Chapter 717 Madam Meng [Requesting monthly votes!]

A quiet courtyard.

Ouyang Rong crossed his arms and leaned against the door frame, quietly watching the slender back of the embroiderer in the kitchen.

Ouyang Rong came over in the morning and accompanied the somewhat apprehensive embroiderer as she prepared the gift she would give back to her aunt on her birthday.

The women presented gifts to her, and the embroiderer was obligated to reciprocate with gifts; this was a matter of etiquette.

Ouyang Rong had no choice but to help her prepare.

At lunchtime, Zhao Qingxiu made him noodles.

At this moment, she is carefully kneading a dough on a wooden board, adding water from time to time.

Looking at the dough that the embroiderer had kneaded into a ball, Ouyang Rong was lost in thought, his gaze fixed on it.

The noodles were kneaded into various shapes in the embroiderer's hands, sometimes round, sometimes flat, and sometimes overflowing from between her fingers as thin, white strips... They were transformed into various shapes, yet still retained their teardrop-shaped resilience.

Scenes from yesterday's journey from the swing to the main room flashed through his mind.

Although the embroiderer was thin, she was still quite well-endowed, and whether it was just her imagination or because she had been eating well lately, she seemed to be developing again after settling into the quiet courtyard...

Ouyang Rong covered his mouth and coughed.

He stepped forward, hugged the embroiderer from behind, and kneaded the dough with her.

Zhao Qingxiu elegantly styled her hair in an updo, tilted her head slightly, and smiled faintly.

Ouyang Rong said softly:

"Don't be so nervous. You've met Junior Sister before, and Wei Lai too. As for Auntie, it's enough that she can come. Whether the longevity noodles are good or not is not important. The most important thing that day is to see her..."

Zhao Qingxiu didn't seem to be listening; she just kept her head down and kneaded the dough intently.

Ouyang Rong remembered the matter of injecting merit and subtly inquired about it.

However, nothing unusual was found.

The embroiderer seemed to be the same as always.

But with so much merit poured in, there must have been some response at all.

However, it was inconvenient for Ouyang Rong to investigate her spiritual cultivation level.

As he pondered, it soon grew dark. Ouyang Rong ate a bowl of noodles as usual, then took his leave.

After washing the dishes, Zhao Qingxiu went to the bedroom and took out a bronze longsword.

A phantom image of a trapped dragon was coiled on the sword.

She tilted her head slightly, her little face looking somewhat lost in thought.

The sixth rank of the Yue Nu Dao lineage.

Her name is Lady Dream.

In the Palace of the Queen, only those who advance to the sixth rank and become Lady Dream possess the qualifications and ability to enter that forbidden area.

Lady Meng is the name of an ancient deity in the mythology of the Wu and Yue regions.

It is not a single deity, but a category of deities. Ancient books say that they walk in the dreams of the ancient people of Wu and Yue...

The dream Zhao Qingxiu had that morning was actually a necessary step in becoming a Dream Lady.

The bronze longsword she carried was originally intended to help Yue Chuzi overcome this dream, which was also the reason why her senior and second senior sisters had written to her earlier, assuring her that she could break through to the next realm.

As a result, she didn't get to use the bronze longsword... or rather, she didn't have time to use it.

Although Zhao Qingxiu was blind, she could sense that her sixth-rank status was somewhat different from that of her fellow disciples.

Even the promotion ceremony is somewhat different.

Not only did she not use the bronze sword that suppressed the evil dragon and the dream abyss, but she also inexplicably subdued a terrifying evil dragon in her dream.

The advancement ceremony I heard from my senior sisters was clearly just about escaping the evil dragon and the Dream Abyss alive. Not being eaten was already a victory. The exceptionally talented Yue Nu was able to see through the illusion and escape the Dream Abyss immediately.

However, when it came to her, a minor but unexpected incident occurred...

Zhao Qingxiu frowned and sighed, her expression unreadable, as if she were to express either joy or sorrow.

She looked inward and saw the "trapped dragon wonder" in her dantian once again.

Zhao Qingxiu was initially somewhat skeptical, wondering if this was just her imagination.

This is not the kind of ability that a sixth-rank Lady Meng should possess.

According to the experience of the sect's elders, Madam Meng only possessed the qualifications to enter that place.

The current situation is definitely not due to any miraculous advantage of being a virgin, because Zhao Qingxiu had never heard of such a thing from her master before, at least not from the previous virgins.

Aside from the strange, faint purple tinge emanating from the trapped dragon, she was actually quite familiar with this "trapped dragon spectacle," as she had heard her senior sister recount it many times and had even rejoiced for them.

The eldest sister is a high-grade Qi cultivator.

This "trapped dragon spectacle" is clearly closely related to the true name of the "two characters" in the realm after Lady Meng!

But it seems she already had it...

However, it cannot be said that she has entered that realm, because the spiritual energy in her dantian is still red, not the noble purple energy.

Zhao Qingxiu held the bronze longsword, the bloodstains on it growing increasingly hot, but she ignored them.

At the same time, she could not see a faint phantom of an evil dragon coiling around the sword, causing the bronze longsword to emit a faint dragon's roar.

Lost in thought, Zhao Qingxiu suddenly recalled her dream from the previous day. In the dream, Tanlang, transformed into a purple pebble, trapped the evil dragon and delivered it into her hands.

Zhao Qingxiu stared blankly into space, muttering something under her breath before turning her gaze inward once more.

A phantom of a purple dragon coiled around her dantian. This dragon looked somewhat familiar; she seemed to have seen it in her dream that morning, its ferocious appearance as if it wanted to devour her. Yet now, it remained within the dantian's range, obediently circling, completely docile...

"Ah ah..."

Zhao Qingxiu couldn't help but recall the purple phantom of Tanlang in her dream once again.

Could it be because of Tanlang?

Was it a stroke of good fortune, a lucky accident; or was her husband's constitution special, perfectly suited to her...?

...

Hukou County.

At a breakfast stall in the East Market, Wang Caozhi finished a plate of steaming hot rice cakes, then lazily called over the proprietress to bring him another basket.

There are five pieces in a steamer basket. These steamed rice cakes are similar in shape to large dumplings, with thin skins and fillings. They can also be deep-fried.

Two coins a basket, which is very cheap.

A plate of steamed rice cakes was brought to Wang Caozhi by the busy proprietress. He scooped a spoonful of pickled radish onto the cakes and began to eat them with relish.

This is how his brother-in-law taught him to eat it.

The emphasis is on speed, intensity, and gusto, making breakfast a truly satisfying experience.

This thing called steamed rice cake can also be found in Longcheng County. I can't say whether it's a specialty breakfast of Hukou County or Longcheng County, but they're pretty much the same.

Wang Caozhi remembered eating it in Longcheng County, with his brother-in-law and Sister Xie.

I ran into this old acquaintance while wandering around Hukou County these past few days, so I've been visiting him every morning.

I must say, these snacks from small counties in Jiangnan, though not as refined as the various tea pastries in Nanjing, are just so satisfying to eat.

After finishing another plate of steamed rice cakes, Wang Caozhi let out a long sigh, got up, and paid a few coins.

He carefully collected the small handful of coins the proprietress had given him as change, counted them one by one, and then, under the proprietress's slightly disapproving gaze, calmly stuffed them into his pocket and walked out of the breakfast shop.

The proprietress probably disliked him because, despite his wealthy and ostentatious appearance, he was meticulously calculating his change, collecting every single greasy coin.

The surrounding diners probably gave them a mocking look.

But Wang Caozhi just smiled faintly and left without caring.

Others laughed at Wang Caozhi for being petty, but Wang Caozhi laughed at them for not knowing how to appreciate beautiful scenery.

The middle-aged proprietress, bending over to painstakingly give change, revealed a hint of cleavage through her already loose-fitting long skirt—something those fools who throw money around and pretend to be rich by not giving change could never appreciate…

Moreover, even a disdainful eye roll is part of the charm of these rural women with wheat-colored skin and a simple, healthy demeanor. Before leaving, I can have another meal—a meal that looks delicious and appetizing. I was certainly full this morning.

Having eaten my fill will make it easier for me to help my brother-in-law with his work.

Wang Caozhi nodded.

Just as he stepped out of the breakfast shop, a discreet carriage appeared out of nowhere and stopped in front of him.

As soon as Wang Caozhi boarded the carriage and sat down, his expression turned serious again.

"Reporting."

"Yes, shopkeeper."

The attendant waiting inside the car quietly reported the current location and the progress of the investigation.

Upon hearing this, Wang Caozhi's brows furrowed with worry, and he spoke in a low voice:

"Still haven't found that skinny guy?"

The attendant immediately replied, "Reporting to the manager, our men have been guarding the city gates around the clock. If there is any news, they will report it immediately..."

"Alright, let's go to the Hukou County Government Office first."

"Yes, shopkeeper."

Wang Caozhi remembered something and asked, "Where is Master Lu?"

"They're still at the military camp on the outskirts of the city, keeping watch with the people we sent."

Any new information?

"No, the White Tiger Guards have been keeping watch on the water pirates. Recently, the water pirates have been hiding in the marshes and haven't come out. There hasn't been any major movement from the military camp either. Our men have been keeping watch for several days, but we haven't seen any sign that General Duan has left or met any strangers."

"Understood."

Wang Caozhi nodded.

Although Master Lu was a bit eccentric and always had a blank expression, he was still very cooperative with them.

In the first few days after arriving in Hukou County, this Taoist priest Lu accompanied them and searched the entire city.

Seeing that he had no luck within the city, he now went to the military camp on the outskirts of the city to work with his men to secretly monitor Duan Quanwu...

After dismissing his entourage, Wang Caozhi continued his journey by carriage to Hukou County.

As the carriage passed a crowded notice board, Wang Caozhi slightly lifted the curtain and saw the notices that the crowd was gathered around.

The wanted men on the notice, whether they had scarred faces or fleshy faces, were all dressed in all black, and wore the same uniform attire: tight-fitting back armor on their upper bodies and short shirts and trousers on their lower bodies.

This type of attire is very suitable for water activities.

Wang Caozhi, unfazed, lowered the carriage curtain.

This is an arrest warrant jointly issued by the Hukou County government and Duan Quanwu's White Tiger Guard.

Want those audacious river pirates.

The carriage passed directly by the bulletin board. Wang Caozhi suddenly thought that if he also posted such a notice to arrest that thin-faced man and mobilized the people of Hukou, he might be able to find his whereabouts soon.

However, he came secretly on the orders of his brother-in-law Ouyang Rong, and was only investigating people within Princess Anhui's residence, so it was not convenient to make a big fuss about it.

Magistrate Meng of Hukou County shared the same idea, giving them easy access to the investigation, but it was still inconvenient to bring it to the forefront.

Wang Caozhi sighed.

The thought of this serious matter that had reached a dead end instantly extinguished my good mood of "making the best of both worlds."

Somewhat troubled, he rushed to the Hukou County government office. After a secret meeting and conversation with Magistrate Meng, he prepared to leave.

Just then, a clever servant who often accompanied him hurriedly came looking for him.

"Shopkeeper, a message has arrived from the governor's side..."

Wang Caozhi stopped, dismissed the crowd, and waved his hand with a sigh:

"Tell me, is your brother-in-law unhappy with our progress and is he urging us to hurry up...?"

No, that's not it.

The clever servant shook his head, leaned forward, and whispered a few words in Wang Caozhi's ear.

"Brother Yan has arrived?"

Wang Caozhi's expression first showed surprise, then he quickly turned around and walked away solemnly:

"Come on, take me there."

"yes."

A short while later, they arrived at a living room. Wang Caozhi saw Yan Liulang waiting there, immediately went inside, and turned to close the door...

After an incense stick has burned.

After finishing his story in one breath, Yan Liulang picked up his teacup and moistened his throat.

"Guanyin Temple?"

Wang Caozhi muttered to himself, his expression slightly puzzled, and glanced at Yan Liulang.

"Brother Yan, please wait a moment while I go and check."

Wang Caozhi put down his teacup, walked straight out the door, and his figure disappeared into the distance under Yan Liulang's calm gaze.

Wang Caozhi, along with his clever servant and others, left the county government office and sped out of the city towards Guanyin Temple.

The sun rose and set in the west, and we waited until dusk.

Finally, Wang Caozhi returned, looking travel-worn.

"Brother Yan!"

In the dimly lit living room, Yan Liulang was drinking tea and waiting, accompanied by Magistrate Meng, when Wang Caozhi hurried back and came to him, calling out to him, slightly out of breath.

Yan Liulang put down his teacup, turned around and saw that Wang Caozhi's expression, besides being joyful, also had a slightly strange look.

"Brother Wang sent someone to Guanyin Temple to investigate," he asked.

Wang Caozhi nodded vigorously, "Yes, I went. I went myself."

"Oh? How is it? Have you found anything?"

In the empty hall, only the short young man's voice still carried a hint of disbelief:

"We found him! He really is at Guanyin Temple!"

...

The sun was shining brightly in the morning.

In the courtyard of the Yinbingzhai residence in Huaiye Lane.

Yan Liulang, who had rushed back, stopped in the courtyard and bowed to a figure reading in the study. He then recounted the situation in Hukou County.

"Qian Chen has been found?"

"Found him, he is at Guanyin Temple."

"Tell me about it."

"Brother Wang went there personally. This Qian Chen is staying at the guesthouse of Guanyin Temple. No wonder we couldn't find him in the city at first. He never passed through Hukou County or went to the military camp. Instead, he went straight to Guanyin Temple in Phoenix Ridge after getting off the boat. The temple has a large number of visitors, so we hadn't noticed this place before."

"Moreover, according to Wang Caozhi's investigation, this guy named Qian Chen was probably paving the way for Princess Anhui's visit to the temple fair on the fifteenth day to burn incense and worship Buddha. He donated a sum of money in advance in Princess Anhui's name and also discussed the reception of Princess Anhui with the abbot of Guanyin Temple."

"He's now considered a guest of honor by the abbot, staying in the guesthouse arranged by the abbot. The reason we couldn't find Brother Wang's people before was because we overlooked that place..."

(End of this chapter)