No one could have imagined that the impending war would be halted by a song.
The major rival nations of the Great Qin Dynasty changed their strategies, deciding to eliminate Ji Mo first, as he was disrupting their plans.
This person must not be allowed to live.
Otherwise, if he were to play his music a few more times, the Great Qin would become united, its populace fully mobilized, and then how could they possibly win?
Soon, a large number of assassins and death warriors swarmed towards Wangjing, aiming to assassinate Ji Mo.
Within Wangjing City, from the noble ladies in grand mansions to the courtesans in brothels, all held boundless admiration for Ji Mo, the creator of the divine song "Chi Ling," calling him the great talent Ji. They all longed to meet him.
However, they only knew his name, Ji Mo, and nothing else.
Unable to meet him, they could only lament their sorrow.
Li Mansion.
Li Qiufeng wept day and night.
Her secret escapade over the wall was exposed, and she was severely reprimanded by Li Xiu.
But she was not crying because of her father's scolding. Instead, she had learned a shocking truth, a fact she could not accept.
"Silly daughter, do you know who that Ji Mo really is? He is not a destitute scholar at all, but the strategist of the Ninth Prince, Ying Tianbao. The talk of snatching the Crown Princess and vying for the throne was likely all his doing."
"His approach to you was premeditated; everything was a calculation."
"In his eyes, you are merely a pawn in his struggle for the throne. He merely used you as a tool."
Li Xiu's words pierced Li Qiufeng's heart like sharp arrows.
After hearing these words, she was on the verge of collapse, weeping incessantly every day.
It turned out that the so-called treasure boy was merely a condescending display of power. She thought she had found a kindred spirit, only to realize it was all a scheme.
Li Qiufeng's heart was like a knife twisting, her spirits low, her face gradually becoming gaunt.
Li Xiu, misunderstanding the situation, saw Ji Mo as a sinister villain who would stop at nothing to achieve his goals.
He was filled with indignation. How dare someone reach out to his precious daughter? Did they truly believe that he, the current Prime Minister, was a mere figurehead?
"Ying Tianbao wants to contend for the throne? He will not succeed. And that Ji Mo, how dare he deceive my daughter's affections? I will make him pay a heavy price for this."
Li Xiu's eyes were icy cold.
He could not tolerate anyone targeting Li Qiufeng. The sordid tactics of the struggle for the throne should not be directed at a woman.
In his eyes, Ji Mo was a despicable and shameless scoundrel who used women.
"Miss, I told you so. That Ji Mo is full of lies and honeyed words, with a poisonous heart. He was clearly not a good person. It is fortunate that you saw through his ugly facade early on."
Hong Xing comforted Li Qiufeng.
But her comfort only made Li Qiufeng cry even harder.
Li Qiufeng's eyes were filled with tears. She could not accept that the first man she had fallen for was a liar, that everything was a lie, a scheme against her.
"Ji Mo, why, why did you deceive my feelings?"
Two lines of clear tears traced down her smooth, jade-like cheeks.
Li Qiufeng took out the few copper coins Ji Mo had given her, intending to throw them away fiercely. But in the end, she could not bear to, clutching them tightly in her palm.
"Miss, that Ji Mo is truly too much. Today seems to be the day we agreed to meet him. Why don't we go scold him and then expose his hypocritical face to everyone?"
Hong Xing suggested.
She harbored a deep hatred for Ji Mo, believing him to be a scumbag.
Now, the world spread rumors that Ji Mo was a talented scholar who cared for the nation and its people. This was nothing but deceitful fame-seeking. Ji Mo, this hypocritical and disgusting wretch, did not deserve such praise.
"Meet him?"
Li Qiufeng's eyes brightened for a moment, then dimmed again.
In a teahouse near Tianxiang Pavilion, Ji Mo sat by the window, waiting quietly.
The pot of tea on the table had long since lost its flavor, but Li Qiufeng still had not appeared.
Ji Mo sighed softly, "It seems my old friend Qiufeng will not be coming."
When they last parted, he and Li Qiufeng had agreed to meet here again. He hadn't expected the other party to break the appointment.
He didn't have many friends. He had gotten along well with Li Qiufeng last time and thought he might make a good friend.
Unexpectedly, the other party did not seem to value this appointment.
Indeed, he was a young master from a noble family, with a distinguished background. He might not genuinely want to be friends with someone like himself.
Ji Mo gave a wry smile and then thought of paying the bill and leaving.
But as he patted his pocket.
Oh no, no money.
The few remaining copper coins had already been given to Li Qiufeng last time, and now his pockets were empty.
In the prince's mansion, Ying Tianbao would try his best to fulfill Ji Mo's every request, but he had never thought to give Ji Mo any money.
And Ji Mo, being shy, was too embarrassed to ask, thus finding himself in the awkward situation of having no money to pay.
"Shopkeeper, how about I owe you the tea money for now? I'll bring it to you later."
Ji Mo said awkwardly.
His response was an eye-roll and a cold sneer.
The shopkeeper would never fall for such a trick of eating for free.
"How about I write you a poem, or paint a picture?"
Ji Mo proposed a compromise. After all, his calligraphy and painting were not bad; they should be enough to cover the cost of a pot of tea.
"Who wants your calligraphy and paintings? Do you think you are the great talent Ji? You traded a heavenly melody for a meal at Tianxiang Pavilion, and you, this smelly pauper who can't even afford tea money, your paintings are not worth a cup of my tea."
The shopkeeper was convinced that Ji Mo was trying to eat for free, and his expression immediately turned fierce.
They, as shopkeepers, detested those who ate for free. And this kind of penniless person who wanted to default on tea money was even more loathsome.
"Actually, I am that Ji. How about I play a tune for you to cover the tea money?" Ji Mo said.
"Pah! If you don't pay up, don't blame me for being impolite."
The shopkeeper did not believe him, rolled up his sleeves, and brandished his fist, as large as a sand pot.
"Then come and hit me. As long as you waive the tea money, hit me as much as you want."
Ji Mo helplessly puffed out his chest. Since he couldn't sell his art, he could only sell his body and let the other party beat him to settle the matter.
"Pah, you scoundrel!"
The shopkeeper spat again and, without hesitation, was about to swing his fist.
"No hitting people! It's just a few coins, I'll pay for him."
Just then, a clear voice rang out, stopping the shopkeeper.
A delicate, young face appeared outside the window. A girl, no older than fifteen or sixteen, dropped a piece of broken silver and turned to leave.
She happened to be passing by, heard the argument, and without much thought, paid for Ji Mo's tea.
Ji Mo was somewhat surprised. He hadn't expected to encounter such a kind person and quickly chased after her.
"Miss, please wait. For this drop of kindness, I will surely repay you with a gushing spring."
He caught up and thanked her sincerely.
Having received a favor, he was obligated to repay it. Ji Mo was not an ungrateful person; he just wanted to repay her.
"Really repay me with a gushing spring?"
The girl tilted her head and looked at Ji Mo. "Then I just paid you an ounce of silver, so you have to return a lot, a lot of silver to me, right?"
Seeing Ji Mo's bewildered expression, she smiled sweetly and walked away.
"Wait, then I will return a lot, a lot of silver to you."