binnovel Chapter 24 It turns out you were just being delusional.
Chapter 24 It turns out you were just being delusional.
Back then, Tao Asheng was a top musician in the palace. He was not only highly skilled in playing the zither, but also had a charming demeanor and outstanding talent.
His every performance captivated the entire palace, and both royalty and ministers praised him highly.
However, behind this glamorous facade, Tao Asheng harbors a secret.
Feng Yunniang is the cousin of a noble concubine in the palace. She is beautiful and clever.
Feng Yunniang's parents died early, and in order to make a living, she came to serve the Imperial Concubine as a palace maid.
She fell in love with Tao Asheng at first sight and often found various excuses to get close to him.
Whenever Tao Asheng performed in the palace, Feng Yunniang's eyes were filled with admiration and love.
However, Tao Asheng always maintained a polite but distant attitude towards her.
Feng Yunniang couldn't understand why such a talented man would be so indifferent to her.
Feng Yunniang told the imperial concubine she served that she had taken a liking to Tao Asheng.
So her cousin, using the name of the Imperial Concubine, summoned Tao Asheng and had her play the flute while Feng Yunniang danced.
Those were the happiest times for Fengyunniang.
Once, the emperor issued an edict ordering many musicians to play music, saying that whoever made the imperial concubine laugh would be granted a three-month leave.
So Tao Asheng used the "Tao Family Mysterious Techniques" to create a beautiful scene of a phoenix flying in the sky, and the emperor granted him a holiday.
When Feng Yunniang saw this, she was very curious and asked the Imperial Concubine to order Tao Asheng to teach her to play the flute.
In order not to disobey orders, Tao Asheng taught Feng Yunniang a simple fingering technique for using the jade flute to summon all the beasts.
Feng Yunniang grew increasingly fond of Tao Asheng, so she asked the Imperial Concubine for help to persuade the Emperor to grant them a marriage.
The Imperial Concubine told the Emperor about this, and the Emperor prepared to draft an edict to bestow a marriage upon Tao Asheng and Feng Yunniang.
Upon hearing this news, Tao Asheng immediately knelt at the entrance of the emperor's palace for three days and three nights, demanding that the emperor cancel the draft edict.
The emperor was furious, so he gave him a choice: if he chose to stay in the palace, he would marry Feng Yunniang; if he chose to resist the marriage, he would have to leave the palace.
Tao Asheng chose to leave the palace.
Seeing Tao Asheng's resolute attitude, the emperor said that he was testing Tao Asheng and decided to keep him in the palace as a musician.
Once, Tao Asheng went out to select some musical instruments for the palace and unintentionally came to a small village.
There, he met Han Yue'e, a village girl.
Although Han Yue'e came from an ordinary background, she was kind and innocent, and her smile was as warm as the spring sunshine.
Tao Asheng was attracted by her simplicity and sincerity, and gradually he found himself developing deep feelings for her.
Soon after, Feng Yunniang learned about Tao Asheng and Han Yue'e's affair, and her anger flared up immediately.
She couldn't accept that such an ordinary village girl could win Tao Asheng's heart.
So she began to secretly plot revenge.
Fengyunniang spread rumors that Tao Asheng was arrogant and domineering because of her favor.
In order to make others believe the rumor, she deliberately delayed Tao Asheng, causing him to miss the appointed time, when Tao Asheng was to play music for the emperor.
Later, she even went to the Imperial Concubine and said that Tao Asheng had taken liberties with her, and asked Tao Asheng to marry her.
Tao Asheng would rather die than comply.
Therefore, the emperor believed that Tao Asheng had disgraced the royal family, so he ordered Tao Asheng to be banished from the palace and forbidden from entering the palace again.
Faced with the sudden change, Tao Asheng did not give in.
He resolutely left the palace and came to the village where Han Yue'e lived.
There, he and Han Yue'e lived a simple and happy life.
Despite losing the riches and glory of the palace, Tao Asheng never regretted her choice.
Although Feng Yunniang successfully drove Tao Asheng out of the palace, she was not satisfied with this.
On the contrary, her inner jealousy and hatred made her increasingly withdrawn.
She began to realize that she had lost not just a man, but also a sincere love.
Years later, when Fengyunniang heard news of Tao Asheng again, he had become a highly respected folk musician and had a daughter with Han Yue'e—Tao Ling'er.
Looking at herself in the mirror, Feng Yunniang couldn't help but sigh, "What did I do wrong in my life? I may be a palace maid, but she was a village girl. In the end, I lost to that ordinary village girl."
So she changed her personality and began to practice martial arts diligently, believing that as long as she became the best in the world, she could bring Tao Asheng back to her side.
Hearing this, Qiu Ziyue laughed and said, "What? You say my father wronged you? It's clearly my father who didn't like you. You're just being delusional. You stupid woman, both laughable and pathetic."
Seeing this, the people around didn't say anything.
Qi Yuxuan had already left and didn't hear what they were saying.
To anyone with a brain, it was clear that it wasn't a matter of who wronged whom, but rather that Feng Yunniang was indeed a pitiful yet hateful woman.
"So it was the jade flute you played on Tao Ling'er and her mother's escape route that attracted the wolves, which led to Ling'er's mother's tragic death—no, it was my mother's tragic death! You gossipy old woman!" Qiu Ziyue kicked Feng Yunniang.
Seeing that Feng Yunniang was seriously injured and lying on the ground, Qiu Ziyue took out a pill and went over to give it to Feng Yunniang.
Feng Yunniang said weakly, "You female demon, what did you feed me?"
Qiu Ziyue said, "You stinking old hag, if a man doesn't want you, don't be a psychopath. I'll keep you alive and see which man dares to marry you."
Feng Yunniang was furious, but at this moment she could only cough and say, "You, you..."
Before leaving, Qiu Ziyue made a face and said to Feng Yunniang, "To master the Tao Family's Mystic Secret Techniques, one needs not only profound cultivation but also extremely strong internal strength, martial arts skills, and talent. Even if you obtain this book, you may not be able to master this technique."
"Let's go. Don't do that next time we meet. Be gentle, that's how men like you," Qiu Ziyue said, gently sliding the jade flute down to her chest before walking away gracefully.
What remained on the battlefield was a scene of utter devastation.
The eldest brother asked Qiu Ziyue what she had fed Fengyunniang.
Qiu Ziyue said that it was a diarrhea pill and would not be life-threatening.
"Haha, I guarantee that when someone finds her, the smell of her excrement will make them want to vomit," Qiu Ziyue laughed.
The three senior brothers all laughed.
As night deepened, the group chose an inn nestled in the woods to rest for the time being.
Although Qiu Ziyue and Qi Yuxuan are physically close, their hearts seem to be worlds apart.
Qi Yuxuan was waiting there.
He spoke first, saying, "Miss Qiu, I have come here today to ask you to consider canceling the bet. After all, we are strangers and have only met by chance. You are in the prime of your life and could have found a marriage that is mutually agreeable. There is no need to use me as a wager."
“Young Master Qi, you said you meant what you said, and a man's word is his bond.”
Qiu Ziyue's words were tinged with exhaustion.
Qi Yuxuan said, "There are so many fine men in the world, why does Miss Qiu have to make things difficult for me?"
Qiu Ziyue's three senior brothers immediately became angry upon hearing this.
Qiu Langyu said, "My junior sister has always been cautious. I don't know why she made such a bet today. However, given my junior sister's qualifications, she is not someone you, Qi Yuxuan, can't say she isn't."
Qiu Wentian also said, "I also feel that something is amiss here, but since things have come to this, please let Young Master Qi go back first. I'm really tired today."
Qiu Wenfeng said, "It's just that my junior sister has taken a liking to you. To be honest, I'm not convinced. Which of the three of us in our sect is not as good as you? With any of us, which one of us can't give my junior sister happiness? Young Master Qi, it's as if no one else likes my junior sister, and she's only clinging to you. How boring."
Upon hearing this, Qi Yuxuan said, "I, Qi, am a man of my word. What I said today was entirely out of good intentions. If you and your three senior brothers do not accept my kindness, then I, Qi, have nothing more to say. Please do not regret it then."
After saying that, Qi Yuxuan turned around and left with Yin Lihen, leaving Qiu Ziyue with a resolute back view.
Will Qiu Ziyue be able to win the next martial arts match? Did Qi Yuxuan marry Qiu Ziyue?
To find out what happens next, please read the next chapter.