After leaving Qiu Boyan's Luohua Xiaozhu, Zhu Jiayu went to find Qi Xiuyuan.
Qi Xiuyuan was practicing his sword when he heard she was coming. He put down his sword and asked his servant to invite her in, but the servant hesitated and said, "Young master, Miss said she won't be coming in and would like you to leave."
Qi Xiuyuan: ?
He frowned: "Didn't you say what it was about?"
The servant shook his head: "No."
Qi Xiuyuan nodded, tossed the sword to the servant, and said, "I understand," before walking out.
Zhu Jiayu stood under the weeping willows outside the courtyard, wearing an apricot-colored long dress that made her look gentle and dignified. Her figure complemented the green willows, making the sky clear and the breeze pleasant.
Qi Xiuyuan walked over and called out to her, "Cousin."
Zhu Jiayu smiled at him and said, "Cousin, I want to go to the Ghost Market, but I've heard it's a mixed bag. I wonder if you have time to accompany me?"
Qi Xiuyuan did not agree, but remained reserved: "Why would my cousin go to the black market for no reason?"
Treasures that cannot be traded on the market, such as swords from the imperial tombs of previous dynasties, or beauties cultivated with great effort by some organization, can be freely traded in the Ghost Market after passing through the official channels.
No one knows who is behind the Ghost Market, nor how powerful their methods are. But over the years, rumors about the Ghost Market have been endless, including stories of people seeking revenge against it, only to have their entire organizations and sects wiped out by the Ghost Market.
Even if the truth is unknown, it is enough to make ordinary people avoid the ghost market at all costs.
But Zhu Jiayu wasn't afraid at all; she even wanted to go to the ghost market? This made Qi Xiuyuan suspicious of her.
Zhu Jiayu said, "My zither is missing a string, and I'm too lazy to find someone to replace it, so I'm thinking of getting a new one. I just heard that someone is selling antique zithers in the Ghost Market recently, so I'd like to go take a look." She looked at Qi Xiuyuan with a smile, "If you're not available, cousin, that's fine. I'll hire a few thugs; they should be able to protect me."
For some reason, Qi Xiuyuan's temples began to throb.
However, Zhu Jiayu's identity is extraordinary. She is very likely to be the future wife of the heir of the Marquis of Kaiping's mansion, his cousin's wife, and his great-aunt treats him well. Based on this alone, he cannot leave Zhu Jiayu alone to go to the Ghost Market.
He thought for a moment and said, "I can go with you, but there's one thing: once we get there, you have to listen to me and not act recklessly."
Zhu Jiayu nodded obediently.
Although it is called the Ghost Market, its location is not illusory or ethereal. It is just a bit hidden, located in the basement of an abandoned gambling house. There are no barriers to entry for outsiders. Whether you are a high-ranking official or an ordinary citizen, you can enter the Ghost Market by going through the gambling house to seek goods or wealth.
Zhu Jiayu didn't ask Qi Xiuyuan how he knew the location of the Ghost Market, and Qi Xiuyuan didn't ask Zhu Jiayu if he knew where the Ghost Market was. The two tacitly packed their things and then went out together. It was three-quarters of an hour later when they arrived at the Ghost Market.
The ghost market was similar to the ordinary market on both sides of the street, with tall buildings and vendors calling out their wares, but the appearance was very different.
Ordinary markets are just bustling, but the bustling ghost market is mixed with a lot of blood and cold atmosphere.
Here, someone could draw their sword at any moment, and someone could fall and die at any moment. Without sufficient means of self-defense, most people wouldn't easily come here.
The roadside vendors enthusiastically solicited customers, but the cages at their feet contained not cute animals, but all sorts of people, some young and beautiful, others young and naive. They had lost their human dignity, huddled in their cages, warily watching everyone who approached them.
Further away are brightly lit pavilions, where graceful dancers, dressed in light feather robes and adorned with gold and pearl ornaments, are like a dazzling array of flowers amidst the melodious sounds.
At the end of the road was the arena, surrounded by onlookers watching the spectacle. On the arena, lions and tigers fought, while below, cheers rose like waves of heat.
"With enough skill, this place can become a paradise on earth, where one can satisfy all desires for wine, women, wealth, and power. But if not, one should be more concerned about one's own life than the dazzling scenery," Qi Xiuyuan said calmly.
Zhu Jiayu looked calmly at the street in front of her, which resembled a bustling marketplace, a hint of fear unconsciously creeping into her eyes: "I understand, thank you for reminding me, cousin."
She looked terrified.
Compared to those with dazed eyes or indifferent faces, the label she mistakenly adopted was very obvious. She looked like a pampered young lady who had disobeyed her father and brothers and ran away here in a fit of pique.
There are no laws here; the only thing protected in the ghost market is the interests of the sellers.
This means that many things that are not allowed in Daye are permitted here.
So someone put down the wine jug, staggered over to Zhu Jiayu's side, and then pretended to lose his balance, bumping into Zhu Jiayu while holding a handkerchief soaked in a sleeping potion in his hand.
This man, named Zhang Laili, came to the Ghost Market today to find a beauty to suit his master's taste. However, after looking around, he was worried that he would leave empty-handed, but unexpectedly he saw a great beauty. Although she was not a commodity here, it didn't matter. This was the Ghost Market, and ability was the most important thing.
He was ready to cover the woman's mouth and nose with a handkerchief as soon as he bumped into her, then take her hostage and attack the man beside her. Presumably, the man would be hesitant to make any big moves, and then he would stab him with a poisoned needle, killing the man on the spot. He could then take both of them back to report to his superiors.
But he never expected that the moment he touched the beauty's hem, something cold pressed against his neck. Blood gushed out, and he collapsed, limp and powerless, the handkerchief slipping from his hand.
His eyes widened, unable to comprehend how he had died.
The culprit had already sheathed her dagger, and looking distressed, she lifted the hem of her skirt and said regretfully, "Cousin, my skirt is all dirty, what should I do?"
Normally, Qi Xiuyuan would have already comforted her and promised to take her to buy a new one later. But now, he had just witnessed his delicate and lovely cousin take action and decisively end the life of a strong man.
He felt that, relatively speaking, he should be the one who was frightened...
He couldn't process what had happened, so he had no time to comfort Zhu Jiayu, who was heartbroken over a dress.
The passersby surrounding them swallowed hard, took a few steps back, and moved closer to the vendors, not daring to get any closer to the vicious girl.
It's not like I haven't seen murder before, but this girl's movements were too fast; it's obvious she does this kind of thing often.
Zhu Jiayu seemed completely oblivious to her own cruelty. She looked up at Qi Xiuyuan and complained, "Why isn't my cousin saying anything?"
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