"Are you trying to say that I'm the one who should beg?" Long Er glared at the blind girl, finding her words infuriating.
"Second Master, there's no need to beg. If you were to say you wanted to marry me now, I certainly wouldn't refuse. Not only would I not refuse, but I would also help you clear Manager Lü's name."
Long Er was speechless. He had negotiated many times in the business world and had seen some of the most difficult people, but he had never seen anyone like her who would pretend to be innocent even after getting a good deal, who was stubborn and concerned about saving face but actually knew how to shut you up.
Long Er was displeased and replied, "Miss Ju, you're dreaming. I don't want to marry you, nor do I need your help. What kind of power does my Long family have? And is the government office just for show? The truth of that case will soon come to light. So, Miss Ju, your wishful thinking has backfired."
Long Er's tone was harsh. He saw Ju Mu'er's expression slowly harden, and her fingers gripping the bamboo cane turned white from the force. She pursed her lips and blinked hard; Long Er wasn't sure if she was about to cry.
Her guardedness and sorrow made Long Er regret his words. Had he said something too harsh? But words spoken are like water spilled; they cannot be taken back.
The two of them fell silent.
After a while, Ju Mu'er said in a choked voice, "Sorry to bother you." Then she hurriedly stood up and walked out.
Long Er started to panic; the sadness in her voice made him feel uneasy. She was just leaving like that? Not going to argue with him anymore? Not going to fight back?
He watched her walk out; she was faster than when she came in, and in the blink of an eye, she was out of the house and on the path. Long Er looked at her through the window and realized that no one was leading her, yet she still knew the way.
Seeing her walking further and further away, Long Er couldn't sit still any longer. He jumped up, ran a few quick steps, and caught up with her in no time.
"Miss Ju," he called to her.
Ju Mu'er didn't turn around, but lowered her head and whispered, "Second Master, there's no need to see me off. I know the way."
He didn't doubt that she knew the way. He suddenly realized that she had walked slowly when she came because she was silently memorizing the route, which was why she was always much more agile when she left. But the point now wasn't that she knew the way, nor was he going to escort her.
"Miss Ju." Long Er stepped forward and grasped her bamboo cane. "Have breakfast before you go."
Ju Mu'er shook her head, her voice still low: "Thank you for your kindness, Second Master, but I won't disturb you any longer." She used a little force, but couldn't pull the bamboo cane away. She frowned and pulled it twice more.
Long Er, holding the bamboo cane, couldn't help but laugh at her angry face and the way she tried so hard but couldn't pull the cane out. He said, "Let's have breakfast together. I'll see how much you actually eat. Is it possible that you can't even eat half of my shop's money in ten years?"
Ju Mu'er was taken aback, but her mood hadn't improved. She stood still, while Long Er pulled on his bamboo cane, trying to lead her back. He said, "Negotiations are like business deals; you have to negotiate. If one approach doesn't work, try another. You can always find a way to get to the point. How can you be like this, getting angry and wanting to leave after only a few words? How can anything be accomplished that way?"
Ju Mu'er didn't respond. She was a little confused as to whether Long Er wanted to continue teasing her or was genuinely willing to talk to her again. But now that he was pulling her away, she was willing to go with him. No matter how harsh his words or how wicked his actions, he didn't truly intend to hurt her. She thought she could still distinguish between good and evil.
The two returned to the same room, where the servant laid out a steaming hot breakfast: congee, side dishes, and steamed buns.
Long Er told Ju Mu'er about all the different kinds of food, then picked up some steamed buns for her and placed them on the plate in front of her. He tapped the plate to let her know where the food was.
Ju Mu'er thanked him and ate slowly. Long Er added some side dishes to her porridge, placed the spoon in the bowl to show her, and Ju Mu'er thanked him again, found it, and slowly drank her porridge.
The two shared breakfast in silence. Ju Mu'er finished eating, thanked them, and sat there quietly without saying a word.
Looking at her, Long Er wanted to knock her head. He had only said a few unpleasant things, but did she really have to be so pitiful? He cleared his throat and asked her, "You said you have a way to clear Manager Lü's name. What is it? Tell me."
Ju Mu'er remained silent. Long Er realized what was happening after he finished speaking; just like last time at the teahouse, she probably wanted to leave him with no leverage if he spoke up. So Long Er changed the subject: "Since you didn't see the real culprit, how can you be sure it wasn't Manager Lü?"
This time, Ju Mu'er answered: "In the yamen, while I was talking to Manager Lü, I touched his clothes. He was wearing silk, while the murderer was wearing ordinary cloth. Furthermore, Manager Lü had the smell of incense on him, so he must have been chanting scriptures or playing the zither before... Well, in short, I mean, his scent is different from that of the murderer."
Long Er was astonished that she could still remember these details even when she was in danger. Ju Mu'er then said, "I have other clues; I can find the real culprit."
Long Er looked at her for a while and asked, "Since you know so much, why didn't you tell the Prefect in the yamen?"
Ju Mu'er lowered her head and remained silent.
Long Er continued, "Do you know that by keeping this from us, Manager Lü has not only been wronged, but he's also been imprisoned in that jail, where he'll have to suffer endlessly for no reason?"
Ju Mu'er bit her lip and remained silent, but the way she gripped the bamboo cane betrayed her emotions.
Long Er sighed and asked again, "If I don't want to marry you, are you really willing to let Manager Lü die unjustly?"
Ju Mu'er was startled. She looked up and met Long Er's eyes with her blind eyes: "If Second Master does not agree, I will tell the Prefect everything."
"Now that you've said that, you've removed any leverage I have to marry you."
"Anyway, Second Master said he wouldn't marry me." Ju Mu'er pouted, revealing a hint of childishness. "Second Master is willing to let Manager Lü know that Second Master doesn't want to marry, but I don't want Manager Lü to think that I'm abandoning him because I haven't achieved my goal."
Long Er smiled and said, "In that case, I'm not as righteous as you."
Ju Mu'er nodded, finding it amusing to herself. She had used malicious means to force him to marry her, but he refused. They should have become enemies over a disagreement, but why did they seem to be having such a pleasant conversation now?
She couldn't help but say something she had kept hidden in her heart for a long time: "Second Master, even a weak woman can have a chivalrous heart."
Long Er was taken aback, not understanding what she meant. Ju Mu'er had already stood up and said, "Thank you for your hospitality, Second Master. I won't disturb you any longer."
"Wait." Long Er called out to her. Ju Mu'er was startled and stopped.
Long Er said, "Sit down." Ju Mu'er sat down.
But Long Er stopped talking again. Ju Mu'er was puzzled and could only sit and wait for him to speak.
She had no idea that Long Er was struggling with his feelings. He hesitated again and again. He really didn't want to get married, but he also knew that Ju Mu'er had laid out all her cards. She wouldn't beg him to marry her anymore. If she didn't beg him anymore and didn't argue with him anymore, he would lose a lot of fun.
And why did she suddenly want to get married? Is she having some kind of difficulty? If he doesn't agree to marry her, will she go find someone else? If she marries someone else, will he never see her again and be able to tease her anymore?
Long Er thought for a while, then suddenly asked, "Miss Ju, last time at the tea shop, you said you had a way to help me earn back what I owed for the eaves construction. What was that way?"
Ju Mu'er was surprised by his question, but she still answered, "I just thought that there are many wealthy families in the capital like Second Master, with more money than they could ever spend, so what they want more is fame and power. East Street is the most important commercial street in the capital. If there is a major project like street renovation, as long as it is cleverly disguised, there should be wealthy families willing to pay money to leave their names in the name."
Ryuji couldn't help but smile. This blind girl, he knew she was interesting. She was on the same wavelength as him; talking to her was never boring.
"I need to think about marrying you more carefully." Upon hearing this, Ju Mu'er's eyes widened in surprise as she looked up.
Her expression made Long Er laugh again. He said, "But you still need to have a reason to convince me. What use would you be to me if you married me?"
This was a very practical question, and also a deliberate attempt to make things difficult for her. Ju Mu'er frowned, tilted her head slightly, and thought seriously. She knew she had to give an answer that would please the Second Master.
She thought for a long time before answering, "I can keep Second Master company." Her vague yet specific answer made Long Er burst into laughter. She did know she could keep him entertained.
Long Er felt much better. He leaned back in his chair and looked at Ju Mu'er, finding her face particularly pleasing to the eye.
He asked again, "Tell me again, why do you want to marry me?"
Why?
Because Second Master is handsome, because Second Master is rich, because Second Master is witty, because Second Master is good at managing a household, because Second Master is skilled in martial arts...
Ju Mu'er felt she couldn't bring herself to say such disgusting things.
After hesitating for a long time, she finally blurted out, "Because I want to marry you!"
The engagement at age 13 seems to indicate a stirring of affection.
Long Er choked on his breath and coughed several times before he could catch his breath.
She really, really has such a big mouth!
I just want to marry him!
Those words really made him feel so good. She really knew how to please him and make him happy.
Long Er grinned widely. She was a blind girl, and as long as he didn't make a sound, he could freely show her all sorts of expressions.
Ryuji thought this was great; he didn't have to be on guard to hide himself, and he could tease her at will, and her reactions were always so amusing. Just thinking about it made him happy, and Ryuji couldn't help but keep laughing.
Ju Mu'er stared ahead, her face blank. After she said that, Second Master Long fell silent, and instead, an eerie atmosphere enveloped them. What was going on?
After a long while, Long Er finally had his fill of joy. He cleared his throat, called Li Ke in, and said, "Tell the spies to keep a close eye on that Zhu Chenshi. Don't let anyone who comes into contact with her slip by. Report any clues they find."
Li Ke agreed and left to carry out the order.
Ju Mu'er stared in surprise, while Long Er felt a little smug. He said, "You can't see, so you can only judge things by touch, smell, and sound. You just said you knew Manager Lü wasn't the murderer because you touched his clothes and smelled the incense on him. This shows you didn't hear the murderer's voice. Today in court, besides the yamen woman and Manager Lü, only one person was close to you, someone you could touch or smell. That person was Zhu Chenshi. You needed to touch Manager Lü's clothes to determine if he was the real murderer, meaning you didn't know who the murderer was at the scene. And you said you had clues, so they're most likely related to Zhu Chenshi."
Looking at Ju Mu'er's expression, Long Er knew he had guessed correctly. He smiled and asked, "Tell me, am I smart or not?"
Ju Mu'er sighed inwardly. Did this Second Master Long, who was so influential in the business world, really need to be praised before he was satisfied? She readily agreed and replied, "Smart, smart, Second Master is truly wise."
Long Er laughed heartily, finding it amusing to see Ju Mu'er praising him with such reluctance, yet still putting on a sincere act.
He continued to tease her, taking her hand that was gripping the bamboo cane in his large hand, and asked, "I'm so smart, do you want to marry me?"
His palms were large and warm, and through the slightly cool back of Ju Mu'er's hands, she felt an indescribable sense of security. She forcefully replied with one word: "Yes!"
Ryuji's smile slowly froze at the corners of his mouth, because he could tell she was serious, very serious.
She genuinely wanted to marry him, not because she admired his talent and looks, not because she respected his reputation, and not because she valued his status... In fact, Long Er didn't think that based on their acquaintance and interactions, she could possibly develop any feelings for him, let alone feelings so deep that she wanted to marry him.
So the point isn't that she wants to marry him, but that she wants to get married. And he's unmarried, and they happen to have something in common that they share, so she thinks she can use that as a bargaining chip.
Long Er calmed down. He was still holding her hand, and she didn't pull away, letting him hold it. Her hand was cold. No wonder she was dressed more warmly than others, being so sensitive to the cold.
He held her hand, feeling it slowly warm up under his palm.
Her face was turned toward him, her expression a mixture of unease, anxiety, and anticipation. Her eyes were clear, but lacked sparkle; to Long Er, she looked utterly pitiful.
He felt a sudden tenderness in his heart. He had long forgotten that he had taught Li Ke not to be deceived by a woman's pitifulness, but he himself was now being deceived.
He knew she had a secret, but he still wanted to grant her wish and marry her!
Rather than giving this opportunity to someone else and making myself unhappy, I might as well marry her. It's just one more pair of chopsticks to eat, after all. Besides, she's so interesting; I can keep her by my side and tease her every day. In short, I'm determined to marry her; I can't let someone else have her.
"I will marry you."
Upon hearing Long Er's words, Ju Mu'er's face immediately lit up with surprise, her expression as if a bright light had suddenly shone forth.
Long Er continued, "You go back with your father first and get a good night's sleep. I'll come find you later this afternoon, and we'll go to the government office together to discuss the case with the prefect. You haven't seen the murderer, so your words are meaningless; we need solid evidence to bring the real culprit to justice. Let's work together to find a way to get Manager Lü out, shall we?"
"Okay," Ju Mu'er replied, finally feeling relieved.
Long Er helped her up and led her to the front hall. The two walked in silence. Ju Mu'er felt relaxed and suddenly became sleepy, her eyes glazing over as she began to doze off as she walked.
Long Er tugged at the cloth wrapped around her head and said, "You still haven't asked me how we're going to set the wedding date?"
"Huh?" Ju Mu'er was somewhat surprised: "How do you set the wedding date?"
"I only promise to marry you, but we haven't set a wedding date yet. Aren't you afraid I'll go back on my word?"
Ju Mu'er rubbed her eyes and muttered, "I've only ever heard people say that Second Master is stingy, but I've never heard of him being untrustworthy. I believe in Second Master."
Long Er grabbed her bamboo cane this time: "I can be considered your fiancé now, how can you join outsiders in making up stories about me?"
The word "fiancé" stung Ju Mu'er. She snapped out of her daze and responded seriously, "I was clearly praising Second Master for keeping his promises. How could I have said anything bad about him?"
"Then what do you mean by saying that you heard people say Second Master is stingy?"
"That's what other people said, not what I said."
You shouldn't listen to what others say.
Ju Mu'er sighed inwardly, but tried to soothe Long Er's temper by saying, "Second Master is right. I won't listen next time."
The two chatted idly all the way to the front hall, where Ju Sheng, who had been waiting impatiently for some time, was quite full after eating breakfast three times already. Seeing Ju Mu'er arrive, he quickly went to greet her. "Why did it take so long to touch the zither?"
"Second Master even treated me to breakfast."
"Oh, oh." Old Man Ju immediately felt a bit more favorably disposed towards Long Er. He was bothered so early in the morning, and instead of being angry, he even provided breakfast—he was much better than the rumors suggested.