Tang Dynasty: Starting at Xuanwu Gate, this prince is better off not being one.

"Sister, how have you been?"

Standing in front of the medicine shed, Li Yu looked at the woman drying medicinal herbs in front of him with a smile.

"Hey? What brings you here? Mr. Sun went into the mountains to gather herbs and won't be back until sunset."

Hearing the noise, the woman first looked up in surprise, and when she saw that it was Li Yu, she smiled so much that her eyes crinkled.

If a man were to pass by and witness this scene, he would surely be captivated and stop in his tracks.

Unfortunately, Li Yu was just a little kid, so he could only shake his head and say, "I came to see you, big sister!"

"Looking for me?"

Princess Yang Xi of Qi was somewhat surprised.

Since the day of the Xuanwu Gate Incident, when Li Yuanji was killed, all the women and children in the mansion were slaughtered.

She was the only one who survived thanks to Li Yu's protection. So thereafter, she abandoned all her previous identities and was arranged by Li Yu to work in the medicine shop, becoming an ordinary medicine servant for Master Sun.

"That's right!" Li Yu nodded, explaining his purpose, "I've heard that you're skilled at playing the pipa, so I've come to ask for your guidance!"

"May I ask you for guidance?" Yang Xi covered her mouth and chuckled, "You can also play the pipa?"

"No!" Li Yu answered proudly.

Although he had some experience with the pipa in his previous life, he was only a novice. Moreover, the pipa at that time had an extra string compared to the one in later years, so to him it was no different from two different instruments.

"..."

Yang Xi first rolled her eyes at Li Yu, not understanding how he could so proudly say he couldn't do something, then asked with a half-smile, "Can you read music?"

Li Yu was about to say no, but looking at Yang Xi's expression, he felt that this woman was mocking him.

What man could resist that! So, in a moment of impulsiveness, he blurted out, "Yes! What's so difficult about that?"

.........

Difficult! Extremely difficult!

Li Yu was dumbfounded when he saw the dense text on the pale yellow paper.

I recognize all these characters, so why can't I tell what I'm writing when they're placed on top of me?

And who the hell knew that the sheet music would look like this at this time?

Seeing Li Yu's pained expression, Yang Xi couldn't help but cover her mouth and chuckle, then asked considerately, "Does Your Highness understand it? I also have a Kucha score here; would you like to take a look?"

Li Yu shook his head in embarrassment and annoyance, indicating that he only recognized the simplified musical notation written in cute Arabic numerals.

At the same time, he realized that his brain had been really not working well lately. First, he offended Li Er with his mouth, and now he was bragging about his knowledge of music, which made him the target of teasing from the woman in front of him.

"Learning the pipa is not something that can be accomplished overnight. I think you should first learn to read music." Seeing the sorrow gradually filling Li Yu's face, Yang Xi finally offered words of comfort.

Li Yu shook his head. Where would he find the time to learn this?

"Why don't you try playing a piece first?" Yang Xirou suggested.

.........

As the sun set, Li Yu was finally kicked out of the herb hut by Sun Simiao, who had returned from gathering herbs.

In addition, the old man warned Yang Xi not to teach Li Yu to play the pipa anymore, because Li Yu's pipa playing made him so disturbed that even patients who came to see him were scared away by the noise.

That's going too far!

How come the beautiful music I played became noise in his mouth? And how come the patients were scared away by the poisonous snake in your hand, and you blamed it on me?

However, the old man ultimately remembered the bond between master and disciple and did not abandon Li Yu. So he wrote a letter and asked him to deliver it to a man named Lu Deming.

What puzzled Li Yu was, who was this Lu Deming? Why had he never heard anyone mention him before?

.........

"You mean Master Lu? What do you want with him, young man?"

Upon hearing this name, Yan Shigu, with his graying beard and hair, put down his teacup and asked Li Yu curiously.

Li Yu was currently surveying the Yan family's simple residence when Yan Shigu asked this question, and he couldn't help but feel somewhat surprised: "My master has a letter he asked me to deliver to this gentleman named Lu Deming. May I ask who this person is? That you would address him as your master?"

"Young man, keep your mouth shut! Even His Majesty treats Master Lu with utmost respect. You, a mere youth, must not address him by his full name!"

Upon hearing Yan Shigu's words, Li Yu bowed to show that he had learned something, and then asked, "Is Master Yan acquainted with him?"

Yan Shigu nodded first, then shook his head and said, "I wouldn't say we're close. My grandfather and Master Lu were close friends despite their age difference, so I can only be considered his junior."

Upon hearing this, Li Yu was greatly surprised.

Li Yu knew very well who Yan Shigu's grandfather was.

The famous "Yan Family Instructions" was written by him, and one of the lines, "Living in a room full of orchids for a long time, one no longer smells their fragrance; living in a fish market for a long time, one no longer smells their stench," has been praised by later generations.

However, this old man had already passed away in the seventeenth year of the Kaihuang era of the Former Sui Dynasty, when he was already 66 years old. It should be noted that in this era of backward medical technology, it was very rare to be of such an age.

If Lu Deming and Yan Zhitui were close friends, then they must be quite old...

Yan Shigu didn't notice Li Yu's reaction. He stroked his beard, his face full of admiration for the person he was talking about, and said, "Master Lu is already eighty years old, yet he is still very energetic. Every time we see him, we are filled with envy!"

"Master Yan, Master Yan?" Li Yu called out softly twice, trying to pull Master Yan out of his envy.

"Please, Master Yan, tell me first, who exactly is this old man?"

Yan Shigu, somewhat displeased at being interrupted, did not hide anything and proceeded to explain Lu Deming's identity in detail...

.........

Stepping out of the Yan family's gate, Li Yu had gained a preliminary understanding of this person.

This man's name was Yuan Lang, but he was usually referred to by his courtesy name, Deming. In the fourth year of the Wude era, this old gentleman was summoned by Li Er to serve as a scholar in the Qin Prince's Literary Academy, and together with Xu Jingzong and others, he became one of the eighteen scholars of the Qin Prince's Mansion.

Unlike the treacherous Xu Jingzong, this man was refined, upright, erudite, eloquent, and rigorous in his scholarship. He once became famous in Chang'an for "debating three factions at once."

He was not only proficient in Confucianism, but also in Taoism and metaphysics, making him a great Confucian scholar who was "well-versed in both Confucianism and Taoism." In addition, he was also very knowledgeable in music, so it was most appropriate for Sun Simiao to recommend Li Yu to consult him.

only……

"Damn it, after going around in circles, I'm back to you again!"

Upon arriving at the Prince of Qin's residence, Li Yu glared angrily at Li Chengqian.

"hey-hey!"

Li Chengqian scratched his head awkwardly and said, "I was in such a hurry that I forgot about Master Lu. He'll be coming to the Crown Prince's residence to give a lesson tomorrow at Chenshi (7-9 AM). You can come and ask him for guidance then?"

Li Yu shook his head: "Since we're going to trouble them, it's better to pay them a visit in person. Prepare the gifts, and let's go now!"

.........