Chapter 40 Reunion

  The layout of Qingquan County is east noble, west rich, south poor and north respected. The shops selling jade decorations, precious stones, silk, satin, fragrances and spices are all concentrated in the western part of the city. Bi Si has a fondness for male charm and often buys exquisite trinkets to give to his favorite young lovers. The jade decoration and fragrance shops are places he frequently visits.

  Min An handed the corn in the bamboo basket to Hua Cui and asked her to take it back to the inn, so that he could set out alone and continue searching for Bi Si. However, Hua Cui lingered and followed Min An out of the food street, strolling along until they arrived at the Jade Decoration Building on the west side.

  As soon as he entered the old-fashioned gate, a wave of fragrant scent came rushing towards him. In the hall stood a figure in a green silk robe, like a tall and straight jade tree, which immediately caught Yu Mi's attention. Yu Mi jumped out of the bamboo basket, ran to his side, made a bow, then raised his right arm and waited eagerly.

  Xuan Xu smiled lightly, took out a piece of honey cake and placed it in Yu Mi's hand. Yu Mi put it in her mouth and savored it, then turned around to see Min An baring its teeth, staring at it fiercely. After spinning around in place, it reluctantly returned to the bamboo basket.

  Min An bowed and saluted: "This little brat's gluttony is getting out of hand, disturbing the young master, I'm extremely apologetic."

  Xuan Xu smiled and said, "It's nothing." He turned around and chatted with the boss of the jade shop. He held a piece of green jade pendant in his fingertips, took it to the autumn sun and shone it, smiling: "This jade pendant is not bad, soft and smooth, warm to the touch, with hidden patterns inside, it's natural and can't be fake, matching this white silk fan perfectly." The boss replied, "You're a connoisseur of jade, I'll wrap it up for you?"

  "No rush." Xuan Xu smiled slightly, "Boss, let's attend to this young gentleman first, I'm afraid he's been standing for too long."

  Min An bowed deeply and made a scholar's salute, pulling the boss aside to ask in detail if he had seen Bi Si in the past two days. The boss had dealt with Bi Si many times before, so naturally he recognized him, and immediately said that it had been two months since he last saw Mr. Bi.

  Although Min An could have predicted the answer, he couldn't help but feel disappointed. He walked back to the hall, and Xuan Xu put down the jade pendant in his hand, placing a pair of gentle eyes on him. His gaze circled around like a warm breeze, hesitated for a moment, then moved away. Hua Cui was originally teasing with the corn, not allowing it to ask for snacks again, so she chatted with Xuan Xu from time to time. Seeing him suddenly cover his smile and stop, she felt surprised, and followed his gaze to look over, only to understand that the problem lay on Min An's dull face.

  Hua Cuizhen went up and asked: "Can't find it?" Min An nodded, saying in a low voice: "If I still can't find Master Bi, I'll have to return to the Hanguan and report to the young master."

  Xuan Xu walked over, unfolded the white silk fan in his hand, and held up the cyan jade pendant: "Do you like it?"

  Min An was taken aback: "If I say I like it, won't you, young master, want to give it to me again?"

  Xuan Xu raised the corner of his mouth and smiled slightly: "Trouble Xiao Xiang Gong to help me tie a knot."

  Although Ming An didn't understand the situation, he still had a good impression of Xuan Xu in his heart, so he didn't decline much. He tied a delicate double knot under the fan bone and let the transparent jade pendant hang down.

  Xuan Xu smiled and said: "Look, it's such a simple method. If you find the right hole, you can pass through."

  Min An thought for a moment, somewhat puzzled, and then bowed to Xuan Xu: "Young master seems to have a hidden meaning, forgive my dullness, I couldn't understand the implication of your words. If it's convenient, please enlighten me with a few more sentences."

  Xuan Xu smiled slightly and didn't respond, instead turning her head to look at the boss and saying: "I don't know if the boss still remembers, but tying a knot on jade also has its own reasoning. The young master personally tied this knot for me, called 'Double Plum', which means 'Two plums do not bloom alone, returning to you is heavenly splendor'. In underworld slang, it means that since the young master tied such a knot, the jade ornament should belong to him, and this represents the bond between us."

  The boss held the wooden tray, ready to serve tea to the generous guest. Hearing this, he was taken aback for a moment. Later, he saw that the guest's gaze was fixed on his face, and suddenly came to his senses, laughing repeatedly: "Look at my memory, I almost forgot the old ancestor's rules. The guest is right, Young Master cannot refuse the jade pendant."

  Min An looked at the smiling and gentle Xuan Xu, cleared his mind from worries and muttered: "The first time I heard of such a rule, I'm really lucky to have met the young master's gift wherever I go." He didn't take the fan, so Xuan Xu closed the fan and pressed his fingers, saying: "Don't you want to hear about the matter of Dongyan?"

  Min An remained still, while Xuan Xu made a bow and said: "Just now, I was chatting with Miss Hua Cui, and learned that Young Master wants to find his superior. I don't know much about that person's actions, but I was thinking, since Young Master has searched so many places without finding any trace of him, could it be because he is hiding on purpose and doesn't want to see outsiders?"

  Min An's heart skipped a beat, he looked up at Xuan Xu, who smiled and handed him the white fan with the jade pendant, saying: "Young Master can think in reverse and infer that the place where the adults are most disgusted is the place to look."

  Min An hastily walked out of the Jade Decorated Building with a fan, without even settling the whereabouts of Hua Cui and Yu Mi. He went to the Flower Street to take a look around, and the madam saw that he was wearing silk clothes and had clean eyebrows and eyes, knowing that he was a scholar from a large mansion, and didn't care about his true identity for the time being. Later, Min An didn't ask for the name of any prostitute, only asking if there were any new guests at the Red Pavilion, which made the madam sneer and shout: "You're just a young whippersnapper, coming to snoop around! Get out, you've wasted my tea money!"

  Min An hastily pushed away the two girls who were leaning on him, pulled out a jade pendant from his sleeve and put it in front of the madam, saying: "This should be enough to buy off your Xiaoxiao, shouldn't it?"

  Han Xiang originally lived in Taohua Village, was an old acquaintance of Mao Thirteen, after being swindled by Min An, she felt that things were not going well, so she packed up her belongings and came to the Red Pavilion in the county town. Her reputation wasn't very big, but she had a bad habit of loving to listen to jokes about women's private affairs, some guests spread rumors about her interesting stories, which was also heard by Wu Mei who liked drinking tea and betting on horses. Yesterday, Wu Mei took Min An for a stroll and casually mentioned this news to him.

  Min An was enlightened by a single sentence from Xuan Xu, and after some thought, he could only try his luck with the young woman who was connected to the case. Min An guessed that Bi Si disliked women's makeup the most, and those who knew him would not look for him in such places. If he happened to hear that Mao Thirteen's old lover, Han Xiang, had also arrived at the Red Pavilion, according to his timid nature, he would likely find Han Xiang to ask about the whereabouts of the account book, and then use the account book as a bargaining chip. Even if he couldn't find the account book, hiding among the women wouldn't be a bad way to avoid detection.

  Min An did not know the result of Bi Si's probing, but as soon as he tried, he found something unusual.

  The procuress took the jade pendant, felt it for a moment, and smiled: "Young master's ears and eyes are indeed very clear, knowing that our new little wife is called Huanxiang. Unfortunately, Huanxiang accompanied a guest to watch the shadow puppet show at the night market last night and never came back."

  Min An turned around and inquired, but couldn't find out any further news. He took out the only five taels of reward silver on his body, wrapped it up, and approached a girl who was walking close by with a smile. The reply he got was all the same: Huan Xiao had never made a contract with her mother, probably as usual, taking advantage of the opportunity to go out, she had run away to a new place again.

  Min An returned to Hua Street after inquiring about Bis's whereabouts, but still had no success. He touched his forehead, feeling a bit feverish, and looked up at the sky, only then realizing that dark clouds were gathering, and it seemed like rain was approaching the southeastern part of the county town. He hurried back to Yu Shi Lou, where the boss told him that the noble young master and his friend had already left, but the monkey was still squatting on the railing of the second floor.

  The corn spirit wearing a red cloak was very eye-catching, holding a dry melon in its left hand and grasping a honeyed date in its right hand. When Min An asked it questions, it was too busy to respond. Seeing Min An about to come upstairs to chase it, it let out a few squeaks and ran towards the street outside the store.

  Min An followed the corn to find Hua Cui and Xuan Xu, who were chatting idly in a teahouse. On the table were some exquisite pastries. Next to Hua Cui was an additional brocade bag. Without waiting for Min An to ask, she pulled out some incense, lip balm, and eyebrow powder boxes, saying: "Xuan Xu is really extravagant, he picked out all these cosmetics himself. I've never even heard of the names of lip colors he mentioned, like pomegranate rouge, small vermilion dragon, and charming slave..."

  Min An pressed down on Hua Cui's restless hands and said calmly, "Is this also a gift he gave you as a meeting present?"

  Hua Cui was taken aback: "Yes, what's wrong?"

  Min An turned his head to look at Xuan Xu: "Every time it's so coincidental to meet the young master, and the people around me have received favors from the young master many times, making me wonder if the young master has another deeper intention in doing so?"

  Xuan Xu picked up the teacup and took a sip, his bright eyes falling on Min An's face, looking very gentle and composed. "What do you think?" He smiled faintly, "I make friends everywhere, and I receive many gifts, are they all with ulterior motives?"

  Min An remained silent. Although he had a good impression of Xuan Xu, he didn't know what Xuan Xu was really like, so he couldn't completely put his mind at ease. Hua Cui, being an astute person, noticed the atmosphere around the tea table had turned somewhat chilly and hastily spoke up with a smile: "Xuan Xu's words and actions are all straightforward and dignified, what secrets could he possibly be hiding? I trust him anyway, Anzi, if you're busy, why don't you go ahead and leave first?"

  Xuan Xu looked at Min An with a warm smile and said, "Since I've caused the young master to be suspicious, I might as well take my leave first. If we meet again in the future, Young Master can see clearly whether it was me who arrived first or if you have some kind of divine power that allows you to know where I am and follow me here."

  Xuan Xu got up and bowed, even making a bow to the corn standing by watching the commotion, before turning around and leaving. Min An saw that he was really going to leave, endured for a moment, then shouted: "Slow!"

  Xuan Xu turned his head to look at Min An, Min An awkwardly spat out two words: "Tea money." Another layer of sweat seeped out on his forehead, Hua Cui looked carefully and used a handkerchief to wipe it away, casually stroking his face, before suddenly realizing: "So the foolish illness has relapsed again. I said so, when would Anzi ever pull a long face?"

  Xuan Xu walked back with a smile: "The money was spent on buying flowers and cosmetics, it's all gone." Min An turned his head to look at Hua Cui, Hua Cui stared back and said: "What are you looking at me for? My silver isn't enough to buy this round of tea and snacks." She took out some loose change from her waist bag and slapped it on the table: "If there was money, how would Xuan Xu have had to spend his own?"

  Min An looked at the two of them with a somewhat dazed expression: "I just finished drinking flower wine and came back... all the silver on my body was handed over..."

  Xuan Xu smiled slightly: "I'll think of a way, don't worry."

  Hua Cuilai pulled Min'an's wrist, and in a very low voice, she whispered into Min'an's ear: "Look, Xuan Xu has an inexhaustible supply of clever tricks. You should find this kind of man to be your husband - I just asked about him, he is seventeen years old, the same age as you, and not yet married."

  The author has something to say: "Jade" is a shielding word, so the system locked this new chapter last night. I changed it to "jade ornament", please make do with reading it.

  Thank you for supporting V Chapter readers mm(*^__^*)

  I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to Tu Hao Huang Sang for his four deep-water torpedoes (⊙o⊙), which deeply shocked this little mountain dweller (⊙o⊙).

  Thank you, Tu Hao Huang Sang's rocket artillery (*^__^*)

  Thank you for the hand grenades from Yiyi, small ham melon, Mr. Min Xiao (2), Rong Yaoyao, Momo, Mei Ren Ru Hua, O (3), Ri Yue Ming, Pig Ear, and Zax's beautiful ladies' landmines!