The Taihang Valley seemed shrouded in a mysterious veil. A thick, lingering mist, mingling with the lingering aroma of chili peppers, permeated the valley. The bandits huddled in a heap of fallen leaves, their coughs choked by the chili peppers echoing through the silent valley like a melody of distress and pain.
Su Jinli gently tucked the oil-paper bag back into her sleeve. The lingering spicy aroma from her fingertips, mixed with the faint smell of rancid sheepskin ears, instantly brought her back to those early mornings drying fish at the Yangzhou docks. She subconsciously wrinkled her nose slightly, then gently kicked the bandit leader's coarse cloth trouser waistband with the tip of her shoe. The delicate plum blossom pattern on the sole of her boot dug deep into the mud on the man's lower back, as if to brand him with a warning. "Did you hear me? If you dare to block my way again, I'll sprinkle chili powder in your tea." Her voice was crisp and loud, carrying an unquestionable majesty, and it carried far through the mist.
The bandit leader was sprawled on the ground like a puddle of mud, his body twitching uncontrollably. The sheepskin human ear happened to fall on his lips, and he bit a corner of it unconsciously, looking extremely embarrassed. The plum blossom birthmark on the back of his neck was strangely flushed against the backdrop of the mist, and it was exactly the same color as Su Qingyao's newly mixed "chili red" rouge, as if it were some kind of weird coincidence. Seeing this, Jiang Yan frowned slightly and slowly squatted down. The Qingfeng sword sheath in his hand gently knocked open the bandit leader's clenched fist, and half of a wooden bookplate from Jinyun Bookstore rolled out. The fox tail carved on the edge of the bookplate was missing, and Jiang Yan recognized it at a glance. It was the mold that Manager Qian used when he pirated "The Oil Seller" last year. This discovery undoubtedly further confirmed their collusion with the Jiangnan Booksellers Alliance.
"Madam," Jiang Yan tilted his head slightly, his gaze tenderly fixed on Su Jinli. He reached out and gently brushed a fallen maple leaf from her shoulder. His fingertips stumbled upon the square oil-paper bag in his sleeve pocket, and he couldn't help but sigh, "This chili powder... is more effective than my sword." He recalled how he'd been humiliated when Su Jinli had kicked him into the fallen leaves. In that instant, his head spun, his body tumbling. The black jade ring on his thumb seemed to gleam with embarrassment in the twilight, as if ashamed of his previous embarrassment.
"That's right." Su Jinli raised her eyebrows slightly, and the pearl headband in her hair gently brushed the tip of Jiang Yan's nose. The gentle touch was like the brush of a feather. There was a hint of pride in her eyes, and she said, "This is a recipe I learned from the boatmen in Yangzhou. Realgar mixed with chili peppers can not only prevent snakes and insects, but also choke bandits at critical moments. It's very useful." She shook her sleeve pocket lightly, and the oil paper bag inside rubbed against the back of Jiang Yan's hand, making a slight rustling sound, as if to testify to her words. "I told you before, when taking a weak scholar like you out, I have to prepare something tough." Her words, although with a hint of ridicule, were also full of concern for Jiang Yan.
Young Marquis Su was now firmly shoving his toy broadsword against the bluestone slab. The red silk tassel, wrapped in a bandit's belt, swayed gently with his movements. The young man crouched down with great interest, rifling through the bandit leader's pouch. The hem of his brocade robe brushed against the remaining chili powder on the ground. "Sister! Look at what I did just now. Didn't it look like a knight from a storybook?" He asked, pulling two ingots of poor quality silver from his pouch. He clinked them proudly in his hands, his face lit with an excited smile. "I told you I could protect you!" His eyes were filled with anticipation, eager for his sister's approval.
"Yeah, it does." Su Jinli took the silver with a smile, her fingertips inadvertently brushing against the teeth marks on it, a hint of amusement in her heart. She paused deliberately, then said playfully, "Like...the big fool from the knight-errantry." With that, she nimbly dodged Su Xiaohouye's fist, her skirt fluttering like a butterfly, sweeping past the bandit leader's ghost-head knife. A dried leaf, stained with chili powder, was lodged in the blood groove of the blade, as if telling of the thrilling battle that had just taken place.
Su Qingyao walked slowly over the messy ground with graceful steps. The mother-of-pearl makeup box in her hand shone with a soft pearl-like luster in the mist, as if it was a bright spot in the chaotic scene. She stuffed half a box of "Chili Red" rouge into Su Jinli's hand. The surface of the rouge was stained with a few dust particles, which made it look a little messy. "Here, I just found it in the thorn bush. I dropped half of the box." She used a silver hairpin to pick away the fallen leaves on the rouge, muttering to herself, "I'm so sad. I mixed this color seventeen times to get it right. It was really not easy."
Seeing this, Jiang Yan took the dressing box and examined it carefully. The gold foil mixed in the cream shone captivatingly in the mist, like twinkling stars in the night sky. He couldn't help but exclaim, "Eldest Sister's rouge... matches the aura of Madam when she applies her powder." The vibrant color was eye-catching, just like Su Jinli's courage and boldness when she faced the bandits just now, a dazzling sight.
"You have good taste." Su Qingyao rolled her eyes slightly, and her wide sleeves gently brushed across Jiang Yan's shoulders with a hint of anger, "Unlike some people who can fall into the mud when dancing with swords." Her words were teasing, but also full of intimacy, as if she was telling a joke unique to family members.
At that moment, the bandit leader suddenly let out a "ho ho" sound, and the sheepskin ear slipped from his mouth, landing on the fallen leaves nearby. He moved his lips, revealing the prominent cigarette stain on his back teeth, looking particularly wretched. "Lady... spare me... we won't dare to do it again..." The chili powder had ripped deep grooves into the corners of his eyes, and tears flowed uncontrollably, revealing the same triangular eyes as those of Mr. Qian, the shopkeeper and the accountant, filled with fear and pleading.
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