"General, please forgive me. My piano skills are not up to par. I dare not display them before you. Please choose someone else."
Through the screen, Shen Tingchi could faintly see the figure of that person.
"Shen Tingchi. Your name is very pleasant..."
Upon hearing this, Shen Tingchi's eyes instantly welled up, and his hands began to tremble uncontrollably.
"The strings have broken. I shall take my leave now."
Lu Mingcang did not stop him, allowing the person behind the screen to depart.
In the following days, General Lu's daily visits to Nanfeng Pavilion became a source of entertainment for the common folk during their tea breaks.
City Lord's Estate.
"Uncle Lu!"
"A'qi! What do you wish to learn today?"
Upon seeing Liu Qi, Lu Mingcang's usually indifferent face instantly softened with tenderness.
"A'yuan is accompanying A'jin today, so he likely cannot come..."
Mentioning this, a smile appeared on Liu Qi's face.
"Uncle Lu, teach me some different martial arts today. Next time, I will definitely defeat A'yuan!"
Looking at the earnest expression on the young boy's face, Lu Mingcang smiled.
Once upon a time, Sheng Huaizhi and he were just like this.
Looking at Liu Qi, he was always reminded of Sheng Huaizhi from those days.
And in Xiao Yuan, there was a reflection of himself.
"A'qi, if you become a general in the future, you must remember that the sword in your hand is to protect your country and the people you love. Never use it to harm others!"
This was the first time Lu Mingcang had spoken such words. Liu Qi was momentarily stunned, but he nodded nonetheless.
Though young, he understood righteousness.
Lu Mingcang stroked his head with satisfaction.
During their time here, Liu Qi and Xiao Yuan were temporarily learning martial arts from him.
Though the time was short, their bond had deepened considerably.
"General, a letter has arrived from the Lu Estate in the Imperial City!"
"A'qi, you practice on your own. Uncle Lu has matters to attend to, so I must leave now."
"Okay!"
The letter from the Lu family was nothing more than a summons for him to return to the Imperial City.
He had stayed in this Xiuliu City for a full month, yet he had found no trace of Yun Yaoyao. He surmised that the Emperor must have begun to consider recalling him.
However, there was still someone here he could not leave behind.
Nanfeng Pavilion.
"Brother Shen, I heard that the general who often visits you is from the Imperial City."
Shen Tingchi's hand, which was applying medicine, paused before he continued to dress the wound.
His back, which was originally as fair as jade, was covered with crisscrossing red marks.
The old and new scars looked shocking.
"Likely so..."
For people like them, who sold their service but not their art, as long as their faces were unharmed, it would not affect Nanfeng Pavilion's earnings. The unseen parts of their bodies were often scarred due to the frequent beatings and scolding from those in charge.
For example, Luo Ying was like this now.
Luo Ying was originally a farmer's daughter. Her family was so poor that they could not even afford to keep a pot of gruel boiling. For the sake of her family's livelihood, her father sold her to a matchmaker.
Her mother, unable to bear to part with her, stole money and redeemed her.
However, she was unexpectedly severely beaten by her father.
Later, her mother, in order to help her escape that life, sold her to this Nanfeng Pavilion.
If she had remained with the matchmaker back then, she might have ended up becoming a courtesan after being passed around.
Her mother had done her best to plan for her...
At least now, she had learned a skill in Nanfeng Pavilion.
Although she was inherently slow-witted and often subjected to severe beatings, as long as she thought of her mother, she felt that this kind of life was bearable.
"Brother Shen, you and that General Lu..."
Luo Ying hesitated at the words.
"Someone like General Lu, how could he be someone I could aspire to?"
Meaning, he was not worthy.
Even if his name were to appear in the same sentence as hers.
Luo Ying paused. She had not been educated, but over the past two years, ever since Shen Tingchi arrived, he had taught her to play the zither and to read and write. Although she didn't understand grand principles,
She knew that Brother Shen was a man of noble character and integrity.
Unlike her, this Nanfeng Pavilion had truly buried him.
"A'ying, the medicine has been applied."
Shen Tingchi tidied up the medicine box, his gaze as placid as a pool of still water, without any ripples.
Luo Ying put on her clothes and then turned to face Shen Tingchi.
"Brother Shen, in my heart, you are the best man!"
Shen Tingchi chuckled as if he had heard a joke.
"Wow! Brother Shen, you just smiled? You look so handsome when you smile! Even though you're always handsome... but you look even better when you smile!"
Luo Ying's face was full of surprise. Shen Tingchi's smile did not diminish.
Until—
Knock! Knock! Knock!
There was a knock on the door.
It was as rough as it could get!
The smile on Shen Tingchi's face vanished instantly, as if his previous smile had been Luo Ying's illusion.
"Brother Shen, I'll go open the door!"
"Oh~ what were you two doing in here?" The woman standing at the door had a scornful expression.
Her gaze fell on Luo Ying.
Then it gradually swept inwards.
Luo Ying couldn't bear to have her eyes on Shen Tingchi like that, so she leaned forward to block her view, shielding him from her gaze.
Her Brother Shen was the best man in the world!
He was pure and untainted, and should not be sullied by a speck of dust!
A sneer was heard, sharp and unpleasant.
"Oh~ she's protecting him now, is she? What a shame. Your good husband is about to go accompany that General Lu. I hear they're quite intimate now. Do you think he'll abandon you once he's latched onto General Lu..."
Vile words entered her ears, and Luo Ying's expression flickered. Her eyes immediately reddened.
"What? Are you going to hit me too?"
Just then, Shen Tingchi had already stood up.
"Let's go. Don't waste time!"
Facing Shen Tingchi, the woman's imposing manner weakened slightly.
Luo Ying was a soft target. Although Shen Tingchi looked frail, he was popular. The madam couldn't do anything to him, let alone to herself.
So she shut her mouth, let out a cold snort, and left angrily.
"Don't argue with people like that in the future."
"But..."
They were insulting you!
Seeing Shen Tingchi's firm gaze, Luo Ying did not voice her unspoken words. She simply nodded, "Yes."
Shen Tingchi left the room and arrived at the familiar private room.
"Young Master Shen, you should be going to the third floor!"
Just as he was about to push open that familiar door, someone suddenly reminded him cautiously.
"Who told you?"
"It was the madam, of course. It's General Lu's order!"
The third floor was where honored guests were received, but it also carried a special meaning.
Going to the third floor meant that he had been taken by him...
Shen Tingchi gritted his teeth and decided to go to the third floor to make things clear with Lu Mingcang.
These past few days, he had come almost every night.
They both knew each other's identities. The past was like a chasm, cruelly separating them.
He didn't want to talk about it, and he didn't want to ask!
But what kind of place was Nanfeng Pavilion?
Now, not only were the people in Nanfeng Pavilion vaguely guessing, but even people outside were.
They all said that this General Lu had a penchant for men!