Chapter 261: Lu Chengyuan’s Death
“Lord, bad news, there’s been a murder!” The confidant ran all the way into the study room, gasping out before he could catch his breath, “Lu, Lu, Lu Juren Scholar is dead.”
The County Magistrate’s wrist trembled, and the ink from the brush tip dripped onto the newly written large characters, smudging a patch.
He asked in a trembling voice: “Which Lu Juren Scholar?”
Heavens, it couldn’t be that young man Lu Chengjing, could it?
“It’s that Lu Juren Scholar who came to the County Yamen to report yesterday.” The confidant wiped the sweat from his forehead, “The inn is now surrounded by people, Constable Liu has already taken the coroner there, Lord, you should go take a look too!”
“Talk while walking.” The County Magistrate tossed the writing brush aside and instructed the confidant to lead the way.
At the same time, Shang Wan, who was settling accounts behind the counter, also heard the news about the death at Yunlai Inn.
“The coroner has gone, they say it’s hanging suicide, with the tongue sticking out really long.”
Niangzi Lou spat out the sunflower seed shell, sighing and shaking her head, “People who didn’t pass the exam haven’t committed suicide, how could someone like him, who passed and is about to embark on a bright future, commit suicide?”
She couldn’t figure it out no matter how hard she tried.
“Maybe he couldn’t think straight for a moment.” Shang Wan lowered her head and continued looking at the account book, “Anyway, it has nothing to do with us, just listen to the gossip and that’s it, don’t get involved in death matters.”
“I wasn’t planning to get involved either.” Niangzi Lou cracked some sunflower seeds, then asked: “Are you really going with your husband to the Capital City to take the imperial examination?”
“Mm.”
Niangzi Lou stared at Shang Wan’s smooth and fair side profile for a moment, her lips moving a few times, her expression showing she wanted to say something but hesitated.
Shang Wan looked up at her: “Say what you want to say.”
“Ahem.” Niangzi Lou cleared her throat and glanced around the shop, “Um, your husband isn’t in the shop, right?”
“No, he took Yuan Yuan to the old candy shop to buy osmanthus candy.”
“Then…” Niangzi Lou lowered her voice, “I’ll speak plainly then, and if you don’t like what you hear, don’t get mad at me.”
“Am I such a petty person?” Shang Wan set aside the account book, grabbed a handful of sunflower seeds, cracked them while waiting for Niangzi Lou to continue.
“I think us women should still prioritize business. How much effort did you put in to manage the Spiritual Medicine Pavilion like this? Which of the sisters in the guild doesn’t admire you? To go to the Capital City with your husband for the imperial examination and abandon this golden nugget, what if there’s some change, wouldn’t that be so not worth it?”
Niangzi Lou spoke while sneaking peeks at Shang Wan’s expression, and only continued when she saw no anger.
“Don’t mind me speaking bluntly, sister. All men in this world are the same. When they have no money or power, they sweet-talk and pamper you every day, treating you like a treasure. But once they gain power, they change faces, and it’s you who has to sweet-talk and pamper them.”
“Sister’s been through it, us women already struggle to survive in this world, so in everything, put yourself first. Once a man gains power, he won’t remember how much you sacrificed for him.”
“Do your business well, have money in hand and no worries in heart. Even if the man finds a new love outside, we’re not afraid, worst case divorce and live single, even more carefree and free.”
Niangzi Lou said this risking displeasing Shang Wan because she treated her like her own younger sister. Seeing how much effort Shang Wan put into the Spiritual Medicine Pavilion, she didn’t want Shang Wan to abandon her business for a man’s future.
She was the best lesson from experience, pouring her heart out for that dead man, and what did she get?
Heh, not even a kind word, and now she still has to rely on herself for everything.
“Think carefully about what sister said,” Niangzi Lou grabbed a handful of sunflower seeds, “Whatever men want, let them fight for it themselves. If they get it, it’s their ability. Why should we bother racking our brains for it?”
“I will never let Niangzi down in this lifetime.” A clear and cold voice suddenly interjected. Lu Chengjing walked in, one arm holding his daughter, the other carrying two packets of osmanthus candy.
Niangzi Lou: “……”
The sunflower seeds suddenly didn’t taste good anymore.
“Well then, I have business in my shop, I’ll head out first.”
Better to leave first.
Niangzi Lou awkwardly ran out the door, then suddenly turned back, picked up her plate of fried sunflower seeds, and winked at Shang Wan, mouthing silently: think it over carefully.
As she passed Lu Chengjing, she didn’t forget to say, “The words were all mine, has nothing to do with my younger sister.”
Shang Wan curved her lips in amusement, watching Niangzi Lou run out the door.
Lu Chengjing set his daughter down, and handed her the osmanthus candy he was carrying, letting the little baby girl share it with the people in the shop.
Yuan Yuan first gave two pieces to her own mother, one to Daddy, then hugged the paper packet and walked around the shop, calling out uncle, sir, auntie, lady to everyone, sharing the osmanthus candy.
The little milky voice was sweet and soft, making everyone in the shop laugh with crinkled eyes.
Our Lu Jieyuan couldn’t laugh at this moment. He reached out and touched Shang Wan’s arm, “Niangzi, pay attention to me.”
Shang Wan looked up at him and shrugged, “The words weren’t mine.”
She was just a listener.
“I absolutely won’t be that heartless person.” Lu Chengjing took Shang Wan’s hand and held it loosely, “If Niangzi wants to stay and guard the Spiritual Medicine Pavilion, I can go to the Capital City alone. After the results are announced, I’ll come back to pick you up.”
Shang Wan blinked, “You said it, then I’ll stay…”
“Niangzi.” Lu Chengjing called softly, his long brows slightly furrowed, the corners of his eyes reddening, endless grievance seeming hidden in the depths of his profound gaze.
The onlookers who were secretly watching were all stunned. The usually cold and aloof Lu Jieyuan actually had such an expression.
Some young ladies and wives secretly blushed, hiding their faces with fans, not daring to look anymore.
Shang Wan then remembered this was in public. Her own fox had been seen by outsiders for nothing, and she felt inexplicably annoyed.
She turned her head and scanned around. Everyone immediately withdrew their gazes, those buying medicine continued buying, those chatting continued chatting, but their peripheral glances still kept drifting toward the counter.
Shang Wan: “……”
She simply pulled Lu Chengjing out from behind the counter and headed to the backyard.
Entering the room and closing the door, Shang Wan turned around, her mouth just opening, not a word out yet, when a kiss carrying floral fragrance suddenly covered her lips.
Shang Wan: Alright, this fox was really stimulated.
After properly comforting her own fox, a good half hour passed.
Shang Wan crooked her finger and hooked the smooth chin of the man in front of her. Her full lips were now three degrees more vivid than before, “Alright, business time. That inn matter related to you?”
“Mm.” A hum came from his nose, Lu Chengjing’s breathing a bit disordered.
“Pretty quick to act.” Yesterday Lu Chengjing was out for quite a while, Shang Wan thought he was networking again, but it turned out he was secretly doing big things.
“Hanging suicide, and you didn’t go out last night, how’d you manage it?”
“Just some verbal tricks, not worth mentioning.” Lu Chengjing lowered his head and kissed Shang Wan’s slender white fingertip, “Does Niangzi still remember the strange man I encountered during my study tour?”
Shang Wan nodded.
Lu Chengjing said slowly: “That man has the ability to bewitch minds, aided by techniques, and with a few words can influence people’s intellect. If they have weak willpower, he can even control their actions.”
Shang Wan pursed her lips: “Lu Chengyuan isn’t someone with weak willpower.”
“So I first used Drunken Fragrance on him.”
