Chapter 3 We meet again, Miss Cuihua.
Chapter 3
As dawn broke, the branches of trees on the outskirts of the city were covered with a thick layer of ice, and the soil on the road was mixed with ice shards. Even Shen Suining, riding the Ferghana horse he had smuggled from the Wanhua Tower, could hardly move an inch at this moment.
Seeing that there was no one in sight ahead, Shen Suining simply jumped off his horse, breathing on his hands to warm them and hopping around to stomp his feet to warm himself up.
A moment later, Shen Fengyu's shouts came from behind. She was driving the carriage recklessly, nearly tipping over several times. Shen Suining watched in terror and couldn't help but yell, "Can you slow down? My heart is about to jump out of my chest!"
Before she could finish speaking, Shen Fengyu tightened the reins, and the carriage, slippery from the icy road, lurched forward quite a distance, heading uncontrollably towards Shen Suining.
Shen Suining cried out in surprise, jumping back in fright, clutching her heart and trembling by the roadside.
"You're just talking without any sense of the pain!"
Before Shen Suining could start cursing, Shen Fengyu jumped off the carriage, rolling her eyes in annoyance, "If I don't hurry, you're all alone and have no money, you'll freeze to death on the roadside sooner or later!"
As she spoke, Shen Fengyu handed a hand warmer to Shen Suining.
Holding the hand warmer, Shen Suining instantly beamed, "Yes, yes, it's still Hall Master Shen who cares about me."
After drugging He Hansheng, Shen Suining jumped out of the second-floor window and chased after Sheng Qingge in the direction she had fled. She didn't take anything with her, not even the clothes and fox fur cloak she was wearing, which she had taken from some unknown house.
After this whole mess, Shen Fengyu, who was left to clean up the mess, had to put in a lot of effort.
Shen Fengyu sighed silently.
The road was difficult to travel, and the snow was falling intermittently, so the two decided to stay at an inn in the suburbs for the time being and make further plans after the snow stopped.
After the two sat down in the room, Shen Suining immediately took Shen Fengyu's account book and examined it carefully.
Shen Fengyu glared at her fiercely, "Don't worry, I didn't spend a penny."
"How is that possible? I broke so many things and took other people's clothes." Shen Suining bit her finger nervously, afraid that she would see an astronomical figure the next second.
Shen Fengyu wanted to explain that the handsome young man from who-knows-where had spent a fortune to buy Sheng Qingge for one night, but the Wan Hua Lou had lost her. The manager was too embarrassed to admit it and was afraid of losing face and losing his integrity, so he didn't make a fuss.
But then Shen Fengyu thought again and gave up. She felt that Shen Suining's stingy and reckless nature needed to be corrected.
Shen Suining was carefully examining the account book, while Shen Fengyu sat beside her drinking hot tea. Suddenly, as if struck by a sudden thought, she blurted out, "Have you seen it clearly this time?"
"Um?"
"That man," Shen Fengyu said with a half-smile, "did you see him clearly? Does he meet your standards?"
Shen Suining's mind was originally on the ledger, but when Shen Fengyu asked her question, she felt a sudden tightness in her chest, and she stopped looking at the ledger and sighed to herself.
"What's wrong? What happened? Could it be... that you look really bad?"
Shen Suining sighed again, "He does look presentable, but..."
"only?"
Shen Fengyu's curiosity was piqued. Given Shen Suining's indiscriminate nature and flirtatious attitude, what kind of man could make her show such a bitter expression, even refusing to look at the account books?
“However,” Shen Suining hesitated, probably feeling embarrassed, before finally whispering the truth, “his kung fu is truly superb, I can’t beat him.”
"..." Shen Fengyu wondered if she had misheard, and after a moment of silence, she exclaimed, "Huh?"
Shen Suining was even more dejected. She, the young master of Shuyu Manor, the young head of the number one sect in Jiangnan, and the leader of Bifeng Hall, was actually no match for an unknown junior! If this got out, not only Bifeng Hall, but the entire Shuyu Manor and even the martial arts world would laugh at her for the rest of their lives!
Unexpectedly, Shen Fengyu blurted out the next second, "Isn't that normal?"
Shen Suining: "???"
"..." Shen Fengyu chuckled dryly, realizing he had misspoke, and quickly changed the subject: "But speaking of which, Wan Hua Lou deliberately let Sheng Qingge go, offending Shuyu Manor and another group of people, and ruining its own reputation. It's a losing proposition. Without Sheng Qingge as its pillar, how many wealthy people will be willing to throw money at Wan Hua Lou?"
When the topic turned to business, Shen Suining's expression instantly turned serious, and she revealed her guess: "The reason Wan Hua Lou is willing to do this is simply because Sheng Qingge is not only their star performer, but also the true power behind the scenes."
Shen Fengyu chuckled, "I've never heard of the sect leader personally coming out to greet guests."
What if Zhang Shihai is just a decoy?
Shen Fengyu was stunned for a moment, then suddenly realized: "You mean, Zhang Shihai is only bidding on the surface, but in reality, there is someone else with Sheng Qingge on the tenth of each month?"
“It’s not impossible, is it?” Shen Suining smiled, dipping her finger in water and drawing a floor plan of Wan Hua Lou on the table. “Sheng Qingge’s residence is separate. In this location, apart from a corridor leading directly to the Tianzi room, the other three sides are closed off. Wan Hua Lou has an unwritten rule that Sheng Qingge does not see any outsiders except for the last successful bidder on the tenth of each month. This corridor leading to the Tianzi room is also closed off, which means that apart from the guests in the Tianzi room and Sheng Qingge herself, no one knows who she actually spends the night with.”
The more Shen Fengyu thought about it, the more it made sense, but there was something that didn't connect to the story. This feeling of only having a vague understanding was too unpleasant.
She was about to ask Shen Suining for an explanation when Shen Suining got up, walked to the couch, lay down, and turned her back to her. "Go to sleep. Figure out the rest yourself."
Shen Fengyu: "..."
...
He Hansheng was jolted awake in the carriage.
He opened the car window and took a deep breath.
The roads were slippery due to the snow, and even though Jiang Yuchu was extra careful and slowed down, the carriage was not as stable as usual. Moreover, the mountain road was rugged, and there was a risk of the carriage crashing and people dying if one was not careful.
"Yu Chu, it's getting dark. Let's find a place to rest."
"Yes, young master."
He Hansheng closed the car window, feeling a little weak and his head was aching. He was also feeling hungry because he hadn't eaten for so long while he was unconscious.
"Young master."
"Um."
He Hansheng pressed his temples, listening quietly as Jiang Yuchu said, "My men have investigated. The one who fought us at Wanhua Tower was Bifeng Hall from Shuyu Manor. Bifeng Hall is all about clandestine dealings; their martial prowess isn't anything to fear, but they're adept at using underhanded methods like medicine, incense, poison, and hidden weapons. And..."
"what else?"
Jiang Yuchu paused, then continued, "I've heard that the leader of Bifeng Hall is a woman who is skilled in disguise and seduction. She can even disguise her voice with different tones, and no one has ever seen her true face. Young master, we must be careful when we fight with them."
He Hansheng thought of the woman who barged into the room during yesterday's bidding and smiled contemptuously, "I know. How's Zhang Shihai's questioning going?"
"He... died suddenly on the way to the government office yesterday."
He Hansheng's eyes narrowed. "Dead?"
"Yes. He was old and liked to indulge in pleasure, so his body was already worn out. Yesterday, he was suddenly frightened and died instantly."
"Are his family members or children aware of this?"
"No. Zhang Shihai has a bad reputation. His first wife remarried more than ten years ago, taking their child with her. Almost all of his concubines were after his money. Although Zhang Shihai was extravagant, his money came from his first wife, so naturally he couldn't spend it on his concubines. Over time, they all ran away. The only one who didn't run away was the one who fell to her death at the Wan Hua Lou yesterday. She used to be Sheng Qingge's maid."
As a result, fewer and fewer people knew about it.
He Hansheng's expression grew increasingly solemn. In the freezing cold, it was difficult to move an inch. He had first lost the initiative and then lost his Ferghana horse, which could travel a thousand miles a day. If Sheng Qingge were found and killed by the people of Shuyu Manor first, Princess Biyue's case would truly become an unsolved mystery.
...
The snow fell heavier and heavier, and in just half a day, it was already ankle-deep.
Shen Suining was woken up by the cold. The charcoal brazier in the room had long since stopped smoking. She squinted at it and kicked Shen Fengyu awake next to her. "Go find the landlady and ask for two catties of charcoal."
Shen Fengyu, still half asleep, said irritably, "Why don't you go by yourself?"
"I am the young master!"
Suppressed by her status, there was nothing she could do. Shen Fengyu could only grumble and mutter, sit on the edge of the bed for a while to calm down, then get dressed and go to the landlady to get some charcoal.
"Never mind, I'll go by myself." Before Shen Fengyu could leave, Shen Suining jumped off the bed.
Shen Fengyu was astonished. "Oh my, has the sun risen in the west?"
Shen Suining rolled her eyes and sat back down in a huff. "Fine, you go ahead. I'll go find the landlady and order some dishes. I'm starving."
"If you want food, why don't you just have the waiter bring it to your room? Why do you have to go downstairs to find the landlady?"
Shen Fengyu found it strange, after all, Shen Suining was a naturally lazy person who would rather lie down and eat than take a single extra step. Had he changed his tune today?
After thinking it over, Shen Fengyu sat down on the edge of the bed and stared at Shen Suining without moving.
"What are you doing?" Shen Suining asked impatiently. "Are you just standing there, trying to freeze me to death?"
"Go ahead, go ahead," Shen Fengyu said with a half-smile, seemingly seeing through everything. "The landlady is so pretty, you've taken a fancy to her again, haven't you?"
As soon as she finished speaking, Shen Suining kicked her, but Shen Fengyu dodged it with a laugh and went out to get some charcoal.
In no time, Shen Suining had changed into men's clothing and went straight downstairs to the proprietress in front of the counter.
Shen Fengyu, who was fetching charcoal with the shop assistant, immediately saw what she was thinking. Her lips twitched, and she was speechless.
Ignoring Shen Fengyu's presence, Shen Suining walked straight to the counter, jumped onto the table and sat there in a carefree manner, then casually picked up a jar of wine from the counter.
She stared intently at the proprietress, tore open the seal on the wine jar with her mouth, and drank the wine in large gulps. The wine trickled down her chin and past the fake stubble on her chin, which she wiped away with her sleeve without a care.
"..." Having witnessed everything, Shen Fengyu felt nauseous, covered her eyes, and couldn't bear to look. She and the waiter quickly carried the charcoal upstairs.
The landlady was fiddling with her abacus when she heard the noise. She looked up at her and smiled, "Sir, you look unfamiliar. Did you just check in today?"
“Young lady, you see me as a stranger, and I see you as a stranger,” Shen Suining tilted her head back, poured herself a sip of wine, and leaned forward, “It’s just like in my dream yesterday, I long to see you day and night but cannot.”
She deliberately lowered her voice to make it sound rougher, which matched her current appearance.
The landlady smiled and raised her hand to cover Shen Suining's lips. "Sir, please don't tease me. If you'd like to stay, I'll make the arrangements for you."
"What if I have no money?"
“Then you may repay with something else, sir,” the proprietress said, looking Shen Suining up and down with an ambiguous look in her eyes. “Your handsome face is worth a fortune.”
Shen Suining laughed and casually put his arm around the proprietress's shoulder. "Young lady, you are very generous. We hit it off immediately and are quite destined to meet. May I ask your name and age?"
"I am twenty-six years old, and my name is..." The proprietress's eyes grew cold as she spoke each word clearly: "Sheng, Qing, Ge!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Sheng Qingge struck Shen Suining with a palm strike, shattering the wine jar on the counter. Shen Suining gracefully flipped backward to avoid the blow, standing on the table and smiling at Sheng Qingge: "This young lady has quite a temper, I like her!"
"Enough with the nonsense!"
Sheng Qingge sent a jar of wine with a palm strike. Shen Fengyu, who was coming downstairs upon hearing the sound, saw this, hooked a stool with her foot, and kicked it over. The jar shattered in mid-air, and the wine spilled all over the ground.
Sheng Qingge laughed, "I've long heard that there's nothing that Shuyu Manor can't get! I'm just a lowly woman, let's see if you two have the ability!"
"Wait!" Shen Suining shouted urgently, "We're not here to take your life!"
"Keep that to fool the King of Hell!"
As the fight raged, He Hansheng's carriage drew near.
Hearing the noise, Jiang Yuchu immediately gripped the sword at her waist. "Young master, be careful!"
After saying that, Jiang Yuchu kicked the horse's rump hard. The horse cried out in pain and galloped towards the inn. Just as the carriage was about to overturn, the carriage exploded. The two of them leaped over the wall and jumped into the stable in the backyard of the inn.
Jiang Yuchu paused for a moment, then pointed to a horse in the stable, "Young master, your Akhal-Teke horse!"
"Watch out!"
The sounds of fighting rose and fell in the inn. Just as He Hansheng was about to go in to find out what was going on, all the doors and windows of the inn suddenly opened at the same time, and several plumes of white smoke shot out, instantly enveloping the entire inn in smoke.
He Hansheng choked unexpectedly, then noticed someone coming out of the door. He immediately rushed forward and gave the person opposite him a high five.
Sensing hostility, the two sides began fighting in the thick smoke, and Jiang Yuchu, hearing the commotion, immediately joined in.
After a few rounds of fighting, the thick smoke gradually dissipated, and both sides finally saw each other clearly, exclaiming in astonishment, "It's you!"
Shen Suining was so angry that she laughed. She pointed at He Hansheng but couldn't speak for a long time. She only said to Shen Fengyu, "Go after her. She hasn't gone far."
"yes!"
Shen Fengyu immediately mounted his horse, with Jiang Yuchu following closely behind, in hot pursuit.
He Hansheng, who had stopped in place, bowed to Shen Suining with a forced smile and said, "We meet again, Miss Cuihua."
A note from the author:
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[Mini Theater]
Author: Two fights in three chapters, do you guys have any clues? [Shrug]
Shen Suining: It's said that enemies are destined to meet.
He Hansheng: Arguments at the head of the bed are resolved at the foot of the bed
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