Chapter 14: Begging for Skill (2)
After thinking for a while, Qu Hanjin raised his voice to dissuade her, telling her to just study here: "Wait a minute, if you like, just stay in this elegant hall. I'll mend a string and won't disturb you."
As soon as the words fell, the guard on duty at the gate of the mansion quickly walked into the courtyard and stood outside the hall door and reported respectfully: "Sir, the princess is waiting outside the hall."
"Please invite her in."
Halfway through playing the zither, he suddenly stopped, stood up gracefully, and went to prepare tea by himself.
The princess is here?
At this moment, she was in a dilemma, as she couldn't leave or not. But since the master had asked her to stay, she sat in the hall with peace of mind.
Chu Qingluo's expression was calm as she occasionally flipped through the pages of a book. It was unknown where her mind was wandering.
Besides... this was exactly what she wanted to see.
Shortly after the guards left, she heard brisk footsteps on the corridor. Before she saw anyone, she heard hearty and unrestrained voices echoing throughout the hall.
A touch of heroic and bright color came into his eyes. The woman was not wearing any pearls or jade ornaments, and the rouge she casually applied made her hair look graceful. Mu Xiao walked with a gentle smile.
"I've been so busy these past few days meeting the Emperor and entertaining guests that I haven't had any time to come visit you, sir."
"This is..."
Mu Xiao paused as he saw the scene, his eyes involuntarily scanning the woman in the hall. During the Qiqiao Festival, how could a noble lady be studying in the side hall? This was a sight he had never witnessed in previous years.
"Qu pays his respects to the princess," he said, bowing dignifiedly. Qu Hanjin spread his sleeves and introduced the beautiful woman beside him. "I am a student in Qu's school. I missed some classes for some reason and am here to make up for it."
I have seen many students in the Music Bureau, but this is the first time I have seen someone who can come here and take extra lessons with the teacher alone.
Mu Xiao looked at her slowly, his eyes never moving away.
Her beautiful eyes fixed, and Mu Xiao said rudely, his words full of meaning: "But today is the Qiqiao Festival, young lady, why don't you go out for a walk? I heard that the East Market is very lively, with all kinds of lanterns. If you don't have anyone you like, you can go out and take a look."
After all, she was a battle-hardened female general, and she was not afraid of romantic thoughts. After just one glance, she showed hostility without any courtesy, thinking that she came because of her love for Mr.
But it doesn't matter, this is exactly what she wants. If she really wants to get Mr. Qu's help, the princess will definitely offend someone along the way.
Being suspected by the princess for no reason can also make the gentleman feel pity for him...
Chu Qingluo hurriedly and timidly stood up, holding the books she had taken from the desk, and murmured softly, "I felt I had disturbed the master's quietness just now, and now that the princess has come, I feel even more disturbed. I will take my leave."
He had just tried to persuade her to stay, but when he saw Dao Wanse wanted to leave again, he frowned slightly and asked in a stern voice, "You haven't finished your homework yet, where do you want to go?"
"Sit still and concentrate on your lessons."
The tone of her words was very stern, without any personal feelings mixed in. Qu Han watched her sit back on the chair before he withdrew his cold gaze.
In this way, it was clear that this action was instructed by the master, and the princess dared not say anything more.
So she sat aside with a clear conscience, listening to the conversation between the master and the princess.
However, after listening for a long time, she felt that the two were too respectful and modest, and their greetings were too awkward, not at all like old friends who had known each other for many years.
The gentleman was really cold and indifferent to others, even the princess who had admired him for several years kept her distance from him.
Chu Qingluo stopped eavesdropping and began to read the volume carefully. After a few moments, she felt tired. Seeing that the teacher could not take care of her for the time being, she buried herself in the book and fell asleep.
I woke up without dreaming, and in a daze I heard the sound of knocking on the table.
When she was fully awake, she saw the solemn figure still concentrating on repairing the piano, as if what she had just experienced had never happened.
With cold eyes, he watched the strings of the zither quietly. Qu Hanjin said suddenly, his face expressionless and calm: "If you are tired, go back to your boudoir and sleep. Don't treat the zither hall as a place to rest."
The figure of the brave woman who was as good as the man was no longer visible in the room. The princess must have left the hall. She recalled the conversation she had just heard. Both of them were polite and boring.
I don't know what the princess likes about you...
Perhaps it was his handsome face, his beauty like a crown of jade, and his awe-inspiring demeanor that attracted women to him. Chu Qingluo rubbed her sleepy eyes, straightened her body slightly, and asked in a low voice, "When did Princess Mu Xiao leave?"
"Half an hour ago." He answered calmly, without raising his eyes.
“It took so long…”
The princess had been away from Ruban for so long, and now she came to wake her up. What was this gentleman's intention?
He had let the princess leave the house alone, while he was here repairing the zither. She also thought that today was the day to pray for skill, so she hesitated and asked quietly, "Sir...would you like to go to the East Market with the princess?"
Upon hearing this, Qu Hanjin finally straightened his graceful figure and replied sternly, "You are a noble princess. Wouldn't it be degrading to go to such a bustling city?"
She understood what the gentleman meant. The princess had made great military achievements and would surely be appreciated by the emperor, enjoying glory and fame. It would be a disgrace for her to go to the crowded streets.
She nodded in understanding and looked at the book of Qin Dao again: "What you said makes some sense, sir. I will look at the book for a while and leave after I finish reading it."
"The strings have been repaired," the young master sighed unexpectedly. She looked over and heard his clear and sharp words echoing in her ears, "This zither is called Yan Yin, and it was given to her by Princess Mu Xiao."
It turns out that this zither was a gift from the princess, no wonder it looks so luxurious.
Perhaps Princess Muxiao asked Emperor Daning for the zither based on her military achievements and then gave it to him as a gift.
"It seems that they are a perfect match." Chu Qingluo sighed repeatedly, thinking carefully about his elegant appearance of playing the piano, and smiled slightly.
But he frowned slightly when he heard this. After thinking for a few moments, he said slowly in a deep voice, "But I'm not used to playing this zither. I only played it once and then left it in the hall, gathering dust."
I didn't expect that after spending several hours repairing the piano, the teacher was not happy with it.
She looked at the jade zither inlaid with jade beads and placed on the zither stand, and realized, "So this isn't the zither that Master usually uses..."
He didn't like the zither given by Princess Mu Xiao.
The master personally took care of all matters big and small in this elegant courtyard, including serving tea, repairing the zither, and planting flowers and trees. The only person who followed him was a servant who delivered messages, and not even a servant was seen.
On such a leisurely day, the gentleman seems to be enjoying himself...
Chu Qingluo suddenly wondered what kind of days would be waiting for her if her deep hatred was avenged in the future and everything returned to peace.
If she could live in seclusion in the city like him, it would be fine. She raised her eyes slightly and asked the young man in front of her with interest: "Sir, you have been alone in this elegant room for many years. Don't you feel lonely?"
"Why do you say that?" Qu Hanjin was suddenly surprised. He didn't know how to respond when he heard the question, nor did he know why she asked.
"I see you picking tea, planting flowers, making preserves, and repairing pianos. You must be living a happy life..." You Ran said softly, her thoughts in her heart. She seemed genuinely puzzled and asked softly, "I want to ask you, sir, are you lonely these days?"
The young master remained silent, as if seriously considering the casual question.
She waited quietly for what would happen next, and after a while he coldly warned her, "Just focus on learning the piano. Asking me this question is beyond the bounds of propriety."
Chu Qingluo fixed her eyes, her expression peaceful, her thoughts drifting far away: "Sir, is there anything... very far away from you, but you dare not forget?"
“It’s never happened before.”
This brightness was very different from usual. He looked at her for a long time, and thought that she might still be sleepy because she had just been disturbed by him, so he softened his heart and said.
"If you are really tired, you can rest for a while. I won't bother you anymore."
And she really fell asleep as she wished, and had a sweet dream lying on the table.
He had no idea what he saw or heard in the dream. He only saw her delicate face with her eyebrows slightly raised, and her natural beauty and beauty made him miss her a lot.
She must have had a good dream...
Qu Hanjin glanced around calmly, cast a deep glance at the snow-white cloak hanging on the stool, hesitated for a while, took it up, and then carefully draped it over her shoulders.
But before he put down his cloak, he saw a pretty girl walking in happily. He was startled for a moment, and his cloak was still hanging in the air without being put on.
"Qingluo, I brought you a lantern!"
Holding a lantern in each hand, Meng Ying'er happily walked in. When she looked closely, she was stunned: "I thought you like rabbits, so I brought two. I..."
Chu Qingluo was awakened by the noise. She looked at the pretty figure in the hall in a half-asleep state. Turning her head, she saw the gentleman holding a cloak in his hand. He pretended to put the cloak back on the chair.
"Mr... Sir..."
The maid was speechless for a long time. After thinking it over, she decided that she couldn't let the situation in the hall remain so awkward, so she said, "It's so late, why is the master here..."
Unconsciously regretting his unnecessary action, Qu Hanjin stood dignified, his demeanor calm and elegant, concealing the slight panic in his heart, and looked at Meng girl quietly, waiting for her to speak next.
Meng Ying'er had never been stared at like this by Mr. Qu before. She felt a chill in her throat and felt it was not appropriate to stay here any longer. "Then... then I'll put the lantern in the corner. Remember to take it with you when you return to your room."
Although I had trespassed into the side hall, there were no classes today. The teacher should have been discussing Qiqiao with the princess, so how could he still stay in the mansion...
The maid hurriedly put down the lantern, bowed down, and ran away in a panic.
The palace was silent. Chu Qingluo turned around to look at the cloak that the master had put back, with a faint smile on her rosy cheeks.
“Master just now…” The jade-like figure in front of him was silent for a moment, and tried to explain vaguely.
She understood the situation clearly. She raised her eyebrows and smiled, speaking softly, "Teacher, you're worried that I'll catch a cold. I know that."
"In previous years, I always spent the festive season alone. I never thought that today I could celebrate the Qiqiao Festival with you. I am so happy."
After hearing this, Qu Han nodded slightly. Fearing that she might misunderstand his meaning, he quickly added coldly, "You...don't get the wrong idea."
She was clear about what happened after he fell asleep. Her husband was not emotional, but was just feeling a sudden surge of sympathy and pity.
She lowered her eyebrows and smiled softly, then slowly said, "I understand your concerns, and I'm not being sentimental. I just feel lonely sometimes, and I feel that with you by my side, I feel less lonely."
It’s almost there, it’s almost there…
As long as she grasps the right distance, Mr. will gradually fall into the deep pool, trapped in the cage, and it will be difficult to escape...
"Mr. Qu, do you like lanterns?"
Chu Qingluo picked up the lanterns that the maid had left on the wall of the hall. Since there were two lanterns, she placed one of them lightly on the teacher's desk.
The lanterns are bright and dazzling.
She raised the corners of her lips again and smiled brightly at him: "I only need one lamp, and the other one will be left for you, sir!"
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