Madam Yan's Matchmaking Pavilion for Men

23 The Talents of a Man, One Word at a Time

The two men kept quiet until Yu Huang Rong couldn't take it any longer. "She didn't say much just now. What kind of thing do you think she wants us to do?"

Zhang Shi Lan shook his head. He didn't know and even if he had any idea, he didn't know how to express his thoughts in front of General Yu.

Yu Huang Rong didn't get impatient. He already knew how Zhang Shi Lan was. He had to give him some more time before he could expect results. He reached over to the teapot and poured another cup of tea, pushing it over to Zhang Shi Lan. "Those women displayed talents that are highly regarded in the capital. I guess for us men, there are also talents we could display but will those women really care? They already know I'm a General. There's no need to show that I can fight or ride a horse. I don't think they'd care for me reciting some poem either. And Madam Yan said she wanted us to work together. So I guess we should display something that we can do as a ... pair?" He picked up his own cup and sipped his tea, waiting for Zhang Shi Lan's reaction.

The scholar nodded, his cheeks showing a faint hint of pink. He knew that Yu Huang Rong hadn't meant it that way but being called a pair by him ... He just couldn't help but let his thoughts wander.

Yu Huang Rong put his cup down and pondered. "Something we can do together, something that will entertain those ladies ... She couldn't want us to do the same they did, could she?"

Zhang Shi Lan widened his eyes in surprise. Doing what those ladies had done? Playing an instrument? Dancing? The latter certainly wasn't an option. As for the former ... "I ... could play the guqin."

Yu Huang Rong smiled gently. Could he pretend the Zhang Shi Lan had just spoken up on his own accord? It had only been a few words but that was better than nothing. "That's already very good. We can probably do something with that. Then ... What do you think I could do?"

Zhang Shi Lan looked at him in a daze. In his mind, Yu Huang Rong was a strong man that feared nothing and whose strengths lay in what a man of the military should be able to do. Just as he had mentioned, he was certainly a very capable rider and fighter. He should also be good at forming strategies and commanding soldiers. Otherwise, he wouldn't have become a general at such a young age.

It was just ... That was nothing that could be displayed at this kind of event, was it? And it wouldn't go well together with playing the guqin either. In the end, he could only shake his head. He didn't know.

Yu Huang Rong nodded. "It seems I'm dragging us down." He couldn't help but smile at the thought. This Madam Yan ... He wasn't sure but he almost felt as if she had something against him and wanted to pay him a lesson. Had he somehow offended her in the last few days?

He thought back to how he talked to her in the beginning and then three days ago and couldn't help but feel that it was entirely possible. And he could imagine that she was able to hold a grudge. But ... she wouldn't have planned the event this way just to teach him a lesson, would she? After all, the marriage of eight men depended on this. And all eight of them were the most sought-after bachelors of their Chen country's capital.

Even though he and Zhang Shi Lan may be a couple that would make the rumors abound after they married, the others certainly weren't to be looked down upon either. If she took them lightly, she'd be losing out. Considering the way she had behaved until now, he didn't believe she would take that loss. No, she would certainly insist on making all these eight men marry. Thus, she would never go so far just to try and pay him back. In that case, there should be some other reason for this.

Zhang Shi Lan watched Yu Huang Rong's expression. The General seemed to be deep in thought, not paying him any attention at all. He couldn't help but feel sweet. Even though he had no idea how this afternoon would turn out, he was very content at this moment. He waited until Yu Huang Rong resurfaced from his thoughts before he leaned slightly closer. "Maybe ... there's an instrument General Yu knows how to play?"