Chapter 392

Chapter 392 The Origin of the Qin

“If something really happened between Madam and Mrs. Liu, I’m afraid only the elders knew about it. Old Lady Qu might not know, but what about the Old Lady of the Yue Family of the South?” After thinking for a moment, Granny Yan gave a possible guess, “Old Lady Yue may know, and Duchess Qi may also know.”

Old Lady Yue was far away in the South, so it was quite difficult to inquire her about the matter. It was hard to explain the matter clearly by having someone deliver messages or letters. Moreover, Old Lady Yue might not tell the truth, and Qu Moying needed to further observe and investigate the situation.

It seemed that the only one she could ask was Duchess Qi. Qu Moying thought that Duchess Qi treated her quite well and that she was kind.

Qu Moying preferred Duchess Qi to Duke Qi. After all, it was because of Duke Qi that Minister Liu was snatched away from Qu Moying’s mother. If Duke Qi hadn’t intervened by asking for an imperial edict granting his daughter a marriage, Qu Moying’s mother might not have married Qu Zhizhen in a hurry.

It was obvious that Qu Zhizhen was not a good person. He had a lot to do with Qu Moying’s mother’s early death.

He doted on his concubines but treated his wife badly!

Qu Moying asked Granny Yan to go back to rest. Then, she began to ponder her talk with Granny Yan. Now, she was almost sure that the one who had a grudge against her was not Liu Jingyu but Mrs. Liu, who pulled the strings behind Liu Jingyu.

“Mrs. Liu had a grudge against my mother, and perhaps my mother didn’t notice it herself, but Mrs. Liu hated my mother for an unknown reason.”

“She even switched her hatred to me.”

“My mother died because of difficult labor. But did Mrs. Liu do anything behind it?” Thinking of this, Qu Moying felt the blood all over her body rushing up to her head. She had never thought of this before.

“If Mrs. Liu hated my mother so much, how could she not make a move? Or rather, she made use of Yu to plot against my mother.”

“At that time, Yu was only a concubine. Although she was a noble concubine, she was still a concubine. How could she dare to make a move against my mother on her own?”

At that time, Elder Yue was also around. She was the Madam of Earl Ling’an’s Mansion. Because of this, it was unlikely for Yu to make such a big move.

Qu Moying clenched her fists, and her face turned cold. If her guess was right, she would not let go of this mighty Mrs. Liu.

“Right now, the only person I can consult is Duchess Qi. It seemed that Duchess Qi was willing to get close to me. Also, from Qi Xiangyu’s reaction upon seeing my mother’s qin today, I could see that the qin might have something to do with Duke Qi’s Mansion.”

“Everything points to Duke Qi’s Mansion.”

“Since this is the case, I will sound out people in Duke Qi’s mansion.”

Taking a deep breath, Qu Moying suppressed the throb in her heart and said, “Yu Dong, bring me the qin music score that was returned last time and also the two copies that I wrote according to the qin music score!”

“Lady, I will go get them now.” Yu Dong knew that Qu Moying was talking about the incomplete music score sent back by the Eldest Young Master of Duke Qi’s Mansion, so he went to fetch it.

Qu Moying tried to complete the music score once, but she was not satisfied with her work, so she tried for a second time.

She took the qin music scores from Yu Dong. After taking a look at them, she walked to the desk by the window.

Yu Chun hurried forward to grind the ink for her.

Qu Moying picked up a writing brush, thought for a moment, and wrote another copy according to the music scores. This time, she had some ideas, so she finished writing in one go.

After she finished writing, she put down the brush in her hand and waited for the ink to dry. After thinking for a while, she handed this new qin music score in her hand to Yu Dong, “Put it away for now and send it to Duke Qi’s Mansion along with grandmother’s gifts tomorrow.”

Yu Dong took it and asked in confusion, “Is the Old Lady going to send gifts to Duke Qi’s Mansion?”

Qu Moying nodded slightly and looked out of the window thoughtfully. Although the trees outside were tall and lush, there were already fallen leaves. It was almost autumn. Time passed quickly.

Qu Moying remembered that her mother sent gifts to Duke Qi’s Mansion when she was alive. Of course, Duke Qi’s Mansion also reciprocated by sending gifts to her mother…

She hoped that Qi Xiangyu could add fuel to what was happening now…

Qi Xiangyu hurried to her mother’s yard. Along the way, the maids and the old maids bowed to her.

Second Madam Qi was calm and had a good family background. When she saw her daughter rushing in, she raised her head and asked, “Xiangyu, what happened?”

“Mother, did our mansion have an ancient qin in the past?” Qi Xiangyu asked as soon as she entered the room. But she paused when she saw the group of maids and old maids around.

Second Madam Qi waved her hand, and the group of maids and old maids all left.

Seeing that the servants had all left, Qi Xiangyu anxiously asked, “Mother, did our mansion have an ancient qin in the past? I heard you mention it before. Was it called Feng Yu?”

“Sit down first.” Second Madam Qi glared at her daughter in dissatisfaction. She didn’t think it was a matter that Qi Xiangyu should fuss about.

Qi Xiangyu sat down and looked at her mother with a bitter face. “Mother, tell me quickly. This matter is really important.”

“There was indeed an ancient qin, but it was long gone. I don’t know if it was sent to others or destroyed.” Second Madam Qi picked up the teacup, took a sip and then slowly put it down. “I heard it from your grandmother by chance.”

Second Madam Qi’s husband was a concubine-born son. She was not that close to Duchess Qi, but Duchess Qi was quite nice, and she treated Duchess Qi carefully, so there was no conflict between the two of them. They even looked like harmonious companions sometimes.

The second branch didn’t covet the right to inherit the title of Duke Qi, so it had a good relationship with the first branch. Moreover, Second Madam Qi was a wise person.

Qi Xiangyu asked, “Was it called Feng Yu?”

“It seems to be the name!” Second Madam Qi said after thinking for a while. If her daughter hadn’t asked, she would have long forgotten about this qin. The reason why she remembered this matter was that Duchess Qi had mentioned it before, and when Second Madam Qi sorted out the warehouse with her sister-in-law, she saw a note in the account book saying that the qin Feng Yu couldn’t be found.

At that time, she heard some rumors about Feng Yu from First Madam Qi. It was said that the qin had gone through chaotic times, so it was really precious.

In particular, the name of the qin was different from the ordinary ones, so Second Madam Qi kept it in mind and told her daughter about it with pity.

But she did not think there was anything else about the qin that was worth mentioning!

The qin had been lost or destroyed. The ex-Duke Qi had a close relationship with Lord Qin, who played a big part in the rebellion of the three Lords. The qin might have been destroyed when Duke Qi’s Mansion was searched. After all, the entire Duke Qi’s Mansion was close to being exterminated at that time.

Fortunately, the current Duke Qi was a capable person. He managed to survive that kind of situation and even succeeded in saving his entire family. Moreover, the Emperor allowed him to inherit the title of Duke Qi.

Second Madam Qi was scared just thinking about it. At that time, no one would have thought that Duke Qi’s Mansion could be saved!

At that time, it was normal for people of the mansion to be killed, let alone confiscate their property.

Second Madam Qi was surprised that her daughter was making such a fuss. She felt that she had spoiled her daughter too much that her daughter lost her composure in the face of such a trifle.

But in the next moment, Qi Xiangyu’s words shocked her.

Qi Xiangyu said with her eyes wide open, “Mother, I saw a qin named Feng Yu today!”

Second Madam Qi was about to lash out at her daughter, but she was stunned after hearing her daughter’s words. She didn’t know what to say and only asked after a while, “Are you saying that you saw the qin named Feng Yu?”

“Yes, mother, I saw… I saw it, but I don’t know if it is the one from our ancestors!” Qi Xiangyu nodded. When she came all the way here, she had thought that Qu Moying’s qin might not be the one that used to belong to her mansion. Although the name of Qu Moying’s qin was also Feng Yu, they might not be the same one.

After all, this Feng Yu qin was not extremely famous. If it was, there might be counterfeits made based on it.

Therefore, Qi Xiangyu really could not judge whether Qu Moying’s qin had anything to do with her mansion.

“Is it really the ancient qin Feng Yu?” Second Madam Qi frowned and asked suspiciously. She still thought it was impossible.

“Yes, it should be. Mother, I think it is very likely to be the one that used to belong to our mansion.” Qi Xiangyu thought for a while and still felt that the two qins were probably the same one. “Could it be that it wasn’t destroyed back then but was accidentally lost and obtained by someone?”

Hearing Qi Xiangyu’s words, Second Madam Qi nodded. She also felt that it was possible. At that time, Duke Qi’s Mansion was almost doomed. It was possible that some items were taken by others.

Second Madam Qi asked, “Who owns it now?”

She thought if it really was the qin that used to belong to her mansion, she should try to get it back because it would be a great disrespect to the ancestors if she didn’t try to get back the things that were left behind by them.

Qi Xiangyu said, “Fourth Lady Qu!”

“Fourth Lady Qu? Which Fourth Lady Qu?” Second Madam Qi did not pay much attention to things that happened outside. She did not know who Qi Xiangyu was talking about.

Qi Xiangyu explained in more detail, “It’s the Fourth Lady of Vice Minister Qu’s Mansion. She has an eye disease and was previously raised in the village. You used to say that she was quite wretched.”

“Oh, oh, are you talking about the lady who was abandoned in the village after her mother died?” Second Madam Qi remembered and nodded. “I know. Are you saying that the qin is in her hands?”

“Yes, it’s her. She also went to Grand Princess Changyu’s mansion today. I saw that her qin bore the name ‘Feng Yu’ on it. Later, I specially took a closer look at it and confirmed it was indeed Feng Yu. It seemed to be an ancient qin, so I came to ask you!”

Qi Xiangyu told Second Madam Qi everything about Qu Moying playing the qin today. Of course, she also told her everything that happened in Grand Princess Changyu’s mansion today.

After Qi Xiangyu finished speaking, the relaxed expression on Second Madam Qi’s face disappeared…