"Borrowing a knife to kill."
Tang Sanliang shivered. He admired Vice Incense Master Chang the most for his deep scheming, taking one step while planning ten ahead.
Now, even the Incense Master had made it so clear; how could he not know what to do next?
"In the past few days, Xingqing Prefecture has been troubled by flying thieves. Apart from the matters with Fairy Fubo and the Brocade Guard, there's also the reappearance of [Flower-Loving Young Master] Jiang Yudie.
Once this person appears, he repeatedly disgraces seven decent families, acting without any scruples... Chief Constable Wang is already overwhelmed with this case. You say, should we not give him a big credit?"
"Indeed, indeed, Sanliang, you're learning to use your brain. That clumsy stone surnamed Wang, it would be strange if he could catch Jiang Yudie.
However, this person is extremely greedy and has many collaborations with us... Right now, his young son is coming of age and has taken a fancy to a girl of good family background. He needs a lot of silver, so he's perfect..."
Chang Sansi actually didn't mind his subordinates being a bit cleverer, as it saved him a lot of trouble and allowed him to live much easier.
"Use the old method. If we're going to give credit, then make it solid. Let everyone know that Tian Qi was killed by Chief Constable Wang Dashu for his crimes.
This way, even if Hua Lian'er wants revenge, they'll only go after the government. With no other recourse for revenge, they'll naturally lean on us. This money tree becomes quite stable."
...
At noon.
Zuo Duanshou slowly walked back to his own courtyard.
He saw a few little friends had already set up the table, with meat dishes laid out, waiting for him.
He felt warm inside, and without washing his hands, quickly sat down. Only after Chen Ping gave him a piece of braised pig ear to eat did he pick up his chopsticks to start.
"Were the songs sold well today?"
Zuo Duanshou had been noticing things these days, and he was a bit worried...
Singing was supposed to be good, just making some small money.
Unexpectedly, the matter had grown much bigger without being careful.
The blame could only be on the few stellar songs and lyrics; they spread too widely.
To say it's famed across Xingqing Prefecture is a bit exaggerated.
But, for those who love it, it's naturally a rare treasure.
With this, it's almost certain this can't last long. Based on their identity alone, they can't protect it.
Thus, selling it at a high price to Jadeite Tower first wasn't a bad idea.
Avoid attracting countless figures like Cheng the Westerner...
"Quite well, Sister Xinyi was quite generous. Even before learning a song, she already gave three hundred taels of silver."
Hua Lian'er said with a grin, "Don't blame me for using it to buy medicine for Seventh Brother. I haven't forgotten the good food for you all. Quickly, let's eat. We need to go again in the afternoon."
"Why would I? Seventh Brother getting strong is the current priority. Besides, it was Seventh Brother who made the lyrics and songs; we just got a big benefit."
Zuo Duanshou hadn't had a chance to speak when Little Table said with a chuckle.
He was also eating and dripping oil from his mouth.
This kind of life was quite satisfying.
Especially after the suffering...
Having walked between life and death, how can one not learn to cherish and be grateful?
Zuo Duanshou felt a bit awkward: "That's not what I meant. What I mean is, many people went to Fuyuan Restaurant today.
Two chief constables, over ten constables...even a Silver Seal Chief Constable from Six Gates came to ask about the situation. It seems the Deputy Magistrate put some effort into it."
Saying this, Zuo Duanshou stopped chewing, and his expression turned a bit heavy: "The good news is, Constable Wu Shen and Cheng the Westerner's deaths haven't been suspected on us, treated as accidental events.
Of course, there's also bad news... I asked around, and some people privately speculate, saying those two had just offended us and then met with an accident. Whether or not it was an accident, surely it's related to Seven-Colored Hall."
"So, not only is Seven-Colored Hall being watched, but we're also being watched."
"Did both of them drown in the cesspool? Were none saved?" Hua Lian'er didn't worry much about being watched, as she dry-heaved while mentioning it and couldn't help but laugh.
Her eyes curved up.
The vile images of Cheng the Westerner and Yizuo Mao were still fresh in her memory.
She was someone who bore grudges, so hearing they had drowned in a cesspool felt delightful.
As for being blindly speculated and watched.
It wasn't much.
Since the songs became popular, being watched by people had been routine, nothing new.
But indeed, the singing business couldn't continue for too long.
Eventually, something would happen.
"Cheng the Westerner was too obese, once he fell into a cesspool, even with a few people pulling simultaneously, he couldn't be saved quickly. Drowning inside was very normal.
But Yizuo Mao, Wu Shen, seemed strong and healthy. How could a mere cesspool be a challenge for him? At most, he would just swallow a few mouthfuls, chuckle..."
Hua Lian'er honestly couldn't eat anymore. She laughed till her whole body shook, and her chopsticks fell to the ground.
She hurriedly bent down to pick them up.
And looked at Chen Ping with some embarrassment, eyes filled with curiosity.
"Who knows? Maybe Constable Wu had bad luck and cramped his foot."
Chen Ping calmly took a sip of alcohol, grabbed a hoof to gnaw on, his eyebrows unmoving.
Everyone instantly understood.
This was definitely the handiwork of Seventh Brother.
A normal person falling into water should climb out.
But if it were a drunken, immobile, stiff person falling in, it would be a death sentence.
Moreover, nobody found any evidence.
Cheng the Westerner and his lot could only take it as bad luck.
...
Hua Lian'er might have felt some urgency, silently, she used the three hundred taels of silver to buy all tonic medicine.
When she learned Chen Ping had mastered the Seven Stars Step and was getting familiar with it, she happily went to Baoyue Hall.
She bought five doses of [Qi Blood Powder].
This also showed what was on her mind.
Even Chen Ping couldn't help admiring her sharpness.
He didn't say much; that night, he consumed two doses of Qi Blood Powder and practiced martial arts for half the night.
He made a big step forward in the Marrow Cleansing process and with the Seven Stars Step Technique, accumulated three strands of Inner Qi.
Early the next morning, as per the original plan, they wouldn't go out to sing.
Zuo Duanshou needed to gather information in the north of the city.
Hua Lian'er routinely took the Kuihua Brothers to Jadeite Tower.
Before they left.
Two people came looking for them.
One was short and thin, like a child, appearing in his thirties with a trace of ferocity between his eyebrows.
The other was tall and lean, like a bamboo pole, with hunched back, unmoved face.
His hands, however, were yellow with a hint of black, emitting a faintly sweet fishy smell...
As soon as Hua Lian'er and the others smelled it, they felt a bit dizzy.
"Tian Qi, Vice Incense Master Chang instructed us to seek you for a mission together."
The short and thin man said with a smile: "Really envious of Brother Tian for receiving an assessment task so quickly. Do well, and soon you'll be able to join the Incense Hall as an official disciple. My brother and I went through many hardships to join the Seven-Colored Hall."
"What task?"
"Just an escort mission, related to a major matter between Incense Master Dong and Chizi Hall's Incense Master Zhuang, not for public discussion. But, this time, it's only in the city, won't take too long if everything goes smoothly."
The short and thin man chuckled.
Chen Ping noticed the man's smile revealed eight teeth, and it actually resembled Chang Sansi's a bit.