Qin Shi: I went astray in the Heavenly Sect

Chapter 126 Meeting an Old Friend, the Stunning Snow Maiden

"Greetings, Your Excellency the Prime Minister!"

In Handan, in front of the Jade Flower Pavilion, on an extremely luxurious carriage, an old man with a somewhat sinister appearance raised his hand and lifted a corner of the curtain.

Upon seeing this person, Li Zaiyou quickly stepped forward to greet him. Wang Hu paused, and also dared not be negligent, coming over to greet him as well.

"This humble general, Wang Hu, greets the Prime Minister."

"Wang Hu?"

"I wondered who it was?"

"Tell me, what can be said, and what cannot be said?"

Wang Hu's face stiffened. He was still very wary of this prime minister who held absolute power in the Zhao Kingdom.

"The general will not dare."

Guo Kai gave a soft snort. He then turned to look at the Jade Flower Pavilion before him, a hint of coldness flashing deep in his turbid eyes.

"What a place of pleasure! In broad daylight, someone dares to commit violence here. Does he think he has someone to protect him and therefore doesn't care about the laws of Zhao, or is it that someone simply doesn't care about the laws of Zhao?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Hu's expression changed. After all, it was Guo Kai; with this blow, he had actually trapped both Gongzi Jia and him inside.

"Your Excellency, the matter has not been fully investigated. Such a hasty judgment is unfair!"

Guo Kai sneered.

"Is this unfair?"

"Commander Wang let his son commit violence and kill my guards. Now you dare to talk about fairness in front of me? Do you think that with Li Mu protecting you, I won't dare to touch you?"

His voice wasn't loud, but it was full of imposing presence. Guo Kai held a high position and was favored by the Prince of Zhao, so his words were sometimes more effective than evidence. Upon hearing this, Wang Hu's heart skipped a beat.

He then clasped his hands in a fist and said, "This humble general dares not. This matter is extremely strange. When Wang Shan arrived here, he was already dead."

Guo Kai frowned, his gaze turning gloomy. He had just received news that Heishi had been killed at Jade Flower Pavilion, but he didn't know the specifics.

According to Wang Hu, this matter is quite strange.

However, the Wang family father and son have been acting too wildly these past few days, and he felt it necessary to give them a warning.

Then he said quietly, "Does Commander Wang mean that Black Stone had lived long enough and then came to Jade Flower Pavilion to commit suicide?"

Upon hearing this, Li Zaiyou, who was standing to the side, smiled slightly. Just now, Wang Hu was extremely arrogant, but now, facing Guo Kai, he no longer dared to be domineering. His face looked like he had eaten shit, and Li Zaiyou found it extremely satisfying to look at him.

Seeing that Wang Hu did not answer, Guo Kai's somewhat gloomy voice rang out again.

“This morning, Wang Shan caused a huge scene at Zuimenglou. I can let it go, but if the Wang family doesn’t give me an explanation for Heishi’s death, then don’t blame me for being ruthless.”

Wang Hu's face darkened.

He was merely the commander of the Imperial Guards, and facing the powerful Prime Minister, he was under immense pressure. He was caught between two difficult questions: whether to speak or remain silent, for fear that a single misstep could bring utter destruction to the Wang family.

At this moment, a voice came over.

"Your Excellency, please calm down. Wang Shan acted rashly in the matter of Zui Meng Lou. He received intelligence that a Qin spy had infiltrated Zui Meng Lou, and he was ordered to search it in order to protect the reputation of Zui Meng Lou."

As they were talking, a young gentleman rode up on horseback.

Upon seeing the person who had arrived, Wang Hu felt a sense of relief.

"Greetings, Young Master Jia!"

Prince Jia, Prince Jia, this person is none other than Prince Jia, the eldest son of King Zhao.

"Young Master Jia, I pay my respects."

Upon seeing the person who arrived, Guo Kai greeted him through the curtains but did not get out of the car.

"Your Excellency, there is no need for such formalities."

Gongzi Jia waved his hand and replied with a smile.

"Qin spies have infiltrated the Drunken Dream Pavilion??"

After a while, Guo Kai's voice came again, his tone unreadable.

Gongzi Jia nodded.

"I have brought the witness. Would Your Excellency wish to see him?"

Upon hearing this, Guo Kai gave a light snort.

"No need. Besides, who can be sure whether what this person said is true or false? It's not impossible that he's deliberately framing someone."

Among the crowd, Xiu Yuan looked at the two opposing sides and gently shook his head.

He had already learned a general idea of ​​the situation in Zhao from Jing Ni. Judging from the current situation, Guo Kai was indeed not simple. Even when facing Gongzi Jia, he did not back down at all. And Wang Hu, a dignified commander of the Imperial Guards, did not dare to utter a single word in rebuttal.

Black Stone, a ruthless assassin, deserved to die, but here, Guo Kai brazenly uses him as a topic of discussion. It has to be said, this is a tragedy for the State of Zhao.

Xiu Yuan shook his head and didn't read any further. He wasn't interested in the power games played in the imperial court.

Still blending in with the crowd, he bypassed the throng and strode directly into this renowned brothel in Handan.

At present, people in Yuhua Pavilion are in a state of panic. The beautifully dressed girls are gathered in the main hall, most of them clutching a handkerchief and covering their chests, their expressions revealing a hint of anxiety and worry. Those with weaker mental fortitude have begun to whisper to those around them, seeking comfort.

Being here, their fate is not in their own hands. If Jade Flower Pavilion is really shut down, what will they do? So they can't help but worry.

Xiu Yuan didn't linger in the lobby. He flashed to the second floor, stood on the railing, and looked down at the entire lobby.

He came here with his own purpose, but after watching for a while, he couldn't help but frown.

"not here?"

He murmured to himself and reached out to pinch his chin.

Although the girls here were all beautiful and youthful, after seeing the stunning beauties like Nongyu, Jingni, Zinu, and Honglian, his feelings towards them were not greatly affected.

His gaze then swept over the rooms on the second and third floors and above.

The layout of Jade Flower Pavilion gets smaller as you go up, meaning there are fewer rooms on each floor. After thinking for a moment, he started searching from the second floor.

Most of the doors to the private rooms on the second floor were open. After all, with such a big event happening outside, how could the girls be in the mood to entertain customers?

Of course, this wasn't absolute; there were still a few rooms that were closed, and soft, seductive sounds could be heard from inside. Xiu Yuan didn't stand on ceremony; with a wave of his sleeve, he pushed the door open and then confirmed the identity.

When the door was opened, the guests who were still in Gao Le were stunned at first, and then they all started cursing. But when they got up to check and saw that there was no one at the door, their faces turned very ugly. After all, someone had just died on this second floor.

Watching the grumbling guests descend the stairs, Xiu Yuan shook his head helplessly. At a time like this, they still had the mind to do that. Some people really have a big heart.

Then came the third and fourth floors, the same operation, the same outcome. When danger strikes, people's mentality is similar: they gather together, which may not solve the problem, but at least provides some psychological comfort.

Standing in front of the stairs leading to the fifth floor, Xiu Yuan's eyes became somewhat strange. There was only one floor left, but he still couldn't find Yao Yi and Xiao Lin. Although the two girls looked good, they were definitely not capable of reaching the fifth floor.

If he wasn't mistaken, the higher the floor, the higher the price. In other words, the person on the fifth floor should be the top courtesan of Jade Flower Pavilion.

However, this was the only floor left, so he didn't hesitate and stepped up.

The fifth floor is much smaller than the first four floors, but it also has fewer rooms, only three.

After sensing the surroundings briefly, it seemed that only one of the three rooms on the fifth floor was occupied; the other two rooms were quiet and devoid of any signs of life.

Seeing this situation, Xiu Yuan seemed to be deep in thought. Zi Lan Xuan, which was also a brothel, had a total of four floors. Most of the rooms on the fourth floor were empty, with only two or three rooms used for living, while the rest were used to entertain guests.

If he wasn't mistaken, the layout of Jade Flower Pavilion was similar. Then Xiu Yuan looked at the only room with someone in it and walked over.

The three rooms look identical from the outside, the only difference being that the room with people in it has an exquisite wooden plaque hanging in front of it.

"Snow White?"

Xiu Yuan's expression changed slightly, and then he looked at the house in front of him again, his gaze becoming somewhat distant. If he was not mistaken, the owner of the house in front of him should be that girl.

After thinking about it, he finally decided to knock on the door.

"Who is it?"

A voice came from inside the room. The voice was slightly cold, but very gentle, like a breeze in the mountains that could soothe the vicissitudes of time.

However, Xiu Yuan did not answer. As a stranger, especially an uninvited stranger, it seemed inappropriate to say anything, especially since he had come to find another girl.

Going to a girl's room to find another girl—such an unromantic thing to do—I guess only he could do that.

Although he didn't say anything, his hands didn't stop.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

"girl?"

Another voice came, and Xiu Yuan's eyes lit up. He had a photographic memory and was very sensitive to sounds. He could almost never forget a sound he had heard once.

If he remembered correctly, the owner of this voice was Yao Yi.

"Xiao Yi, go see who it is!"

“Squeak!”

After a while, the door to the room was opened, and a small head peeked out, seemingly trying to see if anyone was around.

But the next moment, the girl froze on the spot.

"My benefactor!!"

Upon hearing this, Xiu Yuan nodded.

“I saw the letter you left with Ji Dong.”

Xiu Yuan didn't waste any words; his answer was concise and to the point. Upon hearing this, Yao Yi's eyes lit up, and a look of ecstatic joy appeared on her face.

The fact that they could understand the letter they left behind and even came looking for it signifies something entirely different.

She first leaned out, looked around, and after making sure no one was there, grabbed Xiuyuan's hand and pulled him into the room, then quickly closed the door.

Inside the room, there was another girl who was taken aback by Yao Yi's behavior. She asked in surprise, "Xiao Yi, what's wrong with you?"

Looking in the direction of the sound, a few ripples appeared in the depths of Xiu Yuan's calm gaze.

He guessed correctly; it was the person from his memory, and this person seemed even more beautiful at this time.

The woman had long, snow-white hair and an ethereal beauty. She wore a light blue, waist-revealing dress adorned with snowflakes, which was extremely eye-catching. Her eyebrows were lightly tinged with red, her eyes were like autumn water, and her cheeks were flushed like peach blossoms soaked in morning dew.

Her graceful figure exuded youthful vitality, her slender waist was fully exposed to the air due to her clothing, and her long, straight legs were clad in a pair of blue crystal dance clogs.

Even though Xiu Yuan was used to beautiful women, he couldn't help but feel a little amazed when he saw this girl, especially her temperament, which was like that of a fairy from the moon palace descending to the mortal world.

"Young lady, this is the benefactor I told you about before!!"

Yao Yi introduced herself with great pleasure.

"My little benefactor, I didn't know your name when we parted last time. Now you can tell me, right?"

Then Yao Yi looked at Xiu Yuan, her eyes sparkling.

Upon hearing this, Xiu Yuan looked at the girl beside him and softly replied, "Xiu Yuan."

"Cultivating affinity?"

The girl, no longer the country bumpkin, paused for a moment upon hearing the name Xiu Yuan.

It wasn't a name like Er Gou or Da Niu that I had imagined, but rather a very nice-sounding name.

Then Yao Yi said with a smile, "My little benefactor, Xiu Yuan!"

Hearing this title, Xiu Yuan was both amused and exasperated. "Benefactor is benefactor," he thought, "but you still have to add 'little' to it."

However, he did not refuse; seeing an old acquaintance warmed his heart.

Immediately afterward, Yao Yi seemed to remember something and spoke up again, introducing, "Oh right, let me introduce you. This is Sister Xue Nu, the top courtesan of this Jade Flower Pavilion. Her dance is the best in Handan City!"

Upon hearing this, the Snow Woman gently shook her head.

"Xiao Yi is exaggerating a bit; she just dances really well!"

A hint of reminiscence flashed in Xiu Yuan's eyes. Actually, what Xiao Yi said was quite right. In a few years, this girl would amaze the seven kingdoms at the ball, and her dance would be considered unparalleled. Now, it is said that she is the best in Handan, which is well-deserved.

The snow woman looked at the not-so-big boy in front of her, a hint of inquiry flashing in her eyes.

Although Yao Yi had told her how brave and intelligent this boy was, and how he had saved her from the thugs, she still found it hard to connect the person Yao Yi had described with the person in front of her.

Judging from the other person's current height, when he saved Yao Yi, he was probably not even as tall as a sword. In addition, given his slender build, it's hard to imagine what the scene must have been like back then.

However, based on her current impression, her first thought was that the other party was not simple, and was quite extraordinary.

He was so quiet. Whether he saw Yao Yi or himself, his expression remained almost unchanged. His calm gaze was like a spring, reflecting his own face.

People with such mental fortitude are usually extraordinary. Among the people she has met, the most outstanding one is none other than the master behind Jade Flower Pavilion, namely Young Master Jia. Even Young Master Jia does not seem to have the same calm and composed mindset as the other person.

"Nice to meet you, my name is Xiuyuan."

Hearing the voice beside her, the Snow Woman pulled her wandering thoughts back to her body, and then softly said, "Snow Woman."

The answer, so simple it couldn't be simpler, seemed to suggest that the girl wasn't as approachable as she appeared, but rather possessed a coldness that kept people at a distance.

However, Xiu Yuan didn't care about this; the girl in front of him didn't seem to have a good childhood.

He remembered someone saying, "Lucky people use their childhood to heal their whole lives, while unlucky people spend their whole lives healing their childhood." But for this girl, the trauma of her childhood was not so easy to heal.

Then Yao Yi pulled Xiu Yuan to sit down, while Xue Nu went to the other side of the screen.

"My little benefactor, how did you get up here? It's so noisy outside. It seems like something bad happened on the second floor. The Imperial Guards have surrounded the entire Jade Flower Pavilion."

Yao Yi casually picked up the teacup beside her and poured him a bowl of tea.

Seeing this, a strange look flashed across Xiu Yuan's eyes. Yao Yi and Xue Nu seemed to have a very good relationship, to the point that Yao Yi didn't treat him like an outsider at all.

After thinking for a moment, Xiu Yuan replied softly, "Something did happen. Hei Shi is dead, in a private room on the second floor."

Wang Shan had blocked the news, so Chunniang told the girls not to come out as much as possible. It wasn't until Wang Hu and Li Zai arrived at the door that the girls came out of their rooms. Yao Yi and Xue Nu had been staying on the fifth floor and hadn't come down, so she only just found out about the news.

"Black Stone?"

Yao Yi frowned, then seemed to realize something and asked with some surprise, "Is it Hei Shi, one of Guo Kai's men?"

Clearly, this girl knew about Blackrock, or at least had heard of it; otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to identify the other person so quickly.

Xiu Yuan nodded.

"It was him. As for the people outside, they were Guo Kai, the Prime Minister of Zhao, Sikou, Gongzi Jia, and Wang Hu, the Commander of the Imperial Guards."

Upon hearing the names of the people outside, Yao Yi's expression changed slightly.

During her time living in Handan, she learned about many people and things, including Guo Kai and Bi Ri. The latter was extremely powerful and could not be provoked by ordinary people. Even a general in the army was no match for him.

Upon hearing the same news, the Snow Woman's expression also darkened.

Jade Flower Pavilion is nothing more than a brothel and dance hall. If it weren't for Young Master Jia's protection, it would have been devoured by those high-ranking and powerful people long ago. First, there was the death of Black Stone, and then Guo Kai. Jade Flower Pavilion is probably going to be in turmoil this time.

As if remembering something, Yao Yi asked again, "My benefactor, you still haven't told me how you got up here?"

Xiu Yuan smiled.

"They came up!"

Yao Yi was taken aback by this answer.

There were so many people gathered both inside and outside. If she came up, wouldn't she have been spotted long ago? She gave Xiu Yuan a strange look.

"You came up here?"

Xiu Yuan nodded. Actually, that wasn't entirely wrong. He had indeed come up step by step, searching for his way up. As for further explanation, he didn't say anything more.

When he left Sanyang Village, there were two girls, but now he only saw Yao Yi and not Xiao Lin. Before figuring out the situation, he decided to conceal his strength for the time being.

"The main hall was crowded and chaotic. Besides, the area outside was already surrounded. As long as we were still inside the Jade Flower Pavilion, what difference did it make where we were? So no one cared about these things anymore."

Upon hearing this explanation, Yao Yi nodded.

"That's right!"

On the other side, the Snow Woman frowned slightly after hearing this answer.

She was a few years older than Yao Yi and had experienced more, so she didn't completely believe Xiu Yuan's answer.

Although the other person could use their short stature and agility to evade most people's attention, knocking on their own door and accurately finding the person they were looking for was no easy feat.

Having heard from the other party that they had come after reading Yao Yi's letter, she temporarily suppressed those dark thoughts in her heart.

"This way, you guys."

After thinking for a moment, Xiu Yuan looked at Yao Yi and asked again. Then he glanced at the screen, and Yao Yi immediately understood.

Yao Yi then gently shook her head, indicating that she was alright.

After a moment of silence, Yao Yi's eyes flickered.

Three years have passed since Xiu Yuan last saved her and Xiao Lin. Three years is not a long time, but it is not short either. A lot can change in three years. In this era of war, one could even say that things have changed beyond recognition.

Just as Xiu Yuan was wary of Yao Yi, Yao Yi was equally wary of Xiu Yuan.

The Jade Flower Pavilion where she worked was one of the most famous brothels and dance halls in Handan, and Xue Nu was the top courtesan there. Many people had designs on her, and she had stopped quite a few of them, both openly and secretly. It was because of this that Xue Nu and she were particularly close.

Now that her benefactor, whom she hadn't seen for three years, had come looking for her, she was overjoyed, but dared not reveal the whole story as soon as they met.

"It's nothing serious."

Upon hearing this, Xiu Yuan gently shook his head.

When he left Sanyang Village, he had already realized that Yao Yi was much better-natured than Xiao Lin. In the chaos of the world, Yao Yi actually had a greater chance of surviving peacefully.

And judging from the current situation, that's pretty much the case. Being able to stay by the Snow Woman's side and have a relationship as good as sisters is enough to show how clever and shrewd this girl is.

"Want to take a gamble?"

"Just like back then."

Yao Yi was taken aback, then looked up at the boy.

A gamble? Back then?
She inexplicably understood what Xiu Yuan meant. Xiu Yuan was referring to the time when she and Xiao Lin decided to escape with the other party after leaving Sanyang Village, which was a huge gamble for her.

After all, no one could guarantee that this ruthless young man wouldn't abandon them, or even use them as scapegoats at a crucial moment, or worse, sell them off. For the two girls, that would indeed be a huge gamble.

"My benefactor is joking."

Yao Yi felt a little self-deprecating. She was the one who left the letter and asked the other party for help, but when the time came, she hesitated and was timid.

Furthermore, she had another concern. After arriving in Handan, she realized that the world was vast and contained many powerful figures. Besides those with immense power like Guo Kai and Gongzi Jia, there were also experts like Heishi who could kill without leaving a trace.

The boy looks as ordinary and quiet as ever. He can't save her with just a little bit of cleverness. If she were to drag him down with her, it would be a sin for her.

Where is Xiaolin?

(End of this chapter)