Chapter 307 Deja Vu
Faced with Luo Tianjin's questioning, Liu Xunyi did not answer directly, but called Pan Yuyin overnight and set up a guqin in the study.

Seeing this, Luo Tianjin couldn't help but feel curious. He pointed at Pan Yuyin and Guqin and asked suspiciously: "What are you doing..."

"Palace Master, the 'answer' given by the Lord of Jueqing Valley is exactly this item." Liu Xunyi explained, "She said that Palace Master only needs to listen to a piece of music, and he will understand everything."

"A piece of piano music?" Luo Tianjin was completely confused, and his doubts grew in his heart, "How could such a strange thing happen?"

"Every word is true."

"Forget it!" Although Luo Tianjin was puzzled, he still suppressed his confusion and nodded slowly, "Thank you, Miss Pan."

Pan Yuyin understood and bowed to Luo Tianjin, then lowered her body to sit down, and placed her slender hands on the strings of the zither slowly and steadily.

Luo Tianjin narrowed his suspicious eyes slightly, leaned back in a lazy posture, picked up the teacup casually, and looked at Pan Yuyin with interest.

The candlelight flickered, the air was shrouded in dimness, and the study was as quiet as death late at night.

Pan Yuyin looked at her nose with her eyes, her mouth with her nose, and her heart with her mouth. She held her breath and concentrated her mind. She recalled the music played by Xiao Zhirou over and over again in her mind, and her expression became more and more solemn.

"Zheng!"

Suddenly, the jade fingers plucked the strings and a clear sound like a whistle suddenly sounded, which was unusually loud in the quiet study. This sound was like throwing a stone into a lake, breaking the mirror-like surface and causing ripples. Although it was not violent, it made people feel refreshed and at ease.

The clanging sound ended and the sound of the zither began. Pan Yuyin's hands danced on the strings from slow to fast, changing the keys and feathers, changing the strings, the music was soft and graceful, and the mountains and rivers were clear.

Although Liu Xunyi was not familiar with music, he had been in Tianji Pavilion for many years and had heard a lot of court music and folk songs. Therefore, he had more or less dabbled in both elegant and popular music and the customs of various regions.

Among all the music Liu Xunyi had ever heard in his life, only three were the most unforgettable.

The first one was the "Rainbow Skirt and Feathered Coat" played by Zhao Xin in the Imperial Palace. The second one was the "Three Variations of Plum Blossom" played by the Qin Mo Wu Yao in the East Sea Teahouse. The third one was the song played by Xiao Zhirou and Pan Yuyin.

The beauty of this piece of music is different from the free and easy feeling of "Rainbow Skirt and Feathered Coat" nor the soul-stirring "Three Variations on Plum Blossoms", but it is a kind of indescribable and inexplicable inaction and tranquility.

At first glance, it seems ordinary and nothing special. But as the music gets better, a feeling of gentle trickle, like a gurgling stream, slowly flows into the listener's ears. The heartless song turns into affectionate tears, like water and song, blending blood, refreshing the heart and penetrating into the bone marrow.

Pan Yuyin played the zither with great skill, exquisite technique, coherent melody and fusion of emotions. She was a natural genius and rare in the world. However, compared with Xiao Zhirou, she was always lacking in charm.

In terms of pitch, timing of transitions, playing techniques, and plucking force, Pan Yuyin is exactly the same as Xiao Zhirou, and is impeccable.

After thinking it over, Liu Xunyi still couldn't figure it out. But deep in his heart, he felt as if something was missing.

Or maybe, the emotions Xiao Zhirou and Pan Yuyin put into playing the piano were different? One was "being there" and the other was "feeling the same".

The strange thing is that the rhythm of this song is high and jumping, full of joy, and should be a joyful and happy song. But for some reason, when Xiao Zhirou and Pan Yuyin played it, it seemed particularly desolate and sad.

This feeling is like ecstasy, but it is just a dream. I woke up from the dream, feeling unsatisfied, but before I knew it, my clothes were already stained with tears.

The word "loss" can better express the artistic conception of this piano music than any sighs, tears, or sorrow.

Although it was the second time he listened to it, Liu Xunyi could still feel a sense of oppression as if his chest was blocked and his heart was in the abyss.

The music rises and falls, and twists and turns. When Pan Yuyin's jade fingers touch the cold strings, it seems as if they are infused with soul, and the lingering sound lingers endlessly.

I was so enchanted by it that I forgot about the days and months. I wonder how much time had passed? The sound of the piano gradually faded away, and the study fell into silence again.

"Ugh!"

Pan Yuyin was so deeply in love that she shed tears on the piano table, and it seemed that she couldn't recover for a long time. Liu Xunyi was even more unable to control his emotions. He stood aside for a full cup of tea, and then he let out an inexplicable sigh.

Recovering his mind, when Liu Xunyi turned his gaze to Luo Tianjin, he saw that the suspicion on his face had completely disappeared, replaced by a complex expression as if from another world.

Seems surprised, dazed, sad, suspicious...

At this moment, Luo Tianjin's body was shaking slightly. Tea overflowed from the cup and soaked his sleeves, but he was unaware and had no reaction.

What surprised Liu Xunyi the most was that, at some point, the usually prudent and reserved King Beixian, whose emotions were never revealed, actually had a faint glimmer of tears in his eyes.

Liu Xunyi had never seen Luo Tianjin who was so "dispirited" even when Luo Ningyu was imprisoned.

"Master of the Palace..."

"Snapped!"

Before Liu Xunyi could say anything, Luo Tianjin suddenly loosened his fingers, and the teacup fell to the ground and broke into pieces.

The sudden noise startled Luo Tianjin and Pan Yuyin at the same time, and they both woke up from their trance one after another.

Pan Yuyin, who had just woken up from a dream, seemed to be frightened by Luo Tianjin's strange appearance. She quickly stood up and said humbly: "Uncle Luo, this song is..."

"The river and the sky are one color without any dust, and the bright moon is alone in the sky. Who first saw the moon by the river? When did the moon by the river first shine on people?" Luo Tianjin ignored Pan Yuyin's words and murmured, "This is the song 'Spring River Moon Night'..."

Hearing this, Liu Xunyi and Pan Yuyin were both shocked. They looked at each other with surprise on their faces.

After hesitating for a while, Liu Xunyi slowly said, "Does the mansion master know this song?"

Luo Tianjin was lost in thought, and replied in a vague manner: "This song... reminds me of an old friend."

"Old friend?" Liu Xunyi asked in surprise, "Could it be that the Palace Master and Valley Master Xiao are old friends?" "Valley Master Xiao?" Luo Tianjin frowned and asked suspiciously, "Is the surname of the Jueqing Valley Master Xiao?"

"What's wrong?"

"Surname Xiao? Xiao..." Luo Tianjin muttered to himself, and then asked, "Is this 'Spring River Moon Night' really given to you by Bishop Xiao Gu?"

"Yes."

"What does this Valley Master Xiao look like?"

"The Fairy Guanghan, the Goddess of Gushe." Liu Xunyi recalled, "But she always covered her face with a veil, so her true appearance could not be seen clearly."

"This song... was created by me and an old friend, but... my old friend's surname is not Xiao."

Luo Tianjin had a complicated expression and seemed to want to say something but stopped himself several times, with a deep sense of memories flashing between his brows.

Seeing Luo Tianjin deep in thought, Liu Xunyi and Pan Yuyin did not dare to ask any further questions. They could only stand silently in front of the desk, waiting for Luo Tianjin's instructions.

This wait lasted for three full hours.

Luo Tianjin didn't wake up from his deep thoughts until the sun rose in the east and the sky turned white. When he saw Liu Xunyi, who was motionless, and Pan Yuyin, who was silent as a cicada, a hint of suspicion flashed in his eyes, as if he had already forgotten about them completely.

"Master of the Palace..."

"Xun Yi, pass on my order." Luo Tianjin interrupted, "Release Taohua Granny and the disciples of Jueqing Valley's freedom, let them go!"

"what?"

When these words were spoken, Liu Xunyi and Pan Yuyin were both shocked.

"The Palace Master is willing to let them go?" Liu Xunyi hesitated, "Then... who should be used to contain Jueqing Valley in the future?"

"What? Are you questioning my orders?" At this moment, Luo Tianjin seemed to be full of thoughts, so his tone was quite impatient.

"I don't dare! I just..."

"Since you don't dare, why don't you go and pass on the message!"

After that, Luo Tianjin turned his complicated gaze to Pan Yuyin and said, "Miss Pan, can you play it for me a few more times?" Although it was a question, Luo Tianjin's tone did not allow others to have any doubts.

"As ordered."

Pan Yuyin did not dare to disobey, and quickly agreed. She turned her head and looked at Liu Xunyi deeply, then sat back down beside the piano.

As the "Spring River Moon Night" lingered in the background, Liu Xunyi, with a heavy heart, left sadly, heading towards the west courtyard against the morning glow.

……

Time flies like an arrow. In the blink of an eye, seven days have passed.

During these seven days, the Xianwang Mansion was unusually lively.

On the first day, Tang Ji and Tang Xiu escorted Tang Xuan and Li Haitang back to Tang Sect. Deng Quan personally arranged for 18 disciples to escort them as a token of his generosity.

On the second day, Tang Afu and "Qiao Bajue" said goodbye to Granny Taohua and returned to Jueqing Valley to report.

On the third day, Granny Taohua worked hard and finally pulled Xu Heng back from the brink of death.

On the fourth day, Granny Taohua agreed to go to Changbai Mountain with Huang Yangming and his wife to treat Baoer's illness in order to fulfill her promise. Pan Yuyin said goodbye to Liu Xunyi and left with Granny Taohua.

On the fifth day, Murong Bai and Huang Yulang rushed back to Prince Xian's Palace from Shaolin and Kongtong respectively.

On the sixth day, Di Mo and Ling Qing returned from Qingfeng Village, Baima Hall and Happy Forest.

On the seventh day, Xie Xuan, who had traveled to the Western Regions, sent someone to deliver a secret letter back.

However, during these seven days Luo Tianjin had locked himself in the study and refused to go out.

During the first three days, Pan Yuyin played the song "Spring River Moon Night" for him over and over again, from sunrise in the east to sunset in the west, almost without interruption.

After Pan Yuyin left, there was no more noise in the study. No one knew what Luo Tianjin did all day, and no one knew what he was thinking.
Even when Murong Bai, Huang Yulang and others came to report to Luo Tianjin, he was absent-minded and perfunctory, unwilling to ask more questions.

It was not until the evening of the seventh day when Xie Xuan's secret letter was delivered to Luo Tianjin that he regained his spirit and stepped out of the study.

However, Luo Tianjin at this moment was completely different from the one he was seven days ago. His eye sockets were sunken, his beard was thick, his body was thin, and his spirit was tired. He looked as if he had just experienced a life-and-death crisis.

Liu Xunyi had seen Luo Tianjin's "unusual" behavior for several days, which made him more and more suspicious that there must be a hidden grudge between Luo Tianjin and Xiao Zhirou.

Seeing Luo Tianjin letting Tang Afu and others go regardless of everything, and his obsession and intoxication with the song "Spring River Moon Night", Liu Xunyi boldly speculated that the grudge between Luo and Xiao could not escape the word "love".

However, is this feeling "gratitude" or "grudge"? Right and wrong, gratitude and grudge, I am afraid only Luo Tianjin himself knows clearly.

……

(End of this chapter)