Chapter 18 Flowers on Different Branches Get Stained with Heat
"...Don't call me that, it's a disgusting name."
Hua Biezhi rubbed her temples and replied.
Indeed. Jiang Geyun said, "But I don't know your name."
Hua Biezhi raised an eyebrow, and after a moment, she said, "Hua Biezhi, the flower of grass and trees, the bright moon startles the magpie on the branch."
Jiang Geyun readily agreed: "Miss Biezhi."
As she responded, she wondered to herself, "Is it the Hua family of the Nine-Colored Glazed Lamp?" Cheng Xi had mentioned it to her not long ago.
No wonder the flowers in front of me are so... How should I describe them? Dazzling with jewels—a red dress, flamboyant and imposing, adorned with jewels and jade.
Unlike Gu Xiang's beauty, which is obviously adorned by external objects and wrapped in a shell, Hua Biezhi has a casual attitude towards the treasures she possesses, which makes her most imposing.
The manor was already lit up, making the mountain god temple somewhat dimmer in comparison. Thus, Hua Biezhi stood backlit in front of the door, exuding a mysterious and powerful aura.
However, what Jiang Geyun had no idea was that, at this moment, she, dressed in white and bathed in light, was just as stunning in Hua Biezhi's eyes.
Hua Biezhi skipped the pleasantries with Jiang Geyun and went straight to the point: "Did you know I would come here?"
Jiang Geyun said, "The owner of the manor will always arrive at the hour of Xu (7-9 PM)."
Although she spoke with certainty, she was also guessing.
I haven't been here long enough to verify much information, so I can only guess and try to get information out of people. Sigh, luck, sigh!
Hua Biezhi frowned and pondered for a moment before realizing what she meant, "Jiang Yu?"
Jiang Geyun just smiled and remained silent.
Silent and pretending to be an expert.
Hua Biezhi seems carefree and her words and actions were quite spontaneous, like someone who wears their heart on their sleeve. But since she is the one who came to the temple today, it is clear that she is not what she appears to be at first glance.
Hua Biezhi said, "Miss Jiang is quite capable."
It was unclear whether she was referring to Jiang Geyun's escape from prison, the fact that Jiang Geyun and Cheng Xi had been to the study, or the fact that Jiang Geyun was waiting for her there.
Looking at it this way, Jiang Geyun has really done... a bit too much.
Jiang Geyun also said, "Miss Biezhi knows everything that happens in the garden without ever leaving her house; that's truly remarkable."
Hua Biezhi took a few steps forward, put her hands behind her back, and closed the door of the mountain god temple behind her, immediately making the room much darker.
After closing the door, Hua Biezhi asked, "You think I'm the murderer, don't you?"
...This is a scene where they're about to start silencing everyone in the next second!!
Jiang Geyun felt a shiver run down her spine for a moment, but she didn't show it on her face. She said, "That's not the case."
Hua Biezhi took a few more steps toward Jiang Geyun and asked, "Then who do you think it is? Jiang Yu? Yao Ji?"
“No,” Jiang Geyun said leisurely, “I should say, neither is nor is both.”
Hua Biezhi paused, as if intrigued, and asked, "Tell me about it?"
Jiang Geyun supported the statue on her knee with her left hand, freeing her right hand to show Hua Biezhi what was in her palm—a Buddhist rosary.
Seeing that Hua Biezhi's expression had indeed changed somewhat, Jiang Geyun finally spoke up, "You didn't even notice that something was missing. It seems that none of you cleaned up the scene properly."
Even if you tidy them up, it's hard to find out. There are 108 beads, who knows which shelf they might be under and not found? Who would notice they were taken?
Jiang Geyun wasn't good at taking advantage of others, but she found it hard not to seize such an opportunity!
Hua Biezhi stood there, arms crossed, and said, "Now that there are those three guards watching over us, and besides, his death is enough, who cares about these things? But Miss Jiang, what's the reason for taking this out?"
Jiang Geyun pinched the bead between her thumb and forefinger. With her movement, the seemingly smooth and seamless bead cracked open, revealing its interior space and a small black pill. The pill trembled slightly with her movement.
“The manor owner is very devout, as Mrs. Yu said, and you can tell from his attire as well,” Jiang Geyun said. “Why did such a devout manor owner introduce so many of the scenery in the garden to us, but not the mountain god temple?”
"Who knows?" Hua Biezhi scoffed. "Perhaps they just don't like it."
Seeing Hua Biezhi's indifference, Jiang Geyun wasn't annoyed. She smiled and said, "What do you dislike? Do you dislike the act of 'introduction,' or—do you dislike the Mountain God?"
With the way this manor lord shows off, he wants the whole world to know about any good things he has. If he's really proud of something, wouldn't he say something about it?
Seeing that Hua Biezhi's gaze had gradually become serious, Jiang Geyun restored the Buddhist beads in her hand to their original state, withdrew her right hand, and once again held the statue with both hands.
The enormous statue of the Heavenly God cast a dark shadow on Jiang Geyun. Jiang Geyun said, "Since you are not a devout believer, why do you carry this string of beads with you? You must have another purpose. If Miss Biezhi doesn't mind, could you please tell me about it?"
Upon hearing this, Hua Biezhi took a few steps closer to Jiang Geyun. As the distance between them grew, Hua Biezhi's voice became clearer to Jiang Geyun:
"Miss Jiang has been to the private prison of Yunling Manor, so you should have seen that thing, right?"
The one Hua Biezhi was referring to was probably that twisted guard.
Jiang Geyun nodded.
Hua Biezhi clapped her hands and laughed as if she had thought of something happy, saying, "That's good, then I can explain! He just doesn't want to become like that, so he keeps taking that stuff. All these random things planted in the garden are for making that stuff."
Jiang Geyun remained unmoved.
—My heart was greatly moved!
Why would a person turn into that? Although she had some guesses after seeing that humanoid monster... So those flowers and plants in the manor are medicinal herbs? No way, aren't those things all very ordinary? Can they really be used as medicine?
No, in this worldview, it seems unnecessary to dwell on the source of the medicinal herbs. Even if she asked, Hua Biezhi might not answer.
Think about something else... Why did it turn out that way? Was the manor lord cursed?
Jiang Geyun deliberately voiced her doubts: "But judging from the way the manor lord died, it wasn't like that."
Hua Biezhi said, "That's also possible."
Although she didn't know if Hua Biezhi was lying to her, Jiang Geyun nodded.
Hua Biezhi said impatiently, "Looking at it this way, isn't it still me?"
Jiang Geyun maintained her nonchalant attitude, feigning ignorance as she asked, "What does 'Miss Biezhi' refer to?"
Hua Biezhi didn't hide anything, and said with her hands in her sleeves:
I took that string of coins from him.
I watched him die.
“I ordered Yao Ji to invite you here so that I could frame you.”
Jiang Geyun had anticipated this, and she thought of the misplaced stool.
If her guess was correct, then Hua Biezhi must have taken the prayer beads. Then, Hua Biezhi sat in the chair and watched the white manor lord die in agony step by step before casually throwing the prayer beads away.
How could Hua Biezhi sit in the chair and watch the White Manor Lord die in front of her? Killing someone is one thing, but watching someone die right in front of you is another.
What kind of expression did she have at that time?
Thinking of this, Jiang Geyun's heart trembled slightly.
It seems that Hua Biezhi really dislikes Master Bai.
In the short moment that Jiang Geyun was thinking, Hua Biezhi had already approached her again, and the distance between the two had shortened to less than three meters.
Jiang Geyun explained, "It was Miss Biezhi who took direct action, but I think Yao Ji's cooperation, Madam Yu's cooperation, and Madam Xiang's..."
Hua Biezhi sneered, "Let's just forget about her."
Alright, Jiang Geyun cooperated, saying, "Madam Yu must be doing this for a glimmer of hope, Yao Ji..."
Hua Biezhi said, "She is very wary of you."
Damn it! She knew it!
Jiang Geyun smiled calmly and said, "The people involved are not only Miss Biezhi, but also many others. This is my guess, and I am grateful for Miss Biezhi's assistance in making it clear."
After she finished speaking, Hua Biezhi tilted her head, looking puzzled, and asked:
"So why do you think I'll let you go?"
Jiang Geyun remained silent, her eyes fixed on Hua Biezhi.
Unlike the feigned confusion and nonchalance in his expression, the man in red's eyes were filled with cold vigilance.
"That's kind of scary, isn't it?" Jiang Geyun paused for a moment.
Then, she pushed the mountain god statue on her knees outwards a bit.
Jiang Geyun looked back, but there was no warmth in her eyes.
She said, "I just think that Miss Biezhi is a wise person. Would it be faster for you to kill me, or for me to destroy the statue and anger the mountain god?"
Seeing this, Hua Biezhi, who had been advancing since entering the temple, finally took a half step back.
Hua Biezhi frowned and said, "If that's the case, Miss Jiang, who personally committed such disrespectful acts, won't you also meet a bad end?"
Jiang Geyun tried her best to suppress her thoughts and make her words devoid of emotion. She recalled Cheng Xi's expression and said, "In that case, it's worth it."
Was it worth it? Was it worth it for everyone to die?
Beneath the calm tone of the girl in white lay a turbulent madness, as if capable of drowning one within it, causing Hua Biezhi to feel a chill in her heart.
In an instant, even the candlelight seemed to freeze, and the atmosphere became completely still.
The two remained locked in a standoff for a long time.
Hua Biezhi suddenly smiled.
She said, "Fine, I've had enough of this damn mountain god. It's good to be free. Go ahead and fall."
Jiang Geyun remained silent for a moment.
Is it worth it? Of course not!
This is really difficult! She doesn't want to die so easily; this is completely different from the future she envisioned. Besides, she just told Cheng Xi to study hard!
Hua Biezhi really wasn't buying it!
Really...
...
…………
Just as she expected.
Jiang Geyun smiled too.
Fortunately, she wasn't really planning to use this method.
Seeing Jiang Geyun's smile, Hua Biezhi's heart tightened. Her eyes, which were fixed on Jiang Geyun, quickly swept over the statue being held. Was she going to throw it?
She didn't fall?
So what does she want?
Hua Biezhi was puzzled, but in an instant, her thoughts froze.
Wait, wait... could this be...?
She had just ordered someone to use it not long ago...
Hua Biezhi lost consciousness and collapsed, her red dress billowing as she fell to the ground like a crabapple blossom.
Jiang Geyun breathed a sigh of relief.
—Finally, they've taken them down!
She's been chatting for so long before collapsing; she's really resilient. If she had collapsed any longer, she might have been the one to collapse. Even with the veil on, she was already struggling.
Not long after Hua Biezhi fell to the ground, Jiang Geyun felt a little relieved, and a gentle breeze blew through the temple at that moment.
Jiang Geyun seemed to sense something, relaxed, and looked towards the direction from which the breeze came with a smile. Sure enough, it was Cheng Xi.
Cheng Xi walked gracefully from the shadows and said to Jiang Geyun, "I have not failed my wife's trust."
It feels great to have reliable teammates.
Jiang Geyun asked with concern, "Why isn't your face covered, young master? Are you feeling dizzy?"
She smelled a familiar scent in Cheng Guan Huai Dao's study, so she took the box of incense and went to the mountain god temple. She instructed Cheng Xi to find a secluded spot and burn the incense at the right time.
It's something she excels at—fighting fire with fire.
Cheng Xi said, "I have been by the window upwind the whole time and have not been affected at all."
Jiang Geyun nodded: "That's good."
Just as she was about to say something more, Cheng Xi suddenly stepped forward, took the mountain god statue that she had been holding for a long time from her arms, casually placed it aside, and then very seriously took out a handkerchief to wipe the dust off her body.
Jiang Geyun thought that he might really be a germaphobe.
Cheng Xi's expression was so focused that Jiang Geyun didn't know how to interrupt him. She could only let him gently and meticulously erase all traces of other things left on her coat.
Once Jiang Geyun had fully recovered from the tension of their confrontation not long ago and realized their current posture, she instantly thought of the painting.
Why does "Cheng Xi" in the painting seem taller? Is it just my imagination?
No, no, this is not the place to think about such things!
Isn't this atmosphere a bit off? She has no experience with this kind of thing and really doesn't understand!
For a moment, Jiang Geyun forgot how to breathe naturally, so she could only count the beats in her mind as she inhaled and exhaled. But the next moment, she wondered if the beats were normal enough.
Brushing away the last speck of dust, Cheng Xi looked up and met her gaze.
He said softly, "I saw it."
The person who had been smiling gently stopped smiling and became unusually serious, speaking in a tone that was almost murmured.
What?
Oh... After a moment of confusion, Jiang Geyun remembered their previous agreement.
Should she say that's fine?
As Jiang Geyun hesitated, Cheng Xi reached out and touched the side of her cheek.
This scene is looking more and more familiar...
Jiang Geyun's neck and cheeks felt like they were on fire almost instantly, burning with heat.
A note from the author:
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Yun in this chapter: ... (Red-faced and speechless)
(Later, when this man's disguise hadn't been revealed and his attitude was still "strange"), it was said: As the Crown Prince, isn't Your Highness's behavior somewhat frivolous? (That look in his eyes)
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