Chapter 4, Impermanence

In San Niang's eyes, a hint of sadness emerged: "Having worked for the Yuwen family since childhood, I only know how to kill. I have no friends or means of livelihood outside. In this vast world, I do not know where I can find a place to belong. If my lord does not mind, please keep me in the residence as a servant... The dishes I prepare are loved by my siblings; I wonder if they will suit my lord's taste. Perhaps I could serve as a cook?"

It is of no concern; we lurk by day and emerge by night, resembling phantoms, and naturally neglect our health.

He pretended to be an inconspicuous tea merchant, but in reality, he ruthlessly extorted the merchants along the canal. Anyone who dared to resist would be assassinated! Yu Wenxiao used this method to amass enormous profits, ultimately provoking the anger of the eight major merchant guilds of Bian Canal, who united to investigate the matter. At the same time, the court appointed Liu An, the Deputy Minister of Revenue and concurrently in charge of affairs, to dredge the riverbed, and Liu also got involved in the matter.

With a light clink, the teacup made a sound. San Niang gently tapped her teacup and said in a low voice, "I am a bit thirsty; I will have a sip of water"

At this point, San Niang's eyes glimmered with a hint of bitterness: "In the past, we kept these matters secret, never speaking of them until death. When Second Brother was captured, he endured untold suffering to protect everyone. But now, Yu Wenxiao seeks to silence us; he is ruthless. What obligation do I have left to speak of?"

Xue Chongxun nodded and said, "Yes, I have met him once or twice." He was not very familiar with Yu Wenxiao, but he was acquainted with his daughter, Yu Wenji. After pondering for a moment, he could not help but ask the question he wanted to know: "It seems that the Yu Wen family has an unknown side; why don't you tell me what kind of person Yu Wenxiao is?"

The woman in black said: "Thank you, I am not thirsty"

The person currently serving as the Deputy Minister of Revenue, Yu Wenxiao, was just speaking with the benefactor in the ancient temple alley. Perhaps the gentleman is an official and might also know him

Xue Chongxun said little, merely nodding: "You and I will go in... instruct the maid to prepare the items inside the wooden house."

He reminded himself: this world is devoid of warmth, filled only with deceit and treachery, where one will stop at nothing for profit, power, security, and wealth! As long as one is soft-hearted, as long as one is not strong enough, one will end up like his father, at the mercy of others, beaten by his mother-in-law until bruised all over, and ultimately starved to death

Xue Chongxun said: "Do you hate? Do you want to avenge your siblings?"

What stands out the most is her skin, white, truly white, but that kind of colorless, paper-like whiteness is not particularly smooth either

It is a waste of resources to have her as a cook, Xu Chongxun thought. Based on the experiences of the previous life, society is progressing, and productivity is increasing; ultimately, it is merely a matter of utilizing the resources available in the environment. Whether it was burning firewood in the Tang Dynasty or later using minerals, it is simply a question of how to utilize resources.

Xue Chongxun listened to her speak quietly, not easily interrupting, focusing solely on pouring water onto the stones, dousing them when they turned red. The small cabin was already filled with white smoke, resembling a dream, as the temperature steadily rose.

The woman paused for a moment, then obediently removed the black veil from her face, yet covered her brow with one hand. The lantern hung high under the eaves, casting her eyes in the shadow of her palm, making them difficult to see clearly; only a thin lip and a pointed chin were visible.

At this moment, Xue Chongxun felt a twinge of compassion within himself, realizing that he had been too indifferent. Why would such a sentiment arise, reminiscent of a woman's kindness? Perhaps it was the memories from his past life that allowed him to perceive the warmth of humanity

Xue Chongxun nodded. The past two years had seen severe droughts, making rice in Chang'an expensive, and the central government's various expenditures increasingly strained. However, last year, Empress Wei was unwilling to leave Chang'an. This year, Emperor Li Dan and Crown Prince Li Longji were set to confront Princess Taiping in Chang'an, making it impossible for them to go to Luoyang. As a result, the expenses in Chang'an became even more reliant on the supply of goods from the south via river transport, which is why the court placed great importance on river transport.

Unlike many of the wealthy women in Chang'an who are plump and full-figured, San Niang's physique is quite slender, to the point of appearing somewhat frail. However, according to the aesthetic standards recalled by Xue Chongxun from his past life, she still possesses the unique, graceful curves characteristic of femininity. Her waist is supple and slender, and although her bosom is not large, the wet fabric clings to her body, revealing an inverted bowl shape, with two prominent points in the center of the bowls, which adds a distinct charm.

The woman glanced around, and seeing that the guards stood still, she hurried a couple of steps to catch up with Xue Chongxun. The two entered the wooden house and closed the door behind them. Inside, the wooden house was quite small, lacking even a window, and the furnishings were very simple, consisting of two leather-cushioned benches and a large palm wood table. On the floor beside one of the benches lay a large black stone, next to which was a bucket filled with clear water. There was nothing else.

San Niang said without hesitation: "I will follow your orders, as the debts of gratitude and resentment are well understood."

Xue Chongxun revealed a hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth and said in a teasing manner: "Whether it is Yu Wenxiao or Feng Yuanjun, in my eyes, they are merely small fish and shrimp. I am not afraid of what they might do in saving you; it is just a trivial matter, merely a spontaneous act of kindness on my part. You need not dwell on it in your heart or in your books. If you have other plans, I will not force you."

The Yu Wen family? '' Xue Chongxun immediately became interested, pausing for a moment with the ladle in hand, then poured half a ladle of water onto the blackened red-hot stones, and immediately with a 'hiss', a large plume of white smoke rose up

"I previously advised you to drink some water in advance, didn't I? Drinking now is not very good for your health," Xue Chongxun said淡淡地.

Xue Chongxun opened her eyes and saw that her entire body was soaked with sweat, her hair clinging damply to her forehead and face, giving her a somewhat disheveled appearance. The wet clothes clung tightly to her body, making it difficult to take them off, thus the contours of her body were completely visible to Xue Chongxun.

San Niang said: "The Yu Wen Xiao lineage originally consisted of merchants involved in the tea transport trade. He is the second son of the Yu Wen family and, having failed to inherit the family fortune, fell into a period of decline. Later, he sought out and abducted some orphans, raising them until they were in their teens to do his dirty work for him."

Xue Chongxun's Yinyun Studio is located directly across from the Duke Wei's residence. It is a small courtyard that was likely once inhabited by a guest of a prominent family. Xue Chongxun had the steward purchase it and renovated it into a retreat for his own leisure.

I do not have a surname; others have given me the title "Lady Wuchang." My brothers of the same clan generally call me San Niang, as I am the third orphan to enter the Yuwen family.

Xue Chongxun poured two cups of tea from the teapot, picked up one cup, and drank it all in one go, saying, "This is not about savoring tea. First, drink more water; otherwise, drinking water later will not be good for your health"

Fang Yuzhong gently reminded, "My lord, it is not appropriate for the brothers to enter." His intention was to suggest that this woman, whose background was unknown, should not be left alone with Xue Chongxun, as it posed a safety risk

After a while, a maid dressed in a hairstyle typical of the second ring brought a pot of tea and placed it on the large table. She then knelt and lowered her head, saying: "My lord, please wait a moment; we are heating the water below."

San Niang said somewhat self-deprecatingly: "Yuwen Xiaoping often says he treats us like his own children, but the difference is significant; his affairs do not involve the family... However, Yuwen Ji is aware of our existence and should vaguely know that her father is engaged in some disreputable activities"

Xue Chongxun then said: "What are your plans now?"

Xue Chongxun merely smiled dismissively, said no more, waved his hand at them, and then walked straight towards a wooden house at the front of the small courtyard, not looking back as he said: "Come with me"

At this moment, San Niang displayed a sense of weariness that belied her age, shaking her head and saying despondently: "This is all fate; having taken this irreversible path, resentment is futile, and there is no point in speaking of enmity. I have a wish, to live a life of an ordinary person... for me, this is truly a luxury"

Xue Chongxun asked: "Does Yu Wenji know about her father's situation?"

Anyifang is located near the East Market, right in the bustling area of Chang'an. Although it is already late, the activity has not subsided. As Xue Chongxun and his group passed through the South Street, he truly felt as if he were in a modern metropolis. However, once the group entered the North Street, the clamor seemed to vanish in an instant. This area is predominantly inhabited by the powerful and noble families, with lanterns illuminating the grand residences brightly. The servants at the entrance are dressed elegantly, their speech and movements precise and measured, making it unlikely for ordinary people to venture here.

The situation has become extremely dangerous for us. Second Brother has fallen into a trap and been captured, and Yu Wenxiao is also preparing to withdraw. He has spent a considerable amount of money to befriend Feng Yuanjun, the Minor Official of the Ministry of Rites, who happens to have taken a liking to his daughter, Yu Wenji. Through the eunuch Gao Lishi, Feng Yuanjun has managed to secure an official position for Yu Wenxiao. Now that he has cleared his name, he is unwilling to turn back. However, we, the ones who have served him, know too much, and one by one, we are being poisoned by his design. My fourth brother warned me before he died, and that is how I managed to escape. If it were not for the benevolent rescue, I would have already met my end without a burial place.

The indoor temperature was already quite high, and both individuals were drenched in sweat. Amidst the swirling white mist, Xue Chongxun removed all his clothes, wrapped a towel around his waist, and then comfortably sat on the wooden bench, closing his eyes and contemplating something.

Today I saved you, but we are strangers. Now, tell me, what is the background, who is pursuing you, and why are they after you? You understand, do not lie, because I can verify it very quickly.

The room gradually became a bit warmer, and the woman in black glanced at the black stone beside her twice, clearly sensing that the warmth was emanating from the stone.

The woman in black fell silent for a moment; her eyelashes were long, and her eyes were dark and profound, evoking thoughts of an endless night

"Take off the veil and let me see." After entering the Misty Chamber, Xue Chongxun recalled the woman he had just rescued. Since he had some time to spare, he thought he could interrogate her about her background, otherwise there would be matters to attend to tomorrow... However, he remembered that the woman's voice was rough and quite hoarse. If she turned out to be too unattractive, wouldn't it be quite disheartening to be in the same room with her?

It is too bright, and I am somewhat unaccustomed to it. The woman's voice remained as deep as ever

Xue Chongxun took a deep breath and spoke in a completely different tone: "I saved your life. As long as you consider yourself mine, I will cherish you as I would something precious to me... However, I can also destroy you at any moment"