People in the Qin Dynasty sought good fortune and avoided misfortune.

Chapter 189, Hello, Tuning the Piano (2-in-1, 5k words! Requesting monthly votes!)
As a man of action, Xu Qing always does what he says he will do. After tidying up his clothes and appearance, he headed towards Nongyu's room.

As the music grew clearer, Xu Qing saw Nongyu playing the zither by the window.

Nongyu wore a bright yellow off-shoulder dress, her wine-red hair loose, with a few strands falling over her fair shoulders.

Her delicate, clean face was lightly made up, her eyebrows were slender and dark, her lips were pale, and her expression was devout.

Her beautiful eyes sparkled like stars, her gaze calm as autumn water, subtly carrying a deep and melancholic quality, giving people a unique sense of poetry.

Her slender, jade-like hands plucked the strings of the zither, and melodious music filled the air. Xu Qing leaned against the window and closed her eyes to appreciate the beautiful music.

The beautiful piano music was no longer as sad as before; instead, it was full of lightness and joy. However, in an instant, the lightness and joy suddenly vanished, and the music became mournful and desolate, as if it were telling the story of the sorrow and longing in the heart, full of depression.

"What's wrong with Nongyu? She doesn't even have someone she likes. Why is she acting like a lonely, resentful woman in her boudoir?"

Sensing the emotions expressed by Nongyu in the music, Xu Qing made a decision that went against the wishes of his ancestors.

As Nongyu's brother-in-law and aunt's husband, he had to give her some advice to prevent her from being tricked by that scoundrel. She was Zi Nu's precious daughter, and he had to protect her.

Just as Xu Qing was about to use the music to understand why Nongyu was like this, the music abruptly stopped.

Nongyu emerged from her devout state, a trace of sorrow and disappointment flashing in her calm, beautiful eyes, as if she regretted that the piece was not completed, or perhaps she was remorseful about something.

Just as Nongyu was lost in thought, a round of applause rang out.

Nongyu looked up and saw Xu Qing standing outside the window. A look of surprise and joy flashed in her eyes, and a smile appeared on her face.

"The guqin's light notes dance in the blue clouds, its five strings clear and pure, free from worldly dust. Nongyu's guqin skills are getting better and better, and the music is becoming much more cheerful," Xu Qing praised with a smile.

"Not at all, Imperial Physician, you flatter me."

Nongyu's cheeks flushed slightly, and she lowered her head shyly, her beautiful eyes sparkling with joy.

"I was being modest, but the second half of your music sounded melancholic and disheartening. Does the little girl have someone she likes?"

"Tell me, which family have you taken a fancy to? I'll definitely pay them a visit."

Xu Qing winked at Nongyu and teased her.

Upon hearing Xu Qing's words, Nongyu's face instantly turned bright red, and her fair neck was flushed with a rosy hue, like a ripe apple.

"Imperial Physician, please stop talking nonsense. I don't have anyone I like. If you keep making fun of me, I'll go tell Sister Zi Nu."

Nongyu placed her hands on the table, nervously clutching her sleeves, but secretly glanced at Xu Qing out of the corner of her eye.

She didn't have anyone she liked; the only man she interacted with on a daily basis was Xu Qing.

"Then what's wrong with your music? Or am I mishearing it?"

Xu Qing climbed into the room through the window, sat down next to Nongyu, and said with a smile.

Watched by Xu Qing, Nongyu became even more nervous. This piece of music was entirely impromptu, inspired by her own feelings.

Nongyu had no idea how to explain the sorrowful emotions in her heart to Xu Qing. She couldn't very well say that she suddenly wanted to see him, so she used the music to express her feelings, could she?
She felt that if she said it, it would definitely scare Xu Qing.

Thinking of this, Nongyu's cheeks flushed even more, and she felt a little dizzy.

"Nongyu, what are you thinking? The Imperial Physician is Zi Nu's man. How can you think like this? You should regard him as a confidant and benefactor," Nongyu cried out in her heart.

Xu Qing looked at Nongyu, whose cheeks were flushed red as if she had been boiled, and found her extremely cute.

The fact that Nongyu, such a cool and elegant artistic girl, could have such a cute side really piqued Xu Qing's playful spirit.

"Ahem, Nongyu, why is your face so red? Are you feeling unwell? Would you like me to take your pulse?" Xu Qing said with a smile.

Startled awake, Nongyu snapped back to her senses, glanced up at Xu Qing, then lowered her head again and whispered.

"No need, I'm fine. Where were we? Oh right, this piece of music is something I felt inspired to write. I was reading a book just now and came across the story of Fan Li and Xi Shi, which made me feel a little sad."

"So I thought of composing a piece from Xi Shi's perspective, trying a style I had never tried before, in order to hone my piano skills."

Looking at the shy Nongyu with her head lowered, Xu Qing was afraid that if he continued teasing her, Nongyu's pretty face would really become familiar, so he said...
"I see. Then why wasn't this piece finished?"

Upon hearing the mention of music, Nongyu quickly regained her previous composure and shook her head slightly, saying...
"I've only read about the story of Xi Shi and Fan Li in books; I haven't experienced it myself, so I can't write the music for the rest of the piece for now."

“It’s alright, if you can’t write it, that’s fine. I’ve just come up with a new piece of music recently, how about you give it your opinion today?” Xu Qing said.

"Oh? Imperial Physician, you can also play the zither?"

Nongyu looked at Xu Qing in surprise. She had always thought that Xu Qing only had a heart that appreciated music, but she never expected that Xu Qing could actually play the zither.

"I previously studied Confucianism, and I have dabbled in the Six Arts of Confucianism: rites, music, archery, charioteering, calligraphy, and mathematics, though I am not proficient in any of them. My best skill is charioteering. I'll let you experience my driving skills another day."

Nongyu, this naive and artistic young woman, obviously didn't understand the impropriety in Xu Qing's words and simply thought that Xu Qing wanted to drive her around another day.

"Alright, another day I'll experience the Imperial Physician's driving skills with Sister Zi Nu."

Nongyu nodded and said, then winked at Xu Qing, her beautiful eyes filled with joy.

With Zi Nu? Is that what he meant?

A look of surprise flashed across Xu Qing's eyes, and his heart began to race with excitement.

“I had heard from the other sisters that the scenery of the mountains, rivers and lakes twenty miles outside the city is beautiful. I have wanted to go there for a long time, but I haven’t had the chance. It’s just a good opportunity that the Imperial Physician can drive my sister and me there,” Nongyu said.

So this is the car. Oh, I got all excited for nothing. Xu Qing felt a little disappointed, but then she perked up again.

Xu Qing was a proper Confucian disciple, so naturally the car he wanted was this one.

Nongyu had not yet noticed Xu Qing's unusual behavior and was full of anticipation for Xu Qing to take her and Zi Nu on their trip.

Although Zi Nu did not restrict her from going out, she rarely went out. Firstly, her greatest hobby was playing the zither, and she almost never went out.

Secondly, there is her beauty. Although she is famous in Korea for her piano skills, her appearance is no less impressive.

In such a chaotic world, outstanding beauty is not a gift from heaven, but a punishment.

To avoid attracting the covetous eyes of those with ill intentions and thus causing trouble for Zilan Pavilion, she basically rarely went out.

But with Xu Qing by her side, things were different. Everyone in Xinzheng knew the great reputation of Imperial Physician Xu Qing. With Xu Qing accompanying her, she no longer needed to fear those who coveted her when she went out.

Looking at his innocent sister-in-law, Xu Qing couldn't help but curse himself inwardly.

How could he possibly think of staining Nongyu's pure white jade black? He's worse than a beast.

Xu Qing immediately decided that he could not be worse than an animal, so he could only reluctantly become one.

"We've gone off on a tangent. Let's get back to the music. How about I play you a piece?" Xu Qing coughed twice, steer the conversation back on track.

"Alright, if you don't mind, then use this instrument."

Nongyu gently stroked the guqin with her slender jade hands, a trace of sadness showing in her eyes.

This guqin was her teacher's keepsake. She and her teacher were traveling together when they encountered bandits. Her teacher was killed by the bandits for resisting.

Just as she was about to be killed by bandits, she was saved by Zi Nu, thus avoiding being harmed.

"it is good."

Nongyu turned the guqin around, and Xu Qing flexed his fingers, then tried playing a couple of notes, producing a clear, crisp sound.

In his previous life, he took the guqin as an elective course in college. The reason he chose this course was naturally not because he liked it.

Instead, I heard that the teacher of this course is good-looking, has a good figure, and a good temperament, and that most of the students in the class are female.

Driven by his devotion to art, he resolutely stayed up all night and finally fought his way through the crowd of male students to successfully enroll in the class. But when the class actually started, he discovered that he wasn't the only one with a devout faith in art. The large lecture hall was filled with men; there wasn't a single woman in sight.

For some reason, the teacher who taught the class was changed to a man, and Xu Qing wanted to call 12345 to report that someone was committing fraud.

Since she was already there, Xu Qing studied diligently for a semester. After all, playing guitar was commonplace in college, but if you wore Hanfu and carried a guqin, you'd definitely be the coolest kid around.

Therefore, Xu Qing did learn some skills, although they were not outstanding, but he could still play a few basic pieces.

"This piece of music is called Liang Zhu, and it is used to commemorate a love story of a couple who defied the shackles of worldly conventions."

Xu Qing took a deep breath to calm herself down, recalled the Liang Zhu melody she had learned in class, and began to play it.

As a master of the zither, Nongyu only needed to glance at Xu Qing's playing technique to know whether Xu Qing's skill was up to par.

Although Xu Qing's playing style was rather ordinary, Nongyu still closed her eyes and listened attentively as the music began.

The piano music was melodious and graceful, flowing smoothly like clouds and water. The lyrical melody seemed to tell an ancient and beautiful legend, making people feel relaxed and happy.

Nongyu seemed to see a man and a woman developing feelings for each other while spending a beautiful time together.
It wasn't until the melody suddenly turned sorrowful that Nongyu realized the love story behind the song didn't seem to have a happy ending for the lovers.

As the music ended, a tear rolled down Nongyu's cheek, and she opened her slightly reddened eyes.

"Imperial Physician, did you compose this piece? It's so intricate and poignant, the story behind it must be romantic and tragic," Nongyu said, wiping away tears from the corners of her eyes.

“That’s right, if you want to hear it, I can tell you,” Xu Qing said.

"it is good."

After calming herself down, Nongyu began to listen to Xu Qing tell the story of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai.

With her storytelling segment, which she excelled at, approaching, Xu Qing cleared her throat, adjusted herself to her best state, and began to tell the love story of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai in a steady voice with a hint of sadness.

"It is said that in Shangyu County, Kuaiji Prefecture, Chu State, there lived a woman named Zhu Yingtai who loved reciting poetry and books and longed to study abroad."

"When Zhu Yingtai was on her way to her wedding, as they passed Liang Shanbo's grave, a sudden gale arose, hindering the wedding procession's progress."

"When Zhu Yingtai got out of the sedan chair to pay her respects at Liang Shanbo's grave, Liang Shanbo's grave collapsed and cracked open. Zhu Yingtai threw herself into the grave, and then a pair of colorful butterflies emerged from the grave and flew away together, leaving the mortal world."

After Xu Qing finished telling the story of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai with a heartfelt voice, Nongyu, who was sitting next to him, was already sobbing uncontrollably.

"Waaaaah~ Why did Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai have to end up like this? Why couldn't they be together?" Nongyu sobbed.

Seeing Nongyu crying because of him, Xu Qing felt that he had to take full responsibility, so he reached out and put his arm around Nongyu's shoulder, pulling her into his embrace.

Nongyu was already immersed in the tragic love story of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, and did not realize the inappropriateness of Xu Qing's actions. She simply leaned on Xu Qing's shoulder and began to cry.

Out of reverence for art, Xu Qing couldn't help but let Nongyu move even closer into his arms.

"Because their love went against the prevailing social norms, individual strength is ultimately insignificant in the face of societal oppression. But their love was so profound that it moved heaven and earth, otherwise they wouldn't have transformed into butterflies, flying away together to leave this world and go to a place where their love could exist."

Xu Qing gently stroked Nongyu's jade-like back to comfort her.

Nongyu was still sobbing softly, and her whole body was trembling because she was crying so hard.

This prompted Xu Qing to comfort her again, reaching out to wipe away the tears on Nongyu's face.

After being comforted for a long time, Nongyu finally stopped sobbing. She suddenly realized that she was lying in Xu Qing's arms. Her pretty face instantly turned red, and she quickly got up from Xu Qing's embrace.

"Imperial Physician, I was a little out of line just now, please forgive me," Nongyu said shyly, her voice barely audible.

"It's alright. You're Zi Nu's sister, so you're my sister too. It's no trouble for you to lean on my shoulder," Xu Qing said.

"I...I..." Nongyu nervously clutched her sleeve, unsure of what to say.

The thought of being comforted by Xu Qing made her feel guilty towards Zi Nu, but she also felt an unprecedented sense of security, which made her somewhat infatuated.

"Now that the story is over, what do you think of this piece of music?" Xu Qing changed the subject.

When dealing with a young girl like Nongyu, you shouldn't push her too hard. The best approach is to get to know her slowly and let things unfold naturally.

“It is indeed an excellent piece of music, even better than what I wrote,” Nongyu nodded and said.

She wasn't flattering Xu Qing; she was simply stating the truth. Although Xu Qing's piano skills weren't great, the piece "Butterfly Lovers" and the story behind it were truly moving and unforgettable.

Nongyu's calmness was within Xu Qing's expectations; after all, this was the story of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai.

Not only has the music been adapted and perfected by generations of skilled musicians over thousands of years, but the story itself, which is hailed as a timeless love epic, is enough to ensure that this piece will be passed down through the ages.

"Do you want to learn?" Xu Qing asked with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Nongyu looked at Xu Qing in surprise, a hint of delight flashing in her beautiful eyes, but then she shook her head and said...

"Of course I want to learn it, but this is a piece composed by the Imperial Physician, and I..."

"What do you mean 'yours' and 'mine'? We're family. What's mine is yours. If you want to learn, I can teach you," Xu Qing said nonchalantly.

"Really? Can I really learn it?" Nongyu looked at Xu Qing with surprise.

Both the guqin and its music are the lifeblood of a guqin player. A good guqin player can become famous not only because of his superb guqin skills, but also because of his secret guqin music.

How could she not be excited that Xu Qing was willing to entrust her with a piece of music as beautiful as Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, a piece that could be passed down through the ages?

“Of course it’s true, but I have a request before I teach you the piece,” Xu Qing said.

"any request?"

Nongyu looked at Xu Qing with unwavering eyes. As long as Xu Qing was willing to teach her Liang Zhu, she would agree to any request.

"Call me brother-in-law."

Xu Qing revealed a wicked smile, looking extremely improper.

"what!?"

Nongyu looked at Xu Qing in astonishment, as if she doubted that she had heard correctly. Was the request really that simple?
"What? You don't want to? Don't you want to learn from Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai?"

Xu Qing's voice carried a certain allure, as if it were luring an innocent young girl step by step toward depravity.

"No, of course I want to learn, it's just that..."

Nongyu's beautiful eyes were filled with shyness, and her cheeks were flushed, like drunken red rouge, captivating the heart.

It's a perfectly normal way of addressing someone, and given Zi Nu's connection, there's nothing wrong with her calling Xu Qing "brother-in-law."

But for some reason, she felt extremely ashamed, making it difficult for her to speak.

"Just what?" Xu Qing asked, puzzled.

"nothing."

Nongyu bit her red lips lightly. Although she felt ashamed, she wanted to learn how Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai were alike.

If she learns the Liang-Zhu story, her musical skills will definitely improve to a new level, and the reputation of Zi Lan Xuan will also rise to a new height.

After taking a deep breath, Nongyu glanced at him shyly, her eyes filled with embarrassment, and whispered...
"Brother-in-law"

After uttering those three words, Nongyu seemed to have used up all her strength, looking at Xu Qing with a dazed expression. Her body went limp, and her full, plump breasts pressed against her small feet clad in plain white stockings.

"Hey, brother-in-law, I'll teach you right away," Xu Qing said with a smile.

"it is good."

(End of this chapter)