Chapter 3 This woman is very much to my liking
The invisible serrations seemed to be cutting back and forth on her taut nerves. In that instant, many terrible thoughts flashed through Dai Li's mind, each one enough to send chills down her spine.
One breath, two breaths...
Dai Li slowly turned around, her head bowed: "What are your orders, Your Excellency?"
A dark shadow rushed towards her, almost completely enveloping Dai Li and leaving her stunned. Dai Li nearly cried out in fright. The soft fabric pressed against her cheek, and she smelled the fragrance of sandalwood.
It was clothing; he tossed over a long robe.
"Put them on before you go out," Qin Shaozong said.
Dai Li took a deep breath and then exhaled discreetly. Fortunately, her long robe covered her face, so no one saw her incredibly expressive face just now.
*
outside the house.
Mo Yanyun and Yan San waited outside, chatting idly:
"Your Excellency suddenly went inside. Is there something unusual about this house? Or did Jiang Chonghai secretly tell you that there is a treasure hidden in this house?" Before Yan San could reply, Mo Yanyun stroked his chin and said, "That shouldn't be the case. Offering treasure is not a bad thing. Why would you do it secretly? Could there be an assassin hiding inside?"
Yan San glanced at him and said, "Are you an idiot, or is Jiang Chonghai an idiot?"
Mo Yanyun got angry: "Hey, why do you have to learn to talk like the Marquis? Is it because you've been by the Marquis's side since childhood and been influenced by him?"
Yan San returned the favor with a cold look.
"Who's inside? Come out... You'll have to suffer the consequences if you don't listen to reason."
The two were startled at the same time and were about to go inside when they heard a soft female voice coming from inside.
Mo Yanyun stopped and clicked his tongue in disapproval: "I actually thought some audacious villain had come to invade, but it turns out it was just someone offering himself up. Ha, what a waste. This trip is for important matters, and the Lord has no time for indulgence. Even if he wanted to enjoy himself, he should have used the best women offered by Jiang Chonghai. What can those who come on their own achieve?"
Yan San released his hand from the hilt of the knife, but after a few moments, he asked with keen observation, "Why hasn't he come out yet?"
Mo Yanyun belatedly realized, "Right, why is it taking so long? Usually it only takes a few words. Yan San, why don't you go in and take a look?"
Yan San ignored his urging; she was just a woman, not an assassin.
A moment later, Yan San and Mo Yanyun, who were waiting outside, finally saw a figure emerge from within. When they recognized the person, both of them were stunned.
The beautiful woman appeared to be around thirty years old, yet she possessed an exceptional charm, dignified and gentle with a touch of aloofness, like a peony in full bloom on a high platform. She wore a long, uncinched robe with a curved hem, the dark outer garment like a black veil shrouding her, yet it still could not conceal her striking beauty.
Dai Li already knew there was more than one person outside. Now that she saw two strong men, she knew that the two men who were still here must be subordinates of the one inside.
She didn't want to say much to them, so she simply curtsied and, after exchanging greetings, quickly walked out of the courtyard under their watchful eyes.
Mo Yanyun stared intently until he could no longer see her, still looking towards the courtyard entrance, muttering, "No wonder. Everyone says that Luoyang and Chang'an produce beauties, praising their unparalleled beauty and their magnificent charm, as if they were the only ones like them in the world. But in my opinion, this small Nankang County is the real hidden gem. Even the most beautiful women in prosperous cities like Chang'an and Luoyang would have to look up in awe before that woman. Yan San, do you think that beautiful woman has any sisters?"
Yan San said expressionlessly, "Lust is a double-edged sword. Just half a year ago, a female thief robbed you of all your wealth, and you even had to borrow money from your brothers for food. What, now that you've saved up enough money, you want to act recklessly again?"
Mo Yanyun didn't take it to heart: "I'm not that stingy miser Jin Duole. You can't take money with you when you die, it's meant to be spent, isn't it? What's wrong with using it to make a beauty smile? Oh, the Lord is out..."
*
Even after leaving the courtyard used to entertain distinguished guests, Dai Li's heart was still pounding rapidly.
She's out! She's out!
Dai Li remembered the way she came, but instead of returning, she headed in another direction. Now that she had a "legitimate" identity, she needed to explore as many places as possible.
"Halt! Who goes there to loiter?"
Dai Li didn't realize at first that someone was calling her, until a man in a blue robe walked up to her quickly. However, after seeing her clearly, his expression changed from slight anger to surprise and suspicion: "Who are you? Why are you wandering around here? Are you one of the new dancers from the West Garden? No, you shouldn't be. The dancers from the West Garden are all Hu women."
As he sized up Dai Li, Dai Li was also observing him. The man's clothes were simple, and the materials were neither particularly good nor bad. He was probably not the owner of the house, but rather a manager or someone in charge.
These kinds of people are actually not difficult to deal with. Just mentioning the title of host or honored guest is enough to shut them up.
“I am a concubine of the Lord. My clothes have been accidentally soaked with tea, so I need to change them. May I ask where the dancers of your household live? I will go there to get some clothes from them,” Dai Li said calmly.
The man immediately became respectful. Dai Li's beauty left him with no reason to doubt her. He bowed deeply and said, "I apologize for my rudeness earlier. If you want new clothes, why go to the dancers? Why don't you wait a moment in the nearby pavilion while I ask the Lady of the Prefect for a brand new dress?"
Although she was merely a concubine, worlds apart from the principal wife, her husband wielded immense power, commanding a large number of elite soldiers and holding a title bestowed by the emperor himself. Even a seventh-rank official is subject to the prime minister's authority, let alone a woman of exceptional beauty who could whisper sweet nothings in his ear at any moment.
He fawned over her, trying his best to please her, thinking that the beautiful woman would smile. But she shook her head and said, "No need. You don't know what the lord likes. I'll go by myself."
The man was taken aback; the other person's words seemed to carry a subtle, intimate meaning that he wouldn't tell outsiders.
Since the other party insisted, he had no reason to force her, so he carefully explained to Dai Li how to get to the dancer's residence.
Dai Li's eyes flickered slightly, and she asked him again how to get to the West Garden. The steward answered again.
Dai Li curtsied, said thank you, and headed to the West Garden.
Compared to the neighboring courtyards, the West Garden where Hu Ji lived was much gentler, with two lush and leafy crabapple trees planted outside the courtyard. Even before reaching the gate, Dai Li could smell the faint fragrance of cosmetics and occasionally hear the laughter of young women.
Dai Li entered the courtyard, her gaze quickly sweeping around before finally settling on two young women of Central Asian descent in their early twenties. She explained that she was a member of the Eastern Garden's dancing troupe, sent to request some clothing. The two women showed no suspicion. Firstly, they hadn't been at the residence long, and being young, they lacked cunning and arrogance; secondly, their clothes were all provided by the residence, and borrowing a dress was no big deal. They readily agreed: "Any preferences regarding the color of the clothing?"
Dai Li wanted to shake her head and say no, but she swallowed the words back: "Can I come in with you and change my clothes there?"
The young orchid nodded.
"What's your name? I've never seen you before," someone suddenly said from inside the room.
Dai Li looked up at the sound and saw a beautiful Hu woman of about thirty years old leaning against the window, looking at her suspiciously. Judging from the woman's tone, Dai Li suspected that she had previously visited the East Garden where the dancers lived and had seen many people there.
“I am Qin Ji…” Dai Li saw that her suspicion had not diminished: “My friend is named Song Lan. She only arrived at the manor the day before yesterday. It is normal that you have not seen me before.”
The woman from Hu asked again, "Where were you originally from? Why did you end up as a dancer?"
Whether it's the East Garden or the West Garden, they are all inhabited by insignificant courtesans; the prefect's own concubines do not live there.
Dai Li followed the young Hu woman into the house, and as they walked, she began to tell her story: "I was originally from the south. I went north with my husband to do business and make a living. Unfortunately, we were attacked by bandits on the way. Everyone in my family except me died at their hands. Later, I was rescued by a group of bodyguards. After many twists and turns, I finally came here. The magistrate has not yet arranged for me to move. I suppose he has other plans."
There were many trunks in the inner room. Dai Li looked through them all and finally chose a gray-blue dress.
"Are you sure you want this outfit? Isn't it too plain?" the young woman muttered.
"It's nothing, I don't like flashy colors," Dai Li said with a smile.
After choosing her clothes, Dai Li asked for a pair of round-toed silk shoes and changed into them on the spot. She wrapped her modern clothes and sandals in the wide, curved-hem men's robe, tying the sleeves together to form a bundle.
"What's your name?" Dai Li asked the Hu woman who had lent her her clothes.
The other person's eyes lit up, and they quickly introduced themselves, "Mika, my name is Mika, you... don't forget me in the future."
Dai Li understood the underlying meaning. "Of course. Mika, do you have rice noodles here?"
She had originally intended to say lead powder, but then she remembered that lead powder was extremely expensive in this era, unaffordable for anyone but a wealthy lady, and naturally wouldn't be found in geisha houses. Without lead powder, she had to find a cheaper alternative: rice powder, which wasn't quite as effective.
Mika nodded and said yes. She thought Dai Li was going to apply makeup at the same time, but she didn't expect that after taking out the powder box, Dai Li didn't use it immediately. Instead, she wrapped a little rice powder in a handkerchief.
"Thank you very much. I will definitely repay you another day if I have the chance," Dai Li said with a smile.
Mika was overjoyed and instantly forgot about her doubts.
Dai Li glanced around and lowered her voice: "Miga, do you know if there are any servants around nine years old working in the manor, and where they usually live?"
The topic jumped a bit too far, and Mika paused for a moment before shaking her head and saying she didn't know, "I haven't been here long, and there are many things I don't know yet."
There was no unexpected joy. Dai Li nodded calmly, "The manager is still waiting for me. I'll go back now."
After leaving the West Garden, Dai Li went to the back garden. After making sure no one was around, she threw her cumbersome package behind a large potted plant, then turned around and left as if nothing had happened, heading to the East Garden where the dancers lived.
*
The main hall of the mansion.
As the sun sets in the west, its brilliant afterglow shines obliquely into the main hall, illuminating the meticulously decorated space and the scene of revelry within.
In a normal banquet, the host would sit in the seat of honor, but today is an exception. Two long tables are placed side by side at the head of the table, one on the left and one on the right. Today, the left is honored, but the person sitting on the left is not the host.
The imposing man, holding a wine vessel in his right hand, was talking to the round-headed mansion owner beside him.
Jiang Chonghai nodded repeatedly: "That salt smuggler surnamed Li is cruel and inhumane, and has been disregarding human life for a long time. The people in the vicinity of Ying County have suffered greatly because of him. Now, Your Excellency is willing to travel a long way to rid the people of this scourge. This shows your great kindness and compassion. I truly admire you."
Qin Shaozong glanced casually over and saw that Jiang Chonghai's hand, which wasn't holding the wine cup, had his index finger nervously gripping the edge of his thumb's nail. Whether it was due to the force or the duration, the edge of his nail was faintly tinged with blood red.
Jiang Chonghai sensed something, looked down, and subconsciously tucked his hand into his wide sleeve. When he looked up again, intending to say something joking, he found that Qin Shaozong had already looked away, as if that glance had been indifferent and had not touched his heart.
Jiang Chonghai's Maitreya Buddha-like smile paused for a moment, then rose again, a hint of probing appearing in his eyes.
Qin Shaozong continued chatting with him, and after a few rounds of drinks, the man suddenly put the wine cup down on the table. "Lord Jiang, there's something I need to tell you."
Jiang Chonghai focused his attention, "Please speak, Your Excellency."
Qin Shaozong: "There is a dancer in your esteemed residence's backyard named Fengchun. I find her very attractive. I wonder if Lord Jiang would be willing to part with her?"
A note from the author:
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