Although courtesans have a bad reputation, I can earn a living with my own skills. Once I've saved up some money, I'll buy my freedom and find a quiet place in the countryside to live out my days alone. That would be quite nice.
Su Ruojin was aware of the flood in Xingtai Prefecture, and she had even sent the Tianyi Pavilion to Xingtai Prefecture for disaster relief.
Upon hearing this, it became clear that Liu Mengru's background was indeed pitiful. An orphan girl had wandered to Yulin, and only she herself knew the hardships she had endured.
only......
As Liu Mengru recounted her life story, her tone was calm and composed, and the music continued. It seemed that Su Ruojin had asked her the same question before, and it had become a habit.
However, Su Ruojin could hear that beneath Liu Mengru's seemingly calm piano playing lay a suppressed rage and resentment.
She wanted to rebel.
What are we rebelling against?
How could she resist the calamities that God had brought upon her, causing her family to be destroyed?
Her relatives who opposed her were all ingrates, and some even wanted to harm her.
But why was she so calm, saying that she had saved enough money to find a place in the countryside to live alone?
A person who can say such a thing must have resigned themselves to their fate; they would have no desire to resist.
"I wonder which part of Xingtai Prefecture Miss Liu is from? I happen to have a relative in Xingtai Prefecture, and we might even be old acquaintances," Su Ruojin asked again.
"I am from Fuling County, Taizhou. I wonder if you have heard of me?" Liu Mengru answered without hesitation.
"I've never heard of it. I suppose my relative and Miss Liu are not from the same place."
After Liu Mengru finished her song, she looked at Su Ruojin and asked, "Does Young Master have any other songs he would like to hear?"
“Miss Liu, since we’re making friends through music, why don’t I play a piece for you to judge?” Su Ruojin said.
Liu Mengru naturally wouldn't refute the guest's request. "It is my honor to hear your music, young master. Please, young master, let me light incense for you."
Liu Mengru stood up to give up her seat, then took the new incense and lit it again.
The new fragrance has a light and mellow scent that brings a sense of tranquility and joy.
Su Ruojin walked to the zither, stood up and plucked the strings, and a melody slowly flowed out.
It was the same wedding song that her fourth master played when she got married.
"Anqu" is familiar to many people not only in the Great Chu, but also in the Nine Provinces. This wedding song is a new creation by the Fourth Master, and has only been played once in front of the world. Its popularity is far less than that of "Anqu".
It's likely that not many people in Yulin know about this piece. Even if they do, besides her and her fourth master, no one else will be able to play it well in the short term.
Her playing was also a way of testing the waters, probing whether the person hiding in Miss Liu's room was her third brother.
After all, the "S" on the sedan chair couldn't have appeared out of thin air; she believed that this Miss Liu must be connected to her third brother.
Even if Third Brother is not in the room now, Miss Liu is known for her zither playing and must love the zither. If she plays the wedding song, Liu Mengru will surely like it and try to reproduce it. If Third Brother hears it, he will know that she has gone to Yulin and will look for her.
Sure enough, as soon as Su Ruojin's zither music began, Liu Mengru's face showed shock. She was amazed by the exquisite beauty of the piece, and her hand holding the teacup trembled slightly with excitement.
After Su Ruojin finished playing her piece, Liu Mengru could no longer sit still. She asked anxiously, "This piece is so exquisite! May I ask if it was composed by you, young master?"
Su Ruojin shook her head, "It wasn't created by me."
"Young master, do you have this musical score? Please don't misunderstand, young master. I am willing to buy this piece. Please name your price." Liu Mengru said earnestly, as if she would not haggle as long as Su Ruojin named a price.
Su Ruojin smiled faintly, "Without the composer's permission, I cannot sell it. Today, I am already satisfied with meeting Miss Liu with the zither. I will take my leave now."
After saying this, Su Ruojin didn't wait for Liu Mengru's reaction before getting up and leaving without looking back, leaving Liu Mengru feeling somewhat lost.
Ever since she became the most beautiful courtesan at Yuanmeng Tower, all the other young men were eager to stay as long as possible, but this Young Master Zhao...
Moreover, the sound of Zhao Gongzi's zither music lingered in people's ears.
Liu Mengru began to look forward to her next encounter with this young master Zhao.
She then walked back to the guqin and tried hard to recall the piece that Young Master Zhao had just played, attempting to recreate it.
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