Chapter Twelve: The Storm Is Brewing
Lin Wanqing's appearance was like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples throughout the Yingzhou Academy. Her gentle and courteous manners, coupled with her quick wit, quickly won the favor of many students. Furthermore, she and Xie An were old friends, often discussing poetry and literature together, seemingly a perfect couple.
Qi Mingyue observed coldly without pointing it out. She continued to attend classes and study every day, but interacted with fewer and fewer people. Most of the time, she sat alone in Tingxue Studio, either reading or playing the zither, as if the outside world's disturbances had nothing to do with her.
On this day's piano lesson, the teacher taught a new piece, "Autumn Geese." Qi Mingyue played it effortlessly, her fingering exquisite, her artistic conception lofty, drawing admiration from everyone. Lin Wanqing sat to the side, her eyes gleaming with envy.
After class, she came to find Qi Mingyue and said, "Sister Qi, your piano skills are superb. I admire you greatly. May I ask you how to handle the fingering in the seventh section of this piece?"
Qi Mingyue said calmly, "There are annotations on the score; Miss Lin can find out by looking closely."
Lin Wanqing's eyes reddened slightly: "Does Sister think Wanqing is dull-witted? Indeed, with my talent, I am not worthy to discuss the zither with Sister..." As she spoke, she was about to shed tears.
Seeing this, several female students gathered around to comfort her. One of them glanced at Qi Mingyue with dissatisfaction: "Miss Qi, since you know the finger technique, what harm would it do to give me some pointers? Why be so cold?"
Qi Mingyue didn't answer, but instead packed up her musical instruments to leave. Xie Ansu happened to enter and, seeing this scene, frowned: "What's wrong?"
Lin Wanqing hurriedly wiped away her tears and forced a smile: "It's nothing. It's just that Wanqing is foolish and has troubled Sister Qi."
A female student chimed in, "Young Master Xie, please be the judge. Miss Lin humbly sought guidance, but Miss Qi refused to offer any advice and even embarrassed her."
Xie Ansu looked at Qi Mingyue, his eyes filled with confusion: "Mingyue..."
Qi Mingyue picked up the zither and said calmly, "The way of the zither lies in the heart, not in the technique. If Miss Lin is truly interested, she will understand it herself." After saying this, she curtsied and gracefully left.
Behind her came Lin Wanqing's sobs and the comforting voices of others. Qi Mingyue, however, seemed not to hear them and went straight back to Tingxuezhai.
During the evening break, Zhishu said indignantly, "That Miss Lin is clearly doing it on purpose! She pretends to be weak and vulnerable all day to gain sympathy, and everyone falls for it."
Qi Mingyue removed her hairpins in front of the mirror and said calmly, "If she wants to act, then let her act."
Zhi Shu said with concern, "But Miss didn't see the look in Young Master Xie's eyes today... I'm afraid he also believed those words."
Qi Mingyue paused slightly in her hand, holding the jade hairpin. Her indifferent expression was reflected in the mirror: "What difference does it make whether I believe it or not?"
Just as Zhishu was about to speak further, he heard a knocking sound outside the window. He opened the window and saw Xie Ansu standing in the courtyard, bathed in moonlight.
“Mingyue,” he said in a low voice, “I would like to talk to you about what happened today.”
Qi Mingyue remained silent for a moment before saying, "It's late, please go back to your lodgings."
Xie Ansu remained unmoved: "I only have one question: Has Wanqing offended you in any way? You have been treating her very coldly lately."
Qi Mingyue looked up at him: "What do you think, An Su?"
Xie Ansu frowned: "I know you have a cold and aloof nature, but Wanqing... has been frail and sensitive since childhood. If you dislike her, just say so. Why bother..."
"Why bother?" Qi Mingyue's tone turned cold. "Does An Su think I'm deliberately making things difficult for her?"
Xie An was speechless. Under the moonlight, his face showed struggle: "I just don't understand. The bright moon has always been magnanimous, why is it so different towards Wanqing..."
Qi Mingyue suddenly laughed: "Since An Su is convinced that I am narrow-minded, why bother asking?" She raised her hand to close the window, "The night is cool and the dew is heavy, An Su, please go back."
There was silence outside the window for a long time, then a sigh was heard, and footsteps gradually faded into the distance.
Zhi Shu said anxiously, "Why doesn't Miss explain things clearly to Young Master Xie? That Lin Wanqing is clearly problematic!"
Qi Mingyue gazed at the moonlight outside the window and said softly, "If he believes me, why do I need to explain? If he doesn't believe me, what's the use of explaining?"
In the days that followed, Qi Mingyue became increasingly reclusive. Rumors about her being "aloof and mean" intensified at the academy, with some even mentioning her engagement to the heir of the Duke of Ying, speculating that she looked down on others because she wanted to curry favor with the powerful.
Xie Ansu tried several times to explain to Qi Mingyue, but she avoided him. On the contrary, Lin Wanqing often came to see him, sometimes bringing some poems to ask for advice, and sometimes pouring out her heart's troubles.
"Young Master Xie, please don't let my relationship with Sister Qi become strained." She said, her eyes red-rimmed again that day, "Perhaps Wanqing did something wrong and displeased her..."
Xie Ansu gently comforted her, "It has nothing to do with you. Mingyue... she's just been in a bad mood lately."
Lin Wanqing wiped away her tears and said, "I heard that Sister Qi is engaged to the heir of the Duke of Yingguo? Is she troubled by the marriage?" She suddenly lowered her voice, "Yesterday I overheard two maids talking, saying that the heir seems... not very satisfied with this marriage."
Xie Ansu paused in his teacup: "Don't believe these idle rumors."
Lin Wanqing seemed oblivious and continued, "That's true. With Sister Qi's talent and beauty, how could the young master be dissatisfied? Perhaps..." She hesitated, "Perhaps the young master has heard some rumors."
Xie Ansu frowned and stopped talking.
Before they knew it, it was time for the academy's year-end assessment. This year's assessment was particularly important, as the prefect of Yingzhou and several renowned scholars would be present to observe. The students were all eager and ready to showcase their talents.
The day before the assessment, Lin Wanqing came to find Qi Mingyue: "Sister Qi, have you prepared the piece for tomorrow's assessment? I'm a bit slow, and there are still some parts I don't quite understand..."
Qi Mingyue was practicing calligraphy and didn't even look up: "Miss Lin, there's no need to be so modest. Your musical skills are evident to all."
Lin Wanqing's eyes reddened: "Sister is still angry with me..." She suddenly knelt down, "If Wanqing has offended you in any way, I am willing to accept punishment, I only ask you to enlighten me!"
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