Magistrate Zhao regretted it, so much that his intestines had turned green.
When Feng Xiao and Cui Buqu came to the City of Six Crafts, the first had presented his identity, and the latter had used the identity of the Taoist Master of the Zixia Taoist Temple, not making himself obvious at all. Magistrate Zhao had been too busy trying to gain favours from Feng Xiao that he had neglected Cui Buqu. Later on, he got to know that his background was no more inferior than the Jiejian Bureau.
Although his post as an officer wasn't high, but he knew very well that it was dangerous to play favouritism between two other officers who held the same power and rank, and that he had breached this rule.
According to the legends, the Zuoyue Bureau was the same as the Jiejian Bureau, that they can both execute sentences first without seeking approval.
According to the legends, the Zuoyue Bureau was established single-handedly by the Empress Dugu herself, and she was their support from behind.
According to the legends, the Commander of the Zuoyue Bureau was a mysterious person who has never showed up in court, and that not many people has seen him at all. It was even a rumour that he was a guard who stood by the Empress' side.
According to the legends...
Magistrate Zhao has never heard of the Zuoyue Bureau, but after he read the many letters sent by his friends from the capital and heard of these rumours that might be truth or false, he could not help being shocked.
He felt that he had offended someone with monstrous authority without knowing it.
It did not matter whether the rumours were true or not, even if only one out of ten of them were true, Magistrate Zhao knew one fact from the attitude the Second Commander of the Jiejian Bureau towards Cui Buqu—at least he knew that Cui Buqu's ranking wasn't low, otherwise it was impossible for him to sit on the same table as Feng Xiao, so when Cui Buqu did not show up during his banquet that night, Magistrate Zhao dared not be mad, instead he spent a huge deal thinking over how to make up for it.
He heard that Cui Buqu's body was not good, and that he was also injured while he was in Göktürk, so he immediately sent a bunch of expensive herbs and supplements to the posthouse, but they were all rejected by Qiao Xian who stood outside. Her reasoning was that Cui Buqu was too weak to consume too many supplements, so other than soup, congee, and some vegetables, he was forbidden to eat everything else.
Originally, Magistrate Zhao wanted to invite some famed physicians, but once he heard that Lady Qiao was a skilled physician herself, he immediately abandoned that idea. If he called the physicians over, then he would have offended one more additional person.
As he thought here and there, Magistrate Zhao could not find anything useful, and he was so troubled that his hair practically fell off, suffering insomnia even in the night and was practically kicked down his bed by his wife.
Since he knew that Cui Buqu and his company would not remain in the City of Six Crafts for too long, and that they would be heading back to the capital in the next few days, Magistrate Zhao could only try to ask some tips from Feng Xiao.
Compared to Cui Buqu who seemed to be sealed up in a fortress, it was easier to speak to the Commander of the Jiejian Bureau.
At the very least, when Magistrate Zhao sent gifts over to him, the other party did not even reject one of them and took everything.
Because of this, when Magistrate Zhao paid Feng Xiao a visit, he had more confidence in developing a closer relationship with the other.
However, that was only until he saw that the beautiful maidservant he's given to Feng Xiao was currently wiping a window with a piece of cloth.
Magistrate Zhao almost thought that he was blind, and for a long time, he couldn't come back to his senses.
The beautiful maid noticed that Magistrate Zhao had came, her face was plastered with pity yet she dared not speak. Both her eyes were watery, making her look extremely pitiful.
As for Feng Xiao, he was sitting on the window sill as he read a book, as if there was a goddess in his book that looked even more beautiful than the beautiful maidservant.
Because when someone else gave him this maidservant that was as beautiful as a flower, Magistrate Zhao could not bring himself to use her. Naturally, this was also because of the fierce tigeress in his own house, but Magistrate Zhao dared to swear with his head, that one cannot find another girl as beautiful as her in the whole of the City of Six Crafts. Even if Feng Xiao, a master with high standards who has lived for a long time in the capital, it was impossible for his heart to not be moved by a beauty like her.
Yet how could he let such a beautiful women do such chores! This is just abusing the resources of mother nature!
As this scene played out before his eyes, Magistrate Zhao couldn't help feeling a thought forming in his heart: Could it be, that Feng Xiao did not like women, because he likes...
"Magistrate Zhao, are you regretting your choice of giving me this beauty? If that is the case, you can take her back." Feng Xiao did not raise his head as he flipped a page.
"No, no, of course not!" Magistrate Zhao immediately denied it, he waved a hand to send the beauty out of the room, before smiling and said in a low voice, "May I ask instead, my Lord, that if this maidservant was not serving you well and has displeased you?"
Feng Xiao, "Of course not. Wasn't she making my window shine?"
But the reason he choose a beauty among
But the reason he choose a beauty among thousand of others wasn't so Feng Xiao could ask her to wipe his window! Magistrate Zhao did not know whether to laugh or cry, "But I heard that yesterday, you did not ask her to accompany you in bed, so she stood outside for an entire night."
Feng Xiao, "Oh, so she was meant to accompany me in bed? I thought she was here to be a maid. I was even going to ask her scrub the ground."
Magistrate Zhao said in a quiet voice, "Maiden Qi's looks are already the best around. If you do not favour her, I can find someone else. Or, do you prefer the company of men?"
Feng Xiao sighed and pointed to his own face, "Look at my face, what do you think?"
Magistrate Zhao immediately said, "Naturally, you have the look of a dragon and the grace of a phoenix, like an otherworldly being!"
Feng Xiao, "Would you fall for someone uglier than youself?"
Magistrate Zhao: ...Good point. I cannot deny it.
He pulled a long face and said, "But my Lord, you are learned and elegant, and that woman is soft and gentle to the bone. Both of you cannot be compared, additionally, there are certainly only a handful at most of people in this world whose looks can be compared to you!"
Feng Xiao snorted, "Then stop doing these sort of trivial matters, and put more focus on your actual duties!"
Magistrate Zhao only knew then, that Feng Xiao did not even put the beauty in his eyes, and thought: Why don't I give you a mirror instead?
His thoughts remained in his thoughts, and he dared not say such things at all. On the lips, he only gave the other a smile, "Can I still ask you something? Since you and Lord Cui are such good friends, you must know what he likes?"
"Good friends?" Feng Xiao gave him a strange and curious look, "Us?"
Magistrate Zhao said anxiously, "Was it not?"
Feng Xiao beamed a smile all of a sudden, "Not at all. We are. So you also wanted to send him gifts? Why don't you just do the same thing: send him a beauty, wouldn't that settle it all?"
Magistrate Zhao laughed bitterly, "You must be kidding. Lord Cui is lying on his bed now, I fear he has the heart, but not the stamina. As for money and supplements, I have sent them once, but it was rejected by that maidservant of his outside his door. It was all on me, that I delayed Lord Cui once, so now I simply wanted to make up for it, yet I do not know how or where, so I can only come here with a thick face and ask for your advice."
Feng Xiao smiled a long smile, "Ah, then you've asked the right person. Cui Buqu showed everyone a forlorn, distant face, but in truth, I once saw him—"
His voice has suddenly became very soft, as he whispered into Magistrate Zhao's ear.
Magistrate Zhao opened his eyes wide, "Are you sure?"
Feng Xiao, "Every person with capabilities would have queer habits that others do not know of."
Once Magistrate Zhao recalled his theory regarding Feng Xiao and his disinterest in beautiful women, then he immediately nodded and agreed, "That makes sense! I will go now and patrol, thank you Lord Feng!"
After he just left, Feng Xiao waved for the maidservant.
"You, come here."
When Maiden Qi saw him, she thought that he finally noticed her beauty, and she was happy in her heart for a moment and quickly walked into the room before bowing, "My Lord, what would you have me do?"
Feng Xiao, "Go check if Cui Buqu has woken up."
Maiden Qi: … Just like that?
Feng Xiao, "Why are you still looking at me like that?"
Maiden Qi's heart suddenly felt grievance, so she stuttered, "I have a stomachache."
Feng Xiao, "Then you can go after you've gone to the restroom."
The handsome Lord did not even looked at her at all! She was incredibly mad, but she could only turn and leave.
Feng Xiao stretched his back and decided to go out to take a stroll.
Although she had scolded Feng Xiao more than a dozen times in her heart, and cussed at him, Maiden Qi dared not disobey his orders. When Feng Xiao returned, she reported back to him that Cui Buqu has woken up and a bunch of people were waiting to see him, even Magistrate Zhao has gone there.
Previously, Feng Xiao was very stubborn in his actions when he was investigating a case. He acted on his own orders and ignored everyone else, offending even the Linlang Guild who had a huge support behind their backs. So he had left a deep impression of himself on everyone. That time, there were a lot of people who tried to fawn over him, going to his manor and offering him gifts. It was a pity that Feng Xiao refused them, simply waving his hand to send everyone away. Since they had learned their lesson last time, this time not many people dared to repeat their idiocy.
As for Cui Buqu, that day when he was the master of the Zixia Taoist Temple, but he had fallen from grace within a single night, then suddenly went missing. The people even said that the Master Taoist had already ascended and became one with the gods, and some of them said that he was a con man from Jianghu, and once he had enough money, he left. Yet now they all watch him suddenly appearing as an officer of the Crown who even travelled with Feng Xiao as they went to Göktürk together, received the title of Marquis together, shaking the earth with the news. People who went to Cui Buqu's place grow even more in numbers, and not only did they sent him gifts, some of them even went there to join the crowd, and there were some who received his kindness in the past, they went to pay him a visit as his patients.
It was a pity that before those people could enter the posthouse, they were all held back by Qiao Xian. Other than Magistrate Zhao, there were not many who managed to see him.
Feng Xiao touched his chin and decided to join the crowd.
He was living in the same posthouse as Cui Buqu, only that one lived in the west, and one was living in the east. If they did not visit each on purpose, they could really avoid seeing each other from day to night.
Obviously Cui Buqu did not miss this 'companion' of his who had been through so much with him. Watching Feng Xiao came in himself uninvited, not only did he refused to show gladness, he even sulked and pursed his lips.
Feng Xiao smirked at the corner of his lips, "I see Master Taoist Cui wasn't very happy to see me."
Cui Buqu was hugging the blanket on top of the bed, not having even a trace of welcoming him, "If I say I didn't welcome you, would you actually leave?"
Feng Xiao, "Of course not."
He looked left and right and asked, "I heard that Magistrate Zhao gave you some strange gifts. Can I have a look at them?"
Cui Buqu pointed to a box in the corner of the room, "He said he sent me some paintings, you can unwrap them yourself."
Feng Xiao opened the box and really did see more than ten painting rolled up neatly in them. He was also curious if Magistrate Zhao actually understood what he said, so he unfurled those scrolls.
Cui Buqu raised the bowl of medicine Qiao Xian had left for him, and was pondering over whether he should just pour them under his bed, before he recalled that Qiao Xian's nose was almost as sharp as Feng Xiao's dog nose. He sighed and pinched his nose, pouring them down his throat, his eyebrows furrowing until it could squeeze mosquitoes to death.
Good medicine are bitter to the tongue, but after drinking them, the bitter taste in his mouth could not be neutralized by anything sweet at all. Cui Buqu spent half a day only did he managed to swallow that difficult, bitter taste down his throat. However, the moment he raised his head, he saw Feng Xiao's mischevious smile.
"What did he give?" Cui Buqu asked curiously.
Feng Xiao turned the drawing around and a fully coloured painting of 'Spring Palace's Mysterious Game' filled Cui Buqu's sights.
In the painting, it was divided into the outside and inside of the room. A group of men and women in all kinds of positions. At that time, these erotic arts were trending, if it was enlarged, it could even make the most traditional thinking men go beet red.
But Cui Buqu only rolled his eyes.
Let alone having his face turned beet red, even his nose did not turn red.
Feng Xiao originally thought that although the other was sick for a long time and had a powerful authority, these people were usually more innocent, even if he wasn't shy, he would have felt surprised, not knowing what to do. Who could have guessed that it wasn't like how he thought it would be. Master Taoist Cui's numb and expressionless face made Feng Xiao felt like his fun was gone.
"Are you a man or not?"
Cui Buqu said slowly, "If you are, then I am."
Feng Xiao, "So if I'm not? Then are you not one as well?"
Cui Buqu: "..."
He thought for a little while, then he knew for certain that this culprit was definitely the one who gave Magistrate Zhao those ideas to send him these.
Cui Buqu knitted his brows together, "The great Commander of the Jiejian Bureau, Sect Leader of Fajing Sect, can you not act a little bit proper?"
Feng Xiao's fan paused for a moment.
Fajing Sect, heralded by the Jianghu province as one of the three Demonic Sects. In the past, they were at the head of their generation, and according to the rumours, many people would turn around if they saw them, and they dared not say anything to offend them. The former Sect Leader, Guang Lingsan, was also one of the top ten martial artists beneath the Heavens.
There were never many people in the Jianghu province who used the zither as their weapon, added with the capabilities of the Zuoyue Bureau, Feng Xiao was not at all surprised that Cui Buqu managed to find his identity.
He himself never had the intention to hide it from him either.
However, this identity was usually unrelated to their cases and it wasn't awkward to go with Feng Xiao's identity as an officer. The reason Cui Buqu never mentioned it in the past until now was only because his patience had ran out for Feng Xiao's ridiculousness.
After all, like they say, the more incredible someone's martial arts are, the more ridiculous they are?
Feng Xiao did not feel nervous at all, "Since you mentioned my origin and mother sect, then I should urge for my new weapon as well. This time when we go to the capital, don't dare you procrastinate for half a month, then forget about our deal with the zither Yu Yin."
"To invite the new Khan into the city, naturally the Emperor would have to hold a banquet, to hear about the journey to Göktürk, as well as the forming of the alliance with Western Göktürk. The Emperor would inquire most of them. So, half a month would pass after that. However," It was as if Cui Buqu suddenly recalled that Feng Xiao had saved him more than once, so he felt guilt if he mocked Feng Xiao, therefore, he said instead, "I just obtained a lead that the Canal Transport Jiu Bang group's Ning Shewo secretly travelled up North a few days ago, by now he would have arrived in Huai Zhou."
The Canal Transport Jiu Bang group who monopolized more than half of the canal transports in the South. It's leader, Ning Shewo, was considered to be quite well-known. That time, in the City of Six Crafts, in the auction event of the Linlang Guild, Ning Shewo's adopted son Leng Dou had auctioned for one item.
Feng Xiao gave a strange look, "Did he not announced that he was going to retire next year? Was this simply going on a vacation with his wife in advance?"
Cui Buqu, "This is where it was strange. This time, he travalled in secret using a different name and brought only a few loyal bodyguards with him. He announced to outsiders that he was ill on his bed and could not leave his manor. Thus everyone still thought that he was still in Jiangnan."
Feng Xiao was soused deep in thought for a while, then he understood what Cui Buqu had meant, "You suspect that Ning Shewo was related to the Yunhai Thirteen Stories?"
Cui Buqu, "From Fong Xiaolian, Duan Qigu, Yu Xiu these people, it could be observed that the Yunhai Thirteen Stories' people are not restricted to just the Nothern Dynasty or the Southern Dynasty. At the present, among thirteen people, other than the false Master Ten, we know Master Eleven to Master Thirteen. So, if the numbers started counting down, these people's ranks and abilities would only be higher, not lower."
Feng Xiao, "That makes sense. I completely agree with your analysis. That also meant that Ning Shewo would very likely be the one to participate the gathering during Qixi."
Cui Buqu, "That's right. That letter on Duan Qigu was most likely received by the others as well. At that time, we can go to Boling to receive the zither Yu Yin, then go to the gathering. We might even take down the whole Yunhai Thirteen Stories all at once! Annihilating their organization!"
Feng Xiao clapped his hands loudly, "Good, very good! I support it! Just as well, I also have a lead that is related to this matter."
Cui Buqu waited for a while, but nothing came, so he asked, "What lead?"
Feng Xiao, "Not telling you."
Cui Buqu: ..."
He glared at Feng Xiao, but the other did not feel guilty at all, "You use your news to exchange for my understanding that I will delay our trip to Boling for a while, then for this news of mine, you have nothing to exchange for, then I shouldn't need to tell you, right?"
As he finished, Feng Xiao rose to his feet, patted Cui Buqu's shoulder for a while and laughed, "With the Zuoyue Bureau's capabilities, and Master Taoist Cui's intelligence, you could even find out my background and origins, then other things are no longer secrets. Take your time thinking about them, I shall leave first."
He did not wait for Cui Buqu to speak, humming a tune as he left.
Cui Buqu had a bad habit.
When there is a lead on a shirt, he would definitely pull the string out, even if it would tear the shirt apart.
So, he was someone with a very heavy sense of curiousity.
Since Feng Xiao gave him this little bit of suspense, then he would definitely get to the end of it.
He shouted for Qiao Xian to come and ordered her to investigate it, before the hardworking and thoughtful Commander Cui was willing to lie down and closed his eyes to sleep.
One little Feng Xiao's head, two little Feng Xiao's head, three little...
Cui Buqu opened his eyes, looking at the curtain above him.
He. Could not sleep.
He really wanted to wrench down Feng Xiao's head.
Spring Palace's Mysterious Game: One of the earliest drown porn of China in history.
Translator's Note:
This chapter marks the end of Book 3, and soon we'll begin with Book 4, which will finally reveal QuQu's past. OvO It's one of my favourite books/arc when it comes to FengCui. If you want to know if there's an update, feel free to follow this thread on my Twitter, as I will personally update it there, or just subscribe to email notification on this blog. Although I've been updating on a daily basis, this actually isn't my schedule or intention, as sometimes my work tend to be free (which is the reason why I could translate faster) but there are times when I will be busy at work as well (and so I will translate slower). My schedule remains in the 'inconsistent' state.