The Death of Yuhuan (VII)
The troops were divided into two groups again.
Zhang Yuan and his team continue to investigate Du Qiong based on the clues from the Second Madam. Xu Wei and Lu Fan Ye visit her "sister" the Fourteenth Madam.
Hearing that Xu Wei had arrived, the maid in the courtyard quickly called her in.
Just let her.
Passing through the side room filled with the smell of ink and paper, this place is carefully carved into an antique-style study, stepping over the threshold that is nearly calf-high, and then lifting the powder curtain and pearl necklace in front of you that smells fragrant -
The most dazzling thing that caught the eye was the mahogany dressing table inlaid with colorful pearls. On the table stood a large, bright and clear makeup mirror. The several drawers of jewelry on the left and right were all opened. Two pearl necklaces were dangling on the edge, about to fall. An exquisite phoenix hairpin made of gold was casually thrown on the table, mixed with the opened powder puff.
The Fourteenth Lady was sitting in front of the dressing table in an emerald green cheongsam, carefully applying lipstick to her red lips. Smoke was rising from the incense burner on the side, filling the room with the aroma of incense.
"Wow, you're here." Lady Fourteen saw Xu Wei in the mirror, turned around happily, and stood up to greet him.
"Madam." Xu Wei nodded and watched in silence as she pulled his hand again.
"Oh, your nails have faded a little. I happen to have pink nail polish here." Madam Fourteen pulled her to sit down at the sandalwood table. The table was covered with a soft tablecloth with red patterns. When she put her hands on it, she felt it was soft and comfortable.
She took out a pink porcelain bottle with a lot of English letters printed on it from the cabinet next to her, unscrewed the cap, and started applying it herself.
Unsure whether this was part of the plot, Xu Wei did not refuse.
After all, she doesn't paint her nails, but the copy specially gave her a pair of hands like this, which probably has a corresponding use.
Seeing Xu Wei staring at the pink porcelain bottle in a daze, Madam Fourteen pushed the bottle to her side and said with a smile, "You have studied abroad, so you should be able to read the English on it. But I am not like that. I have only read a few days and can only recognize a few big characters."
Xu Wei was waiting for the other party to start a conversation. Upon hearing this, he turned his eyes to the person in front of him and asked, "Why don't you study?"
"Why else?" Madam Fourteen had just finished painting one of her nails, blew on it, looked up, and then changed to another finger with satisfaction. "If a woman cannot read, the world will be in chaos on the left and she will be poor on the right."
"You and your sister aren't together?"
"She was forced by a young master from Xidi to be taken in as a concubine. She had a hot temper and hanged herself." Lady Fourteen said it calmly and lightly.
Her eyes were still fixed intently on her nails, as if she was doing something extremely important.
"Forced to be a concubine? Now..." Xu Wei was speechless.
Even though she repeatedly told herself in her heart that the other party was just a ghost who thought he was a human, she still hesitated and was unwilling to expose her wounds at this moment.
"In the past, the family had some cash for her studies. Every time after school, she would think about how a woman could make a name for herself in the world. In her dreams, she even spoke foreign languages with foreigners! I have laughed at her many times." After saying this, Lady Fourteen stared at the carved window behind Xu Wei in a daze, as if she was missing something. Her eyes were silent and lifeless, and her fingers mechanically plucking the air, like a delicate-looking marionette.
Xu Wei was startled by his own thoughts and quickly calmed down to stop his thoughts from wandering.
The person in front of her didn't say anything, and the Fourteenth Lady didn't care. She continued to talk to herself: "I think it's not a good thing to read too much. She is only in middle school and has such a hot temper. In my opinion, it's not a big deal. If she doesn't get married, she will get married. At worst, she won't compete for favor. She can be an unfavored lady in the mansion, and have people to provide for her. It's better than hanging herself."
"My grandmother said that it is hard for hanged ghosts to live in the underground!"
As he said this, his eyes were red, and he asked back: "You have read so many books, if it were you, would you also hang yourself?"
Xu Wei shook her head firmly: "No, I won't hang myself, and I won't become a concubine. The world is so big, there is always a place to live."
"You're dreaming. Without the help of a husband or brothers, how can a woman find a place to stay on her own?" Madam Fourteen covered her mouth and laughed sweetly. "It's been so long that I forgot that you are different from us women."
Xu Wei didn't know how to answer again. She wanted to say some well-known truths, or encourage her to look back positively, but when faced with a real example, the words got stuck in her throat and she couldn't utter a word.
After thinking for a while, he decided to change the subject: "I came here today to ask you something."
Seeing this, Madam Fourteen lowered her head again, her snow-white and delicate neck bent, and continued what she was doing: "I know what you want to ask, chat with me first."
"What do you want to talk about?"
"casual."
Xu Wei simply put her elbows on the table, supporting her face, and watched her paint her nails.
No wonder she was able to share the same beauty with the Second Lady when she first entered the mansion. The Fourteenth Lady was not only beautiful and charming with a face so tender that water could be pinched out of it, but also had a good figure with a slender waist and a graceful figure. When she sat still, she was graceful and charming when she moved. She was truly a captivating person.
Thinking of the beauty of the first and second wives, as well as the remaining beautiful wife of the eleventh room, Xu Wei still expressed his affirmation of Du Xingye's aesthetic ability.
I am over fifty years old and surrounded by flowers. It feels so good.
Unfortunately, no one was gained.
Madam Fourteen painted her left hand, gently placed it on the table, and then lifted her right hand. The small brush on the applicator felt cool against her warm nails.
Xu Wei thought for a while and decided to get straight to the point: "Do you want to avenge your sister?"
But as a woman, she has nowhere to go without anyone to rely on, so she turned into a ghost and wanted to ask others for an explanation?
The reason is a bit far-fetched, unless Du Xingye is the force behind that young master.
The slender hand with bright red nails paused, then continued to twist the applicator and repeat the painting action: "Wow, you are so direct."
"Yeah?"
Madam Fourteen blew on the newly painted part and took a moment to glance at her: "Yes and no."
Unlike Master Jiang, Xu Wei had to ask clearly this time: "What is and what is not?"
"I want wealth and glory, lots of jewels, and servants who respect and fear me."
"Isn't this enough?" Xu Wei asked, looking at the luxurious decoration of her room.
Madam Fourteen laughed, as if she was laughing at the naivety of the man in front of her: "This is just the beginning. I want both money and power."
"I want to be the eldest lady the most."
"But there is already a first lady in the mansion."
"Don't you know?" Her ten nails were already painted a translucent flesh-pink color, emitting an alluring luster in the sun. The Fourteenth Lady packed up the porcelain bottle and turned around to put it in the cabinet. "It turns out that the Second Lady is not the Second Lady."
"She was the tenth child, and later she was favored by the master. One day, she persuaded the master to replace the former second wife and became the new second wife."
After putting away the nail polish, Madam Fourteen twisted her steps towards the dressing table. In just a few steps, she walked out with a charming and seductive demeanor: "The first lady had already fallen out of favor at that time. If it weren't for her father who died early and had a dispute with the previous generation of the Du family, she might have become the first lady.
"My background is cleaner than hers."
After saying that, he just sat down on the dressing stool and stood up again, looking at Xu Wei and covering his mouth in surprise, "You don't think I killed the second wife, do you?"
Then she laughed sweetly: "I would like to, but it's a pity that I'm not the one in charge of the household expenses."
Xu Wei asked almost immediately: "Who is it?"
Madam Fourteen did not answer. She slowly picked up a pearl necklace hanging on the drawer and put it around her neck: "Does it look good?"
Xu Wei suppressed his anxiety and nodded: "With your looks, you'd look good even in a sack."
"You made me happy," she smiled, as if she was very satisfied with such an ingenious compliment. She leaned back on the dressing table and pushed over a row of bottles and jars with her fingers, making a clinking sound. "It's the Second Madam, and Lihua. The Du family is managed by the mistress and the housekeeper."
"My dear, I like you so much that I allow you to ask a question now."
Xu Wei didn't think about it for too long and asked directly: "Was the Second Madam killed by Lihua?"
Perhaps the question was too boring, she grumbled in dissatisfaction, "I guess so, I thought you would ask me who Du Qiong is."
Xu Wei didn't respond and continued to ask, "Why did Lihua dress up as a ghost to scare the Second Madam?"
Madam Fourteen seemed to sense the cliché in her words, but she didn't care much. She raised her hand and looked at her red nails: "This is her story, I can't explain it clearly."
Xu Wei sighed, as if she had finally relaxed, and said sadly, "I can't pry her mouth open."
"Then you have to work hard to pry her out. I will be very happy if you can pry her story out." Madam Fourteen covered her mouth and laughed delicately.
Xu Wei: “…”
The original is still magical.
After spending another cup of tea in the main room and chatting about random things, Xu Wei stepped over the threshold and passed by the ear room again.
Although this renovated study is small, it is fully equipped with pens, inkstones, and other study utensils. It has a strong classical flavor, and the inscriptions on the paintings are also quite exquisite. It is indeed a carefully designed one.
For men.
The paintings on the wall were all about wild horses, mountains and rivers, swords and spears, and romantic and wild words. The tables and chairs were all designed to fit the tall stature of men. There was also a piece of dried ink on the table, with three powerful large characters "Song Fangfei" written on it, followed by a few lines of beautiful small characters "Song Fangfei".
I think this study has also inherited the interests of the two of them.
Xu Wei stepped forward and carefully flipped through the pieces of rice paper painted with ink. There were crooked handwriting printed on them, as if he was practicing calligraphy.
Not finding any useful information, he turned back to the first set of pen and ink and looked carefully. Next to the last row of small characters "Song Fangfei" there was a row of even smaller characters, which was difficult to notice if not paying attention.
The ink ball was even a little blurry, and Xu Wei took the trouble to study it for a while.
Song Dynasty.
fall.
Night.
The flowers are blooming in the evening.
A beautiful pair of sisters.
After going out the door, he was about to tell Lu Fanye about his gains, but he was nowhere to be seen. The dog Taoist priest who had been cowering behind him was also gone.
Just as she was about to speak, the maid who had been waiting by the gate came towards her and said, "Miss Xu, Mr. Lu said they went south first. If you can't find them, you can go back to the west wing and wait."
"Thank you," Xu Wei nodded, and then asked, "Did they make any noise when they left?"
The maid thought for a while and answered, "Yes, Mr. Lu was talking to Taoist Jiang when the compass in Taoist Jiang's hand suddenly moved. They whispered for a while, and then Mr. Lu asked me to wait for you here."
"Sorry for the trouble." Xu Wei patted her shoulder and his fingers accidentally rubbed her neck.
Warm.
The same went for Lady Fourteen. Although her fingers were a little cold, they were still at a normal temperature.
If not her, who could it be?
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