Chapter Two, July 7th, by the willow bridge

In the evening, when I returned after polishing my shoes, I found you lying at the entrance of the alley

Lu Xing shot a glance at the woman, but she seemed oblivious and continued speaking: "I hope Mr. Qin won't find this amusing, but my Jiuxiang Building was funded by the Lu family. Almost all the young ladies from the Bund who wish to marry into the Lu mansion have visited here. Even the most beautiful socialite on the Bund, Yu Xiangxiang, came to meet Young Master Lu for a match. However, Young Master Lu didn't even show his face. He has his eyes on Miss Ye, so what business do you, a poor teacher, have in this affair?" Even the most beautiful socialite on the Bund, Yu Xiangxiang, came to meet Young Master Lu for a match. However, Young Master Lu didn't even show his face. He has his eyes on Miss Ye, so what business do you, a poor teacher, have in this affair?

Mother Yue sat aside, weeping, yet could not stop herself: "The child has suffered and knows her mistakes. Her father, please forgive her."

How could he bear to let you return?

Lu Xing's old expression was quite strange; he originally sipped his drink with impatience, but now he wore a look of amusement. He said, "Mr. Qin, we meet again"

The sound of raindrops pattered against the bluestone slabs, and I strained to listen intently for any other sounds, but it was ultimately in vain. It was silence, a deathly silence. My eyes were tightly covered, my mouth sealed shut, and I could not tell whether it was night or day. Only the damp, decaying scent of moss lingered in the air around my nostrils

"Uncle Yue, if you want to hit someone, just hit me. It is all my fault that Xiaoman was imprisoned." If it weren't for my meddling, Xiaoman wouldn't have suffered this calamity. I only feel a deep sense of discomfort in my heart, yet I cannot express it. After all, this matter concerns more than just my own life and death. The old stickler, realizing he had struck the wrong person, angrily threw down his bamboo stick and went into the inner room, while Aunt Yue followed him in to comfort him. I looked her up and down; she was neither thin nor injured, so it seems that the big guy Lu did not make things difficult for her. The old stickler, realizing he had struck the wrong person, angrily threw down his bamboo stick and went into the inner room, while Aunt Yue followed him in to comfort him. I looked her up and down; she was neither thin nor injured, so it seems that the big guy Lu did not make things difficult for her.

On July 7th, by the willow bridge, the flower-selling girl was taken aback and asked, "What does it mean?"

Lu Dapang's tense expression immediately relaxed: "Dear niece, since this is your first time here and you are not familiar with the surroundings, I was truly worried that you might get lost. This is my son, Lu Xingjiu."

Yu Ziyang was either struggling with how to speak to me, or was simply nodding along as I spoke: "I heard from Xiaoman that you are her best friend. That article was written by me; Xiaoman just thought it was good and took it to read. Miss Ye, could you do me a favor and explain the situation to the school on the way? Please ask them to release Xiaoman."

As she was speaking, the girl Xiaoqing pushed the door open and said: "Madam San, Miss Er, there is a Mr. Yu outside looking for the master. I told him that the master is not at home. He said, if the master is not here, then he will look for Miss Er."

Oh dear! I exclaimed, as I saw a half-naked man lying on the intricately carved bed in front of me. He squinted his eyes, exuding a lazy and wicked glimmer. Just as I was awkwardly about to leave, I suddenly heard the sound of hurried footsteps at the staircase, along with a maid's voice that was almost in tears, saying that she had only gone to pour a cup of tea, and the young lady had disappeared.

The old-fashioned man trembled with anger: "Only she dares to take on this head-rolling matter in the entire school. Your father, with his old bones, is almost running himself to death! You unfilial son!"

I was immediately at a loss for words; I certainly could not tell her the truth, for who knows what dangers this matter might bring. In this chaotic era, apart from keeping secrets, I do not know what else I can do for them. I informed Yue Xiaoman that on the weekend, I would be going to the temple fair with the son of the school official, and that I also needed to go to the tailor shop of the third concubine's father to have some clothes made. Yue Xiaoman opened her mouth but ultimately said nothing. I informed Yue Xiaoman that on the weekend, I would be going to the temple fair with the son of the school official, and that I also needed to go to the tailor shop of the third concubine's father to have some clothes made. Yue Xiaoman opened her mouth but ultimately said nothing.

He despises those affected young ladies. He sent freshly baked pastries to the Ye family and left a note, hoping not to see you at Jiuxiang Tower next time

Miss Lingyue at the tailor shop at the entrance of the alley

I warmly linked arms with Qin Shiyue and ascended to the Jiuxiang Tower. Lu Xingjiu was seated at a carved redwood round table, dressed in riding attire, while a heavily made-up woman, adorned with cheap floral hairpins, attended to him from the side

"Ziyang, why didn't you give us a heads-up before coming? The girls are rather clumsy and didn't recognize you," said the third aunt warmly, inviting him to take a seat.

"Sister Bingqing, you have finally woken up." The eldest child joyfully approached and said, "Do you remember me? I am Little Car."

"You need not be afraid. Whatever I ask you, just answer truthfully, and I will let you go." It was the voice of the flower-selling girl, who was very close to me, her body fragrant with magnolia blossoms.

The Lu Family Mansion, which is easy to get lost in

The temple fair at this City God Temple is indeed lively; as soon as I got off the car, I saw vendors selling sugar figurines, performers doing acrobatics, singers crooning little tunes, and mobile flower sellers calling out: "Jasmine, Gardenia, Magnolia..."

Yue Xiaoman shook her head and said, "I am also puzzled. I have been locked in the innermost room on the second floor. That day, through the window, I saw Teacher Qin chatting with someone surnamed Lu in the back garden. They seemed to be having a pleasant time."

The chef of the Lu family prepared an extravagant feast, but I found it utterly tasteless. I then pretended to feel unwell and returned to the Ye family early. Along the way, I kept pondering what Lu Xingjiu's true intentions were; he had no reason to help me at all, which sent chills down my spine

I took a step back in fear. I knew that Lu Xingjiu was not joking; his gaze told me that the woman he desired must be obtained at all costs. Better to be shattered like jade than to remain whole like broken tiles

I dressed myself like a lily, even specially styled my hair, adorned with pure white magnolias. The driver from the Lu Mansion greeted me several times, but I stubbornly stood at the entrance basking in the sun. The maid beside me was anxious, unsure whether to urge me or not, nervously pinching the hem of her clothes. For these maids sold to wealthy households, their only wish is to live a stable life in the present, without any mishaps.

What exactly do you want to do

Yu Ziyang smiled faintly and said, "Sister Lingyue, I have urgent matters to discuss with the second young lady this time."

small vehicle

I do not blame you. I smiled through gritted teeth, what a display of false compassion like a cat crying for a mouse. If I had still felt guilty before making this decision today, then what remains now is merely the mood of watching a good show

I have already forgotten how to feign innocence and foolishness, and I raised my chin in anger, saying: "Lu Xingjiu, what are you doing?"

I couldn't help but smile a bit too proudly, and he saw right through me: "What wicked thoughts are you, you little fox, up to?"

The car from the Lu Mansion was parked right at the entrance of the Ye family. My mother's words were almost wearing my ears raw: "You must not offend that slick, well-groomed young master. Think twice before you act. After all, they are officials; do not cause trouble for your father." Her expression was as if she believed I was hiding scissors on me, ready to go down together with him if necessary.

The third concubine is barely thirty years old, yet the corners of her eyes already bear fine lines when she smiles. Occasionally, when she shares stories with my father, she always laughs, but never expresses any grievances. She lost her mother at a young age and followed her father to run a tailor shop at the alley entrance, with half of their business coming from the Ye family. The third concubine is quite beautiful; one time, my father passed by the tailor shop and couldn't help but glance a few more times, only to be caught by her money-loving father. That was ten years ago, when Lingyue wore a floral jacket, had bangs that reached her eyebrows, and a pear blossom dimple when she smiled, often helping the neighborhood aunties embroider handkerchiefs in her spare time. A kind-hearted woman naturally attracts affection. However, the matchmakers frequently visited, but her father was as stubborn as a rock, refusing to give his consent. He often sent Lingyue to the Ye family to deliver clothes, and through these interactions, my father truly fell for Lingyue, finally fulfilling the wishes of that money-loving old man.

I sighed: "I originally did it just for fun, who would have thought it would lead to such trouble. I threw away that inexplicable piece of information after reading it, so I cannot provide it. All I can tell you is that the information was sent by a black cat to someone named Tengu, and it only contained one sentence: 'By the willow bridge on July 7th'"

Mr. Qin, you are not merely a poor scholar; I have underestimated you. You have managed to infiltrate our ranks as a spy, which is indeed a remarkable skill in this world

Seeing that I remained silent, the flower girl said again: "That letter of intelligence will only bring Miss Ye trouble; it is better to hand it over to me."

They are not traitors; Xiaoman has already been returned by your father, which indicates her innocence. They are all my friends, and I want to go tell Uncle Lu—" I also want to act obediently.

Mr. Qin, Miss Jin is straightforward and outspoken, so I will apologize on her behalf

This fellow is truly overconfident. Although I, Ye Bingqing, grew up among foreigners, I have cultivated a strong sense of patriotism. Unlike him, who merely possesses a handsome appearance but engages in morally corrupt activities. I immediately put on a sorrowful expression: "Don't give me that nonsense. The wealth of the Ye family could crush a hundred Qin Shiyue. Just because you think I like you, don't get too carried away. But it's fine; working for the Kuomintang, if you achieve some merit and secure a minor official position in the future, you would be qualified to be my Ye family's son-in-law." I immediately put on a sorrowful expression: "Don't give me that nonsense. The wealth of the Ye family could crush a hundred Qin Shiyue. Just because you think I like you, don't get too carried away. But it's fine; working for the Kuomintang, if you achieve some merit and secure a minor official position in the future, you would be qualified to be my Ye family's son-in-law."

You may ask quickly; if it is money you seek, our Ye family has plenty of it. I will write a note for my father to pay the ransom.

Rest assured, I will not send you to be the scapegoat for Xiaoman. However, I promise you that I will definitely rescue Xiaoman. I can no longer wait for the invitation from the fat man on the day of the temple fair; I will visit him myself.

I was so frightened that I hurriedly closed the door, with only one thought in my mind: to hide. It was already a grave offense to barge into the home of a big man on the street, especially since I was in the same room with a half-naked man. If this got out, it would truly bring shame to my father's reputation

Upon returning home in the evening, I was still troubled by Qin Shiyue. He left the temple fair in a hurry, as if deliberately trying to escape. I sat in front of the bronze mirror, gazing at my own face—my slightly pale, palm-sized face, with lips as delicate as petals, and a cascade of black hair falling over my shoulders. Yet, my brows were slightly furrowed, an indescribable sense of guilt stirring within me, causing a sense of unease.

This is no different from what I had guessed; they indeed know each other, and the atmosphere between them is quite strange. If they are friends, I will make sure they end up at odds with each other. If they are not friends, that would be fine as well, as it would resolve the issue and save me some trouble. Deep down, I was only calculating my own interests, and sure enough, that Lu Xing maintained his unperturbed smile: "My sister, who is pure as ice, has come back from abroad, and I didn't expect her to make a friend like Mr. Qin so soon."

Qin Shiyue's mouth was tightly bound, and he stared at me fiercely, as if accusing me. I felt a chill throughout my body, and even breathing required great courage. Lu Xingjiu glanced at me sideways, exuding a sinister aura: "My little Bingqing, do not defend him. Your father should now be invited by my people to the Lu Mansion as a guest. He cannot escape responsibility for the misdeeds of the students and teachers at his school."

Yu Ziyang's face flushed and then turned pale, resembling the face-changing art of Sichuan. He clutched the hem of his clothes and said, "If they start investigating, my teachers and classmates who opposed their rule alongside me will suffer. In the past few days, I have arranged everything and destroyed all evidence, which is why I came to seek your help. Xiaoman said you are the best woman in the world, absolutely capable of distinguishing right from wrong. If money could resolve this, I wouldn't trouble the second young lady."

This time, Qin Shiyue smiled with satisfaction, her thin lips pressed into a line: "You truly like me, I can tell. Therefore, even if you know my identity, it does not matter."

When the stick came down again, I instinctively raised my hand to block it, not realizing that the old-fashioned person could really strike. Four slender fingers left bright red marks immediately. Yue Xiaoman frowned and said, "Bingqing, why do you go through this?"

How do you know

When you get married, I will embroider the dragon and phoenix to present auspiciousness. I am merely the daughter of a seamstress, and the gold, silver, and jewels belong to your Ye family; I can only offer you my heartfelt wishes.

Now, should you let me go? The sudden silence around me made me increasingly uncomfortable, my heart pounding like a small drum. If they uncover the contents of the secret letter and resort to murder to silence me, I would become a wronged soul. However, before I could dwell on the terrifying scenarios of murder and disposal, I caught a whiff of the fragrance of magnolia. It was still that rich aroma, intoxicating enough to make one feel drowsy.

In the time of Qin, the moon? '' I bit my lip: `` He and the fat man Lu? ''

I stomped my feet in anger: "Aunt Ling's mouth is like a needle and thread, making people dizzy. That fat man Lu thinks too highly of himself; a toad can never give birth to a swan. His son isn't even worthy of bringing me my shoes."

The father of the third concubine sent two sets of narrow qipaos, featuring large white gardenias on a light blue background, extending down to the knees and revealing a fair segment of the calves. In early spring, my father gave him money to expand the shop, and the old man hired two embroiderers and two tailors. That old man truly understood the ways of the world; he gifted qipaos for me and my second sister to wear. My parents also found them beautiful and returned a gift to him, enough to buy dozens of qipaos. He indeed does not engage in unprofitable business.

Perhaps it was Teacher Qin who saved me!" said Yue Xiaoman happily

Did you forget? Last time Uncle Qin was also there, and you gave us more than ten dollars. We went to buy shoes to wear, and we also bought the fish girl back from the traffickers.

I struggled on the surface of the sea, the briny water flooded into my nostrils, my eyes, and my ears

"Indeed, we Bingqing are to marry that dandy young master Lu, with his slicked-back hair and painted face"

I was sitting in the living room accompanying the third concubine for tea, while the eldest sister and Lieutenant Du went to watch a movie, said to be a new film by Zhou Xuan, filled with endless romantic sentiments. The third concubine chuckled, covering her mouth, and said: "Yujie is quite shy; last time she watched a foreign film, when I asked her what she saw, she sulked for a while and said she would never go again, as there were two foreigners kissing without any shame. This time, don't ask her about it." The second concubine took her son back to her family home, and the third concubine continued to giggle, saying: "Yujie is quite shy; last time she watched a foreign film, when I asked her what she saw, she sulked for a while and said she would never go again, as there were two foreigners kissing without any shame. This time, don't ask her about it." With the second concubine gone, taking her son back to her family, the entire Ye family felt the absence of such a chattering woman, leaving the place so quiet that it felt uncomfortable, with only the faint sound of silver needles and silk rubbing against each other remaining in the hall.

The sky outside has turned completely dark, and I do not know how long I have been unconscious. The Ye family must be in a state of chaos. I struggled to sit up and expressed my gratitude to Xiao Chezi and the others for their care. I hailed a rickshaw at the end of the alley and hurried back to the Ye family.

Miss Ye Er, let us speak frankly. The intelligence regarding the black cat has been lost. You were the last person he contacted before his death. Therefore, I would like to ask you, have you seen that thing?

I do not understand why Lu Dapang's son is covering for me, and he does not appear to be at all refined. He looks quite dangerous. I can only silently continue with this charade of a visit, pretending to be confused, and say: "Uncle Lu, your mansion is so large. If it weren't for Brother Xing Jiu taking me on a tour, I would truly be afraid of getting lost"

Lu Xingjiu began to laugh again: "Bingqing, you are mistaken. It was not my father who released Yue Xiaoman; it was I who did so. Qin Shiyue went to speak to my father about something regarding the seventh day of the seventh month by the willow bridge, claiming that the traitor is someone else. My father believed him, but I did not. Nevertheless, I still released Yue Xiaoman. This is called using a long line to catch a big fish. The handwriting on that letter is Yu Ziyang's. I had someone follow him; a few days ago, he went to Qin Shiyue's apartment to thank him for saving his lover. This is called using a long line to catch a big fish. The handwriting on that letter is Yu Ziyang's. I had someone follow him; a few days ago, he went to Qin Shiyue's apartment to thank him for saving his lover. What a story about the seventh day of the seventh month by the willow bridge; are we to seal off all the bridges with willow trees on the Bund?"

I was taken aback; I had been living abroad for so many years that I could count the men I knew on one hand, and I truly did not recall anyone with the surname Yu. I instructed the maid to invite Mr. Yu in. Upon seeing him for the first time, my third aunt let out an "ah". He was a man of similar age to mine, with delicate features that conveyed a sense of melancholy.

The man before me was not the effeminate and incompetent figure that the outside world described. Every time Lu the Fat arranged for him to meet the daughters of wealthy families for matchmaking, it was at the Jiu Xiang Lou. He would always hide behind the curtain, allowing the theatrical man who appeared to be effeminate and flamboyant to take his place.

Seeing him in such a hurry, I couldn't help but feel happy for Yue Xiaoman, that silly girl who always takes the blame for everything. She finally didn't fall for the wrong person. I smiled and said, "Why didn't you come out that day? Now you're just pretending to be a cat mourning a mouse. Who knows if your feelings are genuine or not?"

I was momentarily speechless, watching helplessly as Qin Shiyue was dragged out of the school, bound tightly with ropes.

Mr. Qin truly has a way with words; even if this little fox, Bingqing, is cunning, she would not dare to play tricks in front of you, the old fox.

The cat truly caught the scent of fish and thus followed the trail to find it. The secret letter is like a ticking time bomb; as long as the matter remains unresolved, I will not have a day of peace. However, I do not know whether the flower girl in front of me is friend or foe, which makes me extremely anxious

The Lu Mansion sent someone this morning with an invitation, saying that during the temple fair, Miss Er is cordially invited to the mansion for a banquet. I was feeling troubled about how to respond when, in the afternoon, another messenger from the Lu Mansion arrived with a letter stating that Yue Xiaoman had been sent home, assuring Miss Er to attend the banquet with peace of mind. I was startled, thinking that the infatuated young man had gone to take the blame. When I hurried to Yue Xiaoman's home, I found her kneeling on the ground, while her old-fashioned father was striking her palms with a bamboo stick. I was startled, thinking that the infatuated young man had gone to take the blame. When I hurried to Yue Xiaoman's home, I found her kneeling on the ground, while her old-fashioned father was striking her palms with a bamboo stick.

This should be a stone house with excellent sound insulation, where even a small stone kicked accidentally can produce a loud echo

The entrance to Lord Da Pang's mansion is heavily guarded, with soldiers holding guns, causing ordinary citizens to tremble at just a glance. When the carriage stopped at the entrance, the soldiers shouted in a rough voice: "What do you want?"

Before Uncle Zhao could respond, someone else rushed out even faster, slapping with a loud "smack": "You blind bear, this is the second young lady of the Ye family, what the hell are you shouting about!" After saying this, he turned around, bending over slightly, and said: "Miss Ye, please don't blame me for my subordinate's ignorance—"

It is a very lengthy dream

On that day, I had never met Yue Xiaoman at all

I do not know what I want either. He walked over and playfully lifted my chin with his finger, admiring me closely: "However, I do feel a bit like wanting you right now"

He? I let out a cold snort: "He is a villain, a traitor!"

"Let go of Miss Ye Er!" Following the source of the voice, I saw Lu Xingjiu, dressed in a crisp military uniform, with a mocking smile at the corner of his mouth

Although the third concubine did not know what scheme he was plotting, she tactfully returned upstairs. I sat face to face with Yu Ziyang, and my heart was as clear as a mirror. The third concubine's family runs a tailor shop and has always sourced fabric from the Yu family's fabric store. During the New Year, he came with his father to deliver New Year gifts, walking behind with a slender figure. The person who was set up for an arranged marriage with Yue Xiaoman is named Yu Ziyang. The slender figure that flashed by on the day of the school search was also Yu Ziyang. During the New Year, he came with his father to deliver New Year gifts, walking behind with a slender figure. The person who was set up for an arranged marriage with Yue Xiaoman is named Yu Ziyang. The slender figure that flashed by on the day of the school search was also Yu Ziyang.

I only found him familiar and asked, "Are you ... ... "

Qin Shiyue did not arrive very late; he deliberately wore a gray suit, and he appeared quite dashing. He was unaware of my true intentions, as I merely invited him to accompany me to the temple fair without informing him that the young master of the road school was also in attendance.

I sighed inwardly. That Qin Shiyue is indeed charming, but I simply cannot bring myself to like him. It seems fate is playing tricks on me, as the seemingly admirable man turns out to be a spy. I huffed, "I, Ye Bingqing, am not interested in that poor teacher."

July 7th is the Qixi Festival. Yue Xiaoman and Yu Ziyang went to watch a movie, leaving me all alone. At noon, I passed by the Po Mo Zhai and went in to buy the Four Treasures of the Study. As soon as I stepped out, I saw a large group of soldiers rushing towards the southern school of the city. Many people nearby were pointing and discussing, saying that it was the students from Jingde High School who had gotten into trouble.

I lied to my mother, saying that I went to the countryside with my classmates for two days. She was only focused on scolding me for being mischievous and did not suspect anything further. Yue Xiaoman is still being detained by that school on the way, and it seems that the fat man this time is not after money but insists on getting to the bottom of the matter. My father has no better solution and can only delay, hoping that if there is no movement in a few days, perhaps that school on the way will release the person.

I, Qin Shiyue, was originally just a poor teacher, and yet Miss Jin did not speak incorrectly. Qin Shiyue returned a salute with neither humility nor arrogance, while the two men seemed to be secretly competing with each other. I had initially intended to provoke a conflict between Lu Xingjiu and Qin Shiyue because of me, but it appeared that they already had a conflict. I felt as if I were sitting on pins and needles, as if I could see myself being drawn into a massive whirlpool.

Lu Xing raised his chin nonchalantly and said: "I am merely following routine procedures, just capturing a couple of traitors to take back."

You ... ... '' I widened my eyes and didn't dare to breathe. I thought to myself, this is bad, he actually saw through my flaw. But there is no need to fear him; given the situation, he already knows that I am deliberately concealing something, yet he has no intention of harming me. Otherwise, he would not have left me in the slums, but would have long since disposed of my body in the streets.

"Miss Jin, you talk too much—" Lu Xingjiu gently reprimanded, yet a satisfied smile appeared on his face. Indeed, Miss Jin was Master Lu's confidante; she cast a flirtatious glance and gracefully parted the beaded curtain to exit. A flush of heat surged to my face, as if the mocking words directed at Qin Shiyue had struck my heart, burning painfully.

I hurriedly called for a rickshaw to rush back to school, where the military had already surrounded Jingde High School. The situation was very similar to the previous search at Night Heart Girls' School, with many female students curiously peering towards the boys' school. I immediately spotted Yu Ziyang and Yue Xiaoman, with Yu Ziyang being prodded in the spine by a gun. Blood was flowing from the corner of Yu Ziyang's mouth, staining the front of his shirt into a dazzling rose. Yue Xiaoman was crying so hard that she could hardly catch her breath. I was anxious to rush over, but was stopped by a soldier. Blood was flowing from the corner of Yu Ziyang's mouth, staining the front of his shirt into a dazzling rose. Yue Xiaoman was crying so hard that she could hardly catch her breath. I was anxious to rush over, but was stopped by a soldier.

Yu Ziyang is truly a patriotic and responsible young man. If it weren't for Yue Xiaoman having taken the lead, I cannot guarantee that I would not have acted to win his affection from another woman

I was not aware when someone kidnapped you last time

I am Zhang Shun, the captain of the Four Little Teams. Miss Yue's subordinates have taken good care of everything, so Miss Ye can rest assured. The fawning expression in front of me made me frown in disgust, and I immediately recalled our brief encounter during the Night Heart event. I smiled and slipped a silver coin into his hand, saying: "This is for your drinks." Zhang Shun immediately expressed his gratitude profusely and led me into the Lu family home

The last person to have contact with him? I let out a cold laugh in my heart, what a schemer Qin Shiyue is, usually calm and collected, yet secretly plotting behind the scenes. Knowing that I was the last person to have contact with the Black Cat, it could only be Qin Shiyue. I fear that by then he had already been tracking the Black Cat, but did not expect that such an unexpected variable would emerge.

"If you are afraid, then you shouldn't be called Ye Bingqing." Qin Shiyue's eyes drew closer to me: "What does it mean by 'the willow bridge on the seventh day of the seventh month'? Such tricks to deceive children, you can come up with them too"

... ...

People said that the fat man Lu Da was receiving guests in the back garden, and asked me to wait in the front hall for a while. Taking advantage of the maids going to brew tea, I quietly ran up the stairs to the second floor. I heard Zhang Shun say that Yue Xiaoman was locked in a room on the second floor. However, there were too many rooms on the second floor, each with a vermilion-painted door and silver handles. I pressed my ear against the doors to listen one by one, but because I was too close, I completely failed to notice that one door was ajar, and I stumbled awkwardly into the room.

The Change of Jingde on July 7

The footsteps outside became more chaotic, seemingly belonging to more than one person. I could only widen my eyes to signal the naked man to get dressed. However, that man leisurely put on his pajamas as if he were enjoying a good show

Aunt Ling, the embroidered summer lotus and dragonfly design you created is truly beautiful, a testament to your skillful hands. It is merely a piece of white silk, densely stitched with pink silk thread, as if only the hands of a fairy could achieve such magic

"You are here to see me regarding Yue Xiaoman, aren't you?" I was the first to break the silence

How did I end up here

The maid of the Lu family approached and said: "Young Master Lu has been waiting at the Jiuxiang Building for quite some time..."

"Where in the world do we not meet?" During the Qin dynasty, Yue was not particularly restrained; upon taking a seat, he raised his wine cup and drank.

When I woke up, a dozen or so children were surrounding me in a familiar, dilapidated courtyard. A small pot propped up by a few blue bricks was bubbling and steaming. A girl, no more than six or seven years old, was using a tattered towel to wipe my face.

Are you still feeling shy? Isn't Mr. Qin in a relationship with you? The third aunt chuckled, her floral figure trembling.

"Star Old, open the door—" The voice of the big man outside had already sounded, and I was so nervous that my mind went blank. I saw the man leisurely walk over and open the door, saying: "I won't do anything to your esteemed guest, I'm just bringing this young lady to take a look at the room, what's the big deal about it?"

If the kidnapping was solely for money, it would not be complicated; it would simply involve extorting a sum from the Ye family. However, my intuition tells me that all of this is purposeful and premeditated. The iron door creaked open, sounding like the eerie moans of a broken phonograph, echoing strangely in my ears. I couldn't help but shrink back slightly, trying to keep my voice as calm as possible: "Who is it? What do you want?"

I understand Aunt Ling's thoughts; she is a concubine, has given birth to a daughter, and does not love to vie for favor, always feeling unsettled in her heart. I comforted her by saying: "What are you talking about, Aunt Ling? Bingqing is still far from marriage. As the saying goes, a married daughter is like spilled water. Since Aunt Ling has entered the Ye family, she is a member of the Ye family; do not speak such outsider's words."

Lu Xingjiu is completely insane, and I have no idea what he wants to do. It seems that in an instant, everything has changed. The crisis lurking beneath the calm surface has erupted, and we are all tightly bound like silkworms, powerless to break free

How would I know what it means? I thought it was a love poem written by a dying man for his beloved girl

I heard from my talkative mother that the school principal came by again a few days ago, saying that during the temple fair, he would like to invite me over for a meal. I should dress appropriately. Although he called it a banquet, it was actually an arrangement for me to meet his useless son. I nearly choked when I heard this, as it has now given my third aunt a reason to gossip.

In the Jiuxiang Building, Miss Jin possesses a silver tongue and remarkable eloquence

"Brother Xing Jiu, hasn't Uncle Lu come?" I glanced sideways at Qin Shiyue, who was momentarily taken aback, his brows and eyes reflecting a worry that I could not comprehend

"Brother Xing Jiu, you and Qin Shiyue should not be so distant. He likes me very much, and perhaps my father will marry me off to him." I secretly chuckled to myself, and that heavily made-up woman actually let out a laugh: "Miss Ye is truly a naive and charming beauty. I have only heard from the school on the road that Young Master Lu and Miss Ye are a match made in heaven. What good fortune does this Mr. Qin think he has?"