Suddenly someone screamed: “Fire! Fire!”
County Magistrate Li turned back to see the main hall direction ablaze with towering flames, thick smoke rolling up to obscure the sky, while people shouted and rushed from all directions to fight the fire.
The guards about to throw stones to kill Tie Ci also froze. When the county office main hall caught fire, everyone bore responsibility.
County Magistrate Li reacted, shouting fiercely: “Half of you go fight the fire, don’t stop down here! Hurry and finish—”
Before he could say the final word “kill,” suddenly a black shadow swept from behind him, quick as a ghost. Bang! County Magistrate Li was kicked down into the ruins pit!
County Magistrate Li screamed. The guards hurriedly jumped into the pit to rescue him. That black shadow swept over like wind. The few carrying stones were still stunned when the person extended a snow-white hand from the black robe, gripping one man’s throat. With a twist and snap—crack!—that person’s head drooped softly to one side.
The person’s other hand already held a blade. With a spinning turn, the knife light traced a perfect arc, accompanied by two screams. Outside the arc was edged with a heart-stopping blood rainbow. The other two guards were disemboweled and died on the spot.
Three killed in an instant.
At this moment, his flying robes were just slowly settling down.
He didn’t pause, reaching out to lift Tie Ci. Miss Li, having seen so many deaths in a short time, actually found infinite courage and screamed as she tried to rush forward. The person raised his hand to block, his palm pushing her face three feet away. With Miss Li’s face covered in darkness, she only heard a light laugh: “Tsk! Still want to compete with me for food!”
With a gentle push, Miss Li fell to the ground, vaguely feeling that tone was indescribably familiar.
Soft fabric brushed past her ear. That person had already left with Tie Ci. Behind him were several more black shadows, killing the guards who needed killing, kicking into the pit those who needed kicking. Miss Li sat bewildered in the ruins, watching her blood-covered father climb up, his face twisted as he ordered pursuit. The warm March wind carried smoke from the flames, stirring up dust that hit her face. She suddenly felt a chill in her heart and shivered violently.
…
In her intermittent consciousness, Tie Ci slightly opened her eyes, feeling herself airborne, her body constantly rising and falling. Wind whooshed past her ears. A tall black shadow cast down from overhead—that person’s satin-like black hair fell across her face, diffusing a faint scent of pine and sandalwood.
Then she lost consciousness again.
When she woke again, the first thing she saw was a sky like an overturned paint palette—magnificent purple and bright yellow, crimson and deep blue, brocade-like clouds bottomed with a layer of sunset gold. By the window, a pot of orchids spread their branches and leaves, supporting the sun disk about to sink below the horizon.
Beneath her was very comfortable—silky smooth and soft, with rich, heavy fragrance. She looked at the gorgeous canopy overhead, which was actually embroidered with flowers. At first glance it was a twin lotus, but looking closer, within the twin lotus were snow-white skin and intertwined necks—actually a man and woman in intimate embrace, and in positions that greatly challenged human limits. Tie Ci pondered for a long time but couldn’t figure out where the other leg had gone.
Having never eaten pork but seen pigs run, Tie Ci thought: the one-day prison tour is over, the one-day brothel tour begins.
She felt her body—the wounds had been bandaged properly with good medicine. She no longer felt pain, only a blocked feeling in her chest remained.
Who had bandaged her wounds?
Tie Ci frowned. This wasn’t a small matter. Although she had disguised her body, if she encountered someone careful, they would still discover the truth of her female disguise.
She reached into her robes and felt around her waist, confirming that her disguise layer was still there. The other party probably hadn’t discovered her female identity.
Pearl curtains swayed gently like water ripples. A figure approached gracefully with slow steps and tinkling ornaments, somehow still giving an impression of efficiency.
The curtain lifted, and Feiyu’s face—suitable for both anger and joy—peeked in slightly. Seeing her awake, she smiled and blinked: “If you’ve been kidnapped, blink your left eye. If you’re still free, blink your right eye.”
Tie Ci lay rigidly facing the ceiling and sighed: “What if my body is kidnapped but my spirit is still free? Should my eyes cramp?”
Feiyu smiled, very satisfied that Tie Ci could match her humor. She walked in and placed the tray in her hands beside the bed: “Master Mao, I saved you. Don’t you want to pledge yourself to me in marriage?”
But Tie Ci thought of the feeling from her brief awakening earlier—it seemed a man had saved her? Though she wasn’t quite certain.
Then she heard Feiyu say: “I was preparing for bed last night when I lifted the bed curtains and saw you. How did you get yourself into such a state?”
“You didn’t save me?”
“Of course not.” Feiyu showed her her hands: “With these delicate hands of mine, I couldn’t even drag you.”
“By the way, how did you escape the search by those county office people yesterday?” Tie Ci suddenly changed the topic.
“I hid in the big vat where they grow lotus flowers. Nearly froze to death.” Somehow, Tie Ci felt that the ever-smiling Feiyu seemed to be gritting her teeth when she said this.
She cleverly changed topics again: “This… when you found me, my wounds were already bandaged?”
Feiyu’s hand holding the bowl paused, then she smiled: “Yes.”
Tie Ci frowned slightly.
Feiyu glanced at Tie Ci and smiled.
This young man she’d encountered at sea was quite a character.
She had originally gone to the county office just to watch the excitement, but happened to encounter the dungeon collapse. She hadn’t expected County Magistrate Li to be so bold. After hesitating, she decided to rescue him. Someone like this—keeping him around to cause trouble for the second prince would be good too.
Originally she’d changed to men’s clothing to rescue him, but when returning she had other matters to attend to, so she sent this young man to Fuchun Tower and ordered her female subordinate Chazi to come. Though Chazi was rough-tempered, she was skilled in medicine and had always been his personal physician. Now it seemed Chazi had treated Mao Shiba’s injuries very well.
Not long after arriving in Ziyang, he had recognized this fellow he’d fought with at sea.
Seeing him with county office people then, knowing about capital officials’ sons gaining experience, he roughly guessed the other’s identity. So he disguised himself again, pretending to be a young lady selling herself to bury her father, wanting to get close to him—partly to mess with this guy who’d fought him at sea, partly to facilitate his own business. Who knew this fellow wouldn’t take the bait and sold him to a brothel instead? But then he discovered this brothel was the second prince’s secret base in Haiyou, so he went with the flow and became the top courtesan.
Tie Ci pulled herself up like a zombie, reaching for the medicine bowl, but Feiyu moved it away, smiling: “Why must you be stubborn, young master? Let this humble woman feed you.”
Tie Ci lowered her hand. Her back against the bed rail was uncomfortable, so she gave Feiyu a meaningful look.
Feiyu: “??”
Tie Ci indicated behind her.
Feiyu: “???”
Tie Ci turned to look at her.
No perception at all?
Never served anyone before?
Can’t she see she needs a cushion for her back?
A top courtesan—even if waited upon by others, after long training, knowing how to make people comfortable should be the first thing learned.
Tie Ci looked up and down at the completely clueless top courtesan and pursed her lips: “Cushion.”
Only then did Feiyu understand: “Oh—” She brought over a cushion, helping Tie Ci sit up. Tie Ci took the opportunity to sniff the scent in her embrace—rich peony and herbaceous peony fragrance, without that pine and sandalwood scent.
She looked up after sniffing, meeting Feiyu’s somewhat strange gaze. Tie Ci rolled her eyes, trying to think of some excuse, when she saw this lady thrust out her chest and say coquettishly: “Sir, do I smell good?”
Author’s Note:
Due to certain needs, I had to split the chapter. Second update at noon, 12 o’clock.