The Husband I Snatched Is Not Right!

Chapter 360 - 357: Forget About Him, What a Downer!

The aroma of tea lingered, curling upwards.

The teahouse was bustling, a sea of people.

On the right side of the main hall on the first floor, there were ten tables, each seating eight people. On the left side, chairs were arranged in pairs with tea tables in between, ready to serve tea and snacks.

The performance had yet to begin, and there was a clamor of voices.

"Good thing I booked a private room yesterday; if I tried now, there’d be none left."

Shen Zhiyi gently fanned herself: "The teahouse’s star performer came from Jiangnan and has been singing for nearly thirty years. Her voice is still as melodious as a warbler’s, never tiring to listen to. But a few days ago, she lost her voice and hasn’t performed since."

"However, the teahouse owner personally went to the East Street troupe to invite someone over to sing. At first, many regulars weren’t pleased, and the teahouse’s business went downhill."

It wasn’t proper for young ladies to discuss the affairs of the pleasure quarters. Shen Zhiyi gently pressed her fan to her lips and whispered, "Half of them went to the brothel to support that new girl from Yangzhou."

But she didn’t dwell on it.

Back to the point.

"Fortunately, the performer the teahouse invited isn’t inferior to the original star."

"It’s a young man, but once he opens his mouth, he sings more sweetly than a woman, and he’s also quite handsome. Most of the guests downstairs are women who come just to see him."

Yu Tingwan had been quietly listening all along.

At this, she finally spoke softly.

"How does he compare to Xiao Huaian?"

Shen Zhiyi was slightly startled.

"Why mention him out of nowhere? I’m not familiar with him."

But she did think about it for a moment.

"It’s really hard to say who’s better."

Yu Tingwan: Oh dear!

Shen Zhiyi said nonchalantly, "By the way, a few days ago, he spent a fortune on that girl."

Yu Tingwan knew it was to build up the reputation of a wastrel.

But for Xiao Huaian, the road to winning back his wife was long.

"How do you know?"

Shen Zhiyi: "It’s all over the place now. He always claims poverty but is generous with women."

At that, Shen Zhiyi seemed to recall an unpleasant memory.

"Never mind, let’s not mention him; it’s dampening the mood."

Yet, Yu Tingwan’s interest was just budding.

"What happened?"

Yu Tingwan asked, "Aren’t you not familiar with him? Did he happen to be stingy with you?"

Shen Zhiyi, caught off guard, nodded: "I spent a night with him in jail some years ago. The dim light in the cell was quite eerie."

Occasionally, the heavy sound of chains scraping the ground could be heard from distant inmates on the move.

Shen Zhiyi was, after all, a young lady, afraid of the dark.

"Fortunately, he had a Luminous Pearl."

"I was scared then, so I said many nice things to him, sweet-talking him into lending me the Luminous Pearl for light."

Yu Tingwan: ...

Clearly, Xiao Huaian did it on purpose!

Yu Tingwan: "Maybe you didn’t need to say nice things; he would’ve offered it anyway."

"Oh, give me a break, he’s not that kind-hearted."

Fearing Yu Tingwan wouldn’t believe her, Shen Zhiyi said, "When we got out of jail, I wanted to return it to him. But he was very generous at the time, saying once he gave it to me, it was mine."

Shen Zhiyi: "So I kept it."

Yu Tingwan rested her chin on her hand: "Isn’t that nice?"

"But when he left the capital and came back, he suddenly changed his mind. He came to my door, cold-faced, to take it back."

Shen Zhiyi was annoyed: "Do you think he’s crazy?"

"He insisted on giving it back then, yet now he urges me to return it. I haven’t offended him, have I?"

No, you’re wrong.

You got engaged to Chu Liulang.

Downstairs, the sound of gongs and drums echoed as a shy and bashful young man dressed in a white robe entered from outside, holding a pipa, and gracefully went onto the stage.

He started singing melodiously.

It was indeed pleasant to the ears.

The noisy crowd went quiet, closing their eyes to enjoy it.

At this moment, Tan Jiang entered from outside.

Yu Tingwan looked up.

"How did it go?"

Tan Jiang: "I’ve already instructed Prince Ning."

She continued, "I just returned and saw the Ninth Princess’s sedan heading this way."

Shen Zhiyi furrowed her brows: "Why is Ying Changyi here?"

A few days ago, the Ninth Princess still bore a grudge against Yang Weiweng, because he was brought into the Imperial Censorate to work by He Xuran, which prompted her to run to Emperor Ying, pouting.

Just as they were speaking, there was a bang.

The door of the private room was kicked open.

A group of guards stood outside, and the Ninth Princess, adorned in silks and jewels, was supported by servants as she walked in, exuding a lofty demeanor.

She walked straight to Yu Tingwan.

Thinking of this instigator who led to the Duke Zhou Mansion’s damaged reputation, her uncle getting punished with a cane, Ying Changyi wished she could end her personally!

But she could not.

Ying Changyi suppressed her anger, looking down at Yu Tingwan with disdain.

"I came to watch the performance, but there were no seats. I heard Miss Shen rented a private room, so I came uninvited. I hope Miss Shen doesn’t mind."

Mind? Yikes!!!

Seeing you is nauseating!

Talking to me, but why are you looking at Yu Tingwan?

Is it because Yu Tingwan is prettier than her?

Shen Zhiyi was full of reluctance but did not dare to offend, so she rose to salute: "Had I known the Princess was here, I should have gone to greet you. Please, this way."

Ying Changyi acted as if she didn’t hear, treating Shen Zhiyi without regard. Her well-maintained hand landed on the edge of the table, her fingertips tapping as if keeping pace with the melody downstairs.

"I didn’t expect to run into the General’s wife today."

"I just came from Duke Zhou’s Mansion, and my uncle is still lying on the bed recovering. He looks haggard and weak, poor him, at his age, his wound just refuses to heal."

Saying this, she seamlessly shifted the topic.

Her red lips moved slightly.

"However, he was in the wrong first. I wouldn’t unjustly blame the General’s wife."

Anyone else would have been scared by now.

Every word lacked explicit warning, yet every word seemed like one.

As expected, the most favored princess, born to the Empress, was truly formidable.

"This spot is quite nice. I’ve taken a liking to it. But I wonder if the General’s wife would be willing to yield it?"

Yu Tingwan finally looked up at her, placing her index finger on her lips: "Shh."

She spoke kindly.

"You’re disturbing me."

Shen Zhiyi: ...

You are genuinely bold!

When! Will I, Shen Zhiyi, also be able to be so defiant!!!

Ying Changyi said nothing, but the palace maid behind her took a step forward, speaking coldly.

"How rude! Why didn’t the General’s wife salute the Princess!"

Yu Tingwan’s temperament was especially mild, and she spoke with drawling tones, softly: "I forgot."

Ying Changyi: ...

Forgetting to salute, how could she still be so confident!

Yu Tingwan quickly stood up but didn’t move from her spot, innocently looking at Ying Changyi and her entourage, remaining motionless, maintaining the stalemate.

Who knew how much time had passed, the tension in the air was palpable.

The palace maid, with furrowed brows and aggressive posture, was about to speak up.

Yu Tingwan glared over: "Seeing the Princess’s majesty, I was too nervous to know what to do. I said, I forgot."

Although paying respects to the royal was the most elaborate protocol. The palace maid didn’t believe her: "You may be new to Shangjing, but the Wei Family must have summoned mamas to repeatedly instruct you; could it be that the wife wishes to be especially dull?"

Yu Tingwan: "Any problem with that?"

She smiled: "I’ve never been very bright."