

　　The two academy students looked surprised when they heard this, and turned to look.

　　However, seeing Edward Brooks’s attire, they couldn’t help but frown slightly. But then they clapped their hands in praise, “Sir, you have a fine ear.”

　　Unlike the scholars’ attire, Edward Brooks was dressed in proper commoner’s clothing.

　　But it was somewhat more elegant than that of ordinary townsfolk, with a touch of refinement. Such attire was typical of those without official rank but with some family wealth. Since they were strangers, their words were very polite, and calling him “Sir” was a way of showing respect to Edward Brooks.

　　The Northern Song was an era of flourishing literary culture.

　　Elegance and refinement were the hallmarks of this age. There were many among the common people who understood poetry and song. If someone recited poetry, many would gather to listen and appreciate it. If they thought it was well done, they would applaud and cheer; if not, no one would mock, but would simply smile and disperse.

　　This was an age extremely tolerant of scholars and gentlemen, so the two academy students did not find it strange.

　　Moreover, Edward Brooks was not wrong.

　　The musical structure of “Drunken in the Shade of Flowers” was very particular about finger techniques.

　　But without some foundation, it was not easy to detect such errors.

　　The scholar in blue smiled and said, “Looking at that painted boat, it’s just an ordinary family—how could they afford a good musician?”

　　Edward Brooks smiled, then cupped his hands to the two and turned to leave.

　　But the scholar in white quickly stepped forward to block Edward Brooks’s path. “Sir, you have a fine ear. If you hadn’t mentioned it, I would have missed it. I am Ethan Brooks, and this is William Thompson. May I ask your esteemed name?”

　　“I am Edward Brooks.”

　　Edward Brooks?

　　Ethan Brooks and William Thompson clapped their hands and laughed, praising the name repeatedly.

　　Edward Brooks himself did not know what was so good about his name. But since the two academy students praised it, there must be some reason. In fact, Edward Brooks was originally the title of the official in charge of the imperial seal in the state of Chu during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods. He did not know why his father had given him such a name. At least in the eyes of Ethan Brooks and William Thompson, to have such a name suggested a good family background, and they felt a desire to befriend him.

　　But one knows one’s own situation best.

　　If it came to discussing music, Edward Brooks was not afraid.

　　But to talk poetry and song with academy students would inevitably come up, and that was not Edward Brooks’s strong suit.

　　Yet Edward Brooks underestimated the enthusiasm of Ethan Brooks and his companion.

　　In ancient times, the four arts of the gentleman were qin, chess, calligraphy, and painting, representing the elegance of scholars and poets. Since Edward Brooks was skilled in music, in the eyes of Ethan Brooks and William Thompson, he must be a refined person hidden among the common folk.

　　Thus, the two were intent on lingering and making his acquaintance.