Gu Gefu (1)
Gu Jinghong abruptly stopped and turned around. Her clear, cold eyes now gleamed even more fiercely, scrutinizing him from head to toe before finally settling on his face, which still held a playful smile. Her cherry lips parted slightly: "Xie Yan, have you no shame?"
"Face?" Xie Yan was not annoyed at all. On the contrary, he seemed to have heard a very interesting joke. He casually tapped his palm with the jade flute in his hand, and his smile became more and more radiant, revealing a kind of lazy and shameless attitude of taking it for granted.
"My face is already a masterpiece created by the Creator's extraordinary grace, one that is hard to find in the world. Wouldn't it be too much to covet anything else?" He raised his phoenix eyes slightly, his gaze gleaming. "Manager Gu, the most important thing in life is to be content."
Gu Jinghong was speechless, stifled by his twisted logic. She gave him a cold glare and remained silent. With a light tap of her toes, her figure flashed like a startled swan, suddenly turning around and heading not towards Zhuoyue Tower, but towards a desolate area in the west of the city.
Xie Yan's interest deepened as he watched the slender figure, shrouded in a hint of anger, a deep smile playing on his lips. He too gathered his strength and leaped forward, following her like a shadow, even humming a tuneless, wild melody—indeed, this Gu Jinghong was a hundred times more interesting than those lifeless wooden stumps in the building.
As soon as Gu Jinghong landed, a dilapidated and desolate house appeared in front of her.
Beneath the waning moon and the cold crows, in the heavy shadows of dilapidated houses, two figures stood indistinctly. One seemed draped in a blue-green veil, the other shrouded in crimson clouds; their forms were ethereal, their faces indistinct, exuding an indescribable eeriness and unease in the desolate night.
Even Xie Yan, who prided himself on being carefree and uninhibited, felt a chill creep into his heart. He subconsciously tugged at Gu Jinghong's sleeve, his voice unusually tense: "Ah Hong... those... those standing in the shadows, are they... the two young ladies?"
Gu Jinghong tilted her head slightly, the moonlight outlining her aloof and cold profile. Her gaze swept over Xie Yan, who was a head taller than her, and a faint, almost mocking smile curved her lips: "Indeed. Minister Xie has discerning eyes; they are indeed two 'ladies'."
She paused deliberately, her voice low and slow, like a night breeze rustling through withered branches, "Born... ethereally beautiful, like a demon, and so beautiful as to be otherworldly."
"Demons, spirits?!" Xie Yan tried to remain calm, muttering "A beauty is all that matters," but the words "spirits" instantly pierced his heart with dread, and those dark and ethereal tales of the supernatural surged uncontrollably into his mind.
He swallowed hard, lowered his eyes to meet Gu Jinghong's beautiful eyes that seemed to see through everything, his throat moved slightly, and he almost blurted out: "Ahem, Ah Hong, I suddenly remembered that tomorrow's meeting of the Qianyuan Pavilion is of great importance. There are still some important matters that have not been properly handled, and there is no time to lose. I, I'll take my leave first!"
Before the words were even finished, that flamboyant red figure, like a startled bird, suddenly leaped up and disappeared into the depths of the night in a few bounds.
Gu Jinghong watched the red figure disappear completely, the coldness in her eyes slightly softening. Without further hesitation, she stepped forward.
In the shadows, Qingwu and Yunni silently stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Master."
Gu Jinghong nodded slightly, without saying a word. The three figures disappeared into the darkness of the dilapidated house, following the hidden path, and silently sneaked into the deeper underground chamber.
As the waning moon sank in the west, only whispers and flickering candlelight filled the secret chamber. After a meticulously planned operation, the eastern sky began to lighten with the first hint of dawn at the exit of the secret passage.
...
The master's bedroom was filled with a strong medicinal smell. The heavy, carved rosewood bed curtains were half-drawn, and the emaciated figure on the bed could be vaguely seen, breathing weakly and laboredly. The physician standing beside him had a solemn expression.
Due to the Pavilion Master's health condition, the monthly meetings held in the fifth-floor council hall have been changed to take place in the Pavilion Master's room.
The atmosphere inside the room was oppressive. Besides the host, three other people were already seated.
They were Wen Linchuan, the Assistant Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, dressed in a plain brocade robe, his temperament as aloof as an abacus bead, his fingertips unconsciously caressing an ancient coin.
Lin Xiuyuan, the assistant of Rendian Pavilion, was about the same age as Wen Linchuan. He wore a dark purple brocade robe, had a calm expression, and occasionally revealed a sharp glint in his eyes.
Xie Yan, the acting Grand Secretary, was still dressed in a striking red outfit. He leaned back in his armchair, playing with his jade flute, and idly glanced at the shadows in the corner of the room. Finally, his gaze settled on the empty seat of Qin Jin, the Grand Secretary.
"Could it be that Minister Qin has something more important than the meeting in the pavilion? Why hasn't he arrived yet at this hour?" Xie Yan was the most skilled in martial arts among everyone in Zhuoyue Tower, and he was also quite clever. He never took others seriously, so he spoke as he pleased.
Lin Xiuyuan casually replied, "Perhaps it was delayed by matters within the pavilion."
Upon hearing this, Xie Yan scoffed and twirled his jade flute in his palm: "Business? I think you've lost track of time in your boudoir." Before he finished speaking, the door was pushed open, and Qin Jin, reeking of perfume, rushed in, his face still showing signs of fatigue and satiation from a hangover.
"I apologize, everyone, for being a little late." Qin Jin bowed and apologized, but when his gaze swept over the Pavilion Master on the sickbed, there was not much genuine concern.
Xie Yan's nose twitched with extreme sensitivity, then he exaggeratedly fanned his nose with his hand, glancing sideways at Qin Jin with his phoenix eyes, and drawled, "Oh, the smell on Minister Qin... did you take some beauty with you to the mountains last night? You smell wonderful!"
Qin Jin's expression changed slightly, but he forced a smile and said, "Thank you for joking, Minister Xie."
Xie Yan, however, persisted, pointing at him with his jade flute: "Are you joking? This Grand Secretary has a very keen nose. But..."
He changed the subject, his tone carrying a hint of mockery and warning, "As long as they're not girls from our Zhuoyue Pavilion, you can have as much fun as you want. The rules of the pavilion are strict. Zhuoyue Pavilion and Qianyuan Pavilion operate in the open and in the shadows, respectively. If they get mixed up and their scheme is exposed, then things will get really messy. Minister Qin, don't you think so?"
A flash of anger crossed Qin Jin's eyes, but he dared not show it and could only nod stiffly: "Of course, of course she's not one of the girls in the brothel. Thank you for your overthinking, Minister Xie."
"Oh? That's good." Xie Yan leaned back lazily in his chair, a playful smile on his lips. "However, today the Pavilion Master is seriously ill, and the Pavilion meeting is extremely important. Why did you, Minister Qin, act so 'energetic' last night, resulting in your dazed and late arrival today? This... seems a bit unreasonable, doesn't it?"
Qin Jin was speechless, his face flushing red and then pale. He could only mutter, "It was my oversight." He then stopped looking at Xie Yan and sat down on his own.
The meeting began in this delicate atmosphere. Wen Linchuan first reported on recent income and expenditure and the status of several important business deals, his presentation clear and his figures precise. Lin Xiuyuan then detailed the recent personnel deployments at several key locations. Xie Yan lazily recounted a few insignificant "cases" handled by Quanzuoge, his gaze occasionally drifting towards the door.
When it was Qin Jin's turn, he cleared his throat, about to report on the recent "great achievements" of the Zhuangmu Pavilion, especially how he had "strategized" and was about to obtain the Nine-Turn Resurrection Grass...
"Master, Master, something terrible has happened! Someone has died! Please, Master, do justice!" A shrill, piercing cry from a woman suddenly shattered the oppressive atmosphere in the room.
The door was suddenly kicked open!
A crimson figure stumbled in, her hair disheveled, her face streaked with tears. She fell to her knees with a thud, pointing at Qin Jin, her voice trembling with deep fear and grief: "Sect Master, esteemed ministers, I beg you, please do justice! Miss Lan Yin… Miss Lan Yin… she… she's dead! Last night… last night she was taken away by Minister Qin. This morning… this morning in her room… she was lifeless, it's so tragic!" She cried her heart out, her body trembling like a leaf.
boom--
Like a thunderclap from a clear sky!
Xie Yan's previously nonchalant gaze instantly sharpened like a hawk's, and he abruptly sat up straight! He stared intently at Yun Ni kneeling on the ground—that crimson dress, that blurry figure… one of the "eerie, demonic" figures in the shadows of the dilapidated house last night? So it was her? And the other one in green… Xie Yan's gaze subconsciously swept towards the doorway, his mind racing.
"presumptuous!"
Qin Jin was filled with shock and rage. He slammed his fist on the table and stood up abruptly. His face was ashen, and his finger pointing at Yun Ni was trembling. "Where did this lowly servant come from, daring to trespass into the Pavilion Master's bedroom! Disturbing the Pavilion Master's health, she deserves to die! And she's spouting nonsense here, slandering me! Guards, drag her out and beat her to death with sticks!"
"Wait a minute." Xie Yan's voice wasn't loud, but it carried a strange penetrating power, instantly suppressing Qin Jin's roar.
He narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Yun Ni and the enraged Qin Jin. Gu Jinghong's unusual behavior last night, Yun Ni's accusations today, the lingering scent of perfume on Qin Jin... all sorts of clues raced through his mind. "The matter isn't even clear yet, why is Minister Qin in such a hurry to kill someone to silence them? Besides, the Pavilion Master hasn't given the order yet."
Qin Jin was speechless, both angry and anxious, and was about to retort—
"Sect Master, the Nine-Turn Rejuvenating Grass has arrived!" A clear, cold voice, like an icy spring, rang out at the door.
Everyone looked in the direction of the sound.
Gu Jinghong, dressed in a simple, dark-colored outfit, walked in with a calm and steady gait. In her hands, she held an open, exquisite jade box, inside which lay a strange herb resembling dragon whiskers, entirely emerald green, with crimson fruit at its tip—the legendary Nine-Turn Resurrection Grass! The rich, bitter fragrance of the herb instantly overwhelmed the stale air in the room.
Without glancing to the side, she walked straight to the master's bedside and handed the jade box to the maid standing beside her: "Quickly feed it to the master."
The maidservant dared not delay and carefully took out the herbs, feeding them to the master of the pavilion under the doctor's guidance.
A miracle happened.
In a short while, the color returned to the face of the Pavilion Master, which had been ashen, at a speed visible to the naked eye. His previously barely audible breathing became slightly stronger. He slowly opened his eyes. Although he was still weak, his eyes had a focus and were no longer unfocused and lifeless.
"Sect Master!" Wen Linchuan, Lin Xiuyuan, and the others exclaimed in surprise.
Guo's gaze slowly swept over the crowd, finally landing on Yun Ni, who was kneeling and weeping, and Qin Jin, whose face was extremely pale. His voice was weak but carried an undeniable authority: "What...is this commotion?"
Upon seeing the Pavilion Master awaken, Qin Jin grasped at a lifeline and pointed at Yun Ni, shouting sternly, "Pavilion Master, please be wise! This vile servant Yun Ni is incredibly audacious, trespassing into the forbidden area and disturbing your rest. She even slanders her subordinates! Gu Jinghong, the head of Zhuangmu Pavilion, is also guilty of failing to properly discipline her! Please punish her severely as a warning to others!"
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