Chapter 46: "Calm your mind and concentrate your thoughts"

"Second Young Master? Second Young Master?"

Wen Yu imitated Uncle Song's tone and called Song Linsheng "Second Young Master", which made him speechless.

Seeing Song Linsheng's face flushed and his cheeks glowing at Wen Yu's teasing, his cold, pale face was slightly red, making his own face look bright red.

This is called finding joy in adversity! Wen Yu thought to herself, she really has a good attitude. This is called being resilient despite countless blows, regardless of the winds.

“I…I…”

Song Linsheng spoke with a hint of shyness, and even stuttered, unlike his usual fluent and humorous self.

"I had some business to attend to today, so I left early this morning. This was indeed Linsheng's mistake. I'm sorry to trouble Madam Wenyu to wait here for a while..."

Song Linsheng put his hand on his collar, hesitated for a long time, and after a long time, he said tentatively: "If Madam Wenyu feels cold..."

"Um?"

Wen Yu didn't know what he meant by this, but she hadn't felt anything before, and now that he said that, she felt a chill. She couldn't help but tighten her outer robe.

"You can take this one I'm wearing..." Song Linsheng finished speaking and made a gesture to take off the clothes.

When Wen Yu saw his action, she quickly waved her hands and pressed Song Linsheng's forearm with one hand to stop his hand.

"Why would I need so many clothes from you? You've already given me your outer robe." Wen Yu glanced up at the sky and said, "I'm not cold, don't worry."

Song Linsheng's hand slid down from in front of his body and fell to his side. He covered his face, coughed lightly, and said no more.

Seeing his actions, Wen Yu suddenly remembered something else. Earlier, when she was leaving, she'd seen Xiyan washing his brush in the courtyard sink. She'd also seen Song Linsheng busy all night copying "The Four Don'ts of a Gentleman." Thinking of this, Wen Yu, who wasn't one to keep things to herself, simply asked directly.

"You copied books all night last night. I heard you didn't sleep a wink. How come you're out so early?"

"You... Madam Wenyu, how did you know..."

Song Linsheng asked instead of answering, his face flushed even more. Fortunately, the visibility at the bottom of the foundation pit was not very clear, otherwise Wen Yu would have laughed again if he had seen it.

"When I went out this morning, I met Xiyan in the courtyard."

Wen Yu gathered the strands of hair in front of her with one hand and twisted them around her fingers to play with them. She thought of Song Linsheng's messy calligraphy and couldn't help but feel playful.

"Not only did I encounter the inkstone, I also saw someone writing in their own hand—"

"A gentleman does not act rashly, nor does he speak in vain..."

Wen Yu pretended to think, and asked in confusion, "I don't know who wrote this!"

Song Linsheng curled his fingers slightly and was not in a hurry to answer. According to his guess, Wen Yu would never stop talking here.

Sure enough, before Song Linsheng could speak, Wen Yu's voice was heard again.

"It can't be you, right? Second Young Master?"

Song Linsheng had already guessed most of what she had said, but he showed no anger or shyness at being exposed. He looked calm, and it seemed that the "Four Don'ts of a Gentleman" had brought his cultivation to a higher level.

Song Linsheng's eyes were filled with smiles, and he couldn't help but laugh. He hadn't wanted to let Madam Wenyu know about his copying the book last night. But since she already knew, he didn't need to hide it.

"Reading and writing can calm the mind and allow us to learn from the principles of how our predecessors spoke and acted. Why not do it?"

"Calm down and concentrate? What did the Second Young Master do that requires calm down and concentrate?" Wen Yu asked casually after hearing what he said.

Unexpectedly, it was this seemingly casual question of hers that really stumped Song Linsheng.

What did he...do?

After lighting the lanterns with Madam Wenyu last night and coming down from Houchun Mountain, he forgot about the tiredness and exhaustion from a busy day. He just felt uneasy.

Even when he returned to the Song residence and sent Madam Wenyu back to the gate of Guanwuyuan, the anger in his heart could not be calmed down for some reason.

He couldn't wait to tell Madam Wenyu to return to the courtyard, and then hurried back to his own courtyard, plunged into his study and refused to come out. His heart was in turmoil, and he only wanted to find a moment of peace when he picked up the pen to write.

A gentleman does not act rashly, nor does he speak in vain. This is not just a principle learned from books, but also a principle he follows in his own life, and it is his expectation and requirement for himself.

Perhaps Song Linsheng had to admit that it was not just when the lights were lit in the Wutong Ancestral Temple.

When did it all start? Perhaps it was during that playful dinner at Jiangyang Restaurant, when he and Mu Jingli were arguing with each other. Perhaps it was when he was out on business at Mingyang Shop and had to bring rouge and powder for Madam Wen Yu. Or even worse, perhaps even earlier, perhaps it was that distant sight in the mountains in late spring...

Who can say for sure?

Song Linsheng, your heart has long been unable to be truly calm.

When he went out again, it was already dawn.

He wrote a page of "Four Don'ts of a Gentleman", but he couldn't convince his own heart.

He failed to "calm down and concentrate".

“No, nothing…”

Song Linsheng tried his best to hide his guilt, just wanting to treat it as an ordinary conversation, for fear that Wen Yu would notice the clues.

"I'm just writing when I have nothing to do. If I don't write for a long time, I'll get rusty."

While answering, Song Linsheng took advantage of the sunlight pouring down from above to check Wen Yu's expression, not wanting her to think any more.

But the person who was overthinking it wasn't Wen Yu, but Song Linsheng himself. Wen Yu was just a piece of wood, how could there be so many twists and turns? After hearing Song Linsheng's explanation, she believed it completely and didn't think about it anymore.

"Okay!" Wen Yu muttered, "I won't tease you anymore!"

Wen Yu straightened her face, and her clear and playful voice became calmer, and she spoke to Song Linsheng seriously.

"Since you said you'd have the Double Third Day off, then the Jiangyang government office probably didn't have any official business to attend to. Why did you leave so early this morning?"

Wen Yu didn't believe that Song Linsheng, who had been copying and writing all night, had the leisure to go out on a day when the whole city was resting. Could it be that he came to the Yuanshui River just to enjoy the breeze and see the scenery?

He must have something more urgent to do, which caused him to go out and head straight for the Yuan River without even closing his eyes.

Song Linsheng also put away his previous indifference and frowned, saying, "It's precisely because there is nothing to do in the government office, and all the officials in the government office are on leave."

"I chose this moment to leave the house because it is the perfect time. It will not attract attention and will be convenient for me to move around."

After hearing what he said, Wen Yu's brows suddenly relaxed. So that's how it is?

"Do you think someone is following you?"

Wen Yu quickly figured out the key point and asked in a low voice. As soon as he said that, he remembered that there were only the two of them here, so where would anyone else come from? He was afraid there wouldn't be a single living thing within a ten-mile radius, so Wen Yu couldn't help but raise his voice again.

"It's not without any evidence." Song Linsheng was calm and continued to speak as before.

Wen Yu didn't understand what he meant. How could it not be that? From what she heard from Song Linsheng, it was clear that he felt someone was secretly following him, which was why he chose to go out on a day when the people in the city were recuperating.

Suddenly, Wen Yu thought of something! She widened her eyes, covered her mouth and nose with one hand, and screamed!

"Song Linsheng! The person you're talking about isn't referring to me, is he?"

Before Song Linsheng could reply, Wen Yu immediately defended herself, "I had originally planned to go out today, but it was only when I ran into Xiyan in the courtyard that I realized you were out as well."

"Don't you dare to suspect me! Besides, I asked Xi Yan, but you didn't even tell him where you were going! I have no way of finding out."

Song Linsheng glanced at Wen Yu with a helpless smile and shook his head. Of course, he would not doubt Madam Wen Yu.

"I know this, and Linsheng has never had any doubts about Madam Wenyu."

"It's just that it's hard to say too much without basis, so I didn't explain too much."

Song Linsheng raised his hand, paused in mid-air for a moment, then, as if making a decision, grasped Wen Yu's forearm. He patted her gently, much like how he had treated Xiao Feilian, Shen Chuo's elder sister, when they were children. In fact, the fine, fluffy hair on Wen Yu's forehead did bear a resemblance to Xiao Feilian.

Why was he thinking too far away again? Song Linsheng covered his face with his sleeves and coughed lightly. It seemed that whenever he saw Madam Wen Yu, his thoughts always easily wandered.

"Today, I thought I'd take advantage of the government office's rest period to investigate the situation along the Yuan River. If I were to come here on a normal day, I'd definitely attract attention."

Now that officials and civilians are all staying at home, it is a good time for him to take action.

Song Linsheng sat cross-legged on the ground. The dark surroundings reflected a little light, which was spread on the corner of his frosty robe. The contrast between the two could not hide his luxury.

He looked at Wenyu deeply and asked carefully, "Madam Wenyu, are you bored staying at home? Did you come out for some fresh air?"

"It's all Linsheng's fault. He was so preoccupied with government affairs that he forgot to find something fun for Madam Wenyu to do to pass the time."

Wen Yu bent her knees, wrapped her arms around them, rested her chin on them, and tilted her head casually to the side. Her hair spread out like untied silk, shining softly like the moon. Seeing Song Linsheng so frank and telling her everything, she felt even more conflicted.

Should I tell Song Linsheng about my encounter with Zhi Bai Niangzi yesterday?

Wen Yu didn't hesitate too much. With Song Linsheng's trust, she shouldn't be so hesitant. Wen Yu secretly organized her words in her mind and called out to Song Linsheng.

"I...I met someone yesterday..."

Under Song Linsheng's slightly doubtful gaze, Wen Yu slowly and truthfully told him about her encounter with Zhi Bai Niangzi at Houchun Mountain yesterday, but she cleverly concealed the fact that Zhi Bai Niangzi was the incarnation of Gardenia.

She said it, but she didn't tell the whole truth. Wen Yu didn't know whether this was considered bluffing or not, but it was definitely not being honest.

Wen Yu felt somewhat guilty...