"I'm convinced that I won't marry anyone but you, and everyone in the city knows that. So what's there to be afraid of if I come out with you?"
I won't marry anyone but you?
Good heavens, what kind of love story is this where a devoted woman meets a heartless man?
Yunling immediately widened her eyes to their maximum and perked up her ears; she couldn't miss this juicy gossip.
“Miss Wang, please watch your words. It’s not that I asked you to come with me; it’s that I’ve been trying to stop you from coming with me, but you insisted on coming.”
"Anything is fine, Huai Lang. I have something I want to give you."
Wang Qinghuan shyly took out a sachet from her bosom and handed it to Lu Yinghuai.
“My mother said that when it comes to marriage, we should marry someone of equal social standing. The Lu family is a merchant family, and so is our Wang family. I understand your difficulties and hardships. I will also be considerate of your business trips and the fact that you are not often at home.”
"Aside from being willful in my love for you and my desire to marry you, I am very sensible. I can manage a household, be a good wife and mother, and won't cause you any trouble. So, can you give me a chance, a chance for us to get to know each other again?"
Lu Yinghuai took a step back.
"I'm sorry, Miss Wang is a good person, but matters of love are never just about being good. If you marry someone you don't like and live a life of polite formality, it will be harmful to both of you."
"You just don't like me now, but that doesn't mean you won't in the future."
"We've known each other for fourteen years. If I had ever felt even a fleeting moment of attraction for you during those fourteen years, I would have married you long ago."
Lu Yinghuai's straightforwardness pierced Wang Qinghuan's heart like a sword, causing her immediate heartache and a slight feeling of being unable to breathe, but she still refused to give up.
It's only been fourteen years. They can know each other for fifteen, sixteen, seventeen years. Since she was old enough to understand, she has been able to get whatever she wanted. She can get Lu Jiahuai too.
Wang Qinghuan sniffed, stuffed the sachet into Lu Yinghuai's arms, and ran inside after letting go.
Lu Yinghuai handed the sachet directly to Zifu behind him.
Zi Fu took the sachet and found it to feel strange. It was made of small, grainy things that he didn't know what they were. Curious, he opened the sachet and a strong aroma of Sichuan peppercorns wafted out.
Zi Fu said happily, "My lord, Lady Wang gave you Sichuan peppercorns. She really likes you and wants to have many children with you."
"Don't talk so much, let's go."
Zi Fu tightened the sachet and tucked it into his sleeve, thinking he would throw it away when he got back home to avoid gossip.
"That Miss Wang is indeed very sincere, but she said something wrong. Marriage should be between equals, but the ones who are equals to our young master should be the young ladies of Bianjing. What does the Wang family count for?"
Lu Yinghuai stopped and glanced back at Zifu. Zifu immediately covered her mouth and slunk away to find the carriage.
Yunling quickly lowered the felt curtain and tightened her breathing. Only after the Lu family's carriage left did she lean against the carriage wall to rest.
Those words echoed in her ears again.
"Marriage should be between people of equal social standing."
“The Lu family is a merchant, and so is our Wang family. I understand your difficulties and hardships.”
"But the women who are a good match for our young master should be those young ladies from Bianjing. What does the Wang family amount to?"
If the Wang family is nothing, then what is the Yun family?
Yunling shook her head and didn't hang the felt curtain again. She waited quietly for the guests to leave, listening to the overlapping sounds of carriage wheels until she heard the sound of musical instruments. Only then did she hang the felt curtain. The sky had completely darkened, but her heart was exceptionally clear.
"Thank you all for your hard work today. Please take care, Master."
Taking advantage of the opportunity, Yunling quickly jumped off the carriage and walked forward. Her gaze locked onto the shop owner, and she strode towards him.
"I've met the owner."
The shopkeeper was somewhat taken aback when he saw Yunling; he had never seen a young woman like her before. However, since Yunling had greeted him, he had no intention of ignoring her.
He then held the little orphan zither and curtsied to Yunling.
"Young lady, is something the matter?"
"I have something to ask you. I would like to hire a female musician to play for me. I wonder if the shop owner could do me that?"
"It's probably not very convenient right now. If you're interested, young lady, you can come to our Qinglan Music House tomorrow to discuss it."
Yunling glanced at the young women behind him, each holding a guqin, a pipa, a ruan, a guzheng, a konghou, a yunluo, clappers, and a sheng.
Just looking at it made Yunling feel dazzled. Her musical skills were not deep, so she couldn't pick out a good instrument to match her stage presence. She thought she would find an inn near Qinglan Music Hall to rest first, and then go to the music hall to discuss it again early the next morning.
Just as she was about to ask the shop owner when the shop would open the next day, a voice suddenly rang out from among the group of musicians.
"If you want a musician to play for you, young lady, why not choose me?"
As the man emerged carrying a pipa, Yunling's eyes lit up. She never expected to see the benefactor she had met on her journey to Qimin here.
"Sister~"
Tao Yao, holding her pipa, curtsied to Yun Ling and smiled, "Long time no see."
Because Yunling was acquainted with Taoyao, she was naturally able to use this relationship to stay at Qinglan Music House. As soon as she entered the music house, when the owner lit the candles, a mask that fell off the table startled Yunling.
The shop owner explained with a smile:
"Please don't take offense, young lady. Although we are a music hall, we are not as large or of a higher level as those in Bianjing. Therefore, we often perform variety shows, costumed plays, singing, and calling for fruit. We also often use the transverse flute, the summer flute, and the little zither I was just holding."
Yunling was completely bewildered. What was this "variety show" or "cross-dressing"? She had absolutely no clue. But since she had gotten the cheap accommodation, she had to show some interest to avoid spoiling everyone's fun.
"So that's how it is. But looking at what you're all carrying, each one of them is a rare and precious item. The scale of your music halls is comparable to those in Bianjing. Besides, musical instruments are just an aid, used to add the finishing touch. Personal skill is the real talent."
Yunling's flattering words undoubtedly pleased everyone present, and even the slight prejudice they had against letting her stay at Qinglan Music House disappeared.
The owner was naturally delighted. He had always had an idea to expand the Qinglan Music Hall to its largest size so that it could compete with the music halls in Bianjing. His dream was to become the number one music hall in the world.
Therefore, Yunling's words struck a chord with him, and his attitude towards Yunling became even gentler than before.
"Has the young lady had dinner yet?"
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