Chapter 94
The poisoning of refugees—the matter has come to an end. Although Mr. Ya has died, the officials still dragged his body over to hand in their report. Liu Ba, who took money to poison the refugees, was also detained in prison by the government. More than a hundred innocent lives were lost. Even though he confessed his crimes, he was still sentenced to be executed in the autumn according to the law.
Before being imprisoned, Liu Ba and Mr. Ya's corpses were paraded through the streets by the officials. The case spread quickly, and people flocked to the streets to watch and curse. Wherever the prison cart passed, it was covered with dirty vegetable leaves and rotten eggs, which smashed Liu Ba until he was unrecognizable and covered his face and wept bitterly.
Yin Qiu was awakened by the noisy commotion.
She put on her coat, pushed open the window, and looked out into the distance. She saw that the streets outside the post station were packed with people, and waves of cursing and shouting engulfed the entire city of Yaoding in a cacophony of angry cries.
Recalling the scenes of her time with the refugees these past few days, Yin Qiu couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness. She thought that once the refugees entered the city, they would receive effective medical treatment. She never imagined that the clinic owner would be the mastermind behind it all. So many lives were lost in just one day, all because of a land deed as insignificant as a feather.
However, upon closer examination, it was ultimately the Ziwei Cult that was behind the scenes.
What exactly does Nangong Min want to do?
Although the government was aware that the Ziwei Sect was the real mastermind behind the incident, they lacked concrete evidence to hold the sect accountable based solely on Mr. Ya's dying words. After all, no one from the Ziwei Sect had shown themselves; they remained hidden in the shadows. Even if the government wanted to punish them, a powerful and renowned sect in the martial arts world was not easily shaken. Launching an attack on a sect was not something that could be accomplished overnight; it would only cause greater chaos in the community, resulting in more harm than good.
Moreover, the government doesn't even want to care about those unarmed refugees, so why would it go to great lengths to deal with a deeply rooted sect?
With Mr. Ya already dead and the young man from the Liu family to be executed in the autumn, the matter was already settled no matter what. The prefect had no worries about having an explanation or suspects to give. Now, no matter how angry those who knew the inside story were, nothing could be changed, and the matter was settled.
The prison van gradually drove away, and the accompanying crowd slowly disappeared from sight. Yin Qiu watched them leave and sighed softly.
The snow stopped today, and the cold wind blew even more fiercely. Yin Qiu closed the window, took a clean set of clothes from the wardrobe, and went downstairs to the bathhouse.
Having spent almost a whole day in the dungeon of the government office yesterday, where it was damp, dirty, and smelled terrible, Yin Qiu hadn't had time to wash up after returning last night. So, taking advantage of the early hour, she decided to go for a bath.
Since it was common for disciples outside the palace to go out day and night, and there were people bathing at almost any time, the post stations in the major cities of the country did not open their bathhouses according to the hours like in the palace. The disciples in charge of the boilers would ensure that there was hot water available at the post station at any time. However, when Yin Qiu went to the bathhouse today, he found it to be cold and deserted, without a trace of heat.
Yin Qiu draped clean clothes over the screen, went around to the boiler room at the back, and found a female disciple with disheveled hair sleeping on the woodpile.
The female disciple seemed exhausted, her breathing was steady and long, and she was not awakened by the arrival of someone. Yin Qiu stood for a moment, not wanting to disturb her, but thinking that it was a cold winter day, she was afraid that sleeping like this would make her catch a cold, so she still bent down and patted her gently, saying, "Why is this senior sister sleeping here? Go back to your room and sleep quickly."
The female disciple frowned, opened her eyes sleepily, and her messy hair, like a bird's nest, covered most of her face. Yin Qiu was initially puzzled as to why a disciple would be so slovenly, but then he noticed that the female disciple's face was covered with many scars, as if she had been burned, which looked rather frightening.
Yin Qiu immediately looked away and said with a smile, "If you're tired, Senior Sister, I'll ask someone else to take your place. It's easy to catch a cold if you sleep here."
The female disciple glanced at her, then quickly scrambled up from the pile of firewood. Perhaps realizing that it was already dawn, she hurriedly gathered firewood to start a fire. After a moment, she asked, "Do you want to take a bath?"
Yin Qiu avoided her gaze, pretending not to notice her disfigured face, and nodded slightly.
“There’s some leftover hot water in that bucket over there,” the female disciple pointed to the corner of the wall. “Take it and use it; it’s enough for you to wash by yourself.”
Yin Qiu said "thank you" and picked up the wooden bucket to return to the bathhouse. She lifted the curtain and glanced at the female disciple still watching her as she turned to the side. She stopped and asked politely, "Is there anything else, Senior Sister?"
The female disciple glanced at her, then looked away, lowered her head, and said, "It's nothing."
Yin Qiu had traveled to all the major cities over the years, but Yao Dingcheng was the only one she had returned to after entering the palace. She couldn't help but scrutinize the female disciple for a while, only to realize that she had never seen her before. She stopped thinking about it and went to the hot spring to wash herself clean with the hot water in the tub.
After they were dressed, the female disciple came out carrying two wooden buckets and asked, "Do you need your clothes washed? I just boiled these."
Yin Qiu was worried about not having hot water to wash her clothes, so she happily went up to her and said, "Senior sister is so thoughtful, thank you so much."
The female disciple was hunched over, with only her eyes barely obscured. She whispered a reply, "You're welcome," and then slipped back into the curtain.
Looking at her back, Yin Qiu could tell that although the female disciple had poor posture, she was obviously pretending. Perhaps because of her appearance, she acted timidly and always walked with her chest hunched and back slouching, refusing to stand up straight.
Yin Qiu could also tell that she had obviously practiced martial arts. When she handed over the wooden bucket, there was a thick callus on her hand, a characteristic that people who hold swords for many years would have.
What stirred Yin Qiu's heart even more was that, after this brief encounter, she suddenly felt inexplicably familiar with this female disciple, as if she had seen her somewhere before.
But her appearance was unforgettable to anyone who had seen her before. However, after recalling for a while, Yin Qiu still couldn't match her with someone from her memory.
A few wisps of smoke slowly seeped out from behind the curtain. Yin Qiu smelled the aroma of burning firewood. She washed her clothes with hot water and went to the outer room, where she happened to meet Bai Ling, who was also carrying clothes.
"Bai Ling," Yin Qiu asked first, "would you like to go in and take a bath?"
Bai Ling hummed in agreement: "You've been so busy since you arrived in Yaoding City that you haven't even had time to shower. Did you just shower?"
Yin Qiu nodded: "I just finished washing up, but I'm afraid there's no hot water left. There was a senior sister inside who had fallen asleep earlier, and the boiler had just been turned on. She gave me the only hot water she had."
Bai Ling understood and said, "Oh, I see. Then I'll come back later."
“You’ve been in Yaoding City longer than me,” Yin Qiu said as she descended the steps and walked with Bai Ling toward the small building, asking as they went, “Have you seen the senior sister inside who’s in charge of the boiler?”
Bai Ling ran her fingers through her hair and gestured: "Is your head all messy, and do you have scars on your face?"
Yin Qiu said, "That's right. It's very strange. I've clearly never seen her before, but for some reason, she looks somewhat familiar."
"Perhaps we've met once?" Bai Ling said. "To be honest, I don't even know her name. I was quite shocked when I first saw her. I was surprised that there was such a person in our palace. After asking, I learned that she was originally a disciple of the palace, but later her face was disfigured by fire. Senior Sister Lu took pity on her and gave her a job boiling water in the bathhouse. She didn't have to run around, so it was quite a leisurely job."
“I see,” Yin Qiu sighed as he recalled the female disciple’s appearance. “Judging from her figure, she must have practiced martial arts. Her skills must be quite good. It’s a real pity.”
Bai Ling said, "It is indeed a pity, but everyone has their own destiny. If I were her, I could walk freely even with a veil on, but she just didn't want to."
·
During their conversation, the two had already gone up to the second floor. Bai Ling put down her clothes and went to the kitchen to bring medicine to Lu Huaiwei. Yin Qiu also quietly went to check on Lu Huaiwei. She was still running a fever and was unconscious. Many disciples were busy taking care of her. Yin Qiu did not want to disturb her, so she went back to her room and hung the washed clothes by the window.
It was only a little past dawn, and it was still early. Yin Qiu sat quietly in her room for a while, then, timing it perfectly, she decided to wake Man Jiangxue. She tiptoed to the next room, and as soon as she raised her hand to knock, Man Jiangxue opened the door herself.
A faint fragrance wafted to her nose by the breeze. Yin Qiu stopped what she was doing and noticed that Man Jiangxue had her long hair loose and was only wearing a thin undergarment. She went into the room and closed the door behind her. She smiled and said, "It's really strange that my martial aunt woke up so early."
Man Jiangxue still had sleepiness on her face and looked somewhat lazy. She strolled around to the back of the screen, and Yin Qiu followed and skillfully helped her get dressed. Man Jiangxue half-opened her eyes and said, "I promised to take you to the market to buy candy today. I can't break my promise."
Upon hearing this, Yin Qiu smiled and said, "I'm not a child anymore, it doesn't matter whether I eat the candy or not." She paused deliberately at this point, and then added, "Anyway, my uncle isn't without his broken promises."
“You’re lecturing me first thing in the morning,” Man Jiangxue simply closed her eyes, “Anyone who didn’t know better would think you’re a senior martial uncle.”
Yin Qiu laughed heartily and said, "Then, Uncle, please wash up first. I'll go to the kitchen and make something to eat."
Man Jiangxue reached out and patted her on the head, then went to the dressing table to get a handkerchief and said, "No need, I'll take you out to a restaurant."
“It’s chaotic outside,” Yin Qiu said. “The streets are packed with people.”
Man Jiangxue said, "That's perfect, it'll be lively."
After watching her finish washing up, Yin Qiu took the wooden comb and took the initiative to tie up Man Jiangxue's hair, saying, "Uncle-Master—you always prefer quiet and don't like crowded places, but you're in a good mood today."
Two fair and clear faces were reflected in the bronze mirror. Man Jiangxue looked at Yin Qiu in the mirror and said, "I haven't been to Yaoding City for many years. The last time I came was for you. Since you're here this time, let's go out for a walk."
After Yin Qiu was taken away from Sangyu Mountain by Man Jiangxue, she came to Yaoding City. Many years have passed, and the two revisited the place. Yin Qiu is no longer the thin and pale little girl she once was, but Man Jiangxue's appearance remains unchanged. Time seems to have no effect on her and has not left any trace on her.
A wooden comb weaved through her hair, her thousands of strands of black hair resembling a fine piece of silk, smooth and silky. Yin Qiu also turned her gaze to the mirror, looking at her face, as warm and white as jade, and pursed her lips, saying, "Back then, my martial uncle tied my hair, and now it's my turn to tie his hair." Her eyes were gentle, and her expression was content. "Do you remember? My martial uncle tied two little braids for me back then, all messy and frizzy. For many years after I entered the palace, I never changed my hairstyle, and I still have those little braids now."
As she spoke, she turned her head and shook it, revealing the long, thin braids hidden in her hair on both sides of her neck. The ends of the braids were tied with a small knot with a red string. The red string was given to her by Man Jiangxue back then, and Yin Qiu had kept it all this time. Even now, the color has faded, but she hasn't replaced it with a new one.
Man Jiangxue said, "I remember," she paused, "but I don't remember my skills being that bad."
Yin Qiu chuckled softly, "I remember."
Seeing Yin Qiu's smile, Man Jiangxue couldn't help but smile as well. After tying her hair up, Yin Qiu took the brocade robe and draped it over Man Jiangxue's shoulders. The two were very close, and they could clearly smell each other's scent. Man Jiangxue lowered her chin and moved a little closer to Yin Qiu, and suddenly said, "You changed your face powder?"
Yin Qiu then lowered her head and sniffed her sleeves, saying, "I didn't change. What's wrong?"
“It smells a little different,” Man Jiangxue looked down at her and pressed the tip of her nose against Yin Qiu’s forehead. “It’s more noticeable when you get closer.”
The window was still open, and the sunlight streaming in was instantly blocked by Man Jiangxue. Yin Qiu stood in the shadows, her slender figure appearing even smaller at that moment, while Man Jiangxue was so tall that she could completely envelop her.
The warm breath sprayed onto the skin on Yin Qiu's forehead, and Yin Qiu felt a tingling sensation on the back of her neck. She subconsciously took two steps back, scratched her head, and said, "...I went to take a bath earlier. Perhaps the bathhouse changed the bath beans. I didn't feel anything different."
“It smells like medicine,” Man Jiangxue said seriously, pulling Yin Qiu closer to her. “Smell it again.”
Yin Qiu was both amused and exasperated: "I'm not a puppy, why would I need my martial uncle to smell me like that..."
Man Jiangxue said, "If you were a puppy, I would throw you outside. There's really no need for you to sniff like that."
Seeing that she was still so close to her, Yin Qiu's breathing became erratic. She quickly and gently broke free from Man Jiangxue's embrace, turned her face away, and said, "Uncle-Master, please stop teasing me. Who sniffs someone like that when they have the chance..."
Unexpectedly, Man Jiangxue pulled her back again. Yin Qiu let out a soft cry, and then saw Man Jiangxue reach out and take a dry handkerchief, covering Yin Qiu's head with it.
"Your hair is still wet, don't you know to dry it in the bathhouse?"
Yin Qiu raised her hand and pulled the handkerchief down a little, saying in a muffled voice, "...I forgot."
The lower half of her face was hidden behind the handkerchief, revealing only a pair of clean and clear eyes, without any impurities, like stars in an autumn night, bright and dazzling, shimmering with soft light.
Yin Qiusheng had a pair of unforgettable eyes.
She has thick, long eyelashes, like two small, outstretched fans. The slightly upturned outer corners of her eyes accentuate the curve of her eyelashes, and when she gazes at people quietly, it's as if she's giving them a subtle, unintentional invitation.
If these eyes were on someone else's face, they would naturally exude a captivating charm. If they were to add a knowing smile and a knowing glance, they would have the power to seduce hearts. But Yin Qiu's eyes were so pure and gentle, containing the reserve and dignity typical of a girl her age. It was impossible to imagine what she would look like if she were aware of her own beauty.
Man Jiangxue paused slightly, stared at Yin Qiu for a moment, and then suddenly loosened her grip on the handkerchief.
"Do it yourself," Man Jiangxue said calmly, turning around to walk to the table, pouring herself a cup of tea, and taking a small sip.
Yin Qiu finally escaped from the shadow of the snow-covered river. She secretly breathed a sigh of relief, feeling a strange flutter in her heart.
Yin Qiu roughly dried her hair and mumbled, "Oh..."
Author's Note: Happy 520!!!
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