Li Shimin smiled slightly, “No need for excessive courtesy. You still haven’t told me why you’re here.”

Thinking of what had just happened, Meixue’s expression darkened and she lowered her head, “It’s nothing. When passing by this place, I happened to hear the Second Young Master’s flute music, so I came to see.” Just as she finished speaking, her vision darkened and she nearly fell. Fortunately, Li Shimin caught her in time. When he touched her hand, Li Shimin said in surprise, “Why is your hand so hot? Are you ill?”

Meixue quickly withdrew her hand and said softly, “No, I’m fine.”

Seeing her like this, Yunyi shook her head slightly and walked over, “Reporting to the Second Young Master, Meixue is indeed not ill, but she was tricked into drinking a pot of ginseng soup, causing her internal deficient fire to be vigorous and her whole body to feel feverish. She even had a severe nosebleed earlier, which was quite frightening.”

Before Li Shimin could respond, Meixue said urgently, “Why bring up such things for no reason? Isn’t it embarrassing enough already?”

Seeing her weak and timid appearance, Yunyi felt somewhat annoyed and said patiently, “Meixue, you’re not the one who did wrong, and you’re certainly not the one who should be ashamed. What are you afraid of?”

“But…” While Meixue was still hesitating, Li Shimin already frowned his handsome brows and said, “What exactly happened? Why was she tricked into drinking ginseng soup? Was there something wrong with the ginseng soup?”

Yunyi shook her head, “Ginseng soup is a tonic, and nothing was added to it. But the problem is that it was a whole aged ginseng root of considerable years. Meixue drank an entire pot, turning the great tonic into a great poison. Since yesterday, Meixue has been like someone with a serious illness, extremely weak.”

Li Shimin asked puzzledly, “Why would that person do such a thing?”

Meixue sighed lightly, “Wasn’t it all for the lead dancer qualification? Tonight we’re supposed to perform before the Governor. To compete for this opportunity, Chunxiu used such despicable methods, then claimed I drank her ginseng soup. And those people all sided with Chunxiu.” Toward the end, she couldn’t help but cry again.

“Chunxiu…” Li Shimin pondered for a moment, then said coldly, “She’s merely a small dancer, yet she dares to be so audacious. It’s truly excessive.” Seeing Meixue still crying, he took a handkerchief from his sleeve and handed it over, “Stop crying. Since I know about this matter, I will definitely find a way to help you.”

Meixue wiped her tears and said gratefully, “Thank you, Second Young Master.” Then she asked somewhat curiously, “Forgive this servant for asking, but what piece was the Young Master playing just now? Why did it sound so sad, even making me think of my father at home?”

Li Shimin lowered his head and stroked the vertical flute, saying quietly, “I composed this piece myself—it has no name. But whenever I think of my mother, I play this melody. Counting the time, mother has been gone for four months now. Since the day she left, I can only see her in dreams.”

Meixue looked at him with some sympathy, then said, “I heard my father say that after a person passes away, they become stars in the sky, watching over their living relatives. I imagine the First Madam has also become a star in the heavens. As long as the Young Master looks up, he can see the First Madam—she has never left you.”

Li Shimin’s eyes brightened slightly as he looked up at the bright sky and murmured, “If only that were true.”

“It certainly is true. Please believe me.” Meixue’s words made Li Shimin show a hint of a smile, “I understand. Thank you.”

“Second brother.” The sudden voice interrupted the words on Meixue’s lips. Looking back, they saw a man who resembled Li Shimin somewhat but was more delicate in features and appeared older, standing not far from them with several servants behind him.

Li Shimin quickly went over and said in surprise, “Elder brother, how are you here?”

This person was Li Jiancheng, Li Yuan’s eldest son and Li Shimin’s blood brother. He glanced at the vertical flute in Li Shimin’s hand and said, “Are you playing the flute here again?” After Li Shimin nodded, he continued, “Such playthings are best avoided. If you have leisure time, you’d be better off practicing martial arts and reading books.”

Li Shimin smiled and said, “Yes, thank you for the reminder, elder brother.”

Li Jiancheng nodded and left with his servants. Only then did Yunyi and the others notice that when he walked, his feet weren’t as steady as ordinary people—he had a slight limp.

Meixue found this strange and looked for a while longer, but unexpectedly Li Jiancheng noticed, stopped, and stared at her coldly, “What are you looking at?”

Meixue was startled and hurriedly lowered her head, “Noth… nothing.”

Li Jiancheng had no intention of letting her off so easily. He walked over and said, “If it’s nothing, why are you so flustered?” After a pause, he added, “I haven’t seen you before. Who are you?”

Meixue quickly said, “This servant is Wu Meixue, a dancer from the dance hall. I pay my respects to the First Young Master!”

“Meixue…” Li Jiancheng smiled with curved lips, his features appearing even more delicate, “That’s quite an interesting name. Tell me, what were you looking at just now?!”

Though he was smiling, he made Meixue terrified. She shook her head desperately. Seeing this, Yunyi walked over and said, “First Young Master, Meixue she…” Before she could finish, Li Jiancheng already said coldly, “Who gave you permission to speak? Insolent!”

Li Shimin saw the situation was not right and quickly said, “Elder brother, you’re frightening Meixue.”

Though he was his own blood brother, Li Jiancheng had no intention of giving him face. Staring at the panicked Meixue, he suddenly became stern and said, “Answer my question!”

Meixue had never faced such harsh words and severe expressions. Combined with her physical discomfort, her vision darkened and she collapsed to the ground. Li Shimin quickly stepped forward to help her up, then pleaded for her, “Elder brother, Meixue meant no harm. Please forgive her this once.”

Faced with Li Shimin’s repeated pleas, Li Jiancheng finally stopped pressing Wu Shi. He gave her an indifferent glance, his face full of unease, then left with a flick of his sleeves.

Only after he had gone far away and they had sat for a while did Meixue feel better. Still shaken, she said, “Just now… the First Young Master’s gaze was so terrifying, as if… as if he wanted to devour someone.”

Li Shimin was silent for a while, then said, “Elder brother developed a foot ailment last year. Although father searched far and wide for famous physicians, it still hasn’t been cured. Since then, elder brother most hates when people discuss his feet—even looking too much will make him furious. If you encounter him again in the future, remember never to look too much, and certainly don’t say anything.”

Meixue stuck out her pink tongue with a face full of lingering fear, “How would I dare look again? If it weren’t for you, Second Young Master, just now, the trouble would have been serious indeed.”

Her charming and adorable appearance made Li Shimin’s gaze pause, then he said, “You comforted me earlier. What happened just now can be considered my repayment to you.”