A cracking sound of the door opening rang in the room. I quickly stood up cause I hadn’t been able to sleep after sleeping through all the classes in the morning.
What took you guys so long?
Both of them quickly froze shut in their places.
Their dress was covered in dirt, and their faces were also bruised.
Fuck, did you get beaten up?
"No, Young master, it’s not like that. We were learning martial arts."
Learning, you called it learning, what a disgrace. Well, I will come with you from tomorrow to see how you learn.
’There is so much work to do, being an emperor is really tiring.’
"What a beautiful flute is this."
I looked at the girl who picked up the purple flute, which I had thrown earlier. She subconsciously placed it on her lips and blew the air.
A gentle siren music came from it. My surrounding wall vanished as I appeared in a completely different place, a mountain filled with greenery, and a different kind of flowers, with a gentle breeze hitting my face. This soothing sound gives this whole place a new life. Truly refreshing.
When the music stopped, all the mountains and flowers disappeared. I again appeared in the dorm room with Fatty and the girl.
I looked at the girl, her hands grabbing the flute tightly, as if she didn’t want to let go of it, her eyes glued to it.
When I looked at her face, I noticed those bruises seemed to disappear, and then I turned to Fatty, whose bruises also vanished.
"Wow, you can really play so well."
Her face was carrying a shy smile, but when she saw me staring at her, she froze.
"I... I... am sorry."
She was quickly covered in sweat and offered me the flute back.
Hmph, I don’t take back things that I throw away. You can have this trash.
I said you keep it, don’t you get it. ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ 𝗇𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗅✦𝖿𝗂𝗋𝖾✦𝗇𝖾𝗍
She quickly drew back her hands.
Fatty, is there anything else to do here, or am I just going to be bored like that?
"Young master, you can go to the library..."
What library? Are there any good novels to read there?
"Young Master, there are lots and lots of novels there; it’s one of the biggest libraries in the whole nation."
Then let’s go, what are we waiting for? I quickly stood up, leading the way forward.
"Young Master, you’re going the wrong way."
Well... I decided to let the fatty lead the way forward, while I followed behind as we walked. I saw that girl still grabbing the flute as we walked; she really seemed to love it.
As we were about to enter the library, a woman blocked my way. Before I say anything, she spoke.
"Little girl, what beautiful flute you got. Do you know how to play it?"
Hearing her words, the girl seemed to be scared, quickly clutching her flute even more tightly.
’Fuck, what trash. Even in this emperor’s presence, she is still scared like that.’
Instead of interfering, I decided to see what this woman really wants. The woman didn’t seem to be a teacher here, with long black hair, and her eyes were carrying a tiny bit of blue.
The woman seemed to notice the girl’s fear and decided to apologize.
"I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. I just love flutes, see."
Saying this, she took out a jade flute shining in rainbow light.
Once it appeared, not just us, but also some students from the library came here.
"It’s been a long time since sister Yue played her flute in public. Is she going to play here?"
"I don’t, maybe she will..."
Whisper started to spread in the crowd, making the girl more nervous. Maybe I have to step in, before I stepped in, that woman started to play the flute.
Her music was calm and soothing, clearly much better than that girl’s, but there were no mountains and flowers, nothing special yet calming.
When she stopped playing, everyone started clapping for her.
"How was it? I am still learning. Can you play it?"
After she stopped, she spoke directly, maybe genuinely interested in flutes, or just wanted to cause trouble.
When I looked at the girl, she seemed to be nervous, but not that much; she stood there gently placing the flute on her lips, ready to blow the air. But she started, I snatched the flute away from her.
Hey, when did I give you permission to play it?
I tossed back the flute at her, walking past the crowd, dragging her with me too.
As I was walking past, I felt a bit of resistance when I turned back, and that woman was grabbing the girl’s hand.
"Hey, little guy, she is not your servant in the academy; all the students are equal."
As I was about to reply, someone actually dared to cover my mouth. Before I burn him down, a whisper came in my ear.
"Young Master, she is from the Yue clan. Please forgive her. She... she is a bit special."
"Please, just let it go this time."
’Fuck, maybe I’m giving these servants too much freedom, they’re forgetting their place.’
I let go of the girl’s hands and walked inside the library, leaving behind a few words.
The music you pursue isn’t what it is; a path unique or similar doesn’t matter when you only want to walk on the path, not to create it.
"When the end goal is determined, the path doesn’t matter as long as you reach the end."
Well... all humans reach the end of their path, are they similar?
"Hmph, the paths are intertwined; you still can’t just rely on one to measure the other."
I can cause there is only one supreme path, which I walk the path of the emperor. Haha...
Saying this, I walked inside.
When I entered, I saw a huge wall and shelves filled with a lot of books; it was much bigger than the ceremony hall itself.
Good, where is the novel section?
"I don’t know. We should ask the librarian."
As we were about to find the librarian. The girl came running to us.
I ignored her, went to find the librarian, and she continued following behind as usual.
We went to the librarian’s place, and she was lying back on her chair, leisurely reading a novel. Fatty went forward trying to get the information.
"Sister, where is the novel section?"
She gently closed the book, then looked at us, her squinting.
"It’s the first time a kid has asked about the novel section. I’m sorry, but those are for only staff and teachers; students can’t read them."
"How would I know? Go ask your teacher or principal."
A slight laugh came from the side. I looked at the figure, and she was the same woman with the jade flute who blocked my way at the library entrance.
"You know you are quite an interesting kid. If you want, I can help you."
"Think carefully, you won’t be able to get any novel without my help."
Tell me what you want from me.
"Well, what about joining my music class. If your group joins my class, I will let you use my teacher’s library pass."
We can join, but I won’t be able to attend cause I have too many classes to attend, but they will be there in my place.
Now, give me my premium pass.
"Here, you go. But remember not to damage a book, or you have to pay for it."
I ignored her and wandered into the library. But she continued to follow behind.
What, why are you following us?
"Don’t you want to pick a novel? I can help you pick a good one."
"Which genre do you like?"
Hm, this time I will go with some ancient tales about cultivation.
"Oh, I have a few good suggestions for you?"
Well, it has to be flashy enough. I don’t like bland things.
’She can’t even hear clearly, yet called herself a teacher, what a trash.’
We walk through the shelves before stopping in front of the huge shelves. And this so-called teacher quickly skimmed through multiple books before taking out one.
"This one, it’s one of the best books here, though it says history, but it’s actually complete fantasy."
This book has a black cover with a white title, Truth is Fake.
Huh, sounds like some trash.
"Well, I won’t say you are wrong, but it meets your criteria."
’What the hell was I expecting from her?’
I will take it, whatever, I am already too bored. Trying it won’t hurt.
"Don’t worry, you love it. I, too, loved it very much when I was at your age."