Host! I told you to do a task! I didn't tell you to bbb.

Day two.

After finishing his official business, Kangxi changed into casual clothes and headed towards Yuquan Villa with only Li Dequan and two bodyguards.

Morning light filtered through the leaves onto the path, and the forest breeze, carrying the dampness of dew, was exceptionally refreshing.

Kangxi walked slowly, but his gaze kept sweeping towards the direction of Yuquan Villa. His fingertips unconsciously rubbed his cuffs, and there was a strange sense of anticipation in his eyes.

As we approached the villa, we could hear a melodious zither tune in the distance.

The music was clear and melodious, like a mountain stream crashing against a blue stone. Sometimes it was light and cheerful like a celestial bird, and sometimes it was gentle and melodious like a whisper. It drifted over on the wind through the forest and landed right in Kangxi's ears.

Kangxi quickened his pace following the sound of the zither. The gate of Yuquan Villa was half-closed, and the zither music was coming from inside the courtyard.

He approached quietly and peered through the crack in the door.

Liu Yunshu was sitting under the wisteria trellis in the courtyard, playing the zither. Her light blue dress made her skin appear even whiter, and her black hair was loosely tied up. A few strands of hair were blown by the wind onto the zither, swaying gently with the vibration of the strings.

Wisteria blossoms fell softly onto her shoulders and the zither, but she seemed completely unaware.

Fingertips dance nimbly on the strings, sometimes gently plucking and twisting, sometimes stroking and picking.

Even her lowered gaze revealed her focus, as if the whole world consisted only of her and this piano.

Li Dequan tactfully stopped outside the courtyard, and the guards disappeared into the shadows of the trees, leaving Kangxi alone to stand quietly outside the door and listen.

The music shifted from clear and melodious to gentle and graceful, as if it were telling a story, yet without a trace of resentment, only a sense of calm and peace.

As he listened, the agitation in Kangxi's heart gradually dissipated, and he even breathed softly.

"Hey! Who are you! What are you doing eavesdropping at the door!"

Biyu came out of the kitchen carrying freshly brewed tea. When she looked up, she saw a strange man standing outside the courtyard gate, staring at the young lady inside. She immediately raised her voice.

This shout caused Liu Yunshu's piano playing to abruptly stop.

She looked up and saw a strange man; a perfectly timed hint of panic flashed in her eyes.

Kangxi was startled by the question and came to his senses, but he remained calm.

Instead, he pushed open the half-closed courtyard gate, his gaze falling on Liu Yunshu, his tone tinged with apology: "I'm sorry, I was momentarily distracted by the beautiful music, and I apologized for my rudeness to you, Madam."

Liu Yunshu quickly stood up and straightened her robes, her tone gentle yet dignified: "You flatter me, sir. It's just a crude and unrefined musical skill."

Biyu stood in front of Liu Yunshu, holding a tea tray, and stared warily at Kangxi: "Who exactly are you?"

Seeing Biyu's wary expression, Kangxi was not annoyed, but instead looked at Liu Yunshu gently.

"I am just a passerby. I only listened for a while because I heard the beautiful sound of your zither. I hope you will forgive me."

Upon hearing the praise for her young mistress's zither playing, Biyu straightened her back, her wariness lessening considerably, though she remained somewhat cautious.

"My young lady is naturally skilled at the piano, but you can't just eavesdrop on other people's music at their doorstep!"

A smile flickered in Kangxi's eyes upon seeing this. "He's quite loyal," he said. "It was my fault. May I ask for a cup of tea?"

Liu Yunshu gently tugged at Biyu's sleeve, a faint smile in her eyes.

"Jade, you must not be rude. Since you, sir, enjoy the music and are willing to have a cup of tea with me, it is our good fortune."

Although Biyu was still somewhat wary, she listened to Liu Yunshu's words, put down the tea tray, bowed, and stepped aside to serve.

Liu Yunshu led Kangxi to sit at the stone table under the wisteria trellis, brushing away the fallen petals from the stone bench with her fingertips.

"Please, sir."

Kangxi sat down, his gaze falling on the zither on the stone table, still adorned with wisteria petals. His tone was one of admiration: "What piece did you just play, Madam? I've never heard it before."

Biyu, standing to the side, curled her lip and said, "Who do you think you are? There are plenty of songs you haven't heard before."

Liu Yunshu lowered her eyes and smiled faintly, her fingertips gently tracing the petals on the strings of the zither, her tone casual.

"It's just a tune I made up when I was bored. It's nothing serious. Please excuse my poor performance."

Kangxi gazed at the strings beneath her fingertips; petals clung to the strings, adding a touch of elegance.

He smiled and shook his head: "Madam is too modest. Although this piece has no title, it is soothing to listen to."

Biyu secretly thought to herself, "This guy really knows how to flatter!"

Li Dequan and his bodyguards outside marveled at how the Emperor had spoken so eloquently.

Liu Yunshu picked up the teacup and handed it to Kangxi, who reached out to take it, his fingertips inadvertently brushing against Liu Yunshu's fingertips.

Liu Yunshu paused slightly, then gently withdrew her hand as if she had been burned.

When she lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes concealed the glimmer in them, but the tips of her ears quietly blushed, adding a touch of barely perceptible shyness.

This subtle reaction, when seen by Emperor Kangxi, was like a pebble thrown into a lake, creating ripples in his heart.

He held the warm teacup, the slight coolness of her fingertips still lingering on his fingertips. His Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily, and his tone softened slightly compared to before: "Thank you, Madam."

Liu Yunshu didn't reply, but simply picked up her teacup and took a small sip.

Her gaze fell on the petals falling from the wisteria trellis, avoiding his eyes, and she looked exceptionally well-behaved.

Looking at her like this, Kangxi felt even more favorably toward her.

Somehow, their conversation turned to Euclid's Elements.

Kangxi paused slightly in his teacup, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, followed by a spark of interest: "So, even you, Madam, know about Euclid's Elements?"

Liu Yunshu gently twirled the rim of the cup with her fingertips, and when she looked up, there was a faint smile in her eyes, and her tone was calm.

"Yes, before I got married, I found a translated version in the library. But after I got married, I was busy with household chores and rarely had time to look at it. I can hardly remember a lot of the contents."

Liu Yunshu gently put down her teacup, her tone tinged with regret.

Upon hearing this, Kangxi's interest intensified, and a desire to teach him welled up within him.

"Madam, there's no need to regret it. If you have any questions, I can explain them to you."

A hint of surprise flashed in Liu Yunshu's eyes, followed by a touch of restraint: "So, even an honored guest knows about this? But... there's a difference between men and women, wouldn't it be too presumptuous to ask for your guidance like this?"

"Knowledge knows no gender distinctions, so how could this be considered presumptuous?"

Kangxi put down his teacup and said naturally, "Furthermore, it is my honor to be able to discuss scholarship with someone as insightful as you, Madam."

The restraint in Liu Yunshu's eyes gradually faded, replaced by genuine joy.

She quickly stood up and slightly curtsied to Emperor Kangxi: "Then thank you for your guidance, Your Excellency. I am grateful in advance."

Seeing her like this, Kangxi felt delighted and immediately ordered Li Dequan to retrieve the copy of Euclid's Elements that he carried with him from his horse.

Before long, Li Dequan came quickly with the book in his hand, handed it to Kangxi, and then tactfully withdrew.

Emperor Kangxi turned the page, pointed to a geometric figure, and patiently explained: "Madam, look, the sum of the interior angles of this triangle, regardless of their size, is always 180 degrees. When Xu Guangqi and Matteo Ricci translated this book, they used the method of cutting and pasting to verify this. Look at this diagram..."

He explained in great detail, occasionally pausing to ask Liu Yunshu if she understood.

Liu Yunshu listened attentively, occasionally asking a question or two. Her words were clear and logical, unlike the typical young lady who only knew needlework.

"I see." Liu Yunshu looked at the annotations on the book page, her eyes flashing with sudden realization.

Kangxi was delighted to see that she understood things so quickly, and he spoke with even more enthusiasm.

Sunlight streamed through the wisteria trellis, falling on the two of them. Petals occasionally landed on the pages of their books and on their clothes, but no one paid any attention.

One person spoke with great enthusiasm, while the other listened attentively. Even the wind in the forest seemed to slow its pace, quietly circling around this small world.

Before we knew it, the sun had already begun to set.

Liu Yunshu looked up at the sky and realized that it was getting late. She quickly stood up and said, "My lord, it's all my fault for being so engrossed in listening that I forgot the time and delayed your important business."

Kangxi also came to his senses, closed the book, and said with a hint of lingering satisfaction in his eyes: "It's alright. Today's academic discussion has fulfilled my wish, and I am even more pleased."

He paused, looked at Liu Yunshu, and said with a hint of expectation, "If you are free tomorrow, I would like to come and discuss Euclid's Elements with you again."

Liu Yunshu lowered her eyes and smiled gently, her tone soft yet firm: "This humble servant awaits your arrival at any time."

Kangxi nodded in satisfaction and handed her Euclid's Elements: "Take this book for now, and we'll continue from here tomorrow."

Liu Yunshu accepted the book with both hands, her fingertips gently tracing the spine, her tone solemn: "I will certainly keep it safe."

Kangxi gave a few more instructions before reluctantly turning to leave.