Sighing sadly, he took out the flute and put it under his lips, slowly closed his eyes, and listened to the sound of the flute in silence as if there was no one else around.
The slender fingers nimbly bounced up and down between the sound holes, and a melodious and clear flute sound echoed in the courtyard.
He played the music with such forgetfulness that he did not even hear the light footsteps behind him.
Lu Ning walked up to him and was about to speak.
However, they found that Hu Qiyi changed from his usual romantic and frivolous appearance, and his charming peach blossom eyes were actually stained with a touch of sadness.
She remained silent and leaned against the tree trunk, staring blankly at the quiet sky and listening to the slow and long sound of the flute.
This voice seemed to be a kind of wordless confession. It didn't say even a few words, but it was worth thousands of words.
After a long time, the sound of the flute gradually stopped, the lingering sound lingered, and a faint sigh came.
"Such flute sound...it sounds like someone is worried..."
Lu Ning finally spoke, interrupting his melancholy thoughts.
Hu Qi took out the handkerchief and wiped the flute carefully, feeling a little disappointed: "Last night, I didn't sleep all night... I kept thinking about what I would do if you don't come back..."
Mentioning last night, Lu Ning felt as if there was a lump of lead in his heart: "Fool, what are you worried about? My brother is here, and I won't just leave."
Hu Qi leaned slumped against the tree trunk and sighed bitterly: "Yes! Like a fool, I waited for you all night and thought of all the worst results. In fact, I should have guessed that this night... you
I will be well taken care of by him..."
Lu Ning felt bitter in her heart and bowed slightly to him: "Xiao Qi, I'm sorry for making you worry."
Hu Qi looked at her and raised her lips: "I know you don't care whether I care about you or not. What you hope is to win his heart, his love... Everything is just my own passion..."
"The matter between King Yi and me is over, don't mention it again..." Lu Ning lowered his eyes, hiding the melancholy in them.
"Even so, I'm afraid you won't be able to accommodate anyone else in your heart..." Hu Qi's face turned into a dark shadow under the shade of the tree, making it difficult to see clearly, but his voice sounded unusually melancholy.
"Xiao Qi, I..." Lu Ning looked into his clear and warm eyes, feeling suddenly panicked.
"You don't need to tell me, I understand." Hu Qi looked up at the leafy orange tree, with gloom and sadness lingering on his face: "Actually, there is nothing to complain about! Even if I can't get into your heart, I will still be like you
Like this orange tree, I stay by your side silently. I will always appear in front of you when you need me."
Lu Ning's heart felt hot, and there was a layer of mist in his eyes. He quickly turned around and tried to calm down.
Why is fate so ridiculous?
The man whom he treated with all his heart and soul deceived himself with lies one after another.
And the man next to him would step forward without hesitation every time he was in a desperate situation. He would use his thin body to shield himself from the wind and rain.
He Yi Wang must have thought that for Hu Qi, the throne and money were not worth Lu Ning's words.
The kind of purity she wanted was something he regarded as a treasure!
If that's the case, why are you still stubborn? How long will you continue to search?
Lu Ning walked gently behind Hu Qi, stretched out his arms to hug Hu Qi's body, and said in a low voice: "Thank you, Xiao Qi! Give me a little more time, and I will take care of everything."
Hu Qi's body froze for a moment, and when he turned his head again, there was no trace of Lu Ning.
Everything happened so fast that he suddenly felt like a dream. He stood there for a long time, and his heart suddenly swayed.
He looked up at the orange tree, and finally there was a smile in his eyes.
--the truth--
Maybe he was influenced by Hu Qi, or maybe he made some determination.
After Lu Ning turned around and left, he immediately came to the door of Murong Yanzhao's room.
She took a deep breath before raising her hand and knocking on the door.
It's time to face the truth. Even if the embarrassment of this truth will crush her, she will not avoid it anymore.
As soon as she thought this way, she suddenly became relaxed.
Soon, the door was opened, revealing the thin and somewhat hunchbacked figure of Murong Yanzhao. I don't know when the master became so old.
Lu Ning suddenly hesitated again.
"What's wrong?" Seeing the ever-changing expressions on Lu Ning's face, Murong Yanzhao asked with concern.
"Master..." Lu Ning slowly lowered his gaze, biting his lip and hesitated for a moment, then suddenly raised his head to look at him: "Before the martial arts competition to find a bride, King Yi rejected my courtship. But later, why did he suddenly change
What’s in your heart?”
She asked questions in rapid succession, fearing that if she hesitated, it would be difficult to ask again.
Murong Yanzhao's face froze, and then he sighed softly: "It seems you know everything..."
As he said that, he moved closer to one side and raised his hand to invite Lu Ning in: "If you want to know, just come in and listen slowly..."
This time, Lu Ning did not hesitate, stepped in, and the door closed behind her.
The decoration in Murong Yanzhao's room is simple but not simple. In addition to a set of huanghuali tables, chairs and a canopy bed, there is a bookcase made of solid wood.
In the middle of the book desk is a stack of freshly cut rice paper, and on the left are ancient books written by Xiao Shangao. From poetry to military history, it can be seen that Mr. Murong has a wide range of hobbies.
But none of these are as eye-catching as a bamboo tube inserted into a mountain of pens.
Lu Ning looked around and then, under Murong Yanzhao's guidance, he sat down at the tea table in an orderly manner. Although they lived in the same courtyard, they rarely went to each other's rooms.
The agarwood in the incense burner made her cautious and calm suddenly.
"Tell me, what have you heard..." Murong Yanzhao placed a cup of tea in front of her and asked softly.
"This matter...shouldn't the master come clean? After all...I was kept in the dark from the beginning to the end." Lu Ning held the teacup in both hands and lowered his eyes, the corners of his mouth twitching.
"Okay, if you are mentally prepared, no matter what kind of truth you hear, you will not be excited. I will tell you without reservation." Murong Yanzhao's tone was slightly teasing, but his eyes were very serious.
"I'll make peace with you now, master, please." Lu Ning raised his head from the heat and showed a pale face to him.
Murong Yanzhao took a deep breath, then slowly opened his chapped lips and told the whole story:
He had watched Lu Ning grow up since he was a child and had already regarded her as his own child.
Unlike Gui Lichi who wanted her to inherit the caravan and become the number one in the world, Murong Yanzhao's idea was more traditional and he just hoped that she could marry a good man and live a stable and comfortable life.
Ever since he came to Shengjing and saw Lu Ning gradually falling into obsession with King Yi, he had been secretly bringing the two together. Even if he could only approach each other through cooperation, he felt that it was understandable.
In this way, he finally waited until the day when Lu Ning mustered up the courage to confess his love to King Yi.
Unexpectedly, Lu Ning returned home defeated.
This made Murong Yanzhao very sad and anxious, so he came up with a way to recruit a bride through martial arts competition.
Firstly, it can relieve Lu Ning's mood, and secondly, he hopes to stimulate King Yi. As long as he takes action, it means that he is not heartless towards Lu Ning.
Sure enough, he secretly followed Lu Ning and finally found out that after the talks between Lu Ning and the three young masters from Baihu Trading Company, Qinglongmen Escort Agency and Zhuque Bank collapsed, King Yi finally couldn't help but come forward and wanted to stop this contest to recruit a bride.
I originally thought that the relationship between the two would ease. Unexpectedly, King Yi still refused to express his true feelings. This completely angered Lu Ning and made her walk away in anger.
In desperation, Murong Yanzhao had no choice but to come forward in person.
"Why are you here?" Seeing his sudden appearance, Yu Fengjin's frosty face softened instantly.
"It seems that the caravan's competition to recruit a bride this time has made His Highness very distressed." Murong Yanzhao cupped his fists and bowed his hands in a deep salute, speaking in a very polite tone.
"Lu Ning has just turned eighteen and has just taken over the position of gang leader from the old general. Everything is not stable yet. Isn't it too hasty to settle the marriage so early?!" Yu
Fengjin frowned, then returned to a serious expression.
"Is it really just because His Highness is so concerned about Ning'er's marriage? Don't you have any selfish intentions at all?" Murong Yanzhao glanced at Yu Fengjin, with a half-smile on his face.
Yu Fengjin was slightly startled, and then sneered: "There is something in what you said, sir. It seems that you didn't walk in here by chance today."
"To be honest, the idea of this competition to recruit a bride was proposed by me!" Murong Yanzhao twirled his beard and said slowly.
"Sir, you are hurting her!" Yu Fengjin's eyes suddenly widened.
After a pause, Murong Yanzhao exhaled helplessly: "Your Highness must also know that the Emperor has been recruiting young girls in recent days. This is the only way for Lu Ning to avoid the draft. Unless, His Highness is willing to marry Lu Ning."
"It seems that you know everything..." Yu Fengjin frowned and looked at his side face.
"She has been watched by Old Man since she was a child, and all her thoughts are hidden from Old Man. She is infatuated with His Highness, and Old Man can see clearly!" Murong Yanzhao touched his chin meaningfully, and raised his eyes to look at his face.
look.
"If your husband comes to me for this matter, then I will be helpless. I have already explained it clearly to Lu Ning. It is for her own good that I cannot marry her. With my situation in the court, being with me will only
It will hurt her..." Yu Fengjin lifted her robe and sat down, took a sip of tea and said coldly.
"So, it's not that His Highness doesn't like her, it's just that he has difficulties, right?" Murong Yanzhao squinted his eyes and looked at her, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes getting deeper.
Yu Fengjin's expression immediately froze, and she looked at him for a long time through the steam coming out of the teacup.
"If I can help His Highness solve this worry, will Your Highness be willing to marry Lu Ning?" Murong Yanzhao did not let go of the hesitation flashing in his eyes and immediately asked.
"Oh, do you know what you are talking about?" Yu Fengjin's voice was low and seemed a little angry.
Murong Yanzhao stood aside quietly, as if waiting for the anger to slowly flow away from King Yi.
After a long time, he said calmly in a completely different voice: "Your Highness is most worried about the moody Emperor Yu. While you want to get back what you have lost, you are also worried that he will attack you in advance! So!
, you don’t dare to relax even a little bit, let alone talk about the love between children!”
After a pause, he asked again: "If His Highness has the ghost army and the old general as a bargaining chip, I wonder if the chance of winning will be better?"