Chapter 5 Let's Talk in Silence

Summer brings abundant rain, and after another night of continuous rain, the new buds on the branches are lush and tender.

A horse-drawn carriage stopped in front of a teahouse in the East Market.

As Zi Teng helped Shen You out of the car, she whispered, "Miss, that person is already waiting in the private room on the second floor."

Shen You nodded, and the two of them stepped over the ground and went straight up the stairs.

There were several private rooms on the outer side of the second floor. Shen You stood in front of the last room and gently knocked on the door.

The next moment, the door was opened.

A pair of old, slightly cloudy eyes stared straight into her eyes.

The man was dressed in coarse gray clothes and had a weathered face.

The moment their eyes met, Shen You knew she hadn't chosen the wrong person.

"Uncle Fang..."

"girl..."

The man addressed as Uncle Fang was even more agitated than Shen You, his eyes instantly reddening, "Miss..."

"Young lady, this old servant has finally found you."

He quickly ushered her inside and examined her carefully.

Finally, their gaze fell on Shen You's womanly hairstyle.

"girl..."

Shen You's eyes also reddened, and she helped him up as he tried to kneel down, saying, "Uncle Fang, there's no need for such formalities."

The two sat down at the round table, and Zi Teng thoughtfully poured tea and stood by the door.

"Uncle Fang, how have you been all these years?"

Fang Qi smiled, nodded and then shook his head, "I'm fine myself, but for now, the King of Hell won't take these old bones."

Upon hearing this, Shen You instantly understood.

Shen You's maternal grandfather was a general of the Great Qi Dynasty, while Fang Qi was the steward of the general's mansion.

He was also unfortunate; his son and daughter-in-law had both passed away, leaving behind only one child, who contracted a serious illness at a young age. Fang Qi searched far and wide for famous doctors in the capital, and Shen You's maternal grandfather also helped to find a doctor, but they were still helpless.

Hearing rumors that a neighboring country, Wenxia, ​​had a divine physician who could cure this strange disease, Fang Qi asked his maternal grandfather, Shen You, for a long leave and set off alone with his child.

This departure lasted for more than a decade. During this time, Shen You's maternal grandfather died in battle, his mother died of illness, and the general's mansion fell into decline.

Fang Qi's search for medical treatment for his grandson was also unsuccessful.

The child couldn't withstand the long journey and his health deteriorated. Moreover, even the doctor in Wenxia was helpless to treat the child's illness.

The child eventually died of illness at the border.

Fang Qi wanted to return to the capital, but then he encountered the old emperor on the throne, and the people of Daqi were suffering, with unrest occurring frequently in various places.

Although he was trying his best to walk towards the capital, his pace was limited, and he almost lost his life several times, so he could only walk and stop.

It wasn't until last month that I reached a city adjacent to the capital. During that time, some things happened that delayed my return to the capital.

When Fang Qi left the General's Mansion, Shen You was just a little girl who was barely taller than his knees. Now, more than a decade has passed in the blink of an eye.

Things have changed, but people are no longer the same.

The moment he opened the door, he couldn't even believe his eyes.

Their young lady from the general's mansion already possesses such a refined and elegant appearance.

But when his gaze fell on Shen You's womanly hairstyle, the old man's eyes were filled with sorrow.

During his time back in the capital, he had heard about Shen You's affairs.

This world is already harsh on women, let alone divorced women.

From time to time, a few words of discussion would pop up from the teahouses, restaurants, and street vendors.

Thinking of this, tears welled up in Fang Qi's eyes. "Girl, you've suffered so much all these years."

Upon seeing an old friend, Shen You was also somewhat excited, and her usually clear almond-shaped eyes were slightly red.

Hearing Fang Qi's words, she smiled and shook her head, "I'm not wronged."

She asked, "Uncle Fang, what are your plans for the future?"

Fang Qi wiped his face. "This old servant is all alone now, so I can go anywhere." He looked at Shen You with pity in his eyes. "It's just that I'm worried about our General's Mansion's young lady, so I'm thinking of returning to the capital."

"Now that I've seen the girl, I'm relieved."

Shen Youyi looked at him with a serious expression, "Uncle Fang, Youyou needs you to stay by my side and help me."

Fang Qi was taken aback, but then said without hesitation, "Miss, as long as you say so, this old servant will go through fire and water without hesitation."

Shen You smiled and said, "You don't need to go through fire and water for me."

"I just need you to come back and help me manage my shops and estates."

Fang Qi used to be the steward in the general's mansion, and he has his own insights into how to manage the shops and estates. Shen You is at ease entrusting these matters to him.

The assets left to her by her mother and grandmother need to be truly taken back into her own hands.

Fang Qi raised his hand to pour her tea, his gaze firm, "As long as you ask, young lady, this old servant will do his utmost."

"If you tell me to stay, I will stay."

With a "clang".

Shen You took the cup from Fang Qi and lightly touched it to his cup. "In that case, it's settled. Uncle Fang will stay in Lin'an City."

“Ah,” Fang Qi finally showed his first smile since entering the room, “I will stay in Lin’an City and be at your service, Miss.”

The two drank the tea in their cups in one gulp, and that was how the matter was settled.

Shen You took out the prepared note and said, “I will set up a courtyard for you to rest for a few days. All the shops listed on this note are under my name. If you have time, you can visit the shops as a guest. Once the account books are sorted out, I will have someone bring them to you.”

Account books are essential for managing shops and estates.

Shen You's mind wasn't on this before, so she just left the booklets handed to her by her subordinates.

Now, in order to manage things well, reconciliation is essential.

"Okay, okay," Fang Qi replied repeatedly, his wrinkles at the corners of his eyes quite noticeable when he smiled.

Perhaps because he hadn't felt this energetic in a long time, he seemed much more alert, and his eyes even brightened.

Shen You took the note and carefully told him the locations of the shops. The two chatted for a while before going downstairs.

The first floor of the teahouse.

Zi Teng stood in front of the counter packing snacks, while Shen You was still whispering something to Fang Qi.

Fang Qi readily agreed.

A noise came from the stairs, and the two of them instinctively looked in that direction, then froze in place.

Chu Xiao...

What's he doing here?

The man was dressed in a striking blue outfit today, with a tight belt around his waist, which made him appear even taller and longer-legged.

Those sharp, dark eyes were devoid of any emotion.

Shen You frowned slightly, pursed her lips, and was about to turn around and pretend she didn't see him when Fang Qi stepped forward.

"Lord Duke?" His voice was full of surprise. "I never expected to meet you in this teahouse."

Chu Xiao glanced at Fang Qi, his gaze lingering only on Fang Qi's face for a moment before shifting to Shen You.

His eyes were deep and dark.

Shen You pinched her palm with her fingertips hidden in her sleeve, forcing herself to ignore the gaze that felt so real.

Mu Geng, who was standing next to Chu Xiao, seemed oblivious to the undercurrent between the two and greeted Fang Qi cheerfully, "Uncle Fang, what a coincidence."

He looked at Shen You, then at Fang Qi, and asked, "Do you know Miss Shen?"

Fang Qi turned to look at Shen You, and seeing that she didn't mind him revealing their connection, he said, "I told you before that I returned to Lin'an City to find someone, namely my young lady."

"Your home?" Mu Geng asked, puzzled.

Fang Qi recounted his past as a steward in the General's Mansion, and Mu Geng suddenly understood, his smile becoming even more meaningful. "In that case, our lord and Miss Shen are truly destined to be together."

This time it was Fang Qi's turn to be curious, "Fate?"

Mu Geng cleared his throat. "Uncle Fang, you may not know this, but the day our lord returned to the city, Miss Shen's sachet happened to fall and was picked up by our lord."

It still hasn't been paid back.

When the topic of sachets came up, Shen You's eyes flickered slightly.

She turned around and finally looked at Chu Xiao, reaching out to him again, "I wonder if the Duke will return my sachet today?"

The girl's clear, almond-shaped eyes looked at him, and this was the first time she had looked at him so intently since he came downstairs.

Even without a smile, her whole person seemed to be bathed in a gentle, elegant light.

Chu Xiao's gaze shifted downwards, landing on her fingertips, his intensity undisguised.

Shen You's fingertips trembled slightly. Just as she was about to withdraw her hand, she heard him say, "I didn't bring the sachet with me. Miss Shen, will you come with me back to the Duke's mansion to get it?"

“No need,” Shen You refused without even thinking.

But as soon as the words left his mouth, he regretted them.

The sachet was never retrieved, and there was always a subtle connection between the two of them.

It would be better to simply go back to his residence with him and retrieve it, then there would be no further connection.

Shen You pursed her lips, her eyelashes lowered.

I regret it, but I can't take it back.

The group stood at the junction of the front hall and the back courtyard on the first floor. Fortunately, there weren't many customers in the teahouse today, so they wouldn't block anyone's view.

The sunlight after the rain was exceptionally clear, falling on the girl and casting a beautiful shadow that flashed into the man's deep eyes.

She often purses her lips when she's struggling with something or deep in thought; it's a habitual gesture of hers.

His Adam's apple bobbed slightly as he spoke, "Miss Shen, may I have a word with you in private?"

Shen You suddenly looked up, the words of refusal swirling at his lips, before he changed his mind and said, "Why doesn't Your Excellency just say so?"

Chu Xiao's gaze remained fixed on her, his expression cold and composed. "It's about how to retrieve the sachet."

Sachet...

Shen You felt as if he had been manipulated, yet he was helpless.

She could only nod slowly and walk behind the screen to the side.

Chu Xiao followed behind her, his tall figure almost completely surrounding her.

Wisteria looked over worriedly, but could see nothing but the screen and two figures.

Seeing her like this, Mu Geng smiled and smoothed things over, "Miss, there's no need to worry. My master is the Duke of Zhenguo, and he won't make things difficult for Miss Shen."

Upon hearing this, Zi Teng merely glanced at him before her gaze returned to the screen.

The two figures there, one tall and imposing, the other slender and graceful, were obscured by the screen, their features blurred, but the distinct outlines of the man's ruggedness and the woman's gentleness were crystal clear.

Mu Geng clicked his tongue a few times in his heart, feeling quite emotional.

In this world, only a wonderful person like Miss Shen could create such a pleasing and harmonious pairing with her master.

The two people behind the screen were unaware of what the others on the other side were thinking.

There were only the two of them in this place, as if they were in a small, secluded world.

As soon as Shen You stood still, she felt the man's strong yet cool aura approaching.