Chapter 111 Lost in illusion, unable to see through reality
His slightly angry expression startled Shen Wen for a moment: "Ah...it's not that late, not that late." His Adam's apple bobbed, and he pursed his lips. "I remembered I have something to do with Su Shangxuan..."
"How late is 'not very late'?" Li Jin's gaze was intense, fixed on his face.
Shen Wen was completely dumbfounded. He frowned and asked in surprise, "It's okay if it's later. She's a grown man, is there any danger she might be in?"
Li Jin was stunned.
To outsiders, Jin Shu was indeed just a grown man.
He raised his hand and rubbed his forehead: "I know, go help Su Shangxuan."
As Li Jin listened to Shen Wen's departing footsteps and looked at the envelope in her hand, her mind was in turmoil.
What's wrong with him these past two days? He seems to have lost his mind ever since things got involved with Jin Shu.
Li Jin put down the envelope and let out a long sigh.
Summer has arrived in Beijing, with blue skies and thin clouds, and the wind gently blowing through them.
The merchants in the East and West Markets changed the colors of their shop signs, and their hawking tunes also changed to match the season.
The melodious and gentle music was soothing and lulling.
The Hu dancers who used to perform on the streets have all moved to chess clubs and restaurants to avoid the scorching sun.
At midday, the once bustling street appeared rather deserted and desolate.
The carriage stopped in front of the winding tower. Jin Shu was covered in sweat from the scorching sun, so she simply raised her arm and wiped it off.
This scene was witnessed by Li Jin, who had just gotten off the bus. He glanced at the stall next to him and bought a round fan for ten coins.
So, this fan was neither useful nor unnecessary.
A constable from the Six Doors, dressed in a black robe, held a long-handled round fan with a lark embroidered on its surface, carrying a plum blossom in its beak...
Jin Shu looked up at the sun, swallowed hard, took a deep breath, and thought, "Who cares about men's clothing or being a constable? Cooling off is the most important thing."
Inside the winding building, there were few guests at noon, and the melodious sound of the zither created a simple and quiet atmosphere.
The shopkeeper was a young woman. When she saw Li Jin, dressed in fine clothes, arrive, she got up and went to greet him.
Before he could even speak, Zhou Zheng held up the black plaque with the dragon design: "The Six Doors are handling cases, and no one should make a fuss."
His voice carried a fierce undertone, which startled the shopkeeper in front of him, causing him to flinch.
"Are you the manager of this music pavilion?"
Compared to Zhou Zheng, Li Jin's smiling face calmed her heart, which had been in her throat.
She composed herself, pursed her lips, nodded, and curtsied, saying, "Indeed."
"Do you have a courtesan named Yingge in your brothel?"
Upon hearing this, the shopkeeper paused for a moment: "Indeed, that has happened."
After saying that, she glanced at the three men and stepped aside to make way for them: "This way, sir. It's hot outside, so it'll be cooler inside."
The manager of Qu Lou was a woman of few words, in her thirties, but with a composed demeanor. Even among the young ladies of prominent families in the capital, she was considered exceptional.
At the table, she boiled water and washed the teaware, her eyes fixed on the Kung Fu tea tray in front of her.
Li Jin sat upright in front of her, watching her skillful movements, and after a long while asked, "How much do you know about Yingge?"
The shopkeeper nodded slowly and said, "Yingge is not her real name, but a stage name. Her real name is Xin Huixin, and she has been a performer here for ten years."
As he spoke, he used the tea tongs in his hand to warm the inside and outside of the small cup in boiling water.
“I used to advise her that one should be like this tea, constantly brewing and steeping it, keeping one’s sharpness hidden, so that the flavor that settles down can leave a lingering fragrance on the lips and teeth.” Her voice was very calm, without joy or sorrow. “She was too impatient and eager for quick success, which ruined her instrument and herself.”
Listening to her words, Li Jin remained silent for a long time before nodding: "How did she become so eager for quick success? When and where was the last time you saw her?"
Before me, the shopkeeper, holding a tea knife and evenly dividing the Pu'er tea cake into small pieces, remained silent for a while before slowly speaking: "It's been a while since I last saw her. Thinking about it, I was surprised to realize that it has been two months. She usually doesn't like me to talk much. On the surface, she acts like an entertainer, but behind the scenes, she breaks the rules of the trade."
“A female entertainer should sell her art, not her body.” She put the tea cake into the pot, slowly poured in the boiling water, put on the lid, and shook it clockwise in her hand. “But she is not good at her art and does not make progress. Instead, she makes the customers develop some feelings that should not be there.”
At this point, she took a deep breath: "She was a performer who also sold her body, and that's why I kicked her out."
The first brew of Kung Fu tea is not meant to be drunk. Without looking up, the shopkeeper pressed the lid of the teapot and slowly poured out the first brew.
The tea was filtered through a strainer and fell into the fairness cup. She calmly picked up the fairness cup, tilted it slightly, and used it to warm the teapot that had just been brewed, adorning the tea pet shaped like a black tortoise.
"Feelings that shouldn't exist." Li Jin nodded. "Do you recognize this guest?"
The shopkeeper shook his head: "I only know that he is a young master surnamed Xu, from a wealthy family. Although he doesn't spend a fortune on tips, he always gives three or five taels. He comes here every day, so it adds up."
"That young master Xu is unaware of Yingge's true nature, indulging in illusions and unable to see through reality."
These words earned the respect of the three people in front of the shopkeeper.
Having seen so many burly men in the Six Doors, it's a real treat to look at this gentle and knowledgeable woman in front of me.
"What kind of truth is the shopkeeper referring to?"
The shopkeeper smiled and respectfully handed the aroma cup to Li Jin.
“Young Master Xu thinks he has found love, but little does he know that Yingge is only infatuated with his money.” As she spoke, she boiled water again. “Yingge has a husband and two children at home, the older one is 8 years old and the younger one is 6 years old. It is absolutely impossible for her to be with Young Master Xu.”
"She was originally from the Ba tribe. Ten years ago, she traveled a long way to the capital and has been working as a zither player in my Qu Lou ever since. I thought that she had a family and children, so I paid her a little more than usual." She poured boiling water into the purple clay teapot again, waited a moment, and then poured the first cup of tea for Li Jin, presenting it to him.
“Yingge wants Mr. Xu’s money, but Mr. Xu wants Yingge herself.” She nodded and smiled, then poured a glass for Zhou Zheng and Jin Shu. “It’s like walking on a tightrope; sooner or later, you’ll fall off a cliff.”
"But she doesn't understand. She thinks that staying young is money she earned through her own abilities." The shopkeeper paused, "dirty money."
Li Jin didn't speak, but brought the teacup to his nose and smelled it gently before taking a small sip: "Good tea."
After he finished speaking, the shopkeeper in front of him bowed respectfully and gave a deep salute.
When they came out of the winding tower, Zhou Zheng was frowning, looking preoccupied. Jin Shu couldn't help but ask, "Lord Zhou, what's wrong? Is something on your mind?"
Zhou Zheng nodded: "That tea, is it really good tea?"
This stumped Jin Shu, as she hadn't researched it either.
Li Jin sighed, a hint of disdain in his voice: "If you gulp it down like wine, even the finest tea from the heavens wouldn't be able to taste a thing."
Li Jin sighed, his expression grave: "...The victim's husband doesn't even know she's dead." He looked up at the scorching heat: "He probably doesn't even know about this Young Master Xu."
He hesitated for a moment before taking a deep breath: "Let's go see this poor man."
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