Chapter 23: Eavesdropping on the Conversation-Reencarnação em um roteiro de vingança: ainda bem que eu não sou uma pessoa boa(Onde está o meu peixinho seco?)

The shopkeeper’s expression shifted instantly. He bowed and scraped, saying, "Oh, my, look at this mess. It is entirely due to my shop’s failure to discipline our staff properly. I apologize for the trouble caused to you all. You are free to leave."

With that, he snatched the hundred-tael banknote from the young man in green and shoved it back into the servant’s hand.

What a performance—it would be a real waste if he didn't become an actor.

The young man in green glanced at him sideways and said, "You make it sound so easy, Shopkeeper. You block our way when you want, and you tell us to leave when you want?"

The shopkeeper looked up, quickly ordered his staff to pack up the items the young man had previously selected, and offered a bow. "How about this? To express our sincere apologies, please accept these items as a gift. Would that be satisfactory?"

His eyes darted around, and he lowered his head to cough before asking, "And for this... this young lady’s items?"

"Include them as a gift as well," the shopkeeper said, bowing respectfully.

"Very well." He waved a hand and walked out of the Linglong Pavilion with Wanqi Yue.

[System: Main Quest 2-1 "Standing Up for Others" completed. Reward: Slight increase in combat power. Main Quest 2-2 "Gathering Intelligence" unlocked.]

As soon as they reached the entrance, the young man in green immediately thanked Wanqi Yue for her righteous intervention.

"I’m so lucky I ran into you today, otherwise I would have been swindled by that black-hearted shopkeeper."

"It was nothing. I actually benefited from you today—I got three jade pendants without spending a single tael."

"You are too kind, Miss. I feel like you are somewhat familiar, as if we have met before. May I have the honor of inviting you to dine at the Wanbao Restaurant?"

"The young master’s approach to flirting is as outdated as ever," the servant on the side muttered under his breath.

The young man turned and glared at him, and the servant immediately patted his own mouth, signaling he would not speak another word.

Watching this amusing pair of master and servant, Wanqi Yue couldn't help but laugh. She took two steps forward, leaned in close to his ear, and whispered:

"Sure, Dog-Hole Brother."

"It’s you?!!!" Shao Chengling’s eyes widened instantly. It took a moment of thought before he realized the woman in front of him was the "brother" he had encountered while crawling through that dog hole.

"Shh." She made a gesture for him to be quiet. He nodded with surprise, then glanced at the guard behind Wanqi Yue, as if he suddenly understood something.

He naturally wouldn't speak of it; after all, crawling through a dog hole... was hardly something to boast about.

The two walked side by side toward the Wanbao Restaurant. He whispered to Wanqi Yue, "Older sister, my name is Shao Chengling. I’m afraid you might have forgotten."

"Haha, I did forget, I only remembered the dog hole from that day," Wanqi Yue teased.

Shao Chengling blushed bright red with embarrassment.

"Sister! Please don't bring that up again. If my family finds out, I’ll be in for a scolding."

"All right, all right, I won't mention it," she promised.

"That day, you said we might meet again if fate allowed. I didn't expect it to be so soon. Can you finally tell me your name this time?"

"Wanqi Yue."

"I’ve noted it down. But why were you dressed as a man that day, sister?"

"Dressing as a man saves a lot of trouble. Although I’m not happy about it, that is the reality."

Shao Chengling nodded in agreement.

They hadn't visited Wanbao Restaurant in a few days, and there were many new dishes on the menu. Just as they were enjoying their meal, Wanqi Yue saw a familiar face.

"Please, Brother Wang."

"Steward Wang?" Wanqi Yue said in surprise. The person beside him looked familiar—she remembered now, she had seen him at the Gongcheng residence. It was Steward Fang.

[Task Hint: Please follow them and eavesdrop on their conversation.]

Wanqi Yue stood on her tiptoes, quietly following them upstairs, and hid outside the door to listen.

Wang Genyuan: "Brother Fang, do you have a plan?"

Steward Fang: "Three days from now, the Gongcheng family will go to Jueyin Temple to pray for Gongcheng Ling. I suggested it. They will rest for a while in the West Courtyard. I will use incense to knock them unconscious. You bring your third miss over, and I will make sure they are caught in the act. How could they refuse to marry after that?"

Wang Genyuan: "Haha, it has to be you, Brother Fang."

Steward Fang: "Oh, this is all thanks to General Wanqi’s trust in me. My old bones still have some use after all."

Wang Genyuan: "What are you saying? If this succeeds, you will be the greatest contributor, Brother Fang. The master will surely reward you handsomely."

Steward Fang: "Hahaha, you are too kind..."

Steward Fang: "I noticed you limping when you walked in earlier, Brother Wang. What happened?"

Wang Genyuan: "Sigh, don't ask. It was all because of that Wanqi Yue."

Steward Fang: "She has always been timid and submissive. Isn't she just doing menial labor in your residence?"

Wang Genyuan: "Who knows? She was pushed into the water by our third miss that day, and since she woke up, she’s been like a different person—utterly vicious."

Wanqi Yue peeked in, watching Steward Wang rub his backside—the one she had whipped—while he spat out his complaints. She found it quite amusing.

Steward Fang: "I heard the General is allowing her to go out now?"

Wang Genyuan nodded: "Yes. It’s all for the sake of that dowry. I specifically arranged a guard to stay by her side, claiming it’s for her protection, but in reality, it’s to monitor her."

Steward Fang frowned, looking concerned. "Is that person reliable? You must be careful, Brother Wang."

"Don't worry. His mother’s life is in my hands. He wouldn't dare disobey," Wang Genyuan said with supreme confidence.

What? Thinking of the times Xiao Pu had been injured and kept stopping himself from speaking, Wanqi Yue finally understood.

She wanted to hear more clearly and leaned forward, but just as they reached the critical part, the bracelet on her wrist accidentally hit the window frame, making a sound.

"Who's there?" The two were startled.

Before Wanqi Yue could react, two large hands grabbed her shoulders and dragged her into the next room, scaring her so much she almost screamed.

It’s over, I’ve been discovered!

She trembled as she opened one eye. Phew, it was just Shao Chengling.

"Sister..."

Before he could finish the word, Wanqi Yue covered his mouth.

"Shh! You scared the life out of me!"

"Sister, why are you here? Weren't you going to find the waiter to order dessert?" Shao Chengling asked cautiously.

[Main Quest 2-2 "Gathering Intelligence" completed. Reward: "Babble" x1, 50 taels. Main Quest 2-3 "Requesting Help" unlocked.]

[Task Hint: Shao Chengling might be able to help you.]

She tapped the table, summoning the system.

Wanqi Yue: "Baldy, what is going on with Xiao Pu and Steward Wang?"

Wanqi Yue: "No wonder I was curious. Given Xiao Pu’s martial arts skills, he shouldn't have been controlled by him. It turns out he was being threatened."

[System: Several years ago, he was severely injured in the woods. When he was dying, an old woman picking herbs on the mountain saved his life. When he woke up, he remembered nothing, so he took the woman who saved him as his foster mother.]

[System: Her family had no money, and she fell ill recently. While he was setting up a stall, he offended Steward Wang and was locked up. When he went to question him, he injured Steward Wang. The steward, seeing he had some skills, used his foster mother’s life as a threat, promising to cure her if he performed tasks for him.]

[System: As long as he completes this, the mother and son will be reunited. Xiao Pu had no choice but to agree.]

Wanqi Yue sneered, "Perform tasks? You mean monitoring me? It seems Steward Wang beat him up because he was holding a grudge about being injured by him."

[System: Correct.]

Wanqi Yue: "Tell me the whereabouts of his foster mother."

[System: For that, you need to ask the person in front of you for help.]

As soon as the message finished, the system vanished. The person in front of her? Uh, it couldn't be Shao Chengling, could it?

Staring into Shao Chengling’s innocent, guileless eyes, a hundred thousand doubts rose in her heart. This guy... is he capable of this? Never mind. Since the system said so, it should be fine.