As Ye Shengxiao finished speaking, a cold glint flashed before his eyes, and by instinct, he retreated.
Immediately after, he watched helplessly as a strand of hair from his forehead detached and fluttered to the ground.
Before Ye Shengxiao could lament the severed hair, the familiar warm trickle on his neck caused his expression to change drastically.
He no longer had the energy to tease or show off, and hastily begged for mercy:
"My lady, show mercy! Show mercy!
It was this young lord who was shameless and offered himself, not asking for a single coin, is that not enough?
Eh—
Don't, don't hit me anymore! This young lord knows he's wrong, isn't that enough?"
...
Lin Zimo looked at her small hands, which had been holding chopsticks a moment ago but were now empty. She silently picked up a spoon and continued to pick at the expensive dishes on the table.
Ye Shengxiao, who had been disciplined, caught sight of the seemingly frail county magistrate rushing towards them from the corner of his eye. He took out a pipe from his embrace and placed it on the table.
"My lady, if you change your mind, just light this pipe, and no matter where you are, heaven or hell, this young lord will appear before you.
I'll strip naked and lie down, letting you do as you please~"
Finally, Ye Shengxiao did not forget to strike a pose like Xi Shi clutching her heart, then, when the charging county magistrate was only a step away, he took to his heels, disappearing into the wind.
"Damn it!"
Feeling offended, Lin Qingge spat, grabbed a small stool by the table, and threw it fiercely.
Unfortunately, Ye Shengge, having sensed it, dodged to the side.
However—
Before Ye Shengge, who had dodged the stool, could relax, he suddenly felt a pain in the back of his left leg. His foot stumbled, and he lost his balance, falling to the ground.
As Ye Shengxiao got up, the imposing county magistrate had already arrived.
He was about to use his agility technique when he was hit again squarely in the back of his right leg, causing him to fall awkwardly once more.
This time, before he could even get up, he was firmly pinned to the ground by the pursuing county magistrate.
"Run, why aren't you running anymore?"
Lin Qingge questioned loudly, while increasing the force in her hands.
Ye Shengxiao wanted to struggle, but with his current position, he couldn't exert any strength. He could only let out a few resentful grunts:
"Hmph, what kind of skill is relying on a woman? If you have the guts, compete with me fair and square, whoever wins gets the beauty!"
After saying that, he could only look with incredibly aggrieved eyes at the culprit who was hitting the back of his legs with a chicken drumstick.
His pouting and glaring exaggerated expression seemed to say, 'If you don't love me, please don't hurt me!'
Lin Qingge listened to Ye Shengxiao's words, and felt utterly speechless.
Good heavens!
Are you never going to stop?
Putting aside whether she was male or female, capable or not, she was nominally Leng Ningyue's husband at this moment. Were these people treating her as if she were dead?
The more she thought about it, the more annoyed she became, and the more she felt like the grass on the green hills was growing on her head. Lin Qingge let out a sneer and said with a fake smile:
"Compete with me fair and square?
Compete with your sister's competition!
Is my head damaged? My wife is already mine, why should I compete with you? On what basis do you ask me to compete with you?
Is it based on your face, as thick as a city wall, or on your dog legs that should be broken?
Officer Yan, tie up this scoundrel who intends to harm my wife for me!"
"Yes, my lord!"
Yan Tinghao, using the remaining half of the rope, quickly tied up Ye Shengge and, following suit, fastened the other end of the rope to Hua Jinrong's waist beside them.
Hua Jinrong, whose dashing and elegant image immediately suffered a blow: ???
Seeing this, Yan Tinghao tugged at the rope around his waist, "Master Hua, my lord said that I must keep a close eye on the proprietor of the Xiangtang Pavilion.
Therefore, the flower thief can only be guarded by you, Master Hua."
...
Hua Jinrong, left speechless, pulled at the corner of his mouth, it was as if 'disdain' was carved onto his forehead.
On the other side.
Lin Qingge asked with a stern face, "Was it you who led Officer Yan to discover the woman in the cellar?"
"I do not change my name nor my surname, it was indeed this young lord who did it!"
"Then how did you discover the strangeness of the Xiangtang Pavilion?"
"Since I met the destined person of this young lord and was thoroughly awakened by my destined person, this young lord decided to repent and mend his ways.
Therefore, this young lord has been inquiring everywhere about cases of abducted women and children.
Unexpectedly, this young lord really found a clue! He followed the clues and tracked here.
This young lord saw that this was Changzhou County, where my heart's desire resides!
I absolutely cannot tolerate trouble being stirred up here!
Coincidentally, I saw the county magistrate's party come here to soak in the fragrant soup. I saw that dull, oh no, that constable was isolated, so I led him over."
Although the other party did not mention names, the repeated appearance of the words 'heart's desire' caused Lin Qingge's temples to throb.
At this moment, there was a sudden commotion at the entrance of the Xiangtang Pavilion.
"Second brother, oh second brother~
My good second brother~
You were fine yesterday, why are you gone today?"
A man stumbled into the Xiangtang Pavilion, wailing at the top of his lungs with grief.
Lin Qingge briefly explained the matter of the confined women in the cellar to Leng Ningyue, and then quickly walked towards the crime scene on the second floor.
Upon approaching, Lin Qingge heard the man speaking disrespectfully to Murong Bai at the entrance.
"Oh ho, who is this beauty?
Second brother is not honest!
Knowing that there is such exciting new merchandise, he didn't call me, clearly not treating me as a brother!"
After saying that, the man, who had been crying a moment ago, reached out with an evil smile to touch Murong Bai's cheek, which made Hua Jinrong, who was following a step behind, secretly give a thumbs up.
"Tsk tsk, truly a brave man who knows there are tigers in the mountains but heads towards them!"
After Hua Jinrong finished sighing, the man had already fallen straight to the ground, twitching all over and foaming at the mouth.
Hua Jinrong, who was not surprised by this, leaned forward. Seeing that the man still had a breath, he couldn't help but admonish him:
"Did your parents not teach you that you shouldn't touch things that are exceptionally beautiful, because often the more beautiful things are the more poisonous?
Especially the one in front of you, let alone touching, even standing a little closer could make you wish you were dead."
"What, Master Hua, do you want to try it too?"
A chilling voice sounded from above, causing Hua Jinrong to shiver inexplicably, "No, no, there's no need to waste your hard-earned medicinal powder on me, Forensic Doctor Murong."
Seeing Hua Jinrong following alone, Lin Qingge couldn't help but ask curiously:
"Master Hua, where is the flower thief?"