NOVPUBThis garment was actually changed by Li Nuo just this morning.
But earlier, Phoenix had forcefully embraced his shoulders and cried bitterly, causing her face powder to smear onto Li Nuo’s clothes, dirtying the shoulder area.
Li Nuo had just changed his clothes when he turned around and saw his wife holding the dirty clothes he had just taken off, smelling them.
Li Nuo suddenly realized something.
Phoenix had leaned on his shoulder and cried for so long, her strong scent was likely to have transferred onto his clothes.
County Magistrate Pei had once mentioned to him that when he visited the brothel, he would prepare a set of identical clothes, bathe outside, change into the new clothes, and then return home.
Li Nuo usually didn’t sneak out to mess around with other women, so he naturally hadn’t thought of these details.
He took the initiative and explained, "When I returned from the Ministry of Justice, I passed by the Jade Sound Pavilion. I heard a musician playing a nice piece, so I went in to listen for a while. Coincidentally, Miss Phoenix asked me for some guidance on her Qin skill. I played a sad tune, and she was moved to tears and insisted on crying on my shoulder. I couldn’t push her away—this is how my clothes got dirty."
This was the truth; Li Nuo hadn’t told a single lie.
Song Jiaren set down the clothes without saying much.
Li Nuo felt she didn’t believe him.
He looked at her and asked, "You don’t believe me?"
Song Jiaren indifferently said, "No."
She still remembered the lessons from the last time.
Mumu was right.
Husbands and wives should trust each other.
Even if she didn’t believe him, she wouldn’t say it out loud.
She had never heard him play the Qin before, and she didn’t even know he could play. Last time, he had even mentioned knowing nothing about music.
But since he said so, she had to struggle to believe him—what else could she do?
Li Nuo could see she didn’t believe him.
To prove his innocence, he borrowed a Qin from Song Yu.
When his ability disappears tomorrow, unless he could restore it, he wouldn’t be able to clear his name even if he jumped into the Yellow River.
He had seen a Qin in Song Yu’s room while they were drinking there before.
This thing needed to be known for the Imperial Examination; even if one was tone-deaf, you still needed an instrument.
The Qin belonged to Song Yu, was covered in dust, and was out of tune.
Li Nuo wiped down the entire Qin and adjusted its tuning.
Seeing his earnest demeanor, Song Jiaren felt a stir in her heart. Could he really play the Qin?
Under her somewhat surprised gaze, Li Nuo’s fingers slowly rested on the strings.
After a soothing prelude, he gradually moved into the story.
Music is the language of the soul deep within.
Even without words, it can convey the emotions of the player.
A skilled musician can control people’s happiness, anger, sorrow, and joy through music.
Phoenix did have some skills; her Qin skill was mediocre, but her composition was indeed good.
Song Jiaren didn’t understand music and didn’t know the story behind this piece, but she felt an inexplicable sadness.
This sadness was utterly uncontrollable.
As the music became more mournful, her beautiful eyes first fogged up, then tears started falling uncontrollably...
After Li Nuo finished the last note and saw Song Jiaren wiping her tears with her sleeve, he asked, "Do you believe me now?"
Having already tested his ability on Phoenix, Li Nuo was very confident in his skills.
Unless she had a heart of stone, she was bound to cry.
Clearly, she wasn’t.
Song Jiaren wiped her tears, turned her head, and asked, "Didn’t you say last time you knew nothing about music?"
Li Nuo said with a smile, "That was just a modest way of speaking; I actually know a little bit about music."
Seeing his wife in tears, he actually felt a sense of achievement.
If he couldn’t make her cry by fighting, could he not make her cry by playing?
Just then, Song Mu’er bounced in from outside and, seeing the tears on Song Jiaren’s face, looked at Li Nuo in shock and said, "Brother Li Nuo, you made Sister Jiaren cry!"
"Don’t talk nonsense; Sister Jiaren was just moved by the music."
Li Nuo patiently explained to her. Song Mu’er didn’t believe a word and frowned, "How could you make Sister Jiaren cry? The book says that a man should never make his woman cry..."
I don’t know what book she’s reading.
Is that really a book for a six-year-old girl?
But since she didn’t believe him, Li Nuo could only prove himself.
Moments later.
Li Nuo’s hands left the strings, and the two beauties, one big and one small, sat side by side—one almost in tears, the other with tear-stained cheeks.
Even though it was the second time listening, Song Jiaren still struggled to control her emotions.
The first time was even harder for Mumu to control.
She didn’t know why, but listening to Brother Li Nuo’s playing made her want to cry, and she couldn’t stop her tears.
Another little girl stood at the door, shocked by the scene.
Song Ning’er stared blankly at Li Nuo and asked, "Why are they crying?"
...
Li Nuo woke up to find himself alone.
His wife hadn’t slept with him last night but instead went to snuggle with Mumu for warmth.
Yesterday, Li Nuo played the same tune three times, earning the tears of the three Misses of the Song Family. Though it drove his wife away, it also meant he didn’t have to worry about the Music Department anymore.
With such skills, securing the Music Department Top Scholar would be a breeze.
Today is the first of the ninth month in the thirty-third year of Regent King Gong, who took over from his brother King Chun to serve as regent for a month. n𝚘vp𝚞𝚋.com
There are exactly five months until the spring exams.
And exactly half a year until the Imperial Examination.
Now that he had mastered music, that left only Ritual, Royal, and Archery Departments.
The Ritual Department is scholarly; just bury oneself in books, and if that’s not enough, he still had his uncle as a backup.
