"I know that saying this might not be believable, but...there are indeed some things I don't want to do. Be it talent, fame, or success, I'm unwilling to pursue them. This...is the truth."

Ning Yi spoke with a calm tone, yet the persuasiveness in his words was undeniable. He was answering the question seriously, without any reluctance or hidden agenda, sincere and frank. He appeared to be a young man in his early twenties, having once been a rigid scholar. If it were the bookworm he once was, he would probably stutter even speaking before Elder Qin and Elder Kang. However, at this moment, the aura he possessed could not be ignored. Coupled with his physique, he seemed detached and unrestrained. If this aura were on a middle-aged man in his forties or fifties, it would be maturity, composure, and unquestionable authority.

It was precisely because of this that his answer puzzled them even more. For someone like Elder Kang, asking this question had significant implications. Moreover, with their current relationship, Elder Kang wasn't making a deal or expecting him to repay a favor. An ordinary person might suddenly become foolish out of pride or something and decline, but Ning Yi was certainly not such a simpleton. Seeing the doubt in their eyes, Ning Yi gave a helpless wry smile.

"Heh, I understand why this is puzzling, but..." he lightly tapped his forehead, "Perhaps you two don't know, I took a blow to the head a few months ago and was unconscious for several days before waking up. I've forgotten much of the past, and the pursuit of fame and success is difficult to focus on right now. As for loitering in brothels and pleasure boats with talented scholars, composing poems and gaining favor from women, I really can't muster much interest. On the other hand, the children in the school are interesting, and occasionally telling them a story, with all the noise and commotion, is enjoyable. Or coming to the riverside here, playing chess and drinking tea, also feels comfortable. I have some interesting ideas in my head, perhaps I can slowly work on them. I'm satisfied with this life now, so why bother with a few glares. As for the future, I still can't figure it out. But I do understand Master Ming's good intentions."

He cupped his fist in a salute and nodded, "This matter, I will keep it in mind."

These words naturally contained both truth and falsehood, but of course, he couldn't tell them the whole story. Attributing this feeling to memory loss from a head injury was the best way to dismiss the issue. This reason didn't need further explanation; it was naturally reasonable and didn't give the other party a sense of meddling. It was just that he had this problem.

As expected, after he said this, both Elder Kang and Elder Qin looked puzzled. Ning Yi then recounted the story of his amnesia, and they both looked enlightened. Kang Xian shook his head and smiled, "I didn't expect such a thing." He simply assumed that his thoughts were a bit strange after the memory loss.

Afterward, Elder Kang didn't bring up those matters again. After drinking a cup of tea, Ning Yi picked up the whiteboard and charcoal and took his leave to go to Yushan Academy. After his figure disappeared at the distant intersection, Elder Kang sighed, "I didn't expect this. That blow actually brought out a detached disposition. Among young people, such a temperament is rare, but it's a pity for his talent."

Elder Qin smiled and took a sip of tea, "He's only in his early twenties now. How he will be in the future, how can we say for sure now? With his talent, the things he should encounter, he can't avoid. But looking at today's events, some things are worrying... Master Ming, Liheng is too pragmatic."

Kang Xian frowned, "Now that you mention it, that is indeed the case. Looking at his poems and lyrics, all of them are masterpieces, yet he doesn't care about the art of poetry. Heh, 'When will the moon be clear? It hangs itself on the southeast branch...' His calligraphy is also effortless. So many things, yet he can reach such heights, probably only considering them as pastimes. These things, in his eyes, are not as interesting as chalk..."

Elder Qin nodded, "Being pragmatic is a good thing, but if one is too pragmatic, direct and straightforward, there may be trouble in the future... Although Liheng also knows how to seek advantages and avoid disadvantages, he is still young and energetic, and quite arrogant in some matters. He is unwilling to humor those scholars' tests and rejected the invitation. In front of you and me, he doesn't hide much, probably for this reason..."

He thought for a moment, then smiled, "There's no need to overthink this matter. We are just friends meeting over chess. Worrying too much is excessive. Knowing his thoughts is enough. Let's see how things will be in the future."

********************

In the past few days, the name Ning Yi had caused some ripples, big or small, in Jiangning City. Those who knew about *Shui Diao Ge Tou* and the name naturally had various speculations and opinions. Most of the opinions were simple, but if one was closer, it would gradually become more complicated. For example, Elder Kang and Elder Qin, and many people in the Su family, distant and close relatives, stewards, servants, and so on. And closer still, undoubtedly, were Old Master Su and Su Boyong. Then there were Chan'er, Juan'er, and Xing'er. For the past few days, Xing'er often teased the two with "May we share the beauty of the moon from a thousand miles away (*Qian Li Gong Chan Juan*)". Chan'er was somewhat prepared, but Juan'er could be said to be caught in the crossfire, her face flushed red, her cheeks burning like a hot teapot, complaining to Chan'er in private, "Why did the young master write that line..."

So in these days, she would lower her head and avoid Ning Yi when she saw him.

Among these people, the most complex feelings naturally belonged to Su Tan'er. Honestly, what concerned her the most was not her husband's talent or his eccentric personality, but: she couldn't understand him anymore.

She had originally married Ning Yi because he was simple, and she could easily understand him. Even if they got married and he moved in, she could participate in the Su family's business with less criticism. Although this marriage was still in name only, she had more or less accepted him in her heart. Next, it was just a matter of time.

Who knew that she would only discover at this point that she couldn't see through her husband at all.

Of course, this matter only showed some clues at this time. Her husband seemed detached and didn't seem like someone with ulterior motives. Su Tan'er was also a quiet, intelligent woman, and wouldn't necessarily panic. However, in addition to handling various shop matters, her thoughts inevitably lingered on this matter. In this era, no matter how smart or independent a girl was, once she got married, who could truly be indifferent to her husband?

These days, she was still busy managing Su Mansion's many silk and cloth shops in Jiangning. In her spare time, she called Juan'er to go to the alley where Ning Yi used to live to gather information. Occasionally, acquaintances she contacted in business would ask, "Is that Ning Yi, Ning Liheng, your husband?" Then they would praise *Shui Diao Ge Tou*.

After getting married, she should have brought her husband to meet the people she knew before, so as to establish her identity as a married woman, which would make it easier to discuss business. However, she had acted out a bit at the wedding, and Ning Yi had been knocked unconscious, and then it was time for recuperation. Now, their way of getting along had almost taken shape, only having some conversations when eating at home. Although her attitude towards Ning Yi was natural, she was, after all, married and had more restraint and pride. Therefore, until now, except for the matter of participating in the Puyuan Poetry Society last time, she had not yet made an invitation to Ning Yi to go out and participate in something together.

Now, it was probably even more difficult to propose.

She had already inquired about and collected information about Ning Yi once before the marriage. Most of it was done by her father and grandfather, and she herself had gone with a few maids and asked Chan'er, Juan'er, and Xing'er to inquire about Ning Yi's reputation. At that time, the information she got was just a simple bookworm, whose talent was not very high. Of course, he wasn't completely bookish to the point of being foolish, otherwise, he wouldn't have accepted the Su family's proposal to marry into the family. In this era, a man who married into another family had probably resigned himself to his fate.

However, when she asked Juan'er to inquire this time, the information she got was slightly different.

Most of the evaluations were naturally the same as before. Ning Yi's presence in that alley was not strong. Some people only remembered after Juan'er emphasized several times that he was a man living in a certain courtyard: "Oh, there is such a person." Or they said: "That silly bookworm, I heard he married into some place and sold the courtyard." "He probably felt that he couldn't pass the examinations." Such statements accounted for the vast majority.

However, there were also two or three families who said this: "Oh, Liheng, I knew he was amazingly talented, but he has always been low-key and has a stable personality. He doesn't want to compete with others. Unlike those talented scholars who don't have much knowledge in their chests, they love to show off. This is called a full bucket doesn't make noise, a half bucket sways... Miss, you also heard about that *Shui Diao Ge Tou* before you came to inquire, right..."

"He did marry into the family because there was a marriage contract. Liheng is an honest child, and he must keep the marriage contract..."

"Aunt San next door and Uncle Niu at the entrance of the alley, they all said that. This servant gave them fifty coins each..." Although she was just a little maid, Juan'er's ability to gather information was definitely not to be underestimated. Thinking about it now, she laughed and talked about her own views, "But this servant thinks that they all said that after hearing that *Shui Diao Ge Tou*, so it doesn't count. It's a pity that Mr. Zou, who taught the young master, passed away last year. This servant also inquired about it, but the young master's teacher's wife hardly remembers the young master. After she knew the purpose of this servant, she still said some good things. The widow's family of Mr. Zou doesn't seem to be doing very well. This servant made the decision to send them two strings of cash and also brought some cured meat, in the name of the young master."

"That's how it should be..." Su Tan'er nodded, then smiled, but what followed was still a strong doubt. Inquiring about the news, it doesn't mean that you believe everything others say. Although she got some good words this time, the basic information was still the same as before. However, after Juan'er investigated another direction, some seemingly correct guesses gradually revealed their outline to Su Tan'er.

"The few old men that the young master met when playing chess by the river are probably extraordinary... The one that can be known most clearly now is probably Mr. Kang, who spoke for the young master at the ZhiShui Poetry Society that day..."

"Hmm?" The young master's reputation before the amnesia could be confirmed, so if something really happened, it should be after the amnesia. She also knew about Ning Yi going to the river to play chess and meeting some chess friends before, but she didn't do any investigation. The news she got at this time really shocked her. Her husband could actually know such people. I don't know if it's luck or something else. And the information that was fed back later was even more shocking to her.

The news from ZhiShui Poetry Society only said that Kang Xian was a great master of Neo-Confucianism, how great his achievements in various aspects were, and how respected he was. But some of the backgrounds hidden behind it were not disguised too much, just not said. Once investigated, it has been investigated.

Kang Xian, Kang Mingyun, is not only a master of calligraphy, a master of Neo-Confucianism, but at the same time, his other identity is the consort of Princess Chengguo, a royal relative. Although the Wu Dynasty has always been very strict with royal relatives, the consort cannot participate in national affairs or enter the court as an official, but Princess Chengguo is the current emperor's aunt. This Kang Xian is actually the current emperor's uncle. Even if he is just a rich and idle person, his identity is really precious, not comparable to a business family like the Su family.

Once this news was revealed, the initial shock was really indescribable. Su Tan'er was a little dazed for a while, but after a moment of shock, a relatively clear clue gradually appeared in front of her.

"How did the young master make friends with such a big man? Chan'er said that they just went there casually, played chess casually, and got to know each other." Juan'er wondered, and then became a little hesitant, "But speaking of which, the identity of Mr. Kang and the identity of the young master... Ah..."

Juan'er didn't dare to say the following words, but it was already enough. The way of doing business, all kinds of information must be filtered every moment. Sometimes some clues seem difficult to believe, but when other clues are filtered out, what remains may be such news.

The identity of the husband and the identity of that Mr. Kang... are all sons-in-law?

For Su Tan'er, although this answer may seem bizarre to ordinary people, it is already the closest answer to the core.

The husband... maybe he just had some contact with the other party when playing chess, or maybe he didn't even know the other party's identity, but the two did have such a common point. The identity of the consort seems noble, married the princess, but in fact, he is also a son-in-law of the royal family. With his talent, he can't be an official or show his ambition for the rest of his life. It is not difficult to understand that he has a feeling of sympathy for the husband. In this way, it is no wonder that he has to block the tongues of the crowd and make a name for the husband at the ZhiShui Poetry Society...

That *Shui Diao Ge Tou*, the husband said that a Taoist passed by the door. Not only the grandfather didn't believe it, but she also definitely didn't believe it, because Xiao Chan would definitely not lie to her. The Taoist recited a poem, could it be sung out... Or it was really created by the husband's ingenious hand, or it was made by that Mr. Kang, it's hard to say. She doesn't care too much now. After all, she was puzzled before, and she felt that there were doubts everywhere. Now that she has sorted out a line, she suddenly becomes enlightened, and she doesn't care too much about some things.

The husband is actually a detached person. His words and deeds are not annoying. She doesn't care about the level of talent. It's better to be lower. He married into the family. She doesn't mind. It's good to be higher. It's unexpected surprise. At the Mid-Autumn Festival poetry meeting, I didn't expect that there was such a secret. If it was really Kang Xian's plan, maybe it was just a joke made by this old man on a whim.

"Watch the old man teach you, scare your wife and family..."

Thinking like this, it is not impossible. Although the husband's temperament is indifferent, at this age, he may not really be content with the identity of the son-in-law. Although the grandfather is unwilling to treat him harshly, she does not want him to be discriminated against, but the identity of the son-in-law occasionally suffers some white eyes, that is unavoidable. People will always have such and such thoughts. This is the hurdle he has to overcome. It is understandable that he wants to show off his talent for this reason.

So, the husband... maybe he really wants to tame himself, this restless little girl...

Some things are decided, and that won't change. This is the big premise. She didn't have any requirements for marrying or marrying. It's just that one day, she will accept the Su family's business. This is the key, and with this premise, her husband can only marry into the family. She thought so in her heart. She didn't hate these things she guessed in her heart, and even had a little liking for them.

There are no more possibilities, are there.

So on the way home, she smiled lightly and warmly...

This is a very personal smile, and even Juan'er and Xing'er in the carriage did not notice it...

*****************

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