“You’re insane!”
Shen Suining couldn’t be bothered to waste words with He Hansheng. Catching up with Sheng Qingge was the most urgent matter right now.
She struck out with a palm strike, but He Hansheng sidestepped, grabbed her wrist, and executed a shoulder throw, pinning Shen Suining to the snow-covered ground.
Shen Suining yelled furiously, “That’s not fair fighting!”
“If your skills are lacking, you should train more. What’s the use of empty boasts?”
He Hansheng twisted Shen Suining’s arm behind her back, pressing his knee against her leg as he chuckled, “Well now, Miss Cuihua, are you ready to admit defeat this time?”
“I admit it! I admit it! Let go – my arm’s about to break!”
Knowing when to yield being the mark of true wisdom, Shen Suining had always been adaptable. She immediately surrendered.
Only then did He Hansheng release her with satisfaction, rising to brush the snow off his clothes with elegant composure.
Shen Suining sat up from the snow, grumbling, “How did you recognize me? I clearly disguised myself.”
“I’m neither blind nor foolish. Recognizing someone isn’t that difficult.”
Shen Suining grabbed a handful of snow and threw it at him, gritting her teeth, “The drug’s effects wore off quite quickly for you. You’re already able to move.”
“Thanks to Miss Cuihua’s kindness,” He Hansheng smiled as he dodged, “I’m in fairly good health, all things considered.”
Shen Suining rolled her eyes at him. “You keep calling me Miss Cuihua so affectionately. So what’s your name then?”
“I am…” He Hansheng paused, then slowly uttered three words: “Wang Tiezhu.”
“…” Shen Suining’s mouth twitched. “That name… is quite distinctive.”
“Oh? Not as distinctive as Sister Cuihua, who knows how to have fun.”
Growing cold from sitting on the ground, Shen Suining pushed herself up and brushed the snow from her hands. “Well, I suppose we’ve gotten acquainted through our fight. Since you’re calling me sister, I might as well share some information with you, Brother Tiezhu.”
He Hansheng leaned slightly forward. “I’m all ears.”
Shen Suining approached him, standing on her toes as she took a deep breath: “The smoke was poisoned.”
He Hansheng: “…”
“That’s all. No need to thank me. Just be careful yourself…”
Before she could finish, He Hansheng collapsed straight forward, creating a human-shaped crater in the snow.
“…” Shen Suining patted her forehead with an awkward smile. “Too late.”
At that moment, Shen Fengyu arrived at the inn entrance, panting heavily while carrying the equally poisoned and unconscious Jiang Yuchu over his shoulder.
…
When He Hansheng woke again, it was already past midnight.
He lay on the wooden bed in the inn. The candle beside him had long burned out, while the charcoal crackled and burned, casting flickering light. One window was open, and the door was slightly ajar. Jiang Yuchu lay beside him, still unconscious.
He Hansheng took a deep breath, got up, scooped some water, and splashed it onto Jiang Yuchu’s face.
“…” Jiang Yuchu opened his eyes in confusion, his gaze clear but bewildered.
“Get up.”
Jiang Yuchu sprang up immediately, kneeling on one knee. “This subordinate deserves death.”
“No matter.”
He Hansheng suppressed his anger, annoyed at having fallen for tricks repeatedly and wasting precious time.
Only then did Jiang Yuchu stand up.
He had fallen from his horse when he fainted earlier, and now he limped slightly, though fortunately without serious injuries.
“Young master, there’s something here.” After lighting the lamp, Jiang Yuchu noticed an object wrapped in a handkerchief on the table, with the words “antidote” scrawled messily across it.
Jiang Yuchu hesitated to open it, turning to ask He Hansheng, “Young master, what do you think…”
He Hansheng didn’t speak but waved his hand, causing the handkerchief to unfold. Inside were some dark, unappealing herbal dregs that seemed ordinary aside from their poor appearance.
Jiang Yuchu stepped forward, pinched some of the dregs, crushed them in his palm, and tasted them. “Young master, it’s not poisonous.”
He Hansheng walked to the table, pulled out the handkerchief, and examined it thoroughly but found nothing else suspicious.
However, on the back of the handkerchief was a doodle of a rolling-eyes expression and four large characters: “Believe it or not.”
He Hansheng: “…”
“Keep it for now,” He Hansheng said, clenching the handkerchief in his palm. He then noticed writing near the charcoal basin: “Three jin of charcoal, eight wen.”
Looking around, he realized there were more notes.
“Two qian of tea leaves, one wen.”
“Fifty jin of horse fodder, two wen.”
“One guest room, three hundred wen.”
“Waiter’s watch, ten wen…”
“Just a trip to the latrine, and you two are finally awake,” the waiter yawned as he entered. “Who’s settling the bill? I need to sleep after—I’m exhausted.”
“Bill?”
“Yes, those two left in a hurry without paying a single coin. They just told me to carry you back to the room and keep an eye on you, then collect the money when you woke up. Besides the room fee, there’s the cost of the tables and chairs you broke during the fight. Let’s say… one tael of silver,” the sleep-deprived waiter impatiently held out his hand. “Who’s paying?”
He Hansheng: “…”
…
Three days later.
Shen Fengyu went to Miaoyin Pavilion early in the morning to find someone. The manager, already familiar with the routine, led her directly to a room in the corner.
Inside, Shen Suining, disguised as a man, was bantering with four or five girls. They competed to feed her wine, and she maintained perfect balance, drinking from each without hesitation.
She had adopted a handsome face—sharp eyebrows, bright eyes, and a naturally tall nose bridge—making her male disguise seamless. Her charming peach-blossom eyes, paired with flirtatious words, effortlessly captivated everyone.
Shen Fengyu sighed, wondering whom this girl had inherited her flirtatious nature from.
“Oh, you’re here so early today,” Shen Suining said upon seeing Shen Fengyu, releasing the girl in her arms. The girl immediately looked aggrieved, making Shen Suining laugh. She ate a piece of orange fed by the girl and whispered, “I’ll find you all later, be good.”
Shen Fengyu felt goosebumps all over.
After sending everyone away, Shen Suining couldn’t help but reveal her true self, grabbing the teapot and gulping down several mouthfuls. “They’re all so fragrant—five girls, five different scents. I’m almost suffocated.”
“If someone wanted to poison you, they’d succeed in one try.”
Shen Fengyu shot her a disdainful look, quietly opened the window, and tossed a handful of deodorizing herbs into the charcoal basin.
Shen Suining rinsed her mouth with tea to dispel the alcohol, not speaking but staring intently at Shen Fengyu.
Shen Fengyu understood instantly, sitting down in front of her. “I’ve gathered all the information. Sheng Qingge did come to this town. She was injured while fleeing and wanted to lay low, but her reputation as the ‘Number One Beauty of Jiangnan’ is too prominent. Even though she had received help from Wan Hua Lou before, the local girls didn’t dare shelter her. So, she didn’t stay long and hurried on to Suzhou to escape.”
“Given her current situation, would anyone in Suzhou dare take her in?” Shen Suining spat out the tea leaves and frowned slightly. “Wait, Suzhou… Could she be going to Qianchun Alley to find Song Sanniang?”
“If she reaches Suzhou, Qianchun Alley might be her only chance at survival. After all, multiple groups are hunting her now, and she doesn’t trust us,” Shen Fengyu paused hesitantly, “But… would she easily trust Song Sanniang?”
Shen Suining massaged her temples, feeling her head throbbing.
She forced herself to calm down. “The girls at Miaoyin Pavilion said Sheng Qingge had stayed in Huadu for some time before coming south, and had some… ambiguous relationship with a current imperial son-in-law.”
“So scandalous?” Shen Fengyu’s gossip-loving heart ignited instantly. “Which princess’ consort? How bold to dare cuckold the emperor’s daughter.”
“I think it was… Princess Biyue?”
Shen Suining sounded uncertain.
Matters involving court nobility were strictly off-limits for Shuyu Villa. Having overheard this casually, she hadn’t pressed for details. If those targeting Sheng Qingge were truly from the imperial court, she might as well turn back now.
Having pooled all available information, it was time to plan their next move.
“Let’s discuss serious matters,” Shen Fengyu deftly produced an account book from his robe, counting on his fingers. “Over these three days, besides your spending at Miaoyin Pavilion, I’ve visited three teahouses, two restaurants, five inns, and countless street vendors. These expenses can’t possibly fall on me, right? And Qianchun Alley in Suzhou where we’re heading next – that place is notoriously expensive. Song Sanniang won’t do you any favors. You should plan ahead and give me some funds.”
Shen Suining’s face darkened immediately as she slapped away his hand. “No money. Not a single coin.”
“You,” Shen Fengyu laughed in exasperation, “as the esteemed Shao Zhu, must you always be so stingy? It’s embarrassing traveling with you.”
Shen Suining snorted coldly, grabbing a handful of melon seeds. “Easy for you to say. The higher-ups provide no funds – I have to shoulder everything myself. Do you think earning money comes easily to me?”
“Be more accurate – it’s ‘swindling’.”
Enraged, Shen Suining threw the entire plate of seeds at him.
Shen Fengyu laughingly blocked with his sleeve, scattering seeds across the floor.
Jokes aside, the trip to Suzhou would require considerable funds – for accommodation, travel, meals, and other unforeseen mission expenses. They truly needed to budget carefully.
“Hey, Fengyu,” Shen Suining’s face suddenly brightened as she gestured toward the window, “Money’s coming.”
Shen Fengyu followed her gaze to see two familiar… easy targets passing by downstairs.
…
He Hansheng and Jiang Yuchu walked through the streets, completely unaware they had been marked as prey.
“Young master, my investigations confirm Sheng Qingge passed through this town two days ago. She seemed… injured,” Jiang Yuchu reported faithfully.
The recent weather had been poor, with intermittent snowfall over two days leaving country roads thickly iced and nearly impassable for carriages.
Jiang Yuchu pondered for a moment. “Young master, forgive my bluntness, but Sheng Qingge is injured, which must mean she clashed with others pursuing her. In that case, she’ll likely find it hard to trust us as well. I was thinking, perhaps…”
Halfway through his sentence, both men sensed someone behind them and instantly grew alert.
Jiang Yuchu turned and positioned himself in front of He Hansheng, his voice low and guarded. “Who’s there?”
He Hansheng slowly turned his head to see Shen Suining, now changed back into women’s attire and bundled up tightly, holding her skirts as she hurried over, calling out in a sweet, coquettish voice, “Brother Tiezhu~”
Jiang Yuchu: “?”
Shen Fengyu: “?”
Even Shen Fengyu, who was accustomed to such scenes, nearly stumbled in surprise.
Jiang Yuchu looked incredulously from Shen Suining to his young master, his voice cracking. “Tie… what?”
The person in question, He Hansheng, remained perfectly composed, nodding in response. “Sister Cuihua.”
Shen Fengyu, Jiang Yuchu: “…”
Though neither understood, they silently worried about their Shao Zhu/young master’s mental state.
Shen Suining trotted up to He Hansheng and, finding the path slippery, naturally reached out to steady herself on his arm—and didn’t let go. Smiling, she leaned close to his ear and said, “I have a business proposition for you, brother. What do you think, Brother Tiezhu?”
“Oh?” He Hansheng’s eyes were full of wariness, but he played along with a smile. “Do tell, Sister Cuihua.”
“About Sheng Qingge’s whereabouts and her next move,” Shen Suining held up three fingers, making an outrageous demand, “Three ingots of gold.”
He Hansheng: “…”
“Sister Cuihua,” He Hansheng said through gritted teeth, smiling, “Three ingots of gold? Why not just rob me outright?”