Duan Hongning's boudoir is on the top floor of the three-yard building of Duan Jiu's family, and it has the best lighting.
Facing the front is a six-leaf embroidered screen, embroidered with a cluster of blooming crabapple flowers. As the light and shadow change, the crabapples are lifelike, as if they are swaying in the wind.
Walking around the screen, you will see a vermilion couch next to the window, with three or four large soft cushions thrown on it. All the windows are open, and the sun and wind are passing through the scroll book on the couch. The pages are like The dragon scales flipped and rustled.
On the left side of the couch, there is a mahogany dressing table with a half-person tall bronze mirror, which can detect people with light. There are five layers of makeup boxes on the dressing table and two rows of crystal clear glass bottles. The light from the glass bottles diffracts into a Tiny rainbows.
Inside the round arch on the left, you can see an elegant tea room. The arch on the right is hung with layers of curtains, which are fluttering gently in the wind. It should be Duan Hongning's bedroom.
The maid who led the way seemed to be very familiar with Liu Qingxi, and the conversation was very intimate. Liu Qingxi entered the house, and did not go to the tea room. Instead, she put away the scrolls on the couch and placed them on the small case next to the couch together with her bookcase. , took off his shoes directly, sat cross-legged on the couch, and asked Lin Sui'an to come with him.
Lin Sui'an even came down, "Isn't this inappropriate?"
"It doesn't matter, we are all women, there is no need to be restrained." Duan Hongning's voice came from behind the curtain, "Since Madam Lin is Madam Liu's friend, she is also my Duan Jiuniang's friend."
Lin Sui'an hesitated for a moment and decided to do as he pleased. Like Liu Qingxi, he took off his shoes and sat down cross-legged. He pulled out his clothes to cover his feet. He still felt awkward and rolled his eyes twice in embarrassment. He had nothing to say, "Liu Qingxi." Madam, what is in this bookcase?"
Liu Qingxi opened the bookcase and found colorful powder boxes inside.
"Jiuniang is a well-known makeup expert in Yidu City. She has researched on makeup, powder, lipstick, hair combing, and jewelry. These are the new products of my Liu's makeup shop. I'm here to ask Jiuniang to give her review. If you can get it right, If the lady praises it, it will definitely sell well in Yidu City."
The Jiu Niang mentioned by Liu Qingxi should be Duan Hongning. Lin Suianxin said that it turns out that Duan Hongning is a beauty blogger of this era.
The maid quickly brought over two cups of tea and a plate of crystal dragon and phoenix cake. The color of the tea was as clear as amber. Lin Sui'an took a sip. It was the top-grade hundred-flower tea from Qingzhou County. The sales channels for Yidu Jingmen Baihua Tea have just been opened, and Duan Hongning can buy such authentic tea. She is indeed rich in network resources.
The curtains in the dormitory were fluttering, and a woman walked out slowly in a thin shirt, with her long hair hanging loosely. She was barefoot, with her toes sticking out of the hem of her skirt and stepping in the sun. A little cinnamon red was very tempting.
Lin Sui'an opened his mouth wide, and a series of questions floated in his head: Sister, who are you?
The woman in front of her was slim and graceful, with hair like clouds. She walked with outstanding grace, but her face was sallow, with red and swollen eyelids, dark circles and square eyes, and many freckles on both sides of her nose.
"Before, I was given the care of Madam Lin at the Sanhua Building. Hong Ning originally thought of finding a time to go to the house with a gift to express her gratitude. However, she never thought that Madam Lin and Madam Liu would become friends. We are really destined to be together."
As soon as the woman spoke, Lin Sui'an recognized that it was indeed Duan Hongning's voice.
Liu Qingxi covered her mouth and chuckled, "Could it be that Jiu Niang without makeup surprised Madam Lin?"
Lin Sui'an scratched his forehead and said, "Ms. Duan is willing to meet her without makeup. She must be because she doesn't treat Lin as an outsider. Lin is flattered."
Duan Hongning nodded and saluted, lifted her skirt and walked to the dressing table to sit down. She opened the first layer of makeup boxes, which were filled with pocket containers of various shapes, round, flat, long, square, and made of various materials. Gold, silver, jade, glass, the container contains various colors of powder paste, in addition to the common white and crimson, there are also purple, green, gray, etc., the second-layer box has colors from dark to light The charcoal pen has dozens of boxes of lipstick on the third layer. The fourth layer is divided into two compartments. One compartment is for flowers with different shapes, and the other compartment is for tweezers, scissors, and brushes of different shapes and sizes. There are five layers. There are all kinds of hair accessories.
Duan Hongning first poured the liquid from the glass bottle on the table into the palm of her hand, blended it evenly with her fingertips, looked in the mirror, and applied it evenly bit by bit along the lines of the skin. The skin on her face gradually became clear and moist. Duan Hongning didn't seem to care. Instead of rushing to put on makeup, he took out a clean jade box, poured the white powder from a glass box into it, mixed some liquid from the glass bottle, took out a thin silver stick and stirred slowly, and soon , the powdery substance inside became viscous, and the surface had a silky sheen.
"Ms. Lin is here, does she also want to ask about Minina and Mrs. Lian?" Duan Hongning asked.
Lin Sui'an craned his neck to take a look at Duan Hongning's technique, "Ah, yes. ...What's in here?"
"It's mica." Duan Hongning glanced at Lin Sui'an's expression and curled up her lips, "I told Ling Sizhi everything I know last night."
"Ah, oh." Lin Sui'an nodded and sniffed again, "What is this for?"
"This is Jiuniang's exclusive makeup secret, and it is not shared with others." Liu Qingxi smiled, "Ms. Lin, please take a closer look."
Duan Hongning took out a rectangular suet-fat jade box from the first layer of boxes and opened it. Inside was a gauze as thin as cicada wings. She picked up a piece with silver tweezers and carefully placed it on her face. She pressed it gently with her fingers. It miraculously stuck to the face. He took out a small pocket brush, dipped it in mica, and applied it carefully on the gauze. Then he used a powder puff to apply powder on the face to modify the details. In a short time, the gauze and mica became Duan Hongning's first look. The second layer of skin is silky, delicate and radiant.
Lin Sui'an's jaw dropped, "Wow oh oh oh!"
Liu Qingxi laughed out loud, "Ms. Lin, you are too exaggerated."
"Amazing!" Lin Sui'an clapped his hands, "Such a superb technique would put Yun Zhongyue, the best thief in the world, to shame."
Duan Hongning was also amused. She chose a charcoal pen and started tracing her eyebrows, "Ms. Lin really fought Yun Zhongyue for 500 rounds on Lake Mochou?"
Lin Sui'an cupped his cheek and watched Duan Hongning's technique with relish, "How is that possible? It's only ten rounds."
Liu Qingxi: "Is Yun Zhongyue really like the rumors, with thousands of people and thousands of faces?"
"That guy in Yun Zhongyue knows the art of disguise. Not only can he pretend to be a Tang Dynasty, a barbarian, a man, or an old man, but what's even more terrifying is that he can also disguise himself as an old woman or even a little girl."
Duan Hongning's eyebrow pencil paused, "Have you seen Yun Zhongyue's true face?"
Lin Sui'an covered half of his face and said, "I've only seen half of it."
As soon as these words came out, Duan Hongning and Liu Qingxi were both curious, "Does it look good?"
Lin Sui'an nodded heavily, "It looks good!"
Liu Qingxi: "Better looking than Huajia Silang?"
Lin Sui'an: "It's worse than anything worse."
"Wow--"
Duan Hongning smiled, put down her eyebrow pencil, and put on blush, "There are rumors that Madam Qu was abducted by Yun Zhongyue and later rescued by Madam Lin. Is it true?"
Lin Sui'an stared at Duan Hongning's face intently, "False, I was the one who took Qu Hui out of the Wu Family Courtyard, and I was the one who beat up Wu Zhengli."
Duan Hongning suddenly turned her head, and Liu Qingxi said "Huh?"
Lin Sui'an raised a finger and said, "You two must keep it a secret for me."
Liu Qingxi's eyes widened, Duan Hongning blinked, Lin Sui'an raised his eyebrows, and the three of them laughed at the same time.
"Ms. Lin is indeed a wonderful person." Duan Hongning put down her blush, picked up the lipstick, applied it little by little with a small brush, and carefully traced the lip line, "So, Miss Lin, what exactly do you want to ask?"
Lin Sui'an: "I want to know what kind of person Lian Xiaoshuang is, what his personality is, what his preferences are, and what his habits are."
Duan Hongning's hand paused, "Ms. Lin's direction of questioning is really different."
"To be honest, we have almost lost all the clues in Xiaoshuang's case. We were so overwhelmed with the investigation that we had no choice but to seek medical treatment urgently."
Duan Hongning put down her lipstick, turned her head and looked straight at Lin Sui'an. Her makeup was almost completely completed, and she looked completely different from before. Her skin was like cream, her lips were as red as cherry blossoms, her eyes were clear and she looked as beautiful as tears.
"Lian Xiaoshuang is just an ordinary embroiderer. She has no family, no background, and no money. Such a person dies in such a big city every year. Such a person just dies, so why bother to find out more about it? ? Even if the case is solved, what will it do to you? "
Lin Sui'an: I showed up and gave you the proposition!
In the case of Sanhualou, as Hua Yitang said, Duan Hongning obviously knew something, but she didn't trust the government, Hua Yitang, Ling Zhiyan, and of course Lin Sui'an, so she didn't say anything.
Today, from the first sentence Duan Hongning said, Lin Sui'an felt that she was testing him.
In order to dispel her wariness as soon as possible and blend into their little atmosphere, Lin Sui'an tried his best to follow her, praising her makeup, telling secrets about the world, and even Yun Zhongyue brought it up as a topic. It seemed to have some effect and the atmosphere relaxed. There was a lot of confusion, but Duan Hongning's words just now brought the atmosphere to freezing point again.
However, Lin Sui'an breathed a sigh of relief - this may be Duan Hongning's only true words today.
The question now is, how to answer?
Various answers floated through Lin Sui'an's mind, and were rejected one by one.
Those high-sounding, flowery words may sound nice when spoken, but for Duan Hongning, I am afraid that she has long been tired of hearing them. They are too empty, too fake, and useless.
Faced with such sincere words, only answering with sincerity can break the ice.
Lin Sui'an was silent for a moment and sighed, "I'm quite unlucky. Along the way, I always encounter all kinds of bad luck. Especially after I met Hua Yitang, people died wherever I went."
Duan Hongning obviously didn't expect the topic to take such a direction. She was stunned for a moment, and Liu Qingxi covered her mouth.
"I am a person who is very afraid of trouble. I get annoyed to death every time. I really want to give up my job." Lin Sui'an paused and raised his eyes, "But I - I can't stand it!"
Lin Sui'an placed his hands flat on Qianjing, and Qianjing under his palms made a low hum, "I can't stand the fact that the victim has to die with his eyes open, I can't stand the real culprit walking free, and I can't stand ordinary people having no way to complain. See I’m not used to those high-ranking bullshit being domineering. I want to tell those who harm others that there are always people in the world who are watching them, there are always people who can’t stand them, and there are always people who will get to the bottom of it and bring clarity to the world!”
The wind blew in from the window, and the soft sunshine floated to the top of Lin Sui'an's head. A few broken hair stood stubbornly, and the girl's pupils were as clear as water.
Duan Hongning's expression moved slightly, a faint blush appeared at the ends of her eyes. She quickly lowered her eyelashes and avoided Lin Sui'an's sight. She avoided Lin Sui'an too quickly. Lin Sui'an did not see the look in her eyes clearly. He just felt the warmth in the room. The atmosphere suddenly relaxed.
Liu Qingxi smiled slightly and said, "Ms. Lin, you should be a hero."
Lin Sui'an scratched his head in embarrassment, "I'm just stronger and can fight."
Duan Hongning started the last step, selected a golden flower, and placed it on her forehead. Her eyes softened just like her voice, "Ms. Lian is a person who loves to laugh. When she laughs, her voice sounds like she has a mouthful of water. She speaks softly and waxily. She said she lived in Yangdu when she was a child, a place where the air was filled with sweet fragrance. She was very timid and would be startled when she saw bugs under the lamp. The sky was sunny When she is young, she likes to go to crowded places, and doesn’t buy anything, just hang out. She likes the excitement, and can only fall asleep listening to the cars going by in the market at night.”
Duan Hongning's expression when talking about Lian Xiaoshuang was half nostalgic, half sad, and one half inexplicable. It was more like chatting with an old friend for many years.
Duan Hongning smiled as if she had understood what Lin Sui'an was thinking, "Ms. Lian and I have known each other for less than two years, but we have similar interests and we meet so late that it feels like... we have known each other for many years."
"The Lian Xiaoshuang in Lady Qu's mouth and the Lian Xiaoshuang in Lady Duan's mouth," Lin Sui'an said, "don't look like the same person."
"Maybe," Duan Hongning finished the last step of her makeup and looked at herself in the mirror quietly, "maybe we don't understand her."
Hua Yitang sat in the lobby of Duan Jiu's house, shaking her fan and shaking her legs, feeling very angry.
It has been almost half an hour since Lin Sui'an went to Duan Hongning's room, why hasn't he come out yet? We've only met twice and we're not familiar with each other, so what could we talk about for so long?
The prostitutes, maids and servants of Duan Jiu's family were all busy preparing for the opening in the afternoon. They glanced at Hua Tang from time to time and exchanged glances with each other.
That is the legendary Silang, the number one dandy in Yangdu.
Why does it look like a wilted bean?
I heard that Mrs. Lin who came with him went to Jiuniang's boudoir and stayed there for a long time.
Oops, could it be that Shiro Huajia is jealous?
Hey, we have met a lot of Jiuniang's admirers, because there are as many jealous Jiuniangs as there are crucian carp crossing the river. I think this Hanashiro is the most jealous.
Smell it, this sour smell can really choke someone to death.
No, I think Hanashiro is jealous of Mrs. Lin.
That Lady Lin? She has lost so much weight and has an ordinary appearance. He doesn't apply rouge or powder, doesn't wear a skirt or eyebrows. Hanashiro is so beautiful and comes from a good family. How can he fall in love with her?
Go, go, you bunch of stinky men know nothing, you have no eyes and no brains, you can't understand the beauty of women at all.
Madam Lin is a top beauty, are you blind?
Shh shh shh, lower your voice, Hanashiro looked over.
Hua Yitang couldn't sit still anymore, so she closed her fan with a snap and walked straight over. The servants and maids dispersed in a hurry. Hua Yitang quickly stopped a prostitute with quick hands and eyes, hugged the fan and saluted, "May I ask?" This lady, where is Madam Duan’s boudoir?”
The prostitute blinked and said, "Ms. Duan said that we won't entertain guests today."
"Hua has a friend who has been in Mrs. Duan's room for some time, and is really worried——"
"What are you worried about?" A few more prostitutes came over, "Are you worried that Madam Duan will eat your Madam Lin?"
Hua Yitang raised his eyebrows and smiled, "That's right."
All the prostitutes burst into laughter.
"Don't worry, Hanashiro. I just passed by Jiuniang's door and heard people talking and laughing inside. I was very happy."
Hua Yitang: "Eh?"
"Jiuniang seems to like Mrs. Lin very much."
Hua Yitang: "Eh??"
"Mrs. Lin is a heroine with a heroic appearance. Not to mention Jiuniang, we all like her very much."
Hua Yitang: "Eh???"
Yangdu Huashi Shilang felt very stressed at this moment.
The prostitutes laughed for a while and felt a little disappointed.
"In the past six months, Jiuniang can only smile when Mrs. Liu comes."
"Unlike before, Jiuniang often smiled."
"Especially on the fifteenth day of every month, when I come back at night, Jiuniang is always humming, singing and dancing. Jiuniang is so happy at that time."
Fifteenth of every month? Ling Liulang said that both Minina and Duan Hongning had ordered embroidery from Lian Xiaoshuang, and the delivery time was on the fifteenth day of every month.
Hua Yitang unfolded his fan with a snap, and instantly cut a large number and put it on the line. He put on the suave style of the first dandy in Yangdu and said with a smile, "Ladies, can you tell Hua about the former Jiuniang?"
Hua Yitang's smile was so dazzling that all the prostitutes were so dazzled that their souls flew away. When they came back to their senses, they all automatically gathered around Hua Yitang and served tea. Water, fanning the wind and sending fruits, surrounds the flowers like a bunch of golden stamens.
Hua Yitang placed the golden leaves on the table one by one, "Does Jiuniang go out on the fifteenth day of every month?"
The prostitutes were all talking:
"Jiuniang met several little sisters in Lefangsi when she was young."
"Love is like brothers, love is stronger than gold."
"The fifteenth day of every month is the day they gather."
Hua Yitang: "Who are those little sisters?"
"Jiuniang never said, we can only guess."
"Jiuniang got drunk once. When she came back, she danced the latest Hu Xuan dance. I guess one of them should be Minina from Yongjufang."
Speaking of this, the prostitutes all looked a little gloomy.
Hua Yitang sighed inwardly and continued to ask, "Do you know where the meeting place is?"
"I don't know, but I think it's not far away. When Jiuniang came back, the fragrance of tea on her body was still there."
"Sometimes there is still the smell of wine. It should be the white fragrance of Sanhualou."
"Is it in the Sanhua Building?" Hua Yitang tapped his forehead with his fan, seeming to ask, but also talking to himself.
The prostitutes chattered and laughed.
"Of course it's impossible. Sanhua Building is too expensive."
"Sanhua Building is a place where nobles and nobles go. We, the humble Hongxiangfang people, can't even get in without an invitation from aristocratic families."
"By the way, Jiuniang sometimes hums a little tune. The tune is quite familiar. What is it?"
"I know, it's Minina's favorite slow dance, called - Qiuyue Liujun."
Hua Yitang heard a "ding" in his head.
Qiuyue stays with you! Isn't that the song that Lian Xiaoshuang played for Qu Hui?
Just as he was about to ask again, the prostitutes suddenly dispersed and stood behind him.
Duan Hongning was wearing a light-colored skirt, and she came gracefully like a fairy, but Hua Yitang's eyes did not fall on her at all. All his attention was taken away by Lin Sui'an behind Duan Hongning.
Lin Sui'an changed into a narrow-sleeved and tight-fitting black Hu suit, a small-sleeved robe, small-mouthed trousers, and a large lapel that exposed her slender neck. The black leather belt was tightly tied, making her waist appear straighter and straighter. She had a little makeup on her face, and her eyebrows were flushed. Probably after describing it, he became more and more energetic.
Hua Yitang dropped his fan on the ground, Gudong swallowed his saliva, and was dumbfounded.
small theater
Liu Qingxi: Hey, a big living person like me is standing next to Mrs. Lin, don’t you see? :,,
