Chapter 16

Hu Qing leaped onto the palace wall.

I asked him, “What are you up to again?”

He replied, “I, Hu Qing, have a very small tolerance. I can’t stand others throwing dirt on me like this.”

Oh, I understood. He was going to settle the score.

…

Early the next morning, a major event occurred in Jing City.

Bai Caiyi came running to find me, full of mystery.

“Have you heard? Five weasel corpses were hung in front of Baihua Tower overnight.”

I raised an eyebrow at her, “All of them monsters?”

Bai Caiyi was surprised, “How did you know? I heard one of them was the newly chosen top courtesan of Baihua Tower!”

Baihua Tower?

The brothel that the Vice Minister of Dali Temple often visits?

Then I probably know how Yu Jiaojiao died.

She must have offended this group of weasels and got her revenge.

Just as we were talking, Hu Qing came swaggering over from the corridor.

I asked him, “Were those weasels killed by you?”

He raised an eyebrow, “This time you didn’t wrongly accuse me.”

Bai Caiyi saw Hu Qing approaching and couldn’t help but start trembling again.

Hu Qing glanced at her lightly.

“Jiang Ran! I have something to do, I’ll be leaving first!”

She awkwardly returned to her room, leaving the large courtyard with just Hu Qing and me.

It’s strange.

In the past, Hu Qing and I have been alone together without feeling any discomfort.

Why does it feel so awkward today?

I sat across from him, feeling like I was on pins and needles.

“Who killed Yu Jiaojiao?”

Hu Qing: “It was that new courtesan from Baihua Tower. I heard that night the Vice Minister of Dali Temple spent two thousand taels of gold for a night of pleasure, and Yu Jiaojiao couldn’t stand it, so she went to Baihua Tower.

“It seems she slapped the courtesan, and she died that very night.”

After saying this, Hu Qing sneered, “Weasels do hold grudges.”

I was stunned for a moment, then realized, “And you…”

“Don’t worry.” Hu Qing propped his head and looked at me, “Even if weasels come seeking revenge, they can’t beat me.”

“Jiang Ran, are you really that worried about me?”

He asked me this question not long ago.

Last time, I didn’t answer him.

But this time, I nodded very honestly:

“Yes, I am a bit worried about you.”