The boy was quite patient, so he stood there with his arms crossed, waiting for Qin Xiaoyou to finish laughing, before asking again in a gentle tone, "Miss, do you know the chubby boy?"
Qin Xiaoyou shook her head, and the boy became even more puzzled: "Since you don't know the little fat boy, why did it bring you here?"
Qin Xiaoyou smiled sheepishly, "I chased it all the way here." Hearing this, the boy turned to look at the fat rabbit, who then swished its rear end at him before jumping off his shoulder and disappearing. The boy scratched his head in annoyance, "The little fatty seems angry with me." Qin Xiaoyou thought to herself: How could it not be angry? Calling it "little fatty" in front of strangers. But this rabbit has quite a temper, actually.
"My name is Luanshanhun, what's your name?" the boy asked Qin Xiaoyou in a friendly manner.
Wow, those teeth are so white! They could totally be in a toothpaste commercial in modern times. After admiring them in her heart, Qin Xiaoyou smiled slightly and replied, "My name is Qin Xiaoyou."
"Qin Xiaoyou," the boy muttered to himself, then asked excitedly, "Can I call you Xiaoyou?"
"Of course." Qin Xiaoyou nodded.
"Xiao You, it's so nice to meet you. You're the first person I've met besides my parents." The boy flashed his signature white teeth, his bright smile almost blinding Qin Xiao You.
Qin Xiaoyou asked in surprise, "You've always lived here and never gone out?"
The boy's bright eyes dimmed, and he shook his head, saying, "My parents won't let me go out, saying there are many bad people outside. But my father promised me that I can go down the mountain when I turn eighteen." As he said this, the boy's eyes lit up again.
Qin Xiaoyou looked him up and down and asked, "So how old are you now?"
"Sixteen," the boy answered shyly.
Wow, this ancient person is really well-developed. Judging by his height and muscular build, Qin Xiaoyou thought he was at least nineteen years old, but it turns out he's still a minor. Qin Xiaoyou smiled at the boy: "That mountain halo?"
"It's Shanhun, my name is Luan Shanhun." The boy corrected her earnestly. "Okay, okay, Shanhun, hey, why is your name so strange? Who gave you that name?"
"My mother said a fairy gave me this name, and it has a profound meaning," the boy said proudly. Qin Xiaoyou became interested; how could such a name, which was difficult to pronounce, have a deep meaning? Seeing the doubt in Qin Xiaoyou's eyes, the boy hurriedly said, "It's true! My mother said my name is very beautiful and unique because it was taken from a poem: 'When I came, my clothes were covered in clouds; yesterday, the mountains were shrouded in mist.'"
"When I came, my clothes were shrouded in clouds; yesterday, the mountains were shrouded in mist." Qin Xiaoyou was about to jokingly tease him about why he didn't just name himself "Clothes on Clouds"—it was simple and easy to remember—when she suddenly realized something was off. "When I came, my clothes were shrouded in clouds; yesterday, the mountains were shrouded in mist"—wasn't that someone's poem? It was that…
"Xiaoshan, who is this young lady?" A slightly serious male voice interrupted Qin Xiaoyou's thoughts.
Chapter 31, The Mysterious Family (Part 2)
"Father, you're back?" The boy turned around with great joy and asked a serious-looking man behind him.
The man stepped forward and patted the boy on the shoulder. "Business was good today, so I came back early." Then, he gave Qin Xiaoyou that same serious expression as before. He looked at her as if she were some kind of scoundrel trying to abduct his innocent son.
Wow, that uncle's eyes are really fierce! Upon receiving the man's gaze, Qin Xiaoyou sighed and took two steps back without any composure.
The boy noticed Qin Xiaoyou's fear and smiled as he shook the man's hand, saying, "Daddy, smile! You're scaring Xiaoyou. Xiaoyou is Little Fatty's friend. Little Fatty brought her here today." He then turned and gave Qin Xiaoyou a bright smile, adding, "Don't be afraid. My dad is a very nice person, he just looks a little fierce."
Qin Xiaoyou thought to herself: "Not just a little fierce, but extremely fierce." However, she forced a stiff smile and awkwardly explained, "I didn't mean to barge into your house; I was chasing a rabbit." Because she saw that the man's attitude towards her hadn't softened after her son's words, she quickly began to explain why she was there. She was worried that if she didn't have a reasonable explanation, the man might immediately kill her.
Hearing Qin Xiaoyou's words, the man remained expressionless and said in a cold tone, "Since you've misled us, please leave. My family lives in seclusion here and doesn't like to be disturbed."
Wow, that's a pretty harsh way to kick her out. But then she thought about it, and realized she'd accidentally wandered into their house, so it was only right that she wasn't impolite. Hearing the man tell her to leave, Qin Xiaoyou didn't hesitate and turned to walk back the way she'd come.
But after leaving the courtyard, Qin Xiaoyou stared blankly at the mountains and forests. She had been busy chasing rabbits the whole way and hadn't paid any attention to how she got here. Now that she was asked to go back, she wanted to, but she didn't know the way.
After agonizing for a while, to avoid starving to death in the mountains because she got lost, Qin Xiaoyou decided to go back to the small courtyard and ask for directions first.
With a heart full of trepidation, Qin Xiaoyou walked back, wondering if the man would believe her. But when she returned to the courtyard, she found that the boy and the man were nowhere to be seen. Qin Xiaoyou tiptoed and looked into the window. Hmm, no one was in the house either. How strange, where did they go in such a short time? Did they vanish into thin air?
"Young lady, what are you looking at?" The sudden voice from behind startled Qin Xiaoyou, who was peering out the window. She stumbled, rubbing her sore bottom. She scrambled to her feet and saw that the person speaking to her was a beautiful woman. Although the woman wore simple clothes and no jewelry, she exuded an air of nobility.
Seeing that Qin Xiaoyou didn't answer and was just staring at her absentmindedly, the woman asked again, "I wonder what you were looking at from my window just now?"
"Your home? This is your home?" Qin Xiaoyou asked in surprise. Seeing the beautiful woman nod, Qin Xiaoyou excitedly walked over and grabbed her wrist, saying, "You're Luan Shanhun's mother, right? I'm Shanhun's friend. My name is Qin Xiaoyou. Um, well, I forgot how to get down the mountain. Could you tell me?"
Before the beautiful woman could answer, Qin Xiaoyou's previously fierce and shrewish father reappeared from nowhere, shouting, "What are you doing? Let go of my wife right now!" He then swung a long wooden stick at Qin Xiaoyou. The turn of events was so sudden that Qin Xiaoyou froze, forgetting even to dodge. Fortunately, the beautiful woman reached out and gently caught the stick. The beautiful woman frowned slightly, displeased, and said, "Why are you still so temperamental? You hit people without even asking what happened."
The man explained nervously, "I saw her grabbing you, and I was worried, so I..."
The exchange happened so fast that Qin Xiaoyou was stunned until Luan Shanhun ran up to her and asked, "Xiaoyou, are you alright?" Only then did she come to her senses. Seeing Luan Shanhun's worried expression, Qin Xiaoyou forced a smile and said, "I'm fine."
At this moment, the beautiful woman turned her head and said, "Miss, I'm sorry to have startled you. I apologize on behalf of my husband."
Qin Xiaoyou quickly waved her hand and said, "No need, no need, Auntie, you're too kind."
"Auntie?" The beautiful woman frowned slightly.
Oh no, I think I let it slip. Qin Xiaoyou's heart skipped a beat. She quickly tried to figure out how to explain the "auntie" title, but the beautiful woman didn't dwell on it. Instead, she generously invited Qin Xiaoyou to come inside. Qin Xiaoyou was about to decline, but seeing Luan Shanhun's expectant look, the words of refusal came out as, "Okay, then I'll gladly accept."
Through their conversation, Qin Xiaoyou learned that the beautiful woman and her family had hidden themselves in the mountains to escape their enemies. They made a living by doing needlework and by chopping firewood to sell. Luan Shanhun had lived in the mountains since birth, never setting foot below the mountain, and never seeing anyone other than his parents. The beautiful woman sighed, "But children eventually grow up. We can't protect him forever, so his father and I plan to send him down the mountain to make his way in the world when he turns eighteen. If you happen to meet him on the road then, please take care of him." "That's for sure. After all, Shanhun is my friend," Qin Xiaoyou assured her, patting her chest.
The beautiful woman smiled slightly, rose, and took out a beautifully embroidered purse from the bedroom, saying, "My family is extremely poor, and I have nothing to give you, young lady. Please don't find this purse too precious." The purse was embroidered with a peony in gold thread, and several round little pearls dangled from its edge. Even Qin Xiaoyou, who was not knowledgeable about valuable things, could see the purse's worth and quickly waved her hand, refusing, "No, no, this purse is too precious; I cannot accept it." The beautiful woman said, "This purse is an ordinary item, nothing particularly valuable or not. However, it contains some herbs that can repel mosquitoes and refresh the mind. With this, insects and snakes will not dare approach you. Consider it a gift from me to my friend Xiaoshan. Please don't refuse." Actually, when Qin Xiaoyou heard the beautiful woman say that the purse could repel mosquitoes, she felt like she had struck gold. So, hearing the beautiful woman's kind words, she didn't refuse, thanked her, and tied the purse around her waist.
After chatting for a while longer, seeing that it was getting late, Qin Xiaoyou got up to take her leave. The beautiful woman asked the father and son to accompany Qin Xiaoyou down the mountain. Along the way, Luan Shanhun asked many questions about things down the mountain, and Qin Xiaoyou, delighted to have received the purse, patiently answered them one by one.
After walking for less than a quarter of an incense stick's time, Luan Shanhun's father said in a low voice, "We're here. Just keep going straight along this main road, and you'll reach the city gate." Although Luan Shanhun's father had kept a stern face the whole way, he had kindly cleared the grass from the road for Qin Xiaoyou, showing he was a kind-hearted person despite his stern appearance. Qin Xiaoyou wasn't unreasonable either, so she politely thanked him upon parting. Luan Shanhun's father snorted, said nothing, and turned to go back up the mountain with Luan Shanhun. Waving goodbye to Luan Shanhun, who had turned back after walking a short distance, Qin Xiaoyou hummed a song and walked back in a good mood.
Chapter 32, Sudden Bad News
Because she got the sachet, Qin Xiaoyou was overjoyed for several days. She would take it out to smell it every now and then, and sometimes she would call the passing maids and servants to take a look. She would only let them go when they exclaimed, "This sachet is so beautiful!" or "Wow, it smells so good!"
That day, Qin Xiaoyou was bored and decided to tease Su Lin. However, for some reason, the pharmacy was unusually crowded, and Su Lin and a young shop assistant were running around like headless chickens. Seeing Qin Xiaoyou leisurely walking into the lobby, Su Lin quickly grabbed her and pulled her to the counter, asking her to help him get the medicine.
Qin Xiaoyou initially wanted to refuse, but Su Lin didn't give her a chance to speak, rushing back to the table like a whirlwind to begin taking the pulses of the long line of patients. "Fine, I'll just consider it a day of volunteering out of kindness," Qin Xiaoyou thought. Although not particularly happy, she still quickly and efficiently grabbed the medicine from the prescriptions and labels on the medicine cabinet.
Meanwhile, two figures, one in blue and one in green, were galloping along the wide official road. Although they rode exceptionally fine steeds, the horses were showing signs of fatigue. After a long while, the green figure spoke, "Master, since the capital isn't far anyway, why don't we stop and rest? Let Huoying and Baixiao rest too; they're exhausted from traveling so far." The blue figure didn't stop, saying calmly, "Then let's rest at the teahouse ahead." With that, he cracked his whip, urging his horse to gallop faster.
Because Su Lin had made her do hard labor for half a day, Qin Xiaoyou was so tired that her back and legs ached. The next day, she stayed obediently in her small courtyard and didn't go out to wander around, so as not to have to stand for half a day again.
"Miss Qin, Miss Qin, Miss Qin, a young master is looking for you outside." Rolling her eyes at the maid who rushed in with the news, Qin Xiaoyou leisurely ate grapes and asked, "It's just someone coming, why are you so excited?"
The little girl cupped her face in her hands and said with a lovesick expression, "Miss Qin, that young man outside is so handsome!"
"Really? How handsome?" Upon hearing that there was a handsome man, Qin Xiaoyou immediately became interested, sat up straight, and asked with her eyes shining.
"Well, I don't know how to describe it, but he's just really, really handsome. Oh, and he said he has something important to discuss with the girl." As soon as the little girl finished speaking, Qin Xiaoyou dashed out at a speed comparable to her running away.
Upon arriving at the pharmacy's lobby, Qin Xiaoyou shaded her eyes with her hand and looked around. "Huh? Weren't you supposed to be looking for handsome guys?" she thought. "Why are all these guys ugly?" Just as she was wondering, someone suddenly tapped her on the shoulder from behind. Turning around, Qin Xiaoyou let out a scream and turned to run away. However, Wenren Qi seemed to have anticipated her reaction; Qin Xiaoyou spun around and bumped headfirst into Xiao Feng, who was blocking her path.
Realizing that her escape was hopeless, Qin Xiaoyou decided to adopt a rogue-like attitude and asked, "What do you want?"
Wenren Qi smiled gently, but the anxiety between his brows was still undisguised. He said, "Xiao You, I do have something important to discuss with you, but it's not convenient to talk here."
"Inconvenient?" Qin Xiaoyou raised an eyebrow and asked in a roguish tone, "Then are you planning to find a secluded place, preferably just the two of us, and then tell me in detail about that important matter you mentioned?"
Wenren Qi nodded and said, "That would be best if it could be done that way."
"Hmph." Qin Xiaoyou looked at Wenren Qi and Xiaofeng with disdain. "Don't think I don't know what you're up to. You're obviously plotting against me. I won't fall for your tricks."
"Pfft, are you plotting something against me?" Xiao Feng asked, pointing at Qin Xiaoyou with a laugh.
Qin Xiaoyou said unhappily, "What? You have a problem with that?"
"It's not my place to comment on this, but I just think that the poster's tastes aren't so bad that they would actually have ulterior motives towards you," Xiao Feng said, looking up at the sky.
"Hey, what do you mean? What do you mean 'he actually had designs on you'? Don't you have any sense of aesthetics? What can't I do that would make him have designs on me?" As expected, Qin Xiaoyou got angry and jumped up, pointing at Xiaofeng as she asked.
Feeling Wenren Qi's reproachful gaze, Xiao Feng touched her nose and shrugged, indicating, "I was just telling the truth." Wenren Qi shook his head helplessly, stepped forward and pulled Qin Xiaoyou, who insisted on grabbing Xiao Feng and saying she was beautiful, and comforted her, "Xiao Feng was just joking with you, don't be angry. We need to focus on business, let's go inside."
Qin Xiaoyou calmed down, glanced back at Wenren Qi, and saw that he looked travel-worn and tired. She groaned inwardly: Is it really necessary? He even traveled all night to catch me. Why am I so unlucky? I just escaped, and now I'm going to be caught again?
Ignoring Qin Xiaoyou's hesitation, Wenren Qi grabbed her and pulled her inside. Su Lin tried to stop him, but Wenren Qi darted past him. Su Lin opened his arms, only realizing after a moment that his attempt to stop him was futile. He quickly withdrew his hand, wanting to chase after him, but Xiao Feng blocked his way, saying expressionlessly, "The Master doesn't like having anyone around when he's discussing matters."
“But Miss Qin…” Su Lin’s eyes were filled with worry.
"Don't worry, the host and Miss Qin are old acquaintances, he won't do anything to Miss Qin." Xiao Feng saw Su Lin's deep worry.
Su Lin nodded and walked away, but he was still worried. He instructed a young shop assistant to watch the shop and then hurriedly went out to find Su Xiao.
Meanwhile, in Qin Xiaoyou's room, Qin Xiaoyou and Wenren Qi each occupied a corner of the table, staring at each other intently. After a long while, Qin Xiaoyou rubbed her slightly sore eyes and relented, "Alright, alright, I don't want to run away anymore. What's wrong? Just tell me."
Hearing Qin Xiaoyou's assurance, Wenren Qi breathed a sigh of relief, took a sip of tea to moisten his throat, and then said, "Kongkongzi is dead."
"Huh? Who died?" Qin Xiaoyou picked at her ears, thinking she was hallucinating, and asked again.
Wenren Qi sighed, looked at Qin Xiaoyou with a hint of pity, and said, "Kongkongzi, that is, your master, is dead."
The news came so suddenly that Qin Xiaoyou was stunned. After a long while, she steadied her slightly trembling hands and said with a smile, "Brother Wenren, your lying skills are really terrible. Did you think that I would obediently go with you if you told me that my master died?"
Looking at Qin Xiaoyou's face, which clearly showed her disbelief, Wenren Qi frowned and said, "Xiaoyou, I came to find you as soon as I got the news. Your situation is also very dangerous right now, listen to me..."
"I won't listen, I won't listen! You just want to trick me into going back and locking me up again. Don't think I don't know what you're up to. Go away, go away, go away! I don't want to see you! I won't believe you!" As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyou pushed Wenren Qi toward the door.
Seeing that Qin Xiaoyou couldn't accept this fact for a while, Wenren Qi didn't insist and left her in the room to calm down.
Closing the door, Qin Xiaoyou walked dizzily to the bedside and sat down. Her mind was blank, and her chest felt like it was stuffed with cotton, making it difficult to breathe. She gripped the blanket tightly and asked shakily, "Is it true?" Only air answered her. Undeterred, Qin Xiaoyou continued, "You were very upset after hearing this news, so it's true? But I don't know Kongkongzi. Why am I as upset as you? Is it because you're still occupying this body and haven't left, so I'm affected by your emotions?"
"Sigh." A faint sigh seemed to come from nowhere. Without her even realizing it, Qin Xiaoyou was already in tears.
Chapter 33, Misunderstanding
Whether she retained some of the original body's consciousness after transmigrating or not, Qin Xiaoyou lay in bed all night, heartbroken, after hearing that Qin Qin's master, Kongkongzi, had died, and even lost her appetite for dinner. Although she had never met the legendary master since transmigrating, he was still Qin Qin's closest person, so Qin Xiaoyou still cried on Qin Qin's behalf.
However, Qin Xiaoyou was always incredibly resilient; after sleeping in late the next day, she looked refreshed again, though her eyes were slightly red and swollen. When Ren Dong was helping Qin Xiaoyou wash her face, she noticed and asked curiously, "Miss, what happened to your eyes?"
Qin Xiaoyou glanced at Ren Dong and said, "Oh, so you finally remembered me now. I thought you'd forgotten about me after you got Qin Wu."
"Miss, what nonsense are you talking about?" Ren Dong stamped her foot and said, her face flushed.
Qin Xiaoyou slowly wiped her face and asked, "Huh? Is this nonsense? I've seen you and Qin Wu disappear before dawn these past few days, I don't know where you've gone to play. Haven't you two made a secret engagement yet?"
Seeing that Qin Xiaoyou's words were getting more and more outrageous, Ren Dong stopped caring and was about to leave with the washbasin in her hand. Qin Xiaoyou, being annoying, called out to Ren Dong, "Ren Dong, don't be in such a hurry to leave. If you two haven't made a private engagement, I can help you do it."
Wenren Qi, who had just walked in, overheard half of what was being said and asked with some curiosity, "Xiao You, are you talking about who's committed to whom?"
Qin Xiaoyou glanced at Wenren Qi and silently sighed in her heart: He's still so handsome, even when he's haggard, it's really unfair. However, Bai Yuxiao is still more pleasing to the eye.
Seeing that Qin Xiaoyou remained silent for a long time, staring blankly at him, Wenren Qi assumed she didn't want to talk, so he didn't ask any further questions. Instead, he continued with what happened yesterday: "Xiaoyou, are you alright?"
"Huh?" Qin Xiaoyou was completely confused.
“I mean, regarding your master’s death, you…” “Oh, you mean this?” Qin Xiaoyou interrupted Wenren Qi. “Don’t worry, I’m fine now. I thought about it all night and I finally understood. Everyone has to die eventually. My master was old, so it’s not surprising that he passed away.”
“Xiao You, your master didn’t die because he got old. He was murdered.” Wenren Qi said hesitantly.
After he finished speaking, he saw that Qin Xiaoyou's mouth was agape in an "O" shape. Wenren Qi asked worriedly, "Xiaoyou, are you alright? Don't worry, I will definitely help you find the murderer who killed your master."
"You're saying my master was murdered?" Qin Xiaoyou grabbed Wenren Qi's shoulders and shook him violently.
Wenren Qi nodded sadly, then gently patted Qin Xiaoyou's head reassuringly. In the past, if anyone dared touch Qin Xiaoyou's head, she would have jumped up and down in anger. Heads weren't to be touched casually; it was believed that touching them would make her shorter. For the past twenty years, Qin Xiaoyou attributed her stunted growth to the uncles, aunts, grandfathers, and grandmothers in the compound who loved to touch her head when she was little. Therefore, after leaving home, her head became her Achilles' heel, something that couldn't be touched.