The Double

Chapter 152: Little Red

The young maid returned with news that no one was found near the ancient zither.

The crowd buzzed with astonishment. "Closing the Mountain Moon" had finished playing, yet the musician had vanished without a trace, leaving behind an elegant mystery. Someone remarked, "Perhaps it's some master musician. Opera librettos often depict such reclusive experts with peculiar habits who dislike revealing their true identities."

"How refined! How poetic!"

Amid these exclamations, Xiao Deyin felt sweat pooling in her palms.

The player had disappeared? How could that be? This was merely the residence of a top scholar—such a small place—where could they hide? If they never intended to show themselves, why play at all? Xiao Deyin had a growing suspicion that the music had been meant for her ears alone. No one else could have recognized the familiarity in those notes. After all, besides her, no one had ever heard Xue Fangfei perform "Closing the Mountain Moon."

Could it be Xue Fangfei's ghost, emerging to warn her? Xiao Deyin felt dizzy. Truthfully, since Xue Fangfei's tragedy, she had never set foot in the Shen residence until today. After all this time, she had assumed the matter was long forgotten, as if it never happened.

But now she realized it was far from over—it tormented her more intensely than ever.

Her face turned deathly pale. A young lady nearby noticed and asked, "What's wrong, Madam Xiao? Why are you sweating so much?"

"It's nothing," Xiao Deyin waved weakly. "Just a bit lightheaded."

"Perhaps you caught a chill from the wind?" A concerned matron promptly pulled her further inside. "Don't sit near the entrance—you might catch cold."

Warmth from the heated brazier enveloped her, and lively chatter filled the room. The mysterious zither music, as sudden in its disappearance as its appearance, was quickly dismissed by the crowd as a trivial oddity.

But for Xiao Deyin, it was anything but trivial.

...

Jiang Li had long since left that room.

When the emperor first bestowed this mansion, the Shen family had moved in with boundless joy. She, too, had been purely happy then, sometimes wandering through every corner of the estate, swelling with pride at her husband's accomplishments, feeling honored to share his glory.

Now, those memories felt like cruel jokes. Yet her familiarity with the mansion remained unchanged. She knew every pathway, every servant-free nook.

Liu Xu hadn't returned yet, so Jiang Li waited at the garden's edge. The Shen family's garden lacked the vibrancy of the Duke's estate. It seemed that after Xue Fangfei's death, no one cared to tend the plants. For Shen's mother and Shen Ruyun, admiring jewelry held more appeal than gardening, while Shen Yurong had no leisure for such matters. Thus, in winter, the flowerbeds lay desolate and forlorn.

Just then, someone called out "Fangfei!"

Jiang Li started. The voice felt both strange and familiar, startlingly close. Certain it was meant for her, she whirled around—but saw no one.

The garden stood empty, devoid of even servants. Who could have called her name?Jiang Li steadied herself. Though the fact that she had become Second Miss Jiang was bizarre enough, for some reason, she herself did not believe in ghosts or deities. Thus, she refused to attribute this to supernatural forces, instead assuming someone was testing her. No sooner had she stood still than the voice rang out again: "Fangfei, Fangfei!" This time, it was clearer, accompanied by fluttering sounds.

She identified the source—it came from near the pillar under the eaves. Jiang Li paused briefly, not overthinking it, and walked toward the sound.

As she approached, she spotted a bronze birdcage with a completely black myna inside, tilting its head to stare at her. Suddenly, its beady black eyes blinked, and it squawked loudly: "Fangfei, Fangfei!"

"You!" Jiang Li was speechless.

Back in the winter of her first year in Yanjing City, she had woken one morning to find a frozen myna lying outside her window. It must have escaped from some household's cage and, unable to withstand the harsh Yanjing cold, had frozen stiff there.

She had someone retrieve the bird, place it in a box lined with a handkerchief, and set it near the fireplace. Warmth revived it, and later, Shen Yurong found a bronze cage to keep it as a pet.

The myna stayed in the Shen residence for years, from their humble cottage to the state-bestowed mansion. Over those years, it learned a few phrases and seemed remarkably perceptive. Whenever it saw Xue Fangfei, it would call "Fangfei, Fangfei," but it never did so for anyone else. Shen Yurong had once joked that the bird could recognize people.

Now, in these circumstances, the myna's sudden outburst startled Jiang Li, though she soon realized it was a false alarm. Amused and exasperated, she scolded, "Stop that!"

The myna continued to gaze at her, head tilted, then suddenly flew to the side of the cage closest to her, gripping the door tightly with its claws, and cried out again, "Fangfei, Fangfei!"

This was astonishing. Jiang Li stared at it in disbelief. Logically, her appearance had completely changed; even if she stood before Shen Yurong or Xue Huaiyuan, no one would recognize her as Xue Fangfei. How could this bird identify her and persistently call her "Fangfei"? Could animals perceive people better than humans? Or had her aura remained unchanged despite her altered looks, allowing the myna to recognize her?

Regardless, she couldn't stay here long. If others saw her standing there while the myna incessantly called "Fangfei," though improbable, it might raise suspicions. If Shen Yurong found out, he might uncover something.

Jiang Li never underestimated Shen Yurong.

Just as she prepared to leave, a voice sounded behind her: "In such situations, silencing the witness is the way to go. Why are you hesitating?"

Jiang Li turned to see Ji Heng, clad in red, standing a few steps away, smiling faintly at her.

"Duke?" she asked. "What brings you here?"

"I was passing by and noticed the commotion, so I decided to check it out," he replied casually. "The Shen family is quite welcoming."

His explanation mirrored Princess Yongning's earlier excuse. Jiang Li wasn't sure how to respond.

"This bird seems to know quite a bit," he remarked offhandedly.Jiang Li's heart skipped a beat, yet she smiled and said, "I don't know either. It suddenly started calling 'Fangfei.' I've heard the Top Scholar's Wife is named Fangfei—perhaps it misses its owner." She was offering an explanation, but this explanation seemed rather feeble in front of Ji Heng.

Ji Heng also smiled, walking over to the birdcage and extending a finger to tease the myna. The myna pecked at his finger, but Ji Heng deftly avoided it, tapping the bird's head instead.

"Regardless... it calling you by its owner's name could lead to misunderstandings." Ji Heng raised an eyebrow. "Didn't I teach you not to leave any loose ends?"

Jiang Li: "..."

She knew, of course, but this was just a bird. There were other ways—simply avoiding it would suffice. Why must it be killed? Ji Heng's fingers stroked the myna's feathers, and the bird seemed to enjoy it immensely, not shying away but tilting its head slightly to look at him, perhaps enchanted by his mesmerizing beauty, behaving quite docilely.

But Jiang Li knew that those elegant fingers could snatch the bird's life at any moment.

Sure enough, Ji Heng smiled as he opened the birdcage and scooped the myna into his palm.

The myna had been raised in the Shen residence for several years and had long grown accustomed to human contact. It didn't struggle when Ji Heng suddenly took it out, instead lying quietly in his palm, motionless.

Jiang Li watched as Ji Heng slowly closed his hand.

Her heart tightened, and she couldn't help but exclaim, "No!"

Ji Heng looked up at her, leisurely asking, "Why not?"

Jiang Li fell silent. After all, she had raised this myna for three years; she was the one who had picked it up back then. After her death, everything in the Shen residence had become irrelevant to her, and there was no one left who treated her sincerely. The myna was just a bird, but it might be the only remaining thing in the Shen residence that held no ulterior motives toward her.

Even if it was just a bird.

Ji Heng still wore a smiling expression, but his eyes carried a chilling indifference.

Jiang Li steadied herself and said, "Perhaps Miss Jiuyue has some mute drug."

"Poisoning a bird mute, Jiang Li," he rarely called her by her full name like this, and when he did, it carried an absurd detachment, "are you out of your mind?"

Jiang Li also realized her idea was rather excessive. For someone like Ji Heng, who was "unpredictable in mood," why would he bother expending such effort for a bird? Impossible—he didn't even show such patience with people. Killing to silence someone was just that—killing. What nonsense was she spouting?

Before Jiang Li could respond, she saw Ji Heng's palm snap shut, and the myna vanished from his grasp.

He glanced at her and said, "Don't be foolish."

Jiang Li sighed inwardly, gazing at the empty birdcage, and silently refrained from speaking further.

After they had walked a short distance away from the empty birdcage, Jiang Li said, "Duke, I need to wait here for my friend Liu Xu. I'm afraid I cannot accompany you further. Besides..." Besides, walking alongside Ji Heng in the Shen residence would likely attract curious glances.

Ji Heng looked at her, his gaze as if trying to see right through her, and suddenly asked, "How do you plan to deal with Xiao Deyin?"

Jiang Li was taken aback. Ji Heng continued, "That piece 'Moon Over the Mountain Pass' you played earlier threw Xiao Deyin into disarray. Although I don't know the reason," he rubbed the handle of his folding fan, "you played it targeting her."He even knew about this? When exactly had he arrived? Under his probing gaze, Jiang Li thought for a moment and said, "It's a long story. That piece was indeed played for Xiao Deyin. What I plan to do next is simple—I want Princess Yongning to feel that Xiao Deyin’s existence is a threat, so she’ll have to silence her."

"You can’t stop Yongning from silencing Xiao Deyin," Ji Heng hit the nail on the head. "She won’t give you a chance to save Xiao Deyin. And you have no reason to save her anyway."

Ji Heng always saw right to the heart of the matter. Jiang Li smiled faintly and said, "So I don’t actually intend to let Princess Yongning go through with the silencing. If Xiao Deyin really dies, Xue Fangfei’s case will lose a witness. I won’t let that happen." She added, "I just need Xiao Deyin to believe that the assassins were sent by Princess Yongning."

"You want to sow discord?" Ji Heng’s lips curved upward, as if praising a pet that had finally learned to bite. "Clever girl."

"You could say that. I have to make Xiao Deyin believe Yongning will move against her, and make Yongning think Xiao Deyin is unreliable. Of course, I’ll find a way to keep Xiao Deyin alive. She ought to face punishment alive, not cause more trouble in death."

It was rare to see her so detached. Most of the time, she wore a gentle smile, as if accepting all suffering and injustice. But in that moment, the flash of hatred in her eyes was caught by Ji Heng.

He studied her thoughtfully for a while before asking, "Since you’ve already made up your mind, who do you plan to have carry this out?"

"You mean the people to fake the assassination?" Jiang Li chuckled. "I won’t hide it from you—my uncle is a man of the martial world with many connections. It won’t be hard to hire some actors when the time comes."

"Are you planning to move against Yongning and Lord Xiao Shen now?" Ji Heng asked.

"It’s time."

"Then I’ll leave you to it." Ji Heng clasped his hands behind his back and looked at her. "Good luck." Having said that, he turned and left without the slightest hesitation. Jiang Li was taken aback; she had expected him to say more. But then she realized—Princess Yongning’s affairs had nothing to do with Ji Heng. He had always preferred to watch from the sidelines, never stepping into the drama willingly. Though she had gradually drawn him in, that didn’t mean it was his obligation to stay.

If he could keep his distance, then so be it. This was, after all, her battle alone.

A short while later, Liu Xu came out and, spotting her, walked over. "What are you doing here? I came out earlier and couldn’t find you in the corridor. I searched for so long, I thought you’d gone back. Oh," she said, noticing the empty birdcage hanging by the pillar under the eaves, "why is there an empty birdcage here? Isn’t there a bird inside?"

Jiang Li looked at the vacant cage and shook her head. "I don’t know." But inwardly, she sighed—the last object connected to her past in the Shen family was finally gone.

A faint sense of melancholy lingered.

By the time they reached the pavilion, quite some time had passed. Many young ladies who had been strolling in the garden had returned. Jiang Li noticed that Xiao Deyin was no longer there. She approached Lu Shi and asked, "Where is Lady Xiao?""She claimed to feel unwell, likely having caught a chill. Her face was as pale as paper, so she has already returned." Lu Shi, assuming Jiang Li was concerned about the academy's teacher, explained.

Jiang Li inwardly scoffed. She had originally thought that since Xiao Deyin could collude with Princess Yongning to harm Xue Fangfei, she must be a bold person. But now it seemed she was as timid as a mouse—just a scare was enough to reveal her true colors. Using her to deal with Princess Yongning might not be too difficult.

She also noticed that Princess Yongning was not among the crowd. However, no one here dared to inquire about Yongning's whereabouts, much less had any say in where she went. Jiang Li knew that Princess Yongning was probably with Shen Yurong at this moment. Having finally found such an opportunity, she would naturally pour out her heartfelt feelings. But based on Jiang Li's understanding of Shen Yurong, he was likely more annoyed than pleased, more disgusted than happy to see Princess Yongning.

Speaking of which, Ji Heng and Shen Yurong were two entirely different people—one enjoyed watching dramas, while the other excelled at acting them out. The former might seem too aloof, and the latter too sentimental, but Jiang Li felt she would rather face the detachment of an observer than become the target of an actor's deception.

To have no control over joys and sorrows, only to become a laughingstock for others to watch—this thought inevitably brought a wave of desolation.

Liu Xu nudged her and frowned, "Why does Shen Ruyun keep staring at you?"Jiang Li was taken aback and glanced at Shen Ruyun, just in time to catch the latter's undisguised look of disgust before she could hide it." Understanding dawned on her, and she said, "Probably because of Fifth Sister."

Shen Ruyun was about to marry Zhou Yanbang, but before that, Jiang Yu'e had already entered the Zhou household. Given Shen Ruyun's intolerance for any rivals, she undoubtedly wished to thoroughly discipline Jiang Yu'e. Seeing Jiang Li, and remembering that she was also a daughter of the Jiang family, Shen Ruyun likely extended her hatred to Jiang Li as well. Of course, it might also be because Jiang Li had once been engaged to Zhou Yanbang.

"What a madwoman," Liu Xu said. "What does Jiang Yu'e's matter have to do with you? Everyone in Mingyi Hall knows that Jiang Yu'e doesn't get along with you. She really knows how to make baseless connections."

"It's fine, I don't care. We can just ignore her," Jiang Li reassured Liu Xu. In truth, she did not have high hopes for Shen Ruyun's life after marrying into the Zhou family. Although it seemed on the surface that Shen Ruyun had gotten her wish by marrying her beloved, and the Zhou family would treat her well due to Shen Yurong's influence—at least superficially—Jiang Li now saw clearly what kind of person Zhou Yanbang was. He was utterly petty and did not truly love Shen Ruyun, while Jiang Yu'e was no easy opponent either. With these three together, one could imagine the daily chaos and headaches it would bring.

Let others deal with such headaches—she would not trouble herself with idle concerns. Although she had not found any remaining evidence during her visit to the Shen residence today, it was because Shen Yurong had already cleaned up everything. There was almost no trace of her existence left in the entire Shen household. However, she now knew what to do next.

This was still a significant gain.By evening, the banquet at the Shen residence finally concluded. On the way back to the manor, Old Madam Jiang closed her eyes wearily to rest, and Lu Shi dared not disturb her, sitting quietly as well. Jiang Li seized this rare moment of tranquility to sit and ponder her own affairs.

Upon returning to the Jiang residence and then to the Fragrant Garden Courtyard, Tong'er and Bai Xue, seeing her return, promptly brought hot water and tea. Tong'er recounted the day's events in the manor, selecting what she deemed useful. Jiang Youyao remained missing, and the entire city had nearly been turned upside down in the search. The authorities now suspected that Jiang Youyao had used some method to secretly slip out of the city, but Jiang Yuanbai refused to believe it—Jiang Youyao had never left Yanjing City and lacked the audacity for such a feat. She must still be in Yanjing City, just hidden away somewhere unknown.

Thus, the search continued.

Tong'er asked, "How did you find the Shen residence today, Miss? Is it large? I heard it was a mansion bestowed by the emperor—is it even more beautiful than our manor? What a pity I couldn't go; I would have loved to see it for myself."

"Bai Xue, close the door," Jiang Li interrupted Tong'er. Bai Xue shut the door, and both she and Tong'er approached Jiang Li, sensing she had something important to say.

Jiang Li retrieved a box from under the table and opened it, revealing a neat stack of banknotes. She was not short on silver now—the Jiang family had more than doubled her monthly allowance as compensation, and when she returned from Xiangyang, Old Madam Ye had secretly stuffed a large pouch into her luggage, filled with rolls of banknotes. Usually, she had little use for them, but now, Jiang Li counted out five notes.

"Take these five hundred taels and use them to do something for me," she said, placing the banknotes in Tong'er's hand.

Tong'er held the silver, studying Jiang Li's expression, and felt an inexplicable tension. "Whatever you ask, Miss, I will do it. What is it?"

Jiang Li motioned for her to lean in and whispered a few words in her ear. Tong'er looked puzzled but replied, "Don't worry, Miss. I'll take care of it right away."

"This must be done discreetly," Jiang Li emphasized. "No one can know."

"I understand," Tong'er nodded firmly.

"Bai Xue, I have a task for you as well," Jiang Li whispered a few words to Bai Xue, who, upon hearing them, showed the same surprise as Tong'er and nodded. "I understand, Miss."

"I'm counting on you both," Jiang Li sighed. "You're the only ones I can truly trust."

Ji Heng's people were certainly capable, but she felt it inappropriate to rely on them repeatedly. Jiang Li believed she owed Ji Heng too much already, so she preferred to handle matters herself whenever possible, without involving him. He was not like Shen Yurong; he owed her nothing and had no reason to sacrifice for her.

Faint chirping of birds came from the branches outside the window, but in this season, where would birds come from? The Jiang family didn't keep birds intentionally—it was likely just her imagination.

Involuntarily, Jiang Li thought of the mynah bird that had died by Ji Heng's hand, and her eyes dimmed with sorrow.

What a true pity.

...

In the Duke's residence, lamplight flickered in the study.Lu Ji had been waiting in the room for quite some time. When he saw Ji Heng enter, he immediately stood up and said, "Sir, there is news from Prince Cheng's side. Troops in Yuzhou are gathering in large numbers, I'm afraid..."

"At least it won't be until after the New Year," Ji Heng said unhurriedly. He pulled something from his sleeve and placed it in his palm. Lu Ji was taken aback to see a fluffy black ball resting in Ji Heng's hand.

Suddenly gaining freedom, the black ball fluttered with a rustle, spreading its wings to fly onto the hilt of the long sword hanging on the wall. It tilted its head and stared at them.

After examining it for a long moment, Lu Ji asked, "Is this a crow?"

No sooner had he spoken than the black bird cried out toward Ji Heng: "Beauty! Beauty!"

Lu Ji: "..." It's over. This bird is done for. It actually dared to flirt with Ji Heng right to his face. I wonder who trained this creature.

To his surprise, however, Ji Heng wasn't angry but seemed rather amused. He said, "Quite the sweet talker."

There wasn't a trace of insistence on pursuing the matter.

Lu Ji found it strange. Was Ji Heng planning to keep this mynah that looked like a crow? The Duke's residence didn't keep birds. Old General Ji had once been a bird enthusiast, raising many interesting species, but all of his birds were foul-mouthed. When out of their cages, they would peck at the flowers in the garden. The flowers in the Duke's residence were no ordinary blooms—a mere taste could kill a person instantly, let alone a bird. Thus, all of the old general's birds ended up poisoned by the garden flowers. Deeply affected by the loss yet unable to uproot all the plants, the old general simply gave up keeping birds altogether. In fact, aside from people, there wasn't a single animal in the Duke's residence. With such a large collection of poisonous substances in the estate, a single misstep could cost a life, and that would be a sin.

Of course, Ji Heng himself lacked the compassion or patience to care for an animal.

Yet at this moment, he seemed rather taken with this mynah.

"Are you planning to keep the bird, my lord?" Lu Ji said. "You'll need to keep it caged and not let it fly around freely."

"Keep it?" Ji Heng tilted his head to look at the mynah. The bird met his gaze for a moment before opening its beak: "Beauty! Beauty!"

Lu Ji thought, This bird acts like some lecherous rogue. Just then, Ji Heng laughed and asked the mynah, "What's your name?"

Though the mynah appeared clever, it couldn't answer every question. It just kept chirping "Beauty!" without saying anything else.

Ji Heng said, "Since you have no name, you shall be called Little Red."

Lu Ji: "...My lord, this mynah is black?"

"Mm," Ji Heng replied. "But its name is Little Red."

Lu Ji was speechless. Then it occurred to him that it wasn't his bird anyway, so why bother? Setting aside the matter of the mynah, he stated the purpose of his visit and discussed the upcoming plans with Ji Heng before taking his leave.

Before departing, he glanced at Little Red, seeming utterly perplexed, and then stepped out.

After Lu Ji left, Ji Heng walked over to the long sword where Little Red was perched, reached out, and scooped the bird up. Little Red tilted its head to look at him and cooed softly. Ji Heng placed it on the table, took a handkerchief from his sleeve, and spread it out. Once Little Red stepped onto it, he bundled the handkerchief around the bird, wrapping it snugly, and set it on a small stand beside the warming stove.

The weather was bitterly cold, but the room was warmer than outside, so Little Red wouldn't freeze to death.

With this cozy spot, the little black bird seemed quite content. Soon, it half-closed its eyes as if about to fall asleep. Ji Heng watched it for a while, shook his head, and walked away.

This bird shouldn't have survived, but he couldn't bring himself to do as Jiang Li suggested—specifically feeding a bird mute drug. It was better to bring it back. The Shen residence had only lost a mynah, and given how noisy this one was, it probably wasn't well-liked anyway.

Somehow, it felt like hiding a beauty away in a golden chamber.

...

The first few days of the New Year were always lively. The streets were filled with children at play, dressed in new clothes, shoes, and hats, holding candied hawthorns and buzzing with festive cheer.During the New Year at Mingyi Hall, students were exempt from classes, so the main gate remained tightly shut. The instructors, enjoying a rare moment of leisure, either gathered with a few close friends or took time for personal pursuits, all in all leading a rather tranquil existence.

Xiao Deyin, however, was an exception.

She resided alone in a separate estate, not living with her family. People said it was because she possessed a resilience no less than that of any man. She had no intention of marrying in this lifetime; though gentle and beautiful in appearance, with no shortage of admiring sons of officials, her ambition lay in becoming a qin master, devoting her life to the guqin. The Xiao family had initially tried to persuade her otherwise, but eventually, they ceased their efforts.

From initial incomprehension, people gradually came to admire her. After all, for a woman of beauty to spurn fame and fortune, unwilling to marry, solely dedicated to becoming a skilled qin master—this was no ordinary feat. She earned their respect, her students revered her, and as an instructor, she was not overly strict, making her reputation in Yanjing City exceptionally favorable.

Though Jinghong Xianzi was also exceptionally skilled in the qin, her past included time spent in a house of pleasure, which could not compare to Xiao Deyin’s unsullied reputation. Moreover, now that Jinghong Xianzi had married, the title of Northern Yan’s foremost qin master rightfully belonged to Xiao Deyin.

In previous years, Xiao Deyin would have already been visiting fellow qin enthusiasts, engaging in music and poetry. But this New Year, she politely declined all invitations, claiming she had caught a chill and was unfit to go out.

To be precise, it was after the Shen family banquet that day that Xiao Deyin had “caught a chill.”

In the courtyard, her maid asked, “Will you not be going out today, madam?”

Xiao Deyin glanced at the weather—a rare fine day with no snow, the sun shining warmly as if to seep into one’s bones, seeming to dispel much of the gloom that had clouded her in recent days.

After a moment’s hesitation, she replied, “Since it’s like this, I might as well go out for a look.”

Staying secluded in the estate and avoiding people would inevitably arouse suspicion. Under the circumstances, it was better to take a stroll, as long as she returned early.

With this thought, Xiao Deyin had her maid style her hair, apply a light touch of powder, and select a robe that made her complexion appear brighter.

At the estate gate, remnants of firecrackers left by children littered the ground, lending a lively air. For the sake of tranquility, Xiao Deyin’s residence was situated in a small alley. Usually, foot traffic here was sparse, making it exceptionally quiet. Just as she was about to take a walk, she suddenly heard the familiar strains of a qin melody drifting from nearby.

It was “Moon Over the Mountain Pass”!

Her hand trembled, and a shiver ran through her heart. She grabbed her maid’s arm and asked, “Did you hear that?”

The maid, startled, asked in confusion, “What are you referring to, madam?”

“The qin music! It’s the qin! ‘Moon Over the Mountain Pass’!”

The maid suddenly understood. “There is indeed qin music, not far from here.”

Only then did Xiao Deyin relax; since she wasn’t the only one who heard it, it couldn’t be a ghost. Listening more carefully, the playing didn’t resemble Xue Fangfei’s—it sounded much more ordinary.

Before she could fully catch her breath, two passersby emerged in the alley. Hearing her words, they turned and said, “So this young lady also knows ‘Moon Over the Mountain Pass.’ Today, a mysterious qin master has appeared in Yanjing City, playing ‘Moon Over the Mountain Pass’ with divine skill. Those who’ve heard it are all imitating it—it’s everywhere these days.”One of them even laughed and said, "Speaking of which, some say this mysterious person's qin skills are far superior to those of Xiao Deyin, the top qin master of Northern Yan. Who knows if it's true or not."

Xiao Deyin's vision went black.

The Duke inherited his biological mother's (that's me) lack of naming talent...

(End of Chapter)