The woman in front sighed and used the word "lament," which successfully piqued Lin Wanyu's curiosity.
"What's wrong with the Drunken Flower Pavilion?"
After all, Lin Wanyu had spent so many years in the Drunken Flower Pavilion. She still had some lingering feelings for the place.
Zhou Danlin lowered her eyes, putting on a sorrowful look. She shook her head and sighed again.
Lin Wanyu understood the implied meaning: "Chunqiao, invite Lady Zhou in for tea!"
Chunqiao nodded slightly, opened the half - closed courtyard gate, and said in a low voice, "Lady Zhou, please."
"Then I'll have to trouble you."
Zhou Danlin gave a generous smile and followed Lin Wanyu into the main house with her maid.
After they were seated, Lin Wanyu intended to ask about the situation of the Drunken Flower Pavilion, but unexpectedly, Zhou Danlin didn't give her a chance to speak.
"I'm here today to seek you as my teacher. I specially made some dim sum from Yangzhou as a token of my respect. Sister, please have a taste. Does it still taste the same as before?"
As she spoke, she took the food box from her maid's hand and placed it on the table.
Then she began to introduce each item one by one.
Lin Wanyu was used to eating these kinds of dim sum in Yangzhou, so she didn't find them particularly rare. But seeing Zhou Danlin's enthusiasm, she didn't want to interrupt.
After Zhou Danlin's introduction, she invited Lin Wanyu to taste them. Lin Wanyu tasted a little of each and didn't forget to praise them.
"I'm glad sister likes them. Since sister has accepted my gift for seeking you as my teacher, there are a few parts of the piece that I always play badly. Please teach me, sister."
Seeing her eagerness, Lin Wanyu found it even more inappropriate to interrupt. She had to fetch the pipa that Lu Huaijin had given her before, planning to teach Zhou Danlin first and then ask about the Drunken Flower Pavilion.
"Sister, the weather is so nice now. How about we go and play under the pear tree in the yard? It'll be so poetic and picturesque."
"Okay."
Chunqiao led some people to carry two chairs and place them under the pear tree.
The gentle morning breeze blew slowly, and pear blossoms fell on their heads. It was truly a wonderful scene.
After they were seated, Lin Wanyu gently stroked the strings of the pipa, raised her eyes, and asked, "Sister, which part do you have trouble with?"
"I've been practicing The Lover's Visit recently. I wonder if sister has ever played it?"
Hearing this, Lin Wanyu frowned slightly. She looked up at the person in front of her. The person's eyes were innocent and pure, showing no trace of impurity. She didn't seem like someone who would play such a tune.
"This tune is too old - fashioned. How about I recommend a different one to you?"
This tune was mostly the kind used to entice people in brothels and was not suitable for formal occasions.
Looking at Zhou Danlin's dressing, Lin Wanyu was sure that she was not like herself. If this tune were played at a banquet, the host would surely drive the player out with a big stick.
Hearing her words, Zhou Danlin looked a bit disappointed: "I was looking forward to playing a duet with sister. Now it seems that sister looks down on me, this stupid apprentice, and doesn't want to teach me."
These words sounded aggrieved, but without realizing it, she had set a trap for Lin Wanyu.
Lin Wanyu lowered her eyes and smiled. She immediately had a plan in mind.
"Sister, you're so talented. How can you be a stupid apprentice? Besides, I'm not a master musician. I can't be worthy of your calling me teacher. I've only learned the first part of this tune. Today, I'll practice it with you once as a way to thank you for the dim sum you brought."
She made her meaning clear. If Zhou Danlin was smart, she would understand and not come to visit again in the future. If she was stupid, Lin Wanyu would naturally not make a deep friendship with her.
Now that she was already in a difficult situation herself, she had no time to fall into other people's traps.
Hearing this, Zhou Danlin was stunned for a moment and then nodded silently. She said sincerely, "Thank you, sister."
Lin Wanyu nodded slightly and said nothing more. She held the pipa, tilted her head slightly, plucked a few strings, and then began to play.
The melodious sound, like a clear spring, immediately echoed in the entire yard, instantly leading people into an unseen situation.
Lu Huaijin was coming from the front yard. When he reached the door of Yuncheng Residence, he heard the sound coming from the Huanhua Pavilion.
He paused for a moment and walked towards the Huanhua Pavilion with Chuncheng.
The courtyard gate was open. Under the pear tree, the two women sitting there playing the pipa were truly like a painting.
Lu Huaijin stood outside the yard. His eyes were always fixed on Lin Wanyu.
The woman looked radiant as she gently stroked the pipa. The music was like a trickling stream and falling flowers and flying snow, swirling and permeating the entire yard.
Looking at the person in front of him, Lu Huaijin seemed to see again the girl holding the pipa at his mother's birthday banquet.
Those eyes were deep and bright. Sitting there quietly, she was like an orchid in a secluded valley. But when she started to play the pipa, there was an air of superiority around her, making people involuntarily submit...
"Your Highness, isn't that Lady Zhou Danlin, the daughter of the Yangzhou prefect? When did she become so close to Miss Lin? They're even sitting together playing the pipa."
Chuncheng stood beside Lu Huaijin, scratching his head in confusion.
Hearing this, Lu Huaijin's eyes twitched slightly. Only then did he take a look at the woman sitting opposite Lin Wanyu.
The woman seemed to have seen him too. She held the pipa and gave him a charming smile.
Lu Huaijin's eyes were cold. He turned around and left with Chuncheng.
Not long after he left, the music suddenly stopped. Lin Wanyu pressed the strings of the pipa with one hand, raised her eyes, and looked at Zhou Danlin: "Sister, if you want to play the pipa well, you still need to practice for a while."
When they were playing just now, there was a part where Zhou Danlin had played a wrong note.
Zhou Danlin lowered her eyes, got up, and curtsied: "I'm really grateful to sister for teaching me today. I've benefited a lot. I won't bother sister to rest anymore. I'll take my leave first."
Lin Wanyu nodded slightly and didn't try to keep her. She told Chunqiao to see them out.
A moment later, Chunqiao returned. She stood beside Lin Wanyu and said in a low voice, "Miss, His Highness was here just now."
Lin Wanyu raised her eyebrows and looked at her: "His Highness was here?"
In just an instant, there was a look of understanding in her long and slender eyes.
No wonder Zhou Danlin had played a wrong note in the middle.
She got up and went back into the room. Looking at the dazzling array of dim sum on the table, she curled her lips into a smile. So, her real intention was not what it seemed!
"Chunqiao, when did Lady Zhou come to the mansion? Is she also living in Yuncheng Residence now?"
Chunqiao replied truthfully, "Lady Zhou was sent to the mansion by the Yangzhou prefect last year. Now she lives in Tinglan Hall, which is in the southwest of Yuncheng Residence, with the other beauties sent by various mansions before."
"It's really a pity that such a smart and beautiful woman is being overlooked."
Lin Wanyu picked up a piece of jade - green cake, sighed softly, and murmured in a low voice.
"What did you say, Miss?"
Chunqiao was standing opposite her. She only heard the sound but couldn't make out what Lin Wanyu was saying.
Lin Wanyu came back to her senses, coughed dryly, shook her head, and said with a smile, "The heir apparent will marry Miss Wang soon. Why hasn't the mansion started to prepare for the wedding yet?"
Not only hadn't they started preparing, but there wasn't even a trace of festive atmosphere.