"Ah, Mr. Yi, what story will you tell today?" "Mr. Yi, what tea will you have today?"
The proprietor and attendants in the teahouse all greeted Yi Shuyuan, while some tea drinkers and storytelling enthusiasts who had arrived early to claim seats eagerly awaited today's tale.
Yet Yi Shuyuan's expression shifted slightly, and he stood straight up.
"My sincere apologies. I suddenly feel unwell, and I'm afraid I cannot tell a story today. Proprietor, everyone, I must take my leave!"
Yi Shuyuan cupped his hands and bowed in apology to those around him, then left the storytelling table and hurried out of the teahouse.
His departure left the tea drinkers inside astonished.
"Wait, Mr. Yi!" "Mr. Yi, your tea is already brewed-"
"Why is Mr. Yi leaving?" "Mr. Yi, aren't you telling a story today?"
"My apologies, my apologies!"
Holding his folding fan upside down, Yi Shuyuan apologized to the tea drinkers and storytelling enthusiasts arriving outside. A flurry of discussion broke out among them, everyone feeling thoroughly disappointed.
But how could Yi Shuyuan stop for storytelling now? People only saw him hurrying away. Many rushing toward Qingyuan Pavilion brushed past him without even noticing that the storyteller had passed right beside them.
"Sir, what happened?"
"There may be flooding in Deng Province. It seems connected to that Variegated Flood Dragon!"
"Then are we going to Deng Province?"
"Yes!"
After answering Hui Mian, Yi Shuyuan glanced back toward the teahouse from the corner of his eye, then shook his head slightly and strode away.
Back at the teahouse, several disguised imperial guards exchanged bewildered looks. Why had Mr. Yi stopped telling stories just as they arrived? Had they been discovered?
"What if Long Feiyang is here?" "Come on, let's follow him!"
Yet when they hurried out of the teahouse and