The Little Musician of the Prince of Qin's Mansion

The Little Musician in the Prince of Qin's Household by Lin Zhaowu

Zhaozhao is an orphan who manages to get herself into the Prince of Qin's household as a musician on the strength of her looks. She goes along with the crowd, playing music and making a show of it.

But she has ambitions of her own: to find a man of standing, become his principal wife, and enjoy a happy life dressed in gold and silver.

She thinks the household's chief steward looks dignified and commanding when he scolds the servants. She also finds the captain of the guards dashing as he practices with his sword. And the new guest advisor seems like such a refined scholar...

But when she nervously waits in the back garden for the young gentleman she's set her sights on to pick up her handkerchief,

she looks up and sees the impossibly distinguished Prince of Qin.

Everyone says the Prince of Qin is cruel and tyrannical, a man best left alone.

Zhaozhao, however, thinks working for him is great. All she has to do is break the reed membrane and follow behind, playing whatever comes to mind, and she gets two taels of silver. What a lovely deal.

That is, until she's summoned to the Prince's room to perform for him alone.

She can't smile anymore.

Later, Zhaozhao has two jobs: she plays the flute during the day, and at night too.

Theme: Spring has arrived.