My family has been wielding knives for generations, but now it's my turn to wield a pen!

"What do you mean by that!"

Jiang Xiaobai frowned deeply, his gaze fixed on Helian Zhaoyue: "My eldest brother and second brother... could they still be alive?"

According to memory, three years ago, Jiang Yunce and Jiang Linquan led their troops deep into the northern border, but they fell into Bei Yu's trap, which ultimately led to the annihilation of their entire army.

When the news reached the capital, everyone believed that the two had died in battle.

However, one thing is certain: their bodies were never found.

Now, Helian Zhaoyue suddenly said, could it be... that the two of them are really still alive?

But just as he thought of this, Jiang Xiaobai realized it was unlikely.

That's right, both Jiang Yunce and Jiang Linquan are undoubtedly talented generals.

Having led troops in the northern border for many years, countless people in Beiyu have died at the hands of these two.

If he were captured alive by Bei Yu, Bei Yu would definitely not hide him.

Even if they don't kill them, they can use them to threaten the Zhenbei Marquis's mansion, thereby undermining the morale of the Great Hua army.

But in the past three years, Beiyu has remained completely silent.

But then another question arises: if the two have already died in battle, then... what did Helian Zhaoyue mean by what she just said?

As Jiang Xiaobai frowned, Xiao Jinfeng, who was sitting next to him, also changed his expression and looked at Helian Zhaoyue in disbelief.

He naturally knew about the two young masters of the Zhenbei Marquis's mansion.

When news of the defeat in the northern border three years ago reached the capital, it caused quite a stir.

Could there be some hidden story behind this?

"I didn't say that!"

Helian Zhaoyue sneered and said, "If Prince Jiang wants to hear it, then compose a piece and have the master in the lake perform it!"

"In that case, I, the princess, will tell you what I have learned!"

At this point, Helian Zhaoyue's gaze swept over the small island in the middle of the lake: "If you can't even perform well, then this princess... has no need to say anything more!"

"Can!"

Jiang Xiaobai stared at Helian Zhaoyue for a moment, then finally said, "However, there's no need to write it!"

Ok?

Helian Zhaoyue raised an eyebrow, but before she could speak, Jiang Xiaobai had already stood up and cupped his hands in a gesture of respect towards the small island in the middle of the lake.

"We would appreciate it if a master could perform a piece!"

Xiao Jinfeng was surprised when Jiang Xiaobai spoke.

Although Jiang Xiaobai's two previous compositions were indeed impressive.

But surely it's not like Jiang Xiaobai can just casually shout out a line and expect a master to actually perform it?

Just as Xiao Jinfeng was thinking this, a soft zither melody suddenly came from the originally calm island in the middle of the lake.

Clang!

The sound rang out, clearly reaching everyone's ears.

what……

Xiao Jinfeng's expression immediately showed surprise. He actually played it?

Helian Zhaoyue's face also showed surprise.

However, upon hearing the continuous piano music, she quickly closed her eyes and listened attentively.

After Jiang Xiaobai sat down, he also felt that the music was somewhat familiar.

After listening for a moment, he realized what was going on.

It was this poem, "High Mountains and Flowing Water," that he later gifted to the eminent man of Huting.

Although he wrote this piece, this is the first time I've heard it actually performed.

The music was clear and melodious, especially when performed by the master Hu Ting; the music seemed to have truly traveled across mountains and rivers.

Listening to it gradually calms one's heart.

The song wasn't very long.

As the last note of the zither faded away, the courtyard remained quiet for a moment.

"Great music!"

Xiao Jinfeng was the first to come to his senses and couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.

"Princess!"

Jiang Xiaobai then looked at Helian Zhaoyue: "Now, can you tell us?"

"Young Master Jiang..."

Helian Zhaoyue opened her eyes, a smile returning to her face: "You must have misheard, right?"

"What I just said was that you should compose a piece of music and have the master of the lake perform it!"

"Therefore, the piece performed directly by this master just now is naturally invalid!"

"..."

Jiang Xiaobai frowned.

This woman is actually playing with words with him?

"What's wrong?"

Seeing Jiang Xiaobai's expression, Helian Zhaoyue chuckled, "Young Master Jiang wants to know the news, yet he can't even bear to write a single song?"

There's no such thing as a free lunch!

"good!"

Jiang Xiaobai said, "I'll write it!"

"etc!"

Helian Zhaoyue spoke again: "This princess has one more request!"

As she spoke, Helian Zhaoyue glanced at the small island in the middle of the lake and said, "That piece of music was indeed good, but it was too tranquil!"

"Today, I wish to hear a piece of music that can truly touch the heart!"

"Oh, you mean...?"

Jiang Xiaobai scoffed, "Does this young master not only have to write music for you, but also make you cry?"

"cry?"

Helian Zhaoyue frowned and said coldly, "Fine, if you can really write a song that will make this princess weep!"

"Besides telling you about your two brothers, I can add one more piece of news!"

Is this really true?

Jiang Xiaobai's expression shifted.

"nature!"

Helian Zhaoyue said calmly, "However, the prerequisite is that your music can actually achieve that!"

"Can!"

Without the slightest hesitation, Jiang Xiaobai looked at Xiao Jinfeng and said, "Bring me paper and pen!"

Xiao Jinfeng paused for a moment, then raised his hand.

Soon, the servants brought up paper and pen.

Jiang Xiaobai sat there without saying anything more, picked up his pen and began to write.

Helian Zhaoyue held her teacup, her gaze sweeping over the area from time to time.

A piece of music that can make you cry.

No, it's not something that can be written casually.

She wanted to see what Jiang Xiaobai could write!

To Helian Zhaoyue's surprise, Jiang Xiaobai put down his pen after only a moment.

"So fast?"

Helian Zhaoyue looked surprised.

Jiang Xiaobai didn't think much of it. He picked up the completed sheet music, handed it to Tang Ningshuang beside him, and then looked at Helian Zhaoyue, saying, "Just wait and see what happens!"

"good!"

Upon hearing this, Helian Zhaoyue coldly snorted, "This princess would like to see how your music can make me weep!"

Tang Ningshuang took the sheet music and glanced at it.

Although she couldn't read the sheet music, she still looked curious when she saw the title of the piece.

"Thinking of You with Sorrow"?

The name doesn't sound particularly special.

This... could really make Helian Zhaoyue cry?

With a hint of doubt, Tang Ningshuang lightly touched the ground with her toes, and her figure flew out from the courtyard, quickly landing on the opposite side of the small island in the lake.

The maid in the lakeside pavilion came out after seeing this and took the musical score from her.

Tang Ningshuang did not linger and turned back to the courtyard.

After landing beside Jiang Xiaobai, Tang Ningshuang couldn't help but ask, "Can your music really make the princess cry?"

"Um!"

Jiang Xiaobai nodded slightly: "It can make you cry too!"

"..."

Tang Ningshuang was somewhat skeptical when she heard this.

Meanwhile, inside the pavilion in the middle of the lake, the figure in the white dress took the sheet music handed to her by the maid and began to look at it.

"metropolitan!"

The maidservant beside her, watching the woman in the white dress lost in thought, couldn't help but ask curiously, "How was the piece he brought this time?"

Hearing the maid's voice, the woman in the white dress snapped out of her reverie and sighed softly, "Alas... this piece is not suitable for the zither!"

"Go and fetch my erhu string!"

"what?"

Although the maid was surprised, she quickly turned around, went to the side, and opened an exquisite long box.

Inside the box, a huqin (a type of Chinese bowed string instrument) lay quietly.

The maid carefully took it out and handed it to the woman in the white dress.

The woman in the white dress took the erhu but did not immediately begin playing. Instead, she sat there, looking at the sheet music in her hand again, remaining motionless for a long time.

"metropolitan?"

The maid waited for a moment, her expression becoming even more puzzled.

The woman in the white dress gently stroked the strings of the zither, and finally sighed again.

"To be honest, I don't really like this kind of music!!"