April 20th, Xuanchun Garden's banquet was held in the evening. Yu Shu was staying at Wang Ji Lou when someone came to deliver the gift list.
Yu Shu and Xue Rui had just finished their breakfast. One was preparing to go upstairs, while the other was planning to go out.
Lin Fu brought them to the door and handed a gift list and a letter to Yu Shu. She rolled her eyes and heard the steward outside respectfully say, "Our family's daren has been really busy these days. He told this lowly one to deliver the letter. The gift has already been delivered to your residence. Our daren will definitely pay a visit to Suan Zi another day and thank you in person."
Yu Shu opened Qiu Jiming's letter and looked at it. Her eyebrows twitched. She said a few words to the steward and then had Lin Fu send the person out.
Xue Rui took Qiu Jiming's gift list from her hand and scanned it. He didn't find it expensive, so he smiled and said to Yu Shu, "Qiu Daren's gift is too small. It doesn't seem like his style. It seems like there's a follow-up. What's written in the letter?"
Yu Shu smiled and looked at Xue Rui. She said, "You're right. I think he wants to remember a favor from me in addition to these gifts."
This Qiu Jiming really knew how to behave. He didn't play games with her. She didn't waste her time running around to solve his family's problem.
By the time they finished talking, it was already late. Before Xue Rui left, he warned Yu Shu, "I will go directly to Xuanchun Garden in the afternoon to make some arrangements. When it's time, let Old Chui send you off. Don't go too early, and don't be late. We'll meet again. "
Yu Shu nodded and told him not to worry. After seeing Xue Rui leave, she went upstairs.
When she returned to her room, she felt a little restless. She knew that something was going to happen tonight. No matter how calm she was, she couldn't help but worry that something unexpected would happen.
According to her and Xue Rui's previous discussion, she only had one task tonight — to keep an eye on Qin Yuerou.
When the carriage turned a corner, it suddenly stopped. Qin Yuerou was absent-mindedly thinking about something when she saw Xin Liu choke on her tea. "Cough, cough!"
"Be careful." Qin Yuerou quickly took out a handkerchief and patted Xin Liu's back while wiping her.
"Slow down, what's the rush?" Xin Liu grumbled unhappily at the coachman outside. Looking down at the tea stains on her skirt, she said bitterly: "This is bad."
Qin Yuerou said, "How about we go back and change? We left early so there's still time?"
Xin Liu hesitated for a moment, then shook his head, "Forget it, going back and forth is troublesome, we're almost there. We should be able to Xue Family's residence.
Qin Yuerou furrowed her brows. "What wind? Did I forget that you've just recovered from your illness? Later, when we reach the garden, you have to sit down obediently and don't run around."
Xin Liu unwillingly pouted. "I'm only accompanying you because I'm worried about you."
Qin Yuerou smiled helplessly. Yesterday, she went to visit Xin Liu. Coincidentally, Xin Family's Old Man was there. He glanced at her a few times and told her that she had a calamity recently. To overcome it, she needed a person with hooves in the Chinese zodiac to stay by her side.
Qin Yuerou didn't feel anything was wrong, but she still went home and told her elders. She couldn't explain why, so she took out two pendants to avoid calamity and brought them with her. Who knew that she would be going out today? Early in the morning, Xin Liu went to find her and said he wanted to go with her.
Qin Yuerou and Xin Liu got off the carriage. The sky was still bright, but there was an endless stream of carriages and horses on the street. Red lanterns were hung for three li, waiting for the sun to rise.
Qin Yuerou and Xin Liu got off the carriage. Because the two of them were traveling together, they only brought a servant girl with them. The servant girl walked in front and handed over the invitation card. Immediately, a quick-looking servant boy stepped forward to lead the way.
Usually, when a prince hosted a banquet, it would be inappropriate for an official to appear unless they were related. Thus, young masters and young ladies of suitable age would go in their place. Of course, if their official rank wasn't high, there weren't as many rules.
Many young people came to the banquet tonight. Qin Yuerou and Xin Liu were natives of Anling, so they were familiar with these faces. After entering the banquet hall, they exchanged greetings with the madams and young ladies they knew.
Although the murder at Taishi Library had not reached the point where everyone knew about it, the people who came tonight had more or less heard about it. Those who knew about it knew that Xin Liu had suffered a shock because of it. Today, they met to say a few words of comfort.
Qin Yuerou looked at Xin Liu, who was surrounded by people, and calmly stood up. She moved a few steps to the side and looked around the banquet hall as if she was looking for someone.
A moment later, she saw a figure sitting on the main guest's seat. She pursed her lips as if she had made a decision.
Yu Shu came alone. She handed over the invitation and entered. The servant boy led her through the front courtyard to the east courtyard. From afar, she could see that the banquet hall was decorated with lanterns and streamers. The courtyard and corridors were filled with banquets. Pastries and wine were served. Half of the guests had already arrived.
The guests who were sitting outside were all rich and powerful. Yu Shu was a guest that Liu Tan had specially invited. So, she naturally went inside.
Yu Shu entered the door and looked around. The first thing she looked for wasn't Xue Rui's figure, but Qin Yuerou.
There were many people in the banquet hall. Yu Shu stared at the pink-dressed women and quickly found a familiar figure. Surprise flashed in her eyes, and she walked past the table.
"Feifei?"
Xin Liu had just finished dealing with a group of people, and his face was almost stiff from smiling. He turned his head and saw Yu Shu. Only then did he reveal some genuine happiness. He grabbed her and said, "Lotus Room, I knew you were coming."
"I didn't know you were coming." Yu Shu looked up and down at Xin Liu's pink dress. When she saw that Xin Liu was wearing this year's new casual clothes, she felt disgusted. She glanced at her hair, but fortunately, she didn't see any begonia flowers.
"I came with Yuerou." Xin Liu laughed mischievously. He turned his head to call out to Qin Yuerou, but he discovered she was gone.
"Huh? She was here just now. "
Yu Shu's eyelids twitched. She was about to ask again when she saw Xin Liu nervously stand up. He looked left and right and muttered, "This Qin Yuerou, I said I would accompany her. Why is she running around? This won't do. I have to go find her."
After he finished speaking, he tugged on Yu Shu's sleeve and begged, "Alright, Lotus Room, help me look for her."
Yu Shu had the same intention, so she didn't ask why he was so anxious. She took advantage of the situation and agreed. The two of them took advantage of the fact that the banquet hadn't started and Liu Tan didn't show up. They slipped out of the banquet hall through the back door.
They first looked around, but they didn't see anyone. Xin Liu couldn't help but become anxious. Yu Shu looked up at the curtain of night that hadn't fallen yet. She wasn't worried, but she couldn't leave someone out of her sight. She said to Xin Liu, "This garden is big. Let's split up and look. You go there, I'll go here.
"Okay, okay."
Thus, Yu Shu went east and Xin Liu went west.
Xuan Chun Garden was built fifteen years ago. It was surrounded by a natural lake and was planted with trees and forests. When summer came, it was cool and refreshing. At the end of spring, there was shade everywhere.
Two slender female figures, one in front and one behind, passed through the small forest and arrived at the tranquil lake. "Yuerou, why did you bring me here?" Ji Xingxuan looked around and asked. She had just arrived at the banquet hall. Not long after she sat down, Qin Yuerou indicated for her to leave. Along the way, no matter how many times Mo Tiange asked, Qin Yuerou didn't open her mouth.
Qin Yuerou turned around and stared at Mo Tiange without saying a word.
Qin Yuerou and Ji Xingxuan had known each other for two years. Although they couldn't be considered best friends, they were still good friends. Xin Liu, who grew up together with Xin Liu, didn't hate Ji Xingxuan and cut off all contact with her.
Ji Xingxuan felt somewhat uncomfortable under Qin Yuerou's stare. She turned her head to look at the ripples on the lake's surface and said, "The banquet is about to start in a moment. If you have something to say, quickly say it."
"… I saw it."
Ji Xingxuan's heart inexplicably skipped a beat. She turned her head and asked with a puzzled expression, "Saw what?"
Qin Yuerou sighed. Her voice was slow and carried a trace of uncertainty. "On the day Cao Youling died, we were at the observatory. I saw her placing her book on the wall. When she wasn't paying attention, you flipped through her book behind her back and put something inside."
Ji Xingxuan's brows stiffened for a moment. In the next moment, she sneered and said, "Why don't I remember doing this? Are you trying to say that I copied Daozi's handwriting and lured her to the observatory to kill her? How laughable! I didn't go out at all that night. Could it be that I dreamed of going to the Imperial Historian's Library to kill someone? "
Qin Yuerou's expression changed. She said in a low voice, "I don't know if Cao Youling's death has anything to do with you, but I saw you put a note in her book with my own eyes. It was the same book that the authorities found. You don't need to quibble. I've helped you hide it until now because I don't believe you would kill someone. I'm telling you now because I want to know why you secretly put a note in Cao Youling's book? Did you know that someone wanted to harm her?! "
Ji Xingxuan's eyes darkened. Beneath her veil, she was about to bite her lip. After a moment of silence, she said, "I'll say it again. You're mistaken. I didn't put any note in her book." Qin Yuerou was clearly disappointed.
She shook her head and said with a bitter smile, "If you don't want to say it, I won't force you. I'd rather believe that I didn't recognize the wrong person. Don't worry, I won't report you. It wasn't easy for you to get to where you are today. I don't want to just watch you be destroyed. I'm not related to Cao Youling, but I'm your friend. I'll repay you for saving my innocence at that time. "
After hearing this, Ji Xingxuan lowered her gaze and didn't refute her.
"Sigh, you're on your own."
Qin Yuerou turned around and left without looking back. She left Ji Xingxuan standing on the shore. When she heard the sound of footsteps getting further and further away, her body suddenly twitched and she raised her reddened eyes.
However, from beginning to end, no one saw a hunched figure hiding in the grass not far away in the dusky twilight.
Xin Liu clenched her teeth and clutched the leaf in her hand. She couldn't stop trembling. She stared at the figure on the shore and a voice in her heart shouted …
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