Chapter 121: Fortune-telling for the Second Miss Jia, Liu Chujian is Humiliated at the Marquis Mansion

The Marquis Mansion, the pavilion in the back garden.

After Jia Yingchun sat down, she felt a bit shy, and also a bit uneasy and puzzled.

What could this young man have to say to her?

Was it about that matter her father mentioned to her after returning from Jinshan Temple last time?

Thinking of this, her cheeks grew even hotter.

Luo Zijun paused, then suddenly looked to the side and said, "Ziyuan, you go stroll elsewhere for a moment; I have some words I wish to say to Miss Yingchun alone."

Upon hearing this, Ziyuan was startled. She hesitated for a moment, then whispered, "Young Master, please rest assured. I can swear that I will not tell anyone what you say today, not even to the Third Miss."

She glanced elsewhere and said in a low voice, "If I leave, only you and Jia Er Xiaojie will be left here. There are many eyes watching this place right now, and I am afraid..."

Only then did Luo Zijun remember that he had been too preoccupied with his thoughts, forgetting about the differences between men and women and the need to avoid suspicion.

In this era, for a lone man and a lone woman to be together in a pavilion was indeed improper.

Especially since the person before him was the Jia Er Xiaojie, and there were so many onlookers in the surrounding garden.

If a maid were accompanying them, it would be fine.

Otherwise, when the time came, he would have no way to defend himself.

"Ziyuan, you have reminded me. It was my rashness."

He hurriedly apologized to the young lady sitting opposite him: "Miss Yingchun, I meant no offense. I did not think it through just now; I hope you will not mind."

Jia Yingchun lowered her head, her face blushing as she said, "It, it is fine."

Luo Zijun did not hesitate further, looking at the young lady before him, he said: "Miss Yingchun, when I was young, I met a strange person who taught me some knowledge of fortune-telling. The first time I saw you, I felt..."

Jia Yingchun hurriedly raised her head and asked timidly, "Felt what?"

Luo Zijun looked at her timid gaze and said, "I felt that your future destiny, I fear, is not very good. If I may be so bold, you will very likely not live past the age of seventeen."

He remembered very clearly that when Jia Yingchun was abused to death by Sun Shaozu, she was only in the flower of her youth, just sixteen or seventeen years old.

As soon as these words were spoken, Ziyuan's expression changed slightly.

She wanted to remind the Young Master not to speak recklessly; if someone heard this, she feared a great disaster would befall them.

People would say the Young Master was cursing this Jia Er Xiaojie.

But looking at her Young Master's solemn expression, she held back and did not dare to speak, only raising her head to look around, hoping no one had heard.

Jia Yingchun was stunned upon hearing this, blinking her eyes in confusion: "Why is that?"

Luo Zijun was silent for a moment, then said, "Since it is fortune-telling, it is naturally based on certain circumstances and deductions."

To make his words more convincing, he added: "You appear gentle and kind, but you are too cowardly and timid. When you encounter trouble, you dare not argue; when you are wronged, you can only endure it silently. Even when maids and servants bully you, you cannot bear to discipline them. When dealing with others, even if the other party is wrong, you cannot bear to point it out, fearing to hurt them or fearing they will argue with you. You have always swallowed your pride when facing trouble, never daring to speak up or seek help. Every time, you hide away and cry quietly, and after a few days, you are fine again. It repeats like this; you become more timid, and more and more people dare to bully you..."

Jia Yingchun's eyes widened as she listened to him finish.

Luo Zijun said, "If you think I learned this by asking Miss Qingtong, you are welcome to go and ask her."

Ziyuan, standing to the side, hurriedly said, "I can testify that my mistress has never told the Young Master about Miss Yingchun. Even my mistress does not know these things."

Luo Zijun continued, "The people around you often steal your jewelry and your money, and even though you know it, you dare not say anything, fearing they will be punished. Your father once lost an item and thought it was stolen by you and your maid; he misunderstood you, and you did not dare to defend yourself. Your father beat that maid and drove her out of the mansion, and you only cried, not daring to say anything or plead for her..."

He did not continue.

Because the young lady before him had begun to tremble all over, her eyes filled with tears, staring at him in disbelief.

Ziyuan, standing to the side, also wore an expression of utter disbelief.

Luo Zijun said, "Miss Yingchun, that is all I can tell for now. Furthermore, your future destiny—which is actually your marriage—I feel may not be very good."

"Mar... marriage?"

Jia Yingchun stared at him blankly.

Luo Zijun did not dare to be too definitive, fearing the story was not as he imagined. He thought for a moment and said, "I have two poems here to give to you; I hope you can keep them in your heart."

Jia Yingchun nodded and hurriedly listened attentively.

Luo Zijun glanced at her and recited the first poem.

"The son is a wolf from Zhongshan, rampant once he gets his way. A flower-and-willow nature in the golden chamber, in one year, the yellow millet dream is gone."

Jia Yingchun's gaze trembled as she carefully memorized it, murmuring the last two lines to herself: "A flower-and-willow nature in the golden chamber, in one year, the yellow millet dream is gone..."

Luo Zijun sighed inwardly; to be beaten and abused to death after only a year of marriage was indeed a "yellow millet dream" that vanished in a year.

He then recited the second poem.

"Seeing the moon, the cold lamp shines on a weeping face,

The Sun branches wither away, leaving only a barren mountain.

Unbearable to look back, where is the person now?

The marriage dream turns to emptiness, the soul returns."

Jia Yingchun was lost in a daze, still murmuring the last line: "The marriage dream turns to emptiness, the soul returns..."

Luo Zijun offered no further explanation.

After a moment of hesitation, he still advised: "In the future, if you encounter unfair treatment, you can argue your case. If that fails, go to the Old Madam and cry. Blindly swallowing your pride and cowardly retreating will only harm yourself. Do not fear losing face, and do not fear others thinking you are making a scene or damaging your image as a young lady. For matters like your lifelong happiness, you must never settle, never let others control it. You must fight for it, even if you have to risk your life to do so."

Seeing his earnest words and his face full of sincerity and concern, a warm current surged in Jia Yingchun's heart. Her eyes reddened, and tears blurred her vision.

In that vast mansion, who had ever spoken such heartfelt words to her?

"Thank you... thank you, Young Master Luo. Yingchun... Yingchun understands."

She lowered her head, her heart fluttering, and suddenly felt an inexplicable reliance and trust toward the young man before her.

Luo Zijun suddenly asked again, "By the way, Miss Yingchun, has Jia Rong, the Young Master of your Ningguo Mansion, married yet?"

Jia Yingchun was startled by the question, then shook her head: "Not yet."

Luo Zijun thought to himself: As expected, some things here have changed.

"Then is he betrothed?"

He asked again.

Jia Yingchun shook her head again: "No."

Although she felt puzzled in her heart as to why the youth before her would ask about this matter, she was too timid to dare to ask, thinking to herself: If he wanted to say it, he would say it himself; if he didn't want to say it, and I were to ask, it would put him in a difficult position.

Luo Zijun nodded. Seeing that she did not inquire, he did not need to make up an explanation. He paused and added: "I hope that after you return, you will not mention these words I said to you today to anyone."

Jia Yingchun hurriedly said: "Young Master Luo, please rest assured, I... I will not tell anyone."

Luo Zijun thought for a moment. Thinking of how this young girl was called "the wooden block" and was rather slow, he feared she might not be able to explain those two poems, so he had to say: "Those two poems can be told to others; just say you heard them from someone else outside... Never mind. Tanchun and those maids and nannies of yours all know you came out to see me, so this matter is not easy to hide. You should just say those two poems were composed by me off the cuff; as for other matters, you must absolutely not say too much."

Jia Yingchun nodded very submissively and said in a low voice: "I will only tell one person, and not tell anyone else."

Luo Zijun was curious: "Who does the young lady want to tell?"

A gentle smile appeared in Jia Yingchun's eyes, and she said in a low voice: "My cousin, Daiyu. She... she is a very good person, and she understands all kinds of poetry; she is truly amazing."

Luo Zijun was startled. Lin Daiyu?

If it were that Lin Guniang, she should be able to understand those two poems.

Indeed, that Lin Guniang was quite good to this Second Miss; she had once helped her discipline the servants and encouraged her to stand up for herself.

Luo Zijun nodded: "That is fine."

Jia Yingchun looked at him again, bit her lip, gathered her courage, and said softly: "Young Master Luo, why... why are you so good to me?"

The two had only met twice, and upon meeting this time, the other party had said so many heartfelt words to her; naturally, she felt both moved and puzzled.

Hearing this, Luo Zijun paused. Before he could answer, she hurriedly waved her hand and said: "Young Master Luo, no need to say it, I... I won't ask anymore."

She was still afraid of putting him in a difficult position.

Luo Zijun had no choice but to say: "I feel that you are a good person, and good people should be rewarded. Since I have seen that there is a calamity in your fate, I naturally had to boldly tell you. I only hope you do not think I am being rash or intrusive."

Jia Yingchun looked at him with sincere eyes and said: "Young Master Luo is so frank and concerned for me, I am too grateful to even express it; how could I think you are rash or intrusive? Also, you are a good person too, and good people will surely be rewarded."

Luo Zijun nodded: "Yes, good people will surely be rewarded."

He sighed inwardly, hoping that the tragedy of the Twelve Beauties in Dream of the Red Chamber would not happen again in this world.

At this moment, he suddenly felt he should do something.

That wisp of soul from back then had gone to another world and returned with the mission of saving the White Snake and avoiding tragedy; he had been working hard all along.

Now, so many impending tragedies had suddenly appeared before his eyes.

Was it a coincidence, or did that Master of the Moon Palace want him to do something?

No mission appeared.

He could completely ignore it.

But if he could prevent these tragedies, why not help?

He had already decided to help his childhood sweetheart Qin Keqing, and now, having warned this Second Miss of the Jia Family, it meant he had already begun to take action to stop these tragedies.

As for the others?

If he met them, and if he still had the ability, he could help them too.

To have no tragedy in this world, or to reduce the tragedies in this world—even if he could only reduce one, it would be wonderful and fulfilling, wouldn't it?

Good people will surely be rewarded.

Let's hope so.

At this time, Jia Tanchun and Bai Qingtong returned with the maids and nannies.

Jia Tanchun looked at the two sitting opposite each other in the pavilion in silence, couldn't help but chuckle, and said: "What's wrong? Just the two of you, and you don't dare to speak?"

Jia Yingchun hurriedly stood up, blushing and keeping her head down, stealing a glance at the youth opposite her, and said in a low voice: "No, we didn't not dare."

Luo Zijun had also risen and joked: "Yingchun Guniang is a bit shy, and I am also a bit shy, so we both just sat there closing our eyes to rest, wandering in our thoughts, waiting for the two young ladies to return."

"Pfft..."

Jia Tanchun and Bai Qingtong both couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Jia Tanchun looked disbelieving, raised her eyebrows, and smiled: "Young Master Luo gets shy too? I don't believe it."

Luo Zijun said: "As long as a person has a face, they will be shy. Unless they are shameless. Is Tanchun Guniang beating around the bush to scold me?"

Jia Tanchun smiled and said: "I wouldn't dare. You, the great talent Luo, have unparalleled literary talent and peerless poetry. If you got angry and wrote a poem to slander me, wouldn't I be infamous in history, being scolded by people every day?"

Luo Zijun said: "Tanchun Guniang thinks too highly of me. In that Begonia Poetry Society collection, the poems by Third Miss are the ones that are truly peerless in talent. My poems, in front of Tanchun Guniang, are like fireflies compared to the bright moon, dim and eclipsed."

The two complimented each other like this, making Bai Qingtong, who was on the side, laugh continuously.

Jia Yingchun, beside them, also covered her mouth and laughed.

Jia Tanchun's eyes brightened, and she said: "Has Young Master Luo already read the Begonia Poetry Society collection? Which volume is it? Did you see those three poems of yours?"

Luo Zijun nodded: "I saw them."

Jia Tanchun immediately said: "Then, Peach Blossom Young Master, would you be willing to join our Begonia Poetry Society?"

Jia Yingchun, beside them, only then reacted and said in surprise: "Tanchun, that... that Peach Blossom Young Master is... is Young Master Luo?"

Jia Tanchun turned her head and looked at her with a smile: "Yes, it's him. I forgot to tell you. How about it? Do you think Young Master Luo is even more talented now?"

Seeing her ambiguous gaze, Jia Yingchun knew what she was teasing her about; her cheeks turned red, and she lowered her head without speaking.

Jia Tanchun didn't tease her further, but looked at the youth in front of her and smiled: "If Young Master Luo joins our Begonia Poetry Society, the money from selling books in the future can be split equally. You only need to write two poems a month; even if you can't write them, it doesn't matter, there is no mandatory requirement."

Luo Zijun cupped his hands and said: "Many thanks for Tanchun Guniang's favor, but I actually don't like writing poetry, nor am I used to joining any poetry societies or groups."

Seeing him refuse, Jia Tanchun didn't force him, and smiled: "Then whenever Young Master Luo changes his mind, you can tell me anything."

At this time, someone over there was calling their names again.

Jia Tanchun smiled and said goodbye: "Young Master Luo, in a few days, someone in our Rongguo Mansion will be having a birthday. At that time, we will invite Young Master Luo and Qingtong to come over. I hope Young Master Luo will do us the honor."

After speaking, she left with Yingchun and a group of maids and nannies.

Bai Qingtong also said goodbye: "Sir, please rest here for now. Later, a maid will come to take you to the banquet. Qingtong still needs to go see other guests, so I won't keep you company."

Luo Zijun said: "Third Miss, please don't be so formal, go ahead."

Bai Qingtong smiled and left with the maids and nannies.

The pavilion suddenly fell silent.

As Luo Zijun watched the group walk away, lost in thought, Ziyuan whispered from the side, "Young Master, in this servant's view, that Young Lady Tanchun seems to have the intention of playing matchmaker between you and that Young Lady Yingchun."

Luo Zijun drank a cup of tea and asked, "Do you think that, given my current situation, I am a suitable match for that Young Lady Yingchun?"

Ziyuan paused for a moment and said, "It is indeed somewhat unsuitable."

Luo Zijun said, "I am currently penniless and have no house of my own; how could I dare to climb the social ladder? The reason that head of the Jia Family disregards the opinions of others and the reputation and happiness of his own daughter to arbitrarily arrange this marriage is not because I am particularly outstanding, but because he has other motives. Naturally, I will not agree."

Ziyuan said, "But, Young Lady Tanchun seems to also..."

Luo Zijun pondered for a moment and said, "I suspect that Young Lady Tanchun has also realized that the head of the Jia Family does not treat Young Lady Yingchun as his own flesh and blood and would sell her off at any time. Rather than her being sold to some bad people later, it would be better for her to be sold to me."

Ziyuan looked at him and said, "But this servant could just see that Young Lady Yingchun seems to have some feelings for you, Young Master. This servant feels that Young Lady Tanchun must have noticed this too, which is why she wants to fulfill Young Lady Yingchun's wishes."

Luo Zijun glanced at the figure in the distance and said, "Let's not talk about this. I have no plans to marry right now, and even if I were to marry... I would absolutely not choose a girl from the Jia Family."

Ziyuan was a bit puzzled: "Why is that? The Jia Family are meritorious nobles, and now the eldest daughter of the Jia Family has even become an Imperial Concubine."

Luo Zijun did not answer, only saying, "Let's head back early after we finish eating."

Ziyuan said, "Yes, I will listen to you, Young Master."

The sun soon set.

Before the night had fully descended, colorful lanterns had already been hung in the Bowang Marquis mansion, illuminating the entire estate in brilliance.

The evening banquet finally began.

Luo Zijun and Ziyuan, led by a maid, went to the front courtyard and sat down at a table.

At this time, several more young men and women wearing Confucian robes were brought over by maids.

Upon meeting, both sides cupped their hands and exchanged pleasantries.

"So it is Young Master Luo, where are you currently employed?"

As the few young men and women sat down, one youth with slick, shiny hair asked with a smile.

Luo Zijun said, "I am currently working as a tutor at the Anguo Mansion."

"Anguo Mansion?"

Once these words were spoken, the others were all stunned, then immediately began talking with smiles on their faces.

"Being able to work as a tutor at the Anguo Mansion is no simple feat."

"Young Master Luo is so young, have you not entered an Academy to study? Have you thought about the imperial examinations?"

"Studying at the West Lake Academy in the Outer City? Tsk tsk, that West Lake Academy is the best academy in the Outer City; not bad, not bad."

"We are all studying at the Chenxiao Academy in the Inner City. If Brother Luo has time, you can come and visit. Anyone can enter our academy; even if one is not a scholar, it is allowed."

These few young students were all quite enthusiastic.

Luo Zijun also responded politely.

At this moment, someone came out from the house and stood on the corridor to deliver a speech, expressing words of gratitude.

At the same time, joyous music began to play.

Servants began to serve wine and dishes.

In the open space in the middle of the courtyard, a temporary high platform had been erected, and singing and dancing performances began on it, visible to guests both inside and outside the house.

After the singing and dancing performance ended, several heavily made-up actors took the stage and began to perform opera.

The first play was "Nanguo Tour". Many guests watched and applauded in approval.

After two plays were finished, at the height of the lively drinking, the Bowang Marquis and his wife, accompanied by their Young Lady, walked onto the stage to personally thank the guests filling the seats.

Then, the Young Lady of the Marquis mansion, Wan Qianzi, who was today's little birthday star, stepped forward gracefully and spoke personally with a smile, expressing gratitude, thanks, and so on.

Both inside and outside the house, the guests hurriedly stood up, applauding and cheering.

Finally, Wan Qianzi suddenly smiled and said: "By the way, today I have also invited a good friend, whom I believe many of the guests present know, or have at least heard of. She is not only my good friend but also a very famous master of the guqin in our Lin'an City. To thank all the distinguished guests for coming to our humble mansion today to celebrate my birthday, she is willing to come on stage later and play a piece for everyone."

Once these words were spoken, everyone began to speculate.

"A guqin master? Someone we all know?"

"Since she is a friend of Young Lady Wan, she must be a woman."

"Could it be..."

Wan Qianzi did not keep them in suspense any longer and smiled: "Her name is Liu Chujian, and she is the Young Lady of Minister Liu. During the palace banquet, the Empress Dowager specifically requested her to play the qin. I believe everyone has long heard of her skill with the qin."

!

Upon hearing this, everyone immediately remembered who it was.

"So it is that Young Lady of Minister Liu. At the palace banquet back then, the Empress Dowager even personally invited her to speak; I heard she was very fond of her."

"Hasn't that Minister Liu already..."

"The man was released some time ago, and I heard he has returned to the Liu Mansion now... but I heard his family owes quite a lot of debt..."

"No wonder, a few days ago, I went to a banquet at the home of the Marquis of Guanyang, and this Young Lady Liu was also there playing the qin; I heard it was to earn money..."

"This Young Lady Liu's skill with the qin is indeed quite good; I have heard people mention it."

"You don't know, when the Liu Mansion was raided back then, this Young Lady Liu seemed to have fallen into the dust of the world; I heard she was at a Brothel in the Outer City..."

Both inside and outside the house, everyone was whispering and discussing.

Luo Zijun sat in the courtyard, listening to the discussions of the people around him, his gaze fixed on the stage, with no other expression visible on his face.

The few young students at the table were also whispering among themselves.

"I heard it too; after that Young Lady Liu's home was raided, she went to a Brothel in the Outer City. Tsk tsk, I heard she was very famous in the Brothel; many guests would look for her first thing upon entering..."

"I heard she only went to the Brothel to play the qin and sell her art..."

"Hehe, how is that possible? Once you enter that place, it's impossible to remain innocent. When her home was raided back then, she couldn't even afford to eat; since she entered that place, would she still care about innocence? I reckon the number of people she has served is at least in the hundreds, if not thousands."

"Tsk tsk, I heard about it in the Inner City back then too, but it's a pity I didn't go for a visit. That was the official Young Lady of a Minister's house; how proud and noble she was in her mansion back then. I reckon once she went there... hehe, just thinking about it is... ah!"

Who would have thought that at this very moment, the thin, small youth who was speaking with a lewd expression suddenly had the stool beneath his buttocks collapse with a "crack", and he fell, landing on his bottom on the ground.

The few people nearby were stunned, and just as they were about to burst into laughter, they saw him suddenly let out a miserable shriek, jump up from the ground, and reach back to touch his buttocks, where a sharp chopstick was actually stuck.

"Ah—"

He immediately let out a terrified and shrill howl, hopping on the spot while clutching his buttocks, his mouth wide open as he wailed in agony.

The other guests all around were startled.

The servants and maids of the Marquis's estate hurried over to check the situation.

"My buttocks! My buttocks..."

With this howling, the voice speaking on the stage also stopped.

Wan Qianzi furrowed her brows.

"That person's buttocks seem to have been pierced by a chopstick..."

The other guests around saw this scene and were immediately drenched in a cold sweat.

"Take him out! Take him out quickly!"

Seeing this, the steward of the Marquis's estate hurriedly ordered the estate's guards and servants to carry the hopping, howling young man out.

Several other students saw this and also hurriedly put down their chopsticks and followed them out.

As the cries faded into the distance, the courtyard quieted down for a moment before returning to its lively state.

"A minor accident, everyone need not worry."

Bowang Marquis said on the stage with a face full of smiles.

The guests stopped discussing it and turned their gazes back to the stage.

A smile reappeared on Wan Qianzi's face as she continued, "I believe there is no need for me to say much about Liu's zither skills, as everyone has long heard of them. Now, I invite her to the stage to play a piece for everyone; let us give her a round of applause!"

After speaking, she was the first to applaud.

The crowd below the stage also clapped enthusiastically, but many people's gazes carried disdain or the expression of watching a spectacle.

It is said that good deeds do not leave the house, while bad deeds spread a thousand miles.

The past experiences of that Liu had been discussed by many just moments ago and had quickly spread throughout the inside and outside of the house, so at this moment, the gazes of the crowd carried, more or less, some other implications.

"Liu, come up quickly."

Wan Qianzi said with a smile toward the backstage, then personally went over to welcome her.

A slender figure wearing a pink dress and a veil, holding an ancient zither in her arms, walked onto the stage with her head lowered.

When she reached Wan Qianzi's side, she said in a low voice, "Qianzi, wasn't it said that I would only be performing in the room's partition? Why..."

Wan Qianzi smiled and said, "Liu, it is so lively tonight, and everyone has come to celebrate for me. If you only perform in the room's partition, who would know it is you? Everyone wouldn't be able to enjoy it to the fullest either. If you perform on this stage, everyone can see you and hear you clearly, and it can add quite a bit of interest to my birthday banquet."

Liu Chujian felt the many gazes from below the stage and said with her head lowered, "I... I am afraid..."

"Afraid of what? You know many of them. Even if you don't know them, you have heard of them."

Wan Qianzi comforted her with a smile, personally took the ancient zither from her arms, went over and placed it on the table the Young Maid had already prepared, and then went over to steady the chair and said with a smile, "Liu, come over and sit down quickly; everyone is waiting to appreciate your marvelous zither music."

Seeing that things had reached this point, Liu Chujian had no choice but to walk over with her head lowered, first offering a graceful bow to the crowd below before preparing to sit down and play the zither.

At this moment, Wan Qianzi suddenly pulled her back and said with a smile, "Liu, you should at least say a few words to everyone. You are my good friend and a master of the ancient zither; if you introduce yourself first and then say a few congratulatory words to me, I will also have a lot of face."

Liu Chujian hesitated: "This..."

Wan Qianzi suddenly looked at the veil on her face again and said with a face full of smiles, "Right, the veil on your face must also be taken off. There are no outsiders here, just the relatives and friends of my Marquis's estate; many of them you have known before, so why wear a veil? It's not like people don't know who you are."

Liu Chujian's expression changed slightly, and she looked at her.

Wan Qianzi smiled and said, "Liu, why are you looking at me? Hurry and take off the veil, walk forward, and say a few words to everyone; everyone is waiting."

Liu Chujian remained standing in place, unmoving.

Wan Qianzi asked in confusion, "What is it? Shy? Embarrassed?"

She then smiled and said, "You are the Young Lady of Minister Liu's household, and you once performed in the palace; are you afraid of even this small scene? Although your family has had some trouble and you once fell into a Brothel, surely the courage of a Young Lady hasn't disappeared along with it, has it?"

The lively crowd below the stage suddenly fell silent.

Only now did the crowd realize that this matter seemed somewhat complicated.

"Qianzi..."

At this moment, Bowang Marquis, Wan Zhuo, furrowed his brows and was about to reprimand her.

Wan Qianzi smiled at him and said, "Father, it's fine. Liu is my good friend and won't be angry. I haven't said anything untrue; aren't these all facts? I am just advising Liu not to think too much and not to be afraid. Even if her family had trouble, and even if she previously fell into a Brothel, everyone won't mind; after all, it wasn't her fault. She is just a pitiful young girl, helpless in her situation. I also want everyone to show her more concern so that in the future, when she wants to earn money by playing the zither, everyone will think of her first."

Once these words were spoken, the entire courtyard fell silent.

The young girl standing before her did not say a word, silently went over to pick up her zither, and prepared to leave.

Wan Qianzi suddenly grabbed her and blocked her path, saying with a face full of smiles, "Liu, what are you doing? Didn't we say you would play the zither to congratulate me? We are friends; you wouldn't go back on your word, would you?"

Tears suddenly welled up in Liu Chujian's eyes, but her tone was calm and cold as she said, "We are not friends."

"Not friends?"

Wan Qianzi suddenly smiled and said, "You were friends before; how are you suddenly not friends anymore? But it doesn't matter. If we aren't friends, then I won't force it. However, since you have come tonight and I have already told everyone, you must sit down and play the zither for them. Don't worry, I will give you double the pay you would get for playing elsewhere tonight—no, triple."

Liu Chujian, with tears in her eyes, looked at her again and prepared to walk around her to leave.

Wan Qianzi, however, continued to shift her steps to block her path and smiled, "I said, you must sit down and play the zither for everyone tonight. I, Wan Qianzi, keep my word; since I have already said it to everyone in public, I will certainly keep my promise. Liu Chujian, you may want to give up on yourself, wallow in degradation, and be someone who breaks their word, but I do not. After all, I am still the Young Lady of the Marquis's estate."

"Let my Young Lady down! Do not bully my Young Lady!"

Below the stage, a Young Maid suddenly cried out and tried to rush up, but she was held down by several matrons, who stuffed her mouth.

Wan Qianzi smiled and instructed those matrons, "Drag her to the back and slap her mouth until Liu finishes playing the zither for everyone."

"Yes, Young Lady!"

Those matrons answered, and just as they were about to drag the Young Maid away, Liu Chujian suddenly spoke up: "Let her go, I... I will play the zither."

Wan Qianzi was all smiles: "First take off the veil on your face, then walk to the very front and say a few words to everyone."

Liu Chujian was silent for a moment, then raised her hand, preparing to take off the veil on her face.

At this moment, a voice suddenly came from below the stage: "Liu, if a mad dog is barking wildly at you, forbearance is useless; you should raise your fist and smash its mouth to pieces."

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone looked on in astonishment.

Liu Chujian's body also gave a jolt, and she turned around.

A figure suddenly walked onto the stage, continuing to say, "This is the Marquis's Mansion. Tonight's guests are all prominent figures of the imperial court, and they are all watching with wide eyes. Do you really think that mad dog would dare to bite you?"

A youth wearing a Confucian robe walked up to her, then took hold of her cold, trembling little hand.

The smile finally vanished from Wan Qianzi's face, and she said with a cold expression, "Who are you?"

Luo Zijun looked at her and said, "Just an insignificant scholar. Young Lady Wan, you are the Young Lady of the Marquis's Mansion, and today is your birthday banquet. With so many people watching under the stage, yet you act like a mad dog that has lost its reason—don't you think that is very shameful?"

He looked again at the Bowang Marquis and his wife: "Marquis, don't you find it shameful?"

Bowang Marquis Wan Zhuo looked at him with a gloomy face and did not speak.

The scene fell silent for a moment.

Luo Zijun looked at the young girl beside him and said softly, "Let's go, we are going home."

With one hand he pulled the young girl beside him, and with the other he held her guqin, walking toward the bottom of the stage.

Liu Chujian's eyes were suddenly filled with tears, and she looked at him through a teary haze.

At this moment, Wan Qianzi suddenly gritted her teeth and shouted angrily, "Who allowed you to leave? Someone! Stop them for me!"

Those guards and nannies immediately blocked the way under the stage.

Luo Zijun stopped his steps, turned his head to look at her, and said, "What, Young Lady Wan, is your Marquis's Mansion a place where one can only enter but not leave? Even in the Royal Palace, as long as one has not committed a crime, one can leave. Could it be that your Marquis's Mansion is even more formidable than the Royal Palace? Is your status as the Young Lady of the Marquis's Mansion more powerful and overbearing than the King and the Empress Dowager?"

Once these words were spoken, everyone's expression changed.

Wan Qianzi gritted her teeth and was about to speak when Luo Zijun looked at the man and woman behind her and said, "Young Lady Wan is young and does not understand the laws of our Daliang, so that may be forgiven, but do the Marquis and the Marchioness not understand either? There must be many distinguished guests here tonight who have the right to submit memorials to the King, right?"

"You..."

Wan Qianzi was about to speak when the man behind her suddenly shouted angrily, "Qianzi, hold your tongue!"

Immediately, Wan Zhuo looked at the youth before him with a gloomy face and said, "Who did you come with?"

The area under the stage was quiet for an instant.

Everyone saw the hidden anger and hatred in the Marquis's eyes and all became as silent as cicadas in winter.

But at this moment, two voices suddenly sounded from the corridor at the same time: "Young Master Luo came with me."

Everyone immediately turned their heads to look.

Wan Zhuo's gaze also looked over, and his pupils suddenly shrank.

Bai Qingtong and Jia Tanchun walked out from under the eaves together.

Bai Qingtong came to the front and bowed toward the stage, saying, "Uncle Wan, he is Qingtong's friend and also Qingtong's teacher; he currently resides at the Anguo Mansion."

Jia Tanchun also bowed and said, "Uncle Wan, he is also Tanchun's friend, and the son-in-law my uncle has taken a fancy to."

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone was shocked.

Residing at the Anguo Mansion, a friend and teacher of the Bai Family Young Lady? A friend of the Jia Family Young Lady? The son-in-law taken a fancy to by the Jia Family's eldest master?

Any one of these things brought out would not allow anyone to look down on him, let alone all four!

Wan Qianzi's expression also changed; she opened her mouth as if wanting to say something, but did not let it out.

The muscles at the corners of Wan Zhuo's eyes twitched a few times, and the expression in his eyes shifted as he said, "Two nieces, this old man does not seem to have met this Young Master Luo."

Bai Qingtong said, "Today is Qianzi's birthday banquet, so Qingtong felt there was no need to introduce him."

She then added, "Uncle Wan, what Qianzi did tonight was indeed a bit excessive; you probably didn't know beforehand, right?"

The muscles at the corners of Wan Zhuo's eyes twitched a few more times; he suddenly sighed and gave a bitter smile, saying, "Naturally, I did not know. If I had known, how could I have allowed her to be so rude?"

Bai Qingtong did not speak again.

Some things did not need to be said; everyone knew them.

Wan Zhuo suddenly looked at the guards and nannies under the stage and shouted, "All of you, withdraw!"

Those guards and nannies immediately stepped back.

"Father, he just scolded me! I..."

Wan Qianzi was unwilling and was about to speak when Wan Zhuo suddenly turned around and, with a "slap," struck her face hard.

Wan Qianzi's head swayed, and she fell to the ground.

Her mother stood to the side, reached out a hand, but did not dare to help her up.

Wan Zhuo looked at his daughter with a fierce and gloomy face and said, "Dare to say one more word, and I will smash your mouth!"

Wan Qianzi lay on the ground, covering her bleeding mouth; her face turned deathly pale, and she did not dare to make another sound.

Wan Zhuo bowed toward the bottom of the stage and sighed at length, "This Marquis has failed to discipline his daughter; today I have let everyone see a joke. Sigh..."

The guests looked at each other, then hurriedly stepped forward to offer words of consolation.

"Your esteemed daughter is still young; she will be better when she grows up..."

"Marquis, there is no need to blame yourself too much; just instruct her more in the future..."

Luo Zijun glanced at the faces of these people, silently took the hand of the young girl beside him, walked down the stage, and handed the guqin in his arms to Bi'er, who was wiping away tears under the stage.

The three of them walked together toward the outside of the courtyard.

The others acted as if they did not see him, yet it seemed they were all stealing glances at them.

Wan Zhuo also glanced over but did not speak again; he only said to Bai Qingtong and Jia Tanchun, "Two nieces, go inside and eat; in a while, this old man will personally come over to apologize to you."

"Uncle Wan, you are too kind; there is no need for apologies. Today is Qianzi's birthday banquet; let us just let this matter pass with a smile."

Bai Qingtong said with a smile on her face.

Wan Qianzi, who was lying on the stage with blood flowing from the corner of her mouth, looked toward the three figures walking out of the gate.

Outside the gate.

Just as they left the mansion, Liu Chujian's body went limp, and she collapsed into Luo Zijun's arms.

Luo Zijun hurriedly picked up her delicate, soft body and walked toward the end of the alley.

Bi'er held the guqin, chasing after her while crying, "Young Miss, what is wrong? Please don't scare this servant..."

Liu Chujian lay in the young man's embrace, tears brimming in her eyes, looking up with her beautiful and pale cheeks, her eyes filled with tears as she gazed at the delicate and handsome face before her, whispering, "I am fine... it is just, just that I am tired..."

At this moment, she no longer had any reservations, wrapping her arms tightly around the young man before her, never wanting to let go again.

(End of chapter)