Chapter 23 Government Regulations (1)
No more bothering...
He recited these four words softly in his heart, and the more he recited them, the lonelier he felt, as if a feeling of desolation was growing deep within him.
It appears in an instant, but cannot be erased without leaving any trace.
Qingrong showed no emotion. He remained silent for a long while, pondered for a moment, and then asked, "Did she behave unusually in today's class?"
After pondering for a while, Fu Guang really didn't understand what the gentleman meant. He shook his head slightly, then nodded slowly with uncertainty: "I and Miss Xu are of the same mind, happy and at ease, there is nothing unusual about it."
That Miss Xu had quarreled with her many times, so how could she get along well with that girl... Maybe she wanted to let go of the past, forget him, and live a peaceful life.
Qu Hanjin held the corner of the page tightly, holding it in mid-air. He stared at it in thought, his eyes darkening. "What is she doing now?"
"I'm...I'm strolling with Master Sheng to enjoy the flowers."
Fu Guang answered very carefully. He felt that the gentleman was a little strange, but he couldn't really tell what was strange. He only saw that the gentleman was stunned for a long time after hearing this.
At this moment, he froze and his heart trembled violently.
She could never have imagined that she could have such a close relationship with Sheng Youzhang...
"I understand. You step back."
He ordered Fu Guang to retreat to the side hall. He closed the book lightly, and his eyes unconsciously fell on "Wild Goose Leading".
At that time, he almost couldn't control his desire and had improper thoughts in his mind, but she just laughed it off, did not expose him, and even let him do whatever he wanted.
She even said she was willing, she also expressed her admiration, she even thought that she would obey him in everything...
Qu Hanjin looked up at the beam again. The rabbit lantern that had been lit for many days had run out of light. It would probably take more effort to light it again.
Or maybe, it will never be bright again...
"Sheng Youzhang..." He vaguely said the name, stood up and walked out of the side courtyard, following Fu Guang's words to a corner of the mansion.
Just as Fu Guang said, the two people in the words really walked side by side, with their delicate and pretty eyes and brows slightly furrowed, as if hiding endless shyness.
Hearing the young man beside her whispering happily, she smiled brightly, and her delicate face was the brightest and most beautiful face he had ever seen.
After taking a few glances, Qu Hanjin slowly walked towards the maid standing beside the corridor. Seeing that the maid was also looking at this scene, he asked in a stern voice.
"How long have they been rewarding me like this?"
He stood solemnly by, his face particularly sullen, as if he would not leave unless the maid replied.
"Reporting to the master, I saw these two people strolling around, talking and laughing, for about half an hour." Unaware of the master's mood, the maid looked straight at the pair and sighed softly, "What a talented man and beautiful woman, a talented man and a beautiful woman..."
After remaining silent for a few moments, Qu Hanjin began to think about the rumors about the elegant young man. He had heard that Sheng Youzhang had a good friend with a girl in his former residence, so he said it coldly.
"Why do I remember that this Mr. Sheng had a childhood sweetheart?"
"I thought you were oblivious to what's going on outside the window," the maid said, looking at him in surprise. Unbelievable that he had heard the rumors, she replied with a low laugh, "Yes, it's true. Rumor has it that Master Sheng only sees his childhood sweetheart as a sibling, and not as a romantic partner."
At this point, he could no longer remember any embarrassing past of Sheng Youzhang... It was as if this young man was really a perfect match for her, and they were a match made in heaven.
"The Music Bureau is a place for learning the qin and etiquette. How can you use this place as a place for secret gatherings and entertainment..."
Qu Han was so cold and felt that the two figures were so glaring that they must have violated the government rules.
However, there was no rule in the Music Bureau prohibiting romantic feelings, simply because it had never accepted a man as a disciple.
We can't allow them to have secret meetings all day long, ruining the atmosphere of piano learning in the mansion and bringing disgrace to this elegant place...
He looked toward the garden again, pondered for a moment, and then said coldly, "Pass on Qu's order. During the period of study, no romantic relationships between men and women are allowed in the mansion."
"Anyone who violates the order will never be allowed to set foot in the mansion again!"
"Yes." The maidservant suddenly became flustered when she saw the situation. She realized that the master was different from before. It seemed that he was really angry and disliked the appointment in Sangjian.
The master's words and actions were all for the benefit of the Music Department. Fu Guang followed behind him and solemnly addressed the surrounding maids, "How can the master tolerate such acts of desecration of a place where calligraphy and learning are practiced?"
"Sir, what you said is absolutely right. I will report it right away."
Several maids standing by the corridor were frightened and scattered in a hurry, spreading the news of this rule to everyone in the mansion.
This newly added rule soon spread throughout the Ministry of Music, and everyone knew who this rule was for.
The girls all joined in the fun and watched from afar the two people strolling leisurely by the pavilion, and there were many different opinions.
Within the mansion, only Young Master Sheng can secretly develop feelings for other women. The master must have known something to have added this new rule.
A noblewoman hurried by and asked curiously to the onlookers, "Have you heard about the new government regulations?"
"Of course I heard it, but besides you, there's only one other man in the Music Bureau," Song Yan said softly, sensing that Young Master Sheng must be the most embarrassed at this moment. "Isn't it obvious who this rule is targeting?"
"Shh..." After looking around, Mu Wanxian quickly kept quiet. She replied cautiously, but couldn't hide her curiosity and spoke quietly.
"It is said that Master Sheng and Chu Qingluo were having a secret meeting and were caught by you, Mr...."
Song Yan's eyes widened in disbelief. She shouted, quickly covering her lips, and whispered, "How dare you be so bold in Mr.'s mansion, and... even have an affair?"
It was just hearsay just now. Mu Wanxian shook her head slowly, remembering what the maids in the mansion had said, and replied vaguely, "I don't know the details, I just know that the master was very angry and upset."
"Hmph, this woman is really not one to be bothered with. If she keeps causing trouble like this, she will be severely punished by the master sooner or later and kicked out!" A cold and arrogant voice suddenly came from behind. Xu Anyao understood what was going on and sneered at her.
"If you ask me, she must have done something even more shameful than adultery. Otherwise, Master wouldn't have added the official rules on the spot."
The Xu family's daughter recalled her humble demeanor in the hall, most likely because she had already established a good relationship with Master Sheng, so she spoke in a flattering manner: "I thought she had changed her mind and would no longer be entangled with Master. But it seems that she has found another way out and has stopped pestering Master."
"Miss Xu means that... Chu Qingluo decided to find a better partner and abandon you, Mr. Sheng, because she was loved by him?" Mu Wanxian pondered the meaning of the words and suddenly realized that this woman was really not simple.
Seeing the girl next to him was stupid, Xu Anyao spoke slowly, with a hint of contempt in his eyes: "This Miss Chu must have some tricks. Seeing that she is the new top scholar and will be a compiler in the Hanlin Academy in the future, she used her beauty to climb up this relationship. She didn't expect that the master would find out."
"I've seen many lowly people wanting to become phoenixes, but the ending is usually tragic!" After she finished speaking, Miss Xu looked away and walked away without any concern.
Mu Wanxian was completely bewildered. Seeing Xu's eldest daughter walking away, she muttered softly, "What could be worse than adultery..."
Wen Yu was even more puzzled. Song Yan looked at the two people admiring the flowers on the stone path and murmured, "I don't know either. Young Master Sheng looks gentle and elegant, how could he..."
The government rules added just now were now known to everyone, even those who were admiring the flowers deep in the stone path.
Mr. Zhi might lose his temper now, but she didn't expect that he would set such an embarrassing rule in front of the entire mansion. Chu Qingluo stole a glance at Master Sheng on the side, and seeing that his face looked extremely ugly, she frowned in embarrassment.
This young master has been innocently implicated, and his reputation within the mansion is probably ruined...
But what did other people's reputation have to do with her? She had no sympathy at all. She only wanted to quickly restore her country. She just wanted to take advantage of everything else. "Sir, you must have misunderstood. I will go and explain it to you and clear your name."
Sheng Youzhang pondered over it, but still couldn't figure it out. After all, the government regulations were specifically aimed at him, so he had to take them more seriously. "I really don't understand. We were just admiring flowers and discussing academic matters, why is Mr. Qu so angry..."
The teacher has always been highly respected and of high moral character. Everything he does is a gentleman's act. How could he be so angry over a male student?
"Perhaps sir has misunderstood that the young master and I are having a secret meeting, which has brought disgrace to the elegant hall. It will be fine if I explain it clearly." She lowered her eyebrows and smiled slightly, speaking in a rather open-minded manner, her rosy face revealing a calmness.
Mr. Sheng didn't think much about it, just thinking that the gentleman was in a bad mood today and his behavior was difficult to understand.
Chu Qingluo glanced casually towards the side hall, and raised her phoenix eyes meaningfully, wanting to make the gentleman's passion burn even more fiercely.
She suddenly raised her hand to touch her forehead, her eyes slightly closed, revealing her exhaustion. "I'm suddenly feeling drowsy. Mr. Sheng, could you please ask for my leave from the teacher? I'm feeling unwell, so I won't be attending class tomorrow."
Although the new regulations of the Music Bureau needed attention, Miss Chu's health was even more important. Sheng Youzhang hurried to support her and asked anxiously, "Is Miss Chu okay?"
"Maybe you didn't get enough rest these past few nights. Once you return to your room and have a good sleep for a day, you'll be well again." Chu Qingluo lowered her eyes when her gaze fell on the pavilion, with a look of guilt in her eyes.
The young man on the side agreed without hesitation, watching the graceful figure walk towards the elegant room, then turned and headed to the other courtyard: "Young lady, please rest quickly. I will report to the master!"
"Thank you, Master Sheng."
She smiled and thanked him, then put away all her smiles when she turned around, and her apology just now turned into a look of determination to win.
She must control Qu Hanjin, this chess piece... As for how to control it, it depends on how she makes this move.
The subtle sound of turning pages in the side hall of the mansion courtyard frequently echoed in the side courtyard, making the fairy-like figure in the elegant room feel even more upset. The two figures who were strolling in the courtyard just now appeared in front of her from time to time, mercilessly disrupting her thoughts.
How could such a private meeting be held in such a place of calligraphy and painting? Wouldn't it be a desecration of the sanctity of the academy...
He silently turned the pages of a book to the last page, but still could not read a single word. He simply closed the book and wanted to go to the piano to play a tune.
But her shadow is everywhere in this hall.
Sitting in front of the "Yan Yin", he couldn't help but recall the teasing that morning. The strings were touched by her, leaving a trace of softness.
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