The laughter of Mu Xueqin echoed from the bamboo house on Mount Tian.
Mu Xueqin, unable to contain her mirth, walked up to Liang Xiao, slapping his shoulders and chest with unrestrained glee. She couldn't resist pinching his cheek, as if teasing a child who hadn't yet grown up.
Liang Xiao wore an expression of utter resignation.
He couldn't exactly kick away his benefactor.
"This old one has said it before, that General Tian would manifest his divine power whenever he pleased, right!"
Mu Xueqin burst into unrestrained laughter again as she spoke, her dignified demeanor completely gone.
Jian Qinwan and Yue Lian lowered their heads, a hint of a smile playing on their lips.
Under the heavens, it was likely only this fellow who could make the capricious Medical Sage laugh to such an extent that her face contorted.
"He did manifest his power, but it had nothing to do with me; I was at Bodhi Temple!" Liang Xiao still insisted stubbornly.
Mu Xueqin regained her composure, a mysterious smile still lingering on her face. She patted Liang Xiao's shoulder, "Oh, it doesn't matter. Even if you rode Bai Ye Fei Ying, wielding the Tian Long Po Cheng Ji onto the battlefield, it would still be General Tian's divine might possessing you!"
Liang Xiao remained silent.
Jian Qinwan, the "female Rakshasa," had truthfully told her mother about his excursion that night.
Liang Xiao harbored a deep grudge. He vowed that a true gentleman would not let such an insult go unavenged.
Unexpectedly, Mu Xueqin didn't press further. Instead, she told Liang Xiao and Yue Lian to rest in the main courtyard.
In the secluded room, with only mother and daughter present, Jian Qinwan handed a silk scroll to Mu Xueqin.
It detailed, of course, how Liang Xiao had responded to Hong Ren's questions.
The principle of "ceasing conflict is martial," Hong Ren's three questions, and that Buddhist verse...
"To cease conflict is martial, suffering, knowing, letting go... Bodhi has no tree..."
Mu Xueqin shed tears several times and sighed repeatedly.
Jian Qinwan nodded silently, her heart heavy with thought.
Her mother believed Liang Xiao was her ideal match, the only one worthy of her.
But now she understood.
She was the one not worthy of Liang Xiao!
Mu Xueqin wiped away her tears and noticed her daughter's prolonged silence. She asked, "My child, were you able to adapt to living at Liang Xiao's home?"
Upon hearing this, Jian Qinwan's pent-up grievances erupted. She hugged Mu Xueqin and wept uncontrollably.
Only her mother, who knew her best, could understand the immense restraint required for her to prevent her own fastidiousness from hindering Liang Xiao.
"Did he treat you badly?" Mu Xueqin exclaimed in alarm.
"No..." Jian Qinwan murmured.
Mu Xueqin sighed, "Then you simply cannot adapt to living with Liang Xiao. Alas! Forget it, my precious. Stop being Liang Xiao's guard. Come back to your mother's embrace, and let's both forget each other in the rivers and lakes."
"No, no, no! Don't. I can adapt..."
Hearing her mother suggest she return home, Jian Qinwan anxiously pushed Mu Xueqin away, her expression flustered. Looking up, she saw Mu Xueqin smiling teasingly at her.
"Mother~"
Realizing she had been tricked by her mother, Jian Qinwan blushed and pouted in Mu Xueqin's arms.
Liang Xiao was contemplating Mu Xueqin's intentions in his room when Yue Lian arrived with Jian Qinwan.
"When are you departing back to the capital?" Jian Qinwan asked.
"It's afternoon now. Tomorrow morning, perhaps," Liang Xiao replied.
Jian Qinwan snorted, "Then you two will accompany me!"
Liang Xiao and Yue Lian followed Jian Qinwan, bewildered, along the familiar path until they reached the large iron gate.
"This place..." Liang Xiao and Yue Lian exchanged glances, puzzled.
Jian Qinwan simply took out a key, unlocked the iron gate, and the three walked forward, finally arriving outside the patch of daffodils.
Liang Xiao then noticed that the patch of daffodils he had trampled had been replanted.
"My mother replanted them," Jian Qinwan muttered to herself.
Liang Xiao sighed, "Bodhisattva, your mother has been kind to me. I know I owe you a great deal, and I will strive to repay and make amends in the future... I will also find the flowers I promised to find for you!"
Jian Qinwan remained silent for a moment, then said nonchalantly, "You don't need to feel indebted, nor do you need to repay me. I don't care for it! I brought you here only to ease your guilt. I told you I wouldn't cause you trouble, and I won't cause you distress either! Just do what you need to do!"
Liang Xiao curled his lip, "I was in a good mood earlier, but after you said that, I'm bothered."
Yue Lian, startled, quickly nudged Liang Xiao with her eyes.
"Then what do you want?" Jian Qinwan felt immensely wronged. She had compromised so much.
Liang Xiao said without hesitation, "Bodhisattva, play a tune. Here, in the bamboo forest of Mount Tian."
Jian Qinwan froze and fell silent.
On Mount Tian!
After a long pause, Jian Qinwan asked, "You believe that by playing wholeheartedly for you here on Mount Tian, I can rediscover my original intention for learning the zither, is that right?"
From the moment she met Liang Xiao, she seemed to be forgetting her initial purpose for learning the zither, due to his presence.
"I just want to listen," Liang Xiao replied sheepishly.
"Stop being indecisive! I'll play if I'm to play!"
Jian Qinwan finally made up her mind. She led Liang Xiao and Yue Lian to the outside of her bamboo cottage, a place as elegant and serene as ever.
The sable brought the guqin and quickly departed, not daring to disturb the three.
A gentle breeze caressed her face as Jian Qinwan placed her hands on the zither, her heart a tangle of emotions.
"Yue Lian, you don't need to leave..."
Yue Lian, who was about to excuse herself, obediently agreed upon hearing Jian Qinwan's words and sat upright.
Liang Xiao watched Jian Qinwan, noticing her fair, jade-like hands trembling as she touched the zither.
He didn't rush to offer comfort, but waited patiently.
Only when Jian Qinwan regained her composure did Liang Xiao breathe a sigh of relief.
From this moment on, Jian Qinwan focused entirely on playing the zither, her nimble fingers strumming the strings.
The melody flowed, melodious and pure, as if carrying endless unspoken sentiments.
Yue Lian looked on with surprise but dared not make a sound, fearing she would disturb Jian Qinwan.
Jian Qinwan also played the zither at the Liang residence in the capital, but even Yue Lian, as an amateur, could tell that today's music was more beautiful and resonant.
Liang Xiao gazed at Jian Qinwan, the zither's melody echoing in his mind.
He could tell that Jian Qinwan's skill surpassed Qin Feng's, but that wasn't the crucial point.
The key was that he heard the true meaning within the music...
After the piece concluded, the lingering notes filled the air.
Jian Qinwan lowered her head to look at the zither, tears falling onto the strings.
Liang Xiao, snapping back to reality, exclaimed, "Bodhisattva, you..."
Jian Qinwan turned away and covered her ears, "Don't say it. I don't want to hear it."
Liang Xiao paused, then said softly, "I understand."
"From now on, when I play the zither, I will return to my spontaneous and natural style. Isn't that what you intended?" Jian Qinwan said softly.
Liang Xiao nodded slightly, "Yes, you've seen through it."
"You don't need to feel indebted. I don't want to cause you trouble," Jian Qinwan's voice was tinged with a sob.
"There is no trouble."
"I will not cause you trouble!"
Liang Xiao fell silent.
Yue Lian watched, tugged at Liang Xiao's sleeve, and chided, "Young Master, praise Miss Qinwan!"
Liang Xiao gave a wry smile, "She is a zither immortal. Does her skill and beauty require me to embellish them..."
"Then praise something else! Just praise anything, as long as she stops being sad!" Yue Lian urged, anxious.
She could see Jian Qinwan's mood was not right and that someone needed to lighten the atmosphere.
Liang Xiao hesitated.
Yue Lian prompted him again.
A flash of inspiration struck Liang Xiao. He said with great seriousness, "Bodhisattva, you have a wonderful figure."