identity
The East Market is the most prosperous street in the entire Chang'an. The wide bluestone road is lined with high-end shops on both sides. As the season approaches, many gold and silver shops, merchants and restaurants are doing a booming business, with crowds of people bustling around and carriages and horses coming and going.
Inside the first floor of Qinghui Tower, most people wore smiles, except for a few people at one table, who looked glum. A handsome man, wearing a moon-white round-necked brocade robe and a matching jade belt, tossed his hand with a folding fan, looked like a scholar. To his right, a middle-aged woman, delicate and graceful, stared intently at the folding fan's swirling movements.
Opposite them, a burly man in a blue robe and a jade belt glanced at their interaction, then looked at the bright girl next to him who was wearing a thick purple fur coat and a yellow pleated embroidered skirt. He couldn't help but pour a cup of hot tea and handed it to her.
"Cai Xin, don't be sad. Let's try to visit again today." Cheng Sheng comforted her, "I've contacted the residence of General Luo, my father's former comrade-in-arms. They can deliver the visiting card to us. General Luo and the old marquis were once comrades-in-arms. Luo Ziran will not refuse him face."
"Yes, little Caixin, at least she is fine. My mother saw her at the Imperial Concubine's winter banquet the day before yesterday, and she looked well." Lin Ziyan comforted Mrs. Cheng, who was obviously uneasy in a crowded place, and said to Caixin with a smile.
Unlike the Cheng family, whose rank was low and who lacked reliable female relatives, Lin Ziyan's mother and sister were both honored guests at the Winter Banquet. According to their reports back home, Aruo was not only safe but also flourishing. Unfortunately, after the Winter Banquet, the Dingbei Marquisate's year-end banquet was largely deserted, and they didn't get a chance to speak to her.
Lin Ziyan didn't know much about Aruo being hidden in the Dingbei Marquis's mansion. He only knew that Aruo was injured and taken away by the Dingbei Marquis, and that his sworn enemy not only did not go to retrieve her, but instead went to Yangzhou. This was all very unusual, and of course the main reason for his intervention was the beautiful woman before him. Lin Ziyan smiled at Caixin.
Cai Xin's delicate eyebrows and eyes were no longer as bright as before, and there was a trace of worry between her brows. She glanced at the stubble that Cheng Sheng had not had time to shave recently, and felt a little sorry. "Sorry to bother you... General Cheng, Lord Lin."
Guilt made her unable to even lift her head. Ever since Aruo's accident, Cheng Sheng had been helping her find connections to get into the Dingbei Marquis's Mansion, even going so far as to beg for help... Lin Ziyan, too, despite his busy official duties, had been keeping an eye out for Aruo's news. They could have just ignored everything.
Crystal tears fell on the table, and Cheng Sheng subconsciously reached out to catch them. His silly look made Lin Ziyan unable to bear to look directly at him. Mrs. Cheng seemed not to notice his silliness and reached out to snatch Lin Ziyan's folding fan. He did not get angry, but patiently taught her to open it and read the painting on it.
"Don't be sad. Miss Aruo is like a sister to you. She won't really refuse to see you." Cheng Sheng didn't know how to comfort her. He didn't know much about what happened last month. Cai Xin just wanted to see the girl who was taken away by Marquis Dingbei.
"Actually... I don't know what to say when I see her..." There were tears on Cai Xin's eyelashes, and her helpless look made the two men stop smiling.
Lin Ziyan looked away and suddenly said, "Things like this, you'll know when you see them."
Cai Xin was startled and followed his gaze. She saw an elegant carriage slowly stop in front of Yunxiufang across the street. A maid in a light green dress stepped out and reached out to help a familiar figure out from inside the carriage.
"Aruo!" Cai Xin immediately stood up and ran out.
She gracefully stepped from the exquisite carriage, her figure slender, her long black hair gently tied. Her hair adorned with a single, precious, red-gold hairpin, adorned with plum blossoms inlaid with rubies. She wore a pleated silk gauze dress, delicate and charming. Her familiar features revealed a hint of indifference. Amidst the crowd, she exuded a noble and aloof aura.
Cai Xin was dazed when she looked at her. She had never met Shen Nan, but at this moment she felt that Aruo gave people the same feeling as Su Zirui at the beginning, cold and noble.
The Aruo she knew was definitely not like this. A wave of vague fear swept through Caixin's heart, and she suddenly couldn't take a single step forward.
"Aren't you going over?" Lin Ziyan waved his folding fan and looked thoughtfully at the girl whose temperament was completely different from before. Retracting his gaze, he smiled and patted Cai Xin's shoulder with his folding fan, "Haven't you always wanted to see her? It's unlike you to be so cowardly at the last minute."
Cai's heart trembled. She was indeed cowardly... Over these days, she'd deeply experienced the profound divisions between the nobles of the capital. How hopeless a commoner like her felt when faced with the powerful. The concierge at the Dingbei Marquis's residence had clearly smiled and refused her visit, but the look in his eyes was filled with the disgust of a tortured slicing of flesh. They'd clearly faced their share of injustice over the past four years, but why didn't she remember ever facing those gazes directly?
Is it because Aruo was always standing in front of her before?
Cai Xin suddenly woke up and walked towards the figure surrounded by people, "Aruo!"
Before she could reach the man, several guards who had followed her quickly stopped her. Seeing that she was still trying to break free and run forward, one of them subconsciously drew his sword.
The folding fan was lightly pressed against the hilt of the knife, and the guard's eyes changed.
"Sisters are meeting each other, why are you obstructing them?" Lin Ziyan's handsome face was smiling, and a cold light flashed in his peach blossom eyes.
On this side, Cheng Sheng also pushed away the person who was holding Cai Xin's shoulders. The restraint on her shoulders loosened, and Cai Xin fell to her knees uncontrollably.
"Stop!" Yunyan protected Aruo and recognized that this girl was the one who had been trying to see Aruo recently. She frowned and shouted, "You again? What on earth do you want to do?"
Cai Xin raised her pale face and looked at Aruo expectantly with her clear eyes. "Aruo, have you... forgotten me?"
Yunyan's heart sank. The Marquis had repeatedly instructed her not to have any contact with these people, which clearly showed they were not kind. "Miss, go in first. The Marquis is already waiting in the elegant room. I'll handle this."
Aruo glanced at her coldly and walked inside.
"Don't go!" Cai Xin quickly bent over and dodged the two guards, then rushed over. "Aruo, I'm Cai Xin, don't go..."
Yunyan was shocked and quickly stopped her, spinning around and kicking her lightly.
"Cai Xin!" Cheng Sheng and Lin Ziyan quickly moved over to protect Cai Xin who fell to the ground.
Cai Xin felt a sharp pain in her palm, and tearfully looked up at the figure standing on the stairs. She bit her lip, the worry and panic she'd been feeling for the past few days bursting out. Cai Xin cried unwillingly, "Qi Ruoyu, you can't just abandon me like this... When you lied to me, you said you'd make me happy... You said you'd take care of me. What's this like now?"
Famine and war had left her with nothing. It was that bastard who had jumped out of the post carriage, squatted before her, and asked her with a bright smile if she wanted to wander the world with him, that had saved her life. He had promised her all sorts of things when he'd coaxed her into a life of sisters, about how they'd become rich together, about how he'd let her marry a good husband. Now her husband had no money and no money, so why had Qi Ruoyu abandoned her?
The more she spoke, the sadder she became, and her tears fell to the ground like pearls from a broken string. Cai Xin felt extremely aggrieved, and her charming face was distorted with tears.
Cheng Sheng and Lin Ziyan didn't know how to comfort her for a moment, and there was obvious worry between their brows.
Cai Xin cried without caring about anything until the pleated skirt embroidered with a hundred colorful flowers floated past her. She raised her head in a daze, and a chill touched her forehead.
Through her tearful eyes, Aruo's expression was indifferent, and a hint of pity shone in her dark pupils. Her fingertips lightly touched Caixin's forehead, and then she raised the corners of her lips slightly, "Don't cry..."
"Girl!" Yunyan wanted to protect her, but saw Aruo looking at her and shaking her head.
"Aruo." Cai Xin's hands trembled as she subconsciously grasped the hem of her skirt. This feeling of being protected seemed like a lifetime ago, making her trust and miss it.
"You," Aruo looked down at her, as indifferent as the gods and Buddhas they saw when they worshipped in the temple, "some roads you always have to walk alone. Others can accompany you for a while, but no one can accompany you from beginning to end."
Cai Xin was stunned. The hem of her skirt had been pulled out of her hand. She looked up in panic.
"Rou Rou——"
Suddenly, a sharp voice rang out. Madam Cheng moved strangely around the guards and Yunyan, and pounced directly on Aruo. She held her face with both hands and cried out with red eyes, "My son, mother finally found you!"
"Girl, be careful." Yunyan screamed in fright and hurried forward to pull away the woman who suddenly appeared.
Cheng Sheng was also startled, fearing that Yunyan would hurt her mother, so he quickly stepped forward to protect her, "Mother, don't make things worse. This is Miss Aruo, not your sister."
"No, she is your sister. Look, her nose and mouth are exactly the same as your father's!" Mrs. Cheng said firmly, hugging Aruo and refusing to let go. She almost pushed Aruo down while pulling.
"Mother——"
"girl--"
Suddenly, a subtle sound was heard. Cheng Sheng's eyes narrowed, and he quickly waved his hands to protect his mother. A small jade artifact shattered to the ground, and Lin Ziyan, who had helped Cai Xin up, changed his expression.
"My Lord," Lin Ziyan stood in front of Cai Xin and bowed respectfully, "I didn't know your Lordship was here. I apologize for the rudeness."
Luo Ziran walked out of the store quickly with a cold expression on his face. He stood guard beside Aruo and asked nervously, "Nan...are you okay?"
Aruo's eyes darkened and he shook his head calmly.
"Lord Lin, General Cheng, please keep an eye on your men and don't act rudely in front of me." Luo Ziran glanced at them coldly, not hiding his displeasure.
After saying that, he took Aruo's arm and turned to go into the store.
"Luo Ziran, give Aruo back to me!" Cai Xin shouted in panic, fearing that she would never see Aruo again.
Murderous intent suddenly flashed across Luo Ziran's eyes. Before he could speak, a cold little hand tugged at his sleeve. Aruo turned around, her eyes calm, "Miss Caixin, no one has to accompany anyone. Walk your own path."
Her bright eyes trembled, and Cai Xin stared blankly at her as she turned around and walked into the store with Luo Ziran until she could no longer see her.
"Hey... Aruo, do you really not care about me anymore?" She looked at Cheng Sheng helplessly, tears streaming down her face, her eyes filled with panic.
"Don't cry, let's think of a way, or go find Master Su?" Cheng Sheng comforted his struggling mother while grabbing her. Glancing at Lin Ziyan looking at them thoughtfully, Cheng Sheng angrily scolded, "Are you still watching the fun? Say something quickly?"
He has never been good with words, and the past month has been the limit of his diplomacy.
Lin Ziyan looked at him, then at the empty store entrance, and suddenly said, "Mrs. Cheng is right, your mouth looks very similar to Miss Aruo's."
Both of them have upturned corners of their mouths, the only difference is that the girl's red and moist lips make her look delicate and innocent, while his handsome appearance somewhat undermines his aura.
Cheng Sheng was stunned and speechless.
Is this the point? The people in Dali Temple are really unreliable!
The farce dampened Luo Ziran's interest in shopping. Listening to the shopkeeper's flattery, he looked deeply at the girl who was casually choosing a hairpin.
"Aruo." He suddenly called softly.
The shopkeeper thought he was about to speak, so he stopped introducing himself. He looked at the girl holding the peach blossom hairpin, then at the handsome man who was idly resting his chin on his hand. He blinked and continued with a smile, as if he had not paused.
Luo Ziran's fingertips moved lightly on his cheek, and he suddenly called out, "Nan'er."
The shopkeeper was confused and paused in his explanation, but this time he didn't dare to stop.
Aruo put down the bell in his hand and looked over. "What's wrong?"
A soft color blossomed in his eyes, and Luo Ziran smiled, "Do you like anything?"
"It's all the same." Aruo showed little interest.
The shopkeeper's expression changed slightly, and he said quickly, "Young lady, you don't like these vulgar things. Our shop has just received a batch of jewelry from Jiangnan. They are the latest styles and have not been released to the public yet. My Lord and Young Lady, please wait a moment."
With a wink, the attendants hurried out to prepare. At the same time, a man in a black robe appeared at the door with a sullen face.
Luo Ziran paused for a moment and said with a smile, "Nan'er, you pick first, and then let Yunyan handle it. I have something to do..."
"You go, I can do it alone." Aruo raised his eyes and nodded slightly.
Luo Ziran gave Yunyan some more instructions before walking out the door. The man at the door followed him silently.
"Miss, come and take a look at these new models. Is there anything you like?" Yunyan smiled and took the tray that the shopkeeper handed over.
Aruo lowered her eyes and casually picked up a hairpin. The hairpin was snow-white, with a lifelike phoenix carved on the body, and the head was hollowed out with auspicious clouds and a few strings of raindrop-shaped tassels, which were elegant and extraordinary.
“It’s not very new.”
"Young lady, you have good taste..." The shopkeeper wiped his sweat, as if remembering something, "We have another batch of goods from the northwest, with bright colors. I wonder if you are interested?"
Ah Ruo remained silent. Yun Yan saw that she was not in high spirits and smiled. "Miss, although the styles from the Northwest are not new, they are rich in colors. Why not take a look?"
The shopkeeper looked at Yunyan gratefully. Aruo nodded casually. He quickly said to Yunyan with a smile, "Miss Yunyan, why don't you come along and take care of our shop?"
If the shop's treasures weren't even appreciated, how could Yunxiufang's reputation remain so prominent among the noble ladies? The shopkeeper looked at Yunyan pleadingly. She was also afraid that the Marquis would punish her if she spoiled Aruo's mood again, so she agreed.
Walking out of the wing room with Yunyan, the shopkeeper bowed and took his leave, nodding to Aruo imperceptibly.
On the other side, Luo Ziran led his men into another elegant room. The person behind him closed the door before he saluted respectfully, "My Lord."
"What happened?" Luo Ziran asked in a deep voice, sitting upright on the armchair.
"Mr. He was attacked and has been sent to a villa, but the doctor said the situation is not optimistic." The man in black robe lowered his head and said.
Luo Ziran was shocked, "Can you find out who did it?"
"There were bows and crossbows at the scene, but their origins are unknown. However... it seems to be related to the northwest."
Mr. He was his staff member, but he rarely appeared in public. He had recently been secretly investigating Qi Shaozhen's whereabouts for him. He had also worked with him to sort out the military pay issue before, and he had earned his trust.
Why would it be the Zhenyuan Army? Luo Ziran was startled. "Mr. He mentioned before that there was something going on in the northwest and asked me to make arrangements as soon as possible. Could this have attracted the attention of the Zhenyuan Army?"
"Also, there's news from the northwest that someone is asking about Madam Qiao." The man in black robe paused and whispered.
Qiao's? Luo Ziran's eyes flashed with deep thought, and he felt something was amiss. After a pause, he raised his eyes and asked, "Have you found out where they came from?"
"No news yet. It's just that a troupe staged a play in Liangzhou about favoring a concubine and killing the wife, which aroused public opinion... Some messages about the Marquis' Mansion were spread, and people started discussing about Madam Qiao. Later, the topic shifted to Madam Qiao's background. We have asked people to spread some words to divert the topic. However, it seems that someone brought these discussions back to the Marquis' Mansion." The man felt that this situation was a bit strange. Madam Qiao had been dead for many years, so why was someone asking about her now?
Luo Ziran's face was slightly tense. He stared at the teacup for a long time before saying, "Please have someone pay attention to who is leaving the message. Also, pass this message to Huan Niang at Furong Tower..."
The man in black robe was startled and clasped his fists in response.
"By the way, what has Su Zirui from the Ministry of Justice been doing recently?" Luo Ziran suddenly asked after closing the teacup.
The man thought for a moment, "After returning from Yangzhou, I've been drafting the criminal law. Recently, I've been going to Dazheng Temple to discuss sutras with Master Huijue."
Discussing the Sutra? It is indeed surprising that the Yama King in this world goes to worship Buddha.
His gaze fell on the scroll on the wall. Behind it, on the other side of the wall, the girl was casually selecting something out of boredom. Luo Ziran put down his teacup and stood up. "Keep an eye on him. Has Mr. He said anything about Qi Shaozhen?"
A man like Su Zirui would not give up just like that. He has been overly calm since the first snow, and has hardly lost his composure except at the winter banquet... What on earth is he thinking of doing?
Qi Shaozhen also disappeared after that day. People in Yangzhou replied with no trace of him. The Qin family was as high-profile as ever. Qin Shuang and her brother had almost completely taken over the salt merchants in Yangzhou, leaving no one in Yangzhou who could possibly be linked to the Qin family.
"No, Mr. He's people found him chartering a boat on the canal and thought he was going back to Yangzhou, but he disappeared soon after."
"The Grand Canal is the White Flame Gang's territory. The Qin family is deliberately hiding it, so it's difficult for anyone to capture them... The same is true for Yangzhou. Unless you go there in person, it's difficult to reach the Qin family's territory..."
Was that why Su Zirui went to Yangzhou? Was he really only in Yangzhou during that month? Luo Ziran subconsciously rubbed the jade ring on his thumb. "Notify Mr. He and the others to prepare. We'll leave for Liangzhou at any time."
The black-robed man was slightly surprised, but quickly agreed. Mr. He and his men were the Marquis's confidants. They had followed him to the capital before, and they would definitely follow him back now.
"Your Majesty?"
"There will be a palace banquet in two days. Send a message to the palace. The old lady wants to see the queen."
"yes."
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