As dusk fell, Mo Xi returned to Wuyi Lane, mingling among the peddlers packing up their stalls, and specifically examined the marks left by steel nails on the bluestone slabs. The body had been moved, and even the bloodstains had been washed away. The bluestone slabs were actually sandstone within sedimentary rock, of medium hardness, but even so, to have a hole about an inch long carved into them was something no ordinary concealed weapon could achieve. The effect of hitting flesh would be unimaginable. Her gaze swept over the slab three times; all 36 steel nails had been removed. Fearing that the Tang Clan was secretly watching the Jiqiao Pavilion, she dared not linger and headed towards the dock where boats were rented.
Night Tour of Qinhuai
( ) After turning out of another alley, Mo Xi was dressed as a woman, but in simple clothes and a simple hairpin.
They hired a small boat without a canopy. Mo Xi sat at the bow, admiring the scenery along the shore, while the boatman rowed at the stern.
The splendor of the Six Dynasties has coalesced into the emerald green waters of the Qinhuai River, which appear exceptionally tranquil as the sun sets and the moon sets.
The wind-blown pavilion soars to the heavens, while jade trees and coral branches form a misty canopy.
Aside from the fact that it is now late autumn, and the scenes of towering trees, blooming flowers, and entwined vines are no longer present, it is quite fitting for the season.
The Ingenious Pavilion is two stories high, but the side facing the lake is an entire wall of pure white, without windows or doors. It doesn't even have the stone steps that almost every other house has built leading to the water.
After traveling a while longer, it grew dark, and suddenly a wind picked up. In the distance, the lanterns of several painted boats swayed, creating a picturesque scene of lights reflected on the water.
Before Mo Xi could even appreciate it, the rain began to pour down. This autumn rain had a bit of the force of thunder, and the small boat was tossed about by the wind and waves. The cold raindrops lashed against Mo Xi's thin cloth dress, chilling her to the bone.
The small boat had no way to avoid it, and it would take some time to get back to the dock.
Just as Mo Xi was lamenting his miserable state, a savior appeared.
"If you don't mind, young lady, please take shelter from the rain on my master's boat." The voice was still clear and pleasant in the wind and rain, but it was not a Jiangnan accent.
A ornately decorated pleasure boat with upturned eaves approached, and a bright-eyed, fourteen or fifteen-year-old girl, dressed in a bright green brocade dress embroidered with gold, stood under the eaves waving to Mo Xi. She was dressed more elegantly than the young ladies of ordinary families. The rain was likely intensifying, and she was afraid Mo Xi wouldn't see her.
Two strings of octagonal sheepskin lanterns hung from the painted boat, casting a hazy, misty glow. There were no inscriptions, so it was unclear whose boat it was.
Mo Xi thanked the boatman loudly, and after paying the fare, the girl in the green dress led him into the cabin.
The girl in the green dress told Mo Xi to do as she pleased, then went behind a four-panel double-sided embroidered screen depicting the Four Gentlemen.
Mo Xi took the towel handed to her by the little girl and dried her hair while looking around the painted boat.
The cabin was decorated with rosewood screens inlaid with silk paintings and six-cornered lanterns symbolizing peace and prosperity throughout the four seasons.
The furniture was also made entirely of rosewood, carved with pine and crane motifs, exquisite and elegant.
There was no trace of perfume or cosmetics, but a faint medicinal scent wafted through the air. It didn't look like a pleasure boat; it looked more like a wealthy family out for a stroll.
A moment later, the girl in the green dress emerged from behind the screen, carrying a tray with a pale pink teacup adorned with a kingfisher perched on a branch.
"Please sit down, young lady. Our young master is unable to receive guests, so please don't be so formal. Have some ginger tea to warm yourself up."
Mo Xi thanked him and accepted the tea. The hot ginger tea contained red dates and goji berries; the spiciness of the ginger was tempered by the sweetness of the dates and berries, which was very pleasant.
The occasional soft coughs of a young man could be heard from inside the cabin; he must be the young master the girl in the green dress had mentioned. The ginger tea arrived so quickly, perhaps thanks to the host.
After a while, the rain subsided, and Mo Xi thanked her and took her leave. The girl in the green dress did not try to keep her, but asked her to wait a moment. She then went behind the screen, took out a white oil-paper umbrella painted with red maple leaves, and Mo Xi thanked her again before going ashore and leaving.
On her way home, Mo Xi bought a sesame seed cake for three coins from a stall. She took a bite, and the syrup inside was still warm. It tasted good.
When I got home, I unfolded the oil paper that had been used to wrap the sesame seed cakes and put them on the fire to bake. A line of words appeared on the paper.
It turns out that the pageboy's name was Xiao Ou, and he had been serving Tang Si Shao for seven years. Was he embezzling from his own post?
After burning the paper, Mo Xi changed her clothes, washed up, turned off the lights, and rested.
Jiqiaoge
( ) The next day, the Jiqiao Pavilion was bustling with activity. Everyone gathered around the recruitment notice posted at the door. There was only one condition: to rotate the magic ball until all six sides were the same color within half an incense stick's time, and then disassemble it to take out the South China Sea pearl inside.
Mo Xi smiled slightly, deciding it was a good time to go in and find out what was going on.
The Ingenious Slide has no signboard; at the entrance stands a small wooden slide with a wooden hedgehog at the bottom. First-time visitors don't need to knock; they simply place the hedgehog on the slide, and it will naturally slide down the slope step by step. Usually, halfway down, it will tighten its strings, ringing the bell on the door, and the staff will come out to greet them. Regular customers can enter directly using their number. The numbers are issued on a first-come, first-served basis, and are counted per person, not per item.
Mo Xi explained that she was there to apply for the job. Because she was a young woman, the waiter couldn't help but look her up and down a few times, but quickly ushered her inside.
She was settled in a side room in the wing of the hall, and the waiter told her to wait a moment before leaving.
This was a very ordinary living room, except that the oil lamp was made into a lotus-shaped cup and hung upside down from the ceiling, which was quite unique and interesting. The wine pot on the table had two holes, and it was a nine-curved mandarin duck pot commonly used in the martial arts world.
A moment later, the waiter brought a tray covered with red silk, carefully placed it in front of her, and said, "If you can untie it, young lady, you can go to the front to receive your reward."
The shopkeeper clearly thought that a young woman like her couldn't make a living here with her skills, but since they were in business, they couldn't say she was causing trouble, so they still treated her according to the rules.
Mo Xi lifted the red cloth, somewhat surprised. This was called a 5x5 Rubik's Cube in modern times, and she used to be very skilled at it. So she picked it up and started fiddling with it. However, not wanting to show off, she stopped after the last five moves and put it back on the tray.
When she came out, Mo Xi went the wrong way and went straight into the depths of the corridor. She was stopped by the shopkeeper halfway there and he led her back to the front hall. She casually drew a sketch of a tangram puzzle and had it custom-made from wood. After haggling with the shopkeeper for a long time, he finally agreed that she could pick it up in three days at the earliest.
The shopkeeper was a plump middle-aged man, shaped like a red bean bun. Even the smallest business deal could elicit a smile like that of a Maitreya Buddha, with everyone thanking him profusely. This ingenious shop was quite interesting; from the waiters to the shopkeeper, none of them possessed any martial arts skills. Despite being businessmen, they never uttered a single unnecessary word.
He received a wooden plaque engraved with the number 1,101 and came out.
Passing by the Hefeng Noodle Shop, Mo Xi saw a little beggar, about six or seven years old, covered in filth, being pushed out by the waiter. Remembering herself at four when she first came here, Mo Xi told the little beggar to wait outside. The little beggar's eyes lit up. Though dirty, her eyes were clear and innocent. She swallowed hard, nodded vigorously, and smiled, revealing two dimples, one deep and one shallow—she was actually a pretty girl. Mo Xi felt a pang of pity for her. Hefeng specializes in Sichuan snacks, most famous for its Dan Dan noodles. The noodles are bright red, with a rich aroma of preserved vegetables and sesame paste, a prominent spicy and sour flavor, fresh but not greasy, spicy but not overpowering. Mo Xi herself doesn't like spicy food, so she ordered a bowl of Dan Dan noodles, specifically asking the waiter to add extra broth and minced meat. After paying, she told the waiter to bring it out for the little beggar. She then continued on her way to the branch restaurant.
According to confirmed information from the Wind Group, Tang Si Shao is in Jinling. Mo Xi couldn't help but think how close he had come to disaster. Regardless of whether it was him he had encountered on the Qinhuai River that day, or whether the other party was testing him, he had managed to escape unscathed and hadn't given himself away.
Three days later.
Mo Xi handed over the wooden plaque but was still led to a side hall to wait. After a while, a waiter brought out a tray, still covered with red silk, presumably as a rule here, to prevent passersby from seeing the items ordered by customers.
The tangram pieces were exquisitely made of common boxwood, polished smooth and with a pleasant feel. The outer box was also made of boxwood, with the characters "七巧" (Qi Qiao) carved in willow-style calligraphy. Mo Xi took out the tangram pieces, randomly arranged them into the shape of a "seven," then rearranged them to form a dog, before happily putting them back in the box.
Just as I was about to leave, the waiter said that the manager wanted to see me.
Mo Xi gladly went.
Maitreya Buddha's smile grew even wider, his eyes practically disappearing. He poured a cup of tea, but Mo Xi dared not drink it from the Nine-Turn Mandarin Duck Teapot. He merely pretended to cover it with his sleeve, making a feint.
This time he was quite talkative, subtly inquiring about the origin of the tangram puzzle.