The lonely sound of guqin spread like ripples across the man-made pond where snowflakes fell before melting into water.
The Spirit fishes peaked out from beneath the pond's surface, their colourful scales shimmering with faint spiritual light as they gathered to listen to the music.
Sitting inside a pagoda-like structure that stood at the center of the pond, connected to the garden by a bamboo bridge, Zuqin's eyes were closed as she played, her soft fingers dancing across the strings of her ancient guqin.
At this moment, Zuqin's personal maid came rushing in.
But seeing the Empress playing guqin, she didn't dare disturb her immediately. Instead, she waited silently for the Empress to finish.
After the time it took to boil a cup of water, Zuqin's fingers slowly stopped.
The spirit fishes were also awakened, swimming back into the depths of the pond.
"What's the matter?" Opening her heterochromatic eyes, she asked, her gaze falling upon her maid.
