Chapter 17: Just Listening to Music! "Her brother only has me and Yiheng as his companions..."

Li Changling raised his voice and said, "That woman from just now?! Why didn't you say so earlier?"

"It's alright, we'll ask again later." Wang Yan then said sadly, "The duck that was just in our hands has flown away..."

Li Changling was already used to it and simply called him a "money-grubber".

Wang Yan tilted his head and said, "Is there anyone in this world who doesn't love money? Money may be an external thing, but it can't compare to its tangible value."

“There really is one.” Li Changling said bluntly without any hesitation, “His master is obsessed with martial arts, but an idiot when it comes to dealing with people.”

"It's not appropriate to call someone's master an idiot in front of their disciple..."

Out of the corner of her eye, Wang Yan noticed a smile playing on Shen Minghuai's lips. Following his gaze, she finally looked at the portrait of the woman.

"He can't beat me." Li Changling didn't care. What was his relationship with Fu Jizheng? Why would he care about such things?

Wang Yan unconsciously walked to Shen Minghuai's side. "How can you keep talking about 'beating' all the time? You should persuade people with reason, right?"

Taking advantage of the situation, Shen Minghuai stepped back behind her, saying, "From now on, I will rely on you, Second Master."

"When did I say I would protect you?" Wang Yan took a step back. "My abilities are limited. Rather than both of us getting beaten up, it would be better for you to go and do it yourself, young master."

Before Shen Minghuai could make a further move, Wang Yan immediately took a step back. Having been flicked on the forehead so many times, it had become an instinctive reaction. Little did he know that raising his hand was also someone else's habit. Shen Minghuai could only awkwardly withdraw his hand and cough twice.

"I'll go and tell the manager."

Wang Yan quickly left the room. Li Changling's gaze swept directly at Shen Minghuai. The two stared at each other for a long while, saying nothing, yet it seemed as if they had said everything.

"Her brothers, Yiheng and I, are enough."

"Hmm." Shen Minghuai looked away first, probably realizing that his behavior was both childish and ridiculous.

“You two aren’t a good match, it’s best not to start.” Li Changling suddenly became serious.

Shen Minghuai picked up the portrait. "Brother Lanzhi, why do you say that? Do you think I have feelings for her, or she has feelings for me?"

That would be best.

Before she finished speaking, Wang Yan returned and sat down directly next to Meng Shu. "Does Madam He have many friends?"

The man's furrowed brows gave him a pitiful and forlorn air. No wonder Madam He liked him.

"She only came to hear me sing with that lady; she knows nothing else about me."

Li Changling found it strange, "Why was she the only one who responded out of so many people?"

No ordinary woman wanted to have anything to do with the Xianggu Pavilion; they all wanted to stay as far away from it as possible.

Wang Yan didn't find it strange. "Doesn't this just mean they have the best relationship?"

Shen Minghuai nodded. "Gossip is a fearsome thing, but she ignored it and accepted the appointment. Did she recognize you just now?"

Seeing Meng Shu's hesitant expression, Li Changling asked in confusion, "Do you two have a grudge?"

Wang Yan recalled Meng Shu's words from two days ago, and his face immediately turned cold. "It's not good to be full of lies at the very beginning of the cooperation."

Shen Minghuai leisurely placed the portrait in front of Meng Shu, "Strangers, after looking at each other, suddenly change their expressions."

Meng Shu clenched her hands tightly. "I really don't know her name. I went to see her half a month ago, wanting to ask where Li Niang was buried... She was full of hostility towards me, and I don't know why."

Li Changling hurriedly asked, "Does she know where Lady He's body is buried?"

Meng Shu lowered her head. "She said that even if she knew, she wouldn't tell me. She begged me to let Li Niang go..."

Shen Minghuai, perhaps sensing something keenly, said very seriously, "She might know the truth about Madam He's death."

Wang Yan suddenly stood up. "I need to find an opportunity to talk to her. Send someone to keep an eye on her, starting with Zhu Yao."

Meng Shu then spoke up, "I know that young master from earlier."

Li Changling held a teacup in one hand and picked up the portrait in the other. "Now they're being honest. Who doesn't know the Zhu family of Mingzhou?"

Meng Shu said evasively, "Every time he comes to Yangzhou, he goes to the Elephant Maiden Pavilion to listen to me sing..."

Wang Yan and Shen Minghuai exchanged a glance, the former quickly looking away. Li Changling sprayed tea all over the floor.

Meng Shu hurriedly said, "It's not what you all think! It's just about listening to music! Listening to music!"

Shen Minghuai was the first to become serious, "Has he ever heard anyone else sing?"

Meng Shu thought about it carefully, "It should be... no."

Li Changling shook his head repeatedly, "I never expected this, I never expected this..."

Meng Shu blushed with anxiety, "It's really not what you think, young hero!"

Wang Yan nudged Li Changling, "Alright, alright, if it's not true, then it's not true."

While the three of them were fooling around, Shen Minghuai had already come up with a solution.

"Sing it again as soon as possible."

The three of them looked at him in confusion.

"Let Young Master Zhu and Madam Shangguan go and listen together."

"Madam Shangguan?" Li Changling lowered his head again. "Madam Shangguan."

Wang Yan immediately made a bold guess: "Perhaps the reason why Lady Shangguan agreed to Lady He's request lies with Zhu Yao."

Li Changling thought it was impossible, "How could Lady Shangguan go to the Elephant Pavilion with the man she loves?"

Shen Minghuai explained, "You don't need to actually listen. Just extend the invitation in front of Zhu Yao."

"Is the focus on public opinion?" Wang Yan was eager to try. "Leave it to me."

Shen Minghuai casually complimented, "Smart."

Wang Yan paused for a moment before smiling and replying, "Thank you for the compliment, Young Master Shen."

Li Changling narrowed his eyes to slits. "Shen Minghuai, I've noticed that you're becoming less and less like the person you were in Beijing."

Shen Minghuai said calmly, "Then, Brother Lanzhi, do you think it's good or bad?"

Li Changling hesitated, then said, "No."

"When in the world of martial arts, one should adapt to local customs and be carefree; being able to disguise oneself is even better." Although Wang Yan said this, she harbored many suspicions about Shen Minghuai's change. Was it truly just for the sake of finding peace...?

Li Changling scolded her, "Don't be too carefree. Be careful that word gets back to your aunt's ears, or you'll have to stay obediently in the capital from now on."

Wang Yan retorted, "It is not the act of a gentleman to file a complaint. This world is vast and far-reaching; I am not going back."

Li Changling immediately retorted, "Hey, don't frame an innocent person. Yi Heng's eyes are all over the land, so be careful. Don't blame your brother for not warning you."

With Wang Zhen's abilities, he certainly could do that. Otherwise, why would he always be able to bring her back at the right time? No wonder she always felt a chill; perhaps Wang Zhen's eyes were watching her from somewhere. Wang Yan pulled her clothes tighter.

Meng Shu sized up the three of them. "Are all three of you from the capital?"

Li Changling quickly distanced himself, saying, "They are, but I am not."

Wang Yan corrected him, pointing to Shen Minghuai, "Only he is."

Li Changling teased, "Hmm, she really doesn't match those noble ladies from the capital. You can tell at a glance that she's a free-spirited and chivalrous person."

Wang Yan's gaze immediately sharpened, implying that she lacked manners.

"I don't yet know how the three of you are addressed."

"Wang Qingyue." "Li—Langfeng."

Shen Minghuai glanced at the brother and sister who had a half-smile on their faces, and said, "Shen Minghuai."

Wang Yan leaned down and whispered to Li Changling, "Look, everyone in the capital is a refined gentleman."

Shen Minghuai had good hearing and was sitting beside her. He unconsciously reached out his hand and then withdrew it, saying nothing more. The next moment, Wang Yan was pushed aside by Li Changling and sat up straight.

Meng Shu sighed, "I thought I was lucky enough to be with Young Hero Li, but it turns out it wasn't him."

Wang Yan glanced to the side and asked, "Who do you think it is?"

“Li Changling,” Meng Shu quickly continued, “but since it’s not him, I’m relieved. Young Master Li has a great reputation, and it wouldn’t be good for him to be associated with Li Niang. If there’s anything else I can do to help, please let me know. That’s all I have to say, farewell.”

As soon as Meng Shu left, Li Changling's smile vanished. "He was just playing dumb to fool the enemy."

Wang Yan nodded in agreement, then looked at Shen Minghuai, "Pretending to be ignorant when you know the truth."

Shen Minghuai said, "He didn't say it outright, but he has already made his stance clear. He knows that you two are keeping your trip secret and is afraid that things will escalate. If the He family intervenes, he will never see Madam He again."

Li Changling got up and walked out, saying, "What you said makes some sense. In any case, you two should be more careful."

Seeing this, Wang Yan quickly followed, saying, "I'll go check on Manager Fu."

The news that Meng Shu was scheduled to sing at the Xianggu Pavilion in the middle of each month, but would add a performance at the beginning of the month, spread throughout Yangzhou City in just one day.

Wang Yan arrived at Shen Minghuai's residence early in the morning. He saw that the door was spacious. "Young Master Shen?"

He looked like he had just washed up. Shen Minghuai came out wearing a leather belt. "Hmm?"

Wang Yan's gaze passed over him and looked into the room. "Just got up?"

Shen Minghuai sighed helplessly, "I'm not used to this bed. I slept better yesterday and then got up late. I didn't know you were coming, madam. I'm so sorry for not welcoming you properly."

"This is the number one room in the VIP section, and you still can't get used to sleeping here?"

"I'm not used to sleeping in unfamiliar beds," Shen Minghuai said again. "Come in."

Wang Yan sat down at the table with him.

Have you had breakfast?

Wang Yan carefully looked around, "No."

"Let's talk after breakfast," Shen Minghuai said, and was about to call Ying Ming.

Wang Yan suddenly stood up. "Why don't we go to the morning market to eat?"

The two ordered two baskets of steamed buns filled with syrup and two bowls of porridge, and sat in the bustling morning market, chatting about everyday life.

"Does the Duke of Dingguo's mansion have rules about not speaking while eating or sleeping?"

Shen Minghuai handed her the bamboo chopsticks. "Mm."

Wang Yan nodded without any surprise and did not speak again.

Shen Minghuai scooped up a spoonful of porridge, paused, and said, "However, since I am not currently in the manor, there is no need for me to stand guard."

"I hope you won't find the simple food and tea too offensive, Young Master Shen."

Wang Yan only said this politely, then took a bite of the steamed bun. He first sucked out all the delicious juice, then enjoyed the filling and the thin skin together. There was no greater delicacy than this.

Looking at Shen Minghuai's slow and deliberate eating, he was just like Wang Zhen.

Wang Yan was used to being carefree when he was out, so he would just blow on the steamed buns and put them in his mouth. The freshly steamed buns were juicy and overflowing with juice, and even though they burned his tongue, he still ate them two at a time.

"Be careful not to choke—" Shen Minghuai said subconsciously, picking up the bowl he had just put down again. "Besides going to the capital, have you always lived here?"

"Most of the time, that's how it is." Wang Yan quickly swallowed her food, and some juice inevitably spilled from the corners of her mouth. Unfortunately, she had forgotten to bring a handkerchief today, so she couldn't just wipe it away with her sleeve. She was feeling rather embarrassed.

Shen Minghuai handed her the handkerchief and then picked up a steamed bun. "I've heard that Minister Wang and Madam Li rarely leave the capital."

Just as Wang Yan was hesitating whether to accept the offer, the person on the other end spoke again: "You also brought a handkerchief, or would you like someone to do it for you?"