The tuition fee at Luming Academy, like that of a private school, is five taels of silver per year. Qiu Yan had already inquired about this.
Subsequently, Qiu Yan and her group of five entered Lu Ming Academy together.
When Qiu Yan entered this ancient academy for the first time, she was momentarily reminded of her student days.
The past events were vivid in her mind, yet separated by time and space, causing Qiu Yan to feel strange emotions.
Qiu Xu and Zhou Zifang had completely different feelings. While Qiu Ling'er wanted to study, she also wanted to help her sister share the burden and save on tuition fees.
After Qiu Xu and Zhou Zifang paid their tuition fees, Qiu Yan and the others went to Xingyue Tower for a meal.
As soon as Qiu Ling'er entered Xingyue Tower, she was captivated by Song Jiao's pipa music.
Although she didn't understand music, she still felt that the clear and melodious sound of the pipa was unforgettable.
She couldn't help but praise, "Sister, this piece of music is really beautiful."
"Do you want to learn?" Qiu Yan asked.
She was always thinking about raising her younger siblings.
Qiu Ling'er nodded, "I want to."
Inside the private room, He Lin watched Qiu Yan slowly enter and fell into deep thought.
Isn't this the girl he met by chance at the Bihu Inn that day?
She's... doing well.
He picked up his glass, took a small sip of wine, and a hint of coldness emanated from his deep gaze.
As Qiu Yan led her younger sister up to the second floor and passed by his room, He Lin stared at her figure without any attempt to hide his gaze.
Qiu Yan noticed He Lin's gaze but didn't say anything or even glance at him. She went straight to find Song Jiao.
Song Jiao stood up and bowed slightly, "Miss."
She was always respectful to Qiu Yan.
Qiu Yan nodded to her and sat down opposite her. "Song Jiao, besides playing the pipa, what other skills do you have in the arts?"
Although Song Jiao didn't know why Qiu Yan would ask her such a question, she still replied:
"I am quite proficient in the seven-stringed zither and the Han zither, and I also know a little about Go, calligraphy and painting."
I know all of that.
In Qiu Yan's opinion, Song Jiao is truly a talented woman.
"You seem worldly-wise to me. Compared to ordinary courtesans, you are more like a daughter of an official."
Song Jiao's smile faded considerably, and a fleeting sadness crossed her eyes.
"You flatter me, young lady. Song Jiao comes from a humble background and is by no means a daughter of an official."
Qiu Yan was just saying it casually, and then she looked at Qiu Ling'er.
"Little sister, what do you want to learn?"
Qiu Ling'er was stunned by the sudden question. Just like last time, she thought her sister was just saying it casually.
She glanced at him and thought for a moment before saying, "So far, I've only seen Sister Song Jiao play the pipa; I don't know anything else."
When Song Jiao heard Qiu Yan say that she wanted her younger sister to learn from her, a hint of joy appeared on her long sorrowful face. "If the second young lady wants to learn, Song Jiao can teach her everything she knows."
She felt that she had finally found a place to use her talents.
Qiu Yan nodded, letting her younger sister decide.
Qiu Ling'er smiled sweetly and bowed slightly to Song Jiao: "Thank you, Sister Song Jiao."
Song Jiao quickly spread her arms to support Qiu Ling'er, saying, "Second Miss, I am of lowly status and cannot accept this."
Qiu Yan smiled and said, "Song Jiao, from today onwards, you will be Ling'er's music teacher. It's only right that she respects you."
Song Jiao's eyes welled up with tears; she knew she had chosen the right master.
Qiu Yan had never treated her as a servant, but she was determined to treat her master well.
“Song Jiao, when you’re not busy, take Ling’er out to buy musical instruments, such as the seven-stringed zither and Go sets. Teach Ling’er whatever she likes.”
Song Jiao knew a lot about this, so Qiu Yan entrusted her with the entire responsibility.
Song Jiao readily agreed, "Okay, Song Jiao understands."
After explaining everything, Qiu Ling'er did not leave with her sister, but sat next to Song Jiao and watched her pluck the strings one by one.
Qiu Yan walked out of Song Jiao's private room and stood on the second floor. Looking at the increasing number of guests on the first floor, she thought of the desolate scene when she first came to Xingyue Tower and felt very satisfied.
Everything will get better. She will use her worldly perspective to carve out a place for herself in this strange new world.
"Young lady." A deep voice entered her ears, shattering her reverie.
Qiu Yan turned her head and saw that He Lin had already stood beside her at some point.
Qiu Yan met his gaze and felt that the man looked very familiar, but she just couldn't remember where she had seen him before.
Customers come and go at Xingyuelou Restaurant, and people often greet her, so Qiu Yan doesn't find it strange.
"Is there anything you need, young master?"
He Lin's face remained expressionless, revealing nothing of his thoughts. "It's nothing."
Why are you trying to chat me up if there's nothing wrong with you?
Qiu Yan inwardly scoffed, then smiled and nodded, "Please go ahead, young master."
After she finished speaking, she prepared to go downstairs.
Just as he was about to leave, He Lin continued:
"When I saw the girl, I felt as if I had seen her before, so I assumed we were old acquaintances."
This way of striking up a conversation... it feels so familiar. She thinks she's heard it somewhere before.
Qiu Yan turned her head and took another serious look at the man in front of her.
Although she felt the other person looked familiar, she didn't say it.
"The food at Xingyuelou is quite good. If you like it, young master, you can order a few more side dishes to savor."
After saying that, she turned to leave again.
He Lin called out to her again, "Are you from Xingyue Tower, young lady?"
Qiu Yan replied, "That's right."
A faint smile appeared on He Lin's calm face.
"Since you are from Xingyuelou, would you please have a meal with me? That would be a way of showing hospitality."
"Let's forget it; men and women are different."
The more Qiu Yan looked at the man, the stranger she felt he was, but she couldn't quite put her finger on why. In short, this feeling made her very uncomfortable.
He Lin looked nervous. "Shu'er, it's just a meal."
"Huh? Young master, you've mistaken me for someone else." Now, Qiu Yan felt that this man was not only strange, but that he had something wrong with his head.
I've been chatting with her for so long, and she still mistakes me for her.
Suddenly, He Lin's expression changed, and the pipa music stopped abruptly.
Then came a scream.
Outside the private room, He Lin's guards suddenly drew their swords and stabbed at the man opposite them.
The man was dressed in plain clothes and looked no different from an ordinary citizen.
The crowd, unaware of what had happened, screamed in terror.
The plainclothes assassin was skilled in martial arts, but slightly inferior to He Lin's bodyguards.
The guards and assassins drew their swords and engaged in a fierce battle in the restaurant lobby.
In an instant, the Star Moon Tower was in complete disarray.
The sounds of clashing swords, diners' cries, and the clanging of broken tableware and chairs filled the air.
Qiu Yan was startled. She frowned as she watched everything, and when she saw the man opposite her who remained expressionless, she immediately felt a surge of anger.
The fight between the two was deadly, with each move potentially fatal.
She looked at He Lin, "Who is it?"
He Lin's face suddenly turned cold. "Shu'er, don't be afraid, I will protect you."
He had too many enemies. If these people hadn't chased him all the way to Baiyang, he wouldn't have been at the border yesterday, and by noon today he would already be sitting in Xingyue Tower.
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