Chapter 82 My Daily Ramblings
Jiu Ya smiled faintly, "The underworld has only just stabilized, and this ghost messenger may not be able to handle everything. It's normal for him to overlook some things in the human world. I think these ghost messengers probably feel guilty because they didn't discover the Painted Skin's evil deeds, which led to the deaths of many people in Changshao. Isn't that what they said themselves?"
Jiu Ya believed this reason. In the book, Rong Jiang's capable assistant, Si Ge, as the chief judge, commanded a group of ghost messengers, all of whom were quite conscientious. Judging from the few she met today, regardless of their rank, they were definitely Si Ge's subordinates.
The guards of the Ten Courts are called Ghost Soldiers. Ghost Messengers are responsible for escorting ghosts, while Ghost Soldiers are responsible for bringing them to the court; the division of labor is clear. Jiu Ya recalled the settings in the book and couldn't help but marvel at how complex the bureaucratic system of the underworld was.
“In a way, this is also their responsibility.” Bai Yu agreed, and her hands moved more nimbly again. “Shouldn’t we be more careful when we encounter the victim?” As she spoke, she carefully inserted the last hairpin into her hair bun, examined Jiu Ya in the mirror, and nodded in satisfaction.
"That makes sense." For some reason, Jiu Ya felt something was amiss; things didn't seem so simple. Xie Wujiu and the other ghost messengers shouldn't be so weak as to fail to detect the existence of a mere painted skin. Even if this painted skin was quite powerful, it shouldn't be like that. Didn't those victims harbor resentment after their deaths and transformation into ghosts? And this wasn't the only case of such violent deaths; shouldn't they have noticed something unusual? Logically speaking, the ghost messengers shouldn't be that stupid, right?
Jiuya sighed. There must be more to this than meets the eye. Perhaps something went wrong within the Underworld, or perhaps someone was deliberately covering it up. She rubbed her temples, feeling a headache coming on just thinking about it.
Bai Yu then said, "Your Majesty, how rude of mortals!"
"Hmm?" Jiu Ya had just finished her thoughts and looked up when she heard Bai Yu say this. She couldn't help but ask, "What is it now?" She looked at Bai Yu through the mirror and found that the maid's lips were pouting. She was obviously angry about something.
"Your Excellency kindly offered help, but they misunderstood you as a murder suspect! They even pointed swords at you!" Bai Yu was furious. If Jiu Ya hadn't told them to calm down, she and Li Yue would have definitely taught those ignorant mortals a lesson. Your Excellency is incomparably noble; how could those mortals be so disrespectful? Just thinking about the scene made Bai Yu's teeth itch with anger.
Jiu Ya rubbed her forehead, somewhat helpless. "Miss Bai Yu, please don't let your concern cloud your judgment! Tell me, how could ordinary people with mortal eyes possibly know we're demons? If they really knew—well, really knew we were demons—then the soldiers would still attack us anyway. Demons are scarier than murderers, okay?"
“Well—Bai Yu, it’s not a big deal. They don’t know my identity. The timing of our appearance was also quite coincidental, so it’s normal for them to misunderstand.” Jiu Ya acted as a counselor for a while, earnestly comforting Bai Yu. “When dealing with a suspect who has been pursued for a long time, it’s good enough if you don’t shoot arrows on the spot.” As she spoke, she couldn’t help but find it somewhat amusing, recalling General Wang Fang’s alarmed appearance at the time.
"No, that's not true at all! It's clearly His Excellency's kindness that's being misunderstood!" Bai Yu pouted, feeling indignant on Jiu Ya's behalf. They were demons; the lives of mortals were none of their concern. Their own Excellency was kind-hearted and originally intended to help them find the murderer, yet they were falsely accused of killing and skinning someone alive. It was truly despicable. The more Bai Yu thought about it, the angrier she became, and the force in her hand unconsciously increased.
Jiuya hissed in pain and quickly pressed Bai Yu's hand down, "Gently, gently." She shook her head helplessly, knowing that Bai Yu was genuinely standing up for her, and felt both touched and amused.
"Ahem, after all, you and Li Yue did damage that body, so it's not like you're wronging us." Jiu Ya tried to reason with them, her tone gentle. Given the timing and appearance of the three of them, it would be abnormal if they weren't misunderstood. The weapons they were holding were stained with the victim's blood. Who else would they arrest if not them? Jiu Ya's greatest strength was her open-mindedness and thorough analysis.
“But—” Bai Yu blinked, recalling the miserable state of the person before she and Li Yue rushed up, and said righteously, “That mortal was in such a state, he definitely couldn’t be saved. At most, he could only live for about an incense stick’s time. That kind of pain was worse than death. Li Yue and I helped him get out of this mess, so they can’t wrong us because of this!” She spoke with conviction, clearly feeling that she and Li Yue had done the right thing.
That's true, but Comrade Bai Yu, you two went on a rampage, and this poor mortal was completely obliterated. No wonder the people who witnessed the scene thought you were the murderers. Jiu Ya silently complained in her heart, but seeing Bai Yu's "I did the right thing" expression, she couldn't bring herself to say it out loud.
Bai Yu continued to complain, "Hmph! That mortal actually wanted to make His Majesty kneel down, isn't he afraid of shortening his lifespan!" Then she sneered, "This kind of demon would be executed in the Demon Realm!" She was referring to the yamen runner who was rude to Jiu Ya. At that time, the man was arrogant and almost forced Jiu Ya to kneel down.
Jiu Ya coughed lightly and smiled, "I concealed my identity, so others only thought we were ordinary mortals and didn't know my true identity. They weren't genuinely being rude to me. In their eyes, we were suspected murderers, so it's normal for that prefect to have a bad attitude towards us. Besides, it's just a normal procedure in court, so why bother?" As she spoke, she raised her hand and gently patted Bai Yu's hand, indicating that she didn't need to be so agitated.
"His Majesty has always been kind." Bai Yu sighed when he saw that Jiu Ya didn't mind at all and even made excuses for mortals. His Majesty was truly too kind.
Jiu Ya smiled slightly and looked at herself in the mirror. With light makeup, she possessed a beautiful face, and her hairstyle, delicate yet simple, perfectly complemented her气质 (qi zhi - inherent quality/temperament). She nodded in satisfaction and praised, "Bai Yu, your skills are getting better and better."
"Thank you for the compliment, Your Excellency," Bai Yu said happily, her earlier displeasure instantly vanishing. Actually, Bai Yu knew many intricate and elaborate hairstyles, but Jiu Ya didn't prefer high buns, favoring simpler styles, leaving her with no opportunity to use her excellent skills. Looking at Jiu Ya's satisfied smile in the mirror, she pondered whether she should try styling an even more refined hairstyle for Her Excellency next time.
Sunlight streamed through the window, casting dappled shadows on the dressing table. Jiu Ya rose from the mirror, her skirt billowing like waves. She nodded in satisfaction at her perfect reflection, then turned and gave a few instructions: "Bai Yu, after you finish resting, go with Li Yue outside and inquire about the details of our next stop. We don't want to end up like Changshao, where we had trouble finding a place to stay as soon as we entered the city." Her tone was slightly teasing, a wry smile playing on her lips as she recalled the disheveled state of affairs when they first arrived in Changshao.
"Yes, Your Majesty," Bai Yu said respectfully, curtsying. She carefully noted down Jiu Ya's instructions and was already considering where would be the best place to gather information.
Jiuya straightened her skirt; the emerald brocade shimmered softly in the sunlight. "Well, there's no rush. We're not leaving until tomorrow morning," she said, walking to the window and opening the wooden pane to let the afternoon sun stream into the room. Outside, several peach trees in the inn's courtyard were in full bloom, their pink petals swaying gently in the breeze.
"Yes," Bai Yu replied, but her eyes never left Jiu Ya, ready to step forward and serve her at any time.
Jiu Ya turned around and waved to Bai Yu, "Bai Yu, you should go back and rest!" She noticed the fatigue between Bai Yu's brows and said gently. Although Bai Yu was a demon, the days of travel had made her look somewhat haggard.
"Then this servant will take her leave." Bai Yu slowly withdrew from the room, gently closing the door behind her. She needed to tidy herself up before going out with Li Yue on business. Walking down the corridor, Bai Yu began to consider where would be the best place to gather information. Teahouses and taverns in the city were often the most well-informed places; perhaps she could go there to take a look.
After Bai Yu left the room, Jiu Ya admired her look in the mirror one last time. The woman in the mirror was elegant and graceful, her fair skin accentuated by her turquoise dress, and the jewels in her hair shimmered with a warm luster in the sunlight. She twirled with satisfaction, her skirt blooming like a flower.
After admiring the view, Jiu Ya left her room and went to knock on Rong Jiang's door. The corridor was quiet, sunlight filtered through the window lattices, casting dappled shadows, and a faint sandalwood scent filled the air.
At this moment, Rong Jiang was sitting cross-legged on the bed, resting with her eyes closed. Sunlight filtered through the thin gauze curtains, casting a soft glow on her. She heard a knock on the door and couldn't help but chuckle. It was probably Jiu Ya. "Is that A-Jiu? The door's unlocked, you can just come in."
As she spoke, she lifted her skirt and got off the bed, straightening her sleeves and skirt. The skirt was embroidered with a pattern of red spider lilies in gold thread, which shimmered in the sunlight, making her skin appear even whiter and her temperament more ethereal.
Jiuya pushed open the door, and as she walked, her emerald brocade skirt unfurled like a flower, revealing pomegranate blossom patterns in the folds, resembling a magnificent, exquisitely beautiful bloom. She asked with a grin, "How did Ranran know it was me?"
Rong Jiang smiled gently and walked to the table to pour tea for Jiu Ya. "I guessed right, didn't I?" Her movements were elegant and natural, as if she was already used to Jiu Ya's sudden visits. "Why don't you rest for a while, Jiu?" She pushed the teacup in front of Jiu Ya. The tea was clear and had a faint fragrance.
“I’m not tired, and I didn’t have anything else to do anyway, so I came to visit you.” Jiu Ya sat down opposite Rong Jiang naturally. She picked up her teacup and took a sip, the aroma of the tea refreshing her senses. “Ranran’s tea is really delicious.”
Rong Jiang pointed to the empty stool, "A-Jiu, sit down quickly." Her gaze fell on Jiu Ya's new dress, and a hint of appreciation flashed in her eyes.
“Okay.” Jiu Ya chose a stool close to Rong Jiang, her skirt spreading out like rippling waves. Sunlight shone on her, making her seem to glow.
As soon as Jiu Ya entered, Rong Jiang noticed that she had just changed into a different outfit. It was a light green silk skirt, similar to Jiu Ya's usual attire, but with many differences in the details. The skirt was embroidered with delicate pomegranate flower patterns, while the outer garment was embroidered with dandelion patterns in gold thread, making it both unique and lively.
Rong Jiang smiled gently and commented on Jiu Ya's new dress, "The light green and pomegranate red dress that A Jiu changed into is quite eye-catching. And the golden hairpin grass embroidered on the outer garment is also very unique. Speaking of which, not many people like golden hairpin grass."
Golden hairpin grass? To be honest, Jiu Ya was taken aback by this name. She immediately put her clever little brain to work, looked at the pattern on her outer garment, and thought, "Oh dear, it's a dandelion, isn't it?"
Dandelion has many names, such as "耩耨草" in the Tang Materia Medica, and "凫公英" in Sun Simiao's "Thousand Gold Prescriptions". Because the stems and leaves of dandelion spread across the ground, the stems stand upright, and the flowers at the stem tips are golden in color, resembling single-petaled chrysanthemums, like the head of a golden hairpin, it is also known as "Golden Hairpin Grass".
She smiled and said, "Right? Right?" Her tone carried a hint of pride, like a child who had received praise from a teacher.
After dandelions bloom and mature, they produce fluffy white seeds. A gentle blow will cause the white fluff to scatter instantly, carried away by the wind into the distance—what a poetic scene! The white seeds still clinging to the stems and leaves, about to fly away, would be embroidered on clothing, adding a unique charm.
“It’s quite unique,” Rong Jiang said, her gaze still lingering on Jiu Ya’s dress, seemingly genuinely appreciating the design.
Jiu Ya's expression was both sincere and earnest. "Ranran's dress today is also very beautiful." As she spoke, she carefully examined Rong Jiang's attire.
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