Page 731

Before leaving, Shen Chuwei saw Xuetuan looking pitifully into its bowl and, realizing she had indeed neglected it lately, picked it up and followed Xiao Jinyan out of the inn.

At this time of day, the streets were sparsely populated.

Shen Chuwei thought Xiao Jinyan was taking her to enjoy some delicious food, and even though she had just had lunch, it did not prevent her from wanting to snack on some ancient pastries.

As they stood in front of a bustling tea house, confusion was written all over her face. Why come to a tea house? This did not match Xiao Jinyan’s character at all.

Xiao Jinyan said, "Let’s go in."

Shen Chuwei looked up, puzzled, "Husband, what are we doing at a tea house?"

Xiao Jinyan took her hand with a gentle voice, "You’ll know once we’re inside."

Shen Chuwei followed Xiao Jinyan inside with curiosity, and he found a secluded corner to sit down in.

He had the waiter bring a pot of good tea and two plates of pastries.

Without pastries, Shen Chuwei estimated she would not be able to sit still.

In the middle of the tea house a stage was set, upon which a middle-aged storyteller was engaged in his craft.

At the moment, the storyteller was recounting rumors about the National Master.

Shen Chuwei could not understand what the storyteller was saying, as he spoke rapidly in dialect. She took a pastry and glanced at Xiao Jinyan, noticing that he was listening intently.

She peeked at the storyteller, who was engrossed in his tale, and whispered, "Husband, can you understand him?"

Xiao Jinyan nodded, "I can understand some of it."

Shen Chuwei bit into a pastry and turned her gaze back to the storyteller, "I don’t understand. What is he jabbering on about?"

Xiao Jinyan: "Rumors about the National Master."

Shen Chuwei suddenly realized. Watching TV dramas had taught her that storytellers often spun rumors and interesting tales—no wonder Xiao Jinyan came to the tea house.

She did not disturb Xiao Jinyan but instead pricked up her ears to listen attentively, hoping to grasp some meaning.

After listening for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, she gave up, looked down at the pastry in her hand, and decided that eating pastries was a more realistic pursuit.

Once they left the tea house, Shen Chuwei couldn’t help but ask, "Husband, tell me about the rumors concerning the National Master."

Xiao Jinyan said, "Today, the storyteller talked about a rumor from twenty years ago, claiming the National Master was peerlessly handsome, yet he fell for an ugly woman. Everyone envied the ugly woman for garnering the affection of the National Master... "

After hearing this, Shen Chuwei looked incredulous, "...A top-tier hunk fell in love at first sight with an ugly woman? That’s just too Mary Sue... "

Xiao Jinyan, hearing words he couldn’t understand, wondered how she could suddenly spout incomprehensible things.

"Rumors, a mix of truth and fiction."

As someone who valued good looks, Shen Chuwei was genuinely curious, as so far, Xiao Jinyan was the most handsome man she had ever seen, with an elegant and flawless demeanor.

"Is the National Master in the capital? I’d really like to see for myself how handsome the legendary top-tier hunk is, to see if he’s even more handsome than my husband?"

Xiao Jinyan glanced at Shen Chuwei, "He’s old enough to be your father."

Shen Chuwei chuckled and said, "Having such an incredibly good-looking and distinguished father would be my good fortune. That’s not just a thigh to hold onto; that’s a golden leg."

"..." Xiao Jinyan: "...What nonsense are you talking about!"

Shen Chuwei did not notice Xiao Jinyan’s face turning darker as she continued, "What you don’t know, Husband, is that the older a man gets, the more charming he becomes. Otherwise, why would people say ’a man in his forties is like a blossoming flower’?"

Xiao Jinyan’s face had turned as dark as the bottom of a pot. Who wouldn’t be upset hearing their wife praise another man?

"Say that again?"

Feeling a chill down her spine, Shen Chuwei looked up at Xiao Jinyan and saw his grim expression, so she quickly corrected herself, "You’re becoming more and more charismatic, Husband."

Xiao Jinyan’s displeasure eased considerably at this, "Still want to see him?"

Shen Chuwei shook her head, speaking against her true feelings, "Not anymore."

Only then did Xiao Jinyan appear satisfied and continued walking back while holding her hand.

Shen Chuwei glanced back at the tea house, truly curious about the National Master who could fall in love at first sight with an ugly woman—just how handsome he must be.

-*

Qin Xiao spent two days gathering some information about the National Master.

"Master, the National Master is currently not in the capital, and moreover, it’s said that he rarely visits the capital these days. Even the Emperor finds it difficult to meet with him."

Xiao Jinyan asked, "Do you know why?"

"The reasons are murky, but there’s no shortage of rumors.

Some say the National Master has disagreements with the Emperor of Nanzhao, others speculate that the National Master’s abilities have waned, there’s gossip that he got tired of the mundane world after descending from the mountains for too long and went back up, and the most far-fetched of all—the National Master is love-struck. .."

Xiao Jinyan knew upon hearing them that most were fabrications with maybe a tiny grain of truth in them.

Shen Chuwei, who was feeding Xuetuan some dried fish, listened to Qin Xiao’s report with curiosity, "I thought Minister Lu was amazing enough, never expected that the National Master is even more formidable."

Qin Xiao said, "It’s said that the National Master knows magic, and even rumors claim he can determine life and death. In any case, the exaggerations in public rumors are quite extensive."

Shen Chuwei’s eyes shone as she looked towards Xiao Jinyan, "If he’s that powerful, couldn’t he help you recover your memory?"

Xiao Jinyan pondered then said, "Perhaps."

Eagerly, Shen Chuwei said, "Then let’s go find him, the sooner to recover your memory, the sooner we can go home."

Xiao Jinyan understood Shen Chuwei’s feelings and chuckled softly, "Even the Emperor finds it hard to see the National Master, let alone us."

Shen Chuwei, of course, understood.

"How will we know without trying?"

Xiao Jinyan thought for a moment and said, "Let’s prepare more thoroughly, and then we can try."

Shen Chuwei nodded vigorously, "Okay."

When they decided to give it a try, Xiao Jinyan began to make preparations.

In order to learn more about the National Master, Xiao Jinyan spent an entire day outside.

Shen Chuwei woke up from a nap and, not seeing Xiao Jinyan, decided to go out for a stroll with Xuetuan, though she was actually craving stinky tofu.

It was the afternoon, and the streets were still not crowded.