Bâtir une dynastie de chansons harmonieuse

Chapitre 64

Tang Kesi's eyes widened: "Mother, your surname isn't Ye?"

It turns out she was unaware of it either.

Li You looked at Madam Ye and smiled, "If it is inconvenient for you, Madam, please just pretend that I did not ask."

Madam Ye came to her senses and smiled slightly: "It's alright. My original surname was Bai, but later, because of some sad things, I changed my surname to Ye and my name."

When she spoke of the words "heartbreaking things," although her pure and gentle face still wore a smile, a hint of sadness and desolation crept into her eyes.

Everyone was quite surprised; they didn't expect her to admit it so easily.

Ye Suiyu, she abandoned her original surname and changed her name to Suiyu... What is her relationship with Tao Huayu, the former leader of the Tao Clan? What exactly is her so-called "sad matter"? And is all of this related to this case?

Tang Kesi was unaware of their thoughts. She simply held her mother's hand and asked curiously, "Mother, so your surname is Bai? I've never heard you mention it before."

Madam Ye remained silent.

He Bi said, "More than twenty years ago, Lord Tang and Sect Master Tao Huayu were close friends. I heard that your wife was also at the Tao family's residence at that time?"

Upon hearing the name, Madam Ye trembled and silently nodded.

"I presume that Madam also recognizes Master Tao?"

A long silence followed.

She sighed softly, looked out the window, and murmured, "I know him more than just... he's my... older brother."

Li You's eyes flickered slightly: "Big brother?"

Madam Ye smiled faintly, her tone tinged with sorrow: "I lost my father at a young age, and when I was eleven, I was separated from my mother and wandered the streets. Fortunately, I was rescued by Brother Tao, and so I have been living in the Tao family ever since."

Everyone was stunned.

So that's what her background was! Overwhelmed with sadness, Yang Nianqing secretly wondered. She had revealed her past so frankly, and her tone didn't sound like she was lying at all. Could it be that she had no connection to the 'Bai Clan Twins' at all, and that she had truly been wronged?

Li You lowered his head and said, "I misspoke, Madam..."

“Since it’s an investigation, we should naturally inquire about as many things as possible,” Madam Ye interrupted him with a smile. “You’er has also been much more restrained these past two days. I’m so grateful to her, how could I possibly blame her?”

After she finished speaking, she glanced at Yang Nianqing casually.

Yang Nianqing didn't notice any of this. She was secretly happy for Tang Keyu. He wasn't that kind of person to begin with; he just couldn't untangle the knot in his heart. She hoped he could figure it out soon.

Li You coughed and asked, "What did you think of the Tao family's rebellion case back then?"

When this matter was brought up, Madam Ye's face began to turn pale.

After a long while, she slowly shook her head: "How could he possibly rebel?"

Li You said, "There are many rumors in the martial arts world that Master Tao was framed. I wonder who the person who informed the court was?"

She remained silent, but her eyes revealed even more pain.

Nangong Xue smiled slightly: "The imperial court naturally keeps these matters secret. Even if they are found out, how can he alone atone for the more than one hundred innocent lives lost in the Tao family? It is said that Lord Tang has been investigating these matters for years. I wonder if he has made any progress?"

Madam Ye's face turned even paler. After a moment, she suddenly stood up and forced a smile at everyone, saying, "Many years have passed, and I really... do not wish to mention it again. I suppose you all have things to discuss, so I will not disturb you any longer."

Everyone stood up and exchanged a few polite words.

Madam Ye turned around: "Sisi, come inside with me, so you won't be naughty here."

Tang Kesi glanced furtively at Nangong Xue beside her, then slipped over to Yang Nianqing and pulled her along as if seeking help, pleading with her mother, "Mom, I want to play with Sister Yang a little longer."

Yang Nianqing found it funny.

She didn't want to play with me at all; she was clearly thinking about her brother Nangong!

Madam Ye didn't notice any of this, thinking she was just being playful. Helpless, she scolded, "Come in early. Your sister Yang and the others have important business to attend to. Don't be naughty, and don't bother them!"

Tang Kesi nodded immediately: "Okay!"

As soon as Madam Ye left, everyone else followed her out of the study. He Bi went back to his room without saying a word.

Seeing that Nangong Xue and Qiu Bailu were still standing there, Tang Kesi abandoned Yang Nianqing and ran over to Nangong Xue, pleading, "Brother Nangong, can you teach me to draw?"

Nangong Xue glanced at Qiu Bailu and hesitated, "I have some important matters to discuss with Brother Qiu today, I'm afraid..."

Dude, can't you come up with a different excuse?

Yang Nianqing was speechless. The relationship between these two was indeed as close as that between He Bi and Li You. Qiu Bailu, that great doctor, really had the spirit of saving people to the very end, and was often used as a shield by Nangong Xue.

Seeing his refusal, Tang Kesi lowered her head in disappointment.

Nangong Xue looked at her, a hint of apology appearing on his handsome face: "I really..."

Tang Kesi suddenly looked up at him, smiled, and interrupted him, "It's okay, Brother Nangong, you go ahead and do your work. I'll come back later, okay?"

Nangong Xue shook her head.

He didn't say anything in the end, but just sighed, turned around and left with Qiu Bailu.

Yang Nianqing felt a little sorry for Tang Kesi, so she quickly went up and took Tang Kesi's hand, comforting her, "Brother Nangong has something to do today, why don't you come out and have some fun with us, okay?"

She didn't move.

Yang Nianqing advised her, "It's just a man, what's so great about him? Besides this tree, there's a whole forest for you to pick. As the saying goes, there are plenty of fish in the sea!"

Tang Kesi had never heard such strange words before, and sure enough, she raised her head.

Li You murmured, "There are plenty of beautiful women everywhere under the sky. I didn't know that line. I didn't expect Miss Yang to be so knowledgeable."

"Nonsense!" You haven't seen my knowledge yet. When I'm free, I can recite a few poems, sing a few songs, and solve a few problems to scare you to death! Yang Nianqing was secretly pleased, but of course she didn't say these words out loud.

Li You suppressed a laugh: "Miss Yang is very knowledgeable. There are plenty of fish in the sea. Why don't you read on?"

Without a second thought, Yang Nianqing said, "Why bother looking here?"

Li You shook his head and sighed, "It's blocked again."

Tang Kesi finally laughed: "Sister, what you said is really interesting. It seems that Su Dongpo didn't write it that way."

Yang Nianqing rolled her eyes: "Of course he can't write it!"

“Don’t you guys think this is a classic line? There are plenty of good men in the world, and you’re so pretty and cute, why insist on clinging to this one?” She coughed and winked at Tang Kesi. “If he doesn’t treat you well, you might as well find someone better than him.”

Tang Kesi was stunned.

These days, what girl has ever heard of such a viewpoint?

Li You was stunned for a while, then looked at her with a wry smile: "Miss Yang can say these things very easily."

Yang Nianqing glared at him defiantly, secretly laughing to herself.

Tang Kesi bit her lip and said, "Do you... all of you hate me?"

Upon hearing her mention it, Yang Nianqing immediately remembered the main point of the conversation: "Of course not, you're so cute, we all like you a lot, you can ask this Brother Li if you don't believe me."

She secretly slept with Li You.

Tang Kesi did indeed look at him.

Li You smiled and said, "Anyone who dislikes girls must have something wrong with their eyes."

"You're all lying to me," Tang Kesi pouted, tears welling up in her eyes again. "You're clearly Young Master Li You, so why did you pretend to be Li Yang? You've all lied to me."

“We…” Yang Nianqing didn’t know how to explain.

Li You sighed, "Miss, you misunderstand. It's just that I find my name too unpleasant to hear. I was afraid you would laugh at me if I said it, which would be too embarrassing. So I specially changed it to a nicer one. How could I have intentionally deceived you?"

Before she could finish speaking, Tang Kesi burst into laughter through her tears.

Yang Nianqing pouted.

He said those words so sweetly, without batting an eye, and made the woman so happy. This guy really knows how to handle women; he's probably been using sweet talk for a long time. I'll have to be careful in the future… But it seems he's never said anything so nice before, except when he's bullying me!

Tang Kesi seemed to believe it too, but after thinking about it carefully, her face suddenly turned red: "Then... why is Brother Nangong ignoring me?"

There are plenty of fish in the sea, but this beauty seems stubborn and unwilling to switch her allegiance. Yang Nianqing hesitated. She couldn't very well tell Nangong Xue that she didn't like him, could she? After much deliberation, to avoid a tragedy, she decided to prioritize love over friendship and help that handsome Nangong Xue resolve his romantic entanglements.

Then she sighed deeply, "Alas, you don't know, Brother Nangong, he..."

It stopped intentionally.

Tang Kesi hurriedly asked, "What's wrong with him?"

"Haven't you heard people say that?" Yang Nianqing shook her head, her face full of regret, "Nangong Xue, the number one young master of the martial arts world, is not interested in women. He doesn't like women at all."

Tang Kesi was indeed stunned: "He... really doesn't like women?"

“Yes,” Yang Nianqing nodded seriously. Seeing that Tang Kesi didn’t believe her, she immediately pointed at Li You, “We all know. If you don’t believe me, ask him.”

"Is that so?" Tang Ke thought for a moment, still unconvinced. "But you're a girl too, so why does Brother Nangong still joke with you and hold your hand?"

Yang Nianqing was speechless.

Li You was also taken aback for a moment, then looked at her, his long eyebrows slightly furrowed, revealing a thoughtful expression.

Tang Kesi also stared at her with wide eyes.

Feeling uneasy under their gazes, Yang Nianqing was truly annoyed and immediately retorted, "I... of course it's different, we're good friends."

"I can be Nangong-gege's good friend too," Tang Kesi pouted and muttered, quite puzzled, "but he doesn't like to talk to me, and he doesn't like to talk to me..."

Then she asked in confusion, "You're a girl, and I'm a girl too, so why is Brother Nangong ignoring me? What did I say wrong?"

Yang Nianqing was embarrassed: "This..."

“Of course you’re wrong,” Li You suddenly interrupted her, dragging her away. “She’s not a woman.”

Thank you for your support, friends. Nangong has a lot more screen time in Volume 4, and perhaps you'll like him more than Xiao Li.

Suggestions for the plot are welcome. I'm also frustrated with the "dying tomorrow" problem; I plan to revise it slowly after it's finished. Hmm, how about we change things up for now and have "dying the day after tomorrow"? ~0~ Hehe

For those who dislike the female lead, I'm already exhausted—please forgive me if this article affected your mood :)

Volume Three: The Mystery Within the Painting of Love

"I'm not a woman, so are you hugging and kissing a man?" Of course, saying such a thing would have serious consequences, so Yang Nianqing, unusually rational for once, swallowed it back.

"How can I not be considered a woman!"

Li You finally stopped, let go of her hand, and looked at her: "Of course not. What girl has such a loud voice, and such a temper?"

Before she could answer, he casually turned to the side and said, "Besides, well... what girl would let a man hold her hand so easily?"

Yang Nianqing was stunned for a moment, then realized what was going on, blinked and tentatively asked, "You...are you jealous?"