Found: YA book set in Asia - ancient times - girl plays harp for royals
Original topic subject: YA book set in Asia - ancient times - girl plays harp for royals
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1Dauphine27
I remember quite a few details from this book, but I can't remember the name. It was a young adult book that I read somewhere in the 90s or early 2000s. It was set in Asia, and I believe it was in ancient times. There was a girl, possibly from a modest family who was very talented with the harp and became well known for it, and even played for the prince of the land (or maybe the young king), who was a small child. It was kind of bard-like, she'd tell a story while playing. When she had the audience for the prince, she played a long song for him that she could see he found boring, so she cut it short and started playing a different one instead that captured his interest. She did so well that she became court harpist or something like that.
She had a suitor whose name was Hideo. He may have been a soldier. He would slip notes for her under her harp. When war broke out and he went to war, somehow he was still able to get the notes to her.
She eventually had to go back home, probably to be protected from the ongoing war, so she stayed with her stepfather in her homeland until Hideo could come get her and marry her.
Her stepfather did pottery and made a very ugly cup, but when you opened the lid, it was beautiful inside.
While she was home, there was some sort of accident and she was burned with a hot poker on her face and it burned a quarter of her face. When Hideo came to get her, he didn't recognize her because she was dressed commonly and had her hair up. He thought she was just another commoner and spoke to her roughly, when she revealed herself to him, he left because she wasn't beautiful anymore.
The story ends that she marries her stepfather. It wasn't presented as a gross thing, just something of the time. She had a baby girl at the very end, which isn't what people hoped for; they wanted sons, but they were both happy with it.
She had a suitor whose name was Hideo. He may have been a soldier. He would slip notes for her under her harp. When war broke out and he went to war, somehow he was still able to get the notes to her.
She eventually had to go back home, probably to be protected from the ongoing war, so she stayed with her stepfather in her homeland until Hideo could come get her and marry her.
Her stepfather did pottery and made a very ugly cup, but when you opened the lid, it was beautiful inside.
While she was home, there was some sort of accident and she was burned with a hot poker on her face and it burned a quarter of her face. When Hideo came to get her, he didn't recognize her because she was dressed commonly and had her hair up. He thought she was just another commoner and spoke to her roughly, when she revealed herself to him, he left because she wasn't beautiful anymore.
The story ends that she marries her stepfather. It wasn't presented as a gross thing, just something of the time. She had a baby girl at the very end, which isn't what people hoped for; they wanted sons, but they were both happy with it.
3Dauphine27
I think this is the one! Thank you!
