Chapter 88 The Immortal in the Hermitage (Part 31) Yu Qi is injured.
What were these "touch devices" and "Mr. Horns"? Jiu Li thought about it carefully, but she had never seen these terms in medical books, so she didn't understand them at all. However, judging from Yu Qi's cryptic expression, this thing must be related to matters of love between men and women.
But how could such a thing be in Huixin's house? Could there really be an adulterer there?
She pondered for a moment, then scratched her head in frustration, "Oh dear, I'm so confused! Does this mysterious man really exist?"
"No." Yu Qi took the cylinder off her thumb, took a handkerchief, wet it with tea, and handed it to her. "Wipe yourself."
She tilted her head and said, "My hands aren't dirty."
Yu Qi suddenly smiled slyly and casually placed the handkerchief on the table. "You'll want to wipe it."
"Why?" She found his smile somewhat suspicious, yet also alluring in the dim candlelight beside them, further convincing her that the porcelain piece was a secret pleasure kept within a private tent.
She was filled with curiosity and was determined to find out what it was. So she stared at the pile of porcelain shards and pondered them. After looking at them for a while, she finally figured it out. Her face immediately turned red, and she hurriedly grabbed a handkerchief from the table to wipe her hands, wishing she could scrub off a layer of skin.
"What's this thing for?" She meant to ask Huixin what she wanted to do with it, but her words were inarticulate and made her seem ignorant and foolish.
She was a bit strange; ever since she grew up, the more something ordinary women would be ashamed to talk about, the more she wanted to appear elegant and poised.
Just like when she was a child and her period started and she felt uncomfortable, she slept in bed all day. When Yu Qi came to ask her about it, the old lady and Aunt Feng just tried to hide her soiled clothes, but she insisted on telling Yu Qi clearly, "I'm on my period, I'm a woman now!"
Yu Qi was embarrassed and tried to leave the room, but she pitifully grabbed his sleeve and wouldn't let him go, saying, "My stomach hurts, please rub it for me."
He had no choice but to sit down by the bed, ask the maid to brew ginger tea, and rub her stomach for half the night.
Looking back now, I realize it was because I was afraid that the distinction between men and women would cause us to drift apart. However, we did drift apart somewhat later, but this became part of my personality.
This question left Yu Qi speechless for a long time, unsure how to answer her. After some deliberation, he could only say indirectly, "I think there might have been some platonic relationship between Huixin and the deceased—have you ever heard of the term 'mirror polishing'?"
He felt that the word "磨" (mó) was very suggestive, even more serious and profound than the word "耳鬓厮磨" (ěr bìn sī mó), and he couldn't help but think of two snakes intertwined in a wet embrace. So, as he spoke, his eyes were misty with tears.
She could feel the warmth of his eyes, and unconsciously lowered her head. She'd never heard the term before, but since it referred to same-sex friendship, she immediately understood, thinking of Miaohua. Miaohua had probably requested a flower-shaped tattoo on her back, just like Huixin's, because of her feelings for Huixin. She looked at the pile of porcelain shards; no wonder he said it was double-headed.
Thinking back on it, wasn't that Qilin sachet also made by Cilian herself and given to Huixin? Even Liaoyi was sitting intimately with her in the grove, admiring the flowers and talking. It's clear that all three women loved Huixin. So what about Huixin?
Jiuli looked embarrassed, but refused to make a fuss. She nodded calmly, "I understand. Huixin is really something, having so many women like her. Who does she like?"
Yu Qi smiled and shook his head. "I don't know."
She glanced at him and asked, "If it were you, who would you prefer?"
"I have enough headaches to deal with just one woman," he sighed, his smiling eyes slightly twitching.
These words were a veiled reference to her. Jiu Li gritted her teeth, glanced at him, and lowered her head slightly, her lips moving but no sound coming out. He stared at her mouth, trying to figure out what she was saying, but as he looked, his attention wandered, and he only noticed her moist, rosy lips.
After a moment, he swallowed hard and turned his eyes away. “Put this pile of things away. You can use it as evidence to hand over to the Ministry of Justice in the future.”
Jiuli had no choice but to get up and tie the bundle up again, while secretly peeking at him. He glanced in that direction slightly, avoiding looking at the bundle as if he couldn't bear to look away. It was probably because the bundle always reminded people of lovemaking, especially on such a quiet night, and for a lone man and woman like them, that they couldn't help but be suspicious.
He only turned to look at her after a while, hearing that she had finished bandaging him. Her gaze was frank. She didn't know that men need far more control and patience in this regard than women, so she could naturally be more open than him.
"What did Xu Bai say when he just came over?"
Yu Qi smiled and said, "It's nothing, just talking about the case."
She wrinkled her nose, indicating disbelief.
He said he suspected that Huixin had committed suicide, which was why no information could be found at the various city gates and checkpoints, and he wanted to send people to search for her in the lakes and rivers tomorrow.
She was startled, but then she thought it wasn't impossible. If Huixin's motive for killing was to help these people be reborn, then according to her thinking, she herself was also deeply sinful, having broken not only the precept against immorality but also the precept against killing. Since she was such a devout Buddhist, she certainly couldn't forgive herself.
But something seemed off. Jiuli frowned and sat down. "If she was determined to die, wouldn't it have been much simpler to kill Miaohua, send her back to the temple, and then end her own life? Why did she have to deliberately fake Miaohua's body as hers? Isn't this just a case of trying to escape unscathed?"
Yu Qi pondered for a while, then suddenly asked, "Was the day Huixin left the temple the same day Chen Jia arrived at Qinglian Temple?"
After a moment's recollection, Jiu Li realized it was true. That day, she had gone to a restaurant on the street with Du Zhong and Madam Gu. On the way back, Madam Gu sprained her ankle. It was at the lotus pond in front of Qinglian Temple that she first met Chen Jia. Later, after entering the temple, Jueming and Jueguang invited the two of them into the house to find some plaster. When they came out, they met Huixin.
She nodded hurriedly, "That's right, it was that day when Huixin invited me to her room to talk, and Jueming and Jueguang saw it. That afternoon, she was sent to Dajue Temple."
Yu Qi suddenly sat up abruptly. "I know why she used Miao Hua's corpse to cover it up. She wanted to buy time to kill Chen Jia!"
Suddenly a night breeze arose, and with a "thud," the door was blown open. Looking towards the entrance, lanterns swayed under the eaves, casting flickering candlelight.
The candlelight shone through the white gauze, exceptionally hazy, illuminating the light on the stone-blue skirt, the indigo sash, and the turquoise shirt, all appearing equally hazy. Huixin had always felt that she was neither man nor woman, perhaps like Guanyin Bodhisattva, neither male nor female, her formless nature.
At this moment, it resembled a wisp of blue ghost, wandering the long streets at night, seeking to take lives. The grievances have their perpetrators, and the debts have their debtors. Needless to say, the government would not let Jingzhen and the others off easily. However, Chen Jia might be different. He has power and influence; who knows whether he will be severely punished according to the law or escape punishment by relying on the power of his Chen family when he returns to the capital?
We can't let him get away with it.
Huixin was extremely unaccustomed to this attire. Since she could remember, she had worn monk's robes. As long as one was a monk, regardless of gender, they all wore the same color. Over the years, she had even forgotten that she was a woman. Ironically, she had endured almost all the hardships that women were supposed to suffer, but even after experiencing them all, she still couldn't adapt to being a woman.
This dress was a secret treasure of Liaoyi. Liaoyi once told her, "When we escape from Qinglian Temple in the future, I will wear this dress, and you will wear the men's clothes."
Liaoyi was the most beauty-conscious among all the junior sisters, and indeed she was the most beautiful. It must have taken a lot of courage for her to disfigure herself by the stove back then. She cried for a long time because of it. Later, after she calmed down, she said fiercely to her, "You wouldn't value appearance like a man, would you?!"
Huixin wasn't as obsessed with women as men, but like men, she learned to lie.
When exactly did the disorder begin?
It was many years ago, when the eldest son of the Chen family was studying in Nanjing. He came to Qinglian Temple and stayed there overnight. That night, Jingzhen took Huixin to his room. In the middle of the night, Huixin came out, but Jingzhen was still awake. She called her into the room, closed the door, and asked her about the whole story between the eldest son of the Chen family and her. Gradually, she asked more and more detailed questions.
That night, the candle on the kang table was dim, like the half-closed eyes of a Buddha statue. Jingzhen's slender eyes were also half-closed, and a dreamy and intoxicating gaze flowed from the slits of her eyes.
She grabbed Huixin's hand and pressed it against her body. Huixin was taller than the average woman, and her hands were larger than those of an average woman. She felt that it was a man's hand.
She pulled her hand down her neck, asking, "Like this? You touched here?"
Meanwhile, her eyes lingered on Huixin's features; she loved Huixin's eyes and brows the most, for they possessed a natural air of heroism.
Huixin could not forget the feel of her damp, wet vagina, which reminded her of the mud in the lotus pond outside the mountain gate in the height of summer. She almost vomited back then and thought she would hate it for the rest of her life.
However, even she herself could not predict how her heart would develop. She did not expect to become fascinated by it later. Perhaps it was because Cilian was too gentle. She always blamed herself for her silence at the beginning, watching Jingzhen bring her back to this place, and even felt that she was an accomplice.
But Cilian said, "I don't blame you. Anyway, it's the same no matter where I am sold to, as a family member of a convicted official. If I go to another place, I may only suffer and suffer, and I won't even meet you."
It all started from that moment. It's not worth mentioning. The world is full of extravagance and debauchery, and the secluded world is just as chaotic and smoky. Everything in the world is upside down and in chaos.
She imitated others by smoothing her hair; this wig belonged to Miaohua.
They slowly walked to the front of the residence and saw that the gate was tightly closed and there were yamen runners guarding the entrance. One of them stepped forward and asked, "Who are you so late? This is a government residence. Unauthorized personnel are not allowed to enter. You'd better get out of here!"
Huixin smiled calmly, "I am Miss Yu Jiuli of the Yu family, and I have come here specifically to apologize to Second Master Chen."
These two constables had never seen Jiu Li in person. They had only heard people in the yamen say how beautiful this Miss Yu was. Upon closer inspection, she was indeed beautiful; it was rare to see such a striking woman. Everyone knew that Yu Qi had injured Chen Jia, so it was not suspicious that Miss Yu had come to apologize. Who wouldn't be afraid of the Chen family's power?
Two constables knocked on the door and called out Chen Jia's servant. After explaining a few words, the servant quietly asked, "What's the meaning of sending a woman to apologize so late at night? Second Master was seriously injured because of her!"
After the two constables said a few words, the servant thought to himself, "That's it, the Yu family has probably repented. That makes sense. How can an arm twist a thigh? A wise man knows when to yield."
He chuckled twice at Huixin, "Since you're so willing to apologize, come in with me." As they entered, he kept instructing her, "Our Second Master is still in great pain today! He's also very angry. When we get to that room, no matter what he does, don't talk back to him or argue with him. Just go along with him, or your Yu family will suffer the consequences. Do you understand?"
Huixin nodded with a smile.
Just then, Chen Jia had just changed his dressing and was in so much pain that he couldn't sleep. He couldn't get out of bed either. He was so angry and resentful that he couldn't wait to return to the capital to tell his father and brothers that they must find a way to tear Yu Qi apart!
Because his injury was so serious, his temper had changed drastically in the past two days. He was extremely irritable and easily angered, and the servants who had come with him and the servants in the courtyard dared not get close to him. They took turns standing guard outside the house.
The servant led Huixin to the corridor. The two servants on duty discussed it and realized that bringing in the Yu family at this time was like walking into a trap.
The servant pulled the two aside and whispered, "Second Master has even lost his manhood this time, which shows how angry he is. Let's put this girl in. Whether she lives or dies, it's up to Second Master to do whatever he wants. In short, let him vent his anger, and we can have some peace."
Hearing the whispers from inside, Chen Jia assumed they were talking about him and immediately slammed the teacup on the bedside table to the ground, yelling, "What are you saying outside?!"
A servant hurried in and stammered, "Miss Yu has arrived. She says she wants to apologize to the Second Master. We're unsure whether we should let her in."
This whole mess started because of Jiu Li, and she was injured by her uncle. Naturally, Chen Jia harbors resentment towards her. Now that he has no way out, he has somehow changed his personality. A man who wasn't particularly lustful before, suddenly has women on his mind all the time. Now that she's come to him, will he let her off easily?
He chuckled and said, "Let her in."
As soon as Huixin stepped into the outer room, the servant tightly closed the two doors. She sneered inwardly, thinking, "This is too good for me." Seeing that the bedroom was inside the green gauze curtain on the right, she lifted the curtain and went in.
Because she had her head down, the candlelight was dim, and Chen Jia wasn't very familiar with Jiu Li and her, and was leaning against the bed, he didn't even notice that her height was different. He just glanced at her from the bed and said, "You've come to apologize to me?"
Huixin nodded her head twice, looking timid.
His eyes blazed with malice as he thought to himself, "I don't know how Yu Qi could possibly cherish his niece like this. Otherwise, how could a common doctor dare to injure him so severely? Today I'll rip out his heart, and tomorrow I'll take his life!"
Thinking of this, he smiled coldly and said, "Take off your clothes, take them off completely."
She hesitated for a moment, then lowered her head and untied her belt. Chen Jia recalled her smug and proud smile that night when she relied on Yu Qi. Now it was finally his turn to be smug. He couldn't help but laugh, but then wondered if his laughter was a little high-pitched, like a woman's.
It wasn't him laughing; it was the woman in front of him who was laughing. She wasn't Jiu Li!
Before he could utter a sound, Huixin had already covered his mouth and plunged a dagger straight into his abdomen! One stab wasn't enough, so she pulled it out and stabbed it into his chest! After being stabbed three or four times, Chen Jia, who was already weak, could only stare wide-eyed as he struggled and whimpered under her palm.
Several servants outside the door heard some noise and at first thought that something was going on inside. But as they listened, they realized something was wrong. Just as they were about to push the door open, they saw several figures running down the corridor. It turned out to be two yamen runners on the gate and a strange man and woman.
Before he could speak, two constables drew their swords and rushed into the house, heading straight for the bedroom. There, they saw a bald woman straddling Chen Jia, turning her head, her face splattered with blood. She smiled, revealing her white teeth, blood flowing into her mouth and soaking into her teeth, making her look like a ghost.
Huixin was already bloodthirsty. She immediately jumped off the bed, raised her dagger, and rushed towards the two constables. The constables dodged to the left and right, and Huixin missed her target and fell out of the curtain. One of the constables raised his knife and slashed!
In the blink of an eye, Yu Qi rushed forward and caught the blade with one hand. "Spare me!"
Blood then trickled down from between her fingers. Jiu Li was startled and quickly kicked the dagger out of Hui Xin's hand. She then grabbed Yu Qi's arm and jumped up anxiously, crying, "Your hand! Your hand!"
The two constables quickly sheathed their knives; one went to arrest Huixin, while the other hurriedly checked Yu Qi's hands. "Oh dear, Mr. Yu! It's all my fault for being so blind!"
Yu Qi opened his palm and saw that the wound was so deep that the bone was visible. Not daring to let Jiu Li see it, he casually tore off a piece of the curtain and wrapped it around his hand before walking to the bedside to see Chen Jia.
Huixin was not an experienced assassin after all. Perhaps she was too anxious and afraid that the servant at the door would notice and rush in to ruin her plans. For a moment, she even forgot to lift the blanket. She stabbed him seven or eight times, but the blanket covered most of the wounds. She checked and found that Chen Jia was still breathing.
However, he saw no need to save him and turned away.
Two constables were holding Huixin captive. Blood dripped from her pale, cold face, and she was expressionless, like the dark sky outside, devoid of all hope.
On the way back, Jiuli's mind was still in turmoil. She didn't know whether she should have come that night. When she guessed that Huixin would come to the brothel to assassinate her, she rode with Yuqi in this direction without thinking, fearing that Huixin would fail in her assassination attempt and die at Chen Jia's hands instead. Now that she had saved her, she was still uneasy, because she knew that she would still die in the future.
Forget it, I can't figure it out anyway. She rode in front of him on horseback, grabbed Yu Qi's hand and looked at it. The curtain was scarlet, and it was nighttime, so it was indistinguishable from the blood mixed in. But it felt wet to the touch, and she couldn't help but feel flustered. She turned to look at him and asked, "Is your injury serious?"
Yu Qi sat behind her, saying he was alright, but his face was growing paler from the excessive bleeding, though thankfully she couldn't see clearly in the darkness. He tightened his grip on her waist with his other hand, saying, "Sit still, be careful not to fall."
Jiuli stubbornly turned her head, trying to see his expression. He could only force a smile and say, "Just go home and apply some medicine, and you'll be fine."
She turned back to him and nestled against his chest. Soon she heard a dripping sound, like water dripping from the eaves of a building on the street, mostly from the blood dripping onto the ground from the soaked cloth. The smell of blood made her nose sting, and tears began to fall from her eyes as well.
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Author's note: Thank you for reading.
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