Once their bodies regained their mobility, the two began to discuss their next steps.
"This island is really strange! It has no scenic spots or rare local products. What are these big ships doing sending people here?" Qiu Zeyu asked while soaking in the hot spring.
"So we have to investigate. There must be a major secret. Seeing how many people they arrest every day, we've had a tip-off for a while now. It's not impossible that Manager Lan is in there." Murong Xingchen was so warm that she didn't want to get up. If it weren't for official business, she could have stayed in the hot spring until dark.
Upon hearing this, Qiu Zeyu knew things weren't so simple. Would the emperor so easily lend Murong Xingchen to him for personal matters? So he asked, "Tell me honestly, what do you want me to do for you after luring me here?"
“Since we’ve come this far, I’ll be frank.” Murong Xingchen thought, Qiu Zeyu is indeed clever. On the surface, the emperor has asked him to help find his lost friend, but in reality, he wants Qiu Zeyu to accompany him to this dangerous place. “We’ve received some bad news and obtained some evidence. Now we need to find this hideout, and then the matter will be completely resolved. I asked you to come because you’re skilled in martial arts; it’ll make me safer.” Murong Xingchen only trusts Qiu Zeyu on this island.
"At this point, if you really want me to help, tell me everything you know." Although Qiu Zeyu was anxious to find people, he wasn't so stupid as to be used as a pawn. The reason he was willing to come was because he had witnessed so many people being tied up on the boat while hiding behind the reef. Although there were no people on this boat, they were very likely here.
"My master received a secret report that someone is processing silver privately on this island. It's a very important matter. He's also secretly investigating this matter in Lin'an, but he hasn't been able to find the source of the processing. I suppose it must be this island." Murong Xingchen didn't hide anything.
"Isn't it your Murong family that's helping the Emperor with the money? Now that such a huge crisis has arisen, your Murong family has sent out a lowly soldier like you to solve it?" Qiu Zeyu didn't believe that Murong Xingchen would really do his job diligently for the Emperor, and would definitely take the opportunity to destroy any evidence that was detrimental to the family.
"I know how the world views my Murong family, but I don't care! It's understandable that people criticize those in high positions of power. But from my uncle Murong Yunhai down to us younger generation, not one member of our Murong family has ever been disloyal to the Emperor. Heaven and earth can bear witness!" Murong Xingchen spoke earnestly, but Qiu Zeyu did not believe him.
Seeing that the other party did not believe her, Murong Xingchen explained, "If this matter were related to my family, His Majesty would not have sent me to investigate in secret. His Majesty must also believe that we are innocent."
"All this talk is empty rhetoric. Once the investigation is complete, we'll know everything." Qiu Zeyu ended the topic and asked, "You've arrested so many people, but we don't know where they're being held." Thinking about how she was doing now, Qiu Zeyu prepared to get out of the water and act immediately.
Just as the two stood up to go ashore, they heard someone approaching. With no time to hide, they quickly concealed themselves in the water behind a large rock.
Just as they hid themselves, they heard rustling sounds of clothes being undressed. They quickly realized that someone had gone into the water, and the two dared not make a sound.
"Pour the wine!"
Hearing that it was a woman's voice, the two were extremely embarrassed. It seemed that there were three people soaking in the hot spring.
"Miss, although the place where Lord Xin works is remote, the island scenery is beautiful, and he treats you very well, almost always granting your requests. You've married the right person." The maidservant carried a tray, serving wine and fruit attentively.
The beautiful woman was soaking in the water, her loose black hair cascading like a waterfall, floating on the surface. She gently raised her arm, took a sip of wine, and drank without making a sound.
"Miss, it's been two days since the wedding, why are you always unhappy? Is it because Lord Xin is not treating you well?" the maid asked in a low voice.
The two people hiding in the back were both shirtless and awkwardly huddled together, determined to hold out until the people outside left.
"I want to sing a song." Then, she began to sing in a melodious voice, the same song she sang when she first met her sweetheart at the age of sixteen, "Tomorrow's Withered Flowers".
Upon hearing the tune and voice, Qiu Zeyu blurted out, "Little Red Heart?"
The people taking a bath outside who were singing were also startled; it was a male voice!
The maid quickly led her mistress to her clothes and then shouted, "Who's eavesdropping there? Come out and admit your mistake right now, or we'll chop off your head and feed it to the sharks when we catch you!"
Murong Xingchen thought that if he just avoided it, everything would be fine, but who knew that the dignified hero Qiu was so unreliable, even pointing out someone's name while eavesdropping.
Qiu Zeyu never expected that after drinking too much that day, he would see Xiao Hongtao getting married the next day in a daze. He also never expected to run into her again while lost on the island, so he asked across the rocks, "Are you Xiao Hongtao?"
"How dare you! You dare to call our lady by her name! Come out now!" Although Huanxi said this, she was terrified. She had only been here for a few days and was not yet familiar with the place or the people.
"Then we're out!" After saying this, Qiu Zeyu and Murong Xingchen walked out of the reef together.
...
"Brother!" Little Red Peach exclaimed upon seeing Qiu Zeyu. Ever since she decided to marry Lord Xin, she had automatically placed Qiu Zeyu in the position of her elder brother.
"It really is you. What are you doing here?" Qiu Zeyu picked up his clothes from behind the bushes, put them on, and then walked ashore.
The group built a fire and, using the food and wine that Xiao Hongtao had brought, ate, drank, and talked while warming themselves by the fire.
The two then told each other about their search for Lan Ya Mei. Xiao Hong Tao felt even more disappointed after hearing this. "So, brother is looking for someone! What's her name? My husband has a lot of power on this island. I'll do my best to help you."
"That would be too much trouble for my sister. Her name is Lan Ya Mei, and she's a small-time merchant in Longyang Town!" Qiu Zeyu didn't hide anything.
"Alright! Give me a day. If I find this person, I will ask my husband for him and bring him to you so you can see if he is the one you are looking for." Little Red Peach thought very carefully.
After finishing the business, Qiu Zeyu asked, "Why did you suddenly get married? As your older brother, I didn't even have time to give you a gift." He then took out the fan that had been with him for many years and said, "I'm giving this fan to you as a wedding gift."
Little Red Peach didn't refuse and accepted it, saying, "This fan has been with you for many years, how could you bear to part with it?" She then opened the fan.
The frame is made of high-quality steel, and the fan surface is made of silver thread. There is also a mechanism at the starting point; pressing it lightly will cause a ring of sharp, miniature daggers to pop out from the frame, capable of cutting a hair with a breath. Releasing the button will cause the daggers to retract along the same path, returning the fan to its ordinary shape.
Seeing such an exquisite weapon, Little Red Peach could not accept it. She only took off a small coral pendant from its tail, put it away, and returned the fan to her brother, saying, "Brother, you can't be without a weapon to protect yourself when you're out and about. I can't accept this. But this little coral pendant is very cute, and I like it. I'll take it as a gift for you."
Qiu Zeyu could only take back the fan, knowing in his heart that he owed this woman another favor.
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