"Yee-hee-hee, Brother Xiao, what's wrong? Do you think two jars are too few? Ah, I'm only doing this for your own good, aren't I? This wine is excellent, but the price is certainly steep. Although Young Marquis, you are rolling in wealth, this small amount shouldn't matter, but as we are good brothers, I must save money for you, right?" Seeing Xiao Geng spray wine, Ye Jingyu said shamelessly...

The moment Ye Jingyu said this, Xiao Geng nearly choked to death on a mouthful of wine. Steep price? You finally admit the price is steep? What do you mean, rolling in wealth, this small amount doesn't matter? My entire year's stipend isn't even this much...

"Ah, but since you're being so polite, I can't bear to disappoint your intentions. Old Madam, let it be these five jars. Have my two subordinates carry them back. And bring two more pots of wine; Young Marquis and I shall have a good drink together..." Before Xiao Geng could even speak, Ye Jingyu cut in again...

"Pfft..." This time, what Xiao Geng sprayed wasn't wine, but bright red blood. He was simply infuriated to the point of spitting blood by Ye Jingyu's words...

What do you mean, I can't bear to disappoint your intentions? When the hell did I agree? Five jars, five jars of Yellow Millet Wine aged over fifty years! That’s nearly twenty thousand silver taels! His yearly stipend was barely over a thousand. Even counting the produce from his territory, his total annual income was only about twenty to thirty thousand taels. This one order would consume more than half a year's income. And he calls that 'not much'?

Xiao Geng wanted to call back the Old Madam, but after seeing her nod earlier, she had already scurried away, leaving no trace behind...

Xiao Geng couldn't bring himself to default on a debt. Moreover, having already agreed, he also couldn't bring himself to go back on his word, because he was Xiao Geng, not Ye Jingyu. His pride, his reputation, forbade him from doing so...

"Young Marquis, are you alright..." The alluring Yao Yao, who had initially found Ye Jingyu amusing, slightly changed her expression after hearing his string of words. When she saw Xiao Geng choke blood from anger, a look of alarm flashed across her face, yet inwardly, she was utterly awestruck by Ye Jingyu...

With just a few words, he managed to anger Xiao Geng into spitting blood. This was undoubtedly the most sensational confrontation in the history of Shu Yun Kingdom...

"I'm fine, just a bit of excess internal heat. General Ye, I have some pressing matters. Please forgive my departure..." Xiao Geng waved his hand. He felt that if he stayed sitting there any longer, he might be angered to death by Ye Jingyu, or he might erupt into a fight, which would certainly become the top gossip in Shu Yun Kingdom: the two great generals clashing over a courtesan from a pleasure house...

Ye Jingyu might not care about his reputation, but Xiao Geng did. Thus, he decided it was best to leave quickly...

"Brother Xiao, leaving so soon? Won't you stay for a few more drinks with me?" Ye Jingyu put on an expression of deep reluctance, as if Xiao Geng were his dearest son...

"No, if there is a next time, I shall drink my fill with General Ye then..." Xiao Geng shook his head and walked towards the exit...

"But Brother Xiao, I didn't bring that much silver out with me today..." Ye Jingyu couldn't resist reminding him...

"Rest assured, Brother Ye, all those bills are noted under my name. No one will bother you about it..." Xiao Geng, already at the door, nearly tripped over himself at that statement. He threw a sarcastic remark over his shoulder before striding out of the room...

"Ah, Brother Xiao is really something. We serve in the same court, yet he shows me such disrespect..." After Xiao Geng left, Ye Jingyu grumbled discontentedly, acting as if the fault lay entirely with Xiao Geng...

"Pfft..." Yao Yao beside him could no longer contain herself. She burst into laughter, doubling over, shaking with mirth, a truly radiant display of joy...

You were clearly the one being excessively shameless, angering the other party away, and now you complain about him not giving you face? Isn't that the height of impudence?

"Miss Yao Yao, this young master came to listen to your performance, not your laughter..." Ye Jingyu’s voice turned cold...

"My apologies, General Ye. This humble girl will play for General Ye immediately..." Yao Yao suppressed her smile, embraced her Pipa once more, and gently plucked the strings with her jade-like fingers. The exquisite melody slowly began to resonate...

It had to be said that as a member of the Hundred Flowers Sect, Yao Yao was truly accomplished in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Not only was she stunningly beautiful, but her Pipa playing was utterly sublime. Even though Ye Jingyu knew nothing of musical theory, he was deeply immersed in the music...

The sound soared high at times, dropped low at others, sometimes tragically magnificent, making Ye Jingyu seem to see a scene of ten thousand horses galloping and thousands of soldiers clashing on the battlefield...

"Drunk, I trim the wick and gaze at my sword; in dreams, I return to the trumpet's bivouac. Eight hundred li of roasted lamb beneath the banner, the fifty-stringed instrument plays the northern frontier's sound, reviewing the autumn troops on the sandy fields. The horse leaps fast as Lu Fei, the bow sings like a thunderclap from the startled string. To accomplish the King's mandate throughout the realm, and win fame in life and after. Alas, my hair has turned white..." Unconsciously, an ancient poem from his memories of a previous life escaped Ye Jingyu’s lips...

When he finished reciting, the Pipa music surprisingly ceased. The clueless Ye Jingyu looked up and saw Yao Yao staring at him, her face filled with shock...

"Uh... is there something on my face?" Ye Jingyu asked, slightly confused, rubbing his cheek and finding nothing unusual...

Truthfully, being stared at so intensely by such a seductive and beautiful woman made even his thick skin flush slightly crimson...

"I truly never imagined you could compose such exquisitely beautiful verses, General Ye. You have truly opened this servant’s eyes..." Yao Yao murmured, her voice filled with emotion...

"Heh heh, how could I have composed these verses? These were written by Xin Qiji..." Ye Jingyu shook his head...

"Heh heh, I didn't expect Young Master Ye to not only write such fine poetry but also to be so modest. Yao Yao prides herself on being well-read in ancient poetry and prose, and intimately familiar with poets and lyricists, yet I have never heard of a poet named Xin Qiji, much less such tragic yet beautiful lyrics and music..." Yao Yao simply refused to believe Ye Jingyu's words. In her eyes, any poem this magnificent would surely have been world-famous, regardless of the author, yet she had never heard of it before today. If Ye Jingyu didn't write it, who did?

Ye Jingyu paused in realization—Oh right, Xin Qiji didn't exist in this world...

His moment of hesitation was interpreted by Yao Yao as the surprise of someone whose lie had been exposed, further solidifying her own deduction...

The look in her eyes as she gazed at Ye Jingyu transformed once more. Just then, a piercing cry suddenly rang out from outside. Both Ye Jingyu and Yao Yao paused simultaneously...