Revisiting the Ghost Market
Noon.
Xu Lanxin didn't see Qingyun until it was almost time for dinner.
Yesterday I went to arrest him, and judging from how relaxed he looks now, it seems he's done it.
"My lord, the criminal Yao Niang has been captured. After interrogation, she has confessed that she sent her maid Shuangxi to secretly buy Meng Youlian and frame Xian'er and Hong Fu."
"And who is Yao Niang?"
Xu Lanxin was running around with a head full of questions. Why did this Yao Niang suddenly appear out of nowhere?
According to Qingyun, Yao Niang was the previous year's top courtesan. Seeing that her day of elimination was approaching, she was resentful and began to harbor dark thoughts, plotting to eliminate these three young girls.
On one occasion, he heard about the Dream Lotus from a guest from the Southern Barbarian Kingdom. He then pretended to do Shuangxi a favor and sent her to the Ghost Market to buy the Dream Lotus, thinking of killing two birds with one stone by first eliminating Xian'er and Hong Fu.
"impossible."
Xu Lanxin immediately retorted.
"That maidservant is suspicious. How could she possibly target an official?"
Qingyun was somewhat speechless, not expecting Lanxin to see the problem so quickly.
"That maid committed suicide in prison."
He glanced at Xu Lanxin and continued:
"They only told her about her relationship with Yao Niang, and then they wouldn't let her say anything more."
Thus, the trail went cold.
Yao Niang was sentenced to immediate execution, while Hong Fu was acquitted and released.
An official was murdered by a prostitute; it's unclear how Magistrate Xu would cover up this scandal.
Inside the county magistrate's residence.
Upon hearing the visitor's words, Magistrate Xu, who was quite plump, waved his hand, and the man glanced at him before leaving the room.
"Death would be a clean break."
At this moment, the fat magistrate's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and his face was sinister. He was no longer the simple and humble person Xu Lanxin had been when they first met.
"Send Lord Wei's family down to reunite with him."
He didn't turn around, as if he were talking to thin air.
With the case finally settled, Cen Yan prepared to get to work on the tasks assigned by the Emperor.
He became very busy in the days that followed, disappearing from sight all day, while Xu Lanxin spent her time eating and shopping. Sometimes he would only come back when Lanxin was asleep at night, and she would be gone when he woke up the next day.
That day, Xu Lanxin was about to go out when she saw Qingyu leading someone in.
Hongfu, what brings her here?
After a few days apart, his haggard appearance in prison had disappeared, and he had returned to his usual aloof demeanor, like a rare orchid in a secluded valley.
Her coldness was different from that of the bluefish. The bluefish was as cold as an iceberg, as if it would freeze the heart of anyone who approached it, making it difficult for anyone to get close.
But she remains as cold as still water, no matter how much you try to mold or manipulate her.
Before Lanxin could react, she had already bowed and called out.
It wasn't until Qinglu tugged at someone's sleeve that the person was pulled back from their daze.
"Oh, so, are you fully recovered yet?"
"It's all healed now. Thank you so much, Madam. If you ever need anything from me in the future, I will do my best to help."
Xu Lanxin got up and stepped forward to take her hand.
It feels like high-quality cold jade.
"Then let's go, come with me for a walk."
She was taken aback at first, then nodded, walking somewhat awkwardly.
After strolling around the street for a while, Xu Lanxin realized that Hong Fu had something to say, but for some reason, he hadn't said it.
So she said she was tired and suggested going to a teahouse to sit for a while.
Inside a private room of the teahouse.
The teahouse has a tranquil environment; sitting by the window, the aroma of tea wafts from the teacup.
It instantly relaxes people, and their mental defenses no longer need to be raised.
“Hongfu, I noticed you seemed to have something to say on the way here. You might as well speak your mind.”
She paused, holding the teacup, and looked at Lanxin.
"Madam, I heard that the harmful substance came from the Black Market. Did you find clues there?"
"Um."
"Madam, could you tell me how to enter the Ghost Market?"
Her face was still cold, but her eyes seemed to have warmed up; only then did I feel that she was alive.
"ah?"
Xu Lanxin didn't react for a moment.
I struggled to speak several times along the way, all in search of the Ghost Market.
She looked somewhat bewildered. Hong Fu, thinking it would be difficult, immediately got up from his chair, knelt in front of her, and begged her.
Xu Lanxin was startled and quickly helped her up.
"Why are you doing this? It's just to go to the ghost market. Anyway, I want to go again. Come with me tonight."
Hongfu was filled with gratitude and thanked him.
Then he said he had to go back to prepare and would come to see her again in the evening.
When Xu Lanxin returned, she found Cen Yan there as well, and told him that she wanted to visit the Ghost Market again.
But he was too busy to go with her, so he asked Qingyun, Qingyu and Qinglu to accompany her.
Before he could say more than a few words, Cen Yan was called out again.
Xu Lanxin was bored when Hong Fu arrived.
Led by Qingyun, the group arrived at an underground river.
Could the entrance to this ghost market move? Change location at any time?
Qingyun took out a bamboo tube-shaped object, lit one end, and a green flame ignited. He then raised his hand and waved it.
In the darkness, it was like a will-o'-the-wisp.
"Qingyun, what are you doing? Why are we here?"
"Madam, you now possess the Jade Token, so you have a separate route to enter the Ghost Market, and someone will be there to receive you."
Wow, they've even upgraded to a VIP line!
Xu Lanxin nodded, and then she saw an oil lamp flickering and a small boat swaying slowly towards her.
As they drew closer, the person rowing the boat was wearing the same uniform and ghost mask as the Shadow Pavilion.
The visitor simply bowed and said nothing, then turned the boat around and waited for Xu Lanxin and the others to board.
The underground river was dark and quiet, damp and gloomy, without even the sound of mosquitoes, with only an oil lamp as the sole source of light.
It gave me a chill for no reason, no better than the entrance to the grave last time.
Before long, they entered a gate, and the oil lamp that the people from the Shadow Pavilion had taken down had something added to it, and the light inside turned green.
They must have given some kind of signal to the air, because the gate slowly opened, and they officially entered the ghost market.
As soon as they entered the Ghost Market, Hong Fu suggested that he go to the Shadow Pavilion to gather some information.
Xu Lan thought she had nothing else to do, so she accompanied her.
Inside the Shadow Pavilion.
"She's here?"
"yes."
"Then I'll go and meet her."
The man wearing a ghost mask looked expectant.
After Xu Lanxin and the others arrived at Youying Pavilion, Hong Fu went to gather information on his own.
She, on the other hand, wandered around aimlessly.
"I hope you are well, Madam."
Hearing a voice that sounded somewhat familiar, Xu Lanxin turned around to look at the person who had come.
"Who are you..."
She couldn't be sure who the person was because they were wearing a mask.
"Madam, my master invites you upstairs for a chat."
"Give me the VIP membership?"
The steward made an inviting gesture.
Well, no matter what, I should still thank that person, since that token is too valuable, Xu Lanxin thought to herself.
"lead the way."
Upon going upstairs, the main color scheme was also black, but the decor was noticeably more luxurious than downstairs.
The carved door was opened by a servant, and the person she had saved last time was sitting in a round-backed chair.
Although he changed his clothes, he didn't change his mask, so he was still recognizable.
"You're here, have a seat."
Is he really that familiar? Xu Lanxin felt a little awkward for a moment.
After she sat down, the man's voice came again.
"Thank you very much, Madam Cen, for saving my life last time."
The man poured himself a cup of tea and then poured one for her as well.
"I would like to express my gratitude to Madam Cen with a cup of tea."
Xu Lanxin drank the tea.
"You're too kind, Master."
"May I ask where Madam Cen is from?"
Although he already had information about her, he still wanted to get closer to her.
"Kyoto."
The man smiled and continued, "May I ask who is in your household, Madam?"
Xu Lanxin raised an eyebrow. Was she planning to investigate household registration?
"Master, isn't it impolite to pry into other people's private matters?"
"Um?"
Seeing that he didn't quite understand, Lanxin said:
"I have no gold in my house."
Please don't worry about it.
The man paused for a moment, then burst into laughter, his shoulders shaking with mirth.
"Madam is an interesting person. May I ask if I may become friends with you?"
Xu Lanxin picked up the teacup and handed it forward.
"I thought we already were."
After realizing what was happening, the man also picked up his teacup and clinked it against hers.
A crisp, pleasant sound of teacups clinking together.
"It is my honor to have such a wonderful person as your friend."
Just as he finished speaking, a servant came up to him and whispered a few words in his ear.
"Madam, please have some tea here and continue waiting for your friend. I have something to attend to and will be leaving in a moment."
Inside the dark room, Hong Fu had not yet received the information she wanted, but was told to wait a moment.
The door opened, and a man wearing a ghost mask and black brocade robes appeared.
"You want news about your brother?"
The somber voice sent a chill down Hong Fu's spine for no apparent reason.
"I can give you information about your brother in advance. In exchange, I want you to stay by Madam Cen's side and help me find out the information I need. Then the deal will be done."
"I will not do anything that would harm Madam Cen."
Although she longed to know about her younger brother, she would rather give up if it meant hurting Xu Lanxin.
"Don't worry, it won't."
The man took out a piece of paper and handed it to her; it contained a message about his younger brother.
Then, he took out a grayish-white porcelain bottle and pushed it in front of her.
"After you swallow this medicine, someone will deliver the antidote to you every month. The antidote will be given to you after the transaction is completed."
The person who dared to give her the information so readily must have a backup plan.
So, Hongfu stepped forward and swallowed the medicine in the bottle without hesitation.
"I hope you will keep your word."
The man curled his lips into a smile, said nothing, and turned to leave.
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