Lian Erye in the Red Mansion

Jia Lian practiced musket skills for half a day at the Imperial City Firearms Camp.

As the commander of the firearms battalion, he naturally needed to be proficient in using firearms.

When he returned to Ningrong Street, seeing that it was still early, Jia Lian did not rush back to the mansion. Instead, he stepped into the Ningguo Mansion.

After summoning the stewards and asking them questions and arranging some matters as usual, Jia Lian wanted to find the You sisters to relieve his boredom, but the You sisters had gone to the temple with their mother to fulfill a vow.

So Jia Lian thought of going into the garden to talk to Miaoyu or Baochai.

As I stepped into the Tianxiang Pavilion, I heard the sound of a zither. The melody seemed both familiar and unfamiliar; listening to it, I felt as if every note was a heavenly sound.

Jia Lian stopped and walked into Tianxiang Tower after a moment.

With the arrival of Gu Qingyi and her four maids, Tianxiang Tower has transformed from its former quiet and desolate state into a vibrant and lively place.

He stopped the two maids who saw him from paying their respects, and followed the sound to the west tower.

Through the window, one could see a stunningly beautiful woman in gorgeous attire sitting behind a guqin in the pavilion. With a gentle touch of her delicate hands, a melody was created out of thin air, spreading in all directions and captivating the hearts of the listeners.

Jia Lian was already well aware of Gu Qingyi's musical skills, but what truly surprised him was that the tune she was playing at this moment was actually a song he had loved in his previous life.

Unexpectedly, a piece of music that he originally thought was very beautiful turned out to be so novel and amazing when played purely on the guqin after removing the lyrics.

What surprised Jia Lian even more was that, if he remembered correctly, he had only performed this "West Sea Love Song" once in front of Shen Pan'er and the other girls. He never expected that Gu Qingyi's talent was so extraordinary that she not only memorized the melody after just one listen, but could also play it.

Jia Lian cannot compose music. Although he possesses an incredibly vast and novel music library for this world, and intends to enrich the world's cultural and entertainment offerings.

However, given that mastering music is not something that can be achieved overnight, he doesn't have much time to spend on this for the time being.

However, in his spare time, it wouldn't hurt to train some exceptionally talented women like Shen Pan'er.

This is actually why Jia Lian brought these four beauties back to the capital, and it was by no means solely because of their beauty.

As the music faded, the beautiful woman in the pavilion frowned slightly, as if deep in thought. Then she rose and walked to the table by the window, picking up a pen to mark and record in a notebook.

People say that men who are focused on their work are the most attractive, and the same applies to women.

Not to mention, when such a stunning beauty is single-minded and engrossed in her work, her static beauty is so captivating that it makes one forget the mundane world.

Jia Lian couldn't help but wonder what she was so focused on, so he quietly went into the attic and came to the desk.

Gu Qingyi only then noticed someone's arrival. She looked up and was about to rise to greet him. Jia Lian waved his hand, indicating that it wasn't necessary, then pointed to the notes the beauty had just sketched and revised, and asked, "Is this the score you wrote for this piece?"

Upon hearing this, Gu Qingyi looked up at Jia Lian, nodded, and said, "Yes, my lord. This is a 'finger notation' commonly used to record qin music, also known as abbreviated notation, created by Master Cao Rou of the Tang Dynasty."

It is precisely because of this method that many qin (a seven-stringed zither) pieces that have emerged over the past few centuries have been preserved, unlike those famous pieces from before the Tang Dynasty, which were lost to time.

As Gu Qingyi spoke, she glanced at Jia Lian several times.

This musical score does not use words to record the pitch and duration of the melody, but rather uses special symbols that are impossible for ordinary people to recognize. However, Jia Lian was able to identify it as a musical score at a glance.

It wasn't too surprising that Jia Lian, as a young master from a Duke's family, knew how to read sheet music. What surprised her was that Jia Lian had previously claimed that he had no musical talent.

Even if he could hum some novel and beautiful melodies, he would claim that they were just casual humming and not worth mentioning.

In retrospect, these were probably just excuses. He clearly also had a very high level of skill in music.

Jia Lian couldn't read minds, so naturally he didn't know what the beautiful woman in front of him was thinking.

The reason he could recognize the sheet music at a glance was simply because he had seen it at Daiyu's place. Daiyu, being a true prodigy, naturally knew how to play the zither as well.

Not only could she play the zither, but she could also read sheet music. According to Daiyu, her mother taught her all of this, and her mother was also a very talented woman!

The pairing of a talented woman with a handsome scholar was a celebrated story back then.

However, after Daiyu arrived at the Jia family and lived with Grandmother Jia, she was afraid of disturbing Grandmother Jia's peace, so she never showed off her skills in front of others.

It wasn't until he moved into the Grand View Garden and settled in the tranquil Xiaoxiang Pavilion that he picked up this hobby again.

Looking at the deletion marks on the note, Jia Lian knew that Gu Qingyi must have written the score of "West Sea Love Song" from memory. There must still be some parts that she didn't remember clearly or felt were inappropriate. She was just adjusting the score when she played the zither.

I am once again amazed by this woman's extraordinary talent; if she were alive in later generations, she would undoubtedly be a superstar who amazed an entire era.

Then he noticed a beautifully decorated booklet on the table, and Jia Lian picked it up casually.

Upon opening them, he found only recorded musical scores. Some were titled, others untitled, and he was familiar with all the titles.

Seeing Jia Lian looking down at her, Gu Qingyi blushed slightly and said in a low voice, "Many of the melodies that the Marquis used to sing were quite novel and beautiful to me. So I took the liberty of composing them into zither pieces according to the fingering techniques. I hope the Marquis will forgive my disrespect."

"What crime have you committed?"

Jia Lian smiled slightly and closed the booklet. In any case, he could only recognize the symbols and could not understand the pitch and length of the syllables represented by each symbol.

I always felt that although tablature was more scientific and precise than the ancient written notation, it was still far from being as convenient as the staff notation that is now commonly known as musical notation in terms of recording music.

Unfortunately, he had not systematically studied musical notation in his previous life. Otherwise, if he had taught this method to this woman, it would have helped her reach a new level in musical creation.

"The reason I brought you into my manor is not only to have you teach those twelve young actors music, but also to give you a place to stay and to study music, chess, calligraphy and painting."

Therefore, if your compositions can be accepted by the world, it will not only bring fame to us for generations to come, but also promote Chinese cultural and entertainment traditions and enrich the spiritual world of our people. Why not do it?

Although Jia Lian's words sounded strange, Gu Qingyi finally understood that Jia Lian was not angry because she had privately copied her work, but rather supported her. Her heart couldn't help but stir.

"The Marquis's realm is beyond my reach. However, I don't remember many of the tunes that the Marquis sang in front of my sisters. As a result, when I was composing the score, there were many parts that I could only rely on my shallow knowledge to copy and paste."

If Your Excellency has the time, would you allow me to ask you some questions in person...?

Gu Qingyi and the other women had been in the household for almost a year, but in reality, she hadn't seen Jia Lian very often. Most of the time, she was called upon to perform, and since the mistresses like Feng Jie were present, she naturally wouldn't overstep her bounds.

She had had this idea in her mind for a long time, but she hadn't found a suitable opportunity to ask Jia Lian to condescend to demonstrate it to her again. In that way, she was sure she could compile and perfect all the unique pieces that she felt would be passed down to future generations.

This matter was of great significance to her, so after she finished speaking, she looked at Jia Lian with sincerity and expectation.

Jia Lian looked down at the beauty in front of him, but did not respond to her words. Instead, he glanced at the direction of the curtain behind her, then stepped forward to the wooden chair where she was sitting. Under the gaze of her beautiful eyes, he bent down and picked her up from the chair.

Gu Qingyi's beauty is beyond doubt. If Daiyu's beauty is graceful and elegant, Baochai's beauty is dignified and beautiful, and Qin Keqing's beauty is charming and alluring, making men feel desire upon seeing her, then Gu Qingyi's beauty is radiant and makes people feel ashamed of themselves upon seeing her.

She and Miaoyu are the same type of stunningly beautiful women.

Perhaps due to her background and experiences, she understood and was better able to showcase her own beauty than Miaoyu.

If these four beauties hadn't been so captivating, Jia Lian wouldn't have risked leaving a lecherous impression on Daiyu and the other women by bringing them back to the capital.

Gu Qingyi, without a doubt, is the most beautiful and talented among these four beauties.

The reason he left them alone before wasn't because he was afraid, but simply because he was surrounded by beauties and didn't want to show his eagerness.

Having come here seeking pleasure, and now captivated by the woman's beauty, Jia Lian decided to abandon his pretense of chastity.

He picked up the beautiful woman's delicate body and went into the inner room. He had already seen that there was a bed inside.

Gu Qingyi was clearly not expected by Jia Lian's sudden action. After a moment of surprise, she landed steadily in Jia Lian's arms.

Feeling the strong and powerful arms holding her waist and legs, and smelling the distinct scent of a man, Gu Qingyi panicked and began to struggle.

"My lord..."

Jia Lian stopped and looked down at her: "You don't want to?"

Gu Qingyi was stunned, and her struggling movements stopped immediately.

If she hadn't wanted to, she wouldn't have stood on a small boat in her winter clothes on the Xiao Qinhuai River that day, playing a tune on the xiao flute, just to win the favor of the person before her.

If she didn't want to, she wouldn't compete with the other beauties in the Yangzhou headquarters for the chance to be taken away by the person in front of her.

If she didn't want to, she wouldn't have spent the best years of her life willingly as a courtesan in this noble household, summoned and dismissed at will...

Even if one is willing, it is hard not to feel resentful.

But she knew all too well that Jia Lian was no longer the hypocritical and servile high-ranking official she had known before.

This can be seen from the fact that even though he has had me for so long, he treats me with indifference, placing me aside and ignoring me.

She was absolutely confident that any other high-ranking official in the world would lose his virginity within three to five days once she entered his residence.

Therefore, the same methods used to deal with others would probably be meaningless to use on Jia Lian.

Because this might be the only chance the other party is giving her.

Given her position, she had no right to bargain with the other party. It was best to discuss everything after she became his woman.

A thousand thoughts raced through my mind, but my body had already gone limp.

She shook her head, meeting Jia Lian's gaze, and said in a soft, sweet voice, "Please, Your Highness, have mercy on me..."

The simple, pleading voice, though plaintive, seemed to pluck a chord in Jia Lian's heart.

He lifted her up with both arms and felt that the beauty in his arms was as light as a swallow, as if he were holding a beautiful jade. Jia Lian thought that he had long since cultivated a calm and unwavering mind in the face of beauty, but now his heart was once again stirred with ripples.

This was due to the woman's absolute beauty, which caused him to have an uncontrollable reaction.

There was a similar reaction earlier, when Qin Keqing and Miaoyu offered themselves to him.

As she hurried to walk faster into the inner room, a panting maid's voice echoed outside.

"Second Master, Second Master, the Old Madam has sent people everywhere looking for you. The Eldest Madam heard you arrived here and specifically ordered me to deliver a message..."

With the thud of embroidered shoes on the wooden floor, Silver Butterfly appeared at the window.

When Yindie saw Jia Lian through the window, her eyes were initially filled with surprise and joy, but she immediately stopped in her tracks, her eyes showing hesitation.

After hesitating for a moment, she shrank back, turned around and quietly hid where Jia Lian couldn't see her, then hurriedly patted her bouncing little chest.

Oh no, oh no, it seems I've ruined Second Master's plans!

Sigh, the hope was already slim, and now, who knows when my plan to become a concubine will finally come to fruition...

If I had known, I shouldn't have taken this job.

Inside the pavilion, Jia Lian, holding a stunningly beautiful woman in his arms, paused, his brows furrowed.

Although he wasn't in a hurry to devour Gu Qingyi, it didn't mean he was willing to be interrupted when he decided to make his move.

I believe no man would like that.

He intended to ignore Silver Butterfly, and believed that she wouldn't dare to continue speaking and spoil his mood.

But if Grandmother Jia had summoned him, it would have been fine if he hadn't received the order. Now that he knows about it and isn't going, and if word gets out...

It wasn't that he was afraid of displeasing Grandmother Jia. He was no longer the grandson who feared Grandmother Jia like a tiger.

He simply felt that if he ignored Grandmother Jia's summons in order to favor a beautiful woman, and this reached the ears of Daiyu and the others, they would inevitably despise him.

After all, he has always been portrayed as a filial son and grandson who is very respectful to elders such as Grandmother Jia.

Perhaps sensing Jia Lian's hesitation, Gu Qingyi smiled and said, "The old lady is in a hurry to see the Marquis, there must be something important. The Marquis should go quickly, and not delay important matters because of me."

Jia Lian glanced at her, unable to discern whether she felt relieved or regretful, but he made his decision and put her down.

Gu Qingyi switched roles very quickly. Not only did she show no change in expression, but she also considerately stepped forward to gently straighten Jia Lian's collar and then gestured to him with her eyes that he could leave.

Jia Lian thought to himself that although these women were usually quiet, they were the most cunning of the four women.

But just as he liked Xue Baochai, he wasn't worried about scheming women.

A simple woman has her own charm, and a woman with a kind and intelligent heart has her own touching qualities. As long as she doesn't harm others, she is a good woman.

So he raised his hand and touched her smooth face, whispering, "Wait, I'll come find you again tonight."

One sentence made Gu Qingyi's heart, which had just relaxed, tighten suddenly.

Before she could react, the person in front of her had already stepped out of the attic, leaving her standing there, unsure whether to be happy or sad.

Please take a moment to share this website on Facebook so we can continue operating.