Chapter 1

The musician in the royal capital (1)

During recess, Li Yuebai discovered an anomaly in his students.

Student Wang Rui, who was normally extremely loud, was not messing around outside but peacefully sitting on her chair. With a dismal, downcast face, she stared at her phone, then abruptly dropped her head onto the table, crying.

“Teacher Bai, Wang Rui is crying, hurry up and see what’s going on.” The academics vice-monitor of the class Han Mei announced worriedly.

As the new literature teacher as well as the form teacher of the class, Li Yuebai had always tried his best to become a role model. Many times before he had been awarded with all sorts of lofty-sounding but empty titles from grandiose to humble such as “The all-exemplary model teacher of Shilan, Beijing”, “Top 8 male god of middle school”, “The moonlight in graduated female students’ hearts”. This could be attributed to his inborn beauty, his kind-hearted as well as exuberant personality, and him readily offering assistance to everyone. During class, students would never sombrely call him ‘Teacher Li’, addressing him as ‘Teacher Bai’ instead.

Wang Rui actually crying caused the initially noisy classroom to quiet down in a blink of an eye. Curious gazes landed on her body.

“Now is recess, no reason to stay in the classroom. Go out and play.” Li Yuebai flicked his hand: “Everyone has moments when they don’t feel great or their bodies feel weak. Han Mei, bring Wang Rui to the medical room. All of you shouldn’t worry.”

Everyone used to be a student at some point; there was definitely nobody who was unaware that when they was experiencing something embarrassing, the worst thing was to be seen by others. Now that she was being inquired after by a teacher, she truly became the spotlight. Even though Wang Rui was a roughneck… she was still a female student!

Despite his outward composure, Li Yuebai was baffled inside: This kid Wang Rui’s family circumstances and character are extremely ordinary. Without a doubt, she should not have encountered any serious issue, and certainly should not have provoked something troublesome. Don’t tell me it’s puppy love? Fighting with friends? Or losing her new purchases?

“Teacher, I’m okay.” Wang Rui lifted her head, tears and snot all over her face. She raised her phone: “It’s just, it’s just that today is the male god’s death anniversary, I’m really depressed, hu hu hu…”

“Male god?” Death anniversary? Whose death anniversary? Li Yuebai could not understand anything.

“It’s, it’s the anniversary of a 2D male god.” On one hand Wang Rui was sobbing desperately, on the other she had not forgotten to fiercely nominate her idol.

He accepted the phone from Wang Rui’s hands. On the screen, a video currently being watched appeared, portraying a man in ancient clothing. Hugging a guzheng in his chest, this man wore a fluttering white robe and possessed elegant features as well as a gentle smile. His long, slightly ruffled hair was casually loose, flower petals dancing in the wind. Mist hovered around his partially transparent body, and on top of his head spotted a glowing halo.

This was the person in Wang Rui’s speech, the 2D male god.

After the play button had been clicked, emotional, melodious notes of ancient-style music floated out. There was also a man’s monologue: After you left, the pear blossoms in the capital bloom no longer.

Comments appeared line by line, covering the entire screen.

“QAQ, the uploader gave such a ruthless stab.”

“Such a good person will never appear on this earth.”

“Hu hu hu I don’t need to know anything, I want Yun-gege, Yun-gege is the best.”

“500 brothers let’s all gift the author a few slices of the blade.”

“How can gifting blade be enough, must gift oil barrels! Count me in!”

“Pear flower petals dissipate in the wind, only music understands my feelings.”

Li Yuebai searched the web, clearly comprehending.

Recently, there existed an immensely popular historical web novel titled <Flowers flutter in the royal capital>. The novel painted a realistic picture of a vast nation, in which depicted conflicts in the imperial harem, royals scheming for power, gold spears and iron war horses, magnificent scenery, …

However, this was a BL novel.

As a modern internet-savvy youngster, Li Yuebai of course knew what was BL. Wang Rui truly deserved her reputation as a female roughneck, having shown a teacher BL-related content so courageously.

Inside <Flowers flutter in the royal capital>, there was an antagonist belonging to the dark camp named ‘Mu Rongnan’.

Mu Rongnan was born noble, being the first son of the former emperor Mu Rongfeng and empress Xiao Wenyin. At the age of six, he was granted the title of crown prince. His journey to succeed the emperor should have been smooth; however, when he was twelve years old, the empress Xiao Wenyin lost favour. Albeit her empress’ throne had not been taken away, and she was still permitted to remain in the palace, the emperor did not deign to look at her again.

Having been implicated by his mother, Mu Rongnan’s crown prince title was removed. He was demoted to the Prince of Ning and left the royal capital for his titled lands. Yet upon arriving at his lands, he was ambushed in this distant and deserted area and was severely injured. Fortunately, he jumped down a cliff and was pulled away by the vigorous river currents, succeeding in avoiding death for once. Obviously, he would be rescued afterwards.

His rescuer was named Yun Weizhi, who also happened to be the “2D male god” that the brain-scattered Wang Rui liked exceedingly.

Yun Weizhi was a world-famous musician – one tune sang by the guzheng, the heaven and earth transformed, gods and demons weeping. Moreover, he possessed a magnanimous personality and a fairy-like appearance and aura, causing even someone who were used to beautiful people like Mu Rongnan to be astounded.

Evidently, in this novel, appearance and aura did not worth much; a character who received the affection of the readers should be judged according to his personality and behaviour.

Different from the flower vases in numerous other novels, Yun Weizhi not only had an excellent appearance but also a pleasing personality in the eyes of the audience. Vain he was not, and he was quite cheerful, displaying a modest or proud aura according to the need of the situation. His image was extremely realistic. Thus, chancing upon such a lovely person after leaving the brutal and ruthless palace, Mu Rongnan immediately fell crazily in love. Nonetheless, Mu Rongnan was hesitant about revealing his identity. Hence, these two considered each other good friends, choosing to stay at leisure in the Ning titled lands.

At the age of seventeen, with the improvements in his circumstances and his mother Xiao Wenyin receiving the emperor’s favour once more, Mu Rongnan’s crown prince position was restored. However, Yun Weizhi, who loathed the imperial court, refused to accompany him in the former’s return to the royal capital. Just like that, they were separated.

Inconceivably, not long after Mu Rongnan returned to the capital, he was stricken with a severe illness. He repeatedly voiced out Yun Weizhi’s name in his coma. Feeling both shocked and impatient, the empress had to ask Mu Rongnan’s personal servant before knowing that Mu Rongnan liked hearing Yun Weizhi’s music the most. If the latter could be invited there to played one guzheng melody, Mu Rongnan would probably escape the current calamity and be revived.

The empress immediately ordered people to inform Yun Weizhi of the emergency situation. The latter was of course unimaginably distressed about Mu Rongnan’s life, travelling to the royal capital in the midst of night. In front of the emperor and empress, he played one song for Mu Rongnan, succeeding in pulling him from his comatose and bringing him back to life.

Immediately afterwards, the plot abruptly changed, and an anomaly occurred.

The empress had two long-time enemies. The one in the light was an important court official, Zhao Ne, while the one in the dark was imperial consort Dan, Dan Hui.

Born a noble from a prestigious bloodline, Zhao Ne was extremely skilled at scheming and plotting. At the moment, he occupied the Grand Preceptor position, raising wind and rain in the imperial court. His family and the empress’ held old grievances against each other.

Dan Hui, who was beloved by the emperor, bore a son. In normal days, she always silently followed the empress on the outside, but in fact had never ceased trying to harm the latter.

Zhao Ne’s wife was surnamed Dan and was the imperial consort’s older blooded sister. Consequently, those two cooperated with each other with the purpose of harming the empress and the crown prince. That Mu Rongnan encountered danger and yet escaped death this time made these collaborators feel exceedingly spiteful. They thought of a poisonous scheme – slandering the empress and Yun Weizhi of an illicit relationship.

Having been quarrelling with the empress for many years, the foolish and overtly suspicious emperor believed in the accusation under the effect of these two fanning the flames.

When Mu Rongnan, still stricken with a terminal illness, woke up, there was not a shadow next to him. The empress had been forced to hang herself, while Yun Weizhi, who had not accepted the crime despite having been tortured in front of the emperor, had been beaten to death.

As such, Mu Rongnan turned to the dark side.

From then onwards, walking the path of enduring indignities while striving for revenge, massacring in all four directions… After several years, succeeding in removing all obstacles, killing his father and ascending to the throne… Initially, he had darkened too much, thus becoming more and more vicious and brutal afterwards, slaughtering like crazy and transforming into a model antagonist. Finally, he was defeated by the male lead and set himself aflame inside his palace.

…

Li Yuebai finished reading the abridged introduction with a serious attitude before realizing that the entire passage was an introduction of the antagonist and had no relations with the actual plot of the novel.

“Tch tch, really overreacting, isn’t it just a supporting character?” Han Mei shrugged disdainfully: “Can’t understand how the author wrote the plot, blowing him up into a male god while the protagonist hasn’t even been mentioned!”

“A lot of people support him!” Wang Rui retorted while crying: “Yun-gege is gentlest and most adorable!”

“I also know, but every day you guys visit others’ weibo pages to talk about him, I really am hearing about it so much I’m getting annoyed.” Sighing, Han Mei said.

“That’s not because of me! Han Mei you’re too much! Today is the male god’s death anniversary and you’re still saying such things!” Wang Rui became angrier as they spoke. She stopped weeping and took out some tissues to dry her tears, then stood up to continue squabbling with Han Mei.

…Increasingly unable to comprehend students’ entertainment activities as the days passed by.

Shaking his head, Li Yuebai put Wang Rui’s phone on her desk and walked up the pulpit.

The following period was his literature lesson.

In the middle of the lesson, the door to the classroom was suddenly kicked open.

A middle-aged man with messy hair and crumbling clothes burst into the classroom, holding two butchering knifes in his hands. On his ugly face lied a pair of sinister, vile eyes.

When he saw a room full of students, the man was noticeably shocked.

Li Yuebai possessed a praiseworthy quality – during emergencies, his brain worked faster than others.

Their middle school’s location was quite nice, being adjacent to a primary school and a nursery.

Recently, the school was being renovated. As extra pipelines were being constructed underground and all of the walls had been destroyed, security guards could only safeguard the school gate. They were incapable of taking precautions against invaders intruding through the walls.

In a few seconds, he had already examined this man hundreds of times. Clearly, there existed a possibility that this person was the target of the media these days, the type to invade nurseries with knives in hand and murder innocent children. The cause was desperation stemming from a terrible life, leading to a ‘revenge against society’ mentality.

Or perhaps, he had gone to the wrong school because of his unstable emotions. Even though they were empty-handed, middle school students were still stronger than young children and thus not the most suitable targets to vent his anger on.

The classroom fell into a death-like silence.

The man clenched his teeth, then raised his knife and began slicing towards a couple of female students in front…

“Stop.” Li Yuebai said: “Your lottery.”

“…” As expected, the man ceased his motion and directed his gaze towards Li Yuebai.

“Your lottery, won, five thousand.” Li Yuebai spoke word by word.

Lottery? What lottery? The students in the room were also stupefied.

After his momentary shock, the man immediately went forward, provoked. His knife-holding hands were shaking nonstop, a few words coming out of his mouth: “Trying to deceive me? How do you know I won the lottery?”

“I know.” Li Yuebai said: “Last night, you bought lottery tickets at the pub at the intersection between Nanjing and Jiaocha streets. They’re still in your jacket’s pocket.”

“How do you know I won the lottery?” The man roared furiously.

“I know by looking at your physiognomy.” Li Yuebai said in a serious voice. “The results will be released at 3 o’clock, if you don’t believe me why not wait for a while?”

“Brother, listen to me, throwing away the five thousand in your hands to run into prison isn’t worth it.” Li Yuebai went to the teachers’ cabinet and took out a can of beer. He handed it to the man.

The police arrived at 2:45.

The man, who was drunk to the point of not knowing where the sky and earth were, cried aloud as he was forcefully carried away. Snot and tears were all over his face.

Li Yuebai did not forget to say goodbye: “Brother, don’t worry, there’s also a TV in prison. If you don’t win this time, you’ll win the next, stay strong!”

Bubbles bursting from his mouth, the man peeked through the policeman’s shoulders and raised his two thumbs: “Stay strong!”

The students were still frightened and unable to recover their spirits.

“Teacher Bai, what exactly happened just now?” Wang Rui shouted loudly: “Wait for the day I give you a prize flag, there’ll definitely be four words written on it: Godly mouth storming everything (*)!”

(*) Coarse translation, sorry. It basically means capable of speaking his way out of anything and everything.

“True, there’s no glory in such a victory…” An unconvinced male student chimed in: “Of all things, he’s acting this way, I already found out that he was pretending from early on… If he really slashed his knife, how can this godly mouth title still be retained?”

“Teacher Bai, isn’t it a new actor you just invited? Is it a special performance you prepared for the ‘Number 1 male god in Shilan’ contest next year?” Han Mei, being a long-time reason-seeking youngster (*), also chimed in.

(*) A person who likes to find out the logic and reason behind everything they encounter.

Li Yuebai opened the drawer and drank a gulp of beer.

“A good knife really is good, but this place cannot withstand it.” He pointed to his heart.

“What lottery were you talking about?”

“The poorer you are, the more you wish to become rich overnight. This person has been poor for a long time and acquired the habit of buying lottery tickets.” Li Yuebai explained: “There was a white streak of paint on his shoes – there’s only the intersection point between Nanjing street and Jiaocha street nearby that has chalk covering the road surface. The time is yesterday, and within ten miles from here, there’s solely that store there that allows people to purchase knives of unlimited quantity without a certificate. In his hands were meat butchering knives very similar to those belonging to pimple-faced Wang, the stamps hadn’t been removed, 100 yuan for a knife, 198 yuan for two since there’s promotion. You guys tell me, will he use the remaining 2 yuan to buy lottery tickets? Habit is a scary thing…”

…

“I’m a bit queasy, going out for a moment.” Li Yuebai flicked his hands: “Self-study!”

His alcohol tolerance was extremely low. A little liquor would make him drunk; he was trying to retain his consciousness just now.

There were a couple of steps at the entrance to the toilet.

Oblivious, he slipped and fell.

Before fainting, he considered what the headlines of tomorrow’s news would be in his muddled state.

<Shocked! Beijing teacher courageously played mind games with a kidnapper, not a single hair harmed, only to stumble and fell to his death at the toilet.>

F*cking stupid.

Unaware of how long he had been in a coma, Li Yuebai felt that his level of pig-headedness had been promoted to an entirely new stage.

He was riding a handsome snow-coloured horse, holding a set of unnameable gypsem-plated reins, looking extremely elegant and refined. Clothed in a white robe and a long dark cloak, he would appear untethered even when his sleeves were bound. He examined his arms closely. Attached to his arms were long, delicate fingers and beautiful, clearly defined knuckles. They were slightly inflamed due to the owner rarely mounting horses…

The good-looking man in front pulled the reins and turned his head, speaking with a joyful tone: “Sir Yun, we’ve arrived at the capital!”

A ‘ding’ sound resounded in his head, conveying the system’s voice: “Greetings sir, welcome to the moonlight in one’s heart self-saving system, current narrative: Flowers flutter in the royal capital, current character: Yun Weizhi.”

Li Yuebai felt rather willing to crawl back to the school’s toilet using the drainage system.

F f f.

How the heck had he arrived at the video they had been discussing?

If I die the pear blossoms in the royal capital won’t f*cking bloom alright!