Page 459 of Doted By The Regent King

Wufu turned around and saw that Ah Jiu had somehow seated himself behind the guqin at some point. An incense burner on the side had been lit with a stick of refined incense, its scent wafting through the air. His long hands pressed on the strings as he looked over at her.

Wufu stood up and walked to the window, casually folding her arms as she leaned against the sill, eyes fixed on him without blinking. She said, "Oh, Ninth Master, are you going to play the qin? To perform a scene of a refined scholar’s elegance?"

Ah Jiu burst into laughter and said, "It’s merely where the heart leads." Then he added, "Would the lady like to appreciate a piece?"

The way he said it was rather suggestive. Standing by the window, Hoo Die hissed in a breath of cold air, finding it incredibly cheesy.

Wufu didn’t mind and responded, "I shall listen with great interest."

The corners of Ah Jiu’s mouth curved up in a smirk. He plucked two notes, tuned the strings a bit, and ran his fingertips across them once. The sound of the qin was now even crisper than before.

Thrum!

A single note was struck, and his fingers didn’t stop there; they danced across the strings, and a succession of notes filled the room.

Wufu was taken aback, leaning against the window, watching him play the qin. His fingertips seemed to dance like sprites upon the strings, the music melodious.

"Eh, where is that qin music coming from?"

"Shush, don’t be loud."

"Can’t tell if it’s a man or a woman playing the qin? It sounds so nice."

Although Haiyun Tower was usually abuzz with voices, the sudden serene and transcendent qin music made everyone spontaneously quiet down, all ears tuned to the winter melody.

Outside the window, it was as if snow was drifting down, bringing with it the chilly scent of snowflakes, transporting everyone into a world of ice and snow.

In this pure and quiet world, suddenly, a young girl appeared, wearing fiery red garments, her small feet bare with golden bells, dancing on the snow. Her long sleeves fluttered, lifting the snowflakes, scattering them gracefully. The girl’s laughter rang out like silver bells, touching hearts.

As the qin’s melody rose and fell, the girl’s dance grew more intense or gentle, mesmerizing onlookers.

It was uncertain how much time had passed when suddenly, a high-pitched note of the qin sounded. The girl leaped into the air, causing the snowflakes around her to scatter far and wide, and then she slowly descended.

Hum hum hum.

Clap clap clap.

Applause came from outside. Wufu snapped back to her senses and looked up to see Ah Jiu smiling at her, "Did it please your ears?"

Wufu clapped her hands together: "Wonderful, wonderful. The qin is good, the piece is good, the person is good."

"This qin isn’t the best, it’s just passable for killing some time," Ah Jiu said with a critical glance at the instrument in his hands.

Xiao Li said, "Bring the master’s qin next time and let the lady witness what a truly fine qin is like."

Ah Jiu gave him a sidelong glance and took the handkerchief Yuan Ye passed to him, wiping his fingers.

Wufu laughed, "I was born in the countryside; I really wouldn’t know the difference between good and bad qins."

"Don’t listen to his nonsense—I don’t usually like to play the qin," Ah Jiu said as he got up and sat at the dining table.

"But you also have a talent for charming the ladies, and your skill is not shallow," Wufu said, also sitting down and propping her chin while looking at him. "Ninth Master, I’m becoming more and more curious—just who are you, exactly?"

He was undoubtedly the son of a noble house, but whether he belonged to the nobles and powerful people or the Imperial Nobles was unknown.

"What I am, does it impact our interactions?" Ah Jiu said with feigned depth, "I heard someone call me ’friend’."

Wufu let out a sheepish laugh, and just then, a waiter brought in the dishes. She quickly said, "Time to eat, I’m starving."

Ah Jiu smiled and glanced at the food laid on the table, effectively letting her off the hook.

Watching from the side, Hoo Die silently thought it strange—surely Ninth Master hasn’t been possessed by a spirit, has he? How come he seems like a different person now?

This must be a mix of flattery and scoundrelly behavior, right!