Peace charm
Sai Banxian's business is booming, thanks to the fact that the people of the current dynasty have great faith in feng shui and destiny. Since the new model came out, everyone's enthusiasm for this has increased even more.
On this day, Zhu Qinghe, posing as Mr. Science, sat in the clinic of the Half-Immortal Sai, stroking his beard and waving a folding fan behind the screen, doing nothing.
It seems no one will spend a lot of money to have their fortune told by her today, so I can leave early and go to the pastry shop in the east of the city to buy the newly released osmanthus cake.
Just as she was feeling smug, Ruyi's angry and alarmed voice rang out: "Who are you? Fortune telling requires registration."
Zhu Qinghe opened her eyes. There were quite a few people who rushed in without any politeness. Before she could even stand up from behind the screen, a young man in brocade robes and a jade belt burst in, pointing his unfurled folding fan at her, and said bluntly, "You're that charlatan, Sai Banxian!"
The young master looked to be fourteen or fifteen years old, but his eyes and brows exuded arrogance. It was clear that he had been spoiled at home since childhood, which was why he had grown up to be so arrogant and conceited.
It was one thing for Shen Wumei to call her a con artist, but where did this little brat come from, and how dare he say such things to her?
"I am Sai Banxian, young master. Fortune telling requires registration. I will not tell your fortune if you do not follow the rules."
To everyone's surprise, the young master raised an eyebrow, looking utterly disdainful: "Who wants to consult a fortune teller like you! You unscrupulous swindler, you killed my elder brother, come with me to the yamen!"
What? Who was killed? Zhu Qinghe was completely confused. Before she could figure out what was going on, she was taken away by the people brought by that young master.
The government office.
Zhu Qinghe felt that she had a special connection with this government office lately, as she had returned again after only a short time.
When Shen Wumei walked in, he saw Zhu Qinghe's scholarly face with its long beard looking at him pitifully, and he felt a bit of a headache. Today, he was dressed in a black casual outfit and did not carry a sword. His cold and murderous aura had faded, making his handsome face and outstanding demeanor even more apparent.
However, Zhu Qinghe had no interest in appreciating him. She stared straight at him, hoping he would uphold justice and clear her name.
To everyone's surprise, Shen Wumei merely glanced at her upon entering, then sat down in the main seat with a cold expression: "Tell me, what happened?"
The young master was eager to pin a crime on Zhu Qinghe: "Sir, it's this swindler. The peace talismans he sells are poisonous. My elder brother died because he used one of his peace talismans."
The young master glared angrily and hatefully at Zhu Qinghe. Zhu Qinghe, who had just learned about the matter, frowned and said, "Every one of the peace talismans I sell has passed through my hands. It's impossible for them to be poisonous."
"Then how do you explain my brother's death?" he yelled.
Zhu Qinghe: "Your brother's death is indeed regrettable, and I can understand your feelings. But even so, you cannot make false accusations without cause. There may be other reasons for this."
“What reason could there be? It’s just that you are you—” the young master shouted.
Zhu Qinghe gave up arguing with him. He was clearly an emotional child. Why would his family let him come out to argue about this?
Shen Wumei cleared her throat and tapped the table lightly: "Alright, there are still doubts about this matter, and we cannot draw conclusions easily. Mo Wu, take this young master to register the specific details of the case."
Mo Wu accepted the order and took the still somewhat unyielding young master away. Before leaving, he glared fiercely at Zhu Qinghe.
The room was empty, leaving only Zhu Qinghe and Shen Wumei. Shen Wumei looked at the fortune teller who was pinching his nose with a headache as he sat down and teased, "Mr. Sai, did you fail to predict that you would be unlucky again this time?"
Zhu Qinghe said helplessly, "Fortune telling and face reading are things that can be done by predicting others, not oneself."
Shen Wumei asked seriously, "Do you have any clues? Did he really buy that peace talisman from you?"
Zhu Qinghe shook her head: "I'm not sure either, but I was indeed the first to introduce the peace talisman. However, I can't rule out the possibility that someone might counterfeit a poisonous talisman to harm people."
"Let's go then, while it's still early, let's go see the peace talisman you mentioned."
The two turned off Xiding Street and entered Liuxiang Road. This street was filled with things related to fragrance: sachets, perfumes, powders, and spices, all kinds of them, and most of the people strolling along this street were women. Shen Wumei, tall and long-legged with a solemn expression, appeared on this street, attracting countless curious glances.
Zhu Qinghe wasn't much better off. To avoid danger, she couldn't use the identity of Sai Banxian for the time being. Dressed in white with her black hair standing up high and a small mustache on her lips, she walked with Shen Wumei, who was dressed in black with broad shoulders and a straight back. They were completely out of step with the elegant young ladies all over the street.
Zhu Qinghe looked serious and resentful: "I remember last time I was helping Lord Shen investigate a case, and I even earned some extra money."
I never imagined that things would change so quickly, and everything would come to an end. Before I could speak, tears would flow.
A smile flashed in Shen Wumei's eyes: "Don't even think about extra money. This is your own case, so it's good enough that I'm not taking any money from you."
Zhu Qinghe gritted her teeth angrily; "If I find out who plotted against me behind my back, I'll beat him so badly that even his own mother wouldn't recognize him!"
"Alright, let's get down to business," Shen Wumei said calmly.
The two arrived at Yu's Spice Shop, the largest spice shop on Liuxiang Road. The spices that Sai Banxian used to make peace talismans were from their shop.
Their spices have a lingering, subtle, and elegant aroma, which has earned them high praise.
Upon entering the store, there was already a long queue. The shop assistant at the door saw them and asked solicitously, "Are you two buying in bulk or just individual items?"
Shen Wumei flashed her waist badge and said, "The constables are investigating a case. Call your boss out to answer questions."
The waiter looked nervous, answered repeatedly, and hurriedly went to the back to call the boss.
The boss was a well-off middle-aged man with kind eyes who looked quite blessed. He was very nervous when he saw Shen Wumei. "Sir, we are a small business that operates with integrity. We have never done anything like cheating or going against our conscience."
Seeing that her boss had misunderstood, Zhu Qinghe quickly replied, "Boss Yu, you've misunderstood. We did come to ask you some questions about a case, but don't worry, this case has nothing to do with you."
Mr. Yu was relieved and cupped his hands, saying, "Gentlemen, rest assured, I will tell you everything I know."
Zhu Qinghe choked; she never expected to be addressed as "official" one day.
"Do you remember who bought spices from you within the last two weeks?" Zhu Qinghe asked.
Boss Yu shook his head: "I definitely can't remember such a thing, but it's alright." He raised his head and called out, "Xiao Wu—Xiao Wu—"
"Hey, I'm here." A clear, youthful voice rang out, and a figure darted in, his young, calloused face still glistening with sweat. He asked Boss Yu, "Boss, what can I do for you?"
"Go and bring the account books for the past two weeks to the officials," Boss Yu instructed.
Xiao Wu readily agreed and soon came in with a booklet.
Shen Wumei took the booklet and flipped to the most recent transaction record. Zhu Qinghe leaned over to look at it together. She saw Ruyi's name and pointed it out to Shen Wumei: "This is it. I had Ruyi buy the spices for my peace talismans from here."
Shen Wumei scanned the list quickly, noting that besides Ruyi, many other shops were also buying in bulk, all for their own business. There weren't many customers making individual purchases. He made a rough note of those who did, closed the ledger, and handed it back.
"We've asked enough questions, let's go."
Zhu Qinghe looked up in surprise. Was that all? She didn't want to ask any more questions.
On the way back, Zhu Qinghe kept thinking about whether she had offended anyone during this period, but apart from the Song family, she really didn't have any other enemies.
Besides, surely Song wouldn't cause someone's death just to frame her. The young master's clothes were of fine quality, suggesting he grew up in a wealthy family. Thinking of this, she quickened her pace, wanting to hurry back and see the young master's testimony.
"Where are you going?" At the corner, Shen Wumei grabbed her arm.
"Back to the government office," Zhu Qinghe replied matter-of-factly.
Shen Wumei was speechless: "You really treat the government office like your own home? Why are you going back to the government office? Hurry up and go home. We can talk about the case tomorrow."
"But..." Zhu Qinghe still wanted to try, but she chickened out when she met Shen Wumei's intimidating gaze.
"Alright, I'll come to the government office to see you again tomorrow."
Zhu Qinghe sighed and left. It was only half a street away from her Sai Banxian. She suddenly had a strange feeling. Could it be that Shen Wumei deliberately sent her here?
But thinking about it carefully, he doesn't seem like such a thoughtful and gentle person. I'm probably just overthinking it.
Let's think carefully about what really happened in this case.
The night was as still as water, the pale moon hung in the sky, and from the deep, heavy darkness, a faint sound of weeping seemed to come.
The mournful and poignant melody, carried by the howling wind, inexplicably sent chills down my spine.
In the silent mourning hall, white banners fluttered, and only a dim lamp was lit. The large space was empty, with only a thin white figure kneeling in the center.
The woman in the white mourning cloak bowed her head, her pale fingers carefully placing the yellow paper around her into the brazier in front of her. The flickering flames illuminated her pale and desperate face. Her eyes were filled with tears, and her eyelids were red, as if she had been crying for a long time.
She seemed completely oblivious to the eerie atmosphere, focusing solely on placing the yellow paper into the brazier in front of her, as if that was the most important thing for her right now. It was as if she saw a familiar face through the firelight, and soft sobs occasionally escaped from her throat.
"Young Master, don't worry, Qingchen will definitely find the murderer who killed you and avenge you." The woman's hoarse, deep, yet firm voice slowly rang out.
The firelight seemed to echo her words, quickly engulfing the yellow paper before leaping slightly a few times, carrying a gentle meaning that evoked her kind and handsome face. Although physically weak and plagued by misfortune, she always wore a warm smile.
The gentle words I spoke when we first met still echo in my ears.
"Clear dust settles, layer upon layer, carving away the icy leaves. From now on, you shall be called Clear Dust."
From that day on, she finally had her own name and became a maidservant by the young master's side. The young master treated her so well, yet she failed to protect him.
Qingchen closed her eyes sadly, her heart filled with deep-seated hatred.
Don't be afraid, young master. It's so cold on the road to the underworld, you will definitely not be alone. She will not let any of those murderers go.
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