Chapter 62 Chapter 61 (Additional Update) Confirmed
This piano is indeed a good one, but the tune seems familiar, as if it is the one he played in Jiangnan.
Gu Shiyan glanced calmly at the emperor at the top of the table. The emperor was busy handling government affairs and there seemed to be nothing unusual. Could it be that this was not a calculation and test, and he was just overly suspicious?
He placed the piano on his legs and threw the music sheet in his hand onto the table. His hands were still tuning the strings, and his slender white fingers brushed across the strings, making bursts of crisp sounds.
This zither was truly a rare and fine instrument. It bore a resemblance to the famous Fengqi zither mentioned in ancient texts. He had previously inquired about the zither's whereabouts at Fengyu Tower, but had never imagined it had been taken into the palace by the Mu royal family. Thinking of the absurdities of Daliang's previous emperors, Gu Shiyan felt it was a waste of precious resources.
Compared with his ancestors, Mu Congmo was much more normal. Under such circumstances, it was truly a miracle that Daliang had not yet been destroyed.
"Since Your Majesty is so interested, I will offer my humble opinion." Gu Shiyan's eyes were now focused on the strings of the zither, and he looked eager to try.
Seeing this, Mu Congmo waved his hand to signal the palace attendants to withdraw. Led by Hu Xian, they bowed their heads and walked out. Mu Congmo also sat up from his previous lazy state, put down the memorial in his hand, and looked at Gu Shiyan leisurely.
A moment later, Gu Shiyan's hands swiftly slid across the strings. His movements were indistinct, leaving only a trail of afterimages. Then, the clear, melodious sound of the zither echoed through the hall. Gu Shiyan's expression remained calm, but Mu Congmo was straining to suppress the strange emotions within him.
Even after three years, the melody of Jiangnan's song still resonated in his heart. He had specifically asked Man Ziling for the score, and it was the piece Ayan had played in the brothel that day. Although there were subtle differences between the two pieces, due to the different instruments and perhaps the different states of mind of the performers, there were also subtle differences between the two pieces.
But Mu Congmo knew that the person in front of him was his A Yan. His words could deceive him, but his melody could not.
Now he finally met the person he had been thinking about all these years, but Mu Congmo was more nervous than happy at the moment. The wide robe and the imperial desk concealed his movements. In that unknown corner, his hands had been clenched into fists without him knowing when.
For a moment, he really wanted to rush to the boy and ask him why he had abandoned him, but more importantly, he wanted to know how he had been doing these years.
But he was worried that his actions would scare the other party, so he could only endure it.
Gu Shiyan's hands were still plucking the strings of the zither, and the melodious tune in the hall was still playing, but Mu Congmo could not hear a word. His passionate gaze was focused on the boy's fingers. Somehow, his face was stained with a hint of blush, as if the boy was not plucking the strings of the zither, but his body.
After a moment, he withdrew his gaze, thinking about how to face the boy next. He was unsure whether Gu Shiyan wanted him to reveal his identity, and he didn't know how to get along with him next.
Seeing that Gu Shiyan's piano music was coming to an end, Mu Congmo fled from here, leaving only a sentence: "You should have a good rest in the mansion for a few days. Just tell Hu Xian about what you said before, and he will take care of it for you."
After saying that, Mu Congmo walked around the screen and entered the inner hall behind, leaving Gu Shiyan standing there in a daze with a puzzled look on his face.
This man was still as strange as ever, but at least he had agreed to let him stay in the capital. Then he became a little puzzled. He agreed so easily, which was not like Mu Congmo's usual temperament.
Furthermore, he hadn't even mentioned the reason, so why had Mu Congmo agreed so readily? It was just a piece of music. Could it be that he had really seen through his identity? He then dismissed this idea. The tunes of the two pieces of music were so different, how could he be recognized so easily?
Although he didn't know what Mu Congmo was thinking, it would be nice to be able to rest in the mansion for a few days. Thinking of this, Gu Shiyan put the piano on his lap on the wooden table beside him and walked out of the hall without hesitation.
Eunuch Hu Xian was guarding outside the palace at the moment. When he saw Gu Shiyan coming out, he smiled, bent over, and asked, "Young Master Gu, why are you out? Does His Majesty have any instructions?"
Gu Shiyan thought of Mu Congmo's words and leaned close to Hu Xian's ear: "In a few days, His Majesty will take the others to the temporary palace. I would like to ask to stay in the capital. His Majesty has granted me permission. Let me tell my father-in-law."
Not only was Gu Shiyan confused, but even Hu Xian was bewildered. What was the point of telling him such a thing? His Majesty always had his reasons. In just a moment, Hu Xian convinced himself. He smiled and said to Gu Shiyan flatteringly, "Don't worry, Master Gu, our family will definitely take care of this matter for you." But he didn't know what to do.
"Then I'll trouble you, eunuch." Gu Shiyan bowed and thanked him, then left towards the palace gate.
On the other side, Mu Congmo hid in the inner hall.
He sat on a soft couch by the window, his deep black eyes as dark as a pool of water. The blush on his face had now faded, replaced by a look of unwavering sorrow. There was no one here at the moment. He looked into the empty hall, his mind filled with Gu Shiyan's every move just now.
He was never an indecisive monarch. On the contrary, he was very decisive in government affairs. This was the reason why he could keep the court firmly in his hands and fight against those aristocratic families that had been established for hundreds of years, and even gain a slight advantage.
Calculating people's hearts has always been what he is best at. He could use tenderness to weave a trap and lead the boy step by step into the cage he set, but is this really love for Gu Shiyan?
Mu Congmo sat on the couch like this. The sun outside the window continued to set, and the hall gradually became dark.
After a long period of contemplation, he had finally figured it out. He wanted her to fall in love with him willingly and stay by his side. If she didn't want to be trapped in the capital, then he could just abandon the throne and go away with her, living a carefree and unrestrained life.
At this time, Eunuch Hu Xian tiptoed in. He was afraid of disturbing the emperor's rest, so he moved very quietly. In the darkness, he suddenly saw Mu Congmo sitting on the couch. He almost couldn't control his demeanor and almost screamed out.
Seeing that the emperor was awake, he waved his hand to signal the palace servants behind him to come forward and light the candles in the hall. "Oh, Your Majesty, this hall is pitch black. Why didn't you ask the servants to light the candles earlier?"
Mu Congmo ignored him and just asked, "How's the thing Gu Shiyan asked you to do going?"
Mu Congmo silently recited the three words "Gu Shiyan" in his mind. Such a name was truly a perfect match for him. Ayan, Ayan, why hadn't he thought of it before? Then he thought again, then Ayan must be Gu Cheng's son, the one predicted by the national teacher to be born with the fate of a phoenix.
Dragon and phoenix are a match made in heaven, and this is especially true for him and A Yan. Thinking of this, Mu Congmo couldn't hide the smile on his face anymore, as if tomorrow was the day he and Gu Shiyan would get married.
This all makes sense. Twenty years ago, Wu Zun Ji Ruoxi personally came to the capital and brought A Yan to Yunliang Qianchi. Since then, A Yan has been living there until he met himself in Jiangnan three years ago.
It turned out that A Yan's parents were the Duke and Duchess of Yingguo. He had heard many people's praise of them in the palace, most of which were stories of their harmonious relationship. Gu Cheng seemed to treat A Yan well, but he was still no match for him. The most comfortable and luxurious place in the world was the palace, and letting A Yan live in the Duke's Mansion was really unfair to him.
Just looking at A Yan's appearance, he seemed to be quite happy living in the Duke's Mansion. On the one hand, he was happy that Gu Shiyan had found his family, but on the other hand, he felt a little regretful that he could not keep him in the palace with a legitimate reason.
When Hu Xian heard the emperor's question, he quickly bowed and replied, "Your Majesty, I have completed everything that Master Gu instructed me to do."
After thinking about it for an entire afternoon, he finally understood why the emperor had entrusted this matter to him. As a minister, Master Gu should have the same food, clothing, housing and transportation as the emperor, but he was left in the capital, and he did not have to prepare the things that originally belonged to him. This was the emperor's consideration for him.
Mu Congmo nodded with satisfaction. He did not ask what Gu Shiyan was talking about. No matter what it was, he was willing to let the other party do as he pleased.
It was just that he didn't know how to face her yet, so he had to go back home to rest for a few days. Otherwise, he couldn't bear to be apart from her even for a second. Once he had everything ready, until she was willing to tell him all her secrets, then it wouldn't be too late to do anything.
Then Mu Congmo suddenly seemed to think of something and said to Hu Xian, "I remember there are a few quilts made of brocade in the palace. Remember to bring them with you when you go to the palace this time."
This brocade is the finest in the world, as cool as ice, yet warm enough to keep you warm, making it the most comfortable material in summer. However, the emperor had previously stated that this brocade was too cold, so he had it stored in the warehouse, untouched. It's unclear why he suddenly wanted to bring it to the palace today.
Although Hu Xian was puzzled, he still bowed and replied, "Yes, I understand."
A few days later, the usually quiet palace gate was now filled with carriages, all of which were the items brought by the emperor and the carriages of his ministers.
The most conspicuous carriage in the middle is Mu Congmo's. It is about twice as large as ordinary carriages and looks very spacious. There is also a huge bright yellow umbrella on the top of the carriage, which shows the emperor's dignity.
The carriage is carved with dragon, phoenix and unicorn patterns all over, and the horses driving it are also quite exquisite, the so-called "Six Horses of the Son of Heaven". These six horses are all white, strong and powerful, and are extremely gentle after training, so as to avoid disturbing the emperor on the road.
Mu Congmo was wearing a silver-white dragon robe. Although it was not as eye-catching as the bright yellow one, it was still majestic. Hu Xian was pulling open the curtain of the emperor's carriage. The young eunuch beside him took out a stool and placed it on the ground, waiting for the emperor to get on the carriage.
Mu Congmo glanced around and finally set his sights on Hu Xian. His expression remained calm, but he felt a little nervous inside. He asked, "Where's Gu Shiyan?"
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