“What condition?”
Madam Fan asked cautiously.
Could it be that he wanted her to hand over Fanlou with both hands?
“I’ve heard that Miss Qiao has the most complete collection of floral-scented ink in the entire capital,” Feng Qingsui said with a light laugh. “May I feast my eyes on it?”
“Is that your condition?”
“Yes.”
Madam Fan’s heart settled back into her stomach.
“Not only can I show it to you, but I could even give it all to you—no problem at all.”
She spoke generously.
As long as Fanlou remained, and Zhenzhen was safe, collecting the floral-scented ink again wouldn’t be difficult.
“A gentleman does not take what others cherish,” Feng Qingsui replied with a smile. “I’ll just take a look.”
Then he asked Qiao Zhenzhen: “There are two ways to treat this ganglion cyst. One is to cut open the skin and remove the entire cyst wall; the other is to press it flat directly. The former is less likely to recur but will leave a scar; the latter hurts for a moment but is prone to recurrence.”
Qiao Zhenzhen frowned. “Can’t it be cured once and for all?”
Feng Qingsui: “Your cyst is caused by excessive wear on the wrist. If you don’t change your hand habits, it will recur.”
Qiao Zhenzhen sighed. “It seems I’ll have to practice the qin less and paint less in the future.”
Since she still needed to perform on the qin, she naturally didn’t want a scar on her wrist, so she chose the second treatment method.
Feng Qingsui asked her to place the back of her hand on the edge of the table. When her wrist was taut, he pressed his two thumbs against the cyst, forcefully flattening it.
Qiao Zhenzhen almost cried out in pain. After recovering, she said gratefully, “Thank you. I’ll take you to see the ink right away.”
“No rush.” Feng Qingsui released her hand and said to Madam Fan, “Bring a hot towel. Apply it, and once the cyst fluid disperses, there will be no trace left.”
Madam Fan immediately sent someone to fetch a hot towel.
After Qiao Zhenzhen applied it, Feng Qingsui followed her to the attic to see the fragrant ink.
The entire attic had been converted into an exhibition room. Ink sticks were stored in boxes, categorized and placed on different display shelves.
“I’ve divided them into several major categories based on their scents: orchid, hibiscus, osmanthus…”
Qiao Zhenzhen explained as she walked.
Feng Qingsui stopped in front of the orchid-scented display shelf.
Although she couldn’t identify the specific floral scent in the ink on that slip of paper, she could roughly guess it was a type of orchid fragrance.
After scanning the ink sticks on the orchid-scented shelf, she took down a box.
She said calmly, “This scent is quite unique. Which flower juice was used to make this ink?”
“You have excellent taste,” Qiao Zhenzhen praised sincerely. “This is made from the juice of an extremely rare two-colored orchid. I’ve never seen this flower myself, but I’ve heard its petals are pink on the outer edges and emerald green in the center. Its leaves are like jadeite, with an extremely precious large golden border.”
Feng Qingsui sighed. “Such a rare orchid, and someone was willing to use it to make ink. How extravagant.”
“Exactly.”
Qiao Zhenzhen felt the same way.
She glanced toward the door and lowered her voice to Feng Qingsui:
“I’ll tell you quietly—please don’t spread it around. This ink was given to me by the Rongchang Hou Shizi. He said the Rongchang Marquis Mansion went to great lengths to make it as a birthday gift for his aunt’s celebration. They made ninety-nine pieces in total, symbolizing everlasting longevity. This one is a flawed piece, which is why it was sent to me.”
Marquis Rongchang had several sisters, but the only one worthy of such an elaborate gift from the Rongchang Marquis Mansion was the one sitting on the empress’s throne.
Feng Qingsui thought: Just as I suspected.
The deaths of her sister’s family were definitely connected to the Rongchang Marquis Mansion.
She placed the ink box back on the display shelf and smiled. “I didn’t expect the Rongchang Hou Shizi to have come here to listen to your songs as well.”
“He’s practically a regular at our Fanlou…” Qiao Zhenzhen seemed somewhat embarrassed. “He even once wanted to take me as a concubine, but my mother found out his concubines didn’t tend to live long, so she refused.”
Feng Qingsui chuckled. “It’s better to be a free-spirited songstress. Those deep courtyards and grand mansions devour people without spitting out the bones.”
Qiao Zhenzhen nodded. “That’s exactly what my mother said.”
After viewing all the floral-scented ink in the exhibition room, Feng Qingsui took her leave.
Madam Fan wanted to pay her a consultation fee, but she declined, smiling. “I’ve already received my payment. If you feel uneasy, just give me a discount next time I come to listen to songs.”
“Look at you!”
Madam Fan practically wanted to enshrine her like a bodhisattva.
“What discount? From now on, you’ll be our Fanlou’s most honored guest. You won’t have to spend a single penny when you come to listen to songs here!”
Feng Qingsui thanked her and boarded the donkey cart with Wuhua.
Madam Fan watched them leave, and only when the donkey cart disappeared from sight did the tension in her scalp finally ease.
—So she really just came to treat an illness. Instead of living comfortably as a noble lady, she runs around brothels treating people. This world truly has all kinds of people.
A short while later, in some seedy corner where local ruffians gathered, someone else was exclaiming, “This world truly has all kinds of people!”
Over in Lihua Alley, there was actually a woman who loved eating shit!
The news came from a scabby-headed man.
He said someone had approached him, asking him to find a few people willing to sell their shit, to go to No. 18 Lihua Alley and produce it fresh on the spot.
One lump of shit for one tael of silver!
He had just sold one lump yesterday!
After the group saw his shiny, gleaming silver ingot, they were all tempted.
So a dozen or so brothers, arms around each other’s shoulders, headed toward Lihua Alley.
Inside the courtyard of No. 18 Lihua Alley, Jin Shi was sleeping soundly during her afternoon nap when she was suddenly awakened by her maid. She immediately kicked out.
Irritated, she snapped, “Have you lost your mind, daring to disturb my sleep!”
The maid clutched her stomach, cold sweat beading on her forehead. “Madam, there’s a group of people outside saying they want to sell shit to you.”
“Sell what?!”
“Sell shit…”
Jin Shi grabbed her pillow and threw it.
“You little wretch! You can’t even tell what’s filthy and foul, and you dare disturb me! Don’t you have a mouth? Tell them to get as far away as possible!”
As soon as the words left her mouth, she heard the gatekeeper woman shriek, “Ah! How dare you trespass! Get out, get out now!”
Her face paled in alarm. She scrambled up and hastily threw on her outer robe.
Just as she stepped out of her room, she saw over a dozen men barging through the moon gate. Her face instantly turned white.
“What do you think you’re doing!”
She shouted sternly.
The dozen or so men looked at her as if she were a monster, then all started speaking at once:
“We’re here to sell shit!”
“Buy mine! I only eat vegetables. My shit doesn’t smell at all.”
“Nonsense! I have diarrhea every day. My shit is like yellow soup—that’s the real odorless kind.”
“If it doesn’t smell, can it even be called shit? All of you, step aside! I can produce any shape of shit you want. If it’s not to your liking, I won’t charge!”
…
Jin Shi was so angry her makeup was practically falling off.
“Who wants your shit! Get out of here now! If you don’t leave, I’ll have every one of you beaten with boards at the yamen!”
The crowd looked toward the scabby-headed man who had urged them to come. He angrily retorted, “I’ve been holding in this lump of shit for you since last night, Grandpa here! And you say you don’t want it?!”
“Exactly, I just finished all my rations on the way here, and I barely managed to squeeze out a bit of shit. How dare you deny it?!”
The crowd surged forward, snatching away every last item from Jin Shi: the hairpins and hair ornaments from her head, the silver-threaded bun, the earrings from her earlobes, the golden Buddha pendant around her neck, and the jade bangle from her wrist.
After the looting, they dropped their pants and defecated right on the spot.
“Don’t say I robbed you—I gave you goods in return!”