Chapter 335.1: Nicely Settle This Debt Altogether
Speaking of which, this hundred boat parade, even if finished, still made quite a few people wish for it to continue, lingering in the memory. And what was mentioned the most was naturally just Fu Xiao. Just, from these men’s mouths, it certainly would be very difficult to use pure admiration to view her. Regardless of how it was on the surface, on the inside, it was dirty and vulgar.
“By the time it’s the boudoir leaving ceremony, this price afraid will rise again.”
“What boudoir leaving ceremony, just watch, perhaps tonight, the person will just be sent into Jin Qinw.a.n.g’s hands.”
“These words are reasonable.” Quite a few people all expressed their approval.
“Speaking of which, the date Jin Qinw.a.n.g picked is also quite coincidental. If just one night later, then at least can have one person, hehehehe………………”
The bystanders laughed along with. These people although had that bit of regret, it was also just that. After all, Fu Xiao’s first night, they were definitely unable to afford.
Suddenly, “Ahh, a dead body…………” And all the tranquility ended here.
The pleasure boat’s pole had jabbed something that was obviously amiss. Slightly paying a bit more attention, one will just notice the anomaly in the water. In this river, it wasn’t just one or two dead bodies. When there’s one, there will eventually be two, and naturally more and more anomalies were discovered. Afterwards, this river’s change in color, without a doubt, also got noticed borrowing the light. One has to know, prior to nightfall, everything was still perfectly fine. Even an idiot was all aware that something big has occurred. After all, the corpses that have been discovered so far weren’t just one. Even the water has become this color, who knows how many more there are below here still.
(T/N: For certain boats, particularly along the rivers and ca.n.a.ls, the boats are steered/moved using a very long pole by pus.h.i.+ng the boat along the riverbed.)
“Quickly go, quickly go——–”
“Quick, Quickly……..” The sounds of urging rose endlessly, just wanting to quickly leave this cursed place. As for the love affairs and what not, it’d long gotten tossed beyond the clouds. Right now, they just want to return home and calm their nerves.
But, the ones that excelled in pus.h.i.+ng the boat along on normal days, this while, were seemingly as if unable to move their arms and legs, and moreover, with everyone all rus.h.i.+ng to leave, it naturally just became more chaotic. Regardless whether it was the private boats, or the various pleasure boats, they all mutually collided together. And naturally the sounds of cursing just rose in succession. That scene, truly was…………….
Even if someone that was daring, at this time, the hands and feet would all be trembling. And the ones that were timid weren’t even able to stand properly, even wetting themselves in fear, crying for their father and mother, shouting that they want to go home.
Jing Wan and them hadn’t advanced very far, so naturally heard the disturbance behind them. Although she couldn’t hear very clearly, she for the most part still knew what happened. “How many people?” Despite clearly knowing that it was best to not ask, Jing Wan still couldn’t help but ask.
The question was a bit vague, but Li Hong Yuan still knew what she was asking. He fixedly stared at Jing Wan for a moment. Seeing her only have tranquility in her eyes, “A hundred some.” In reality, including the ones captured alive, it already surpa.s.sed two hundred. For the sake of killing him, this handiwork was quite big. If he really just had that bit of people on the surface, the other party certainly would’ve succeeded.
Jing Wan slightly inhaled a breath of cold air, “What about our people, how’s the casualty?”
“w.a.n.g……gentleman don’t worry, because of long having prepared, the manpower was sufficient. Of our people, just a few suffered a bit of minor injuries, nothing serious.” An Yi respectfully replied.
“That’s good. No need to be stingy with the good wound medicine, let them recover as quickly as possible.” As for the rest, a hundred some dead people, even getting deliberately left behind in the river, what kind of pandemonium it will bring about, and how alarmed and restless the officials of the entire Chuanzhou Fu will be, Jing Wan all didn’t mention a word of.
It was them that wanted to kill her husband. Towards these people, no matter how many die, she still couldn’t possibly have the slightest sympathy or pity. As for those officials that had just escaped from her husband’s evil claws, hehe………..And those startled ‘ordinary commoners’ behind them, hehehe……………..
Jing Wan’s heart didn’t raise any waves, but Mei Yi certainly wasn’t able to relax inside, her heart wildly beating all over, even feeling that she might just die suddenly in the next moment. Even so, she still had to forcibly work up her spirits, all the way until she had Jing Wan’s party sent off the pleasure boat. And at this moment, in the entire pleasure boat, aside from her, it was just the people moving the boat. There wasn’t a single servant present, making the pleasure boat appear especially big, and especially empty. Recalling the one hundred some deaths, and although not under here, it was still the same river, separated by not that far of a distance. In the dark, she kept feeling the ghostly air was dense and eerie, as if in the next moment, it can just have the entire pleasure boat swallowed, so how can it not make one awfully terrified.
Mei Yi was no longer able to hold up, her body going limp as she collapsed on the low table, “Go back, quickly…………”
The people pus.h.i.+ng the boat, although got affected too, in the end, weren’t situated at the heart of the matter. At least, they could still use their hands.
Mei Yi returned to Louxie Fang, finally relaxing a little. After resting for a while, she recalled the a.s.sa.s.sination attempt on the pleasure boat, hurriedly calling over the people that had stayed in the building, asking if anyone had came to investigate.
Li Su Yan had indeed brought people over to investigate, and the facts proved that there were two servant girls from Louxie Fang that had gotten replaced. Because it was dark, and afterwards, also because of having to face n.o.bility, each and every one all had their heads lowered, and thus didn’t get noticed. Those two servant girls from Louxie Fang rather didn’t lose their life, and had already gotten sent back.
Mei Yi relaxed a breath. This was also considered a great fortune within misfortune, “Give those two girls some reward money, can be considered for calming the nerves, then let them rest for two days.”
“Yes.”
“What happened over at the Thousand Flower Stage, presumably you all are also all aware of. Pa.s.s down the word, the people of Louxie Fang, not a single one is allowed to discuss this matter. If I were to find out, be careful of your own skin.” Mei Yi sternly said. This matter clearly was the handiwork of the people under Jin Qinw.a.n.g, and those people that died were clearly also the same as those two on the pleasure boat. a.s.sa.s.sinating a qinw.a.n.g of the imperial court, practically just having eaten a bear’s heart and a leopard’s guts, even death cannot erase the sins.
However, for the hundred boat parade, in the end, it was her Louxie Fang that had taken the lead. Since Jin Qinw.a.n.g didn’t take his anger out on them, then they should further stay low and exercise restraint, else when time comes, deliberately complicating the issue, that would just be looking for trouble.
After taking care of this matter, Mei Yi although felt tired, she still didn’t have the slightest feeling of sleepiness. Thinking it over, she decided to go see Fu Xiao.
The other girls of Louxie Fang were all quite frightened, yet Fu Xiao was nevertheless very calm. After ordering someone to prepare the warm water, taking a bath and changing, she seemingly wasn’t any different than usual.
Fu Xiao in the past already seemed a little special to begin with, but that kind of special was still within the extent of what one can accept, after all, who let her be the head courtesan. That kind of special was what she deserved to enjoy. However, this current special wasn’t the same. For her to be able to calmly and indifferently face that kind of matter, it inevitably would make one feel strange. When returning, despite clearly knowing that she might soon soar into the clouds, there were still people that avoided her.
The light in her room was still bright. Mei Yi knocked on the door. A moment later, it was Fu Xiao personally opening the door. Mei Yi frowned, “Where are the people by your side?”
“Got frightened. Even when pouring a cup of water, their hands and feet were stiff, so just let them go back to rest.” Fu Xiao personally poured a cup of tea for Mei Yi, “For Aunt Mei to come at this time, is something the matter?”
“Nothing, just came to see you.” Mei Yi carefully had her sized up, her expression calm and tranquil as usual, her mannerism also natural, as if not knowing in the slightest what exactly happened. Even Mei Yi couldn’t help but feel strange inside, “What happened in front of the Thousand Flower Stage, Fu Xiao, do you not know?”
Fu Xiao naturally understood what Mei Yi was talking about, “I know.” How was it just knowing, when she was releasing the little flower lanterns, she’d already noticed the abnormality of the river water. Blood mixing in the waters, although the scent was diluted a lot, it still didn’t escape her nose, “Thick pools of blood, the plaintive cries of geese[1], starving people fill the mountains, what has one not seen before? Just heard that people died, the river waters dying red, but so what? Didn’t even see a corpse, so what is there to be scared of?” Fu Xiao’s voice was emotionless.
Mei Yi’s expression changed. She knew Fu Xiao once suffered misfortune, but in reality, for people in this profession of theirs, many all have their own story. Yet, what Fu Xiao once experienced still made one somewhat apprehensive. However, in the past, she’d never heard her mention before, so this while, she also didn’t know what she should say.
“Aunt Mei doesn’t need to worry for me. Rather, starting from yesterday, Aunt Mei has been continuously busy, unable to have a moment of rest, and today, had been accompanying by the n.o.ble personages’ side the whole time, so presumably, must be awfully exhausted. It’s best to go back early and rest. This Louxie Fang’s various matters all require Aunt Mei to put in order, so should further take care of oneself.”
Mei Yi however didn’t just leave, “My own situation, I’m aware of myself. Today, you’ve greatly stood out………….just didn’t know that everything was all due to Jin w.a.n.gfei’s desire. Yesterday, I should’ve just listened to you, else………….”
“No matter, Aunt Mei was doing it for my sake, I know. ————-Jin Qinw.a.n.g is of heavenly descent and n.o.ble blood, yet towards Jin w.a.n.gfei, hold deep feelings. Jin w.a.n.gfei’s countenance is upright and honorable, kind on the inside, and towards Jin Qinw.a.n.g, also holding an infatuated heart. This kind of deeply in love pair of husband and wife, rare and precious, so further shouldn’t be ruined by outsiders.”
Fu Xiao on normal days rarely have emotional stirrings, and even if needing to entertain guests, it was still just carrying a smile on the face, the inside, from beginning to end, tranquil. Yet, at this very moment, Mei Yi surprisingly heard from her tone a trace of admiration, yet there wasn’t any jealousy. She probably won’t yearn for either, because she knew it was impossible, and further won’t consider squeezing between this kind of married couple. For people in this profession of theirs, Fu Xiao definitely was an outlier. Perhaps some would disdain, believing that she was putting on an act, and perhaps some would even curse her as ‘being a prost.i.tute yet still erecting a memorial tablet[2]‘. And the ones that envy and hate also won’t be few. This is precisely the so called, everyone is all thoroughly dirty inside and out, yet only you alone remain clean on the inside, making one want to ruin and make dirty, pulling you to fall into depravity together.
Mei Yi just had the latter thought, but she also wanted to protect her, very much in conflict. However, this while, she didn’t mock her, “You………just rest.”
“En, Aunt Mei should also rest early after going back.”
Mei Yi nodded, and then left. What she wanted to say in the end actually wasn’t this. She wanted to tell her that her boudoir leaving ceremony won’t be able to delay for much longer. As long as within three days, there aren’t any movement to have her sent to Jin Qinw.a.n.g’s side, then there will be people coming to the door. Just, even if she says it, Fu Xiao still won’t have any reaction. Although a few days ago, her mood was somewhat lacking, in reality, she was long prepared inside.
It’s not that Mei Yi has never met ones that faced it calmly, but she was very clear, the reason why Fu Xiao was calm was different from others, and moreover, this reason, she was unable to procure an answer to.
[1] This phrase is an idiom meaning ‘the land swarming with disaster victims’
[2] This is referring to memorial tablets erected in honor of women, particularly widows, who remain faithful to their husband even after their husband’s death, in a way praising them for being virtuous.