Within fifteen minutes, Wan Hua Lou was sealed off completely, with government soldiers arriving at the door claiming to be searching for a flower thief. All guests, servants, and courtesans inside Wan Hua Lou were forbidden from leaving.
Shen Suining remained in her room, unafraid of being searched.
She had anticipated that meeting Sheng Qingge wouldn’t go smoothly, so she had coordinated with an inside contact at Wan Hua Lou. Shen Fengyu disguised herself as a male regular customer named “Rong Jun,” while Shen Suining took on the role of Yin Yin, the courtesan Rong Jun frequently requested.
Yin Yin was a dancer who often wore various exotic costumes to entertain guests. Earlier, Shen Suining had temporarily replaced her on stage to perform the dance.
But the thought of having to wear that barely-there red sheer dress again made Shen Suining’s expression turn pained.
Meanwhile, Shen Fengyu, who didn’t need to change outfits, calmly pulled out her account book and reminded without looking up: “Hurry up and change. I need to calculate how much extra we’ll have to spend if we’re forced to stay here overnight.”
Shen Suining: “…Thanks to their prior preparations and tacit cooperation, the two easily evaded the government’s search.
However, hiding wasn’t enough. After all, Shen Suining’s purpose in coming was to meet Sheng Qingge and find out exactly who wanted to buy her life.
With Sheng Qingge’s current whereabouts unknown and the other party’s origins unclear, Shen Suining worried that if the target was actually to kill Sheng Qingge… then she really needed to hurry.
Shen Suining stood up ready to take action. Seeing Shen Fengyu still clinging to her shabby account book without moving, she felt blood rush to her head. She strode over, grabbed the other person, and pulled her out the door.
“Calculate later! I’ll cover the extra costs!”
While Shen Suining was dragging Shen Fengyu around searching for people, He Hansheng’s men were also secretly hunting for Sheng Qingge and other suspicious individuals.
Jiang Yuchu found He Hansheng and reported, “Young Master, Magistrate Xu Lin of Hangzhou has heard that you’re personally handling this matter and is willing to fully cooperate with us. However…”
“However, they can only help us find Sheng Qingge’s whereabouts, is that it?” He Hansheng didn’t look up.
“Young Master truly foresees everything,” Jiang Yuchu said. “Magistrate Xu stated that although Shuyu Villa is a martial arts sect, they never involve themselves in court politics. Though their methods may be unconventional, they ultimately haven’t done anything to harm the common people. Over the years, Shuyu Villa and the various prefectural governments in Jiangnan have maintained a delicate relationship of non-interference. Magistrate Xu’s meaning is… he temporarily doesn’t want to disrupt this balance to avoid causing trouble.”
He Hansheng pondered for a moment before asking: “Does he know we’re here regarding Princess Biyue’s case?”
“He does.”
“He didn’t say anything?”
Jiang Yuchu glanced around before leaning in and lowering his voice: “Magistrate Xu said that Princess Biyue’s consort had a fleeting romance with Sheng Qingge. Even after marrying the princess, the consort met privately with Sheng Qingge more than once. Last month, someone approached Shuyu Villa to buy Sheng Qingge’s life. Magistrate Xu is also investigating this matter and suspects it might be the princess’s doing.”
“Even if the princess was dissatisfied with her consort’s extramarital affair, she wouldn’t have secretly paid a fortune to have Sheng Qingge killed. Moreover, Princess Biyue died along with her unborn child in an accident over two months ago. Even if she had given the order before her death, it wouldn’t have taken until last month to reach Shuyu Villa. Now, the most suspicious consort has disappeared without a trace. To find both the consort’s whereabouts and the true cause of the princess’s death, we must locate Sheng Qingge.”
He Hansheng narrowed his eyes slightly. “We must act before Shuyu Villa’s people make their move.”
“Understood.”
As Jiang Yuchu’s words fell, a sudden scream came from outside.
Shen Suining, who had been searching the area, heard the commotion and rushed to the staircase to investigate.
Shen Fengyu, drawn by the sound, arrived as well. “Someone fell from the building!”
“I know. Protect yourself. If there’s an opportunity, notify our comrades outside to prepare for backup!”
Shen Suining spoke rapidly and was about to run downstairs when Shen Fengyu grabbed her. “What about you?”
“I saw Sheng Qingge!” Without time for further explanation, Shen Suining immediately dashed down.
Meanwhile, He Hansheng, who had emerged upon hearing the noise, caught a glimpse of a fleeting red figure in the direction of the fall.
He immediately vaulted over the railing, using his qinggong to fly toward the red figure, colliding head-on with the equally hurried Shen Suining.
He Hansheng’s expression turned stern.
Shen Suining reacted swiftly, pulling several pendants from her waist and throwing them to extinguish the nearby corridor lights while simultaneously attacking He Hansheng.
He Hansheng dodged quickly, and the two exchanged several unarmed blows.
Shen Suining, still wearing Yinyin’s dance costume and a veil over her face, was severely restricted in her movements. Anxious to avoid revealing her identity and desperate to find Sheng Qingge, she grew increasingly passive. In frustration, she delivered a sweeping kick and shouted angrily, “Get lost! Don’t get in my way!”
He Hansheng evaded gracefully. Though he did not initiate attacks, he showed no intention of yielding.
He pressed forward step by step, nearly cornering Shen Suining, and demanded in a low voice, “May I ask your origins? Would you care to introduce yourself?”
Backed into a corner, Shen Suining cursed, “I’m your ancestor!”
As they struggled, Sheng Qingge’s figure vanished at the end of the corridor. The two blocked the corridor entrance, neither giving way, and remained locked in a stalemate.
Shen Fengyu and Jiang Yuchu arrived one after another, eager to assist, but the corridor was too narrow. Before they could intervene, they heard the two combatants shout almost simultaneously—
“Stay here and keep watch!”
“Block this area—don’t let anyone escape!”
Shen Fengyu and Jiang Yuchu exchanged glances, both secretly clenching their fists.
Shen Suining and He Hansheng fought their way to the room at the end of the corridor, both leaning against the door, panting heavily.
Realizing she couldn’t win through force, Shen Suining sought a truce. She cupped her hands in respect and praised He Hansheng, “Young master… truly impressive skills!”
He Hansheng steadied his breathing and returned the gesture. “I presume the young lady’s martial arts are equally remarkable.”
“Likewise.”
Shen Suining responded weakly, pressing her back against the door to prevent He Hansheng from advancing further. She continued diplomatically, “Young master, as you see, we’ve fought for so long without a clear winner. Dragging this out benefits neither of us. How about this: today, as a favor to me, allow this young lady to leave Wan Hua Lou. Once she passes through the main gate, if you still wish to kill her, I won’t stop you. What do you say?”
He Hansheng chuckled, “Does the lady mean to seek reconciliation with me?”
“If you wish to interpret it that way, so be it. We are both martial artists—it’s inevitable we clash fiercely for our respective missions. But today I’m truly indisposed. Even if you defeat me, spreading word of it would tarnish your reputation. Ceasing hostilities benefits us both.”
“How clever of the lady to frame it as being for my sake. How do I know you aren’t simply incapable of defeating me?”
This struck a nerve with Shen Suining. Instantly bristling, she raised her voice angrily, “Then do you still wish to fight?!”
He Hansheng stared steadily at Shen Suining, who resembled a feisty tabby cat arching its back and baring its claws.
Though the tabby cat’s skills were inferior to his own, the space was far too cramped, severely limiting their movements. A prolonged struggle would indeed make the outcome uncertain. Moreover, He Hansheng’s primary intention was merely to ensure Sheng Qingge survived, so she could be interrogated later to uncover the truth behind the princess’s death and the whereabouts of the consort.
After a moment’s contemplation, He Hansheng agreed to cease fighting. “As the lady wishes, I shall allow Miss Sheng to leave Wan Hua Lou. However, once outside, she must accompany my men.”
Shen Suining let out an incredulous laugh. “Are you even hearing yourself? If she’s handed over to you upon leaving, how is that any different from demanding my surrender now?”
He Hansheng stood his ground. “The difference is that the lady won’t suffer an overly humiliating defeat.”
Shen Suining: “It seems we cannot reach an agreement.”
He Hansheng: “So it appears, for now.”
“…”
Their negotiation had completely collapsed.
After a brief silence, Shen Suining suddenly crouched and swept a leg toward him. He Hansheng leaped into the air to evade, simultaneously kicking open the door behind her—just as Shen Suining kicked open the door behind him.
Behind both doors were two pairs of eyes, staring in stunned bewilderment at the frozen duo.
He Hansheng, Shen Suining: “…”
Unyielding, they advanced a few steps and pushed open the doors to the adjacent rooms.
This time, screams erupted alongside some unsightly scenes. They hastily pulled the doors shut, covering their faces and turning their backs to the rooms.
Shen Suining felt heat creeping up her neck. She stole a glance at He Hansheng across from her. Even without a clear view of his expression, she could sense his face was etched with embarrassment and awkwardness.
Noticing this, Shen Suining mocked, “You look like some pleasure-seeking young noble—is this your first time in a place like this?”
He Hansheng shot her a covert glare and retorted irritably, “And you, a young lady—do you frequent such establishments often?”
“Oh, perhaps a few more times than you, I’d wager.”
Somehow, Shen Suining felt an inexplicable surge of superiority. Though she couldn’t best him in combat, she had visited brothels more often than he had!
Perceiving her smugness, He Hansheng was utterly speechless, nearly choking on his breath. But upon reflection, he couldn’t be bothered to argue.
With the remaining doors along the corridor firmly shut, even though their target remained unfound, He Hansheng couldn’t bring himself to push open another door after this commotion. It seemed they truly had to wait until leaving Wan Hua Lou to each employ their own methods.
He Hansheng muttered self-deprecatingly, “It seems both of us are destined to lose today.”
“No matter. I’ve never cared much about winning or losing,” Shen Suining replied cheerfully. Seeing He Hansheng somewhat defeated, she couldn’t resist leaning in to add, “Besides, the thought that you didn’t find your person either makes me all the happier.”
He Hansheng felt a pang of irritation and was about to retort when Shen Suining took a step back, cupped her hands in a salute, and said, “Meeting a worthy opponent today, let’s call it a draw.”
“A draw? If I were to fight seriously, you might not lose gracefully.”
“Ah, you’re a grown man,” Shen Suining reached out and poked He Hansheng’s shoulder, tilting her head with a smile. “Why be so fixated on winning or losing?”
He Hansheng’s body stiffened, and half of him instantly went weak.
Shen Suining watched his reaction with satisfaction, leaned in, and whispered in his ear, “If you’re really that competitive, there will be plenty of chances to settle the score in the future. But this time, I came out slightly ahead!”
She stepped back half a pace and patted He Hansheng’s shoulder. “I’m off!”
“Wait!”
He Hansheng gritted his teeth, his body unmoving, his eyes fixed intently on Shen Suining’s face, half-hidden beneath a red veil. He spoke unwillingly, “I have yet to learn your esteemed name.”
“My name…”
Shen Suining replied without hesitation, “I am… Miao Cuihua!”
Author’s Note:
【Mini Theater】
He Hansheng: That year, with light rain falling among the apricot blossoms, you said your name was Miao Cuihua.
Shen Suining: Brother Tiezhu, long time no see! [Let me see]
Author: Wrong scene—we haven’t gotten to this part yet.