The arrival was ominous!
Four large characters rolled through the mind, sounding the alarm!
Though inwardly guarded to the extreme, there was no hint of reluctance in the smile on the face, responding calmly, "Very well, no problem. It's just that the silver from Mr. Gu is too heavy. I'll have to calculate how much wine there is and then send it over to Mr. Gu."
Shen Tang's words were purely a delaying tactic.
To delay for a moment is to gain a moment.
Inwardly she thought, If only I had known I would encounter this person outside, it would have been better to stay home and grow mold, how unfortunate!
But Mr. Gu proved to be adept at counteracting her moves.
Casually pinching his knuckles, he mentally calculated the exact amount of wine needed within two breaths, leaving Shen Tang's plan completely thwarted. He seemed not to notice the gradual downturn of Shen Tang's mouth, continuing, "I've heard that Lord Shen can transmute wine with words, extraordinary skill indeed. I, too, am a lover of fine wine and have already prepared a set of wine and vessels at the Yueling Pavilion early this morning. You can simply go there yourself without any further preparation."
Shen Tang: "..."
This time she didn't consciously suppress her inner turmoil.
Her face smiled gently and politely, while her inner self cursed loudly.
[Damn it!]
She believed Mr. Gu would surely receive her friendly signal.
But to her surprise, Mr. Gu's expression remained unchanged, not even a flicker in his brows or eyes. Shen Tang felt as if she had punched cotton. He had probed to this extent; any further attempt to evade or delay would undoubtedly give him leverage.
Shen Tang smiled and said, "So be it."
At the same time, she silently recited the language art taught by Chu Yao: "People's hearts are separated by their skins." Whether it had any effect or not was hard to judge, given Mr. Gu's masterful control of expression and his naturally sickly appearance. Shen Tang had no choice but to counter his moves. If this didn't work...
She secretly glanced at Mr. Gu's neck.
His neck was slender, and faint blue veins were visible.
Perhaps due to prolonged illness, Mr. Gu seemed to lack flesh. Coupled with his height of just over six feet, he looked quite thin, reminiscent of the wandering dragons seen in pharmacies. Most people would look emaciated at this level of thinness, but he somehow managed to exude a unique charm.
Such a clean and beautiful neck, wouldn't it be easy to cut with a single sword?
Shen Tang smiled, "I will accompany you, sir."
Mr. Gu replied softly, "No problem."
As the two walked side by side, their thoughts diverged.
It was Mr. Gu who broke the silence first, speaking as if having a heart-to-heart, "Lord Shen's talent is truly admirable. It has only been a few days, and already you have learned to guard against others prying into your heart. I am far from your level at your age."
Shen Tang inwardly snorted, becoming even more vigilant.
A scholar's mouth is a deceitful ghost.
What was this confusing address for Lord Shen?
He said that Lord Shen had successfully shielded his heart from prying eyes, but whether this was true or false was only clear to him. Who knew if he said this to lower Lord Shen's guard, thereby achieving his goal of prying into his heart? Therefore, she remained on high alert, unwilling to relax.
But she was not someone to be manipulated at will.
So, she pretended to be innocent and naive, seeking advice.
"Mr. Gu, I have a question."
Mr. Gu replied, "Please, go ahead."
Shen Tang asked, "When it comes to reading hearts, Mr. Gu, can you read only one person or all living beings?"
Mr. Gu asked, "What's the difference?"
Shen Tang said, "When I was young, I occasionally heard a saying at home. It said that there are two things in this world that cannot be directly confronted: one is the scorching sun, and the other is the human heart. The darkness of the human heart surpasses that of the abyss. Most people wear a mask on the surface, but inside, their hearts are different. They flatter and compliment on the surface, but curse and resent in secret. If discovered by the person involved, not only will they not reflect on their own behavior, but they will also breed new hatred. Even ordinary passersby who have no interaction and only brush shoulders with each other will indulge in gossip when encountering something unusual. They will criticize and judge in their hearts. Hearing these voices is so ominous!"
While speaking of omens, her face showed disdain.
Mr. Gu's eyes flickered slightly, but he said amiably, "Is Lord Shen consistent inside and out, or inconsistent?"
Shen Tang suddenly restrained her smile.
"Of course, I am consistent inside and out."
"Oh? How so?"
Mr. Gu seemed skeptical.
"I've always cursed in my heart, cursed to people's faces, and cursed behind their backs. Isn't that consistency?"
Shen Tang said confidently.
Please call her the "Grand Master of Eccentricity."
Mr. Gu pondered for a moment and nodded in agreement.
"Indeed, it must be lucky. If luck were not on your side, with Lord Shen's mouth alone, I wonder how many bags you would have been tied up in."
Throughout the journey, sparks flew visibly between the two, with Shen Tang being "eccentric" and Mr. Gu remaining "immovable as a mountain."
Finally, as they approached the Yueling Pavilion--
Mr. Gu brought up Chu Yao: "The servant Lord Shen bought from the Moonlight Pavilion, his surname is Chu. Does Lord Shen know his background?"
Shen Tang: "Is it necessary to know the background of a mere servant?"
The implication was that she didn't know Chu Yao's background or origins.
Where would Mr. Gu believe her?
Although he was just a lowly kitchen servant, with no proper name on the sale contract, only a simple surname and the date of purchase, Mr. Gu still knew the general details from some minor details.
That servant called "Old Chu" was no ordinary person; there was a high probability that he was Chu Yao, one of the Three Heroes of Chu! What a coincidence!
Hehe.
He and the weng (waiter) had spent quite some time at the Moonlight Pavilion, yet had no idea that this brothel also concealed such a figure.
It was quite a pity to miss out.
Shen Tang immediately made arrangements to redeem him upon her first visit.
Who would believe there was no premeditation behind this?
Furthermore--
He also discovered a very interesting "coincidence."
Thus, came this probing.
The music hall was not only a place for carnal pleasures, but also hosted external activities such as banquets with music and dance. There were red and green brothels, as well as musicians and dancers. Whenever there was a joyous occasion in someone's family, they would spend money to invite these people to perform dances and music.
This was about prestige!
As a result, the Yueling Pavilion was bustling with activity, with the melancholy melodies of strings and wind instruments still audible even in broad daylight
. Shen Tang followed behind Mr. Gu, walking calmly, not even glancing at the singing and dancing on the stage.
It was as if the word "serious" were engraved on her face.
She asked, "Are the female members of the Gong family also here?"
Mr. Gu replied, "Some of them are."
Shen Tang asked, "What about the others?"
Mr. Gu said, "They're on the road."
Shen Tang: "..."
(╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻
Listening to one's speech is like listening to a speech.
Mr. Gu seemed to be a regular or distinguished guest at the Yueling Pavilion. As soon as he entered, a flower girl came forward to lead the way, guiding the two to a well-appointed and elegant private room. The room was spacious, with a large drum resembling an indoor stage.
As soon as they entered, the servants brought in empty wine jars.