In this school, all the girls are unmarried. Your Majesty's selection of a concubine has made the illegitimate daughters anxious, and the banquets of various aristocratic families have also made these legitimate daughters somewhat concerned. For the time being, they didn't even pay attention to their lessons, but instead gathered in twos and threes to chat idly.

  From these idle chats, Zhang Qi had heard the name Xiao Mo more than once. Not many young masters from aristocratic families were talented, and Xiao Mo was one of the few outstanding ones. This time when the Emperor selected scholars, he would definitely be among them. With his family background, it's likely that as soon as he entered officialdom, he would become a prominent official.

  In front of Xiao's mansion was Xiao Ce, and behind it was Xiao Mo. At that moment, even Zhang Shi's daughters had a sour tone in their voices.

  The next day, Zhang Jin was released.

  As soon as she came out, someone was sent to summon Zhang Gui.

  What could she want from Zhang Qi? It was still for Xiao Mo. Zhang Qi remembered the warning of the madam and shivered involuntarily.

  However, she didn't dare refuse Zhang Jin either. She lowered her head and followed Aluan behind him, walking towards Zhang Jin's courtyard.

  Just as they walked into a garden, Zhang Xuan's voice came from under the peach tree next to them. "Tell Yuan Zhihui that my Zhang family also has someone with exceptional talent." As he said this, he called out: "Go and get Gui Gu to come over. And tell her to bring a handkerchief, I want to let these mediocre people see what it means by 'extraordinary embroidery'."

  As soon as he uttered the two words "mediocre talent", the four young masters burst into loud cries. Amidst the shouting, a handsome young man said: "Quickly, quickly, I'd like to see what kind of extraordinary beauty your family's Xuanlang often talks about - Ah Qi!"

  One of the servants responded, turned his head around. As he turned his head, he exclaimed with surprise: "Lang Jun, where is Gui Guzi?" He stretched out his hand and pointed at Zhang Gui.

  In an instant, several pairs of eyes turned to Zhang Qi at the same time.

  Helpless, Zhang Qi turned her head, bent her knees and bowed slightly, calling out "Ninth Brother" as she slowly walked closer amidst Zhang Xuan's triumphant laughter.

  She arrived in front of the group of young people. Zhang Xuan walked over with big strides, reached out and grasped Zhang Qi's arm, pulling her along, saying: "Ah Qi is here, that's even better. These few people dare to look down on me, a member of the Zhang family. By the way, did you bring your handkerchief?"

  Handkerchief? Where does she have a handkerchief now? They all fell into Xiao Mo's place.

  Before Gu Zhang could respond, a young man loudly shouted: "This Ah Gui, lift your head up."

  Young Master Lang. When seeing a maiden of similar age, who wouldn't want to take a look at her appearance?

  Zhang Qi raised her head.

  As she raised her head, the four young men simultaneously felt disappointed. One of them let out a strange cry: "I don't know how to describe it, but this appearance is far inferior to that of Ban Jieyu."

  The sound fell away, and then there was another burst of eerie laughter.

  Zhang Xuan was greatly annoyed, his mouth opened as if to argue, but seeing Zhang Qi he closed it again. Only the corner of his lips couldn't help but curl up slightly. A disdainful hum also escaped from his nose.

  His movements, the other few did not see, but that face was clear and slender, Yuan Zhihui was seen in his eyes. He curiously stared at Zhang Qi and asked: "Little girl, where is your embroidery? Let me take a look."

  There was a hint of eagerness in his voice.

  Several other boys burst out laughing at the same time. They pushed Yuan Zhihui and shouted, "Good you, Zhihui, Zhang Xuan scared you, and you really took it to heart?" As they spoke, they looked at Zhang Qi and Yuan Zhihui making eyes at each other.

  Zhang Xuan hummed and didn't bother to reason with them, instead turning to A Lan and commanding: "Go to Ah Qi's room and bring back one of the handkerchiefs she embroidered."

  "Yes."

  Ah Lan was about to retreat when Zhang Qi on the side spoke up in a clear voice, "Ninth Brother, no need." She batted her long eyelashes and stretched out her hand towards Zhang Xuan, "Ninth Brother, lend me your flute for a moment."

  "Go and get a clean flute."

  "Yes."

  Before he knew it, a brand new flute had been handed over to Zhang Qi. As Zhang Qi took it, Zhang Xuan asked in a low voice, "Can you really play?"

  Zhang Qi nodded and smiled softly: "Of course I will."

  She turned sideways, facing the peach blossoms that were falling with the spring breeze, and began to play a mournful tune.

  At this time, a young man burst out laughing, "Little sister also wants to play the flute? You're wrong, Zhi Wei is a master..." Just as he said that, his laughter stopped abruptly, and the snickering of the crowd around him also came to an abrupt halt.

  In the distance, Xiyuan still had a faint sound of huqin. On the right side, closer by, there were also several young girls' giggles.

  But all these sounds, they couldn't hear them anymore.

  The flute sounds like spring breeze, drifting up, drifting over, drifting away, dropping a ground of flower rain and tears.

  Zhang Yi had a natural talent for this path, and her skills were in no way inferior to those of others. What set her apart was that her mind was already aware of the joys and sorrows of the world, having long since understood the twists and turns of life's journey.

  Even so, this melody is still crisp and clear. It's a thin and weak swallow that dances happily in the spring light again and again. Its beauty, its life, only has the splendor of this spring. It's powerless to rush towards the sky, but it still wants to flow down a magnificent glow in the spring breeze and rain of this land once again.

  The distant laughter also grew fainter and fainter.

  Just as the young master was enchanted, the flute sound stopped. She slowly turned her head, handed the flute to the servant beside her, and bowed to Zhang Xuan and the young master, saying in a low voice: "A Qi's heart is filled with sorrow, and it's hard to avoid sharing the same hatred under the moonlight. I'm afraid I've disturbed you gentlemen." She then turned to Zhang Xuan and said: "Ninth brother, Jin sister is still waiting for A Qi, I'll take my leave."

  It wasn't until she had gone far away that Zhūnghuáng Jūn came back to his senses.

  A young man exclaimed: "What a wonderful tune!" He shook his head and swayed to the music, still entranced by the melody. "The spring breeze, spring rain, and spring sorrow are truly a great tune!"

  Another Lang Jun murmured: "Heart has sorrowful thoughts, wind and moon share the same hatred! What a wonderful tune!"

  Yuan Zhihui, with a clear and elegant face and a tall and slender figure, turned to Zhang Xuan and asked: "Your little sister is so young, where does she get her worries from, and yet she's already experiencing the same sorrows as the wind and moon?"

  What's wrong? Thinking of Zhang Qi wanting to marry Hanmen Yuxiu's dream, Zhang Xuan shook his head and said, "I don't know where her worries come from."

  Yuan Zhiyu sighed, "No matter what, your family's Ah Gui plays the flute exceptionally well." When he heard this, his heart suddenly felt anxious and joyful, sometimes floating in the sky, sometimes sinking into the cold night. He himself was also a good flute player, but compared to this young girl, he still fell far short.

  When there is a chance, I will ask her, where does her melancholy come from.

  At this time, a young man chuckled and said: "Ah Xuan, your sister is really talented. This flute playing is much better than yours. It's a pity that she doesn't look as good as you. Otherwise, I would have asked to marry her. What do you think, Zhi Yu?"

  Yuan Zhiwei looked at Zhang Xuan and smiled, "You're talented. And you look good too."

  As soon as the words came out, a strange cry erupted. Zhang Xuan burst out laughing and said, "Still, Zhiyu has good eyesight." He didn't think that with Zhang Qi's current state, Yuan Zhiyu would still think she was suitable. In his heart, he secretly muttered: It seems that this year can settle Ai Qi's lifelong matter.

  Yuan Zhiwei had been watching Zhang Xuan all along, and seeing his expression, he became even more aware in his heart.

  Zhang Qi followed Aluan behind her back, walking towards Zhang Jin's courtyard.

  As they walked, Ah Lan suddenly said in a cold and arrogant tone: "Congratulations to Gui Guzi for showing off her talents again. It won't be long before all the young masters of Jiankang know that Gui Guzi is a great talent."

  Zhang Qi looked up at her and ignored her. Her status was humble, but it wasn't for a maid like Alán to be sarcastic.

  However, she has a point in saying that her own name would sound more impressive.

  It can be known from the conversation between the girls yesterday that after refuting Chen last time, the name of Tongxuan's good debate has been rarely circulated in the circle of dignitaries.

  With this reputation, plus today's incident, Zhang's family will have a talented woman, and it's likely to spread.

  Since Yuan's teacher told her that Zhang Shi's master cannot marry her off to a poor scholar, Zhang Qi has been confused about her own future. Now she only thinks that the bigger her name is, the less likely it is for the Zhang family to dispose of her casually. Not even the first wife can!

  In the room, Zhang Jin was listless and collapsed there. When she saw Zhang Qi coming over, she suddenly pounced forward, throwing herself in front of Zhang Qi, grasping her hand, and hastily asked: "Ah Qi, did you see Ah Mo? What did he say?"

  Jian Qi lowered her head and said in a sharp voice: "Quickly say, what did he say?"

  Zhang Qi shook her head, "He didn't say."

  "You're deceiving people—" Zhang Jin suddenly took a step back, his right hand raised as if to slap Zhang Qi. Seeing her staring quietly at him, he abruptly dropped his palm.

  She glared at Zhang Qi, saying angrily: "You deceived people, you deceived people! Wuuu, you deceived people..."

  The voice becomes weaker as it goes further back.

  She actually knew everything, she just didn't want to give up yet.

  Zhang Qi hung her head, letting Zhang Jin wail and scream. Since the madam didn't want her to mention Xiao Mo's affairs, Zhang Qi made up her mind that from now on, she would never mention half a sentence in front of people!

  Zhang Jin was desperate and cried uncontrollably.

  Zhang Qi stood still for a while, seeing that no one was paying attention to her, she quietly slipped out of the door. Ah Lan saw that she was about to leave and was just about to call out to her, but stopped herself.

  Zhang Qi didn't go back to her room but instead went straight to her father Zhang Shierlang's study.

  In the study, the sound of reading is loud and clear.

  Zhang Qi stood in the courtyard, listening to her father's clear and powerful reading voice, when suddenly a surge of hatred welled up.

  She wants to ask you why you seduced my mother?

  She wants to ask you why you seduced my mother but didn't give her a name?

  She wanted to scold him, why did his mother die and he was still so carefree?

  But she can't do anything.

  Not only can't she do it, but she also has to squeeze out a smile.

  Just as Zhang Gui reached the bottom of the stairs, a young boy came out and saw Zhang Gui. He frowned and shouted: "The master said that when reading books, no ordinary person is allowed to disturb him. Miss, please go back."

  Zhang Qi was taken aback for a moment before nodding and responding in a low voice: "Yes."

  She slowly backed away.

  Before I knew it, two more days have passed.

  This afternoon, there is a banquet at Xiao's residence.

  As the young ladies in the school said, this banquet gathered young ladies and young men from various families.

  This will be a feast where young ladies compete in beauty and talent, and young gentlemen show off their skills and talents.

  What Zhang Qi did not expect was that she, along with Zhang Jin, also got the qualification to attend this banquet!

  The madam's warning words were still in her ears, and with a flicker of an eye, she let them go to the Xiao Mansion to meet Xiao Mo.

  Compared with Zhang Jin's excitement, Zhang Qi involuntarily became vigilant.

  After a slight dressing, the girls sat in their respective carriages and set off. Zhang Qi didn't have a carriage, so she squeezed into one with three other concubine-born daughters from the courtyard.

  When the scorching sunlight hung in the sky after noon, the horse carriage drove out of the Zhang Mansion.

  ￥￥

  There is still one more watch at night.

  Download the latest txt e-book of this book, please click:

  This book is on mobile:

  Publishing book reviews:

  For your convenience, you can click on the record below (Record this time) to see it next time you open the bookshelf! Please recommend this book to your friends (QQ, blog, WeChat, etc.) and thank you for your support!!