Chapter Six, March 3

"The situation is quite tense now; it would be better for the guests to come back in a few days." An aged voice spoke up, clearly not the same as the previous attendant.

At this moment, his six senses were extraordinarily sharp; through the footsteps and breathing sounds outside the door, he seemed to be able to see a young boy resembling a servant, who approached the door of the private room and gently tapped on the door frame a few times

three long and two short

Once she had exited the alley, Lu Ying finally let out a sigh of relief, resembling a little fox that had just stolen a chicken

"There are orders from above; before the people from the Xiahou faction leave, we must not act rashly." There were also cautious individuals who expressed dissent

The brother and sister chatted and laughed as they walked along the bluestone path by the lakeside. By the time they reached the foot of Geling at the northern shore of West Lake, the sun was already high in the sky.

Did I cause any trouble? Lu Yun asked with a smile

Who is the target?" an aged voice inquired

"Is the idea too difficult to grasp?" the old man asked

Indeed, Xiahou Lei has been staying in his camp; if we keep our distance from there, what problems could arise? Clearly, considering the exorbitant remuneration, the supportive opinions have gained the upper hand

I will offer ten times the reward the customer said firmly

Do not be a killjoy! However, Lu Ying did not think too much about it and clenched her delicate fist, saying: "Facing the morning sun, let us set off!"

The old man had already received the money, and naturally, he had long since made his stance clear. He paid no attention to the nonsense from his subordinates and carefully examined the portrait on the paper. The artistry of the portrait was exceptional, depicting a man with a squint and a full beard, making him easily recognizable. Next to it, in tiny, meticulous script, the target's physical characteristics were detailed.

I thought the young master had come after having a meal. Uncle Bao snorted and quickly instructed someone to change the banquet.

"Certainly." The guest placed a heavy package on the table and was then escorted out of the dark room by the attendant

"Guests, please come in and sign the receipt." The attendant tucked the porcelain white monkey into his sleeve, stood up, opened the gate of the counter, and welcomed the customer into the back hall

After traveling half a mile southwest from Gelin, one arrives near the envoy's office. Lu Yun entered a tavern and went straight to a private room on the second floor. Bao Shu had been waiting inside since early morning. Seeing that he had only just arrived in the afternoon, he could not blame His Highness and could only stew in his own anger.

The old man pushed the portrait towards the man with the black face and said, "Mountain Demon, check the information on the Fu family. If there are no issues, you can take people for a visit." In the end, he added a reminder with concern, "Since the customer is offering such a high price, the matter is certainly sensitive."

The back room of the pawnshop was draped with black curtains, allowing not a single ray of light to penetrate; even in broad daylight, one could not see their own hand in front of them.

The Wulin Gate was established during this dynasty, connecting to the Taohua River to the west and gazing across at West Lake, serving as the northern gateway to Yuhang City. Although it is of relatively recent origin, its strategic location near the canal has made it exceptionally advantageous. The streets quickly became lined with shops, resembling a forest of masts and sails, bustling with merchants and travelers.

Lu Yun opened his eyes, his gaze exceptionally sharp

I have seen unscrupulous pawnshops, but I have never seen one as unscrupulous as this. Yet the customer nodded and said: "Alright."

Uncle Zhong watched with a doting smile as the two young masters departed

The official pondered for a moment and asked, "Should it be taken alive or dead?"

Watching Lu Ying cheerfully move ahead, Lu Yun followed with a wry smile

"What are you talking about?" Miss Guo feigned interest and asked

Rest assured, the White Ape Society has always used a sledgehammer to crack a nut! The black-faced man accepted the task.

For instance, Miss Guo from the county magistrate's family approached, gazing at Lu Yun's perfect profile, and initiated a conversation: "Young Master Lu, what book are you reading?"

On this day, a guest wearing a bamboo hat, whose features were obscured, entered the dimly lit shop and placed a bundle in front of the attendant.

Lu Yun found a clean patch of grass, leaned against a bamboo basket, and devoted himself to reading. Occasionally, there would be young ladies from noble families who came to disturb him, and Lu Yun would respond politely to a few remarks before decisively ending the conversation.

"Sister..." Lu Yun, carrying a bamboo box on his back, sighed and said, "I will definitely be scolded when I return"

Sister Guo, I am reading "Chunqiu Fanlu" said Lu Yun

Rare guests, rare guests! Upon seeing the brother and sister arrive, the men and women immediately became excited and rushed over in a flurry.

Naturally, he is a master of the Yellow Rank. The customer does not conceal this either

"Young master, it is the conference that has caused the delay!" exclaimed Bao Shu, heartbroken.

Hiss... in the corner of the room, two sounds of sharp intakes of breath were heard

Lu Ying advised him to be careful, to which Lu Yun responded with a roll of his eyes before gracefully disappearing into the grove of flowering trees

Of course not, no matter how anxious Xiahou Lei is, he wouldn't go out in the morning to ask Liu. Lu Yun sat beside Bao Shu, picking up his chopsticks and enjoying his meal heartily.

Seeing this, Lu Yun smiled slightly, no wonder Sister is so enthusiastic. ... He took out the mat, food and drink items, and insect-repelling sachets ... . ... A dozen or so miscellaneous items were placed in the most comfortable position for Lu Ying. Then, he quietly retreated to the corner with the empty bamboo box that had contained the books.

We are just going out to eat, not to assassinate the imperial envoy said the man with a dark face nonchalantly

Several elegantly dressed young ladies of noble families affectionately linked their arms with Lu Ying, joyfully saying: "Sister Lu, it's rare for you to come out to have fun."

"This time there is no ... ... " Bao Shu muttered.

Lu Ying, surrounded by a throng of young men and women, settled down in the best spot by the stream. Every word she spoke elicited bursts of laughter and joy from those around her

Lu Ying occasionally glanced at him, and inevitably, when she was not paying attention, she would be penalized with a drink. Seeing her underperforming, after lunch, Lu Yun stood up and said: "Sister, you need to focus; I will take a walk around to digest the food."

Lu Ying also knew her younger brother's abilities, so she no longer worried. She turned back to the young gentlemen and ladies and smiled, saying: "Watch me clear my previous humiliation"

The next day was the third day of March. Lu Ying got up early and urged Lu Yun to hurry out the door. Lu Yun said with a苦 face: "Sister, you are too anxious..."

At the end of the street market, there is a pawnshop named 'Four Seas'. It appears unremarkable and does not differ from several other similar establishments on Wulinmen Street.

"It's not worth the money." The attendant wore an expression that seemed to say, 'You have been taken in.'

The grocery store of the Bai family in the west of the city was purchased at the cost of ten taels of gold, the customer said hoarsely

"Death only warrants a single coin," the court official said coldly

"While mother is in the temple for morning prayers, we must quickly slip out," Lu Ying said with a wink. "Have we packed everything?"

Miss Guo, with sweat on her forehead, gasped a few times and said, "Take your time to look..." before she seemed to flee the scene.

Fu Yan, the external steward of the Fu family in Suzhou, will arrive at the Wulinmen dock by boat tomorrow. The customer placed a piece of paper on the table. He must not see the moon tomorrow night

"Deal." The customer replied without a moment's hesitation

Lu Yun raised the large bamboo box in his hand and said helplessly, "Should we check it?"

The other party fell into silence and after a long while finally spoke: "Twenty times"

"It seems that the county magistrate has a heavy responsibility on his shoulders," several noble sons hurriedly bowed to Lu Ying, with many of them nervously stuttering: "Well, it is not entirely... bad." This naturally elicited a burst of laughter.

"The world changes, yet the principles remain unchanged; what is unchanging is the essence of the constant." Lu Yun gazed at the other person with clear eyes

Since the guest is unwilling to reveal their true identity, they must pay the full amount. An aged voice said: "In the event of an accident, our society will refund the full amount."

"I apologize, Uncle Bao, but I cannot leave immediately." Lu Yun said with a smile, offering an apology.

"No need to be so particular," Lu Yun replied, "I have already eaten, just a couple of bites will suffice." Uncle Bao could only go along with him

In the season of early spring, the fragrant grass in the forest is lush and the fallen flowers are scattered. The brother and sister stroll leisurely, only to see the winding stream becoming increasingly narrow, and gradually they hear cheerful voices and laughter coming from ahead. Continuing forward, they find themselves in a clearing in the woods, where many young ladies and gentlemen have already gathered.

However, the shopkeeper showed no intention of lighting the lamp, and the guests did not express any objections. The two parties began to converse in the darkness

"No need, no need, I trust you to handle things well." Lu Ying then pulled Lu Yun and tiptoed to the door. At this moment, Uncle Zhong had just opened the courtyard gate. Upon seeing the young master and young lady, he hurriedly prepared to greet them, but saw Lu Ying smiling and making a shushing gesture.

"Dead on." The customer said in a low voice

When the game of flowing wine along the winding stream began, everyone was fully immersed in the activity, and no one paid him any attention.

... ...

Ge Ling is home to the Baopu Temple, which is one of the sacred sites of Taoism. However, the siblings are not here to pay their respects. They walk along the stream that flows into West Lake, entering the flower forest at the foot of the mountain

The eyes of the attendant flashed with a glimmer of brilliance as he carefully examined the object for a moment, then glanced at the uninvited guest and said: "Where does this object come from, and what is its significance?"

As soon as the foreigner left, the lights in the room turned on, and the elderly man sitting at the table opened his bundle. Instantly, the eyes of several people in the room were illuminated in golden hues

"It has come out!" Bao Shu said in a deep voice

"Knowing the value is worth it," the customer said dismissively

Looking at a full bundle of gold ingots, a man with a dark face smiled and said, "It's worth a fortune"

The attendant listlessly opened the bundle and found a palm-sized white porcelain monkey, adorably clumsy and vividly lifelike

Lu Yun filled his stomach, then sat cross-legged, transporting energy for a full hour, reaching the peak of his vitality and spirit

Everyone had long been accustomed to this unsociable fellow, and Lu Ying also understood that her younger brother did not enjoy the noise, so she let him be

Lu Ying was born into a noble family, possessing beauty that is as captivating as a flower, and her charming personality makes her irresistible. Naturally, she attracts admiration from both young men and women; not only the young masters who are infatuated with her, but also the daughters of officials who are fond of her. Moreover, she rarely makes public appearances, and whenever she does, it inevitably creates a situation where she is the center of attention, surrounded by admirers.

"Who is afraid of whom?" The crowd laughed and continued the game

... ...