(6)
Fortunately, Zhao Kuo has a strong physique and will not be restricted in his movements after receiving a few punches and kicks. With a bruised face, he walked on a street full of lanterns that looked like daylight. Pretending to look at the colorful lights on the top, he was actually paying attention to Ajuan, who was less than half an arm's length away from him. He glanced sideways from time to time, and found that the other person had been tilting his head sideways, looking at him affectionately, and then quickly returned to the posture of pretending to look at the lanterns.
"How could he let her see him in such a miserable state!" Zhao Kuo said in his heart. At the same time, he remembered many times when he was beaten by others for the first time, but this time the feeling was the most special, because the presence of the woman beside him made him feel that what he did was not in vain.
After a while of burning incense, the three finally saw the plaque of the Shijia Chamber of Commerce. Bai Feng was deep in thought along the way. Quan Chuan Jue had already arrived at the Chamber of Commerce and almost got lost in the sea of lights. It wasn't until Zhao Kuo came over to call him that he finally woke up. He smiled mockingly and followed the two people in front back to Murong Yan's place.
Murong Yan, who hesitated in the room all night, finally looked forward to seeing Ajuan return. It's just that Zhao Kuo, who has a scarred face next to Ajuan, seems to attract more attention. Five people gathered in the pavilion inside the Chamber of Commerce. The pavilion is located in the middle of the mansion group. It was built to allow passing businessmen and travelers to communicate better. Just like the scenery in the Shifu, various Feng Shui plantings can be seen everywhere in the Chamber of Commerce. Several bamboos were planted on the edge of the pavilion, complementing the dimly burning paper lanterns in front of the pavilion and the bright moon in the sky. It constitutes a good place for chatting and discussing the past and present.
The two women who came in a hurry asked Zhao Kuo about what happened on his face. The latter pretended to be meaningless and replied: "I have nothing! Brother Bai, on the other hand, looks more worried than me."
"Hmph! Are you still trying to be brave?" Ajuan said at the side, and then stabbed the "meatball" on the opponent's face with his finger, making Zhao Kuo moan repeatedly.
Murong Yan looked at the worried Bai Feng and asked with concern: "Brother Feng, have you found any results?"
"Although we don't have much information, we have made great progress. Brother Zhao, let's go look for Brother Nie tomorrow and find out about Mrs. Xun's origins, right?"
Zhao Kuo said resolutely: "Of course! A woman who looks so elegant and noble would go in and out of that kind of place alone late at night. There must be something weird in it!"
"Mrs. Xun, where did she go?" Zhao Xiaomei asked with a confused look on her face.
"I just went to Xunxiang Pavilion!" Ajuan seemed to recall the incident of being molested just now, and said angrily: "I will never go to that kind of shabby place in my life!"
The younger sister asked: "Then, what kind of place is it?"
"Oh! The women there wear very little fabric, and they like to hug and cuddle with men. The smell of makeup and powder on their bodies is so heavy that it makes people breathless!" Ajuan first described it in a homely manner, and then came closer to Murong Yan. Next to him, he slowly said: "I also saw Mr. Bai being intimate with several women, it seems..." He was suddenly stopped in the middle of his words. Zhao Kuo pulled Ajuan back to him and smiled helplessly at Murong Yan.
Murong Yan nodded slightly and asked in disbelief: "Brother Feng, is what Miss Ajuan said true?" Her pitiful appearance was like fragile glass, making people afraid to hurt her easily.
"Bai Shaoxia, how could you do this!" the younger sister said angrily from the side.
"I..." Bai Feng didn't know how to respond for a moment, so he could only say: "What Miss Ajuan saw is indeed true. But things are not what you think!"
Zhao Kuo raised his hand and agreed: "I can testify that Brother Bai has never done anything untoward!"
After a while, Murong Yan said it was getting late and she wanted to rest. The little girl held her hand and walked back to the room. Before leaving the pavilion, she did not forget to leave a look at the young man in cloth who was standing in the pavilion with his eyes rolled and his forehead speechless. Zhao Kuo also went with Ajuan to heal his wounds, and the night was finally spent peacefully.
The next day, Bai Feng and Zhao Kuo were invited to visit Nie Yun in Shifu, and learned about Mrs. Xun's life experience. It was a spring wine banquet a year ago. Shi Hongtu, who was over fifty years old, served as the host and invited more than a hundred people to participate. These include officials, businessmen, and ordinary people who have received his favor. Mrs. Xun was the daughter of one of the officials. Originally, the official wanted his daughter to marry Shi Hongtu to thank him for his help. But because the age difference between the two was too big, they were rejected by Shi Hongtu. But when they met for the first time, everything changed. That day was also the day when Shi Hongtu's "strange disease" broke out in front of everyone for the first time.
As for the reason, it is probably that Shi Hongtu had to deal with many things every day, which caused his body to be overworked and his appearance was extremely aging compared to villagers of the same age. In addition, he lost his wife early in life and never remarried, so he missed his first wife day and night. Doctors say that "overwork leads to depression and illness." Nie Yun speculated that this should be related to Shi Hongtu's new wife. Because when Shi Hongtu was ill, he would definitely say the name "Xue'er", and this was the name of his first wife. Mrs. Xun must have a very similar appearance to the first wife of the Shi Da family, and her name also has the word "Xue" in it - Xun Yuxue. This became an opportunity for the disease to occur and laid the foundation for what happened next.
"According to what Brother Nie said, Mrs. Xun's appearance at Xunxiang late at night is really intriguing," Bai Feng said.
Zhao Kuo raised a cup of tea and looked at the calligraphy and painting that read "The best is like water" hanging in Nie Yun's room, and said: "Please forgive me for offending. The daughter of a high-ranking official and noble family was forced to marry an old man who was crazy. This made everyone confused." I won’t accept it calmly…”
"Well, I'm afraid my adoptive father will not let Mrs. Xun leave him. The thoughts he has had over the years have now condensed into her body."
Bai Feng continued: "Brother Zhao, maybe if we explore Xiang Pavilion again tonight, we will gain more. Maybe the mastermind of the incident is hidden in the pavilion!"
"You mean Shi Renjie?" Zhao Kuo said in shock: "But I can't go in anymore..."
"Let me go alone this time!" Bai Feng said confidently, "Just stay in the Chamber of Commerce and take care of other people."
To keep your identity hidden and act more securely. Bai Feng decided to buy a set of luxurious satin clothes from Nie Yuncai and pretended to be a wealthy prostitute. Wearing white clothes and gray hakama, with an ink-style bamboo pattern on the hem, a jade-inlaid hair crown on his head, and a white paper fan in his hand, he looked like a noble son from a wealthy family.
The young man in gorgeous clothes was different from his usual simple cold clothes, and even his behavior was deliberately changed. He returned to the Chamber of Commerce to test the results of disguise. He knocked on Murong Yan's door and found that it was Zhao Xiaomei who opened the door. When the younger sister saw Mr. Pianpian, she almost didn't recognize him. It wasn't until the other person spoke that I recognized his voice.
"Miss Zhao, you are so polite."
"Bai...Bai Shaoxia?" The little girl blushed slightly and looked at the man in front of her dreamily.
Murong Yan heard the sound and came over and asked: "Brother Feng, why are you dressed like this? Well...it's pretty good!"
"Miss Murong, Xiaosheng is here to apologize to you." Bai Feng replied with cupped hands.
"What's the matter? You're talking weird." Murong Yan searched Bai Feng's waist and said, "Where did the copper bell I gave you go?"
"It's an important thing in a young student's room. It's inconvenient to carry it with you, let alone on such an occasion..."
Murong Yan asked doubtfully: "What occasion? Are you going to Xunxiang Pavilion again?"
"As expected of Yan'er, she is so smart!"
"You're wearing such nice clothes this time! Are you going to have a good time and leave us alone?"
"You all know clearly that I came here just to find out what happened behind Mrs. , if you stay far away, you will be resentful.”
The younger sister scratched her head and asked, "What kind of woman is this villain? You just say things you don't understand."
"Brother Feng, you don't act like a scholar at all." Murong Yan said with a smile.
Bai Feng pursed his lips and was speechless, knowing that he was not a wise man with a lot of knowledge, so he smiled in shame.
Murong Yan stepped out of the room, walked to Bai Feng, put her hands behind her back, and said playfully: "You want me to feel relieved? Then let me follow you!"
"However, you are a first-class female, so it is inconvenient after all. Besides, wouldn't you feel unwell there?"
"It doesn't matter. I can dress up as a man. Besides, this is not the first time. Otherwise, how do you think I got around alone in the world before? As for my physical discomfort, I don't know why. I always feel that something strange happened after meeting Brother Feng. They just keep coming!”
"Then...okay" Bai Feng replied.
So, the two decided to explore Xiang Pavilion together tonight.
