Chapter 12
Standing in front of the peony painting, Jiù Què admired it for a long while, stroking her chin in curiosity.
Could Yu Lang have hidden a secret passage in his study? Normally, one would just move the painting to see a switch or a hidden door.
But when she moved it aside, there was nothing. That was odd.
She picked up the painting and carried it over to Jīn Huā with interest.
“Miss Jīn Huā, did Yu Lang paint this?”
Unexpectedly, Jīn Huā shook her head, clearly puzzled.
“I don’t know. He never let me in, nor let me clean. Everything inside, including that door, he did himself.”
At this point, everyone gathered to look at the peony painting. Chún Yú Shuāng reached out to gently touch the brushstrokes, lost in thought. The strokes varied in depth, clearly not made at the same time. The scroll itself was unusually glossy, showing that its owner must have cherished it and often handled it.
Listening to Chún Yú Shuāng’s observation, Jiù Què examined the painting carefully. She picked up one end of the scroll, gently twisting and pulling it. To everyone’s surprise, the scroll rotated open, and a folded piece of paper slipped out.
When they unfolded it, most of those present couldn’t help but turn away, faces burning with embarrassment. On it was an extremely vivid and erotic “avoidance of fire” illustration.
The folded paper didn’t look very large, but once opened, it was nearly three feet long, densely filled with depictions of naked women, each with their own charms.
Although somewhat embarrassing, Jiù Què pressed on with her investigation. She was not easily fazed; she had seen much more, so this posed no threat. She simply stared at one of the women for a moment, then swiftly put away the hidden paper.
Chún Yú Shuāng and the others were somewhat puzzled, but since Jiù Què was leading this investigation, they said nothing. Jiù Què herself, however, looked slightly displeased.
“Brother, you probably have men under you, right? Could you send a few more? There’s some work that needs helping with.”
The tall man nodded and gave a brief introduction:
“Wèi Yuān.”
Jīn Huā still looked confused, but Jiù Què and the others had already risen to leave.
The elderly man who had been following them arrived outside as well. The sky was darkening, and distant sounds of children laughing and crying echoed. Surprisingly, none of the people outside left. Some had even sat down from exhaustion, but there was no sign of impatience. When they saw Jiù Què and the group, they instinctively gathered closer, only relaxing when the elder offered comforting looks.
“Old Mu, Miss Jīn Huā is alright now, right?”
In the dim alley, one side held the warmth of community life, while the paper tucked in Jiù Què’s sleeve sent shivers down her spine. Mixed together, the sensations were intense.
Taking a deep breath, Jiù Què clapped her hands loudly to get everyone’s attention.
“All right, fellow villagers, neighbors! Sorry to have troubled you today. Don’t worry, it’s nothing bad—we’re just here looking for someone. There’s no need for alarm. We’re right under the Emperor’s protection, and everything will be safe. We’ll be leaving soon, but a few of my brothers will stay to watch over you at night. See them? Those tall, strong fellows? Don’t worry, they’re government men, salaried by the Emperor himself, representing His Majesty’s authority. The Emperor cares deeply for the people, and in case of hidden trouble, he specially sent them to ensure your safety.”
Hearing Jiù Què’s words ease everyone’s worries, Old Mu was astonished. That was truly remarkable. Normally, everyone feared the officials’ soldiers. They might outwardly appear just, but in private, small officers would constantly oppress the people.
Yet in Jiù Què’s words, these officials seemed to exist solely to protect the people. Her tone and attitude were so matter-of-fact that even the villagers couldn’t help but believe her.
Could this really be true?
Under everyone’s watchful eyes, the golden-armored guards stiffened. They were usually palace guards, noble-born, raised in luxury, rarely interacting with ordinary citizens. They were initially somewhat aloof, but under Jiù Què’s words and the villagers’ anxious, expectant eyes, a strange feeling arose within them. Perhaps this is what we are meant to do.
Although it wasn’t something they had been told to do, seeing the villagers’ hopeful faces made these young men’s hearts burn with enthusiasm. They seriously nodded, ready to guard the citizens.
Seeing their slightly awkward demeanor, the woman who had tricked Jiù Què with a bag of candied melon seeds quickly spoke up.
“These young men are still young. It’ll be cold tonight. Let me get my son’s clothes to keep you warm—don’t worry, they’re brand new!”
“Yes! They’re here to keep us safe, so we can’t let them suffer hunger or cold! Come, let’s eat something at my place!”
“Let’s go! Eat first, work later!”
The young guards, overwhelmed by the villagers’ enthusiasm, blushed and sent pleading glances at Jiù Què.
Wèi Yuān found it strange. His own men hadn’t arrived yet. These guards were palace guards, usually seen in the palace. Not elite, but above ordinary attendants. He had never seen them this shy.
Jiù Què glanced at the cunning woman and smiled, then slipped away. Of course, although the villagers were enthusiastic, the guards couldn’t eat outside while on duty, so they had to refuse.
Jiù Què, leaving, wondered where she would stay that night. She hadn’t gone far when she noticed a modest green carriage at the street corner. The young eunuch driving it, though dressed plainly, still revealed subtle traces of status in his movements.
Seeing Jiù Què, the eunuch beamed and invited the four of them into the carriage.
When they saw the smiling old Emperor, their suspicions were confirmed—His Majesty had been waiting for them all along. Great, I need to figure out what to say next.
[Haven’t even had a sip of hot water before going back to work. They’re all beasts of burden, we’re nuclear-powered donkeys! The Emperor wields his whip so efficiently!]
