The Round-Eyed Bard: A Lament of Hidden Love

In the heart of ancient China, there lived a renowned bard named Jing who was known for his exquisite melodies and profound lyrics. His eyes, however, were a sight for sore eyes—completely blind. Despite his disability, Jing's music touched the hearts of many, earning him a place among the most esteemed artists of his time.

One evening, as the moon cast its silver glow over the tranquil courtyard of the nobleman's mansion, Jing was invited to perform for the evening gathering. Among the guests was a young noblewoman named Ying, whose beauty was as captivating as her grace. Ying had heard of Jing's prowess and was eager to see the man whose melodies were said to have the power to heal the soul.

As Jing began to play, his fingers danced across the strings of his lute, weaving a tapestry of sound that seemed to speak of love, loss, and longing. Ying was enchanted, her heart swelling with emotion as she listened. She found herself lost in the music, feeling as though it was a voice from the heavens, speaking directly to her soul.

After the performance, Jing was approached by the mansion's steward, who whispered to him, "The young noblewoman, Miss Ying, wishes to speak with you in private."

Jing followed the steward to a secluded garden, where Ying awaited him. She spoke of the music that had moved her so deeply, and Jing, moved by her words, revealed a secret he had never shared with anyone. "Miss Ying," he said, "my music is not just a performance; it is a reflection of my own heart. I have loved you from afar, but my eyes have never seen you, and my voice has been the only way I could express my feelings."

Ying listened in silence, her heart aching for the man who had found such solace in his art but was too shy to express his love. She knew that she, too, had been touched by his music, but she had no idea of the depth of his feelings. "Jing," she said softly, "I have felt the same way, but I have been afraid to show my feelings for fear of rejection."

Their conversation was cut short by the sudden arrival of the nobleman, who had overheard their words. He was amused by the situation and decided to play a game of chance. "If you can win a riddle I pose," he said, "then you may have Miss Ying's heart. But if you fail, you must leave her name from your songs forever."

Jing, knowing the weight of his love, accepted the challenge. The nobleman posed a riddle, and Jing answered it with ease, earning him the right to continue his love for Ying through his music. However, the nobleman's next riddle was a trick, designed to test Jing's loyalty. The riddle asked Jing to compose a song that would reveal his true feelings to Ying, but not to anyone else.

Jing, torn between his love and his loyalty to the nobleman, composed a song that was so beautiful and poignant that it could only be interpreted as a declaration of love. Ying, upon hearing the song, knew the truth of Jing's feelings, but the nobleman, upon hearing the same song, realized the depth of his own feelings for Jing.

The nobleman, touched by Jing's love and his own realization, decided to help the two young lovers. He arranged for a secret meeting between Jing and Ying, away from the prying eyes of courtiers and nobles. But fate had other plans.

As Jing and Ying met in the moonlit garden, they were discovered by a courtier who had overheard the nobleman's plan. The courtier, jealous of Jing's talent and the nobleman's favor, reported the meeting to the nobleman, who, in a fit of rage, ordered Jing's execution.

Jing was taken away, and Ying, in a desperate bid to save him, confronted the nobleman. "You have loved him for years," she said, "and now you are willing to destroy him for a moment's jealousy? Is this what love is?"

The nobleman, struck by Ying's words and the depth of his own feelings, realized the error of his ways. He freed Jing and allowed him to return to Ying. But it was too late. Jing, knowing that his love would never be returned, chose to leave the world in a final act of self-sacrifice.

As Jing played his lute one last time, his song was filled with a sense of peace and acceptance. Ying, listening to the final notes, knew that her heart would always belong to the Round-Eyed Bard, whose love had remained unseen but whose music would forever resonate in her soul.

The Round-Eyed Bard's Lament: A Tragic Tale of Unseen Love, tells the story of a man whose love for a woman remained hidden behind the veil of his blindness. It is a tale of the power of music to transcend the unseen, of the courage to love despite the odds, and of the tragic consequences of unrequited love.