Chapter 29

Because of Young Master Yuan’s words, Lu Minghua was lost in thought for several days.

Is it not because she wasn’t good…?

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In the capital.

Lu Yaoqi becoming a disciple of the renowned scholar Wu Zhizhou should have been a joyous event. However, after visiting Wu Zhizhou’s home, he found it unbearable. There were many noble children in the capital. Even a second-branch child of a noble family like the Wen’an Earl’s Mansion was not very noticeable.

Over the years, Wu Zhizhou accepted only truly talented people or those with extraordinary backgrounds. Lu Yaoqi had neither, and he only got in because of his married sister.

Such behavior made people look down on him.

When he first entered the mansion, Wu Zhizhou was still kind. But after testing him and finding his aptitude average, his attitude became slightly cold. Later, his fellow disciples ignored him, not even bothering to respond to his greetings.

Excitedly visiting, only to be met with disdain, Lu Yaoqi returned to the Siyan Courtyard with a stiff face.

Lu Chengsong, who favored this eldest son, immediately called him to the study upon his return. After inquiring and learning what had happened, he became angry.

Feeling resentful but having to suppress it, Lu Chengsong knew that no matter what, Wu Zhizhou was a rare and valuable teacher. He couldn’t get angry; instead, he had to patiently instruct Lu Yaoqi to be respectful and study hard.

Feeling dejected, Lu Yaoqi didn’t really want to excel but knew the consequences of displeasing Lu Chengsong. So he pretended to be diligent, as always, and obediently responded.

Seeing this, Lu Chengsong felt satisfied. After dismissing Lu Yaoqi, he finally lost his temper. He hated being looked down upon the most, and now his son was experiencing the same.

Thinking about the day when Wei Yuntai and Lu Mingxi didn’t show up, not even sending a message, his anger grew. Sitting there with a dark expression, he pondered for a long time. He had many pieces of leverage over Lu Mingxi. He hadn’t used them because she was still useful. If she became useless, he wouldn’t hesitate.

Also, Lu Mingxi had mentioned a missing letter.

Lu Chengsong frowned slightly. If that letter fell into someone else’s hands, the consequences would be unpredictable. But he couldn’t find it, which made him uneasy.

Meanwhile, the carriage from Prince Changping’s mansion slowly left the capital.

On the carriage, Yan Rongchen drank a cup of wine. Thinking about the beauty he was about to meet, a smile appeared on his face.

Lu Chengsong was useless, unable to control even his own daughter, who ended up controlling him instead. He had seen many strong-willed women, but in the end, they all obediently entered his harem.

Lost in his thoughts, Yan Rongchen leisurely drank his wine, feeling that time was passing too slowly. He then loudly urged the driver to go faster.

In the villa, the sound of the pipa echoed. Lu Minghua played a tune and looked up nervously at the woman in front of her.

“Teacher, how did I play?” She hadn’t expected that the teacher Young Master Yuan found for her was the same one who had taught her the pipa at the Earl Mansion years ago. It was such a coincidence.

“How long has it been since you last played the pipa?” Zhan Yuan asked gently, her brows slightly furrowed.

“Since you left, I haven’t touched it,” Lu Minghua replied honestly.

Zhan Yuan’s frown deepened. She had devoted her life to the art of the pipa and had taught countless students. Lu Minghua’s talent was outstanding among them, so she had high expectations for her. She hadn’t expected Lu Minghua to abandon the pipa, and she felt a wave of disappointment.

Her displeasure was too obvious, and Lu Minghua lowered her eyes, feeling anxious.

“What’s this? Miss Zhan and Miss Lu know each other?” Yan Yuanhua spoke up loudly.

Miss Zhan had been invited the previous evening and had rested overnight. This morning, Yan Yuanhua had someone bring Lu Minghua over. After a brief introduction, he sat aside, drinking tea, without speaking. He hadn’t expected Zhan Yuan to be somewhat reproachful. Seeing Lu Minghua’s low spirits annoyed him slightly. Initially, he thought they had gotten along well back then. He might have chosen someone else if he had known it would be like this.

Zhan Yuan returned to her senses, seeing Lu Minghua with her head lowered and eyes downcast, and suddenly remembered the past. The bit of anger in her heart dissipated immediately. This child had not had it easy; why should she be so harsh on her?

After all, it’s not too late to learn again now.

“Yes, I was once hired as a teacher, and Minghua was my student,” Zhan Yuan said, softening her expression and smiling.

“What a coincidence,” Yan Yuanhua laughed.

Hearing this, Zhan Yuan glanced at him. What coincidence!

When this gentleman came to her, she was teaching at someone else’s house and had directly refused. But a few days later, that family inexplicably said they had something to do and terminated the contract. Then, this gentleman’s people came to her. She wasn’t foolish enough to think this was a coincidence.

Lu Minghua, holding her pipa, looked up and smiled at him, thanking him for helping her out earlier. She didn’t blame Zhan Yuan. She understood her former teacher, who was passionate about her craft but lacked some social skills. Even so, it was hard not to feel sad when she was spoken to like that.

Sad about the time she had wasted because of past events.

Yan Yuanhua also smiled, waving his hand slightly to show he didn’t mind.

“Your pipa playing has always had a certain spirit, which is rare. Skills can be practiced. From now on, follow me and study well,” Zhan Yuan said, looking thoughtfully at the two smiling at each other.

“You must not neglect it again,” she emphasized.

“Yes,” Lu Minghua immediately smiled.

Zhan Yuan felt satisfied and smiled as well.

The teacher and student reunited after a long time and exchanged a smile without any resentment.

Yan Yuanhua, sitting aside and feeling out of place, couldn’t help but laugh at his earlier annoyance. He had been meddling unnecessarily.

Feeling a vague sense of loss, Yan Yuanhua didn’t dwell on it. Suddenly, he looked towards the door and saw Zhao Shiyi hurrying over, whispering something.

“Prince Changping has left the city and is heading this way.”

His usually smiling face darkened, and a wave of displeasure crossed his mind. This sudden emotion was extreme, making Yan Yuanhua uncomfortable and causing him to frown slightly.

Zhao Shiyi was also surprised. His lord had always been good-natured, relaxed, and carefree. Even if he disliked something, he only smiled and let it go, ensuring that person never appeared before him again. Why was he getting angry this time?

Unable to understand the reason for his emotions, Yan Yuanhua assumed it was because Prince Changping’s actions were too despicable. He didn’t think further and gave a low command.

Zhao Shiyi was slightly shocked and hesitated, looking at him.

Yan Yuanhua remained calm, smiling at him.

Only then did Zhao Shiyi respond, turning to leave. Moments later, a carrier pigeon flew out from the other courtyard.

In the forest, a few personal guards, bored, followed Prince Changping’s carriage from a distance.

Soon, a snow-white carrier pigeon circled above the forest, cooing. The guards heard it and quickly reached out to catch it. After retrieving the small bamboo tube, they exchanged glances, their eyes lighting up.

They then concealed their tracks and quietly approached Prince Changping’s luxurious carriage.

Inside the carriage, Yan Rongchen drank wine, feeling empty and bored, thinking it would have been better to bring a beauty along. At that moment, one of the horses pulling the carriage suddenly neighed, and another was startled and rushed towards the forest by the roadside.

The guards by the carriage hadn’t yet reacted and rushed forward. The driver pulled hard on the reins, shouting, but couldn’t stop the crazed horses from bolting forward.

“What’s going on—” Yan Rongchen, unprepared, hit his head on the carriage wall. As he tried to hold his dizzy head, the carriage jolted again, throwing him to the ground. His head struck a small table, causing intense pain and warm blood to flow down his face.

“Stop! Stop!” The carriage shook violently, and he couldn’t get up, so he shouted.

After a long while, the guards finally stopped the runaway horses. When they checked inside the carriage, they found Prince Changping was unconscious. Seeing his blood-covered face, the guards were shocked and quickly stopped the bleeding. They didn’t dare go any further and returned to the capital.

“Looks like it’s just a head injury?” A shadow guard frowned.

“No choice, the carriage is too sturdy,” another replied regretfully. If the carriage had been damaged, a minor injury would have been better, and a major one might have thrown him out, giving them peace for a year or so.

As it was, he should recover in about three months.

“It’s fine, there’s always next time.”

Thinking of the women sent to the mountain nunnery, they couldn’t hide their disgust for Prince Changping.

Even if he didn’t like them, he could have taken care of them. The annual cost for a woman was less than what he spent in a brothel. But he threw them into the nunnery. It would have been fine if the nunnery had been well-maintained, but the living conditions were harsh, with a lack of food and clothing, unfit for anyone.

“It can’t always be an accident.”

“Next time, find the right opportunity.”

“Better report to the lord first.”

“Exactly.”

As the whispers faded, they followed the Prince of Changping back to the capital.

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A storm dissipated into nothingness. By the afternoon, when Lu Minghua received the news that Prince Changping had left the capital, she was still on alert. Then she heard he had returned. She immediately felt relieved.

Next door, Yan Yuanhua was somewhat dissatisfied.

“Why didn’t he break his leg?” He put down his military book. If his leg were broken, he wouldn’t have the energy to run around.

Zhao Shiyi glanced at him, wondering what kind of grudge he held.

“My lord, should we withdraw our people from Lu Chengsong’s place?”

They had sent people to prevent Lu Chengsong and Prince Changping from colluding. Now that the latter was dealt with, there was no need for the former. The brothers there had long been impatient.

“Withdraw them?” Yan Yuanhua looked at him.

Zhao Shiyi looked back, unable to understand the deep meaning in his master’s eyes.

Yan Yuanhua looked away, not wanting to see more, and picked up his military book, reading carefully. His earlier action of putting down the book had been a bit heavy, and he wondered if it had been damaged.

“Have the rumors from a while ago been investigated?”

“What was the so-called mistaken marriage about? And the divorce?”

“Nothing has been found out, so why come back?”

Lu Minghua had a gentle nature but a proud spirit. Yan Yuanhua believed she wouldn’t do such things. She had suffered so much, yet no one could help her. Now that he knew, he couldn’t pretend to be ignorant.

Zhao Shiyi’s eyes widened—What did those things have to do with them???

He wanted to say this but swallowed his words, seeing his master didn’t think there was any problem. Maybe his master wanted to help Miss Lu because they had a good relationship.

Having accompanied his master alone until now, Zhao Shiyi, who didn’t have a sweetheart, thought so.

“I understand.” He went to pass on the message.

Only Yan Yuanhua remained in the study. The sound of the pipa next door resumed. Lu Minghua played the pipa, always gentle, softly playing as if whispering, telling something tenderly.

For some reason, he suddenly wondered what Lu Minghua’s expression would be when she was with Wei Yuntai. Was she also gentle and composed, smiling softly?

Feeling inexplicably stuffy, Yan Yuanhua looked at the book in his hand, his eyes unconsciously sharp.

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