Chapter 4

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Arc 1 | The Qin Player Involved in Palace Fights (4)

Translator: velestia

Editor: Doges

<cite>This will have sporadic updates, and chapter 1-3 will be re-translated.</cite>

”Where does the chance come from?”

”The system has read your real world information,” the system continued: “You have a very good mindset. You always curiously strive to discover the truth and do your utmost to search for it, not letting the minor details slip by. Even though Concubine Hui perfectly framed you, as long as you are framed, the flaws will be exposed, and you are the one who can find that flaw.”

”……” Li Yuebai was silent for a while, and finally said: “Thank you, system, but……”

”But what?” The system heard something in his words, but as soon as he asked, someone came inside.

It’s His Royal Highness.

Li Yuebai had to temporarily interrupt the discussion with the system and stood up to show his respect.

Murong Nan wore a brocaded dark red robe, which contrasted against him and made him seem more spirited and his eyes brimmed with vigor. After he was awakened by the sound of Li Yuebai’s qin, he regained his vitality every passing day. He’s afraid that he is almost better now.

When he first woke up, he couldn’t wait to talk to Li Yuebai, pulling Li Yuebai and holding on, for fear that people would run away again. Now that he knew that Li Yuebai would live in the Qingxin Pavilion for a long time, he relaxed but tried to suppress it. He was full of joy and did not show it.

”Teacher, are you accustomed to living here ma?” Murong Nan stepped into the Qingxin Pavilion, deliberately not looking at Li Yuebai, but first looked away, looked around critically, and asked.

Seeing his awkward yet arrogant expression, Li Yuebai thought it was funny, but also a little cute. He couldn’t help but let the corners of his lips lift to form a small smile, and answered a few polite words in accordance with etiquette.

”When we parted the day before yesterday, I told Teacher the number 42. Does Teacher know what it means?” Murong Nan sat down and drank the tea from the servant before finally looking at Li Yuebai. His eyes were big and were a dark black, and like an abyss, it seemed to suck Li Yuebai in.

”Caomin is ignorant and doesn’t know.” Li Yuebai smiled bitterly.

From the tone and gaze of His Royal Highness, it can be seen that this number doesn’t have a tiny bit2 to do with his mission at all. It’s just that His Royal Highness is acting out with a temper. He wants to see how much Yun Weizhi knows about how much he values Yun Weizhi. Just stay what you have said, just like a girl in modern society asks her boyfriend if she remembers their anniversary…… Li Yuebai doesn’t want to be entangled in this aspect.

”Fine.” Seeing that he couldn’t remember, Murong Nan stopped questioning. His face showed a disappointed look, but this disappointment quickly disappeared and the youthful look of optimism appeared again—yes ah, even if the person he likes can’t remember the promised signal, what does it matter? He is overjoyed that he appeared in front of him and will stay in the palace for a long time.

Li Yuebai secretly breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that fortunately, Murong Nan was still young and more tolerant of himself. Even if he made a little mistake, he would not be discovered.

Murong Nan sat there for a while and after he watched Li Yuebai enough, he stood up and left.

After sending Murong Nan away, the system couldn’t wait to continue the discussion from just now.

”Host, what did you just want to say?” The system asked: “I think you can use your care and wisdom to find out the mistakes in the process of Concubine Hui and others. Isn’t that right ma?”

”Yes, I do have the ability. Confront the other party, break through the details of the evidence, and find out the faults.” Li Yuebai sighed, “but, this is useless.”

”It’s useless?” The system was surprised.

”System, have you ever lived in a feudal society before?”

”Host, what are you kidding about, of course not.” The system immediately replied: “We’re systems under the Lord God, not a human beings. Our job is to complete the command of the Lord God. Even if we accompany the host to travel to a world with an ancient background, this is the first time.”

”That’s right.” Li Yuebai said: “System, there is one thing we must understand—in feudal society, people often live and die. It depends on the will of the ruler, not the evidence.”

”……” The system was silent.

”In a society under the rule of law with a complete legal system, my mission is hanging by a thread. Even if I am accused by thousands of people, I can still look for evidence, look for the other party’s faults and defend myself.” Li Yuebai explained: “But here, it’s almost impossible.”

”But,” the system didn’t believe it: “There’s countless data in my database showing that many people can talk in front of the Emperor…… and finally successfully solve the unsettled case.”

”That’s because of the Emperor, they were given a chance.” Li Yuebai spoke: “If the Emperor doesn’t give a chance, we can’t do anything about it.”

”Host, do you mean we can’t succeed?” The system asked.

”Maybe.” Li Yuebai said: “It’s just a different method…… I am also very unaccustomed to this, but I’ll have to try.”

”What method?”

”Control the heart of a person,” stated Li Yuebai.

”Whose thoughts do you want to control?”

”The Emperor’s.” Li Yuebai answered without hesitation.

The most fundamental driving force that contributed to this unjust case was the Emperor’s wish—that the Emperor would abolish the old and establish a new. Abolish Empress Xiao, and make Concubine Hui the new empress.

If this willingness can be removed fundamentally…… the matter is of course easy to solve, but this problem’s difficulty is really high, it’s difficult is like trying to reach the clear sky.

Li Yuebai felt a sense of powerlessness as if he was pushing a boulder up a mountain.

”In addition, Hui Fei’s party is not monolithic.” Li Yuebai said: “As long as we can win over one of them, there will be a chance to disintegrate their camp.”

A few days later, snow fell from the sky.

The Empress held a snow appreciation banquet, and all the concubines in the palace were invited to attend. Li Yuebai was also ordered to ‘liven things up’ and play the qin.

In the warm pavilion, the fire was burning hot, and despite the heavy snow outside the door, the pavilion was as warm as it was in spring. A thin curtain separated the musicians and concubines to avoid suspicious contact between the two sides as a protective measure. For Li Yuebai, it was a display—he always sat motionless and far behind the gauze curtain. Apart from playing the qin, he occasionally took a sip from the teacup in front of him. He never said a word, let alone have any contact with the concubines.

Across the gauze curtain, Li Yuebai only needs to look at Concubine Hui and Qian Jieyu3 from a distance to get a full view of their expressions.

With the help of the system, his hearing and vision had been strengthened.

Qian Jieyu sat next to Concubine Hui, personally serving Concubine Hui carefully, but Concubine Hui stood up coldly.

He had expected that this pair of sisters would have a distinct priority, but didn’t expect it to be so obvious that there was no semblance of a disguise.

As Qian Jieyu was pouring the wine for Concubine Hui, she accidentally spilled a drop, and Concubine Hui was furious, took the glass of wine, and poured it on Qian Jieyu.

After such a disturbance, the whole scene went quiet. The Empress frowned and lightly reprimanded Concubine Hui with a few words. Concubine Hui barely restrained herself a little.

Qian Jieyu’s face was pale, her eyes drooped, and she went back to change her clothes with the maid. She didn’t dare to delay too long and immediately returned to Concubine Hui after she changed, and sat quietly, not daring to show any signs on her face that she was angry.

The other concubines couldn’t help whispering: “Concubine Hui has always liked to bully her concubine sister. She has never been so aggressive in the past. What happened recently……?”

Others don’t know, but Li Yuebai knows—this is a bitter trick.

Concubine Hui bullied Qian Jieyu in front of everyone, and the Empress would naturally preside over justice. In this way, Qian Jieyu could turn away from her elder sister, be grateful to the Empress, go to the Empress to ask for peace and serve her, and gradually fall to the side of the Empress…… she can find an opportunity to imitate the Empress’s handwriting.

As for Yun Weizhi’s handwriting…… Yun Weizhi has personally written several qin scores. For Hui Fei and Qian Jieyu, it is easy to get the qin score.

Li Yuebai watched quietly, but couldn’t stop it.

The only thing he can do now is to investigate.

He never understood why Qian Jieyu would be loyal to Concubine Hui and obey her advice.

Qian Jieyu has no friends nor enemies in the harem. She is not loved by the Emperor, nor is she jealous of the concubines. She does not love the Emperor and has no ambition. Her biological mother already passed away and she does not exist to live better for her biological mother. The possibility of her desperately climbing up is low.

Where is Qian Jieyu’s weakness?

”System, can you tell me?” Li Yuebai asked.

”Sorry, host, the system doesn’t know.” The system replied: “Although this novel is big, it does not introduce every character in great detail. Qian Jieyu is just an insignificant passerby villain, her mental journey was not mentioned.”

He has to investigate it himself.

However, his current profession is a qin player, and he dare not have any contact with the concubines. He’s always worried about being framed…… this is probably the most unsuitable profession for investigation. He can’t even ask ‘how do I investigate?’

Fortunately, in addition to speaking, there is another way of communication: music.

Li Yuebai turned his attention to the qin and played one by one. The people present were already drunk on it, but Qian Jieyu didn’t respond.

Qian Jieyu has been with Concubine Hui for so many years, her heart may have been numb from exhaustion. It’s only natural that she didn’t respond to music.

At the end of the snow feast, Li Yuebai played a song called “Jiaren3.”

”Jiaren” is a song of a woman’s complaints, the content of which is about missing a travelling lover from the perspective of a woman. One section about their love makes people soft-hearted and very moved.

The love between two lovers that was supposed to be feminine and delicate, expressed with the guqin is even more sullen and stubborn than it would be with other instruments. Li Yuebai focused his efforts on setting the scene and depicting a sky up high, clouds down low, mountains tall and waters high. The long parting scene arrives after the lover leaves, which makes the woman’s weeping even more heartbreaking.

When Li Yuebai hit the high note, he deliberately increased his influence power. At that moment, he noticed—Qian Jieyu’s figure was shaking and a little unstable.

Her original apathetic and calm face showed a trace of sadness.

But in the blink of an eye it changed.

Footnotes

1 (草民) “I,” (also means person of humble birth) used by people of lower birth addressing officials and those of higher rank ↩

2 (一丝一毫) idiom: one thread, one hair ↩

3 (佳人) meaning beauty or beautiful woman ↩

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