Chapter 641: Empty Words

Gu Baoshu, who was originally half-squinting, immediately widened her eyes, with no sense of averting her gaze from inappropriate sights.

Qin Heng didn’t consider for a moment that Mr. Qi beside him was a woman, and joined in the fun: "I’ve long heard that Brother Ximen has excellent tattoos. Why not let the brothers take a look?"

Brother Ximen downed the remaining wine in one go. Amidst the crowd’s coaxing, he reluctantly loosened his clothes, revealing his upper body. The crowd was struck by the sight; his snow-white, delicate skin was covered with intricate tattoos, resembling pine and cypress trees on white snow.

Indeed, it was a stunning array of tattoos.

Gu Baoshu couldn’t help but clap her hands and exclaim: "Bravo!"

If her mother and third sister-in-law weren’t strictly against it, she would have wanted one herself.

Qin Heng, drooling, remarked that compared to this, the tattoos on Xu Tang fell far short of this quality.

Anyone sporting such tattoos would surely walk tall on the streets!

He also aspired to be the most impressive student at the Imperial College.

Li Xingshou’s eyes held admiration, as she gently reached out her jade-like fingers as if to trace or emulate Brother Ximen’s tattoos, which made everyone a bit flush and excited. Just then, suddenly, a bell rang loudly from the rooftop, snapping everyone out of their trance.

Yuan Da leapt up immediately, his hands on his waist, eyes scanning the surroundings.

Li Xingshou sighed, put down her glass reluctantly, and said: "The noble has arrived, and I... cannot drink with Brother anymore. If Brother has time, do come again. Don’t leave me waiting long."

Outside, the mama’s urging voice had already sounded.

Seeing Li Xingshou’s pitiful demeanor, Gu Baoshu couldn’t bear it and chimed in: "How could Brother Ximen let down Li Xingshou’s deep affection?"

Brother Ximen lightly tidied his clothes: "Of course not, I will come when I have time."

Qin Heng secretly tugged at Gu Baoshu’s sleeve and whispered: "How can we be meddling in Brother Ximen’s affairs?"

Gu Baoshu sighed: "Li Xingshou is so affectionate; I can’t bear to refuse her. If Li Xingshou looked at me like that, I wouldn’t refuse anything and would come every day."

Qin Heng chuckled: "Be careful or I’ll tell your third sister-in-law."

Li Xingshou was urged inside to wash and change clothes again, and the group left Money Street. Yuan Da was still dissatisfied with drinking and wanted to continue, but Brother Ximen wasn’t interested, and Gu Baoshu and Qin Heng dared not linger too long. They agreed to meet tomorrow to watch the match and dispersed.

Gu Baoshu escorted Qin Heng back to his residence, and the two of them lauded Li Xingshou’s beauty and talent all the way.

Qin Heng said: "I wonder who is the noble that came? Seems quite important, but Li Xingshou was not very willing; still she dared not slack off. The mama was worried she’d lose favor and urged strongly."

Gu Baoshu shook her head, her hair ribbon fluttering behind her: "Who could know? Surely it wouldn’t be the Emperor."

Qin Heng was silent.

Gu Baoshu dropped him off at the Qin Mansion then rode away hurriedly. At the alley entrance, a guard whispered: "Master, someone is following us."

Gu Baoshu widened her eyes: "Oh?"

Her false identity must not be exposed, but Qin Heng was fine.

The guard said: "If we loop around a few times, they won’t be able to keep up. We should also leave someone behind to see who follows."

"Alright."

Gu Baoshu and her crew circled the alleys a few times to shake off any tails, and then returned to the Marquis Mansion without changing clothes, and went straight to find Mr. Songshan.

"Sir, there’s something I don’t understand."

Mr. Songshan lifted his head from a pile of papers, frowning: "What’s the matter?"

This family, one by one, always coming here to give him tasks.

What’s more, Gu Baoshu wouldn’t have any serious matter.

Gu Baoshu sat down without regard for his expression: "Sir, I’ve recently befriended two brothers from the Jianghu, and we hit it off immediately..."

"Oh..." Mr. Songshan mused over the news in his hand, while dismissively responding.

"They took me and Qin Heng to see Li Xingshou. Do you know who Li Xingshou is?"

Mr. Songshan was shocked: "Li Xingshou? Of course I know. You actually saw Li Xingshou? You’re not lying, are you?"

Gu Baoshu chuckled, "Impressive, right? Even my Sixth Brother has been at the brothel for years without seeing her."

Mr. Songshan examined Gu Baoshu’s attire: "What does Li Xingshou see in you?"

Gu Baoshu said honestly: "What she likes is the brothers I just befriended..."

Mr. Songshan grew more alarmed as he listened and inquired in detail.

Gu Baoshu couldn’t help but ask: "Does Sir wish to meet Li Xingshou as well?"

Mr. Songshan blushed and scolded: "Nonsense."

Gu Baoshu asked again: "Can Feiyun Pavilion find out who the noble meeting with Li Xingshou is?"

Mr. Songshan didn’t answer but asked back: "How many times did the bell ring?"

Gu Baoshu thought it over: "Must have been nine times, rang for a while, didn’t pay much attention."

"If it rang nine times, it’s the Emperor," Mr. Songshan sighed: "You should be more cautious whenever you go out."

Gu Baoshu shook her head: "That can’t be. Qin Heng and I circled Money Street, and didn’t see any guards. If the Emperor were traveling, there wouldn’t be fewer people."

She had some doubts, and after leaving, circled the yard for another look.

Mr. Songshan scrunched his face: "Fine if you don’t believe it, I’m just guessing. Plus, you didn’t remember how many bells there were. Best forget about it once you leave the room. Don’t meddle in what you shouldn’t."

Gu Baoshu stared at Mr. Songshan and giggled a few times, then asked: "Does Sir think I should go drinking with my friends tomorrow?"

Mr. Songshan hesitated for a while: "You may go, but be careful and don’t reveal your identity."

Gu Baoshu nodded.

Mr. Songshan added: "I feel like Gu Shiba should arrange more people to follow you, it’s unclear who they are. What if they think of you as easy prey? It’s crucial to be cautious of others."

Gu Baoshu’s eyes twinkled:"Leave it to Sir, I’ll go change clothes."

After bidding farewell to Mr. Songshan, she went to find Gu Shiba: "Shiba, Mr. Songshan asked me to find you to arrange more people to follow me—is there big news in the Capital City?"

Gu Shiba, caught off guard, recounted the recent intel, adding: "Seventh Miss should be careful traveling in the future; those two are of unknown origin. Recently, a group entered the Capital City, perhaps to stir up trouble during the Mid-Autumn Festival. Mr. Songshan suspects they’re people from the Black Wind Village."

Gu Baoshu nodded repeatedly to appease Gu Shiba, then led her horse to find Qin Heng.

Qin Heng had just changed clothes, laid out paper, grounded ink, lit incense, and sat before his desk writing two characters when he heard birds chirping outside the window.

"Quite odd, just parted from Young Master and already summons again. Is there an urgent matter?"

Qin Heng hurriedly dashed out, only to bump straight into Mrs. Cui accompanied by maids and a nanny paying him a visit. Seeing him flustered, she asked, "What’s this? What mischief are you up to now?"