Night Voices in Harmony

The two of them were just about to return to the courtyard when a carriage happened to pull up outside the gate.

"Whoa—"

As the carriage came to a halt, the gauze curtain was lifted, and a graceful beauty soon stepped lightly out of the carriage.

Lin Tianlu turned around. Only then did he smile and cup his hands. "I had no idea Miss Cheng would suddenly come visiting. Please forgive me."

"Whatever do you mean, Mister Lin?"

Cheng Yishi remained as radiant and elegant as ever. With a dignified smile, she approached the courtyard gate and gave a shallow bow. "It was I who came too abruptly.

"But I came this time to give you an invitation. Tomorrow is the fifteenth day of the eighth month. Why not let me host you all and go to Dengxian Workshop together to admire the moon and celebrate this golden autumn festival?"

Lin Tianlu asked in surprise, "Miss, won't you be spending it with your family...?"

"My family and I no longer share any true familial affection. There is no need to force it."

Cheng Yishi's beautiful eyes turned, and she spoke gently to Hua Shuya. "Miss Hua, it has been many days since we last met. You seem even prettier than before."

"You flatter me, Miss Cheng." Hua Shuya returned the greeting neither humbly nor arrogantly, though she felt slightly surprised as she looked at the other woman's snowy-white, soft hair.

She had not encountered Cheng Yishi during this time and naturally had no idea that her white hair had remained.

"But during the Mid-Autumn Festival, Miss Hua, you aren't returning home to reunite with your family?"

"The journey home is too far, and going back and forth would be troublesome. I might as well celebrate here with Senior."

"You two truly have a harmonious relationship."

A trace of envy appeared on Cheng Yishi's face. She glanced into the courtyard again. "May I ask where Madam Mao is now?"

"Madam Mao is still at the market. She hasn't returned yet."

"That is a pity. I had hoped to get acquainted with her before the feast."

Cheng Yishi sighed softly, but soon straightened her expression. "Let's put aside these trivial matters for now. I also have a volume to hand over to Mister Lin."

As she spoke, she took a scroll of documents from her sleeve and held it out. "Regarding what you asked me to do some time ago, I personally recorded on paper the vast majority of the rumors and incidents that have circulated throughout Fuyang Commandery in recent years. Mister Lin can return to his room and read through it at his leisure."

Lin Tianlu looked at the thick scroll of documents placed in his hands, astonished.

Miss Cheng is truly responsible. She prepared everything so thoroughly.

"But, Mister Lin—"

Cheng Yishi suddenly stepped forward twice and rose onto her toes. In a lover's whisper, she giggled softly into his ear. "Don't forget about me~"

As she spoke, her slender jade finger stealthily brushed across the back of Lin Tianlu's hand. Then, with a mischievous smile, she immediately retreated two steps, as though deliberately teasing him.

Lin Tianlu stood stunned for a moment before cupping his hands and saying seriously, "Your fingers seem rather cold. You must take good care of yourself. No matter how many household affairs you have, don't forget that your health is your capital."

"..."

Cheng Yishi froze. She hurriedly clasped her icy fingers, her pretty face flushing red. The alluring seductiveness she had shown moments ago was nowhere to be seen. She merely nodded lightly and murmured, "Then, then I shall take my leave for now. If I have time tonight... perhaps I will visit Mister Lin's residence and impose on you for a while."

"I shall await your arrival."

After the other woman left by carriage, Lin Tianlu rubbed the back of his hand and clicked his tongue inwardly.

"Why are her fingers as cold as popsicles? So cultivating yin qi gradually can make someone's body temperature this cold?"

He did not actually know all that much about the so-called yin qi of this world. He was merely making judgments based on the modern memories from before he transmigrated. It seemed he would have to find some time to examine Miss Cheng's body, lest something go wrong and he overturn the cart.

"Miss Hua, let's go inside."

"Huh?... Yes, yes."

Hua Shuya nodded repeatedly, looking somewhat dazed.

Yet after closing the courtyard gate, she glanced back at Lin Tianlu's retreating figure, her eyes faintly melancholy.

Why was it that whenever she saw Senior chatting so warmly with other women, she found it so difficult to remain calm and could not help letting her imagination run wild?

Her thoughts in turmoil, she suddenly called out, "Senior!"

"Hmm?"

Lin Tianlu turned back in confusion. "What is it, Miss Hua?"

Hua Shuya parted her pink lips. After hesitating for quite some time, she stammered, "S-Senior, could you call me... Shuya?"

By the end, her voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz. Her face was bright red, and the fingers of both hands clasped behind her back twisted together incessantly.

Lin Tianlu shook his head with a laugh and called out as she requested, "Miss Shuya, let's go inside."

"...Mm!!"

Hua Shuya's face flushed with excitement. Her expression was so joyous she nearly bounced on her feet. She hurried over with a radiant smile.

Late at night, in the study.

Lin Tianlu was earnestly reading through the documents Cheng Yishi had collected and written. They contained detailed records of the many rumors circulating throughout Fuyang Commandery, including numerous tales of love, hatred, and murder, mountain bandits, disturbances at taverns, and the like.

Of course, there was also the matter he cared about most—

He had heard from a nearly seventy-year-old farmer in a mountain village that, in a valley near a mountain called Jade Peak Mountain, there seemed to have been a treasure buried there since ancient times. Because the mountain was steep and perilous, however, no one had ever gained anything from it.

After reading through all the information, this was the only matter with even the slightest connection to an "immortal."

After all, it was also located in the great mountains.

"Once the festival is over, I'll set out and take a look."

Lin Tianlu turned the page and soon found a detailed map of Fuyang Commandery. Even the various villages and townships were marked with astonishing clarity.

"Miss Cheng certainly put her heart into this."

Creak—

The main door quietly opened, and a graceful figure stepped lightly into the room.

Lin Tianlu looked up. "Madam Mao."

"I saw Miss Hua leave earlier with a radiant smile. I suppose Mister Lin made her happy again?" She covered her lips and chuckled twice, setting a tray of tea snacks beside the desk. "These past few days, I've seen her looking troubled because she has been unable to apprehend the culprit, yet she refused to find anyone to unburden herself to. I was rather worried. But who would have thought..."

"Miss Hua is indeed considerate."

As Lin Tianlu spoke, he soon caught a faint fragrance. He glanced at the square cakes on the plate. "Madam Mao, this is...?"

"I came up with it on a whim today. Why don't you try it, Mister Lin?"

His appetite stirred slightly, so he simply picked up a piece and put it into his mouth, chewing slowly as he savored it. "This flavor... is truly marvelous. It's faintly sweet, yet just right. This pastry is excellent. What is it called?"

"Nourishing Heart Cake." Mao Ruoyu spoke gently. "I saw Mister Lin reading through the night these past few days, so I thought of adding several nourishing medicinal ingredients to the cakes. They can replenish qi and nourish the blood, helping to keep the mind clear."

Lin Tianlu said solemnly, "Thank you for your concern, Madam Mao."

As he spoke, he could not help laughing inwardly.

He had never expected that after coming to this world, he would one day have occasion to eat something for nourishing the brain.

Mao Ruoyu covered her lips and chuckled twice. "If Mister Lin feels indebted, you need only play a few pieces for me. I haven't heard the sound of your flute for many days, and I'm beginning to itch for it."

"Madam, you have refined tastes." Lin Tianlu smiled and took the jade flute from his waist.

"Wait a moment, Mister Lin. I'll go fetch an instrument as well."

Madam Mao soon left the study, but when she returned a moment later, she was holding an exquisite pipa in her arms.

Lin Tianlu asked in surprise, "Madam Mao, you also know how to play the pipa?"

"I've learned a little of these ordinary instruments. Today I happened to see that this pipa was finely made and inexpensive, so I bought it on a whim to give it a try."

Mao Ruoyu hugged the pipa and sat beside him. Her slender fingers brushed the strings as she said softly, "Mister Lin shouldn't mind if I accompany you in a duet?"

"Of course not, but I only remember a few pieces..."

"I'll accompany you from the side."

Seeing the beautiful woman before him urging him so gently, Lin Tianlu no longer refused. He cleared his throat and soon raised the jade flute to his lips.

"Whoosh—"

The melodious flute music echoed through the study. Mao Ruoyu calmed her mind, lowered her eyes, and plucked the strings. The two controlled their tones and rises and falls with an unspoken understanding, their music answering one another in harmony.

The music was soft and lingering, graceful and pleasing to the ear.

Only when the piece ended did Lin Tianlu lower the flute, looking slightly embarrassed.

His skill at playing had improved somewhat after these past few days of practice, but in the end, it could not be considered particularly accomplished.

He was just about to speak when he saw that the beautiful woman before him looked somewhat different. Her limpid, moist eyes seemed to ripple with a thousand tender emotions, which melted into a faint, clear current—soft as water.

The atmosphere had quietly taken on a hint of ambiguity.

"Mister Lin, could I..."

Lin Tianlu was caught completely off guard. His face stiffened, and he instinctively tightened his grip on the jade flute.

In such a romantic atmosphere, could it be—

I can't take this. I really can't take this!

Mao Ruoyu hugged the pipa and leaned toward him. Her lovely face was flushed with bashful beauty, and she twisted shyly, seemingly unable to speak.

But after a moment of silence, she finally steeled herself and said,

"Could I go have some supper? I suddenly feel rather hungry."

Lin Tianlu: "..."

Knock, knock, knock—

The urgent pounding on the main door rang out. At the same time, someone outside the courtyard could faintly be heard calling, "Mister Lin!" The sound happened to shatter the awkwardness.

Lin Tianlu hurriedly coughed, rose, and said with an embarrassed smile, "Then Madam Mao, go fill your stomach first. It sounds like there's a visitor outside. I'll go open the door and see who it is."

"Mm..."

Watching Lin Tianlu hurry out of the study, Mao Ruoyu finally let out a soft gasp. As if blaming herself, she lightly tapped her head.

"Why did such romantic scenes come to mind... Mister Lin was clearly playing with complete seriousness, yet my thoughts wandered..."

The moment she recalled what she had just imagined, Mao Ruoyu's cheeks grew hot. Overcome with shame, her heart trembled.

"If Mister Lin found out that I was this shameless, what would he think of me...?"

As she struggled with her thoughts, she suddenly felt the pipa in her arms tremble lightly, its strings moving of their own accord.

She had only just shown surprise when a familiar stream of heat surged through her entire body, making her pupils contract sharply.

She unconsciously bit her red lips and clenched the front of her ruqun. The pipa in her arms pressed against that ample mass, forcing it into a protruding curve. Her full legs seemed to lose their strength as she staggered, finally collapsing onto the floor.

"Such vast yang qi... truly, it's impossible to withstand...!"