Chapter 22: Longing
Although Xiao Fuyu returned without success, the uproar at Shengfa Casino made everyone in Chang'an know that the murderer of Princess Gaoguo was among the candidates for Lingling County Lord's fiancé.
Bad news travels a thousand miles, and sensational news spreads faster than a long leg. Even before the three of them reached the Dali Temple, they heard people in the street tea stalls discussing in shock, "Is it true? Did one of Lingling County Master's husbands really kill Princess Gao?"
"How could this be false? Eunuch Chang from the Princess's Mansion smashed the sign of Shengfa Casino in the street, and people all over the street heard him say it with their own ears!"
"That's true. Princess Gao has repeatedly framed the Princess of Lingling County and has been punished by the court. The young men in the Princess's backyard are all young and full of vigor. It's not impossible for them to resort to violence in a fit of rage..."
"Ridiculous! That's the Grand Princess. Doesn't she think about the consequences before taking action?"
"Hey, hey, hey, others might have some concerns, but that person who just squeezed in, how could he care less about this? It's very likely..."
Everyone was talking and making faces, showing a tacit understanding.
How could Qiandeng and the other two not know that what they were referring to was naturally Mingjiu.
"I wonder if the court has approved the memorial I submitted," Qian Deng said. Then, remembering something else, he asked Cui Fufeng, "Shaoqing Cui, what do you think about the Changyi County Princess's suggestion that Jin Tang be admitted to the Imperial College?"
"She's right. Jin Tang really needed someone to write for him before he could enter." Cui Fufeng frowned slightly and said, "When I was selecting a husband for the county lady at the Ministry of Rites, I saw Jin Tang's paper for the Imperial College examination. His writing was so brilliant and impressive that it was beyond the reach of ordinary students."
Qian Deng was surprised and said, "If you can admire it so much, it must be a peerless article."
"Indeed, otherwise I wouldn't still remember it so vividly two or three years later."
Ling Tianshui asked, "Then, what did you mean by 'Guliang Zhuan'?"
"In that article, he quoted a sentence as the key point: 'Killing people to survive, destroying people to preserve oneself, a gentleman would not do such a thing.'"
Qian Deng thought thoughtfully, "So, when you said 'a gentleman should not do certain things', you were referring to this sentence... but this sentence is from Gongyang Zhuan, not Guliang Zhuan."
"Yes, it's obvious that Jin Tang only memorized the article but didn't understand its content or its source, so he was just confused and couldn't correct or clarify it," Cui Fufeng said, thinking about the article and sighing softly, feeling a bit regretful. "If that ghostwriter was really hired by Princess Gao for the Jin family, I wonder how such a talent could have remained hidden in the dark, unknown until now, never showing his talent?"
But for the whole case, the person who was hired by Princess Gaoguo to cheat for Jintang two years ago is obviously insignificant. What is important is whether Jintang did anything yesterday.
"Based on the current situation, Jin Tang is indeed a suspect. He meets the conditions of having both a debt of gratitude and a grudge against Princess Gao, and he also had plenty of time to commit the crime."
Ling Tianshui said, "But the Jin family declined the summons from the Princess's Mansion and instead brought all the workers to the Changhua Palace. This is a blatant disobedience to the Princess's Mansion. How could Princess Gaoguo possibly allow him to get close to them without any qualms?"
Cui Fufeng agreed, "Moreover, the maids at the Princess's residence heard the Princess meet with the visitor in the small pavilion, and she mentioned that the visitor was carrying a birthday gift for the County Master. However, of all the young men yesterday, only Jin Tang's gift could not have been brought with him, because what he gave to the County Master was a fireworks display."
The three were discussing when they arrived at Pingkangfang, which was bustling with activity, vibrant with colors.
Ling Tianshui suddenly reined in his horse and raised his chin slightly to signal towards the Cuiyu Tower next to him.
Qiandeng looked back and saw a familiar slender figure stepping into the colorfully embroidered doorway. Several women inside immediately smiled with surprise, and gathered around, encircling the young man.
Even though I didn't see his front, the eye-catching and bright clothes and the relaxed and unrestrained manner among the flowers made it clear who else could it be but Xue Xiyang.
The three of them looked at each other, and the words of the maid from the princess's mansion came to their minds. The same thought came to their minds at the same time -
When it comes to who knows how to deal with women the best, who is most likely to flirt with others, and who can please women the most, it is probably this man.
"Let's go and take a look."
Ling Tianshui jumped off his horse. Qiandeng and Cui Fufeng looked at each other and followed him into the house.
The madam saw that although these three young men were new faces, they were dressed in fine clothes and rode horses with extraordinary demeanor, so she hurried over to greet them.
Cui Fufeng said, "We are Xue Lecheng's peers. We are here to find him for some business. Please, mother, lead the way for us."
"Oh, he is Xue Lecheng's friend after all, and he has such an elegant demeanor..." The madam looked at Cui Fufeng's noble and elegant appearance, and felt both overjoyed and worried. If a man like this came here, wouldn't the girls be restless for several days?
Looking at Qiandeng behind him, she hesitated again. After all, how could men's clothing hide Qiandeng's graceful figure? The madam was a shrewd person. She glanced behind her and wondered why there were female officials in the Imperial Music Bureau. Could it be that Master Xue was being chased after for his romantic debts?
Just as she was imagining a wonderful drama, she looked up and saw Ling Tianshui, and her calves trembled slightly again - although this man was tall and handsome, he had a sharp edge without saying a word, and his whole body was faintly emitting a cold murderous aura, which made her involuntarily step back half a step, as if she was afraid of being infected by his breath and stayed away from him.
Ling Tianshui, who was already used to being feared, turned a blind eye and spat out one word at her: "Leave?"
"Yes, Xue Lecheng is rehearsing a grand piece with the girls. Please... please follow me."
The madam trembled with fear and took them to the nearby singing and dancing hall. When she saw the situation there, she secretly groaned in her heart.
In the pear blossom courtyard, sleeves danced like clouds. Xue Xiyang was sitting in front of a brocade zither, playing a song called "Longing".
The sound of the zither was lingering and sad, the dancers' postures were as light as clouds, and their eyes were particularly alluring.
The leading dancer was beautiful and had a sweet smile. She danced and sang to the music: "Longing for you, in Chang'an——"
Xue Xiyang looked in the direction of her singing, and her smiling eyes looked even more gentle.
The madam secretly observed Qiandeng out of the corner of her eye. Seeing that she looked normal and had no intention of getting angry, she breathed a sigh of relief, quickly saluted them, and hurried away.
The song and dance were so beautiful that Qiandeng and the other two did not bother to disturb them. They just waited quietly for a while.
When the singing and dancing ended, Xue Xiyang had just taken his hands off the zither when the lead dancer gathered her silk skirt and walked quickly towards him, smiling and pulling him towards the wall.
Qian Deng, who was waiting by the wall at the door, was about to step forward, but they stopped behind the wall, apparently not noticing that there was anyone behind them.
Xue Xiyang said, "Wanniang's dance today was well choreographic. If she can tighten up a bit in the first half of the fourth section and the second half of the sixth section, she'll be almost certain to be accepted into the opera world."
"Hey~ Why did I go through so much trouble to get into the opera house? Isn't it just so I can see Xue Lecheng more often?" Wan Niang said with resentment, "It's all my fault, my husband, for being so cruel. You used to be so loving and affectionate with us sisters, but now you just leave us like that. Ever since you ran for the county lady's husband, you've really forgotten all of us..."
Qian Deng had not expected that such a drama of infatuated men and resentful women would be played out just across the wall, and he had never thought that it was related to him, so he was unable to come out to meet him for a while.
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