Zhang Qi met Xiao Mos gaze.

  He asked her, she knew.

  But?

  Zhang Qi turned her head to look at the emperor walking in front of her, and indeed he was the one who had sold her embroidery, just like she remembered.

  She knew that the Chen Emperor, even if he was a humble origin of Gaozu, liked painting music and poetry, the descendants of the Chen family seemed to like those things from their blood. Diligently seeking, never tired.

  His own works pleased the emperor, just as Xiao Mo said, take advantage of the trend and rise at this time!

  But she still cant.

  Zhang Qi turned her head and shook it slightly towards Xiao Mo without making a sound.

  At the moment she shook her head, Xiao Mos eyebrows slightly furrowed, and a hint of impatience finally appeared in his expression.

  He must be thinking that she is weak and incompetent, doesnt know whats good for her. Such a great opportunity and she doesnt even know how to grasp it, being trapped is what she deserves.

  But she really cant, especially the moment before, King Guangling just threw such a sentence to the dignitaries of Jiankang. Now, she absolutely cannot put herself under everyones gaze. That way, she cant hide.

  Lowering her head, Zhang Qi pursed her lips and slowly backed away.

  Before long, she vanished into the darkness once again.

  She walked silently for a while and arrived at a corner of the garden.

  Here, the red flames of the fire are emitting a warm heat, and several lanterns are swaying in the spring colors. Next to it, there are some collapsed and some literary treasures.

  Zhang Qi quickly walked to the desk and began writing on it after grinding the ink.

  She wrote quickly, with beautiful handwriting flowing out like a stream.

  Finishing as quickly as possible, Zhang Qi hastily picked up the rice paper, blew on the ink marks, and moved the paper to the flame, intending to dry it.

  "Whats Little Sister writing?" a voice of a developing drake quacked over.

  Suddenly hearing a human voice, Zhang Qi was startled. Reflexively, she hastily turned her body around and took steps towards the darkness.

  That person didnt think she was hiding, and hastily said: "Dont be afraid, dont be afraid, I have no malicious intentions." He took a step forward and reached out to grab her shoulder, saying: "Dont be afraid, even if youre writing a letter to your lover, I promise not to tell anyone." But his tone was tinged with teasing.

  His palm was hot and powerful, and as soon as he touched Zhang Qis skin, she shuddered. Just as he grasped Zhang Qis shoulder and happily lowered his head to look at the rice paper in her hand, Zhang Qi suddenly kicked back heavily with her right foot.

  She didnt even turn her head, but this kick was right on target. The mans thigh took the hit, and he couldnt help but let out a cry of pain as his whole body stumbled backward.

  Taking advantage of the opportunity, Zhang Gui lowered his head and rushed into the forest. The man shouted and rushed into the trees, but it was pitch black everywhere, where could he see anyone?

  He turned back with a gloomy face and said in a low voice, "What kind of ghostly symbols are you writing? I cant understand any of it." The things on the rice paper were indeed some strange symbols, and he really couldnt understand any of them.

  At a glance, the fifteen or sixteen-year-old youth looked at his hand, put it in front of his nose and sniffed, chuckled to himself and muttered: "Just by looking at her back, I knew she was a beautiful young girl, her skin felt smooth even through her clothes, I wonder whose daughter she is?" He stomped his foot heavily and exclaimed in regret: "Its all my fault, I forgot to look at her clothes." Every family has its own characteristic clothing. Judging people by their attire is the most ordinary thing in this era.

  Just then, a voice called out from behind him, "Chen Kun, Chen Kun."

  The young man hastily turned back, under the flames, a handsome and lively face with a few points of displeasure, "Whats going on here, whats the ghost calling." After speaking, he ran towards the direction where the sound came from.

  Zhang Qi rushed into the forest and walked for a while before the rice paper dried up.

  What happened just now was a tiny episode for her, and now there is no ripple left.

  Back at the banquet, Zhang Gui glanced around and saw Xiao Lu, who was busily engaged in his work with his head lowered, in a corner.

  She walked towards him from the dark place.

  When Zhang Qi walked out of the darkness and came to Xiao Lus side, Xiao Lu also found her.

  Xiao Lu furrowed her brow, but still put down the work in her hands and walked to Zhang Qis side, asking: "Have you changed your mind?"

  Zhang Qi shook her head, she raised her head, bright eyes looked at Xiao Lu for a moment, but then retreated into the darkness.

  Xiao Lu saw this and slowly walked a few steps closer to her, asking: "Is there something?"

  Zhang Qi nodded, and quickly pulled out a rolled-up rice paper from her bosom, handing it to Xiao Lu. Lowering her voice, she said seriously: "This is a musical score, named Free and Easy Wandering. Its a piece for the zither and flute duet. Give it to your brother Xiao Lang, and let him present it to His Majesty in his own name."

  Xiao Lus expression was noncommittal, but Zhang Qi spoke very seriously: "This score might just change Your Majestys opinion of Xiao Lang and stop him from prying into his relationship with Princess Qing Xiu."

  Her overly serious tone, her overly bright eyes, made Xiao Lu pause for a moment. He took the rice paper and thought that his own husband had also said that this timid and cowardly little girl was extremely intelligent, so he nodded and said: "Alright, Ill go try it out."

  Xiao Lu finally agreed, Zhang Qi let out a sigh of relief, she raised the corner of her mouth and said lightly: "Then Ill take my leave."

  Xiao Lu hummed in response, but before he could turn around, a shrill quacking voice came from behind him. "A-Lu, wheres your husband? Wheres that little scoundrel Xiao Mo?"

  Xiao Lu turned around, saw the newcomer, and hurriedly smiled. He bowed his head in a salute, raised an eyebrow and chuckled: "So its Chen Jia Alang, Ill report to His Majesty that our Xiao Lang is currently attending to him. And you, sir? Have you found a beautiful maiden to your liking?"

  Chen Yun shook his head and said with some emotion: "We had originally agreed on one, but I wasnt paying attention, and that girl slipped away."

  Xiao Lu was shocked and exclaimed: "Youve seen it before, how could that girl still run away? Whose family is she from?"

  Chen Yun chuckled and said: "If only I knew whose daughter she was. She slipped away so quickly, I didnt even get a clear look at her face before she ran off."

  He didnt even get a good look at her face, yet he had the nerve to say they were a match made in heaven. Xiao Lus eyes widened in annoyance, and after a moment, he pouted and decided not to bother with this boring person.

  Chen Yun shouted a few words, lowered his head and saw the rice paper in his hand, saying: "What is this? Let me take a look?"

  "Whats this?" Xiao Lu Man carelessly tossed the rice paper in her hand, intending to pass it to Chen Kun. But then she thought of Zhang Qis cautiousness and shook her head: "No way, this is for my husband."

  After speaking, he bowed his waist and slipped away, "Chen Jialang Jun, Ive seen you, sir. When I have time, Ill come to apologize to you again." In the midst of Chen Yuns laughter and scolding, Xiao Lu disappeared into the darkness.

  Having seen this, Zhang Gui let out a breath of relief and quietly retreated to where Zhang Jin was.

  When Zhang Qi arrived at Zhang Jins side, she lowered her eyebrows and eyes to endure her scolding. Suddenly, a string of piano sounds mixed with the sound of a Xiao flute floated in. On such a quiet night, the clear and pleasant piano sound matched the low and vast sound of the Xiao flute, floating in gently and quietly, seeping into the darkness. So refreshing, so carefree, yet so desolate and vast.

  Many of the young ladies and gentlemen who came here have a deep understanding of music, but where have they heard this melody? For a moment, one by one, they stopped talking and quietly listened.

  This silence made Zhang Jin dare not make another sound. And with her head lowered, Zhang Qi also had a smile at the corner of her mouth and was in a pleasant mood.