Time Travel: The Best Doctor in Ancient Times

Chapter 404: Chapter 271: Give an Inch, Take a Mile_2 Chapter 404: Chapter 271: Give an Inch, Take a Mile_2 Brother Mu, truly the most handsome man she had ever seen! A jade tree in Qiong Branch, with a celestial bearing so striking that one would only dare to admire him from a distance, never daring to treat him with disrespect!

Luckily, Brother Mu had not disfigured himself; otherwise, where in this world would there be a man who could match her, Huo Shuixian?

Seeing that she spoke, Brother Mu responded with a smile, which seemed to give Huo Shuixian a great boost of encouragement. She mustered the courage to speak up, “Brother Mu, Shuixian has known you since childhood, and though we’ve endured more than a decade of separation, my feelings for you have not diminished in the slightest. Today, let me offer you a tune, and I hope Brother Mu will not find it displeasing.”

As soon as Huo Shuixian finished speaking, her cheeks were already flushed red, presenting an utterly bashful demeanor.

Yuan Bao sensed something amiss and couldn’t help but glance at his master.

However, Zhou Mu feigned sleep and did not heed his signal, leaving Yuan Bao with no choice but to touch his nose and let it go.

At this time, after a few preludes, the melody of the zither finally emerged.

Even Yuan Bao had to admit that Huo Shuixian’s mastery in the art of the zither was profound, living up to her reputation as the most talented lady of the Capital City.

The Jiaowei Zither already had a mellow and gentle sound, but under Huo Shuixian’s deft and leisurely plucking, the music became even more enchanting, drowning out all worries and making one forget the passage of time.

The more Yuan Bao listened, the more he felt something was off. Although he wasn’t much of a connoisseur of zither music, he was sure he had heard this piece before. As for where, he had to rack his brain!

Yuan Bao scratched his head in bewilderment, trying to recall exactly what this piece was.

Meanwhile, Zhou Mu’s eyes, hidden under his long lashes, grew increasingly profound, becoming unfathomably deep.

Suddenly, Yuan Bao thought of something, his hand flying to his mouth to muffle a gasp!

He remembered now, the piece was Phoenix Seeking Phoenix!

That’s right! It was Phoenix Seeking Phoenix–the very one his lord had once played for Lady Changsheng!

He remembered that back then, Lady Changsheng had harshly criticized it!

Sima Xiangru used the famous Lv Qiqin to play Phoenix Seeking Phoenix and seduced the daughter of a high official, Zhuo Wenjun. Lady Changsheng said that the Lv Qiqin was a major matchmaker in the elopement of Zhuo Wenjun and Sima Xiangru!

This was also why, although Phoenix Seeking Phoenix was widely popular in the markets, it rarely graced refined gatherings!

Yet now, Huo Shuixian, a daughter of the prominent Grand Tutor’s Family, was playing Phoenix Seeking Phoenix!

The implication was self-evident!

Yuan Bao couldn’t help but snicker to himself. So much for being a noble lady! When his lord played this tune for Lady Changsheng, it was only a mutual expression of affection and pleasure, but for a true noble lady to play such a piece, it was simply unbecoming of her status!

Has she no shame?

Yuan Bao managed to keep from speaking out loud, though it was hard.

The music was crisp, the sentiments lingering, the resonance seeming to waft through the beams.

However, it was clear that the two people inside the room were in no mood to appreciate it.

Huo Shuixian ended the piece perfectly, her fingers pressing the strings, her head bowed in a timid silence.

Having played this piece in front of Brother Mu, revealing her feelings, Huo Shuixian felt extremely nervous inside.

She was afraid that Brother Mu would find her unladylike, and she was worried about being rejected.

“Your mastery over the zither is exceptional, rare in this world; however, using the Jiaowei Zither to play this piece is somewhat inappropriate. It’s a pity that the Lv Qiqin has been lost to the world for some time now, denying me the chance to find one,” Zhou Mu slowly opened his eyes, the corners of his mouth curling into a smirk tinged with a hint of scorn.

When Huo Shuixian heard Zhou Mu praising her zither skills, she momentarily couldn’t believe her ears and looked up, surprised and flattered.

Brother Mu surely knew the meaning behind Phoenix Seeking Phoenix, yet he said nothing else, instead commended her!

What did that signify?

Huo Shuixian couldn’t help but leap for joy, her heart fluttering restlessly like a frightened fawn.

Did Brother Mu accept her feelings?

Yes! It must be so!

“I’ll gift you this Jiaowei Zither. You should return and rest early. I still have some urgent matters to attend to,” Zhou Mu said as he picked up the Geomancy Map and lowered his head to study it again.

Huo Shuixian, still in disbelief, carried the Jiaowei Zither out of Lansheng Courtyard. Brother Mu had actually given her the Jiaowei Zither–one of the four greatest famous zithers of the time!

Watching Huo Shuixian and her servant disappear outside the doors of Lansheng Courtyard, Yuan Bao hurried from the window to the desk, looking at his master with a pained expression, and blurted out, “Lord, why did you give the Jiaowei Zither to Miss Huo? That’s your most treasured possession!”

While writing swiftly, Zhou Mu coolly dropped two words, “It’s tainted!”

“Uh…”

Yuan Bao choked on his words, unsure how to respond for a moment.

Just because Miss Huo had played the Jiaowei Zither, was it now tainted?

Look at the disdain on his lord’s face!

“Well, Miss Huo is from a respectable family, after all. How could she so indecorously express her love to a man? It truly has tainted our Jiaowei. Better to be rid of it, indeed!” Yuan Bao said, shaking his head in pity as he spoke.

A Phoenix Seeking Phoenix for a Jiaowei Zither–what a profitable deal Miss Huo had made!

Zhou Mu nodded his approval, noncommittal, continuing to write vigorously, “Find a piece of high-quality paulownia wood…”

“My lord?” Yuan Bao called out, puzzled.

What did his lord need paulownia wood for?

“I once promised Changsheng that I would personally make her a zither.” Reminded of Gu Changsheng, Zhou Mu’s demeanor softened, and his lips curved into an indulgent smile.

“Oh…” Yuan Bao suddenly understood, nodding knowingly, “The servant will keep an eye out right away.”

Creating a zither! For Lady Changsheng, there was nothing surprising about whatever his lord decided to do!

It wasn’t odd to see him act as a zither craftsman–even if he were to do a carpenter’s job, Yuan Bao wouldn’t be taken aback.

At his words, Zhou Mu acknowledged with a nearly indiscernible nod, then smiled wanly, amused by a thought, “She said she couldn’t bear to ruin an antique zither, insisted on having a new one, but I’m not sure if she even understands music theory, or can play at all.”

Yuan Bao nodded in agreement. With Lady Changsheng’s whimsical nature, was she really capable of playing the zither, an instrument for cultivating the mind and emotions?

He had his doubts…