Chapter Thirteen: The Zither Official

  Bai Zhenxuan sized up Zhang Naihe and Qin Guan, while they were also sizing him up.

  Both of them secretly admired each other in their hearts.

  Bai Zhenxuan poured hot tea for the two of them, and Qinguan took a sip before holding the teacup in his hand. The heat from the tea water warmed his palm through the cup, feeling very comfortable.

  After exchanging a few pleasantries, they got straight to the point. Bai Zhenxuan sat down and played the guqin, playing one piece "Du Xiang Zhu Ren" that left a lingering aftertaste in the room.

  Although Zhang Nai Chun often strolled in the theater, he only paid attention to the good looks of the masters and was not proficient in music, chess, calligraphy and painting. He said: "I think Bai Shao Ye's piano playing is already exquisite, why do you still need to ask a music officer for guidance?"

  "Is your qin art still afraid of being refined?" Bai Zhenxuan smiled slightly.

  Zhang Nai Chun thought to herself, no matter how well you play, there's still no chance of showing your face in front of the Prime Minister.

  Qin Guan had just listened to Bai Zhenxuan's wonderful music and his hands were itching. He walked over to Bai Zhenxuan, who hastily gave up his seat.

  The fingers of the zither official drew out a string of musical notes on the strings, and suddenly the clouds flowed like water, filling the room with fragrance. He said with a hint of shyness to Bai Zhongxuan: "I have never played 'Du Xiang Zhi Zhu' before, so I don't know how to exchange skills with Master Bai. Why not play some other tunes for Master Bai's enjoyment? Please don't despise me."

  "Qin Xiang Gong is humble and willing to listen to elegant music."

  The officer did not decline and retuned the strings of the zither again.

  This Guqin with a scorched tail is among the best of its kind, but I'm afraid it has been idle for some years. Just now when I heard Bai Zhenxuan play it, I felt that the first and second strings were a bit low and not tight enough. He then tuned the qin for a while, lowering the pitch of the first and third strings by one mark each, and retuning the second, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh strings according to the five-tone method.

  Then scattered five, named finger pressed ten hooked three; scattered three, middle finger pressed ten hooked one, played a few "Chen Poyi De Dao Xian Weng", also pointed some passing tones, and then played the "Jie Ke Shao Nian Chang" suite.

  He saw only his fingers on the piano, lightly stirring and slowly twisting, humming and hesitating, coming and going, pulling and leading, suppressing and rising, the whole person was heroic and stirred.

  Bai Zhenxuan was enchanted, and only then did he realize that he had not invited the wrong person tonight. Although Guqin had not played "Du Xiang Zhu Ren" yet, he had already demonstrated various techniques of playing the guqin, with emotions and attitudes fully revealed. Bai Zhenxuan was originally a master of the guqin, and at this moment, his eyes were shining brightly, his heart was smooth and refreshing, just like eating iced fruit on a hot summer day, he felt extremely clear-headed.

  Qin Guan played the zither well, and with a sideways glance at Bai Zhenxuan, he saw that in the lamplight, Bai's appearance was rare in the world. What a handsome young scholar in white clothes! He couldn't help but feel his heart fluttering.

  But Bai Zhenxuan suddenly saw Qin Guan staring at him blankly, his willow eyebrows pasted with green jade, his phoenix eyes slanted and gazing, his flowing waves low and flirtatious, his pink cheeks tender and soft, knowing that he had been playing the role of a young dan on stage for a long time, couldn't help but confuse his own identity, gradually taking on a daughter-like demeanor, and suddenly felt a sense of disgust.

  I myself and Zhang Naihe are after all different, although I pity Qinquan's talent and emotions, but still have the intention of sending guests away.

  "Master Qin's artistry is unparalleled, and I'm honored to have heard his elegant performance tonight. However, Master Qin must be exhausted from performing all day, so I won't keep him any longer. It's best for him to return home and rest." Bai Zhenxuan bowed deeply to Master Qin, his words warm but his demeanor already cold.

  Zhang Nai Chun had already picked up on Bai Zhen Xuan's underlying tone, and as the Pipa officer had developed some feelings for Bai Zhen Xuan, how could he bear to leave? He stood up from his seat, walked over to Bai Zhen Xuan's side, and with a pair of eyes that were unscrupulously staring at Bai Zhen Xuan, smiled and said: "Why be so delicate? In the past, after performing in the theater, you'd accompany Young Master Zhang to drink, and we'd stay up all night, not feeling tired at all." As he spoke, one hand rested on Bai Zhen Xuan's shoulder.

  Bai Zhen's body stiffened and his face turned extremely ugly.

  Zhang Nai Chun hastily pulled over Qin Guan and said:

  The latest chapter of "Stepmother's Bright Eyes"

  "It's already late at night, and there are still other family members living in the house. I'm afraid that playing the qin will disturb them, so let's just stop here for tonight!"

  Bai Zhenxuan rushed down the stairs and hurriedly opened the door to call Songta. Songta, along with Si'er and Huang Qi, quickly appeared outside the wing room door.

  "But when will Young Master Bai invite me again to play the qin?" Qin Guan's enthusiasm was still burning, and he wouldn't let it go.

  Bai Zhenxuan hastily said: "Let's wait until Master is free and then have Songta go invite him."

  "No need to invite me, I will come by myself when it is convenient."

  Bai Zhenxuan paused for a moment, then cupped his hands together in respect and bowed slightly.

  Qin Guan was about to say something else, but saw Zhang Nai Chun giving him a cold stare, and swallowed the extra words.

  Immediately, Si'er and Huang Ji came forward and took down the cloak from the clothes rack, each putting it on their master.

  Songta has lit the lanterns and is leading the way ahead.

  Bai Zhenxuan again sent Zhang Nai Chun and Qin Guan all the way to the garden gate, Qin Guan intentionally let Bai Zhenxuan send them to their residence in the south temple wing, but Zhang Nai Chun refused to be sent away, so they reluctantly bid farewell to Bai Zhenxuan and left dejectedly.

  Bai Zhenxuan saw the two figures disappear into the depths of the bamboo forest and then turned back.

  The moonlight was like a sharp blade, and Bai Zhenxuan thought back to the scene just now, feeling that it was a ridiculous situation, and couldn't help but shake his head and laugh dryly.

  "What's so funny, young master?" Songta asked, carrying a lantern and following alongside.

  "Those who laugh at others will be laughed at by the heavens." Bai Zhenxuan glanced at Songta with a smirk, his smile growing even wider as he strode away swiftly.

  Zhang Nai Chun and Qin Guan walked from the east garden all the way to the inner hall, passing through the inner hall towards the south wing.

  Because neither of them spoke, even the four sons and Huang Qi did not dare to breathe loudly.

  Qin Guan couldn't help but steal a glance at Zhang Nai Chun, seeing that his entire face was as cold as frost. He knew it was because he had entertained improper thoughts about Bai Zhen Xuan and was displeased with him. Originally, he wanted to ignore him, but since joining the Jinxiu Troupe, it had always been Zhang who supported him, allowing him to stand out among the other small dan roles. Whether it was his stage presence or his usual rewards, which one didn't come from this patron? How could he possibly offend him just because of a momentary infatuation?

  At this, Qin Guan changed his smile and went to pull Zhang Nai Chun's sleeve. Zhang Nai Chun first pulled back a few times, but in the end couldn't get rid of Qin Guan's entanglement, so he stopped in his tracks and looked at him with a glance, saying: "Bai Shao Ye and you are not on the same path, don't waste your thoughts on him."

  "Is Young Master Bai not on the same path as me, yet somehow Young Master Zhang is?!" Qinquan's face was full of grievances, and under the large red cloak with a wind hat, her feminine face was as beautiful as a descending goddess or a reborn Xi Shi, making my heart ache even more at the sight.

  "You and I can pretend to be in a relationship, we can even be ambiguous, but absolutely cannot be serious." Zhang Nai Chun's face sank, and he said coldly.

  Qin Guan's eyes welled up with two tears at that moment, and Rou Xian asked: "Why?"

  "Because I'm the only child of the Zhang family, it's my responsibility to carry on the family line. So you can treat me like a sister or like a brother, but that kind of relationship is absolutely not allowed."

  Zhang Nai Chun said as he walked through the round archway leading to the south wing with his hands behind his back, ignoring Qinquan. Si Er hastily followed him.

  Qin Guan looked at Zhang Nai Chun's back, filled with confusion.

  Zhang Nai Chun changed, in the past when he was being stubborn, he would pinch his cheeks, pat his hands, and walk with him together, but tonight he actually abandoned him and left on his own.

  "Master, it's late at night and very cold. Shall we go back to rest?" Huang Ji reminded him quietly from the side.

  Qin Guan finally came back to his senses, pulled his cloak tightly around him and led Huang Ji back to their quarters with a mixture of emotions.