Ten days later, in the back house of Ning Mansion.

In the pavilion, Ning Wan was sitting there playing the piano, while Chunqin and Luzhu were standing behind Ning Wan, listening attentively.

As Ning Wan's fingers slowly plucked the strings of the zither, the sound was gentle and lingering, like a mountain spring meandering from a valley, flowing slowly, making the listeners feel relaxed and happy, and subconsciously ignoring the worries in their hearts.

[Host, that person has been guarding here for several days. Doesn't he need to rest? ]

Although the secret guard's hiding skills were quite clever and none of the guards in the mansion could find his whereabouts, he could not hide it from Xiao Qi, especially Xiao Qi who was on guard.

Hearing this, Ning Wan's hands continued to move, and she slightly diverted her attention. She said helplessly, "When I rest, it is naturally his time to rest."

"Xiao Qi, do you really think he's a living being made of iron?"

[Host, that's not what Xiaoqi meant.]

[Look, he's been guarding here all by himself for several days straight, with no one coming to relieve him. Isn't the power of the master behind him a little too weak?]

Since he didn't know the other person's name, even Xiao Qi didn't know who the secret guard who was lurking near the host was.

The only thing that can be confirmed is that this person has no hostility for the time being.

After listening to Xiao Qi's explanation, Ning Wan's hand slowly stopped, his brows slightly frowned for a moment, and a vague answer came to his mind.

"The young lady's piano skills are really good. This banquet will surely shine."

Chunqin's eyebrows curved slightly, with a smile on the corners of her lips. After hearing the piano music stop, she praised and felt happy for the young lady from the bottom of her heart.

Lu Zhu nodded upon hearing this and said, "Yes, although I don't know why the Shangshu's daughter invited our daughter, I heard that quite a few people were invited to this birthday party."

"Our son-in-law and several other scholars who were on the list this time are also among those invited."

A banquet hosted by the government has nothing to do with the common people, not to mention that it is held at the Shangshu's house. A visiting card is worth a fortune.

If people were to tell others that their Ning family had received a visiting invitation, they would probably be envious of many people.

Just looking at the silent Ning Wan, Chunqin's smile slowly faded a little, and she quickly squatted down and asked nervously:

"Miss, you look unhappy? But what's wrong with you?"

Ning Wan stood up and walked to the edge of the pavilion. Then she glanced at a corner outside the pavilion. Her tone was light, with a hint of confusion and puzzlement:

"Nothing, I was just wondering why the Shangshu's daughter, whom I didn't know, would specially invite me to her birthday party."

As he spoke, the gaze that was staring at her did not disappear, but instead changed position in a very short time.

This was actually not Ning Wan's first attempt. The person waiting in the dark had no intention of meeting her, but was just waiting quietly.

Whenever she spotted him, he would quickly change his position.

Chunqin and Luzhu fell into a brief silence after hearing Ning Wan say this.

After a moment, Chunqin spoke again: "Miss, don't you want to go to the party? If so, we can find a way to postpone it. Miss, you don't have to force yourself to do something you don't like."

Chunqin knew that her young lady did not like crowds, but this was not a party organized by an ordinary family. If she accepted the invitation but did not attend, she would inevitably offend others.

But if there is a reason why you have to go, others naturally can't say much.

"Yes, miss, if you don't want to go, then let's not go."

Luzhu was originally happy for the young lady, but after hearing Chunqin say this and seeing the young lady's solemn expression, she immediately started to persuade her.

Ning Wan's hands tightened slightly: If only things were as simple as Chunqin and Luzhu said, she didn't think that the daughter of the Shangshu would invite her, the daughter of a merchant, to a banquet for no reason.