Chapter 46: Peach Blossoms and Flowing Water, Fat Mandarin Fish

  I quickly told him about the human-faced fish.

  Hua Yu and Gua Pian exchanged a glance, and in unison said: "It seems we're thinking of the same thing."

  I was stunned: "Could it be also for the sake of that person's face..."

  "That person prefers steamed fish, but doesn't know whether it's better to steam or stir-fry. Longjing, who had woken up early at some point, smiled and looked at us: "Diced pepper fish head is also good."

  "Since that's the case, let Flower Language wish Dragon God a good appetite. The matter has been conveyed, and it's time for Flower Language to return and report back. Dragon God, plum blossoms, melon slices, we'll meet again. " After finishing speaking, Flower Language flapped her wings and transformed back into a white parrot, flying out of the small round window and disappearing into the hazy night colors.

  "What a beautiful parrot." I exclaimed repeatedly.

  Pieces of melon flew onto my shoulder, laughing and saying: "Messenger, messenger!"

  "Oh..." I looked at Longjing and hastily asked: "Where did the messenger come from?"

  Longjing smiled and said: "You silly fool, where did you get so many questions from? Ben Shen asked you, did that young master really not say anything about the fish's whereabouts?"

  "I hastily said: 'The young master has spoken, the heavenly secret must not be revealed.'"

  Longjing chuckled and said, "The skill of selling Guan Zi is almost as good as Ben Shen's." He turned his eyes around and said, "Since that fish has a big reputation, you can't ask it out, but there must be someone who can ask it out."

  I remembered that Shen Shangshu was going to compile a book of strange stories for the Empress Dowager, and hastily said: "I heard that Shen Shangshu personally found Ma Erlao to ask questions, I'm sure Ma Erlao won't be able to deceive him."

  "That god will take you to Shen Shangshu's place for a look." Longjing pulled me towards him, and I felt as if I was falling into clouds and mist, dizzy and disoriented. Before I knew it, I could see clearly again and found myself standing high up on a large beam, very far from the ground. Scared, I quickly leaned inwards. Li Ding 1894

  "Huh?" Longjing sat cross-legged beside me and nodded downwards with his mouth: "Take a look, who's that old lady?"

  I took a closer look and saw that under the beam, there was a desk with an old lady sitting in front of it, flipping through a thread-bound book.

  This old lady can't tell her age from her back, but her clothes are extremely luxurious. She wears a golden silk brocade with auspicious dragon and phoenix patterns, a crystal clear green jade necklace around her neck, a gold silk coiled dragon hairpin on her head, and an eight-treasures golden phoenix hair clip. I almost can't believe my eyes, this outfit is exactly like the Queen Mother's on stage! I rubbed my eyes, smelling the top-grade sandalwood fragrance, the entire room is decorated with extremely fine carvings and layout, adorned with gilded crane palace lanterns and dragon-patterned golden incense burners. No, it shouldn't be called a room, this should be called a palace. My heart skipped a beat as I remembered Shen Shangshu's words... Could she be the Empress Dowager?

  Longjing raised his index finger to his lips: "You mustn't speak loudly, although that old lady can't see the true self, she can see you!"

  I almost fainted, hurriedly covering my mouth, thinking to myself, why didn't the Dragon God use his magic to hide me too? If the Empress Dowager sees me sneaking into the palace, won't she have me torn apart by five horses and cut into a thousand pieces... The more I thought about it, the closer I leaned in.

  "Ha ha ha, don't be afraid, silly mortal. Listen to my words and quietly observe the changes, I guarantee nothing will go wrong."

  At this time, the eight treasure curtain outside the door rang, and a small palace girl with two buns walked in, saluted and said: "Empress Dowager, Shen Shangshu requests an audience."

  "Is that so? Bring him in then!" The Empress's voice was soft yet full of authority. The thief of the divine realm roamed the world.

  "Yes."

  It was said that he came in, but actually he was still separated from the empress dowager by layers of curtains, and it was barely possible to make out the figure of Shen Shangshu. Shen Shangshu knelt outside and said: "I report to Your Majesty, I have edited the latest folk anomalies into a book, especially for Your Majesty's review."

  The Empress Dowager smiled and said: "Shen Qing's family has a good heart. What is this rumor about?"

  "It's about the anecdotes of Renyu."

  The empress dowager became interested, put down the book in her hand, and smiled: "A human-faced fish? This is indeed a rare thing. I've heard that there's a kind of fish in the Western Regions that can eat human flesh, but after eating too much human flesh, it grew a human face?"

  Grand Secretary Shen hastily said, "The Empress Dowager is erudite and has a strong memory, truly making this old minister admire her. However, this fish not only has a human face, but can also speak human language, and what's more, it can predict good or bad fortune, knowing the three lives of past, present, and future."

  "Really?" The Empress Dowager was clearly very interested: "Where is the fish? If it's really like that, let me take a look to dispel my boredom."

  "The Empress Dowager's kindness was in vain, for the fish had no fortune to enjoy it. According to those who saw the fish, the human-faced fish was originally indebted with emotions from its past life and came to repay them in this life, teaching people to avoid disasters. However, just as things were about to be revealed, it suddenly died of rot, said to have leaked heavenly secrets, thus suffering retribution."

  "It's a pity... nothing can be done about it..." The Empress sighed, and then changed the subject: "How is the task that Duke Liu entrusted to you going?"

  Liu Junshou? I remember now, he's Li Kaitang's uncle, in charge of maintaining law and order in the capital, with great power and influence.

  "Prefect Liu agreed to let the Li family inspect the dragon vein, but please forgive me for speaking bluntly. The Purple Jade Hairpin Street is just an ordinary commercial street, how could the dragon vein possibly be in such a place? I have my doubts." Minister Shen said hesitantly.

  "Just follow the Empress's words, nothing more needs to be said." The Empress Dowager's voice was intimidating and left no room for resistance. Shen Shangshu hastily agreed and left behind the manuscript about the man-faced fish, carefully taking his leave.

  The empress dowager took the book from the palace maid's hand, flipped through it casually, sighed, and rubbed her temples.

  The little palace maid was clever and quick-witted, and hastily asked: "I don't know if Her Majesty the Empress Dowager is unwell again and has a headache? Shall I call for Lady Lan Yue?"

  Blue Moon Lord? I don't know why, but it sounds kind of familiar. Longjing took a look at my expression, the corner of his mouth hooked up, and he started laughing slyly.

  I seem to have lost my memories again, just like what Longjing Guapian said.

  The Empress Dowager replied: "No need..."

  Just then, a palace maid announced: "Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, Lord Lan Yue has arrived."

  The empress smiled slightly: "No need to tell her, she will come herself. Please come in!"

  A noblewoman in her thirties walked in from the crystal palace, wearing a light blue gauze dress as clear as the September sky, with a flowing hair bun and a cyan jade headdress. Her face was stunningly beautiful, with an oval-shaped face, a pair of bright phoenix eyes, and lips that were naturally red without any makeup. She should have been extremely charming, but instead, she exuded an air of majesty, her presence not inferior to the empress dowager's. At first glance, it was clear that she was someone of great importance.

  Lan Yue bowed and smiled: "Congratulations, Empress Dowager. If the matter of the human-faced fish is true, then that big event will have a clear direction."

  "Is this true?" The empress dowager stood up: "Was it really on that Purple Jade Hairpin Street?"