With virtue

Zhao Yunshu frowned and looked closely.

That woman was none other than Liu Qimei!

The young Taoist priest then asked, "What are you doing, grabbing a woman and making such a racket so late at night?"

"What's it to you?" the burly man retorted unhappily.

"It has nothing to do with me, but since I saw it, I have to do something about it!" Zhao Yunshu said, revealing the iron sword behind him, and then immediately sheathing it.

The burly man was taken aback by what he saw, his face full of surprise, as if he hadn't expected a hothead to pull out a knife at this moment.

Although it is a chaotic time, Dingzhou City still has soldiers. The military governor is not a good person, but he has not allowed his troops to plunder and has maintained basic security. So, those who suddenly brandish their swords are either desperate criminals or hotheads.

This kid in front of me is so young, he's probably the kind of fool who'd fight without thinking of his own life or the consequences.

The burly man wasn't afraid of dealing with such a fool, but he also found it troublesome. If he got into trouble and someone died, he would have to deal with a whole host of problems, especially since he lived in Dingzhou City.

So, suppressing his annoyance, he said, "This woman is getting in the way of my master's important business! She's ruined a huge deal for him, does she think she can just walk away like that?"

Zhao Yunshu asked, "She's just a pipa player, what business could she possibly be interfering with your master's?"

The burly man angrily said, "She boasts that she's the best musician in Dingzhou City! Her skills are superb, and coincidentally, a wealthy patron enjoys listening to the pipa, so my master offered a high price to have her play tonight!"

"As a result, he played terribly, missing three or four notes in one piece, making our major client frown! He lost all interest in doing business! Tell me, shouldn't we take action?"

As he spoke, he seemed to grow angrier, his face twitching. He tightened his grip on Liu Qimei's wrist, cursing, "Besides, who do you think you are, daring to question me? This lowly servant girl embarrassed herself in front of my master and ruined important matters; that's her fault! What business is it of yours, a Taoist priest staying at the inn?!"

Zhao Yunshu was stunned when he heard this.

He knew Liu Qimei's pipa skills; the music played by her fingertips was clear, ethereal, and had a lingering resonance.

These past few days, Zhao Yunshu has encountered many major events, and her mind is restless and agitated. However, when she hears music, she feels much calmer. Why did she play the wrong note in front of that big customer?

After a moment's thought and a quick recollection, he understood about 70-80% of it.

During the day, she played the piano for herself for three whole hours without taking a break. Even a person made of iron would get tired.

Playing the pipa requires delicate skill in every aspect, from pressing the strings with the fingertips to tremolo and shaking the fingers.

When it comes to music, if your fingers stiffen or your strength is slightly off, the sound will be off.

He himself was so engrossed in drawing talismans that his hands were shaking. How could Liu Qimei not get tired of playing the pipa? She spent all her energy and spirit during the day trying to calm his mind and focus his attention. How could she not make mistakes when she went to various performances at night?

Thinking about it this way, half of the trouble Liu Qimei is in today is his doing.

Zhao Yunshu's anger subsided considerably, replaced by a sense of embarrassment. He glanced at Liu Qimei's pale face and then at the burly man's impatient, fleshy expression, and made up his mind.

Then the young Taoist priest said, "You stay here for a quarter of an hour. I'll take care of her problem!"

Upon hearing this, both Liu Qimei and the burly man looked up at the young Taoist priest.

The burly man sized Zhao Yunshu up and down twice. He saw that Zhao Yunshu was only a seventeen or eighteen-year-old boy, wearing an old Taoist robe and a pair of worn-out hemp shoes. He didn't have a single valuable item on him, except for his iron sword, which was polished to a shine.

"Taoist Master!" Liu Qimei called out, as if she wanted to say something.

Zhao Yunshu made a gesture to her, then turned and went back inside the room.

The burly man wanted to sneer, but he was smart enough to swallow his words back.

This stance either indicates genuine confidence or utter folly; either way, it's not worth risking your life for.

So the burly man waved his hand behind him, and two servants came out of the main room and stood on either side of Liu Qimei. They didn't touch her, but just stared at her.

The burly man then turned and went into the adjacent upper room.

Before long, the door creaked open again, but the first person to step out was not the burly man, but a middle-aged man dressed in silk, wearing a square scarf, jade pendants, and embroidered handkerchiefs, exuding the air of a wealthy merchant.

Following behind him was a young gentleman, about twenty years old, wearing a white brocade robe embroidered with gold thread, with a jade belt around his waist. He had a fair complexion and lips painted red, and was quite handsome.

The middle-aged man, with a round face and a light beard, was Master Zhao, who ran a medicinal herb business in Dingzhou City.

This wealthy man, surnamed Zhao, owns several shops in the city. The young master he invited tonight is the influential person he has been trying so hard to get in touch with.

He learned that this nobleman enjoyed listening to the pipa, so Master Zhao searched everywhere for her. Everyone said that Liu Qimei was the best pipa player in Dingzhou City, so he spent a lot of money to invite her to perform. However, tonight Liu Qimei was completely out of sorts, playing the pipa incoherently and wasting a whole table of fine wine and food. Master Zhao was furious and wished he could drag Liu Qimei out and give her a good beating!

And so, tonight's events unfolded.

After the burly man entered, he whispered the situation outside, so they all knew what was going on.

As they stepped outside, Master Zhao was about to erupt in anger when the young master chuckled, "By the way, don't you find this amusing? Someone's standing up for her despite how badly she plays. I'd like to see what's going on. Isn't this more interesting than discussing business with you?"

Master Zhao coughed twice and said awkwardly, "Young master is joking. That lowly maid played terribly and ruined our enjoyment. Why waste any more time on her..."

Even so, seeing that the young master was in high spirits, he dared not spoil the mood and could only nod to the burly man, signaling him to do as he was told.

The burly man came out of the main room again, stood in front of Liu Qimei, and without saying much, just crossed his arms and waited.

A short while later, the door creaked open and Zhao Yunshu walked out.

The oil lamp in the lobby shone on him, making him seem suddenly a bit brighter!

He changed out of his old Taoist robe and into the previous robe made of shimmering cloud satin. The fabric was bright and shiny, with patterns resembling clouds and water. He wore a large golden crown on his head and a silk sash around his waist. He was dressed neatly from head to toe.

This is how he looks! He's nothing like the slovenly, barefoot Taoist priest who was just a moment ago, always complaining!

He was born with a handsome face, and in his early years he was praised for his "eyebrows like clouds and eyes like stars".

Even when he wore an old Taoist robe and looked disheveled, his handsome features were still undeniable. Now, in this new outfit, his face was made to look even more radiant!

That's why they say clothes make the man!

The young master was quite handsome, and his silk robe was rather elegant, but standing in front of the young Taoist priest, he was like a pearl cast into the moon, his brilliance immediately diminished.

Liu Qimei, standing beside him, stared at him with wide eyes and her lips slightly parted. She looked even more stunned than when she was being grabbed by the strong man.