Chapter 106 Part 1: Imprisoned
At the back door of Xi Hua Lou, the female greeting the visitors was still the one that Jiang Li saw last time. She was stunned for a while when she saw Jiang Li and afterwards she immediately smiled and said: “Miss came looking for Qiong Zhi?”
Jiang Li said: “Exactly.” Then she handed a silver banknote taken from her sleeve.
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The female did not decline and received the banknote. She said to Jiang Li: “Miss, please follow me.” Then she personally took Jiang Li inside towards Qiong Zhi’s room.
Each girl in Xi Hua Lou was smart, they knew what they should and should not ask. Although they did not know the relationship between Jiang Li and Qiong Zhi, they would not reject seeing that there was no noise or accident the last time the two of them met. Moreover, Jiang Li was generous so they just conveniently lent a hand.
Thus, Jiang Li was taken to Qiong Zhi’s room.
The female smiled and said: “Qiong Zhi is already waiting for you inside, just call me if you have any instructions.” Then she retreated.
Jiang Li pushed the door open and entered Qiong Zhi’s room.
Perhaps Jiang Li was mistaken, but after not meeting for a few days, Qiong Zhi had become a lot thinner. However, a beauty in the end was a beauty. Even if she was wan and thin, it only made her bearing become more decadent with a different kind of beauty that was not seen before. Just like a safflower that was about to wither, she was even more eye-catching.
Jiang Li guessed, perhaps after Qiong Zhi learned about Xue Zhao’s death, she wasted away in these past few days.
“You are here.” Qiong Zhi was sitting in front of a table fiddling with a disorderly chessboard. When she heard movements, she did not move and merely looked at her.
Jiang Li closed the door and said: “Yes.”
Qiong Zhi stared at her for a while then laughed suddenly. She said: “Before, I said that Xue Zao’s guts were big. Now apparently, there’s still someone whose guts are bigger. I don’t know what the expression of Chief a.s.sistant Jiang, Jiang Yuan Bai, would be if he found out that his daughter is visiting a brothel while in Xiangyang.”
She was aware of Jiang Li’s ident.i.ty.
Jiang Li was silent momentarily before stepping forward and sat opposite Qiong Zhi. She said: “You found out.”
“Miss Jiang second’s generous statement in front of Li Zheng Tang is now spread widely in the entire Xiangyang. It’s hard not to know.” Qiong Zhi sighed, “I just didn’t expect that the person who came looking for me is you, the Jiang family’s second miss.”
“Don’t know whether it’s a good thing or a bad thing.” Jiang Li smiled bitterly. She borrowed the Jiang family’s reputation to help the Ye family deal with Tong Zhi Yang, at the same time, she exposed her own ident.i.ty. In the future, whatever she was going to do, it would be hard not to be recognized. Perhaps it was better to be like Ji Heng, n.o.body knew his ident.i.ty. Those who knew did not dare to bring him trouble and took the initiative to stay away.
“There’s only one thing I want to ask you,” Qiong Zhi played with the bracelet on her wrist. There’s a little bell carefully hung on the bracelet, along with her movement, it emitted a ding-a-ling sound, extremely skillful. She asked: “How did you get acquainted with the Xue family. I am aware of the past deeds of Miss Jiang second, looking at it, you should not have any relations with the Xue family.”
Qiong Zhi was a capable person. Among her benefactors, there were swordsmen, officials, none should be underestimated. That’s the reason why Jiang Li asked Qiong Zhi to inquire about the things in Tongxiang. On the contrary, Jiang second miss was also not just an ordinary person. Her affairs, not mentioning Yanjing, even in other parts of Northern Yan, were at least known one or two. Those “glorious achievements”, just with a little inquiry would be immediately known. As such, Jiang second miss and the Xue family were two different styles of people that did not belong in the same group. It’s understandable if Qiong Zhi doubted that they were acquainted with each other.
Jiang Li kept quiet for a long time before she spoke: “I was familiar with Xue Zhao’s sister.” Before Qiong Zhi could speak more, she continued to say: “You don’t have to doubt how I knew Xue Fang Fei. I truly want to avenge Xue Fang Fei. I can’t tell you much, you can only trust me at this time.”
Qiong Zhi was stunned, and raised her head to look seriously at Jiang Li.
“Like I said, I know your feelings towards Xue Zhao. Now Xue Zhao is dead, you should also want to take revenge for Xue Zhao, right?! In reality, you cannot do anything at all. But I can,” Jiang Li spoke up to here and showed a faint smile, “I’m Jiang Yuan Bai’s daughter, the honorable young lady of the chief a.s.sistant. I don’t fear the other party having power. Only I can take revenge for Xue Zhao, you have to believe me.”
Qiong Zhi pulled the corner of her mouth, probably thinking of showing a mocking smile. In the end, she finally sighed softly, half frustrated and half unwilling, she said: “You have long known that I can only trust you.”
Jiang Li’s small heart came down. However, there’s nothing shown on her face. She smiled and said: “Actually, you don’t have to think so much. Telling me the things happening in Tongxiang will not have any effect on you.”
Qiong Zhi was a smart woman. Her intelligence was not reflected in talent and learning, but in her familiarity with the ways of the world. People who seeked livelihood among the haunts all year long were more liable to discern what people think from their body language. A woman like Qiong Zhi who grew up in Xi Hua Lou had a more cautious mind than ordinary people and was constantly vigilant.
“Now can you tell me about Tongxiang?” Jiang Li asked.
“You really want to know?” Qiong Zhi asked.
Unconsciously, Jiang Li clenched her hands tucked inside her sleeves. Her heart seemed to be hung by a silk thread, swaying as if suspended in the air.
“There’s no harm in telling you. The mantle of the Xue family seems to decline. These days, I’ve welcomed many guests and can be said to have heard a bit of clues.” She first glanced at Jiang Li and her tone lowered, “in the beginning, I thought perhaps Xue Zhao’s was a ridiculous story that you made up and I still held a bit of hope in my heart. Until I met a n.o.ble who had just returned from visiting family in Yanjing. She told me that the top scorer’s madam, Xue Fang Fei, had indeed wasted away and died after she was found to be engaged in an illicit affair. Her younger brother Xue Zhao hurried to Yanjing but was murdered by bandits on the way, his corpse abandoned in the river. It’s the same as what you’ve said.”
“Those are all the things happening in Yanjing,” Jiang Li said, “how about Xue Huai Yuan in Tongxiang?”
The trace of eagerness in her tone was caught by Qiong Zhi. Qiong Zhi paused before looking at Jiang Li, “There’s something that I do not understand. You said that half a year ago Xue Huai Yuan pa.s.sed away and wanted me to find out how he died and where he was buried. However, Xue Huai Yuan is not dead yet.”