Volume 2: Case within a case, the granary of the world Chapter 10: Embracing Hou Xuan

  The decorated attic is the symbol of "Hundred Flowers Palace" flower head, its status is just like the palace of the queen in the imperial palace. However, I feel chilly and uncomfortable all over when I live inside.

  There was no ceremony, no introduction, and no grand occasion. The new flower girl simply moved into the attic of the Flowered Pavilion, where everything was taken care of by the nanny. Since the young lady's debut also required a auspicious day, these few days were equivalent to an apprenticeship for the flower girl.

  Night falls, and the fragrance of flowers wafts into this room. Although I'm called Xi Yangyang, the new clothes Mother prepared for me are all fresh and elegant attire. In Yueyue's words, when I wear these clothes, I look pure and refined.

  Elegant and unconventional? Big sister, I'm usually a person who doesn't have good posture whether sitting or standing.

  Suddenly, I remembered the guqin that Huayed had. Under the window of her room, there was her ancient zither, with a dark ink-colored surface and a faint fragrance. Could it be this one?

  I curiously picked it up, and it was quite heavy. I looked left and right, up and down, but couldn't figure out what it was. Just then, I heard the sound of rapid footsteps.

  "Miss, miss, Mother is leading a guest here, it seems like it's Young Master Hou Xuan!"

  Go for it! That's great, this time I must hold on to him!

  I immediately put down the zither and stood by the door. The sound of footsteps gradually came from outside the door.

  "Auntie, I've told you before, I only want Hua sister. If you keep doing this, I won't be polite to you anymore!"

  "Oh dear, Master Hou, just take a look, and Auntie will consider it as begging you. Just one glance, if you're not satisfied, Auntie won't bother you!"

  "I don't want to!"

  No, according to Hou Xian's personality, no one can force him to do anything, and he might even beat up Lian Po Po. But thinking about it the other way around, what's the big deal if he beats up Lian Po Po? Lian Po Po is someone who deserves a beating anyway.

  "Oh dear...... Are you going to hit me, this old lady? It wasn't easy for me to set up this 'Hundred Flowers Palace'. Now I'm just letting you take a look at the new girl. Do you have to make me kneel down and beg you?"

  Very good, very powerful, even better at playing tricks than me.

  I thought for a moment: "Yueyue."

  "What's wrong, miss?"

  "After Gu Gongzi comes in later, you close the door, got it?"

  Yu Yu listened and was left speechless with wide eyes.

  "This time you're definitely not getting away!"

  "Uh-huh." Yuè Yuè swallowed her saliva and said cautiously, "Auntie, Miss, you be careful, Hòu Xián Gōngzǐ is skilled in martial arts."

  "Just know that you just close the door."

  I walked into the inner room, don't let Hou Xian see me for a moment, otherwise he would run away immediately. Can't stop him no matter what.

  "The Marquis of Bowstring requests your presence."

  "I can tell you, I just took a glance and left immediately."

  "Yes, yes, yes. Please."

  "What about him?"

  "The girl is inside," said Yuè Yuè. Then the sound of the back door opening and closing was heard, followed by the sound of Yuè Yuè locking the door.

  The footsteps got closer and closer, I was sitting right in front of the entrance, he took a few steps and then faced me.

  "Is that you?!" He raised his eyebrows, curled his lips, and gave a handsome face of disdain. "Not interested." As he turned to leave, I immediately said in a cold voice: "Hou Xuan, stop right there!"

  He paused for a moment, then put his raised foot back on the ground, turned around and smiled at me: "Hey, I've never seen a girl as fierce as you."

  I lowered my face: "Didn't you say goodbye to Hua yesterday? What are you doing here today?"

  Hou Xian was taken aback, his expression turning dull: "I don't have money, I came to borrow some." He said finally. Hou Xian's face showed confusion, "No way, why did I tell the truth?" Suddenly, he looked at me, his beautiful phoenix eyes narrowing: "Who are you?"

  I didn't say a word, just staring at him coldly. He slowly approached and stopped on the opposite side of the table: "You don't seem like a woman who smokes. Tell me, who are you?! Where did Sister Hua go?!"

  "What the...! Can't you even recognize me?!" I barked. Hou Xuan was stunned, his mouth agape as he stared at me for a long time.

  "Husband! Husband, wife!" He hastily walked up to me and started touching my face, "What kind of disguise is this?"

  "Technology, even voices sound different."

  "Get out!" I pushed him away, the little brat took advantage of me. "Last night I gave you so many flirtatious glances, but you didn't even notice me, thinking it was just a tease!"

  "Sorry, sorry." Hou Xian pulled over a small stool and sat down beside me, "Who told you to change... into this? You're still a girl from the 'Hundred Flowers Palace', who can recognize you now?" Hou Xian scratched his head in distress, his wheat-colored face flushing with a layer of pink.

  "I'm so fed up! I was still waiting for you to save me!"

  "Ah... calm down, calm down." Hou Xian hastily poured a cup of tea and placed it in front of me.

  "That's about right."

  Hou Xuan started to scrutinize me carefully, with suspicion written all over his face: "But madam, what kind of disguise technique do you use? It's as if even your figure..." Hou Xuan looked towards my chest, and I coldly said: "What are you looking at! You little scoundrel!"

  "Uh... sorry, but I still can't figure it out."

  "Ah, it's complicated to explain." I turned the teacup around. "To put it simply, let's just say I'm borrowing a corpse to return a soul."

  "Ah?!" Hou Xian was shocked and stunned, his face turned pale and darkened.

  "At first I entered a refined and elegant body, now I've entered this joyful and lively body, that's just how it is, so you have to save me from here."

  "Alright! No problem!" Hou Xuan said as he stood up and opened the window. "Madam, I'll take you away!"

  The moonlight outside the window is bright and beautiful, the air is fresh and clean. However, when the cool breeze enters the room, I hesitate. I couldn't be so unkind, no matter what happened to her. She handed me a keepsake, and I have to hand this thing over to that person with the surname Huang.

  "Hou Xian, Hualei was murdered." In the end, I decided to tell Hou Xian this fact.

  "What?!" Hou Xian looked at me in surprise, immediately turned back to close the window and rushed to my side, "Madam, what did you say? Hua Jie was killed? Who did it?"

  After seeing the tense expression, I furrowed my brow: "Just last night, the cause of death was poisoning, and the body has been handled by the wet nurse, but before that, I sensed someone sneaking into 'Baifangong' at night, so I reckon, Huafeng should have been murdered."

  "Flower sister... no! Madam, Flower sister is my most beloved sister, I cannot let her die in vain, I must catch the murderer and get to the bottom of it!"

  Hou Xian indeed lived up to my expectations and was going to take revenge for Hua Lele. He looked at me again: "Then, madam, please stay in the 'Hundred Flowers Palace' for a few days, I'll go find a house first, to settle down madam..." His voice started to become hesitant towards the end. This kid still came to ask Hua Lele for money, where did he get the money to rent a house?

  "It's none of your business." I cut him off, he looked a bit strange, and I continued, "The living conditions are good here, the food is good, the sleep is good, and there's even someone to serve you, aren't you short on money? How could you possibly rent such a good house?"

  Hou Xian's face suddenly turned red, and she began to fiddle with her fingers.

  "Don't worry, you don't have money, I do."

  Hou Xian immediately raised his head, eyes flashing with golden light. I added: "Borrowing it from you for the time being." Hou Xian was delighted and his worried expression dissipated instantly.

  He smiled and pointed at the Four Treasures of the Study: "Go, bring me the brush and ink."

  "Good!" Hou Xian was filled with energy at this moment.

  I've seen ghosts, so I don't want to be haunted by Hualei for the rest of my life. But Hualei's death is very suspicious, and I always feel like there's some hidden conspiracy. It's better to hand things over to the other party and leave quickly.

  Hand over all the places where silver is hidden to Hou Xian: "This is where I hid my silver, dig it all out, leave some for yourself, and give me the rest. When I want to redeem myself, I will go to redeem it."

  "Oh... So Madam wants to eat for free here."

  "Shut up! Aren't you trying to figure out how your sister died? You must start with her clients, I'll take a look around and see if there's anyone suspicious."

  "Right! You be careful too, ma'am. That's right, you can also look for Nangong..."

  "Don't look for him!" I shouted, startling the backstring. Seeing his bewildered expression, I said calmly, "You can look for him if you want, but don't expose me, got it?"

  "Oh... you and him..."

  "Water and fire are incompatible!" As soon as I finished saying these four words, a gust of cold wind suddenly entered the room, blowing the lamp to shake.