She looked over the group of students. The left half and the right half were clearly separated—this was the distinction between noble scions and commoner students. There were quite a few familiar faces among the nobles: Xiao Qianqian, Nangong Wei, Bei Wuxuan, the handsome sword-dancing man from the peach blossom grove, and the sickly beauty from the restaurant. The sword-dancing beauty seemed to be the crown prince of Northern Qin? The sickly beauty appeared to be the emperor’s nephew, Prince Yu? There was also a bewitching man in red; that appearance instantly made her think of the brothels and pleasure houses she had passed by a few days ago.
A truly formidable lineup!
She then turned her gaze to the group of commoner students. Though they wore no finery, they were brimming with youthful vigor, their eyes filled with ambition and a firm resolve to break free from their current circumstances.
She had to admit, that headmaster was nothing much, and the academy was nothing much either, but the quality of the students they recruited was actually quite good—not the sort of crooked melons and split dates one might expect. Of course, she was referring to the commoner students. The noble scions had their families backing them, so they basically had no problem. She couldn’t help thinking of Young Master Lin again. Just how universally despised by gods and men did he have to be to get rejected? At the very least, even she, once a scourge of the imperial capital, could enter Lushan Academy.
The sound of the qin gradually came to a stop. The man in white smiled faintly, indescribably gentle and virtuous. She wasn’t exaggerating—he really did give off a feeling of wifely grace. If he were a woman, countless lechers would probably swarm him. But looking now at the infatuated gazes of many noble sons and daughters, even as a man, he was still surrounded by admirers.
“This piece is courtly music from the State of Chu during the Warring States period, lyrical and elegant. Everyone, you must put feeling into it.”
Then all manner of bizarre qin sounds rang out. They could only be described in four words: ghosts wailing, wolves howling!
And yet he could still sit there with a peaceful expression. His composure was truly extraordinary!
She sat on a tree branch, chin propped in her hand as she listened to the unbearable qin playing, regretting that she had come here. Even decadent music would be better than this uneven cacophony.
Clad in dark green, she blended into the dense tree. Unless one looked carefully, she would not be easy to notice, so she was quite at ease. She would not be discovered.
Who would have thought that at this moment, the unexpected would happen? The man in white resumed playing the qin and said mildly, “Young lady, you have been watching here for quite some time. Might I ask what guidance you have to offer?”
The ghostly howls and wolfish wails of the qin came to an abrupt halt. Everyone looked at one another in astonishment. What did that mean?
Xiao Qianyin frowned. She believed she had concealed herself very well, yet she had actually been discovered? Could he be trying to bluff her out?
She did not move. If he was merely testing her, wouldn’t going out now be walking right into his trap?
With a sweep of his sleeve, the man sent something striking the branch she was sitting on. The branch snapped on the spot. Xiao Qianyin fixed her eyes on it and nearly cursed aloud. Damn it, did he have to be this vicious? There was no grudge between them, right? He was actually using an incense burner to hit her?
In the blink of an eye, she flew down, the tips of her toes skimming the ground. At the very moment she landed, the branch crashed down with a bang.
That was close. She had almost been half-crippled.
Everyone’s gazes landed on her in unison. In the eyes of many commoner students, amazement and envy arose. The young woman came with the wind, her sleeves fluttering, her long hair tied only with a ribbon of the same color. The radiance shining in her eyes made even the brilliant sunlight pale in comparison. Yet in those eyes was a contemptuous disdain for all beneath heaven.
Qin Xiaoran raised his brows. So it was her! He had not seen her for several days and had almost forgotten that the courtyard of the Mohist Juzi was not far from here.
Bei Wuxuan and the others did not look pleased. Anyone who recalled what had happened a few days ago, when they had lost all face both inside and out, would hardly be able to wear a pleasant expression.
Shen Wuyou glanced at her, then lowered his head again and continued plucking lightly at the qin strings. He had always been the sort to keep aloof from matters that did not concern him.
Ji Ce smiled faintly, a trace of amusement in his eyes. What would she bring them today?