The husband I snatched halfway through his life is strange.

Chapter 357 It would be a shame not to mention him!

The tea-colored aroma lingers, rising gently.

The teahouse was bustling with people.

On the right side of the first-floor hall, there are ten tables, each seating eight people. Chairs are placed on the left side, arranged in pairs with a tea table in the middle for serving tea and snacks.

The music hadn't started yet, and the crowd was already noisy.

"Luckily I had the foresight to book a private room yesterday. If I had booked it now, it would definitely be full."

Shen Zhiyi slowly waved her fan: "The mainstay of the teahouse's singing is from Jiangnan. She's been singing for almost thirty years, but her voice is still as melodious as a nightingale's song. You can never get tired of listening to her. However, her voice became hoarse a few days ago, and she hasn't been on stage since."

"However, the teahouse owner personally visited the teahouse and invited someone from the opera troupe on East Street to come and sing. At first, many regular customers didn't buy it, and the teahouse business declined."

Young ladies shouldn't talk about matters of pleasure. Shen Zhiyi gently pressed her fan to her lips and whispered, "Half of them have gone to brothels to support that new Yangzhou courtesan."

However, she didn't mention it further.

Closer to home.

"Fortunately, the singers hired by this teahouse are just as good as the original star performers."

"He's a young man, but his singing is more delicate and charming than a woman's, and he's quite handsome. Most of the customers downstairs are women, but they're all there to see him."

Yu Tingwan listened quietly the whole time.

Only after hearing this did she slowly open her mouth.

"Compared to Xiao Huaiyan?"

Shen Zhiyi was slightly taken aback.

"Why did this suddenly come up with him? I'm not even familiar with him."

However, she did think about it.

"They're really neck and neck."

Yu Tingwan: Oh wow!

Shen Zhiyi casually remarked, "By the way, he spent a fortune on that skinny horse just a few days ago."

Although Yu Tingwan knew it was to enhance the reputation of the playboy.

But it seems that Xiao Huaiyan's journey to win back his wife will be long and arduous.

"How do you know?"

Shen Zhiyi: "It's all over the place now. He always complains about being poor, but he's willing to spend money on women."

At this point, Shen Zhiyi seemed to recall some unpleasant memories.

"Forget it, let's not talk about him, it's a downer."

Yu Tingwan's interest had only just begun to sprout.

"what happened?"

Yu Tingwan asked, "Aren't you two not close? Is he being stingy with you?"

Shen Zhiyi nodded without any suspicion: "I spent a night with him in a prison cell a few years ago. The cell was dimly lit and quite eerie."

Every now and then, the heavy sound of chains scraping against the ground could be heard as prisoners moved about in the distance.

Shen Zhiyi was, after all, a girl, and she was afraid of the dark.

Fortunately, he had a luminous pearl on hand.

“I was scared at the time, so I said a lot of nice things to him and coaxed him into lending me the luminous pearl for lighting.”

Yu Tingwan: ...

It's obvious that Xiao Huaiyan did it on purpose!

Yu Tingwan: "Maybe you don't need to say nice things, he will just bring them up."

"Come on, he's not that kind-hearted."

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

Shen Zhiyi: "I'll accept it."

Yu Tingwan rested her chin on her hand: "Isn't this great?"

"He later left the capital, but when he returned, he suddenly changed his mind. He came to our door with a cold face and wanted to go back."

Shen Zhiyi said irritably, "Do you think he's sick?"

"He insisted on giving it to me in the first place, but in the end he kept urging me to pay it back. I didn't offend him, did I?"

No, you've offended me.

You and Chu Liulang are engaged.

Downstairs, gongs and drums resounded. A young man in a white robe, looking shy and timid, entered from outside, carrying a pipa. He walked lightly onto the stage and began to sing.

It really sounds good.

The noisy crowd fell silent, closing their eyes to enjoy the moment.

At this moment, Tan Jiang came in from outside.

Yu Tingwan looked up.

"How is it?"

Tan Jiang: "I have already instructed Prince Ning."

She added, "I just returned and saw the Ninth Princess's palanquin coming this way."

Shen Zhiyi frowned: "Why is Ying Changyi here?"

Some time ago, the Ninth Princess still held a grudge against Yang Weiwen because Yang Weiwen had been brought into the Censorate by He Xuran, and she had gone to Emperor Yingqian to make a scene.

As they were talking, there was a loud bang.

The door to the private room was kicked open.

A group of guards stood watch outside. The Ninth Princess, dressed in silk and satin, adorned with jewels, was helped inside by servants, looking high and mighty.

She walked straight up to Yu Tingwan.

Thinking of this culprit who caused the Zhou State Duke's Mansion to lose its reputation and whose uncle was flogged, Ying Changyi wished he could kill her with his own hands!
No, you can't.

Suppressing his anger, Ying Changyi looked down at Yu Tingwan with disdain.

"I came to watch the opera, but there were no seats available. I learned that Miss Shen had reserved a private room here, so I came uninvited. I hope Miss Shen doesn't mind."

I mind!!!
I feel disgusted just looking at you!

Why are you talking to me and looking at Yu Tingwan?
Is it because Yu Tingwan is prettier than her?

Shen Zhiyi was reluctant, but dared not offend her, so she stood up and bowed: "If I had known the princess was coming, I should have gone to greet her. This way please."

Ying Changyi seemed not to hear anything and didn't take Shen Zhiyi seriously. Her well-maintained hand rested on the corner of the table, her fingertips moving as if in sync with the music playing downstairs.

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

"I just came from the Duke of Zhou's mansion. My uncle is still recovering from his injuries in bed. He looks haggard and weak. It's pitiful that he is old and his wounds are not healing."

As she spoke, she subtly changed the subject.

Her red lips moved slightly.

"However, he was wrong to begin with. I will not blame the General's wife without distinguishing right from wrong."

Anyone else would have been terrified.

The words don't carry a warning, yet they seem to be a warning in themselves.

As expected of the most favored princess, born to the Empress, she is truly magnificent.

"This location is quite nice. I've taken a liking to it. I just wonder if the General's wife would be willing to give it up?"

Yu Tingwan then looked up at her and put her index finger to her lips: "Shh."

She spoke very kindly.

"You're disturbing me."

Shen Zhiyi: ...

You are really brave!

When did Shen Zhiyi become so arrogant?!
Ying Changyi remained silent, but the palace maid behind her stepped forward and spoke in a cold voice.

"How dare you! Why doesn't the General's wife pay her respects!"

Yu Tingwan had an exceptionally gentle temperament, and she drawled out her words, "I forgot."

Ying Changyi: ...

How can you be so self-righteous when you forgot to bow?

Yu Tingwan quickly stood up, but did not leave her seat. She looked innocently at Ying Changyi and her group without making a move, and they remained in a stalemate.

I don't know how much time passed, but the air was getting thinner.

The palace maid frowned and pointed coldly, about to speak.

Yu Tingwan glared at her: "You were so nervous and at a loss when you saw the princess's majesty. I already told you, I forgot."

Although the manner of greeting the noble ladies in the palace is the most cumbersome, the palace maid did not believe it: "Even though you have just entered the capital, the Wei family has always had nannies who repeatedly instructed you. Could it be that Madam is exceptionally dull-witted?"

Yu Tingwan: "Is there a problem?"

She smiled and said, "I've never been very smart."