Chapter 0006: Madame Flower
Yang Ning thought to herself, at this late hour, is Constable Feng really coming with the horse-drawn carriage to find Madam Hua, the fragmented bride, to be his nighttime companion?
So this is the place! Yang Ning realized.
A sour and putrid smell permeated the alley, and Yang Ning, slender in build, moved quite nimbly within it; however, the stench was so overwhelming that he could not help but cover his nose
Xiao Yishui smiled faintly, not responding. Suddenly, he swept the dishes on the table aside, embraced Madam Hua, and placed her on the stone table, reaching out to tug at her skirt ties.
However, what was not anticipated was that the backing of Madame Hua was none other than Xiao Yishui, who held absolute power in Huize City.
In the quiet of the night, Yang Ning circled around, searching for a flaw in the flower residence. Upon reaching the back alley of the estate, he found it to be exceedingly narrow; not to mention a horse-drawn carriage, even two strong men walking side by side would find it difficult.
The four young girls, dressed in tattered and shabby clothes, stood in a row like little lambs behind the carriage after disembarking, following the two gestures made by Constable Feng.
Xiao Yishui set down the wine cup, extended his hand, and embraced Madam Hua's waist, pulling her into his arms. He then heard a wave of flirtatious and enchanting laughter from Madam Hua. Xiao Yishui lavished his attentions on her, eliciting a series of bone-melting moans from the woman.
Not to mention that Xiao Die is inside the Flower Mansion, just based on the strange scene from earlier, Yang Ning is also curious to see what mysteries lie within the Flower Mansion
Before she could rise from behind the flowerbed, a charming laugh reached her ears, startling Yang Ning. Peering through the gaps in the flower branches, she discovered that this was actually a small courtyard
Yang Ning confirmed their departure before emerging from behind the flowerbed. The courtyard was desolate, unusually quiet, yet Yang Ning's heart was far from calm
At this moment, Constable Feng had already dismounted from the carriage and was standing beside it, while on the steps stood a burly man in black, holding a red lantern in his hand, the flickering light in the alley emanating from that lantern
Yang Ning waited for a moment before approaching. Indeed, it was a large residence, with tall courtyard walls and tightly closed gates, leaving no suitable place to enter the courtyard.
What astonished Yang Ning was not merely the sudden appearance of Madam Hua, but rather the fact that the man in the pavilion was someone he recognized; it was Xiao Yishui, the head constable of Huaze County, whom he had seen not long ago in front of the Shili Xiang Restaurant.
Moments later, Madame Hua was left with only a layer of sheer fabric, which gently fluttered, revealing her snow-white neck and the edge of a red satin corset. The red light illuminated her fair cheeks, making her look exceptionally beautiful, exuding a sense of maturity and the alluring charm of a woman.
Xiao Yishui chuckled, "Do you not understand the principle that a brief separation is better than a new marriage? Moreover, how many times have I not left you unable to get out of bed for three to five days? I always have to let you take your time to recover." One hand wandered over Madam Hua's body, her head resting on his shoulder, her entire form seemingly devoid of bones, languidly leaning in Xiao Yishui's embrace, a cascade of dark hair falling down to obscure half of Xiao Yishui's face.
This alley is inherently narrow, and a small drainage ditch has been dug at the base of the wall, from which a sour and foul odor emanates.
Although he was reluctant to enter through this filthy hole, climbing over the wall would require preparation of some tools due to the tall and smooth nature of the courtyard wall, which would inevitably cause a significant delay in time
Yang Ning knew that this woman must be Madam Hua, and looking at Madam Hua's demeanor, she could indeed be considered exceptionally charming
He calculated that since Xiao Die was able to slip out, there must be a flaw in the flower residence, but he did not expect the flaw to be in this place
The night is deep and quiet, the moon is cold in the autumn
At this moment, Yang Ning finally understood why they had previously said that Madam Hua was someone whom no one dared to provoke in this city, and that Dead Man's Alley was a place that no one would easily enter. At that time, he felt that Madam Hua must certainly have powerful backing behind her
The enchanting voice reached Yang Ning's ears, causing her heart to skip a few beats. She secretly thought that this woman was indeed a master of romance; although she was over thirty, her allure remained undiminished. It was no wonder that Xiao Yishui would become entangled with her.
The alley of the dead was cold and dimly lit. Yang Ning cautiously made his way inside, leaning against the wall. Soon, he caught sight of a flickering light ahead, prompting him to be even more careful.
In the tranquil night, with a gentle breeze caressing, one could hear Xiao Yishui asking the flower lady who had entered the pavilion: "Is everything arranged?"
Yang Ning felt puzzled, not knowing what the Flower Madam and Constable Feng were truly up to. Just as she thought Constable Feng would also follow into the Flower residence, she saw that Constable Feng had already returned to the front of the carriage.
The money that should be earned has all been received. Xiao Yishui said: "Select a few from inside to keep, as we will need them ourselves when we reach the capital."
At this moment, he was indeed puzzled. According to the old tree bark, Xiao Die had stealthily slipped out of the flower residence at midnight to go to the land temple. Since it was a secretive departure, it was impossible for her to leave through the front gate. Yet, he could not fathom from where Xiao Die had emerged.
Following behind the young lady, a woman stepped out. Yang Ning vaguely saw that the woman had a somewhat plump figure, dressed quite elegantly, and exuded a charming demeanor. Although she was at a distance, her walking posture revealed a certain graceful allure.
The plump woman walked past the several young girls one by one, occasionally reaching out to touch their faces, as if she were selecting goods.
Madam Hua's voice came through: "Do you still not trust my ability to handle matters? Have there been any oversights in the past two years?" Her voice was delicate and sweet, with a hint of bitterness, soft and languid, entering the ears and making one feel a sense of weakness throughout the body.
"Why go to the capital? You have the power to command the winds and the rain here, is that not good enough?"
Xiao Yishui shook his wine glass and said, "Come, come, come, drink a couple of cups with me. Fine wine and beautiful women, there is no joy without wine. Drink a few more cups, and we will be even happier later." He moved his wine glass closer to the mouth of the flower wife.
The courtyard appears quite simple, with an octagonal pavilion standing in the center. Inside, there are stone tables and stools, and beside the pavilion, there is an oval-shaped small pond, which is clearly man-made. The pond is not very large, but in the center of the pond, there is an artificial hill, which at first glance, is rather beautiful.
Several lanterns were hung on the columns of the octagonal pavilion, illuminating the interior and exterior as bright as day. On the stone table inside the pavilion, food and wine were laid out, and a man was leisurely drinking wine at that moment.
Xiao Yishui laughed heartily, swiftly carrying Madam Hua in his arms as he walked out of the pavilion, soon exiting the courtyard
However, Madame Hua hurriedly said: "Good sir, it is too cool at night. I have already prepared everything in the room. Let us... let us go to the room; it is essential that you enjoy yourself...!"
By the light of the fire, Yang Ning vaguely saw the carriage parked in the alley. As she groped her way forward, she realized that the carriage was stopped in front of a residence.
He never expected to encounter Xiao Yishui here, hiding behind the flowerbed, focusing his mind and calming his spirit
Crawling out of the cave, what appeared before me was a mass of branches and leaves. It turned out that behind this cave entrance was a flower garden. In September, with the autumn chill setting in, one could hardly expect to see a scene of blooming flowers.
Xiao Yishui laughed and said, "What prospects can a woman have in a small county town? That gentleman has already promised to secure me a good position in the capital. If I want to achieve great success, I naturally cannot remain here. Moreover, now that the war has ended, the refugees will soon return to their hometowns, and our business will not last much longer. " He pinched the face of the flower lady and continued with a smile, "Having spent so many years in this small place, it is time for me to rise to prominence. "
From beginning to end, these individuals remained silent, displaying a tacit understanding and skillfulness
Xiao Yishui laughed heartily and said: "A beauty like you is a rare find, one in a thousand. I cannot bear to part with you. When we arrive in the capital, you will still help me manage the business... How many people do you have under your command?"
Not far away, a figure gracefully approached, illuminated by the moonlight. Yang Ning immediately recognized her as the plump woman he had seen earlier.
Madam Hua's backing is Xiao Yishui, and it is evident that Xiao Yishui has another powerful supporter behind him, who is a significant figure in the capital. Although Xiao Yishui commands great authority in Huize County, with no one daring to provoke him in both the legal and illegal realms, he is naturally insignificant compared to the prominent figures in the capital, akin to an ant.
"By the way, once things are settled here, I intend to go to the capital," Xiao Yishui suddenly said. "Are you willing to accompany me?"
Xiao Die had not been in touch for several days, and coupled with Yang Ning's knowledge of Madam Hua's fragmented marriage activities, he was already worried. The bizarre scene he had just witnessed further led Yang Ning to feel that there were hidden secrets within the Hua residence
After walking for a while in the dim alley, Yang Ning finally stopped, crouching down by the drainage ditch. At that moment, he noticed a small hole at the base of the wall. It was not very large, but it was barely big enough for a person to crawl in and out. The edges of the hole were thickly coated with grime
The man in black holding the lantern cautiously illuminated the surroundings with the lantern, yet did not see Yang Ning. He then turned around and walked up the steps, returning to the courtyard, followed by the sound of the gate closing.
In urgent matters, one must act with flexibility. After a moment of contemplation, Yang Ning cautiously entered through the opening. Although the wall was high, it was not thick. However, on the other side of the opening, there was a stone slab blocking the way. Yang Ning pushed it with his hand, and it easily moved aside. This stone slab was naturally used for concealment.
Xiao Yishui laughed heartily and said, "Where are you thinking of going again? With a beauty like you, I don't even pay attention to the women of the world." His voice lowered slightly as he leaned in to whisper a few words in Madam Hua's ear. Yang Ning, who was already having difficulty hearing, could not discern what exactly Xiao Yishui was whispering to Madam Hua.
Madam Hua said in a sultry voice: "I have long been yours. As long as you do not mind that I am old and faded, I will follow you wherever you go."
Yang Ning saw that he was about to leave and was just about to turn around and exit the alley to avoid being seen by Constable Feng driving over. However, the horse-drawn carriage did not turn around to come this way, but instead continued along the Dead Man's Alley and soon disappeared into the darkness
Yang Ning cursed under her breath at the couple, who were being so affectionate in the courtyard. However, considering that there were surely no others daring to enter this place, it was no wonder they were so unrestrained.
Yang Ning saw this and thought to himself, could it be that they are about to engage in this truce, and I am to witness a live spring palace here
Madam Hua, upon hearing this, laughed even more charmingly and suddenly asked: "Who exactly is that esteemed gentleman you mentioned? How could he so easily enable you to go to the capital and take up an official position?"
Soon, the plump woman turned and walked into the house, while the man in black holding a lantern waved his hand, and the four young girls followed in line behind the plump woman
They had previously mentioned that there was only one household in the Dead Man's Alley, which indicates that the carriage before us is indeed headed to the Flower Residence
The plump woman swayed her hips as she walked to the side of the carriage. She saw Constable Feng reach out to pull open the rear door of the carriage, and soon after, three or four individuals emerged from within the carriage, all of whom were youthful young ladies.
Madam Hua snorted and said in a sulky voice: "What fine wine and beautiful women? If I were a beauty, would you only come by once every ten days or half a month? You leave me all alone here, lonely and desolate. I think of you day and night, eagerly waiting for your return, always keeping you in my heart... Alas, I am getting old and losing my charm. You come to see me when you think of it, but when you don't, you leave me all by myself here.
As he was lost in thought, he suddenly saw another lantern emerge from within the door. Soon, he noticed that the one carrying the lantern was a young lady dressed in a skirt. Although she was at a considerable distance, even with Yang Ning's keen eyesight, he could not discern her features clearly, only able to make out a rough outline of her figure.
The woman, in her early thirties, has fair skin and a voluptuous figure, appearing quite beautiful. As she walks, her waist sways, exuding a sense of maturity. The charm and allure of the woman are embodied in her laughter.
Yang Ning has an exceptional memory; once he has seen someone, he can easily remember their physical outline. This has always been one of Yang Ning's sources of pride.
It just feels rather strange if that is truly the case. Seeking flowers and inquiring about willows, why the rush to come by horse-drawn carriage? After all, this is not about visiting a brothel, but rather about finding a fragmented marriage, which should be kept somewhat discreet. Arriving by carriage makes the objective too conspicuous, and it inevitably appears somewhat ostentatious.
Lady Hua said: "There are still about thirty left"
Oh, I thought you were indifferent to those young ladies, but it turns out you ... !" Madame Hua's tone was clearly tinged with jealousy