Chapter 15 Playing the Piano (1)

Qu Hanjin stared at the lantern in a daze for a moment. The paper lantern was shaped like a rabbit, with a pair of eyes wide open, looking at him pitifully, as if it had just suffered a great injustice and wanted to cry to him.

After a moment of thought, he stood there calmly, and replied sternly, "What use is there for Qu to keep something a girl likes? If I keep that lantern, it will just be discarded as ashes."

"Give it to you, sir, and it belongs to you." Although the young master's expression was fierce, it was not as solemn as it was in the main hall. Chu Qingluo waved his sleeves at him and retreated out of the hall after saying this. "If you want to throw it away, you can just throw it away. It has nothing to do with me."

"It's getting dark, so I'm going back to my room. I'd like to ask you if I need to come again tomorrow."

She suddenly stopped and asked the flawless young man in a gentle voice.

The class has been completed. According to what he said, she can no longer enter this place. Whether she can come to the side class often depends on the teacher's opinion.

The person behind her was silent for a long time, and then answered her.

"Come on."

Her cherry lips curled up slightly in an instant. Chu Qingluo didn't look back. After speaking respectfully, she walked away lightly: "I have remembered what I learned today. I bid you farewell."

The beautiful woman had already walked away. He looked at the lanterns on the table quietly, and there seemed to be a soft light trembling in his eyes.

After a while, Qu Hanjin picked it up and hung it on the beam.

From that day on, the news of Princess Mu Xiao's return to the court spread to the Ministry of Music. Everyone also knew that the thing the princess wanted most after returning to the capital was to see Mr. Qu.

This explains clearly why the master gave everyone a day off on the day of Qiqiao. He did this so that he could spend time with the princess.

Rumors were spreading all over the mansion. Chu Qingluo didn't care what others thought. She only knew that the master and the princess were not as close as the rumors said.

On the day of Qiqiao, after calculating over and over again, she felt that she had spent more time with her master.

Two days later at noon, the wind was light and the clouds were clear, the sun was warm, and the girls in the mansion looked at the heroic figure in the pavilion, each of them feeling puzzled.

She followed the various sights and saw that the woman sitting alone in the stone pavilion was none other than the Princess Mu Xiao whom she had met before. The Princess was leisurely sitting in the pavilion, seemingly drinking alone, with a look of melancholy written on her face.

Mu Wanxian happened to be passing by and looked around in confusion. She couldn't see any trace of her master, so she asked the woman beside her, "Isn't that Princess Mu Xiao? Why is she drinking tea alone in the pavilion? Where did Mr. Qu go?"

Song Yan looked towards the zither hall in the main hall with a hint of meaning, and replied softly, "Where else can we go? The master must be tuning every zither in the main hall."

The theory of zither had been taught, and the next step was to learn the technique of playing the zither. She recalled the scene of the man repairing the zither in the side hall, and could imagine him tuning the zither alone in the main hall.

"Such a small matter can be left to the servants of the mansion. How can you let the master do it personally..." Mu Wanxian covered her lips in astonishment, looking at the heroic figure not far away in disbelief, and secretly broke into a cold sweat for the master, "And let the princess guard the pavilion alone..."

"Sir cherishes the piano and is afraid that I might break it, so he is so careful and doesn't let anyone help." He gestured to the girl beside him not to make a fuss. Song Yan could understand some of it, but she still sympathized with the princess in her heart.

Mu Wanxian knew that her husband loved the zither very much, but if he neglected the princess, he would probably have a hard time in the future.

"We can't just leave the princess alone..."

The princess drank to relieve her boredom because Mr. Qu was busy preparing lessons and ignored her. Chu Qingluo looked at her intently, and suddenly a thought flashed through her mind.

She might be able to use this princess to... make the gentleman fall in love with her.

She raised her red lips slightly, her eyes curved slightly, making her look particularly charming, and then she walked slowly towards the stone pavilion among the flowers.

"What is she going there for? Could it be that she knows the princess?" Seeing this woman walking towards the princess calmly, Mu Wanxian was even more surprised.

"She lost her temper after just a few glances, and just wanted to climb up the ladder without even hiding her fox tail." The young lady of the Xu family could not help but sneer, with resentment in her mouth. She felt that the concubine of the Chu family had been an eyesore for a long time, and this girl was becoming more and more disgusting.

"That seductive girl... not only seduced the master, but now she's even harassing the princess..."

If the master insists on not allowing her to be included in the palace banquet roster, then she can let the princess intervene. Chu Qingluo walked on alone, with a hint of sharpness between her brows.

The celebratory banquet ordered by the emperor was originally intended to reward Princess Muxiao and Sun Chong. If the princess wanted to invite a female musician to the banquet to play the piano, no one could stop her.

Regardless of whether she can win Mr. Qu's heart or not, she can enter the palace and assassinate Sun Chong.

Mu Xiao was drinking in a depressed mood when he saw a bright and graceful figure walking towards him. She bowed respectfully outside the pavilion, then walked up to the pavilion and sat down boldly at the stone table.

Mu Xiao had seen this woman on Qiqiao's day, and he hadn't forgotten her. He raised his hand to pour some wine into the empty cup and said cheerfully, "You were the...Piantang girl back then. I remember you."

"Greetings, Princess," Chu Qingluo said softly and quietly, and drank the sake down her throat. "Seeing that the Princess was drinking alone, and worried that she might be bored, I came to drink a little with her."

"What do you want?"

Mu Xiao said firmly, without a trace of hesitation in his eyes: "Everyone in the world is driven by profit, and no one would approach me without reason."

The princess had been in and out of the battlefield for many years, and she had seen through the open and covert struggles for profit among all parties. She smiled frankly when she heard the voice, raised her finger without any hesitation, and filled the cup for him.

"The princess is smart and she saw my purpose at a glance." The princess was a straightforward person, so she just spoke frankly.

Chu Qingluo spoke softly, wanting to make her words clearer: "From what you have said, sir, the Lord has given His Majesty a decree to hold a celebration banquet in the palace. I have never seen such a grand occasion, so I would like to participate and play a piece of music."

This woman came to ask about playing music for the palace banquet. Mu Xiao understood the situation and replied helplessly, "I can't make decisions about the Ministry of Music. You've asked the wrong person. You should ask Mr. Qu."

"This banquet is to celebrate the princess and the general's triumphant return. The princess is the main guest, and the ladies of music can make the decision." However, the beautiful figure in front of him was relentless and kept whispering as if she would never give up, which gave a hint that everything could be discussed.

Mu Xiao frowned, realizing how clever the woman was. He suddenly asked, "We're not related at all, so why do you think I would agree?"

"I'd like to make a bold guess as to what the princess is troubled by." On the day of begging for skill, the respectful words between the two still echoed in her ears. Chu Qingluo couldn't express her feelings in words, but her answer made it very clear to the listeners.

"As the saying goes, fallen flowers have feelings, but flowing water is heartless. Or perhaps... I originally wanted to turn my heart to the bright moon, but the moon only shines on the ditch."

Every word seemed to reveal sarcasm. Mu Xiao glared angrily and slammed his fist on the table: "You...are you mocking this princess?"

"I dare not. This matter has long been known to everyone. The princess is just deceiving herself and others." She spoke slowly and directly, making the princess in front of her very sober.

"Princess, please don't be angry. I'm not here to mock you, but to offer you a plan."

Seeing that the princess did not curse anymore, but listened silently to the following words, she said everything she was thinking in a deep voice, her gentle smile full of sincerity.

"My lady, as you know, I have been spending time alone with my teacher lately, catching up on missed lessons in the side hall. This gives me plenty of free time to offer you some indirect advice. Men's minds aren't as delicate as a girl's, and sometimes they need constant guidance to open their minds and understand what's going on."

"I can give you some advice so that you can understand your heart."

As a princess, she fell in love with Mr. Qu from the Ministry of Rites. This rumor had been circulating for several years. Mu Xiao was unwilling to accept it. She always felt that she was getting closer to him, but suddenly she felt extremely distant.

The gentleman has always known how to control his temper just right and would never do anything inappropriate. It would be a pipe dream to make him act rudely and fall in love with someone.

Mu Xiao looked at the delicate woman with deep concern. If she could add fuel to the fire, it would be what he wanted.

Judging from the appearance of the female student, she must be a smart person. If this marriage can really be facilitated, it will relieve my lovesickness.

"If you can really speak well of me and make Mr. Qu fall in love with me, I will allow you to enter the palace with me." Mu Xiao narrowed his eyes, as if he was really discussing something with her.

To agree to this would be to cut off one's own escape route. She carefully considered her words and continued to explain that no one could be absolutely sure of promoting a happy marriage between the two.

Besides, Mr. Naqu, she is useful...

Chu Qingluo refused vaguely, and then explained to the princess in detail: "Princess, you think too easily. These feelings and delusions are originally illusory. Persuasion is a long-term strategy, but it cannot be achieved overnight."

"Besides, it would be easy for the princess to bring a little Qin Ji like me to the banquet. She wouldn't suffer any loss at all."

After explaining all the gains and losses, she waited for the princess to think about it. After the princess pondered for a while, she would get what she wanted.

He only needs to introduce a female student to the banquet to play the piano, and then a student from the Music Bureau will be by the teacher's side to advise him and become his eyes and ears...Mu Xiao only thought about it for a few moments and understood the pros and cons.

The princess suddenly laughed out loud, convinced. "How can I discuss this with you, sir, if you don't tell me your name?"

Upon hearing this, Chu Qingluo smiled faintly and bowed her head, her heart filled with joy. She replied respectfully, "My surname is Chu and my name is Qingluo. I am the illegitimate daughter of the Chu family."

"What a concubine's daughter! This is the first time I've heard someone mention their humble background so openly," Mu Xiao chuckled. Concubines avoided matters of social status, but this female student spoke so frankly. Mu Xiao couldn't help but sigh, "I'm afraid your legitimate sister is also very humble to you."

This was the princess's compliment. She then poured more wine for the straightforward and heroic girl and replied with a gentle smile, "Your Highness, you are too kind. We are both people who spare no effort to achieve our goals. Others may not understand your thoughts, but I can understand them a little bit."

"It's time for lectures now. Miss Chu should go quickly."

Glancing at the main hall that could be seen from the pavilion, Mu Xiao made a comment calmly, as if he didn't want others to notice his previous conversation.

Chu Qingluo stood up and bowed, as if he had just drunk a few glasses of wine and chatted with the princess for a few moments, without any other movements.

The desks in the qin hall had been removed, and in their place, elegant jade qins were placed in front of each noble lady.

The scattered sounds of the piano immediately spread to the hall, and everyone's face was filled with joy.

The zither in front of her was extremely exquisite, comparable to the one she had seen in her mother's bedroom. Chu Qingluo stared at it for a long time, gently stroking the strings with her slender fingers, and felt that the sound of the zither was truly beautiful.

Qu Hanjin sat solemnly in the hall. The zither in front of him was not the "Yan Yin" one in the side hall, but an ordinary Yao Qin that was no different from the one used by his students.