Shen Tan's days were usually spent between the pharmacy and the medicine factory.
The medicine factory was staffed by villagers, so he naturally heard all the gossip from the village.
Thinking of Li Yue Shu's demeanor just now, Shen Tan recalled something he had recently heard.
He hesitated for a moment before speaking, "Is Madam upset about the recent rumors in the village?"
Qin Mo Yuan looked bewildered, "Rumors? What rumors?"
Shen Tan was surprised that he didn't know, "Not long after Madam and Master went to Yun Su, a woman named Wang He Hua came to the house, claiming to be betrothed to Master."
Due to Li Yue Shu's presence, Shen Tan and the other six had always shown great respect to Qin Mo Yuan.
However, thinking of Wang He Hua's existence, Shen Tan looked at Qin Mo Yuan with a hint of reproach.
His tone carried a touch of anger, "What's more outrageous is that she claimed Madam was a concubine and she was Master's wife!"
Qin Mo Yuan's expression instantly turned cold, a flicker of anger in his eyes. Book Pavilion
After a moment of silence, he asked in confusion, "Who is Wang He Hua?"
"Master doesn't know?" It was Shen Tan's turn to be confused, "It's all over the village, that Wang He Hua was engaged to you, and the engagement contract hasn't been returned. They say you were mutually in love, and if not for an accident two years ago, you would have been married long ago."
When he mentioned "mutually in love," Shen Tan's eyes deepened with resentment.
But Qin Mo Yuan frowned upon hearing this, and stated firmly, "I don't know any Wang He Hua, nor have I ever been engaged."
Seeing his certainty, Shen Tan became even more perplexed, "But the engagement contract she produced is real."
Qin Mo Yuan's face tightened. He said no more and turned to leave in a hurry.
Since Chai Yang had been sent on an errand, Qin Mo Yuan had to ask Xing He.
Upon hearing the name "Wang He Hua," Xing He looked surprised, "Master, you don't remember? This woman helped Master before."
Qin Mo Yuan's brow was almost furrowed into a knot, yet he still couldn't recall such a person.
Seeing this, Xing He quickly explained, "Before, Master personally went to find a witness to prove the innocence of the eldest young master's maternal grandfather's family, and accidentally got injured. When he returned, he fainted in the back mountain. It was that Wang He Hua who called people from the village to carry Master back."
Hearing this, Qin Mo Yuan vaguely remembered that such a thing had indeed happened.
He had always been fair in his rewards and punishments. Although he couldn't expose his identity at the time, it wasn't difficult to repay a commoner, so he had Chai Yang make arrangements.
But he still didn't understand, "Where did the engagement contract come from? And what about her claim of mutual love?"
When this was mentioned, Xing He's expression became a little odd.
He awkwardly touched his nose, "Uh... does Master remember Madam Shen's previous attempt to arrange a marriage for you?"
Qin Mo Yuan was startled. He thought about it carefully, and it seemed there was indeed such a matter.
He frowned even deeper, "She was going to introduce that Wang He Hua?"
Xing He nodded, "Although Master refused at the time, Wang He Hua pestered and insisted on marrying you, and took the initiative to approach Madam Shen, so... she wrote the engagement contract behind Master's back."
Seeing his master's face darken, Xing He quickly added, "It was at that time that Master had an accident, and both subordinates and Chai Yang were focused on finding Master, so we didn't have the capacity to handle this matter."
"Later, they bought Madam back, and this engagement was no longer mentioned, so I... forgot."
Towards the end, Xing He's confidence wavered.
Too many things had happened one after another at that time, so they hadn't paid attention to the Shen family's antics.
Qin Mo Yuan's face was so dark it looked like ink was about to drip from it, making Xing He tremble with fear.
"Based on this alone, she went around saying that this King and she were mutually in love?"
Qin Mo Yuan asked this almost through gritted teeth, even changing his self-appellation, which showed the extent of his anger.
What angered him was not Wang He Hua's slander of his reputation, but that she had spread such a lie to A'Shu's ears.
No wonder A'Shu hadn't spoken to him all day!
Xing He shivered, lowering his head and not daring to speak.
In his many years, he had met two of the boldest women: one was Madam, and the other was Wang He Hua.
Qin Mo Yuan's expression was tense, his face, which could easily disappear in a crowd, was covered in an almost palpable ice.
"Bring that woman here. I want her to explain to A'Shu personally!"
Xing He subconsciously looked up, a look of surprise on his face.
Master truly treated Madam differently, to be so angry about being misunderstood, and even wanting an explanation!
Xing He's eyes brightened, and a thought suddenly surged into his mind.
"Master, this might be an opportunity!"
Qin Mo Yuan frowned, looking at him, clearly not understanding his sudden excitement.
Xing He secretly glanced around, and lowered his voice as if he were a thief, "Master, do you want to know if Madam has you in her heart?"
Qin Mo Yuan's eyes darkened. Although he didn't speak, Xing He, who had followed him for many years, instantly understood that he had defaulted.
Seeing this, Xing He quickly said, "Everyone thinks there is something between Master and that Wang He Hua. If Madam has Master in her heart, she will definitely be jealous because of this. Then, when Master actively expresses his feelings and stance, Madam will surely be moved!"
"When that happens, Master can apologize for the previous concealment, and even if Madam is very angry, it should dissipate."
Qin Mo Yuan pursed his lips, half-believing, "Really?"
Xing He nodded very firmly.
He hadn't eaten pork before, but he had seen pigs run!
Because of the rumors about Master, although he hadn't even held a young girl's hand yet, he had witnessed a lot, and even the storybooks wrote about such things.
Qin Mo Yuan's brows remained tightly furrowed, still somewhat skeptical of Xing He's words.
But after thinking about it, it seemed to make sense, and this was indeed an opportunity.
Qin Mo Yuan hesitated for a moment and decided to try Xing He's method.
After dinner, everyone was resting in the courtyard. Qin Mo Yuan slowly moved closer to Li Yue Shu, his gaze cautiously fixed on her.
The latter noticed his movement, glanced at him expressionlessly, and then immediately withdrew her gaze.
She even turned away slightly, as if she didn't want to see this person.
Qin Mo Yuan looked at her small gestures and suddenly asked, "Is A'Shu angry with me?"
Li Yue Shu shot him a sideways glance, "Why should I be angry with you?"
She fanned herself with the fan that Yu had given her, and the white jade hairpin on her head reflected a pure light under the moonlight. Her fair and beautiful face seemed to be coated with a layer of radiance.
Qin Mo Yuan was momentarily captivated.
He quickly regained his composure and carefully observed Li Yue Shu's expression, "It seems a woman named Wang He Hua has recently arrived in the village."
Upon hearing this name, Li Yue Shu's relaxed expression instantly tensed, and her mood, which had seemed so content, vanished.
She stopped fanning herself and asked, her voice devoid of any discernible emotion, "Do you know her?"
Qin Mo Yuan hesitated, then nodded directly, admitting it.