Chapter 147: I want to ask you for something.

The next morning, Xu Qi’an woke up in high spirits, the person on the pillow was no longer there, and a woman’s fragrance remained in the brocade blanket.

He braced himself with some limb weakness, as if he had just finished a 1,000-meter running test and his muscles were sore the next morning.

“Overslept again …. But I’m extenuatingly late, and I’m here to investigate a case at the rectory.”

Xu Qi’an sat down and exhaled, relieving the exhaustion of his cells and allowing his body to recover to its peak at the fastest speed possible.

After only two weeks of carrying, the sore muscles were rejuvenated.

“Zee~”

The door of the boudoir was pushed open, and Floating Fragrance, who was dragging the hem of her skirt, led her personal maid in; her dark hair was pulled up high and embellished with expensive jewelry, and her plain, beautiful face was slightly haggard.

Eyes are still a little red and puffy, and they’re crying out of their sleepers.

“Eunuch Xu is awake.” She smiled shallowly, with a detached and formulaic smile, “I had the kitchen boil duck congee for you.”

“Put it there.” Xu Qi’an took the toiletries from the maid’s hands, quickly finished washing her face and brushing her teeth, and returned to the case, holding the bowl as she ate and thought:

Last night’s demon girl was a remnant of the Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom, which means that this matter has nothing to do with the northern demon race ….. The suspicion of the King of Zhenbei is almost very, very light …. Is the target of the remaining members of the Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom the seal or something else?

Xu Qi’an would think so because if the target was the seal, the remaining members of the Demon Kingdom should have fled with their money by now instead of continuing to stay in the city to make waves.

…. There was also the possibility that the demon race’s goal was not just the seals, but that they had a greater plan, and the seals were just a means used to accomplish their goal.

Sampo case of the vein almost sorted out, the dominant forces behind the scenes: one, the court two five; two, the remaining ten thousand demon country.

Target: Unknown.

Sealed object: the severed hand of an unknown powerhouse.

Factors, characters, and forces involved: the Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom, Ping Yuan Bo, the Minister of War, the Secretary of Justice, the Imperial Family, the County Lord of Ping Yang, Monk Heng Hui, and Zhou Chixiong, the Hundred Households of the Jingwuwei …..

Breakthrough: Strongman with Broken Hand, Monk Heng Hui, and Lord Ping Yang.

Figuring out the identity of the hand-breaking powerhouse could back-propel the true purpose of the remaining members of the Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom …. Then, catching either of Heng Hui and County Lord Pingyang could also back-propel the inner workings of the case …. Xu Qi’an finished his porridge and let out a sigh of contentment.

It was only then that he had time to flirt with Fuuka, “Angry?”

Floating Fragrance smiled warmly: “Mr. Xu don’t make fun of my slave, my slave is just a woman of the wind, where is the qualification to be angry with your son.”

Well, Xu Lang has become Mr. Xu …. Xu Qi’an nodded, stretching his waist without much care, “Prepare hot water, I want to bathe.”

Floating Fragrance smiled and nodded, arranging for one of the maids to serve him a bath, and taking her own personal maid out for a walk.

Xu Qi’an comfortably soaked in a hot bath, dressed fully, tied up the gong, hung up his saber, thought for a moment, and asked, “Prepare the pen and ink for me.”

The little maid softly answered, “Yes”

…….

“Mother, aren’t you being too cold to Mr. Xu.” Walking through the hutongs of the Churchyard Department, the maid said softly.

Floating Fragrance stared ahead, shaking her head slightly, her voice a little mournful, “You don’t understand, I once begged him if he could ransom me, and he refused.”

The maid was silent for a moment, explaining for Xu Qi’an, “Perhaps she doesn’t have any silver, the contract of sale of her mother’s body, at least three to four thousand taels of silver, now I’m afraid it has to be doubled.”

Floating Fragrance retracted her gaze and looked at the ground, “I’ve also saved a lot of silver over the years, so it’s actually possible ….”

She let out a bitter smile, her expression mournful, “I am actually no different from you guys in his heart. Before, I didn’t want to believe it and deceived myself, but last night’s matter made me see myself clearly.”

It’s just an obsession with falling flowers.

As she walked, unknowingly arriving outside the Green Pond Courtyard, a cacophony of voices attracted her attention.

Two gongs dressed in night watchman’s uniforms, locking the Ming Yan lady to go out, the old bawd also step by step to follow behind, expression of fear, a strong explanation:

“A few messengers, this must be a misunderstanding, it must be a misunderstanding.”

Ming Yan Hua Kui was terrified, “Mom, I’m wronged, I’m wronged ah ….”

These two gongs she recognized were the same two that accompanied Duke Xu from time to time to Shadow Plum Pavilion to play tea rounds. It seemed that one was surnamed Song and the other …. The one was too reticent for her to remember.

What happened? Ming Yan was fine last night, by the way, why did Mr. Xu suddenly return to her Shadow Plum Pavilion …. last night? Did Ming Yan offend Mr. Xu last night? And then he was done for today?

She immediately dismissed the idea, despite being disillusioned with the man, she believed Xu Qi’an was not this kind of person.

Floating Fragrance frowned and greeted the night watchman, saluting with a flourish, “Several adults, what crime has she committed, Lady Ming Yan?”

Song Tingfeng stopped and said with a smile, ”Lady Ming Yan secretly colluded with the demon race to provide a place of shelter and accommodation. Last night, Lord Xu secretly investigated and uncovered the demon girl disguised as her personal maid.

The demoness has been ambushed and will now be brought forward for questioning.”

The pimp beat his chest: “You are wrongly accused, Ming Yan is a weak woman, how can she collude with the demon race. Do you know how much effort and silver I have spent on cultivating her? I’m going to go to the Ministry of Ceremony to complain, I’m going to ask the adults at the Ministry of Ceremony to make a decision.”

Zhu Guangxiao said in a deep voice, “I now suspect that you are also a Demon Race accomplice.”

The pimp lost his voice in vain and took a few steps back in a desperate attempt to survive.

Song Tingfeng narrowed his eyes, nodded toward Fu Xiang, and led the men away.

Fu Xiang froze and looked at their backs as they left, thus starting the association …. Ming Yan colluded with the demon race? Mr. Xu secretly investigated yesterday?

He chose to stay at the Green Pond Courtyard last night, not because he was fond of the old, but because he had official business to attend to, but I made a nuisance of myself and lost my temper.

He dragged his tired body back last night, I was to see, I thought at that time he was with Ming Yan …. I was wrong to blame him, and this morning I even gave him a face to vent my grievances …. But why didn’t he explain? Yes, he can not explain, because this is the official business of the Yamen, the case needs to be kept confidential.

And even then, knowing that he was misunderstood and wrongly accused, he did not show a trace of boredom and suffered silently ….

Floating Fragrance suddenly lifted her skirt and darted towards Shadow Plum Pavilion.

“Mother, where are you going, slow down ….” The maid was taken aback.

Darting all the way back to Shadow Plum Pavilion and pushing the door into the bedroom, Fu Xiang shouted, “Xu Lang…”

The room was empty, the people were gone. In that moment, she suddenly felt like she had lost something precious, an empty piece of her heart.

“Mother, mother…” the maid chased after her and saw her own mother lost in thought with her back against the door.

“I’m a little tired, help me up.” Fuuka said softly.

The maid helped her to the bed, looked at her, and sighed in her heart. Not daring to disturb, she turned her head to clean up the house.

She saw that there were ink, paper and inkstones on the table and case by the screen, gave a light “eek” and walked to the case, saying:

“Mistress, there is a poem here …. It might have been left behind by Mr. Xu.”

Floating Fragrance came to life at once, darted barefoot to the edge of the case, snatched it from the maid’s hand as if it were a treasure, and fixed her eyes on it:

“Beauty rolls the curtains

sit deeply and knit one’s brows

but the tear stains are wet

I don’t know who the heart hates.”

“Xu Lang, Xu Lang …..” She first laughed, laughed and laughed, the teardrops snapped and fell, shriveled up on the ground, and held the paper to her heart, crying and laughing at the same time, pearly.

“I’m going to find him.” Fuuka wiped her tears, got up, and trotted to the door.

The maid was shocked and hugged Niangzi’s soft waist: ”Don’t, don’t, don’t, you’re the Flower Leader, the most prestigious Flower Leader in the Department of Education, if this matter spreads out, how will Niangzi behave. The reputation that has been built up with great difficulty will be lost.

“And I’ve never heard of any flower girl as unfashionable as you.”

Fuuka was furious, “Let go of me.”

“No release!”

……

Xu Qi’an bought six large meat buns on the street and sat on the back of his horse to nibble on them as he leisurely traveled towards the courthouse.

“The flower queens of the Education Department are all good looking na …. Each has its own unique flavor and beauty, well, when the Sangpo case is over, exchange feelings with them one by one, and in the future come out with a book, ‘A Guide to Evaluating the Flower Queens of the Dabong’.

“The only problem is the lack of money, I only pick up three coins of silver a day, while the Hua Kui is worth at least thirty taels for a night’s sleep.

“Thanks to the nine years of compulsory education, poetry has not been read in vain …. Hehe, I am really the shame of the traveler, people as a copyist, are to mix the career, I am for white whoring ….

“Speaking of which, I’m about to turn twenty, luckily Auntie isn’t my mother and won’t be supervising my marriage, so I can make my own decisions. Caiwei is a disciple of Supervisor Zheng, the background is too hard, marrying her is like marrying half a princess, it’s not good to just go out and fool around…

“Not in a hurry to get married, a few more years of surfing, there are twenty-four flower queens in the Department of Education. Haha, I’m thinking about fart eating, the disciple of the supervisor may not look at me.”

Xu Baijun laughed to himself in his mind as his thoughts flew and turned back to the case.

Ming Yan was captured at Song Tingfeng on his authorization, and despite confirming her innocence last night, there were still things to be asked about, such as when that maid entered the Department of Education, what people she interacted closely with on a regular basis, and so on.

…..

In a secluded courtyard, the willow tree drooped a branch, bare and slightly desolate.

Banging and banging came from the house, as well as the low roar of a man in pain …. In a moment, all movement disappeared.

“Zee~”

The door to the room opened, and Heng Hui, who was wearing a black robe, walked out in silence and went straight to the well in the courtyard.

He stared at the deep wellhead for a few seconds, waved his hand, and the wellhead lit up with a faint golden swastika, which then shattered.

After lifting the seal, Heng Hui jumped in.

At the bottom of the dimly lit well, the silt emitted a faint odor of water, and the middle-aged monk leaned his back against the wall of the well, sitting cross-legged.

He looked disheveled, his lips were dry and cracked, and he seemed to have suffered a serious injury.

The middle-aged monk was tall and lanky, with a pale greenish-colored jaw and a bitter, hateful face.

If Xu Qi’an were here, he would be able to recognize this stout monk as the Heng Yuan that he had been holding on to for so long.

“Senior brother ….” Heng Hui hissed.

Hengyuan didn’t bother with him and sat in silence.

“I was seriously injured and my broken hand backfired.” Heng Hui said.

Hengyuan opened his eyes and said with concern, “Henghui, turn around.”

Heng Hui shook his head, “Senior brother, I have been with you since I entered the Green Dragon Temple at the age of six, you have taught me to meditate, taught me to recite the sutras, taken care of my food, clothing, and living, and treated me like a brother like a father, and now senior brother would like to ask you for one thing.”

Everest sighed and nodded.

Heng Hui raised his head, a pair of dark eyes without whites under his cloak, and he grinned hideously, “I’m going to eat senior brother.”