The Willow Lane shed its daytime silence at the Hour of Xu. Ablaze with lights, it teemed with a boisterous, motley crowd. The street, barely wide enough for a single carriage, was already claimed by painted maidens.
Zhong Li stood in the Xun Xiang Pavilion on the second floor of Hua Man Lou, gazing with languid interest at the dandyish young lords passing by on the street. The occasional haggling added a touch of humor to her otherwise tedious evening.
"Ming Xia can finally avenge her grievance, and the murderer will truly face the law. Lian Xue must also thank the Young Master; without his intervention, who knows when this case would have been settled."
Inside the Xun Xiang Pavilion, Tian Lian Xue, clad in a sheer gauze tunic, knelt before Lu Wu Xie. Her snow-white shoulders, revealed by the rise and fall of her breath, peeked from the inner garment.
Lu Wu Xie remained silent, merely waving his sleeve.
Seeing this, Tian Lian Xue rose and sat opposite him, obediently picking up the teapot from the table and pouring a cup of fragrant green tea, placing it before him.
"This is Biluochun that Lian Xue specially had the nanny bring from Jinzhou. Young Master, please taste it. Is it fresh?"
Lu Wu Xie took the cup, inhaled its aroma, and then called out to Zhong Li, who was still gazing at the night scenery from the carved balustrade, "Li Er, have some tea."
Upon hearing this, Zhong Li’s body stiffened slightly. She knew Lu Wu Xie was coming to Hua Man Lou today and hadn't wanted to accompany him. Yet, he had forcibly dragged her into the carriage. Now, to be treated as a mere distant spectator, was he implying she wasn't bright enough?
"Hmm?" Lu Wu Xie's voice grew louder.
Zhong Li withdrew her gaze and reluctantly sat beside Lu Wu Xie.
However, this Biluochun was truly fragrant; before the cup even reached her lips, the aroma had already warmed her throat.
Tian Lian Xue sat opposite, watching the two exchange cups, the sweet smile on her face cracking slightly.
She took out a silk kerchief and wound it around her fingers. As if struck by an idea, she spoke quickly, "Before, I never saw the Young Master show such concern for his subordinates. Lian Xue was remiss. I shall go and call a favored sister to join me..."
"No need," Lu Wu Xie interrupted before Tian Lian Xue could finish, placing the cup he held back on the table.
Tian Lian Xue, who had been preparing to rise, paused and looked at the man opposite her with a hint of confusion.
"Young... Young Master... what is the meaning of this today? Lian Xue... does not understand..."
"Do you truly not know, or do you feign ignorance?" Lu Wu Xie’s eyes, tinged with amusement, fell upon Tian Lian Xue.
Tian Lian Xue swallowed a few times. Before she could utter the rest of her words, Lu Wu Xie casually picked up an inverted wine cup from the center of the table and placed it before her.
Tian Lian Xue’s body stiffened.
"Do I need to remind you?" Lu Wu Xie asked.
"Young Master..." Tian Lian Xue finally grew flustered. Staring at the wine cup placed before her, she repeatedly shook her head, "This servant is not what the Young Master thinks, this servant... this servant..."
She sobbed prettily, her tearful appearance enough to evoke pity from anyone.
"This servant only loved the Young Master too much, which led me to do such a thing. When the Young Master stayed over that day, this servant was overjoyed. Little did I know, upon waking the next day, I saw no trace of the Young Master, only Lin Jin's bowl of contraceptive soup. Naturally, I was disheartened, thinking the Young Master was angry with me and didn't want to come.
Yesterday, I heard the Young Master solved Ming Xia's case and sought justice for her, which made me realize the Young Master still held affection for me. That is why this servant shamelessly sent a letter to the Young Master, inviting him here. This servant truly loves the Young Master. I beg the Young Master not to be angry with this servant, boo hoo..."
Tian Lian Xue’s voice grew increasingly emotional, and the handkerchief in her hand was already half-soaked.
Zhong Li watched the weeping courtesan of Hua Man Lou, recalling events from a few days prior. To solve the case of the Red Coral Lotus Hairpin, she had enlisted Lu Wu Xie to coax information from Tian Lian Xue.
But what was the meaning of Tian Lian Xue giving Lu Wu Xie her personal belongings previously? It was self-evident. At this juncture, having Lu Wu Xie question her, everyone knew what he would have to pay. Moreover, it was uncertain whether Tian Lian Xue harbored any ulterior motives.
Therefore, he had Zhong Li devise a compromise to test Tian Lian Xue. Unexpectedly, they did discover the Golden Spear Unyielding Formula, the foremost aphrodisiac of the Southern Yue Kingdom, in the wine cup.
The two then went with the flow, using the Rejuvenation Powder to further solidify the matter with Tian Lian Xue.
As the Ming Xia case was solved, Tian Lian Xue, as Lu Wu Xie had predicted, sent a letter to the Prince of Xian’s mansion, inviting Lu Wu Xie to Hua Man Lou again.
Now, Lu Wu Xie was using Tian Lian Xue’s poisoning of him as leverage, cornering her.
"Lian Xue," Lu Wu Xie said, rubbing his temples as if at a loss, "I pity you, a woman navigating the mortal world, and thus have taken care of you in this city of Jin. I do not seek your professed lifelong devotion, but only wish for your heart to remain as joyful as before. Do you understand?"
Tian Lian Xue’s eyes welled with tears. She looked up at Lu Wu Xie, bit her lip, and nodded, "It is Lian Xue who has fallen into vulgarity. I hope the Young Master will forgive me."
Lu Wu Xie replied, "It matters not, as long as Lian Xue understands."
Tian Lian Xue looked at the man opposite her, seeing his return to his usual dandyish demeanor. She stood up, refilled the empty teacup on the table, and said, "Actually, Lian Xue invited the Young Master here because there is something I wish to ask of him."
Lu Wu Xie glanced at the cups on the table and asked, "What is it?"
"I heard the Young Master is preparing to go to Su Qing County in a few days?" Tian Lian Xue inquired.
Lu Wu Xie glanced at her but remained silent.
"Please do not misunderstand, Young Master," Tian Lian Xue said, her heart tightening, fearful of incurring Lu Wu Xie's displeasure again. She quickly explained, "The Young Master may have also heard that my hometown is in Su Qing County. Although I have no remaining relatives, my ancestors' graves are all there.
Forced to drift in the red-light district, I cannot sever the blood that flows within me. A few days from now is the Zhong Yuan Festival, and I wish to return to pay respects to my ancestors. Coincidentally, rumors have it that the route from Jin City to Su Qing is frequently plagued by bandits lately. That is why I seek the Young Master..."
She gritted her teeth and revealed her earnest hope, "I implore the Young Master to take me along when you travel to Su Qing County."
Lu Wu Xie looked at her. Apart from the smile on his face, his gaze turned sharp the moment Tian Lian Xue finished speaking.
"If the Young Master is unwilling, Lian Xue will go alone. However, I had Ming Xia to look after me before. Now... if I hire a carriage driver, I should be able to make it, but..." She spoke hesitantly.
Zhong Li observed Tian Lian Xue's demure yet slightly coy and pretty appearance, her eyes involuntarily flicking to Lu Wu Xie's face.
As expected, before she could finish her tea, Lu Wu Xie suddenly curved his lips and said, "Since that is the case, pack some belongings and wait for me at the North Gate of Jin City at the Hour of Chen in three days."
With that, he downed the lukewarm Biluochun before him, glanced at Zhong Li, who had accompanied him, and stood up, heading for the exit of Xun Xiang Pavilion.