Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Chapter 424: The Boudoir Test

Jinling, Yuminfang.

In the left wing of the inner courtyard, Keqing was sitting by the bed doing needlework, wearing a white vest with a light blue and gold floral pattern, a white round-necked gauze dress, and a white pleated skirt embroidered with plum branches.

The afternoon sun shone into the room from the garden, illuminating her delicate face and her graceful and charming body.

Her eyebrows and eyes are picturesque, as bright as roses, her skin is fair and smooth, and her curves are slender. She seems to be wrapped in a ball of bright light, so charming and beautiful that she is beyond description.

She was holding a moon-white robe with a stand-up collar and a silver bamboo pattern in her hand, threading the needle. Most of the work had been done, with only the embroidery of the pattern on the front lapel remaining to be completed.

This robe was naturally made for Jia Cong.

The door to the left wing was half open, and Keqing, sitting on the edge of the bed, could just see the right wing opposite.

Early this morning, Jia Cong, who had disappeared for many days, appeared in Yuminfang.

He also brought gifts for Qu Hongxiu and Keqing, which he bought at Ziyun Pavilion a few days ago. He even brought gifts for Baozhu and Ruizhu.

The atmosphere in the Yuminfang mansion became joyful and lively because of his arrival. Jia Cong just said a few words to them and then pulled Qu Hongxiu into the right wing.

Qin Keqing finished a piece of needlework, bit off the thread with her pearly white teeth, slightly tilted her head, and glanced at the right wing opposite with her beautiful, watery and bright eyes.

The door of the room was still tightly closed. Keqing frowned slightly. The two of them had been in there for quite some time, and no one knew what they were doing in such a mysterious way.

Keqing knew that the relationship between Sister Xiu and Brother Cong was very strange. They were like master and disciple, and like siblings, but sometimes they seemed like neither.

Moreover, the way Sister Xiu looked at Brother Cong always made people feel that something was wrong. Maybe something was wrong between them in Shenjing before, but they just didn't know it.

But Sister Xiu is a strong-willed person. Brother Cong would not dare to do shameful things like he did to herself when he stayed in the room with her. Thinking of this, Keqing couldn't help blushing.

But who knows, because the two of them were so close when they were practicing, they might have become a little unscrupulous, huh...

……

There was no gentle and romantic affair in the right wing as Keqing had imagined.

Jia Cong went to Yuminfang to discuss the matter of Yao's wine shop in Xinghua Lane with Qu Hongxiu.

After she told the whole story, Qu Hongxiu's face changed drastically.

Jia Cong asked, "Sister Xiu, who is this Xu Qiniang in the Hidden Sect? How did she suddenly become a member of the Zhongchesi?"

Jia Cong met Qu Hongxiu when he was ten years old. In order to save their own lives, they teamed up to kill the spy from the Magistrate's Court, which became their common secret that they could not bear the punishment for.

Because of a strange encounter, the two of them have been closely connected ever since.

From then on, Qu Hongxiu completely faded out of the secluded door, and opened the Xiuniang Incense Shop with Jia Cong in Shenjing, and lived an ordinary and stable life.

The topic of Hidden Door has always been a taboo that they deliberately avoided. After so many years of knowing each other, they have talked about Hidden Door only a few times.

But now that the incident at the Yao Family Wine Shop in Xinghua Lane had happened, they had no choice but to reopen this long-sealed topic.

Qu Hongxiu thought for a moment and said solemnly, "Xu Qinniang's father and my father are close friends. They are both old figures in the Hidden Sect and hold high positions in the sect.

Fifteen years ago, at Luofengpo, Yunyan Mountain in Shenjing, the people of the Hidden Sect were surrounded and suppressed by the imperial army, and a bloody battle took place. My father was seriously injured and luckily escaped, but Xu Qinnan's father was killed on the spot.

I was very young at the time and had just begun to remember things. Although my father survived for many years after escaping, he eventually died from his injuries.

Xu Qinnan and I have known each other since childhood. She is much older than me, and we haven't seen each other for ten years. She has seen me as a child, but she probably wouldn't recognize me if she saw me again now.

After Xu Qinniang's father died, there was no news of Xu Qinniang. About eight years ago, I heard that she married a disciple of the sect, and her husband was from Jinling.

Before he died, my father told me that he and his wife went to Jinling and set up a secret archive in Xinghua Lane.

This matter is extremely secretive, and if it weren't for my father's extensive experience in the sect, it would have been impossible for him to know about it.

The Qu and Xu families are old friends, and their friendship spans several lifetimes. My father revealed this matter before he died because of the old friendship between the two families, and he wanted to give me an extra way out in the future.

The Longtan Port bloodbath happened in Nanjing that year, and the risks are unpredictable. You are going to Nanjing to carry out the emperor's mission, and I am worried that you will encounter risks. I only have one acquaintance in Nanjing, Xu Qinnan.

I gave you the hidden door token out of helplessness. As long as she knows that it was me who asked you for help, she will definitely lend a helping hand.

Fortunately, everything went smoothly for you in Jinling and you did not use this token, otherwise it would be hard to say what would happen in the future.

If we were to be implicated by the Hidden Sect again, it would be unknown whether we could still be as safe as we are now."

After listening to Qu Hongxiu's words, Jia Cong felt somewhat fortunate that he did not rashly contact the wine shop in Xinghua Lane when he was in Jinling.

……

He thought for a moment and said, "Sister Xiu, there are only two possible reasons for this strange incident. The first is that Xu Qiniang betrayed the Hidden Sect and joined the Zhongche Division.

However, this situation is almost impossible to happen. The imperial court regards the Hidden Sect as a scourge and a monster. They strictly guard against and kill all the people in the Hidden Sect.

It would never be allowed for a rebel from a hidden sect, carrying a suspicion, to join the Zhongchesi, a top-ranking official in the inner court controlled by the imperial power.

Therefore, it can only be the second possibility, that is, Xu Qiniang and Yao's wine shop are the hidden spies planted in the Zhongche Division by the Hidden Sect!"

Qu Hongxiu looked grim and said thoughtfully, "This must be the reason. I don't know if my father knew the inside story back then.

However, it will take more than a year or two to accomplish such a thing.

The Imperial Chariot Division is the most secretive inner court of the emperor. It is inconceivable that someone from the Hidden Gate could sneak into the Imperial Chariot Division.

I think Xu Qinnan married to Jinling eight years ago, most likely under the arrangement of the sect, and planned this matter in the long run.

I don’t know which person in the Hidden Sect could have set up such a long-term plan, I’m afraid he has a big plan.”

After hearing this, Jia Cong felt a shudder in his heart. No wonder the imperial court regarded the Hidden Sect as a serious threat. The people in the Hidden Sect were so insidious and persevering that they were beyond the reach of ordinary people.

Jia Cong heard Zou Min'er talk about Xu Qinnan's background. She said that she joined the Imperial Chariot Company four years ago and had the longest seniority in the Jinling Imperial Chariot Company.

In other words, Xu Qinnan married into Jinling eight years ago and had been planning and lurking in Jinling for four years before she successfully became the Hidden Sect's secret agent in the Zhongchesi.

Eight years is enough to perfectly cover up a person's past. People in the hidden door would spend such a long time just to leave a secret door in the China Railway Company.

To be able to accomplish things to this extent requires great wisdom, patience, and even ambition...

I don’t know what kind of person is behind such a meticulous and gloomy operation.

……

Qu Hongxiu looked at Jia Cong with a gentle and calm gaze, and said: "Back then, Wu Jinrong informed the government, which led to the killing of more than 300 members of the Dezhou Hidden Sect. I assassinated him at the Nanxi Literary Conference.

I was seriously injured by the hawks of the Magistrate's Court on the way, but fortunately I met you. Since then, I have been tired of the days of swords and blood, and I have left the Hidden Gate, wanting to live a comfortable and peaceful life.

Brother Cong, I have spent several years and put a lot of effort to erase all traces of my involvement in Texas Hidden Gate.

As long as we no longer involve the Hidden Door, even if the Central Vehicle Division and the Court of Inquisition have great powers, they will not be able to find my flaws. After a few years, when everything is over, there will be no trace of me anymore.

Brother Cong, I am so deliberate in clearing my identity, not only for my own sake, but also because I don’t want you to be implicated by me in the future.

You were born in a noble family, with a noble and clean status. When you and I met, there was no turning back. You must not get involved with the Hidden Sect again, lest you bring disaster upon yourself."

Jia Cong said in a gentle voice: "Don't worry, Sister Xiu, I know the importance of this matter and will be careful and cautious. However, under the current circumstances, I have no choice but to contact Xu Qinniang." Qu Hongxiu said: "I have been in Jinling for a few years. Because I knew that there was Xu Qinniang in Jinling, I was careful about everything and never contacted her.

Outsiders only know that I am Qu, the manager of Xinchunhao. I have never revealed my real name in Jinling on the grounds of privacy.

When it comes to daily business affairs, they try to let Wang Dequan and trustworthy shopkeepers handle them, and they are also very cautious when going out.

Besides, I haven't seen her for ten years. I was still a little girl back then. Even if she saw me, she probably wouldn't recognize me. So Xu Qiniang didn't even know I existed."

Jia Cong knew that Qu Hongxiu's family members all came from hidden families, and this method of hiding her tracks had almost become her instinct.

Jinling City is so big that it is not difficult to avoid Xu Qinnan.

I think Xu Qinnan would never have dreamed that her old friend from the Hidden Sect would actually become the imperial merchant of the Imperial Household Department of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

Many bizarre things will often have the effect of making the darkest thing under the light appear dark, causing the parties involved to fall into a blind spot in thinking. This has always been the case.

Qu Hongxiu said: "You only go to see her in your capacity as the Director of the Firearms Department and the Chief Admiral of the Central Vehicle Department, and pretend to know nothing about other matters.

Just wait until the matter in Jinling is settled, and you should return to Shenjing as soon as possible, so that you will not have the chance to meet Xu Qiniang again, and naturally you will not cause any disputes. "

……

The two of them discussed how to deal with the matter, and Jia Cong also calmed down and began to think about how to deal with it carefully after meeting Xu Qinnan.

Suddenly, Qu Hongxiu said, "How is the injury of that lady Zhou?"

Jia Cong replied: "At the beginning, the injury was serious, but fortunately, a miracle doctor treated him. I was afraid that something might happen to him, so I took care of him day and night. Finally, he survived the critical moment of life and death."

Qu Hongxiu asked in a teasing tone: "I heard from Baozhu that after you arrived in Jinling, you often went to Qingyin Pavilion to meet with Madam Zhou, and the two of them were very close."

Jia Cong's face froze, and he frowned and said, "Sister Xiu, Baozhu is too wild. Why does she ask about everything, and you don't do anything about it?"

Qu Hongxiu raised the corner of his mouth slightly, and said in a slightly strange tone: "If you dare to be romantic, don't be afraid of what others say."

Jia Cong looked embarrassed and said with a smile: "Sister Xiu, it's not what you think. In fact, although Miss Zou is in the Jiaofang Division, she is from the Zhongche Division.

This time, I was assigned by the China Railway Company to go to Jinling to assist me in investigating the Zhou Zhengyang case. I often went to Qingyin Pavilion to look for her, but it was just to cover up my tracks. "

Although Qu Hongxiu had guessed something beforehand, he did not expect that this Madam Zhou was actually from the Imperial Chariot Company.

She murmured to herself, "So that's how it is..."

But after thinking about it carefully, he immediately felt that something was wrong, and asked in a coquettish voice: "You didn't pretend to be in love with the girl, did you?"

Jia Cong was shocked when he heard this. Women in the world are really the same. They are extremely sensitive and suspicious about such things.

With an awkward expression, he forced a smile and said, "That's not true. She and I went to Nanjing on business together. We are colleagues, that's all..."

Qu Hongxiu showed disdain on her pretty face and said, "We were colleagues, and when she got hurt, you got so nervous that you didn't come back for days.

Also, I heard from Jiang Liu that Madam Zhou was stabbed in the chest and abdomen, which is a girl's private parts. And you still say that you have never provoked the girl.

If you hadn't provoked her, she would have allowed a man to stay with her day and night without fear of suspicion. I'm not Keqing, who is so easily fooled!"

Qu Hongxiu's words were well-reasoned and Jia Cong was speechless for a moment. However, to be honest, he did not provoke Zou Miner at the beginning.

However, after being confronted by Qu Hongxiu, even though he was always smart and clever, he was unable to say anything in response, as if he was a little guilty...

Qu Hongxiu snorted, as if she was disappointed with him, and said, "I don't know you. You are always like this. Either you provoke other girls, or you provoke other girls to provoke you.

Brother Cong, with your current status, you are registered in the clan office, so you can't marry an unnamed woman in the future.

There is already a Keqing waiting for you, but you are provoking others and owing debts everywhere. I wonder how you will deal with it in the future."

When Qu Hongxiu first heard what she said, it sounded like an older sister scolding her younger brother, but the more she spoke, the more she could no longer conceal a hint of bitterness in her words.

Jia Cong understood the meaning of her words and was slightly touched.

Among the women Jia Cong knew, his relationship with Qu Hongxiu was the most bizarre. They were like master and apprentice, but also like sister and brother.

Jia Cong studied at Qingshan Academy for several years and seldom returned to the Jia Mansion, but he would go to Qu Hongxiu's residence every other day.

Over the past few years, Qu Hongxiu has taught his family martial arts to him, and the two of them have been close friends, spending every day together.

And because of their unique encounter and Qu Hongxiu's dangerous background, there are no secrets between the two of them, and they share almost all of each other's private stories.

Among all the women Jia Cong knew, he was only so open with Qu Hongxiu.

This unusual relationship is so different from others.

Even Baozhu knew that Sister Xiu had passed on her family's unique skills to Brother Cong and would never teach them to anyone else.

Even Keqing could see that when the two were teaching each other martial arts, they had already done nothing to hide their feelings, almost like a man and a woman.

And deep down in Jia Cong's heart, he also had a special kind of intimacy with Qu Hongxiu.

He smiled and said, "If we talk about debts, I owe Sister Xiu the most. Without Sister Xiu, I wouldn't be where I am today, and I don't know how I'm going to pay it back in the future."

When Qu Hongxiu heard Jia Cong's words, her heart skipped a beat. She, who was always heroic and capable, suddenly felt a flush on her face and turned slightly to the side.

He said, "You little bastard, you even dare to tease me. You have earned your future by studying for the imperial examination. It has nothing to do with me. You don't owe me any debt."

Jia Cong smiled and said, "I learned all my martial arts from Sister Xiu. If it weren't for Sister Xiu's generous teaching, how could I have fought in Liaodong and won meritorious service and been awarded a title.

In the past two years, I have been busy with the imperial examinations and serving as an official. Sister Xiu has been in charge of the business of Xinchunhao. Otherwise, Xinchunhao would not have grown to its current size, and we would not have this family business."

Qu Hongxiu listened to Jia Cong's serious words and smiled: "Do you usually coax Keqing and that Zhou lady in the same way?

You have some conscience. It's enough that you know it in your heart. But you say that you owe me a debt, as if I owe you a lot too.

If I hadn't met you, I might still be living on the edge of a knife.

You are full of strange thoughts and ideas. I have never seen anyone like you.

Not only did you come up with the recipe for making perfume, you also came up with many novel ways to do business.

You let me know that the world is big and people have many interesting ways to live. It took me a long time with you to make up my mind and completely break away from the past. "

Qu Hongxiu was slightly emotional as she spoke, with a look of relief and joy in her words. Her bright eyes were sparkling and very moving.

She continued, "These past few years have been the best in my life, without fear or fear, without the flash of blood.

Even though it’s hard, but with you by my side, my life is peaceful. I don’t know if you understand what I mean, but that’s what I think in my heart.”

Jia Cong and Qu Hongxiu have been together for many years and have a close relationship, but Qu Hongxiu is full of heroic spirit and there is almost no weakness and fragility of a woman in her.

This was the first time Jia Cong heard Qu Hongxiu say these true feelings. His words were full of tenderness and longing, which made Jia Cong's heart beat fast.

He said seriously: "Sister Xiu, don't worry, we will live like this in the future."

Qu Hongxiu smiled sweetly, stretched out her hand to straighten Jia Cong's collar, and said, "You are so capable, I think you can do it. The most important thing for me is to take good care of the present life."

(End of this chapter)