NOVPUBShen Roujia suppressed her confusion and calmly said, “Please bring her here. Tell her we had an appointment.”
The two girls sensed that Shen Roujia did not wish to reveal her identity, but her ambiguous tone only made them more worried.
“Tao Hua does not come to the front hall. If it’s as you say, please move to the back hall.”
Zhang San was visibly displeased and was about to step forward when Shen Roujia stopped him.
In such a place, there were naturally strict rules, and Shen Roujia did not see these as obstacles. The regulations here seemed meticulously enforced.
Shen Roujia smiled softly. “That’s fine. Once Tao Hua sees me, she’ll know who I am.”
Despite her petite frame, Shen Roujia showed no fear. Zhang San, however, looked worriedly at her and whispered in her ear, “Master, this seems suspicious. We can’t just…”
Before Zhang San could finish, Shen Roujia stood up and said, “Then, please lead the way.”
The two girls exchanged a smile. “This way, honored guest.”
The distance from the front hall to the back hall seemed short, but it took them a while to realize that the place connected to a lakeside residence.
As they walked through a quiet, serene corridor, the scent of bamboo filled the air.
Shen Roujia took a deep breath and heard the sound of a guqin from inside the residence.
“Tao Hua, someone is here to see you.”
The two girls relaxed and looked up at the figure playing the guqin on the roof.
Through the white veil of her hat, Shen Roujia glimpsed a figure in a crimson robe.
The person lightly pressed the strings and gracefully landed in front of Shen Roujia.
The two girls bowed slightly and quietly left.
Shen Roujia looked up and heard a gentle male voice, “Who sent you?”
Her eyes widened in surprise. “You… you’re Tao Hua?”
Tao Hua calmly adjusted his loose robe and hummed in acknowledgment.
Goodness, what kind of man has such a name? No wonder those two girls were so cautious earlier.
Not just Shen Roujia, even Zhang San was taken aback. “Did we find the wrong person?”
Tao Hua chuckled, “Follow me.”
Shen Roujia, still bewildered, followed him and instructed Zhang San, “Wait here for me.”
Zhang San pointed to himself. “But…”
Shen Roujia followed Tao Hua to an inner pavilion.
“How did you find me?” he asked.
Shen Roujia’s expression turned serious. “Do you know Shu Nian?”
Tao Hua paused slightly while pouring tea. “Yes.”
Shen Roujia calmly said, “She’s dead. Poisoned.”
Tao Hua’s expression remained unchanged as he poured tea for Shen Roujia. “So, are you my next master?”
Shen Roujia felt a wave of frustration. Why did that sound so ambiguous?
She quickly dismissed her thoughts and replied, “Aren’t you going to verify it?”
Tao Hua raised an eyebrow. “There’s nothing to verify. In this Glamorous Pavilion, I’m the only one who knows that name.”
Shen Roujia was taken aback. No wonder Shu Nian had said what she did.
Without hesitation, she handed over the account book Shu Nian had given her. “This is the only thing she left me.”
Tao Hua glanced at it and casually tossed it onto the table. “Alright.”
